The Grand Tourney has finished leaving all with an unsurprising result - except for the manner in which it was obtained. Old House Sunpurse holds the Banner of the Peerage once more, as they have many times in the past. Yet it is doubtful that it has ever been claimed through such means as this tourney.
The Least Fool lived up to his reputation however, with the gnome delivering farcical scenes throughout the entirety of the tourney.
First to come was the sight of the Shootout, ostentibly meant to be a display of skill and talent in archery. It instead devolved into a display of magical supplies and talents as various spellcasters of all types proceeded to outdo archers who had been pulling bowstrings their entire lives. From the rubble of this display however emerged a victor, one Sastan Highsworn, an elf who surprisingly declared that his victory would go towards House Sunpurse. Rumours abound that the likely source of this is the fact that a group of elves have taken to squatting in the Sunpurse Manor of Ring 98...
Following this came the Brawl, an event that saw some thirty odd contestants squeezed into a small section of land and told to fight one another. Chaos inevitably ensued, with some unexpected results as otherwise strong contenders for the victory were mobbed and swarmed down into the sand. Yet, in the end, a victor emerged who had managed to avoid such a swarming - one Sargon Zuadaram-Sin, Retainer of House Orza, who obviously declared for his House. Sadly the Retainer did not live many more days after his victory, likely assassinated in a fit of pique by competitors attempting to prevent his futher participation in the tourney.
Finally, on the first day of the tourney came the Joust, an event that should've been a martial spectacle... became instead a farce. As the Least Fool screamed at those who complained however - he had been sent, not a knight. As such the display involved: a love story between an elven runner and a hairdresser of Ticker Square; Sargon Zuadaram-Sin carrying his steed into battle; a wizard reciting poetry as they flailed ineptly with their lance - until, at long last, a victor was declared by the Fool. Lance Huxley, Retainer of House Sunpurse, who declared for the same, was named champion of the Joust for striking a final blow via throwing his lance at the competition.
So ended the first day of competition with House Sunpurse on two victories to House Orza's one.
The second day commenced with the Melee, whereby the audience was greeted with the sight of teams of warriors facing off four at a time... while being painted garish colours for the Least Fool's amusement. Through the many twists and turns of this event, where strong contenders such as the Devils of Ticker Square and House Orza eventually felled each other, the ones to rise from the ashes were none other than a team from House Sunpurse - Retainers Lance Huxley, Antoine Durand and Veradith Durothal together proclaimed their victory for their House, though there was some initial confusion, thanks to Retainer Durand's womanising, that perhaps he had declared instead for House Glitt...
Afterwards came the Magebrawl, where many demonstrated skill, luck and talent, while others displayed a distinct lack of all three. From the amazing come-from-behind victory in the initial round of House Glitt's broken old janitor-wizard, through many displays of overdressed ponces slipping about in puddles of grease, the battles of the arcane raged. A rivalry was even sparked between the Inquisitor of Ring 97 and a wizard of House Sunpurse - one that was fated to end a few days later when the Inquisitor beat the man to death with his bare hands. Eventually a victor was declared, one Vai`cairn of the semi-stable seam of Teohoto became victor through his effective use of the elements. Strangely however, even he declared for House Sunpurse, leading many to ponder exactly how much planning the House had put into possible outcomes for this tourney.
Finally came the Duels. Though the Banner had already been won by House Sunpurse by this point, even the Least Fool took them seriously. There were many brave deaths this day, from contestants who either refused to yield or were not swift enough to do so. By the end of it, two contestants faced off - Genovalio de Rossa of House Glitt, who had cut down a number of friends and acquaintences who had refused to yield in a fight... against Janne the Ogre of House Orza, who had mercilessly slain all opponents except for a very, very lucky Lance Huxley who narrowly avoided being smeared into paste. In the end however, it was the mighty Janne who triumphed in the final duel, proclaiming his victory for his House - House Glitt being forced to drag their lifeless champion off to the Shrine of Waters to beg for mercy from the Gods.
In the end the overall result was House Sunpurse with four events and House Orza with two. The Reeve of Sunpurse has subsequently been seen in public talking proudly of the three victories of House Sunpurse... conspicuously not mentioning the event won for them by an elf. What House Sunpurse will do with the Banner remains to be seen, and though there were many twists, turns and a variety of possible outcomes (after all, this was the first Tourney where non-Peers could've declared their victory for organisations other than the Peers) for this Grand Tournament of Ring 99, tradition triumphed in the end.
When the next tourney shall occur and whether the Least Fool shall still be in charge of it however is anyone's guess.
The Least Fool lived up to his reputation however, with the gnome delivering farcical scenes throughout the entirety of the tourney.
First to come was the sight of the Shootout, ostentibly meant to be a display of skill and talent in archery. It instead devolved into a display of magical supplies and talents as various spellcasters of all types proceeded to outdo archers who had been pulling bowstrings their entire lives. From the rubble of this display however emerged a victor, one Sastan Highsworn, an elf who surprisingly declared that his victory would go towards House Sunpurse. Rumours abound that the likely source of this is the fact that a group of elves have taken to squatting in the Sunpurse Manor of Ring 98...
Following this came the Brawl, an event that saw some thirty odd contestants squeezed into a small section of land and told to fight one another. Chaos inevitably ensued, with some unexpected results as otherwise strong contenders for the victory were mobbed and swarmed down into the sand. Yet, in the end, a victor emerged who had managed to avoid such a swarming - one Sargon Zuadaram-Sin, Retainer of House Orza, who obviously declared for his House. Sadly the Retainer did not live many more days after his victory, likely assassinated in a fit of pique by competitors attempting to prevent his futher participation in the tourney.
Finally, on the first day of the tourney came the Joust, an event that should've been a martial spectacle... became instead a farce. As the Least Fool screamed at those who complained however - he had been sent, not a knight. As such the display involved: a love story between an elven runner and a hairdresser of Ticker Square; Sargon Zuadaram-Sin carrying his steed into battle; a wizard reciting poetry as they flailed ineptly with their lance - until, at long last, a victor was declared by the Fool. Lance Huxley, Retainer of House Sunpurse, who declared for the same, was named champion of the Joust for striking a final blow via throwing his lance at the competition.
So ended the first day of competition with House Sunpurse on two victories to House Orza's one.
The second day commenced with the Melee, whereby the audience was greeted with the sight of teams of warriors facing off four at a time... while being painted garish colours for the Least Fool's amusement. Through the many twists and turns of this event, where strong contenders such as the Devils of Ticker Square and House Orza eventually felled each other, the ones to rise from the ashes were none other than a team from House Sunpurse - Retainers Lance Huxley, Antoine Durand and Veradith Durothal together proclaimed their victory for their House, though there was some initial confusion, thanks to Retainer Durand's womanising, that perhaps he had declared instead for House Glitt...
Afterwards came the Magebrawl, where many demonstrated skill, luck and talent, while others displayed a distinct lack of all three. From the amazing come-from-behind victory in the initial round of House Glitt's broken old janitor-wizard, through many displays of overdressed ponces slipping about in puddles of grease, the battles of the arcane raged. A rivalry was even sparked between the Inquisitor of Ring 97 and a wizard of House Sunpurse - one that was fated to end a few days later when the Inquisitor beat the man to death with his bare hands. Eventually a victor was declared, one Vai`cairn of the semi-stable seam of Teohoto became victor through his effective use of the elements. Strangely however, even he declared for House Sunpurse, leading many to ponder exactly how much planning the House had put into possible outcomes for this tourney.
Finally came the Duels. Though the Banner had already been won by House Sunpurse by this point, even the Least Fool took them seriously. There were many brave deaths this day, from contestants who either refused to yield or were not swift enough to do so. By the end of it, two contestants faced off - Genovalio de Rossa of House Glitt, who had cut down a number of friends and acquaintences who had refused to yield in a fight... against Janne the Ogre of House Orza, who had mercilessly slain all opponents except for a very, very lucky Lance Huxley who narrowly avoided being smeared into paste. In the end however, it was the mighty Janne who triumphed in the final duel, proclaiming his victory for his House - House Glitt being forced to drag their lifeless champion off to the Shrine of Waters to beg for mercy from the Gods.
In the end the overall result was House Sunpurse with four events and House Orza with two. The Reeve of Sunpurse has subsequently been seen in public talking proudly of the three victories of House Sunpurse... conspicuously not mentioning the event won for them by an elf. What House Sunpurse will do with the Banner remains to be seen, and though there were many twists, turns and a variety of possible outcomes (after all, this was the first Tourney where non-Peers could've declared their victory for organisations other than the Peers) for this Grand Tournament of Ring 99, tradition triumphed in the end.
When the next tourney shall occur and whether the Least Fool shall still be in charge of it however is anyone's guess.