Chapter 19

The MidSummer celebration also had games of skill or chance where child or adult could lose themselves a few copper pennhutz. For the children, there was a makeshift dragon that hung from the trees that one could ride. Another favorite was the DragonHunt, where children could use wooden swords to 'kill' several large different colored papier-mâché dragons stuffed with candies and assorted prizes. The adults had a knife throwing contest where points were scored the closer one got his knife to a bullseye hanging from a tree. Similar to that was the archery booth where the participant had to knock items off a ledge using bow and arrow.

One of the main attractions was the game of bhokhette. A game of strategy and skill, it had become the rage in Khaballe and was played and enjoyed by all the classes. It consisted of a course where balls slightly larger than an orange had to be rolled past obstacles into designated areas. Once one reached an area they could continue on to the next of ten areas. Points were awarded based on number of throws, proximity to the area, striking opponents' balls and finishing position.

Another major attraction would be the jhukrhette championship. This was a game played on a field with a net at each end. Two teams comprised of ten men on each side attempt to run, throw or kick a ball into the opposing team's net, each technique worth different points. The teams were formed by the various guilds in cities across Khaballe. Each city's guild teams played one another during the season. The first place finishers of each city played in a round robin tournament that resulted in the championship played during the third day of MidSummer. This year the game featured the deck hands of Rheg Nhor against the defending champions, the stone masons of Bhel'Ehzz, in a classic matchup of speed versus power.

But the most anticipated contest was the trevhette. The trevhette consisted of three separate events that tested endurance, speed and strength: hand-to-hand combat, riding and jousting. The overall winner was the person who accumulated the most points and emerged victorious in at least one of the events. This person was considered the best athlete in the land and received a rather substantial monetary award in addition to the large amount of prestige associated with the victory.