Customs of Eberron: The Tago

Nowadays, Cyrans don’t do the Tago the old way, not when so much Cyran blood has already been shed. And how could we celebrate so, with our memories of the Day of Mourning and all those we have lost? But do you remember the way the Tago once was danced, wild and fierce?

To perform the Tago in the old style, as they did here at Princess Marhya’s ball, the lead would take off their left glove, and their partner their right. But no Cyran would ever clasp naked hands in public; each ungloved hand held a Taga dagger, a poniard joined to your partner’s by a short chain. As the music played, the dancers would keep the Tagas together as tightly as a kiss, lest you miss a cue from your partner and be cut by a Taga’s edge. And people of the other nations wondered why we danced the Tago so perfectly!

Of course, a daring dancer could drop their guard for a moment and perhaps feel the touch of their partner’s hand against their own, or brush their fingers against their partner’s lips; and occasionally, the dance floor would erupt in laughter and scandal, as two dancer’s hands would meet in passion as their daggers clattered against the floor, abandoned. But even when the dance was performed properly, there are moves where a Taga strokes a neck or slides across an ear, whispering your secret wish to your partner, whether you desire them or only want to see them bleed.

Tago’s reward could be a bloody hand, or worse, for your insolence or recklessness; or your partner’s glove, tucked in your belt, to be exchanged for later in private. And from that custom, the Cyran saying, “bringing a third glove”, for a lover or rake who is well prepared for a secret tryst.

From “The Fall of Cyre” by Dan Garrison

The Day of Mourning occurred on 20 Olarune 994. We’ve always called out that the anniversary of this tragedy is a time when Cyrans seek to celebrate their fallen nation, sharing their stories and traditions with the people around them, keeping Cyre alive in their memories. But what are these customs and stories? Exploring Eberron provides thoughts about Cyran cuisine and fashion. As for stories, if you’re playing a Cyran adventurer take a moment to thing about what that means for your character, and the story they would tell. It could be a favorite story about the nation, perhaps a tale of King Cyre. It might be a memory from childhood, something that made the community they grew up in unique. Or perhaps it was an experience from the war, something tied to the Cyran spirit and the sacrifices made by friends and family.

If you want a more concrete way to remember Cyre, consider dancing the Tago. This is a dance beloved by the people of Cyre, and it can make for a wonderful opening for an evening of romance and intrigue; who will cut and who will touch? The rules that follow were created by my friend Dan Garrison, the co-designer of Phoenix Dawn Command. He developed these for “The Fall of Cyre”, an Eberron campaign I had the good fortune to play in; unfortunately, the scenario itself has never been published. But we hope you enjoy this little taste of Cyran culture, and take a moment to remember the Jewel of Galifar.

Dancing the Tago

The first step in the Tago is to determine the couple that will be dancing. If there are only two dancers, this problem solves itself. At a larger gathering, have each PC choose a partner for their dance, and have them state whether they sought out their partner, were chosen by their partner, or if the pair was thrown together by chance.

Each PC’s dance has three choruses: for each one, have each character secretly choose Guard or Touch, and then reveal their choice. One way to play this bluffing game is to give each dancer two playing cards, a heart and a spade, and have them show hearts to Touch and spades to Guard. If a PC asks, they can look at their partner’s choice with a Wisdom (Insight) check DC 20, and change their own choice before they are revealed.

• If both dancers choose Guard, nothing happens, as the Tago is performed properly.
• If one dancer choose Guard and the other Touch, the Touching dancer loses 1 HP. Have the Guarding dancer describe the location and degree of their partner’s cut. If the Guarding dancer wants to severely hurt their partner, have them make an attack roll with advantage, treating the Taga knife as a regular dagger.
• If both dancers Touch, than each dancer without Inspiration gains Inspiration. Ask any dancer that receives Inspiration what detail of the dance, or their partner, particularly excites or interests them.

After the three choruses, a dancer may make a Charisma check (Performance) DC 15, to have danced at a level of excellence that attracts the applause of those around them; their partner may impose advantage or disadvantage to this check as they wish.

While the Tago is properly danced with knives, it can be danced using training rods, light wands connected by a chain. The principle is the same, but a guard/touch combination causes no loss of hit points—though it is still a source of embarrassment.

Thanks as always to my Patreon supporters, who make these articles possible. I’m currently conducting a series of polls on Patreon to finalize the topics for my next Eberron book, and I’m holding a live Q&A for Patrons this Saturday (the 22nd)! If this sounds interesting, follow the link to check it out.