The contents of this page are preliminary. They won't become canonical until the first version of the Tale of Tifa Walbatnuwa Siina is up. - DPH

SSpentufee

SSpentufee, or the spear game, is a popular sport in the SSildifian Archipelago. It was even more popular during the Empire. The essence of the game is simple. Two asiit (usually, and in Imperial days almost always, asaa) try to hit a target (or one of a pair of targets side by side) with a spear. However, the players start out well out of range for a spear throw, and have to run closer to the target before they throw. The most crucial decision a player has to make is when to stop running and throw. If the players run at about the same speed, sooner or later one will stop, set, and throw, and the other will keep running. Either the first player hits the target and wins, or he misses and the other can just run up and tap the target with his spear. (A player who misses can retrieve his spear and throw again, but if his opponent hasn't thrown he won't have time.) The second player would not also set and throw, because even if he hits the target he'll lose if the first player hits, because the first to hit wins. However, if the players run at different speeds, then the one behind will usually set and throw first, but the one ahead might throw also, since being closer to target his spear could possibly arrive first even if he throws second.

I've played this game. At first I won a lot, because humans run faster than asiit. I'm not a particularly athletic human, but I can run faster than all but the fastest asit. I would get well ahead of my opponents, who would panic and throw way too early. However, after a while they realized that my aim is terrible, and they can let me get ridiculously close and still not have to worry about me hitting the target. Now I still win occasionally, but not too often.

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