Summer Secret Surprise 07 Offical Contest Answers

[Thor]

I'm going to keep all the recognized, official answers for the contest prize in this thread.

Recognized, official answers constitute a definitive statement of what the image is (with a link to evidence supporting your claim), and a definitive statement of what the surprise will be.

If your answer has not been added to this thread, it either does not meet the criteria above, or we're bad people and missed it. If your answer is not here but you feel it should be, I suggest taking the following steps:

1. Go back and check your answer. Did you provide a definitive statement about the image, a link to back up your statement, and a definitive statement about what the surprise will be? If not, post a NEW answer in the Hints and Speculation thread (http://burningwheel.org/forum/showthread.php?t=4367) and it will be added here. DON'T edit your current answer. That'll just muddle things.

2. If you feel you met the criteria and your answer still hasn't been added here, send me a private message. I'll take care of it.

P.S. Unless you're Luke, Drozdal or myself, please don't post your answers directly to this thread. This thread is for recognized, official answers. Post your answer to the Hints and Speculation thread (http://burningwheel.org/forum/showthread.php?t=4367) instead.

P.P.S. Good luck!

P.P.P.S. Only the first person to provide an answer following the criteria will be accepted. However, since the criteria were not fully made clear until later, anyone that provided an answer that didn't fit the criteria and now goes back and makes a new post with the same answer that fits the criteria will get precedence.

[Thor]

Pseudoidiot's answer:


The more I look at the picture, the more that sword reminds me of some Chinese swords I've seen, maybe something like a Jian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jian)? And the string could maybe be some tassles that were ripped/torn off, which I think I've heard was a somewhat common practice. Also, the sword's all cracked, making me think it's old; maybe it was buried? So, the flower could be some common burial flower (I'm just not sure what) -- I thought a narcissus for a while, though.

So, now I definitely think the surprise is going to deal with China in some way. Likely with the eras already mentioned surrounding the Three Kingdoms and such, since BW would work so well with all the intrigue and warfare which would certainly be involved.

Final answer.

[Thor]

Yokiboy's answer:


My guess is that the sword is a Chinese double-edged, straight sword called Jian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jian), and in that case the surprise is Burning Wuxia! :)

P.S. I consider Three Kingdoms and Wuxia to be two separate things!

[Thor]

gooderguy's answer:


Burning Vikings

After some internet research, i discovered this sword (http://www.museumreplicas.com/webstore/ShowLargeImage.aspx?Prod=Beowulf%20Sword&LgImage=0500960_L_000.jpg), and other similar viking swords, which have the closest wieghted pommel with a tassel in the vein of the sword in the picture, which lead me to think back upon what I know of Beowulf and how he was called the flower of warriors.
Quote:
Hrothgar expresses the ephemeral quality of human life in beautiful terms. Calling Beowulf the “flower of warriors,” he employs an image that doesn’t evoke Beowulf’s strength and fortitude but instead emphasizes the fragility of his life and the fact that his youth—his “bloom”—will “fad[e] quickly.” This choice of imagery encapsulates the idea, implicit in this passage, that there are two “death[s]” that threaten the warrior. He must be prepared not only for a “jabbing blade or javelin from the air,” which will wound him, but also for “repellent age,” which will eat away at his youthful audacity and force him to think in terms of honor, nobility, and leadership that aren’t dependent on mere physical prowess.
Then I started looking at maps of Norway, Denmark and the rest of Scandenavia, etc. and compared them to the 'cloud-like' apparitions in the picture, and while it's a bit of a stretch they have a similar shape and continuity to them.

As there is also a Beowulf Comic and movie (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=112112) coming out in the fall, this game would be a good lead in to getting that crowd.

even though BW already does vikings fairly well, i think this would make a good historic addition to the Burning Wheel world, because it is certainly a much earlier period than the traditional 1400s period BW was original designed to emulate, and there are certainly some Viking traits and lifepaths not covered in the character burner.

final answer

[Thor]

johnstone's answer:


Oh, alright. It's Grasscutter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kusanagi) - Bronze Age/Mythic Japan. Dunno what the flowers have to do with anything, but this came up in the other thread. Hey, Spirit Binding would sure fit...

[Thor]

insmouth's answer:


Ok heres my first post and guess.

I think the sword is a Chinese Jian (http://www.nmm.ac.uk/searchbin/searchs.pl?exhibit=it0347i&axis=1181336376&flash=&dev=) as previously suggested, being thrust through poppy flowers (http://www.wrightgardening.co.uk/material/poppy.jpg). Therefore my guess is the Opium Wars (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_wars). the sword is above the islands around Hong Kong (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=hong+kong&ie=UTF8&ll=22.287826,114.169922&spn=0.378666,0.738831&t=k&z=11&om=1) where the opium shipments leave the east.

This way we get some cool Wushu action, pirates, some expanded firearms rules, some cool rules dealing with drug induced visions and addictions. The best of all worlds! ;)

**Thanks to Rivers for the links to the Opium Wars era sword and the poppy flower.

[Thor]

Chaodyn's answer:



The sword is Kusanagi No Tsurugi (http://www.uwec.edu/philrel/shimbutsudo/images/kusanagi.jpg) or the Grasscutter as previously mentioned. I suspect the book will provide info for running games involving ancient Japan and Japanese mythology.

Here's (http://www.japan-zone.com/omnibus/shinto.shtml) another page with info about the sword and an image showing the three pieces of imperial regalia.Since my answer is the same as Johnstone's other than evidence I'll amend it to say that the book will be about playing as Kami.

[Thor]

With his clarification, Yag's answer replaces pseudoidiot's answer, as the original came in two hours earlier:



Burning Spring. BW version of the Warring States period, or the Three Kingdoms period.

EDIT to clarify: Famous periods of Chinese history, one about 300 BC, the other abour 300 AD.


I guess to make this guess "official" I have to post some "evidence". I based my guess solely on the picture -- the sword in general, plus its hilt style -- and knowing what sort of systems the Burning Wheel is good at. Politics, high drama, swordfighting... it all fits.

The flower might be a peony. It's not exactly right, but... bleh. Can't place it any better than that. ETA: And the peony is a national symbol of China, which is why that is significant.

Keep the guesses coming folks!