The Xoldasoteri Games

Trumpets blare and timbrels clash! The Coreguyi Arena is strewn with fresh sand and the fighting societies march from their headquarters, instruments sounding, swords and spears clattering against shields, warsongs boldly shouted. The Xoldasoteri Games are begun.

The Klackon phalanx who will battle in the Arena ...
see below

These, the Xoldasoteri Games, are the last of the trilogy of games that recapitulate the Man-Kzin Wars in gladiator format in the great Coreguyi Arena. The Coreguyi Games mark the early wars; the Tsamri-Hane Games represent a kind of middle period moving toward peace; and these last games mark the end of the Wars and the coming into its own of Cothon-Gadeed and the real beginning of the Ten Cities League.

The recent election of new Souffets symbolically corresponds with this final establishment of power over the traditional Kzin enemies of Gadeed (and Tsurr before). The powers of the Souffets to rule are connected with the New City (Gadeed) finally coming into its own--and the tribulations of new Souffets in the first year of their office are symbolically linked to the early troubles of the city establishing itself and coming into its own.

Like the other games, these Xoldasoteri Games are gladiatorial at core, though also involving other athletic contests and displays. The spectacle of these Games, however, revolves around the otherwise unprecedented involvement of the Xolda Klackons in the arena. In keeping with the traditions of the other Games, this is an historic theme.

Whereas, for instance, the Tsamri-Hane Games commemorate a peace won between Man and Kzin so many years ago, the Xoldasoteri games represent the coming of the Klackons. This last incident was a lynchpin in the history of Cothon, for it was the Klackons who finally built the fortifications that made Cothon (and Gadeed) secure against all the sieges and assaults of the Kzinti. And with Cothon-and-Gadeed secure, the two cities were able to extend their influence to other nearby cities, to offer military aid, and thus to ultimately secure the loyalty of the Ten Cities of the League.

The major event of these games is the pitting of Klackons against various foes (beastly, human, and Kzinti). While this isn't meant to subtract from the combats between established gladiators, it is meant as a glorious reminder of the miraculous arrival of the Klackons in Gadeed's most desperate hour, and of the Accord that was established here between humans and Klackons, to stand against alien aggression.

Player-characters may engage with the games by carousing, per these rules for the Tsamri-Hane Games:

Carousing the Games

Those player-characters who wish may spend downtime this week (ending 7 January) to carouse the taverns and arenas during this week's games, and may thus spend up to 100 gp per level, earning the same amount as xp, and then also rolling 2d6 on the table published along with the Coreguyi Games (here). 

• A character who spends at least 150 gp rolls on the table at +1
• A character who spends at least 500 gp rolls on the table at a further +1
• Providing a narrative description of at least part of how the money is being spent (as a comment here, or in the downtime thread of the Discord server) will also earn a player-character a +1 on their roll on the table
• (these are cumulative and so altogether a maximum of +3 can thus be earned)

Betting at the Arena

Bookies have gathered at the gates to the Arena, eager to take bets on the various planned gladiatorial combats. Characters may bet without spending any downtime, and may bet even if they do not carouse the games. The bookmakers will not take bets in excess of 1000 dinars--such bets should be done in private clubs or between friends, where anything may be bet upon.

These bets are expressed fractionally: consider odds of 2/3 for Drago and against Theriax. A bet of 100 dinars for Drago and he wins will earn the bettor back 66 dinars for the bettor. A winning bet for Theriax would earn back for the bettor 150 dinars. &c.

Alora

All bets must be placed by 7 January. As with the Tsamri-Hane Games, the referee will work out the results of the contests and post them with some additional description, hopefully by 14 January (I know last time it took forever, I'm hoping to be better this year).

The Roster of Contests

• 

  Khaled

  Drago of the Heroic Companions of Hrrl-Ra vs. Theriax the Peltast
  odds 2/3 favoring Drago
• Barshan the Strong vs. Charna of Arnhe
  odds 4/5 favoring Barshan
  
• Alora of Tsipa vs. Khaled al Dekkeri
  odds 5/4 favoring Khaled
  
• Korbassh the Sakkra vs. Ayob the Shen
  odds 3/4 in favor of Korbassh
• Mortu the Black vs. Idrig the Denyan
  odds 1/2 favoring Mortu

  

  Ayob

• Elam al Kir vs. Shalla the Aridani
  odds 6/5 favoring Shalla

Unlike earlier Games, these Games will involve quite a few Klackons. First, a single combat between one Klackon and a Kzin warrior; then later and somewhat unusually, a mass melee of a phalanx of Klackons and human auxiliaries against a pack of Kzinti Heroes.

Korbassh

• Aklaw the Klackon vs. Hlri-Manhunter the Kzin
  odds 3/2 in favor of Hlri-Manhunter
• a phalanx of Klackons and humans vs. a group of Kzin warriors
  odds 4/5 in favor of the phalanx

As always, the Confraternity of 'Issa will be out during these games, protesting, proselytizing, claiming that blood sport and use of slaves in such games is an evil that society would be better without. And, as always, they will be laughed at as strange radicals with bizarre views, and only a few will actively engage with their arguments or concerns.