Laz Tazna - The Meat Hunt

A game of Laz Tazna requires all five of your senses. Play it long enough and you'll develop a sixth sense - a way to hear the stillness. It's about slowing down, blending in, and --- No! Don't eat that mushroom!

— A village elder mentoring a new Laz Tazna hatchling

Laz Tazna is a strategic teaching game involving lizardfolk hatchlings, younglings, and elders, in which the younglings sneak about trying to steal a piece of primed meat the elders have placed while the younglings try to spot them. The game continues until all the younglings have been spotted or the meat has been snatched. The successful group is allowed to eat the meat while the other group watches. They are not allowed to share.

History

While no one knows exactly when the first game of Laz Tazna was played, its purpose is clear: teach hatchlings about the importance of perception and the younglings about the importance of patience. Both of these traits are prized among lizardfolk hunters and warriors.

Execution

At its most basic level, a game of Laz Tazna requires a hatching, a youngling, and a mutually desired item - usually food. A more formal game of Laz Tazna involves a village elder placing the desired item (e.g. a fresh liver) in a conspicuous central location. One elder leads the younglings to the outskirts of the camp area, another stays with the hatchlings, giving advice for how to identify movement and sounds in the shadows, while someone else watches over the prize. During the game, elders are known to give suggestions to hatchlings. Those moments also serve as reminders to youngling about how to move quietly in the shadows. Once a youngling has been spotted, they sit down around the food. They are not allowed to take the food, but they are allowed to help active younglings. This is commonly done by distracting the hatchlings or by guiding fellow younglings.
Most games of Laz Tazna last several hours. After a sizable hunt, when Elders are able to offer a larger winning prize, games of Laz Tazna can last over 8 hours. In these more competitive games elders have been known to hide while the hatchlings and younglings team up and try and track them down. Members of the successful hunting party stay behind and mentor the young, allowing the aspiring hunters and warriors a chance to learn the craft from the experts.

Primary Related Location

Hool Marshes

Related Ethnicities

• Lizardfolk [Ziuanthi]