MOD PLOT: NOT ALONE DO WE STAND, PART 1

[faderifting]

WHO: Anyone who wants to attend
WHAT: THE GRAND TOURNEY
WHEN: Bloomingtide 20-27
WHERE: Wycome
NOTES: We'll be rolling one or two events per day, in the order listed, and posting the results here! That's also where you can find your diplomacy or espionage assignments and their results. There will be a second log post in about five days regarding the end of the tournament, to give people a place to RP about the competitions' results once they know them and to react to some other surprise developments, so leave some room for dessert.

The Grand Tourney is one of Thedas's greatest spectacles--all the nations of the world and plenty of others besides turned out to compete in this edition of the famous test of arms. The Duke of Wycome has granted the use of a broad plain outside the city, a vast open span of grass bounded on both sides by minor forks of the Minanter making their way to the sea, and split down the center by another. Scores of the duke's men have been hard at work since the announcement, constructing stands and arenas, the rough wooden rails and benches of the commons and luxurious boxes for the more exalted spectators, lifted above the masses and shaded by awnings, draped with bunting in Wycome's brilliant purple and gold.

Between and among the competition grounds are stalls and roving vendors selling anything and everything, most popular the vast open-sided tents filled with trestle tables and benches and neverending barrels of ale and wine as tall as a qunari. Stages of various sizes dot the grounds, hosting musicians, dancers, tumblers, performers of all kinds. Others wander through the crowds, putting on impromptu shows wherever it looks like there are enough people with free coin about.

A half-dozen new wooden bridges span the central river--more like a large stream, really--and connect the competition grounds to the camping grounds. Tents in all colors and styles are arrayed in rough groups, marked out with the banners of knights, houses, mercenary companies, kingdoms. The Inquisition has sprung for new tents for its delegation to make sure they look the part, dramatic black as a backdrop to the Inquisition banners that fly atop each of them, housing two to four people each. Nearest are some Orlesians with an array of brightly-colored silk structures, and on the opposite side, a mercenary company called the the Grizzly Legion, a particularly rowdy outfit, with banners market by a giant red bear, and bonfires and revelry late into the night every night.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

The general atmosphere of the tourney is raucous and celebratory, but the rivalries inherent in the occasion seem less good-natured than they might have in past years. Nevarra seems divided into two camps rather than one, with a (not-yet-literal) line down the middle of their encampment and their crowds that's bridged only by the brave and slightly awkward few who still haven't chosen between the Pentaghasts and Van Markhams. And the Orlesians, despite rumors that the Empire is still struggling in the wake of its own civil war, seem particularly delighted to see their rivals teetering on the brink—some are even taking odds on how soon they'll be able to get Perendale back. But, of course, no one can rival Tevinter for smugness. If there was a fancy sword awarded for that, they would win it every year, and there's no sitting near their delegation without "overhearing" an unnecessarily loud conversation about the sorry state of the rest of Thedas.

Of course, not everyone is caught up in the affairs of surfacer empires: there are delegations from both Orzammar and Kal-Sharok, each apparently pretending the other does not exist, and the odd Avvar and Chasind who seems to think everyone else is being a bit ridiculous about everything. The most isolated attendees are those from the Anderfels, who stick close together and rarely speak to anyone else—not that anyone else seems much inclined even if they did want to. At the other end of the spectrum are the Free Marchers; this is the one occasion every-few-years when they look to one another as brothers, rather than distinct and often competitive nations.

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

The Grand Tourney's official competitions are scheduled to take place over five days, culminating with the prestigious Grand Melee and awarding of the Celebrant. Before then, the tournament progresses day by day through unarmed combat, archery, armed combat, and jousting competitions, each heavily attended by delighted spectators cheering for their countrymen and any foreigner who strikes them as particularly charming, plus the odd equal-opportunity heckler. A few extra fights break out here and there when tempers flare, between both competitors and observers, and when the alcohol flows more liberally at night the chance of trouble rises. But for the most part, the competitions are fair and the mood around them is celebratory.

Away from the main grounds, a few additional staging areas have been provided for events focused on magic—these are more sparsely attended, due to their unofficial nature and the fears of much of the populace that they might catch a fireball to the face if they wander too close, but enough people's curiosity trumps fear to form a thinner, quieter crowd. The two events open to mages, combat against fade-touched creatures and a version of the melee with teams that allow mages, take place in the early mornings, when they won't be competing with the official events for attention, and are most heavily attended by Tevinter mages who are very, very certain that they can't be beat.

Comments

Unarmed Combat

[iceblade]

[Aka, that awkward moment when your character was beaten by your friend's other character.]

Skadi manages to advance to the next round, but that's when her own luck fails. Fenris is too fast and fierce for her to get a solid grip on for too long, and while it's a fun challenge, it's not one she can ultimately overcome. The crowd cheers as Fenris is named the victor of their match, and she heads out of the ring to get some water and healing for her forming bruises.

Returning a short while later, she ends up near Kain as the next round begins and flashes him a smile.

"Brutal out there, isn't it? I thought I had it in me to last a little longer, but luck wasn't on my side."

ha! man I always find it pretty funny having my characters semi-cross paths

[in_death_sacrifice]

There are quite a few exciting matches in this second round, and even Kain has to admit that he's glad he'd stuck around to watch. He's still a bit disappointed that he's not out there, but he's still pretty impressed by the talent of these combatants. The tattooed elf takes this round, but that had been a tough one to call. It definitely could have gone either way at points.

He glances over as Skadi approaches, nodding agreement. "I'll say. But that was well fought... you came close to taking that round."

[iceblade]

Skadi smiles anew, not too put out but then there are other events still at hand. "Fenris knows me too well, I think. That's what comes of sparring with him beforehand. With new people, you may not know their ways, but they don't know yours either. There's some benefit in that."

[in_death_sacrifice]

"That's true... I could tell you both were familiar with one another, though, without a doubt. You both knew how to counter certain attacks." Just being a fighter in general, it's easy to pick up on things like that, when watching others. "There's something to be said for the thrill of the unknown... I'm sure that's why they usually have the strangest array of creatures to face for the armed combat..." Which is something he's looking forward to next, figuring he has a great chance to last past the first round there. Right? But maybe he shouldn't overestimate his own abilities...

[iceblade]

"Ah, now that I can't wait to start. Squaring off against a tough beastie? What's a more exciting challenge than that?" Skadi brightens, likewise hoping for a better turnout than this last one. "It'll be even more of a challenge, since I can't use my Spirit Warrior abilities, lest they think I'm a mage. It will be pure muscle and wit at my side."

[in_death_sacrifice]

"Ah, yes. Keeping subdued with certain skills has to be tough. On the other hand, that makes for quite the challenge to face..." And a new challenge is a good thing. Kain definitely enjoys such opportunities, himself. "I wonder what sort of beasts they'll throw against us this year? There was one Tourney a few years back where it seemed as if there were bears everywhere, of all sizes and shapes, and dispositions... but enhanced in various ways. Whatever they toss at us, it's bound to be tougher than average."