Rite of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego

By Gwendolyn Piper (magicrat@tiac.net)

Level 4 Ratkin Rite

Description

This Rite, combining Mind of the Tunnels with Rite of the Bolthole, as well as a popular children's game show, is used as a Sacred game to strengthen the Ratkin's community ties as well as enabling them to keep their boltholing, geography, and stalking skills finely honed. One Ratkin, who gains four temporary Honor for the role, dons a fetish blood red fedora and trenchcoat takes the role of Carmen Sandiego, and spirit "accomplices" are chosen, each having given consent to be hunted for its Gnosis, as "punishment" for "ratting out" Carmen Sandiego in the course of the game/rite, during which all the Ratkin involved get free Bolthole maneuvers throughout the world: and no roll is required: the precision of the arrival point is based upon who can answer the most geography questions about their relative destinations. (yes, they play Carmen Sandiego with real geography, not a map :) )

At these destinations, the players must gather and assemble the magic Lute and the words to the War Rant, and when these are sung and played together, one of the spirit snitches is cornered and defeated in ritual combat, brought home to the caern (often new Caerns of Streetwise are created in this way), where it is ritually interrogated in a dark room, giving up its Gnosis and information necessary to capture Carmen Sandiego in exchange for its freedom.

The other Ratkin then play a game of worldwide Hide and Seek, roughly based upon the TV game show. This Rite is taught by Rat spirits as well as the game show of the same name, and is often a magnet for urban Fae, who are traditionally welcomed into the fun.

Those who perform well in the game gain Wisdom renown, and to a lesser extent, Glory: whereas those who take the prescribed roles win Honor.

This Ritual is thought to be a resurrection of a long-lost Rite, and occasionally tantalizing fragments of the lost Galliard traditions appear in barbershop harmony as they