The Festival of Silent Drums

Four opening slots are the actual negotiating resource. Toma begins by asking for two council slots but accepts one after a visible reply slot is reserved. Rue needs two protected invitations, for a quiet performer and a newcomer; the two may decline without cancelling the event. Esen needs one crowd reply plus a marked aisle. Allocate all four and take the extra action to mark the aisle before the drum opening. A handclap compact needs Rue and Esen but gives the council its welcome after the opening instead. A quiet procession remains possible with no agreement. Read the terms before asking for offers and record the specific concession each party makes.

Truth and opening

Lio accepted a silence cloth to keep the council from drowning out small performers. Its four tabs lift only after freely accepted turns for a quiet performer, a newcomer, the ensemble and a reply. A clap opening works while the cloth remains.

120-minute route

Try the cloth and hear three requests 30m → Compare drum and clap compacts 40m → Stage the agreed opening 30m

The cloth demonstration is earned in play. Leave the final slot unused on the clap route; the council’s welcome moves after the opening instead of being silently counted as consent.

People

Toma: wants Give the festival an audible welcome Offers Surrender a reprise if the crowd gets a reply. Boundary: The council cannot simply be erased from the program.

Rue: wants Protect quiet and newcomer invitations Offers Two willing performers and a cloth demonstration. Boundary: An invitation must allow refusal.

Esen: wants Make the reply accessible and the aisle clear Offers Handclap leaders and aisle markers. Boundary: No crowded opening without an exit lane.

Lio: wants Make room for freely accepted small voices Offers The cloth and a tab-by-tab opening demonstration. Boundary: No tab is lifted by commanding a performer to accept.

Events and costs

Closures

An opening with room to answer: Council accepts is true and Small performers accept is true and Stewards accept is true and Aisle marked is true

Hands carry the festival: Small performers accept is true and Stewards accept is true and Aisle marked is true

A festival on foot: Available

Recovery

A refused invitation can become a described rest. If a party rejects the whole compact, use the quiet procession. It opens the stalls but forfeits the performance; do not declare the cloth cured.