The newest craze sweeping the nobility of Bral is something known as a Gravvabow. Involving a strangely modified shortbow, and small, two-inch diamter balls of leather filled with steel, this game tests both the co-ordination, along with mind, of the user. The bow is modified from standard with a small cup, fixed to the string, used for firing the ball. Normally, the bow's weak nature will only allow a shot of perhaps 40 feet - but it is in wildspace that this piece of sporting equipment shows it's true potential. Used to fling the ball out of one gravity plane, and into another, the bow itself does not need to be very strong - as a missile leaving a gravity plane retains its velocity, and direction, until it hits another such plane.

Gravvabow is played on a 3 dimensional field, in an open area of wildspace. Several platforms make up the field, towed to specific positions, and angles, for the sportsmen (and women, with whom this game has become increasingly popular) to attempt to fire their balls to. Play is started upon a specific platform, ususally a piece of sodden covered ground. The sportsman then fires their ball at their target, a large piece of steel, made transparent with the Glassteel spell. Upon one side of this platform are 2 concentric rings, designating the fields (and thus, points, as discussed shortly) the ball can land in. Some balls, especially at first, are lost completely (although flying mages with locate object are sometimes used for recovery), but once one gets the hang of now only the bow and ball, but the opposing target's gravity plane, they can become much more accurate with it.

As the ball enters the target's air envelope, at the relatively low speed the bow provides it with, it "falls" somewhat toward the target's gravity plane (which may either speed up, or slow down it's velocity, dependant on the angles etc). From this point, dependant on the side of the target clearest to the sportsman, several things can happen - albeit only really two at the base game skill.

Firstly, it must be stated that only ONE side of the target provides points from it's fields - this is called its facing. The facing will, for basic users, typically be towards them. Thus, there is only limited gravitational pull from the target, when the ball lands. In this instance, it is only required to aim the ball roughly where you want it, as the target's gravity plane is going to pull it in the same direction anyway. If anything, this type of shot requires the finesse to fire very gently, so that the ball wont bounce too far when it hits the target.

If the target is tiled slightly away from the sportsman, the shot is a little trickier. The ball must be fired such that, when it hits the gravity plane of the target, it will fall in the desired area - not an easy feet when it is at an angle where it will likely roll to much if too much force is applied, or not get far enough if there isn't enough force.

The third style of shot is a much more interesting - it involves the target facing completely away from the sportsman. As the Concordance of Arcane Space states, it is possible to use a gravitational plane of a ship, or similar object, to orbit, at least temporarily, the object creating that plane. This is the technique used to "slingshot" a ball around an object, and attempt to get it on the right spot.

Particularly competent players, when forced to play on a standard, facing towards them target, usually fire similarly to the shot described above, but make it continue its orbit - slinging the ball around the back, and then back around the front, to land on the "bullseye" area.

In high-stakes competitions, additional points are given for certain "bonus" targets. Such targets are other objects to rebound from, or loop the ball through - such as a hoop on the side of the target platform, or a set of plates set at various angles at the edge of the gravity plane, on the rear of the target.

Points for the various targets, and fields (as well as their respective common slang names), are shown below. A win is scored by the highest points total. The bonus points are gained if a successful hit is scored with the requirements of a bonus - but note that bonuses need not be successful to achieve the standard points (ie, you may, or may not, shoot the ball through a hoop at a specific spot, which may in fact be moving. If you do not, but are successful, you receive the amount of points for the specified field. If you do, you receive the points for the specified field, as well as the bonus points listed.

The target discs themselves are 25 feet in diameter. The Star field takes up the outer ring, seven and a half feet thick. The Flow ring is four feet thick, in the middle of the rings, and the Nebulae ring, similar to a bullseye, is two feet in diameter, at the center of the target. Note also the points are given for the field the ball stops in - if it rolls off the edge, no points are given. A "liner" (a ball upon the thick, black line defining the borders between the fields) gives the points of the lesser field.

There is also a range modifier for points. Within a range of 25 to 75 feet, the points are standard, within 76 to 125 feet there is an extra 1/3, and over 126 feet there is an extra 2/3's. Note this modifies the base points, not the extra from the bonus.

Note also, a course does not only hold one target. The target's, and the base platform, themselves, have an enchantment placed on them (the Noble courses at least, cheaper rate courses simply use other means of transport), enabling a Dimension Door to open up, to the next target in line. The enchantment also allows dimension door's back to the beginning platform. The last target, obviously, only door's to the beginning platform, from where other Dimension Door's may take people to other targets, or "range's", as groups of targets are called. A typical course holds between 6 and 10 ranges, while Noble courses hold anywhere up to 20. There is also a test target, which is similar to the target's themselves, but is instead a clear platform, 25 feet wide, and 150 feet long. It has bands across it, the same width as the Field's on the targets, running along its length.

Gravvabow is a non-weapon proficiency, in game-terms. It lies within the General category, costs one slot, and has a check based upon the average of dexterity/aim, and intelligence/reason. The check is as follows:

Note that a pass exactly on the result needed (ie if someone requires a 12 to pass, and they roll a 12), provides someone with the next field - ie, Halam requires a 9 to pass. He rolls a 9, exactly what needed. Normally, 9 falls within the Flow section, of a result of 8 to 13, but because Halam requires a 9 to pass, and cannot (obviously) get anywhere near a Nebulae pass normally; this result is a Nebulae. If he required a 15 to succeed (a much better chance), and rolled that, he would get a Nebulae field, with whatever bonus points that are available, if any.

This proficiency may, as it is in the General section, be learnt by anyone - but it requires them to have either a dexterity/aim, or intelligence/reason (one, not both) of 10 or less. If they have a 10 DEX, and a 3 INT, they can still learn it, but of course, they are highly unlikely to pass. If they have a 6 DEX and INT, however, they do not have either of the basic attributes this game requires, at a high enough level.

Courses have popped up all over the place - many mobile in fact, due to the game's wildspace nature. There are several Whaleships, and other pleasure-craft, conducting "Gravvabow Tours" through known spheres. If, in the campaign, Bral is not stationary (as in the Star of the Enerithan campaign, this author's home-brew), this is particularly interesting, as once or twice during Bral's stay in a sphere, tours may be available, of the sphere, with Gravvabow tournaments aboard. Other ships simply take a multi-spheric course, constantly dropping off at ports to drop off, and pick up more passengers. The most famous such is a whaleship, the Herd, and has been travelling the spheres in such a course for 50 years, recently bolstering its profits by holding tournaments at certain locations. It takes more than 5 years to do a complete tour of its course, and is anticipated at every port it stops at.

Courses themselves are described by a number of figures and letters. The number of ranges, the courses offered on said ranges, the membership price (not including the bow or balls), the prize money offered at standard tournaments, the frequency, in standard weeks, of tournaments, a tri-monthly average of members, and a standard cost for on-site accomodation. The resident Bralian course, and several others, are presented below. Difficulty is given in values of practice (Pr), basic (Ba), moderate (Mo), expert (Ex), and dedicated tournament (DT). All courses, of course, can be re-arranged, at cost, in other configurations, excepting dedicated tournament courses, such as the famous cloud course of Rath (the owner). Also note that membership cost is per 3 month period, and charge's are placed on a tab during times of non-communication with members, unless they notify the appropriate course of discontinuing their membership.

This, while seemingly a bit rude, provides the courses with the income needed to keep incoming cash in what can be sometimes very isolated regions - in fact, the Krynnspace "Moons of Zivvylyn" actually only opens for two weeks every three months.

Also note that, while a course may be closed at certain times, there is generally someone there always. For instance, the Moons of Zivvylyn, while open for only only said two weeks of twelve, does have a live-in course-keeper, who can open the course for a 10gp per day, per person fee, but without the typical support offered (described below). Courses that are only open during the two week tournaments are listed with an asterisk. Other courses, obviously, do not charge for "non-tournament" time use, apart from membership fees. A guest pass of one fifth membership fee grants a traveller a two day temporary membership.

Specific courses are now discussed. Names are in bold, while avg tri-monthly turnover is in brackets after the name. Note that pay to employees of the course, and other course expenses, are not included in the turnover, but not are extra incomes such as those from taverns, lodging, and equipment sales, as these vary greatly from site to site.

The Royal Bralian course is maintained by Prince Andru himself. Membership is not restricted, and tournaments are held every 6 weeks, with an exception to the standard tournament rule, that 30 random commoners of a list where they may place their names down, gaining free entry (although, based upon Bral's typical corrupt heirachy, anywhere from half to all of these entries may be bribed into). The prize comes out of Prince Andru's pocket itself, as he wins most of the time anyway (although the validity of the tournament is, at times, questioned, by those stupid enough to want to be jettisoned with Bral's garbage).

This course lies within a (non-specified) distant, and unknown crystal sphere. Every two years, a ship lands upon Bral, with a teleporting device to this sphere, and the course within. Entry is available only to members, who must have been in the Bralian, or Zivylyn tournament's top 20, for at least four weeks before the arrival of said ship. The mysterious ship itself is a tradesman, flown by light-skinned humanoids, who do not speak, and have no ears. It is rumoured that Rath has enslaved these beings, and that they naturally live within the cloud his tournament takes place in.

Course membership is paid every time the ship arrives, 24 months in advance, gaining access to the teleportation chamber. Obviously, a great amount of on-site accommodation is available, at varying values. Rath himself is a lv 8 thief, standing 6 and a half feet tall. His mother was an Aperusa, and he retains some of her accent, and certainly much of his charms. A great deal of betting goes on at Rath's Cloud, in fact, during the "night shift" (when the competitors are sleeping), Rath himself teleports through his device, back to Bral, tallying up the stakes so far, and taking more bets. Once a bet is placed, it cannot be retracted, but it can be raised, or another could be made.

With one of the most panoramic views as far as courses go, the Moons of Zivvylyn is run by a Krynnish hill dwarf, called Dougan Redhammer. Any similarity to historical named figures, however, is purely coincidental (cough).

Dougan runs a very beautiful course, with nearly every target having a bonus shot. The prize, while small, also comes with a magnificently carved trophy, made of marble, by Dougan himself. He makes these trophies during the time between tournaments, when many rich nobles from many spheres seek accommodation at his course, in addition to training by the dwarf himself, who has never struck a star field, supposedly, in his life!

There is almost 3 times as much income at the moons' from betting than from memberships, accommodation fees, and course fees. Dougan keeps a small cadre of Krynnish kagonesti elves on his books, to keep the flora and fauna, and several ex-solamnic knights as guards, and more importantly, tourist attractions. The accents of these, and others serving him, are a great amusement to all visiting, but, betting and competition aside, the ale is the biggest drawer (in fact, at times it rivals everything else put together). Dougan makes a rich wonderful selection of dozens of ale's, from "Krynnish Dirtkicker" (as he calls it), to the hair-raising "Mind Flayer". None of his ale, however, is available for export, and everyone who has ever tried has been seized by Dougan's vessel, a hammership known as Ansalon's Pride.

Dougan's is perhaps the most reliable of all courses in regards of cheats - as there is a fine of 1,000gp for cheats, and supposedly none have managed to slip through his fingers.

The tournament at Zivilynn also has a carnival once per year, where many traders come to sell their goods, and "gravity plane entertainment rides" run by gnomes are popular (Dougan lets only mad tinker gnomes upon his course). These involve ropes, wound between two large wheels, and tied together. Seats with bolting bars are attatched, and dozens of giant space hampsters in gigantic wheels provide the pull for the ropes, rocketing those in the seats through the gravity planes of a dozen differently angled air envelopes. The effect is such that, within the thirty seconds the "ride" takes, one goes through a dozen switches in gravity, aswell as the weightlessness of wildspace itself, and then back again. Only once has the ride broken, and the gnomes were certain (relatively) that all (or most) of the people upon the ride were recovered from their "wildspace journey".

Since, a large net is positioned on either end, and a committee takes the names, home address', and attatches ropes to everyone purchasing entry.

The great elven naval academy (found in a separate document) also holds a course, for use by any elf (apart from Drow, of course), of any nationality, that is not specifically at war with the IEN. Their tournament takes place on a grand, beautiful course, sometimes with a great deal of bonuses, and with elven craft of all types present, both as background, as guard, and obstacles. Unfortunately, due to the prestige given to tournament champions, it is one of the most cheated upon courses of all. Accomodation is available for non IEN elves, at a small cost, as is a practice grounds. IEN guards maintain posts on each and every range, but the cheating described above, still continues.

The competition of the Ogre Brutabow is a slight modification upon Gravvabow itself. It actually involves larger bows, and the severed heads of various races. A tradesman carrying Gravvabow supplies was captured by a group of Scro, with a force of Ogres aboard. One of the ogres, stealing the small spectacles of the now-dead helmsman, managed to read the rules of the game (as the glasses had the power of making their wearer understand any language, even if he couldn't read), and the fun began.

After the first five minutes, all the bows were snapped, most of the balls were either lost, eaten, inserted into strange places, or generally destroyed, and the game was over. Taking up a bow taken from a giant comrade, the glasses wearing ogre used a dinner bowl, and the severed head of the helmsman, to run the course. Since, it is a weekly occurance within a colony of some twenty thousand ogres, causing many of them to constantly test their strengths (as they typically have the target's facing towards them, and find it easier to splat the heads against the targets, instead of gently land them). Of course, this keeps them out of the hair of their Scro masters, pleasing them no end.

Entry into the course is available to, generally, anyone, but only the Ogres of the colony seem to be sadistic enough, and more-so easily amused enough, to take part. The course actually runs at a loss, which the Scro war-leaders cover, and frequently, more money has to be spent to clean, discipline, and replace ogres slain from infighting during the tournaments, than is actually made from the shanty-like tavern the glasses wearing ogre runs. Accomodation is available, usually in the form of the ground around the tavern, which is quite large, obviously.

No bonuses are available on the ogre's course, as while the target's size compared to the head's used as balls isn't too drastically unproportionate, the special rings, platforms, and other obstacles captured along with the course fields themselves are, and in any case, no ogres hands have the dexterity to screw them together regardless. Also note that, as a general rule, the target's of the ogre range's are typically tied together (so that the impact of the severed head does not send the target flying), and the ogres climb up/down the ropes to travel between the fields. Finally, it is not unknown for most ogres to forego the bow, which actually disqualifies them from the tournament, as most are to drunk to care.

The two generic courses listed are applicable for any location.

Tournaments take place over two weeks, with a large board holding the positions of all competitors for spectators to watch. Furthermore, seats on platforms are hauled from storage, and spectators are charged a silver piece for a day pass to watch, and walk-ways to separate-run bars, usually on tradesmen, are available. As stated previously, there are several cruise ships running longer tournaments, that can take up to 3 months, spanning across an entire sphere, or even several.

Several races (particularly gnomes and giff) have adapted this game to be used in the phlogiston. Using smoke-powder, projectile "canons", they fire their balls, at a speed more like bullets, at targets over 500 feet away. The main feat, apart from surviving the explosion, is to get the ball to the target, as the currents of the phlogiston can warp the ball's course. Furthermore, large basket-like catchers are used instead of the standard targets, a ten feet wide basket, inside a 20 feet wide basket, inside a 30 feet wide basket.

The giff see this variant not as a game, or a test of skill, but as training for combat, and a right that should be afforded to everyone. Giff mercenaries everywhere are pooling their money, and purchasing gnomish modified Gravvabow sets (which, in truth, retain only the ball from the original set, which the gnomes fully purchase), along with bargaining for less pay in their contracts, for the right to stop once a week, while in the flow, and practice. Many captains dissuade this behaviour, however, as not only does it waste time, but it usually fouls their air, damages their ship, crew, and the mercenaries they have hired, and tends to throw them off course slightly from the constant explosions pushing them in a direction.

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