Gamester

Gamester is the first challenge for kochans, and for most it is the first challenge they take on in their lives. It involves 1. weaning from the breast and 2. moving to the Circle of Games. Before taking on this challenge an older kochan who is likely to be weaned very soon will visit her gamester bashindas in the Circle of Games to learn to play. The gamesters get karma for teaching them (this is an unofficial secondary challenge). The gamesters also get karma for playing the games in the Circle, and they are rated and mentored by hanas who are now foresting or carrying. Gamestering usually ends with puberty, but in some rare cases a hana will stay on in the Circle of Games, particularly if she is 1. impaired in some way and 2. is very good at teaching and mentoring the gamesters.