Post by Lady Frost on Jan 27, 2011 3:19:30 GMT -5
Suzail has one other interesting festival: Chasing the King. It is celebrated on the sixth day of Marpenoth. It seems Boldovar Obarskyr, who reigned briefly some centuries ago, was a wildbeard, or madman. Although he was usually of calm and normal temperament, he'd suddenly fly into berserk, killing rages, seize a weapon, and set off across the city hacking and slashing at everything and everyone who got into his way until dusk. He eventually perished as a result of driving his blade through his favorite consort, who was trying to soothe him and stop one of these rampages. Her falling body dragged the king, who wouldn't let go of his sword, over the edge of a parapet. He was impaled on an array of upright lances bundled for transport on a cart standing below. In the present-day festival, the unfortunate king is represented by a criminal already condemned to death. This miscreant is given a blunt sword, encased in full armor, and furnished with a belt of potions of healing. Then he's let into the streets and not allowed out of the city until sundown. (Some men have shed their armor and swum the harbor or crawled through the sewers to get out of Suzail earlier.) Anyone who likes can attack the fleeing king, who can't run with any weapon but the one he was given and can do anything on his run without fear of reprisal. (The king is allowed to seize weapons raised against him and use them on their wielders.) One fleeing "king" set several streets ablaze, which kept a lot of folk too busy to harm him, but he tried to hide in the smoke and died. Townsfolk usually don't have to worry about being struck down by surprise by the fleeing miscreant. He's usually at the center of a whirlwind of barking dogs, running boys, and jeering journeymen.
If the false king can stay alive until dusk, he is fully healed by a priest of Tempus hired for the occasion, given 50 sp, a good horse, food, and clothing, and he goes free. Several criminals have so won their freedom in recent years. The criminal must agree to play the king, but the lord chamberlain chooses who is asked.
Volo's Guide to Cormyr
If the false king can stay alive until dusk, he is fully healed by a priest of Tempus hired for the occasion, given 50 sp, a good horse, food, and clothing, and he goes free. Several criminals have so won their freedom in recent years. The criminal must agree to play the king, but the lord chamberlain chooses who is asked.
Volo's Guide to Cormyr
