You can contact Kristiina at svaha@iki.fi

Images of "The Magic Carpet", December 7, 2002

(Kuvia pelistä "Taikamatto" 7.12.2002)

This game was set in the fairytale world of the Arabian Nights. It was loosely based on historical Baghdad during the reign of the second of the Abbasid Caliphs, though some liberties were taken with the geography and detailing of certain areas of the realm. The mythological emphasis was kept in the background, but it was definitely there. The game was created and organized by Heli Lehto, with additional material by Jonna Kangas and myself. It was played in a private home in Espoo, and managed to capture the beautiful, exotic (and to most of us, challengingly alien) atmosphere very nicely. This was particularly palpable in the intimacy of the women's quarters.

The pictures were taken by Atte Iiskola. I have done some basic cropping in some cases. Click on the picture to see it in its larger size.

	The good Caliph Arshimadan ibn Abbas (Heikki Leppä) and his first wife Jade (Kristiina Prauda, middle) and younger wives Zobeide (Päivi Miettunen, left) and Adire (Laura Teräsranta, right). This is taken after the game - in-game, the ladies kept their veils meticulously in place.
	The parties of the main conflict: Sultan Mohammed of Samarkand (Ahmad Dsouki, who also provided some invaluable advice on culture and manners)...
	...And Sultan Abdullah of Zorund (Jukka Zitting, left), plus one of the Caliph's eunuch guards (Otso Ollikainen).
	Sultan Mohammed and his son and heir, Seriam: Ahmad helping Samu Iiskola with his headgear before the game.
	More pre-game preparations. On the right, Kerttu Mäkilä, who played Sultan Abdullah's youngest daughter N'dasha, a trained dancer. At the back, Virpi Joensuu helps Jukka Pajarinen with his turban.
	The Caliph and one of his guards (Joonas Vanhala) having a discussion on motivations (off-game, it that was not evident yet!). Note treasure display, left.
	Grand Vizier Leander, all-seeing and much feared (Aarne Saarinen).
	The Caliph's second wife, Zobeide. Päivi Miettunen is wearing a genuine berber costume. At the back, Jukka Pajarinen prepares to play Ali Baba masquerading as Sinbad the Sailor. Why Hölö's hand is in the picture is anybody's guess.
	Sultan Mohammed's first wife Cadish (Virpi Joensuu) and youngest wife Ea (Satu Vanhanen) - eldest daughter of Sultan Abdullah, and the cusp of the conflict.
	Zohaira, the Caliph's foremost dancer (Suvi Autio, who performed with exquisite skill) .
	And finally, the Genie of the Bottle: Head GM Heli Lehto. (Back right, Sanna Mörsky, who played Yantha, the Caliph's youngest daughter.)