Introduction/Popular activities in El-Hazard

So, you've made it to El-Hazard. You've survived demon gods, Bugrom, and near-cataclysmic weapons. Now it's time to kick back and relax. Hmmm... How does one exactly do that in El-Hazard?

It's odd. Despite the hover technology and the dimensional weapons, it seems that no one in El-Hazard thought it necessary to invent the Television or the DVD player. So, kicking back with a few brews and watching the Nth incarnation of Tenchi Muyo is pretty much out of the question. So what to do, what to do...

Well, there are other options. Different activities probably have an appeal to different social classes. Music seems to be one outlet with musicians playing for audiences. Perhaps there is also theatre and drama in El-Hazard. With the plethora of myths, legends, and stories, I'm sure at least a few have been turned into long running musicals.

Gambling also seems to be another activity that is popular. Gaming parlors cater to those with the gambling bug by offering a variety of games of chance or skill for those to wager on. One particular game is called "Pettan". It is played between two players, each with a heavy card. One player lays his card face down on the table. The other slams his card down as hard as he can trying to use the wind from his slam to flip the other's card so it sits face up. Players alternate turns until one player has successfully forced his opponent's card to sit face-up three times. Those who play the game regularly often have special customized cards featuring art and designs of their liking.

One can also travel to relax. With a vast choice of interesting locales and hot-spots, one only has to have a trusty guide to find a good time, be it at a hot-spring to a converted water park/holy shrine.

One thing that seems suspiciously absent is sports. That's not to say that the El-Hazardians have no physical sports, but no mention is made of them. One can only wonder what kind of games are played. Perhaps, by studying the games of the cultures of the middle-eastern regions of our own world, could we possible formulate some rough idea.

Portions of this page originally belonged to The Wanderers' Guide to El-Hazard: The Magnificent world, co-authored by Jason Bertovich (Makoto) and Aaron Ziegler (Spanner). The original page is no longer available on-line.