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Old 12-15-2022, 07:46 PM   #745
jason taylor
 
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Default Re: 'Imperial Culture' (non-canonista)

Isle of the Slayers:

Bullfighting is a popular sport on Stephenshold. Those tourists who make objections are told that it is (like pigsticking) for promoting an ideal of ethical carnivorousness as the prey is allowed a more dignified end than the knacker and the predator must look upon the killing of his meat. The matador is armed with the traditional cape. A local variation is that rather than a traditional sword often a Dewclaw or Ayloi (depending on whether the matador is Human or Aslan). Every part of the slain bull is exploited as that is locally considered part of ethical hunting. Tradititionally the Matador eats the "oysters" himself or herself as symbolic act of conquest though this might be forgone for worthy bulls. He also has a right to dispose of the cuts of meat as he will and to keep the horns as a trophy. Leatherwork is made into decoration displayed in the Bullfighting Museum of Stephenshold, or into sheaths for fine swords.

In Stephenshold as on most pastoral planets sophantslaying beasts are normally slaughtered. This is not the case for successful bulls as giving a fair chance of escape is also part of the ideal. They are usually put to pasture on the Isle of the Slayers. There they are regularly fed and at times bred with choice cows in the hope to produce a good bloodline. In practice, though most matadors are well trained enough that dying in the arena is a low probability there are several Isles of the Slayers each small enough to isolate the bulls and prevent it being a danger to sophants and large enough to allow plenty of room. The bull is usually left to roam free but occasionally a stunt matador will duel a slayer.

Bullfighting is just one of the many animal related sports popular on Stephenshold. Pigsticking, horse racing, falconry, and other traditional sports are known, as well as hunting with hounds, or Persian Cheetahs. Also known is Polo and there are numerous Polo teams on the planet.

Hint: this is inspired because I am reading Hemingway's Death in the Afternoon. I made up the Isles because I rather thought it unfair though of course quite sensible to learn that winning bulls are slaughtered.
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Last edited by jason taylor; 10-03-2023 at 10:23 AM.
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