Slitherball

Almost a physical form of chess, Slitherball exemplifies the Nagai values of both physical and mental prowress and perfection, adding to these ideals the spirited competitiveness of the serpent people. This sport is an honored pastime of the many higher educational institutions within the Empire, and tournaments between the different institutions are often highly anticipated, with championships being major ticket-sellers. The more prestigious tournaments, funded by the richer institutions, often employ an impartial Scrying Mage to referee. The best players, whether Nagai or Jingai, are idolized, and there is always a private box reserved for the Emperor Potentate himself at the Grand Championship tournament, whether or not he chooses to attend.

Object of the Game

To acquire the ball from the center of the field, and return it to your team's "home" zone. When not in possession of the slitherball, to prevent the opponents from taking the slitherball to their zone, and ultimately, to get control of the ball.

Rules of Play

A slitherball field resembles something like a gigantic spiral pattern emanating from a circle about 30 feet across in the center of the field. The pattern is wrapped around itself over ten loops, each several yards across. The center is called the "head", and each loop is called a "coil", noted by number from the inside out. Coil One is the closest to the head, and Coil Ten is the tail. The whole field is divided into four quarters, like a set of crosshairs, which determine where a team's units can be deployed. These fields are usually placed someplace sunny, or near hot springs, and designed to retain heat, so the players will not tire so easily.

Teams consist of a calculated mix of players, defined by the four elements often recognized in magic. (No actual magic is allowed in the game itself.) All the Nagai on the team are considered to be "Earth". Each team is allowed three Nagas of less than ten feet ("Pebbles"), two Nagas between ten and twenty feet ("Stones"), and one Naga of any size, although this is typically the largest Naga the team can muster, and is usually the star of the team. (If he's larger than twenty feet, he's called the "Firmament", or "Foundation". Otherwise, he's just a "Rock".)

Each team is also allowed three Jingai: one Shiga, one Niga, and one Rokuga. Only one of these can be a "Runner" (Fire), and only one of them may be a "Flier" (Air). The Jinga that has no feet or wings is called "Water". Kirigai are not officially allowed, as they are difficult to truly define, and thusly too much of a wildcard.

One Naga of each team is considered the "General", and will direct the movements of his team. This is usually the largest Naga on the team, because he is the one that bears the most prestige and is usually involved in each play. Sometimes, however, it is one of the smaller Nagai, so that the largest can concentrate on his tasks, usually throwing or pushing the ball, or shaking smaller players off it.

Actual play consists of a "battle", which is made up of nine "skirmishes". These in turn consist of four stages: Acquisition, Possession, Struggle, and Retribution.

After all four stages of the skirmish are completed, with each team being given a chance to Possess, Struggle, and if need be, Retaliate, there is a break of a few minutes, and the next skirmish commences. If the score is tied after all nine skirmishes, three more skirmishes are allowed to break the tie, the battle ending when one team finally fails to score or Retaliate after the other has. In the unlikely even that the tie is drawn out after these three final skirmishes, a draw is declared, unless each team agrees to battle "to the death". If the latter choice is made, the skirmishes continue until a victor is determined.

Strangeness

Slitherball seems to bring out primal natures in many Nagai, and amongst the players themselves. Even those normally reserved will sometimes be given to shouting matches, hissing cheers or invectives along with the crowd, or at extremes, painting themselves strange colours, and/or bringing along bizarre props, usually representing the team they favor. The players themselves often berate the other team, before, after, and during any of the major events of the game. In more subtle ways, teams will taunt each other psychologically, doing confidence displays like letting the other team take the Retributive point, distributing weaker players in the various quarters, forming elaborate rows of defense or offense that appear more intimidating than effective, etc. Scoring or successfully blunting a Struggle will often be followed up by elaborate victory dances and short speeches, some cunningly prepared in advance to strategically wear down their opponents' wills with derogatory comments and gestures. Whatever the reasoning, it seems to sell the tickets. Strangely, after all is said and done, it is very seldom that either team will hold grudges against the other.

Back to Section 14.0