The Grand Tournament (Scenario 0)

[snarkdogg]

Harker will charge his nearest opponent when the round starts.

Initiative = [1d10]=7
Attack = [1d20+1]=2+1=3

[Ithril]

Seeing the action on the field, Jarrod and Yovann ask Dorath and color=#008000]Traesta[/color] why such a coward is in their company. They both give Igber sidelong disapproving stares as he returns to the group, but neither of them say anything to him, hoping their silence is enough to make him uncomfortable.

Initiative, Dukes Champions (alphabetical order) [_4d10]=(1+8+8+10)=27
Dukes champions Attack Rolls [_4d20]=(20+13+10+6)=49

As the gong for the final round sounds, Conwenna is the first to charge the field, obviously emboldened, either by sheer anger, or frustration, or maybe encouraged by Scott's kind sportsmanship. Her charge however is met with his. He isn't taking any chances, and is eager to meet her again under fair conditions.

Keith and Klarven are almost as quick, and they quickly meet Harker and Pebble. As they meet, Pebble, now tiring from the continued contest, overcompensates, forgetting the lack of weight in the wooden weapons, causing his attack to be delayed. Dextel, the captain of the champions, has no issue bringing up the rear. He engages Harker with Keith.

While Harker is contending with Keith, Dextel is free to strike Harker almost unawares, and he does a better job than he intended, and Harker screams in pain as the weapon bites deep! (3pts damage) Keith is also able to land a blow, leaving Harker out of the last round. Pebble, is similarly eliminated as Klarven is able to easily overcome Pebble's tired and over-stressed defenses.
Dextel Damage roll against Harker [1d4]=3

Conwenna, however, finds her second wind, and is able to strike down Scott, having learned how to dodge his swing, and close with her axe, putting him at a disadvantage with his sword, and she eliminates him. Quickly she turns to face three remaining opponents.

They close, carefully. Dextel (1) on Conwenna's right, Keith (#3) in the center, and Klarven (#4) on her left. Behind them, aids rush the field to tend Harker's wound. Pebble joins them, and Harker is quickly aided off the field. The commons is roaring with approval for the action on the field, and the heroic actions of the challengers, as well as the champions.

Rex, please declare your opponent, (prefer using #'s or names since you know them) and declare you actions.

AntiqueAutomaton; no hard feelings. I'm just trying to project what the officials and the competitors' reactions accurately.

Hopefully we can get through the last two tournaments quickly. I'd like to start B1 by the New Year in spite of my schedule.

[Rex]

Conweena

Conweena goes for Dextel (#1) on her right, using her shield to try and keep the other 2 at bay.

Initiative [1d10]=5
Battle Axe [1d20+1]=8+1=9 to hit [1d8+3]=4+3=7 damage

[Ithril]

Conwenna, facing a hopeless situation charges her foes, and their meeting is a great clash of forces. Dextel makes a swing for Conwenna, but she easily nullifies his approach, setting him of balance slightly. Her shield intercepts Keith too, as her great axe pivots towards Dextel's retreating form. Klarven however finds that her swing leaves her unguarded from his position, and he makes the killing strike.

Initiative, Dukes Champions (alphabetical order) [_3d10] 9/3/7

Dukes champions Attack Rolls [_3d20] 6/8/16

The stadium roars with delight at the combat, then falls silent almost immediately!
The Duke and Duchess are actually standing!
As a hush falls on the tournament, all eyes move from Conwenna and the champions to the Duke who raises his arms. In a low but powerful voice which is clear over the murmerings in the audience, he says only "Well done!" with a broad smile. The champions immediately bow in his direction, and the Duchess hands something to an attendant who wastes no time to bring it directly to Conwenna as quickly as possible.
"Your actions gain merit with His Highness, the Duke and the Duchess." the attendant gasps, short of breath for his hurry. He hands you a rose, strangely wrapped in parchment, then turns to return to his station without allowing you to ask any questions. The spectators explode with deafening applause and cheers, and you are escorted off the field to your awaiting companions with great excitement and fanfare.

[Rex]

Conweena

Conweena accepts the rose and parchment and turns towards the Duke and Duchess and bows as the Champions did.

[redwarrior]

Dorath shrugs non-committally at the champions’ query and states all may find courage at the most unexpected times. He cheers Conweena’s accolades.

[Ithril]

With Conwenna's final (though glorious) defeat, you are free once again to explore the market of the festival for the rest of the afternoon and the evening.

Harker's first jousting match takes place tomorrow in the early afternoon (it's already been resolved), and Dorath has his logrolling competition the next day (also already resolved. Unmounted swordsmanship competitions involving Pebble & Harker will take place on the next day after tomorrow (the 20th), in the morning also in the jousting arena, and the mounted sword combats will take place in the afternoon.

For the rest of the day as you make your way among the stalls and tents, Conweena is shown great respect among all the commoners, whereas Igber is shown as must scorn and contempt by anyone who watched the competition, though many did not hear or know of his actions.

Traesta finds a stall where someone is displaying good artwork, but upon inquiry, they only do watercolor, and direct her to another stall where someone is doing enamel work on metal so she can have her shield decorated as she likes, and they agree on a price.

Snarkdogg and Ravenn4544, we can post the unmounted sword competition in the Jousting and Swords Competitions thread shortly. If we can get this done quickly, we can finally close out the Tournament Scenario 0, and move on to preparations for Scenario 1: B1 In Search of the Unknown.

Also Remember Snarkdogg, you still have to deal with Guiomar Tindantar regarding your pledge to your liege, and the situation regarding the archery competition.

I'm excited to move on.

[Rex]

Conweena

Conweena will just wander around and try and enjoy herself.

[Darithe]

Once the work is done, Traesta straps the newly decorated shield on her back and rejoins the others.

[Ithril]

On the 17th the Tournament Faire opened and the companions began their day, meeting each other for the first time a the breakfast banquet. In the crush of the crowds, they met some crude and haughty guards from Youlgreave, and Harker was greeted by an old friend in genuine distress about a mutual companion who has gone missing during his duties in a nearby town. As they explored their camp, a woman was distressed to have lost her children. After a quick search, the group found the children enjoying a slight-of-had show being performed by an ugly old woman who seemed harmless enough, and her companion, and oversized, unclean and smelly man intent on repairing their wagons and tents with some cloth (the bolts of cloth resembled the clothing the children were wearing) but no abducted children were found. Igber and Pebble briefly explored the tent labeled "Makhmet's Magickicent Manageri", but found nothing aside from many creepy crudely fashioned statues and masks.
Finding nothing but ridicule, the group departs from Mekhmet, and continues. Harker remains convinced that something is not true there. Trouble may still come from this situation.
That evening, as Harker was checking on the horses and helping in the stables, the other companions of the party were also near the stables, when several giant carnivorous insects of some kind burrowed up, and began attacking the horses and anyone else near their position. After one was killed, the rest retreated back underground. It seems they have chosen to find other easier targets, as they have not returned. It was a lesson that the party was still green in both tactics and ability.

On the morning of the 18th, Pebble entered the archery competition, but was defeated in the second tier against Guiomar Tindantar. Harker watched these competitions closely, even more closely when Guiomar, who is his liege in the order of The Hand of Paldon started splitting 'Bulls-Eye' shots with his arrows... almost predictably. A feat that quite astounded much of the crowd who was watching the competitions; but seeing as he is a high ranking official in the Order, and a well decorated veteran, no one seriously questioned his feats…
Except Harker.

In the afternoon of that day, the party engaged in the melee group combat against the Dukes chosen champions. Traesta is seriously injured early in the competition, and withdraws.The two teams are slowly reduced until Conwenna and Igber are the last contestants. At this point Igber loses his courage, and flees the combat, leaving Conwenna to face two foes. Her courage in the moment earns her some special recognition from The Duke: she is presented with a flower from the Duchess, and a writ of some kind from the Dukes own hand! It is unclear what it is, as she has not read it yet.

In the evening, Harker returns to his tent, and confronts his liege, Guiomar Tindantar regarding his tactics during the archery competition, and resigns as a liege under Guiomar. He is also reminded of the plight of his good friend who may be in considerable trouble in Breden. There must be something very serious happening there for his friend to fail his appointments.

On the 19, Harker enters the Jousting competition. It would be his first 'official' jousting tournament, and he fails to unseat his opponent. He does not reach the second set of competition in the jousting matches. The rest of the day was unremarkable, spent perusing the various stalls and merchants in the markets.

On the 20th, Dorath entered the log rolling competitions, and was able to hold his own in the fray. His competition ran throughout the allotted time, and he had to return on the 21st to complete his contest.

Back at the jousting range, on the 20th, Harker also competes in the mounted swords combat, undetered by his injuries from the previous day. He does remarkably well, defeating one of the haughty guards from Youlgraeve, but being in turn defeated by Sergeant Koulig their captain. Still he places second overall, and wins an award.

On the 21st, Dorath was able to continue to progress in the contest, but was defeated finally by Aunnon who was the champion. placing him second in the contest as well. A hard fought victory that pleased the onlookers very well.

On the 22nd, Harker and Pebble tried their hands at the footmans fencing competitions. Pebble lacks much experienced in actual combat, and loses in the first round, though he landed several good blows.

Harker fares better, but is eliminated by Tambuc, one of the guards from Youlgraeve, who felt he had a score to settle on the young Paldonite upstart. His defeat was cruel and certain, leaving him coughing in the dust.

Though none of the companions were present, there seems to have been some kind of mishap at the wrestling rings. It seems an overlarge contestant actually killed a man by accident during the competitions. His name was Hodak, and they disqualified him from taking part in any more of the matches.

The remainder of the tournament went well and peaceful. The dangerous insects that attacked the horses never returned.
At the final Grande Banquet, Conwenna was allowed to join Harker and Dorath at the table of Champions, though she technically did not win. Her courage and actions won honor, a prize greater than some bauble.
At the conclusion of the banquet awards were given to all the champions. Harker was granted a bastard sword with a silvered edge. Dorath was awarded a prize of 100 Silver Galleons.

This concludes The Grand Tournament (Scenario 0).
If you have any closing remarks, or if there is anything I forgot to mention that you feel is important, please comment to let me know here ASAP. I will be closing this thread shortly.

Otherwise, please proceed to Intermission in Millhaven.