Day 1

Archery

Hand to Hand

Day 2

The joust

Melee

Day 3

The gauntlet

Ran, happy not to have broken the bow moves over to Varen and Elavor.

”We’re still in this. Pedryas is due for some bad luck,” he says, not adding that he’s probably due for some too.

Ronegan looks around guiltily, already on his second pastry as the Queen speaks. He swallows the pastry hard and offers one of the bits of fried dough to Petal. "I...suppose you should try some. It really is quite remarkable. You know, my sister is providing all the food for the tournament here. She is very likely the finest baker in all of Embera." He puts three of the pastries on the table reluctantly, keeping the meat pie and at least two other of his sister's treats for his own supplies.

While he eats, he chats with Petal and the Queen's brother about the tournament, and seeing Ran deep in conversation with the Turcos, Ronegan snorts. "That was my idea, you know. Didn't know the old boy had it in him. I think he's actually a bit of a big softie, now." He looks at Petal carefully. "Don't tell him I said that."

Much to his surprise,  now that he's fully fed, he finds the tournament riveting, watching every shot with held breath, and celebrating or cursing along with his three friends and companions as they take their shots at the target.

He is somewhat bothered, however, by the absence of Opal, especially as it seems the Princess's absence seems to bother the King and his mother so much. "Typical Opal, ruining what should be a fine meal." Ronegan grumbles, pushing aside one of his pastries. He leans into Esrah and asks "Have you or your comrades heard anything more about Princess Opal? Is she still with the Grand Inquisitor? I believe her brother is expecting her to make an appearance."

If Varen manages to make eye contact with the Pedryas princeling prior to the next round, she will point her fingers at her eyes, then at him, and mouth "He's watching you."

Intimidation 7

Ronegan knows the queen mother's twin brother, Jasper Ironhelm, is no friend of the Lightbringer. The dwarven royal keeps the old ways putting on the act while he's at court but he himself has no magic. A brutal warrior and a keen tactician Ironhelm is of the old guard that would gladly take his chances with the Darkness than give the church another inch in Bhil Durahl!

"We should return to Bhil Durah as soon as this farce has ended," Jasper growls at his nephew then straightens, "my king," he adds nodding.

"I couldn't agree more uncle but what allies we gain now I think will help us more than sending envoys to the court later and try to win them," Onyx replies his eyes never leaving the tournament grounds and the party.

Esrah leans in closer to Ronegan tearing his eyes away from the archery. House Vahar is not performing how he'd hoped.

"She will join them on the field schoolmaster. She's a fool if she doesn't," Esrah whispers looking to the king and queen mother who do not hear. "I haven't heard otherwise," he adds curtly.

OOC: Moving onto the final archery round. Anyone would like to investigate anything? Insight anyone? Mingle with the other houses for info?

Petal looks concerned, “But what if she doesn’t? Who will take her place in the hand to hand? Ronegan and Elavor are not exactly the um.... toughest....”

Ronegan looks at Jasper curiously. He knew the King's uncle was a taciturn man, and that made him very hard to read. The halfling wondered exactly what the old dwarf thought of his nephew, so different from himself, becoming the new king.

Insight check: 12

Later, while the Pedryas archers are preparing to take their shot, Ronegan realizes why this was all so familiar to him. This-- this was one of his visions! I may be of use to you lot yet, the halfling thinks with satisfaction.

Being blessed and cursed with growing up in a large family, Ronegan remembers the way he and his siblings used to distract one another and he picks out one particular archer he believed made a good shot. Using his crystal to capture a glint of the sun and catch the man's attention just before he is to take his first shot, Ronegan then proceeds to take his entire meat pie, shove it into his mouth and chew, mouth open, while maintaining eye contact with the archer. One of the downsides of having such keen vision to be a bowman, Ronegan thinks quite happily, also noting that his sister's rabbit pies remain as savory and delightful as ever.

Varen's taunting of the Pedyras prince draws Ran's attention to that group. There shots have been exceptional so far. They're likely just good archers, but while they prepare for their next round he watches them carefully, looking to see if there's anything unusual about their bows or the arrows or even if someone may be doing something to them. He remembers once being involved with a fight against a hobgoblin troop. There were lead by some sort of war wizard. He could do things to some of their weapons to make them hit truer and bite deeper.

(Perception: 15 )

Ronegan finds Jasper as inscrutable as ever. Jasper Ironhelm isn't an overly affectionate or sharing man. Ronegan can't riddle out the man's truest intentions other than his disdain for the trappings and pomp of the Lightbringer.

Ran observes the Pedryas heir, essentially made king by his family's demise, and sees nothing but a zealots skill. The two other clerics firing, the human man and woman, also seem to share a zealots skill.

Final target 120ft DC 22.

Celaeno

Archer 1 11; 19

Archer 2 23; 15

Archer 3 20; 22

Marshfield

Archer 1 17; 7

Archer 2 17; 13

Archer 3 13; 11

Dhkar

Archer 1 10; 14

Archer 2 20; 17

Archer 3 7; 14

Turco

Archer 1 18; 17

Archer 2 7; 16

Archer 3 20; 15

Vahar

Archer 1 12; 21

Archer 2 12; 20

Archer 3 18; 10

Pedryas

Archer 1 9; 12

Archer 2 7; 8

Archer 3 22; 6 (Ronegan portent; Pedryas heir)

Firstforge

OOC: the three of you can take your shots any order!

Ran watches the the other archers at work and can't help but be impressed by some of the skill on display. He finds he's actually being inspired by their success to try and achieve the same. For this moment he is an archer. He carefully lines up his shots, feeling that confidence flow through him, takes a breath, and before letting it out, releases the bow string. The sharp twang echoing in his ear as the first arrow races to the target. Quickly before the feeling leaves him, he fires the next arrow.

Arrow 1: 10 

Arrow 2: 23 

Inspiration: 4 

Precision Attack: 6 

Elavor walks up , and lets his arrows fly.... quickly and without much thought. 

Arrow 1: 12

Arrow 2: 11

Inspiration: 3

He stares at the target. And the arrows lying uselessly to the side... gripping the bow, he returns to the others. Eyes to the ground and furious. 

Arrow 1: 22

Arrow 2: 24

Varen's arrows fly true, though she knows it might not be enough. She returns to the line with Elavor and Ran. "Wish I'd shot that well my first round."

She looks over to the Pedryas heir, at least glad that he missed. She thinks, Petty, Varen. Try not to be so petty... 

Ran claps Varen on the shoulder.

"Well done," he says. "We may not have won the archery, but I think you've kept us close with that round."

He looks over at the Pedryas's.

"We'll just have to smack the smug looks off their faces in the hand-to-hand."

Petal let’s go of Citrines hand to applaud Varens shots. “Wow, that was impressive! But do you think it’s enough?” She muses.

"That was excellent shooting, Varen. " Elavor says, gazing at the target. "You ever give lessons?"

The archers have finished and the contest is called. Pedryas takes the event with 24 1/2 points, second Firstforge with 22 points, and the third place is house Dhkar with 18 1/2 points! The archers clear the field and the stands begin to empty.

Onyx approaches Ran, Varen, and Elavor to speak.

"Find showing," the young king says his expression soft but he seems distracted. "We should retire I think?" Onyx says as Esrah and Juno flank him. 

The queen mother slowly follows too shrouded in a veil but not letting her son out of her sight.

"They have uncommon skill," Juno says glaring at the clerics approach the party with the Pedryas heir.

"King Onyx,"  the Pedryas heir calls out. "I am Theodore Pedryas," he says. "You keep strange company ," he says looking over they party. "If you seek counsel as I did after being thrust into the throne as I have I recommend you meet with my councillors," he adds his expression firm. "The Light will out," he adds next as Onyx stares for a moment before responding.

"I am truly grieved by your loss and see the sense you have in relying on the church for guidance but I will continue to rely on the counsel of my family as well as those I have chosen as family king Pedryas," Onyx replies as the teen's face becomes confused before disgust seizes it and he curls up his upper lip. "If you look to my house and myself for counsel..." he says looking over the waiting defenders of the faith, "I offer it," he adds.

"Yes, well..." Theodore Pedryas replies curtly. "I will see you in the hand to hand," he then asks with a cocked eyebrow.

"No," King Onyx replies quickly. "I am not so gifted," he adds. "My sister however and members of my house," he gestures at Ran and Varen, "are more than up to the challenge," he finishes.

Varen gives a smile at Elavor, brightening up to the rogue for one of the first times since the encounter in Umbryl Arcana. "Thanks! I'm better with a crossbow... though a bow can be quicker to fire if you're prepared to volley. I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to, hmm, "practice" soon enough..."

Ronegan stands behind the king, watching the young Pedryas heir curiously. The boy's...disgust towards himself and Petal was worrisome, as was their lead in the contest so far. We need to prepare a plan if things go truly wrong. The little halfling thinks, looking at Varen and Elavor. If only that blasted fool hadn't closed the doors of the Arcana for now then they could easily...

Ronegan pushes the thoughts down and offers a wan, nervous smile to the King and Queen Mother. "With your permission sire, I shall stay in the Royal Box for the hand-to-hand. I may be able to offer Varen or Ran some...err, encouragement if it is needed from here."

Ran nods his head in a bow when King Onyx acknowledges their performance.

While the two kings spar with each other, Ran leans over to Varen and speaks in a quiet voice.

"That Pedryas whelp thinks pretty highly of himself, doesn't he," Ran says to Varen. "From the looks of things, I think you'd be happy to knock him down a few pegs. What's going on there?"