So a few months ago, I started tossing about the idea OOC and Thom starting doing so IC for a new sport designated as a sort of Ladies' Quidditch; i.e., a game that is similar to Quidditch but has just enough tweaks to make it appropriate for a proper MC/UC woman to play as a casual sport, or potentially even in a professional league someday if it garners enough interest. After having that germinating in Thom's head for a few months, he's ready to introduce the new sport to the world (or at least to magical Britain), so without further ado: welcome to the world of Quaderash.

Why is it called "Quaderash" ?

OOC, because between Quidditch and Quodpot I figured it really had to start with a Qu, and because wizards like words that sound funny.

IC, it comes from the word quader.

Quote:An old Scots word literally meaning “to make something square,” but which can also be used figuratively to mean “to agree with or get along with someone.”

A "more agreeable" version of Quidditch for the fairer sex Then Thom tacked "-ash" (pronounced osh) onto the end because the most recently developed sport I could find was squash, which was first played in England in 1830. This game has nothing to do with squash, but Thom probably thought that sounded like a fun name and is sort of making fun of the Muggles.

How Do You Play?

The game is mostly similar to Quidditch, with a few notable exceptions that are all based in VE-appropriate sexism and misogyny:

• The bludgers have been replaced by new pieces of equipment which are soft and filled with color-changing powder. Getting hit with one would feel similar to being hit with a water balloon; there's the feeling of impact but probably not enough to leave a bruise (because you're all too delicate #VEmisogyny). Upon impact the ball will leave a colorful residue, and magical penalties are introduced to the affected player dependent on the color at the time of hit.
  
• The "beaters" are called "guards" because that sounds less gruesome and testosterone-y. Instead of carrying bats, they have something similar to a tennis racket to fend off the powder-filled balls that lynn didn't determine a name for whoops.
  
• The seeker/snitch dynamic is mostly intact, with a slight modification: the snitch will start to hum an hour after gameplay, and will escalate to actually singing by two hours. This makes it easier to find/catch and at least theoretically caps the game at two hours in length, because ladies don't have the stamina for longer matches. #VEmisogyny
  
• There are three large baskets instead of hoops. One, because it's theoretically easier for a lady to throw a quaffle-analog into a basket than through a hoop (no upper arm strength, yo #VEmisogyny), but also because Quidditch only recently got on the hoop train and it was dramatic and Thom suspects going back to baskets will make nostalgic fans of older Quidditch want to watch Quaderash.
  
• The keeper also gets a tool to help them defend which is similar to a lacrosse stick. Making it easy. #VEmisogyny
  
• To make things more interesting — one of the things Thom struggled with a lot was how to get normal people interested in playing/watching a game that was 'like Quidditch only less so' — there is a checkerboard grid laid out below the people flying, where different squares create different magical effects on the pitch. These can be activated accidentally (if someone drops the Quaffle-analog), or intentionally if a guard lops a ball down at one, or if a player decides to sacrifice some time to fly down and land on one.
  

"Magical effects" are largely open to your discretion, but they shouldn't be anything too terrifying. xD Pitch effects might include conjured whirlwinds of flower petals to decrease visibility, making the game balls move in slow motion or super speed, toggling the pitch's weather, temporary flora growth or large groups of fauna parading around the pitch, etc. If you've seen/read The Magicians, think Welters. Or think Jumanji but if it wasn't all necessarily trying to kill you. Player penalty effects from the powder-balls could be something like temporary paralysis of the limb that was hit, or adding weight to the effected limb to make flying/moving it more difficult and sluggish, or affecting one of your senses, altering your depth perception, etc. All magical effects are temporary and wear off after a few minutes.

Do My Characters Know Any of This?

Thom's company will be starting an IC marketing campaign to spread the word about it now-ish. It's still in the developmental stages really, so the rules/equipment may get tweaked a bit as it grows in popularity. If everything goes well, your character could hear about it through the marketing campaigns (in either the DP or WW), from a friend, or might get invited to an event where Quaderash is being played. The full equipment set is available via mail order now from Quality Quaffle & Snitch for 5 galleons; this would be accessible to any UC citizen as a lawn game to just have around, and is feasible for MC families who might want to splurge on that sort of thing (you can check the pay charts, but my target was to have it cost around a week's wages for a MC citizen).

Why Is This In Plottage?

Because I need player involvement to make it a thing. xD IDEAS:

• Thom's company might run an advertisement targeted to MC women to volunteer to play the game to test out the dynamics and give feedback. They would not be compensated for their time but would get a coupon for a discount off of their own Quaderash set, which would make it a bit more accessible for MC families. If you have someone who might respond to an advert like that, LMK and we can have some threads or an event for the field test.
  
• Thom is interested in partnering up with some UC society ladies who want to throw lawn or garden parties during the season to try and increase the game's visibility and popularity. HMU if you play an appropriate type.
  
• Thom could feasibly donate the necessary equipment or even sponsor a club for WC women or young women (Hogwarts aged) who wanted to learn to play, as a sort of charitable thing, based on the idea that women with appropriate methods of exercise and expression available to them might be less likely to go... idk, whoring about or whatever the rich think the WC does with their free time currently. He'd probably need someone charitably inclined to get his foot in the door in that realm since it's not his usual thing.
  
• Backlash from female Quidditch players (past or current) since the whole existence of the game is really a sort of backhanded way of saying women shouldn't play Quidditch
  
• YOUR IDEAS HERE. I'm very open.
  

The Quidditch season kicks off in early May, and that will take his immediate focus, so this would be more of a late May project that can extend onward through the summer/the season!

I'm also very open to suggestions about rules/equipment tweaks, if anyone has any great ideas there!