Grunkusball
History
Grunkusball was created in response to public outcry following the Massacre in the Mountain of 6085 which resulted in 146 deaths, 208 disbembered limbs, 897 broken bones, and one case of severe diarrhea. The Massacre was the most intense game of Fightball, a "game" that consisted of open combat between rival settlements and did not feature any sort of ball. Inspired by the swaths of blood covering the floor and walls that determined the winner of Fightball, a council of elders concocted the original rules for Grunkusball, named for the dwarven chieftain who founded Alterporton. Although the rules have changed throughout its nearly 3000 year history, the original spirit of Grunkusball shines through to this day.
Execution
Components and tools
The Grunkusball Court is roughly 2000 cubits long and 1500 cubits wide and separated into four equal areas width-wise. There is no regulation size other than all four zones being of equal length and width; some courts have celings as high as a mile, others as low as 20 feet.
The Grunkusball is a magical ball of peat, moss, and bioluminescent rock roughly 3 feet in diameter which contains a harder rock embedded with bioluminescent stones in a 9 inch core. The outer layers are worn down, spreading this bioluminescent glow throughout the court, which is the object of the game. Premature destruction of the Grunkusball, called a Grunkus, may occur rarely. The home team creates their own Grunkusball, while the visitors are allowed to inspect for any impurities or imperfections.
Grunkus Gloves are thick leather gloves with metal spikes on the palms and fingers that have been attuned to their user to both attract and repel the bioluminescant glow, making gathering and spreading of the glow easier.
Participants
There are four members of each Grunkusball team. There is the Glover, Goaler, Geomancer, and Grunker. Each begins the game with very similar roles but in the final stage has a specific and distinct job to facilitate victory that is directly opposed by their respective athlete on the opponent's team.
The Glover begins the game with their hands free and wearing Grunkus Gloves. These are spiked gloves specifically designed to not only remove the outer layer of the Grunkusball, but to have the Glow rubbed on and off at the wearer's discretion. Upon the Grunkusball reaching its third stage, the Glover may no longer interact with the ball and instead uses their Grunkus Gloves to rub the glow from the neutral fields on their opponent's goal. Upon the ball reaching its final stage, the Glover may rub the glow from their own goal in addition to the neutral fields on their opponent's goal.
The Goaler, upon the Grunkusball reaching its second stage, has their hands freed and may touch the ball with any means as long as it is located within their team's goal.
The Geomancer, upon the Grunkusball reaching its third stage, has their hands freed and may not touch the ball physically for the remainder of play. Magic may be used on the environment and other players but not the ball itself otherwise the game is over and the offending party's opponents are victorious.
The Grunker, upon the Grunkusball reaching its final stage, has their hands freed and may hold, throw, kick, or in any other non-magical way interact with the Grunkusball until its destruction and end of the game.
Observance
Grunkusball is played year-round, but the official Grunkusball season begins traditionally on the 18th of Planting, the first day of Summer. This was done to escape the heat of the higher levels of the mountain cities and to facilitate easy travel between mountains as snow can be a common obstacle in colder months. The season ends anywhere from the 13th-17th of Grey Skies and a Champions' Tournament is held in Alterporton from the 23th-27th with the Grand Grunkus Game being held on the 28th followed by a feast celebrating the season. Scrimmages between organizations are not uncommon, but as most players have primary roles in their community, they are rare.
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