OPEN | the grand tourney!

[poleaxed]

WHO: All Y'all.
WHAT: It's the Grand Tourney! Like a normal Tourney, but grand.
WHEN: August Now.
WHERE: Kirkwall.
NOTES: Sports... injuries?

Every thousand days, the Grand Tourney is organized in the Free Marches, and all the City States-- and even challengers from farther abroad-- come together to celebrate the freedom of the Marches. This year, the event was intended to take place in Tantervale.

When that, uh, fell apart, the tourney was hastily moved to the relative safety of Kirkwall.

Festivities begin early, with musicians and entertainers coming from all around to entertain lords and ladies as they set up tents. Food vendors complete the picnic atmosphere-- you may not be able to get a seat in the stands, but the hills around where the field where it all takes place makes the event easily viewed by all. Jesters, bards, troubadours, food vendors, all are happy to serve and make the event lively and lovely-- for a price.

The first event is the Joust. The announcer goes through everyone's names, their origins, the part they play, so the crowd knows who to root for and who to boo. Before the individual bouts begin, the jousters are expected to ride around the field collecting favors.

The second event is the Quintain. A similar setup to the Joust takes place, with announcements and cheering, gaining favors, etc. The major difference-- besides the content of the event itself-- is the hastily erected judge's stand, where they can view the skills of each comptetitor. Some scores are met with cheers, some with boos. Some competitors schmooze with the judges before their bout. It's all very classy.

In the intermission guests are invited to play a game of tug-of-war over two large piles of flowers and flower petals. As the loosers will discover, there's a pit of mud underneath the flowers. Hopefully you brought a second pair of clothes, or maybe you just don't care Edgard.

If tug-of-war isn't your game, there's drunken archery. Darktown's very best (worst) booze has been generously donated (appropriated) for the event. One shot to begin, and more shots for every subsequent shot of your bow. Landing closer to bullseye garners more points, and prizes can be collected for high point scores. Nothing particularly valuable, it's more like carnival fare-- stuffed toys, shiny gems (they are colored glass), wood carved in various shapes (some lewd). The most expensive prize is a hangover cure potion (it does not work).

The final event is the ever-popular Melee, where several one-on-one matches take place simultaneously, until someone is either undefeated or the least defeated. As with previous events, each combatant is announced to the crowd and expected to walk around the stands, receiving favors. However, they're expected to do this between every match in the melee, as their popularity rises... or falls.

During all of this, the ever-noble Pas d'Armes event is taking place. If you wander away from the event at any time, Gabranth will be there, at a nearby bridge, judging and / or fighting anyone who wishes to pass. Of course, if you wish to pass without issue, he will accept a favor from you. At the end, he'll be crowned with a white wreath of flowers, in a 'peace offering', and that is the sign that the tourney is done.

Not counting the partying into the night. No medieval camping trip is complete without waking up half clothed in a field, right?

JUST TELL ME WHO WON ALREADY.fine, fine, jesus.

THE JOUST

1st Place: Tony Stark, The Iron Man (Erroneously called 'The Man of Iron' at least once by an announcer. Several people in the stands asked if he was made of iron, why he was called that, what is he doing, why.)
2nd Place: Weary Winona of Wycome (Never took off her helm, which was shaped like a woman's face and painted like she was crying.)
3rd Place: 'Sir Sullivan of Bonneville'(Who might just be Edgard in disguise, however legend has it he's actually an undead noble trying to reclaim his family's honor in the joust. This legend was started by Jone.)
Crowd Favorite: Ellis, The Bachelor (He was, at one point, mostly just a mass of favors, which may have been why he didn't rank. The crowd screamed his name repeatedly and at one point threw flowers at him while he was riding past.)

THE QUINTAIN

1st Place: Derrica, the Rivaini Raider (The chant 'carry me home' began during her bout, and continued whenever she walked near the field.)
2nd Place: Derek, Son of Derek, of the Ostwick Dereks (The 'carry me home' chant continued during his bout, as some confusion arose over whether Derrica was a distant relation of the Ostwick Dereks.)
3rd Place: Madame Noir of Hasmal (A ghostly pale woman wearing only a black gown during her match, there were rumors she'd bribed the judges with money or a low neckline.)
Crowd Favorite: Beth Greene, The Lady of the Green (Rumor has it that she was a wild woman who came from the forests just to compete. This rumor was also started by Jone.)

THE MELEE

1st Place: Pierre the Virtuous of Hambleton (On a particularly sunny day, some suspect he only won because the reflection from his bald head.)
2nd Place: 'The Dark Jaguar' (Who may be Erik Stevens in disguise. A nighttime assassin, he appears from nowhere during a fight usually with the aid of a conveniently placed piece of hanging black fabric but shhhh.)
3rd Place: Laura, Lady Nightshade (Rumor has it she threw her fight to get third place, but everybody who knows Laura knows she'd never do that... right?)
Crowd Favorite: 'The Acolyte' (A young man of roughly the same height and build as Benedict Artemaeus, the crowd really responded to how nervous, yet trying to be brave, he looked.)

THE OVERALL WINNER OF EVERYTHING:
Ser John 'the Anointed John' Pembroke of Tantervale
...who trained for this every day and is a professional Tourneyman, and whose win for Tantervale really lifted the spirit of the game to a high note, so how can we be bitter, really.
(Note to 1st placers in other events: this means he beat you in your event.)

[ooc Also final reminder that you don't have to have signed up for an event to have your character participate!!!]

Comments

[kantikoy]

"It's been lovely, I haven't been to a tourney in what feels like ages."

She takes a drink from the tankard in her hands.

"I think people really needed this, honestly. A distraction but also a chance to make new friends." She imagines that the refugees who are present feel better than the would have otherwise.

[tender]

Yes, it's what many people needed. A tourney that feels the same as all the ones that came before it, untouched by the sweeping ruin of the last few months, is a blessing. Derrica would have agreed even if she hadn't seen the proof of that in the faces of the people she'd mingled with in the wake of the events.

"Have you made many new friends?" Derrica teases gently, turning towards Adrasteia in her seat. "There's going to be dancing soon."

This is not exactly what Adrasteia was talking about. Derrica knows that, but the opportunity is there and she doesn't care to pass it up.

[kantikoy]

"Oh," Adrasteia blushes and shakes her head, "no, not really, but I did promise a friend I would show them the sights of a tourney once everything's done, so I may get a dance in yet."

She imagines it'll have to be in private, because she doesn't know how Sidony feels about them being spotted together moreso than they already have been by virtue of the small space of the healing tents.

"What about you? I'm sure you've had more than one interested party, considering your turnout."

[tender]

"Marchers," Derrica says, with an all-encompassing sweep of her hand. "But they're good dancers. And pretty."

And patient when she doesn't know the exact steps of their traditional dances. It's nice, even if Derrica suspects it comes from her newfound glory.

"You're blushing," is a full shift away from pretty Marchers. But the teasing is tempered with, "But I won't pry."

[kantikoy]

"Pretty and a good dancer can be ideal in any situation, really."

Adrasteia just smiles harder, her blush going nowhere. "I know, I know. I can't talk about it yet, it's too new and we haven't decided what's... public and what isn't." She makes an amused face. "But it's very good, so far."

[tender]

Between them, Derrica reaches to take Adrasteia's hand, squeeze it hard in silent camaraderie. There's sincere happiness in Derrica's face. Adrasteia's voice is full of joy, and it's so easy to be swept up by it.

"I'm so glad," she tells her. "Don't tell me anything."

The kind of statement that holds a place. Surely they will speak of it someday, when all is less new.

"It's good to see you happy. There hasn't been much opportunity lately, for any of us."

And surely one person finding something so straightforwardly good is cause for celebration.

[kantikoy]

Adrasteia squeezes Derrica's hand back as she takes in her own happiness mirrored in the other woman's face. They're friends, Adrasteia realizes, or close enough that she feels a little bad that she can't share her excitement in its entirety just yet. This is tempered by the idea of maybe being able to tell her at some point in the future just who it is she's seeing.

"I know." A breath; she squeezes Derrica's hand one more time before letting go. "It always feels strange, to find joy in the midst of disaster, but there is no good time for anything. There is only now and what was and hopefully what will be."