A Bard for Raksha 2023 edition

Lady Raksha (a merchant prince and devotee of the goddess Quilina) has decided to hold a grand competition to find a new house Bard after her last one left before their contract had been completed.

Team

Author: Ray Hodson

Referees: Ray Hodson & Jo Gould

Players

This is a game for 12 players of any gender.

Premise

A contract to entertain Lady Raksha and her family for three years is a substantial prize.

Three years is a lifetime to a travelling Bard. That's three years without the hot sun on your back tramping through the deserts of Ahaan, without risking the slave markets of Nilsomar and without performing for pittance in the taverns of the Free Trader folk.

She has requested that the best and brightest of The Guild of Bards attend her event but has also has opened it up to non-Guild members!

Attending the festivities will be Lady Raksha's family and selected guests. The Bards will have a chance to perform for up to 5 minutes for the assembled guests, and they can sing, recite poetry or limericks or tell stories of the world.

Performing

In the casting questionnaire there will be a section asking if players wish to perform during the game and they can do so however they wish.

Setting

This game is loosely set in the world of the tabletop role playing game, Jaws of the Six Serpents. All world material will be provided in the character pack but if you are thinking of a Conan the Barbarian, Red Sonja, Beast Master type sword, sandals and sorcery world, you are in the right place. Magic does exist and you can also call upon your deity of choice to assist you in tasks but I'm not expecting any major magic wars to break out.

Costuming

Costuming can be highly varied as characters come from all over the world of the Six Serpents. I will send out costuming hints with character sheets for those that want them but feel free to let your imagination run riot as well. Costume as much or as little as you want to.

Player preparation

Players will receive a questionnaire before the game which the referees will use to assign characters. After characters have been assigned players will be given character sheets with backgrounds totalling no more than three pages and an additional three pages of world background information.

Content Notes

This game includes content that covers the following subjects:

• slavery
• feudal society
• poverty and financial strife
• religion (fictitious)
• parental troubles
• affairs of the heart

Please email sekhmethodson@gmail.com or mention it in your casting form if you have any questions or things that you are uncomfortable with.

If there is any combat it will be resolved by rock, paper, and scissors.

Safety rules

We will use Traffic Light and the The OK Check-In systems to ensure all players have a fun experience. These systems will be explained at the game.

If you wish to bring LARP-safe weapons as part of your costuming then please consult a GM before the day of the game. This is a non-contact game so be aware of your surroundings when gesturing with them. Please be careful when handling them and do not strike another player with them or display them outside of the play space.

Referee Bios

Ray Hodson (she/her)

Ray is a long time roleplayer, GM, freeformer and writer. She loves to weave tales based around history and myth.

Having finished GMing the weekend game A West End Lullaby, she has a huge backlog of games in the planning phase… some say she may finish writing them all by the next millennium.

Jo Gould (she/her)

Jo is a long time roleplayer and gamer diving head first into running games. This year she plans to write some so make sure to encourage her.