The Hand Debate is Godshand’s annual religious festival. Worshippers who claim that the hand-shaped mountain belongs to their true god argue their case and demonstrate miracles. The campaign timeline also calls the festival the Festival of Master Debate.
Faith, healing, and trade
As rival cults grew around the landmark, a plaza was created for their arguments. The festival turns those disagreements into a major attraction: pilgrims, worshippers, and people seeking relief from ailments and curses come to town for healing. The resulting crowds bring business to the oasis.
Worship of the Jaded One is part of this religious setting. The festival’s complete roster of faiths, miracle contests, and formal rules has not been recorded.
Judges and betting
Judges are selected in secret and are meant to remain undisclosed until the day of the Debate. The magistrate and councilpeople know the panel in advance, but information regularly leaks. Illegal betting and attempts to manipulate the betting pool make those leaks valuable.
In CSI Godshand, the named judges are Aldrich, Sara, and Mira. Aldrich’s notebook contains information about the panel that he should not have had. Hilda Mirin knows about the festival’s betting and town gossip.
The campaign before the festival
Wild Sheep Chase takes place a few weeks before the festival. The murder investigation and the missing corn shipment happen at roughly the same time. After the corn is recovered, Janos rewards the party with Greater Healing potions and a thousand-place advance in the queue; the notes do not specify which queue. The returned black corn is expected to sell as popcorn during the Debate.