Open Chronicles The Grand Tournament of Tides

[Darkweaver]

Spoiler: Music

The Tournament of Tides. One of the oldest and most time-honoured traditions of Alliria. The grinding gears of commerce demanded an ever growing increase of interest, of reputation, of transit and - perhaps most importantly - of coin. It practically flowed through its canals, rivers and strait like golden blood, ladened on burdened merchant ships or on great carts crossing beautifully carved bridges. Some even claimed that the bottom of these waters glinted with gold, silver and copper, of coins dropped by hapless travelers or other pedestrians, an overspilling of wealth that only the fish would get to enjoy. Or those brave enough to plunge the deeps or the muddy banks for spare change.

But today and for the next six days, the efforts of such mudlarks would be foiled. The tournament had set upon the harbour and Inner City of Alliria like an explosive growth of colourful weeds, littering its normally ship-filled strait with gargantuan floating platforms, scores upon scores of colourful tents, stands and flapping banners, all close to bursting with the crowds milling on rickety platforms and quickly crafted steps and bridges. For a few days at least, everyone would get to feel what it was like to live in the Shallows, except if the Shallows was draped in colour, excitement and mirth.

Not even Allir Keep would go free this time. Its impressive courtyard, normally reserved for the City Watch, would be used to host the most brutal of martial competitions, all for the entertainment of the masses. For a week, even common folk could find themselves in this opulent and imposing stone keep, rubbing shoulders with the high and mighty that frequented the Merchant Council's court.

All but the seven members of the Merchant Council themselves, of course. Rumour had it that they would be travelling the tournament in style, boarded on a sleek schooner, The Balance, with an elevated stand, allowing them to cut and weave between the floating platforms and view all that the tournament had to offer. Joining them onboard would be important dignitaries from all over Arethil: the Princess Elspeth and her consort, Prince William from the Royal Family of Vel Anir, an ambassador from the emperor-regent in Amol-Kalit and an Archbishop from the Radiant Church, to name a few. Wherever they would sail, great fanfare and the adulation of the crowds would follow, and each contest observed would take on an added fervour, its contestants fighting as much for the reverence of the crowd as that of the distinguished members onboard The Balance.

Each day would be dedicated to a different House holding a seat in the Merchant Council; as was only right and proper, since the tournament was largely funded by them. It was their way of paying back the industrious citizens of Alliria for the maintenance and dilligence that kept their fair and mighty metropolis running smoothly. Or, as some snarking scholars might have it, it was bread for the people, a practice often seen in Cerak At'thul, where the tyrannical grip of its rulers distracted its common folk with grand spectacles of intoxicating gore and violence.

Not so here. What violence would be put on display would be only of the most skilled, the most expert and civilised of fighters. The first day of the Tournament was the Day of Phlogis, honouring the oldest House to remain in the Merchant Council. As such, this would also be a day of equal praise for artists and those with wit, the most noteworthy artistic event being the Battle of Bards, held in the middle of the harbour on a raised platform, where it might command the most attention. In this event, artists from all over Arethil would compete on this scene, winning the hearts of the people, and whoever ended up with most wooden tokens by vote, would win the day as the penultimate bard. The prize was said to be a magical instrument of the winner's choosing, along with a bottle of supposedly unending alcohol. Enticing to many a wandering artist, for certain.

For those less interested in music, theatre and dance, tests of martial and physical skill were to be held in Allir Keep, allowing generous ground for running, jousting and fighting. After the joust, a running race and a melee, all taking place at the same time so the wandering audience could go to and fro, the main fighting event would take place. The Duel of Spellswords, a no bars held set of one-on-one combats between fighters who blended magic with martial prowess. The prize? Laced enchantments woven by the greatest guild mages of Alliria, empowering the winner's weapon to new heights, along with the title of Champion of Spellswords.

But even these monumental events paled in comparison to the main spectacle. If whispers could be believed, at the approach of dusk, a recreation of the Siege of Alliria would take place. Mutters and murmurs puzzled on how the terrifying dragon Geladryx, the Emerald Death, would be faithfully rendered. Some grand weaving of illusion magic by several hands? As a grand floating fabric to cover the whole tournament grounds? Or perhaps some captured beast for a truly visceral performance?

Only time would tell. But for now, every visitor could enjoy a free perusal of the thousands of stands, vendors, entertainers and minor contests, either making their way to witness the joust, race or melee in Allir Keep or the Battle of Bards in the centre of the harbour.

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OOC information:
There is information in the Discord channel called the Grand Tournament. Anyone is welcome to join here. Players should be visiting guests or competitors in one of the competitions, the main ones being the Duel of Spellswords and the Battle of Bards. I will probably throw in a few NPC contestants as well for players to compete against, but there is also space for player PvP in the martial/magic fight. Anyone who wants to engage in PVP, LET ME KNOW, and I will match you up against another player wanting the same. I have rules in place for PvP that will allow fights to be determined on a combination of complex rock-paper-scissor games and dice-rolling. Otherwise, feel free to freeform write how your character does in any other competition.

The tourney is more intended for player interactions and to meet new people, as well as introduce the members of the Merchant Council and those that plot against them. Feel free to make up little contests as you go. If it can be imagined, it's there.

Don't derail too much (like exploding the tournament faires with a fireball and causing panic) without asking first. This is an opportunity for characters across the divide to meet. If anyone is going to escalate this thread, it'll be me, and characters get to respond appropriately. Have fun!