Great Tourney

An old tradition of competitve events amongst the Swords of the Sion, which had gradually fallen out of practice in recent generations. In modern times, it was revived and merged with the idea of communal sporting events prevalent in Au'Kael society. As such, the events are now a mashup of those from the Order and those practiced by the Au'Kael. Each event comprises many different competition typres and rounds, so it is viewed as quite difficult for one bird to master, let alone compete, in all of them.

The event is now held at Afyon every midsummer, and serves as a draw for caravans and travelers from across the Veldt, Diaspora, and beyond to come, watch, and compete. The Western Meadows beyond the city are, for the span of a week or more, host to a veritable city of wagons and tents for those in attendance. Beyond the events, the occasion also serves as a great festival, fair, and market, and is seen as more of a secular holiday among modern Au'Kael.

Competions are technically open to all who wish to compete, but numbers are still heavily skewed towards members of the Order. Some competitors will try to compete in more than one event. And at the conclusion, whichever competitor is judged to have done best overal, or given the best performance, is declared the Tourney Champion, and invited to serve on the order High Council for one year as the Champion of the Order.

It is also common for most competitors and teams to wear distinctive dress, armor, or costumes in their events, and for their supporters to wear outfits matching their colors. Competitors may also wear the Favors of individuals they favor, are romantically interest in, or whose cause they wish to represent.

EVENTS:

• Palio/Tilting - The most famous and poular event at the Tourney, it is a great race through the city streets of Afyon. Competitors ride Mountbeasts through a course of streets and squares in the city, competing for the best time to finish the race. Along the route, are various hanging rings, which riders must try to pluck with their lance. Plucking rings bring a time deduction, thus making it possible for the first finisher to nonetheless not win. But snagging the rings is very tricky, as they are often placed in random, hard to reach spots. The event is very dangerous, since the animals might fall in the narrow streets at high speed, injuring the riders or spectators. Nonetheless, it remains immensely popular. Riders, mounts, and supporter sections will often be decked out in very bright, distinctive garb. (Based on the Palio of Sienna, jousting, )

• Dueling - Replacing the classical Melee, it is now organized one-on-one combat in a mixture of fencing and grappling with handheld weapons.

• Marksmanship - An extensive precision shooting event, using archery and rifles, as well as short-range, long-range, moving targets, and mounted firing.

• Athletics - One of the most challenging event categories, as it is composed of many small events that include things like running, flying, feats of strength, and other events. (This would be similar to a mix of Highland Games with elements of Olympic Athletics)

• Olaya - The popular modern ball sport has been added as an event between teams of various villages, cities, or larger Bands in the Veldt region and beyond. The inclusion of the event began when groups of spectators in the camps began to organize impromptu games, which in subsequent seasons grew ever larger, until the event organizers decided to make it an open-format, single-elimination tournament for however many teams wish to compete. Classed as an amateur event by the international Olaya confederacy, and so has no effects on standings, despite the fact that it is not unknown for major olaya players to come and compete. It also has tends to have no bearing on selection of Tournament Champion, unless a competitor is also participating in other events.

• Performance - A competition of purley Au'Kael origin, it involves many Bards, minstels, musicians, writers, and poets. It combines things like prose narration, history recitation, lyrical and non-lyrical composition, debate and rhetoric, and dance. The winner of this compeition is highly praised amoungs the Au'Kael, who view this event as perhaps the most prestigious. Winners of this competition are always highly placed in consideration for the post of Grand Herald/Troubadour on the High Counncil whenever that position becomes vacant. It is very rare for competitors in this field to compete in the more athletic events.