Bloodsport

James Wynn · 10 Feb 2011, 20:54 · from 2011-February.txt.gz

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From: crushtv at gmail.com (James Wynn)
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:54:24 -0600
Subject: (urth) Bloodsport
In-Reply-To: <733270.88648.qm at web161804.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
References: <733270.88648.qm at web161804.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <4D545080.2070401 at gmail.com>

> Marc Aramini wrote-
> I guess what I see as inscrutable is the relationship between the game and the reality.  Is there a "real" society outside the allegory of the game?
> Because its pretty harsh to just kill your allies, and works symbolically and metaphorically but not realistically.  What is the point of the game?  Real power?  Entertainment?

I understood it as a gladiatorial sport. It seems to have had a 
ritualistic element. Each space on the "board" represented actual 
mountains. So once again, there is a Roman theme---in that Rome was 
originally multiple city-states atop seven mountains. So in some sense, 
the games are played as a representation of the larger society.

The rules for being selected for the games are not explained, except 
that you cannot refuse if you are selected. I'm sure there is a society 
in which the games take place. Valorius had a life before the game. His 
father was a mage which seems to be a cast outside of the game because 
it is believed they bio-engineer the pawns. Even though WE recognize 
that when Lurn queens herself that is a chess analogy, we have no 
evidence that that is part of the game they were trained to play. 
Certainly Valorious did not see it coming. So presumably rules regarding 
the making of royalty are outside the bounds of the game (although it is 
possible that traditions in the larger society are represented in the game).

u+16b9

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