Rokkarseum Tourney

Not only did the wind hasten the arrival of delegates and champions from all across Drugovia but the tourney and reveal of the new international Rokkarseum was met with international intrigue and ambiguity. The new Colosseum erected in the "dark" reaches of Rokkarstan was built both by Rokkarian slaves and Khrom-Vestrian artisans and builders, turning this unremarkable clump of land into a glorious beacon of games and competition. With the opening, international tensions must have been heightened but only, hopefully, to be set at ease with the guarantee of safety set by Khrom-Vestrian power allowing a small section of the "clown land" to be set off limits from well known Rokkarian plots.

After such a guarantee was decreed invitations were sent to every corner of Drugovia from the far south-western reaches of the Republic of Fanhorim-Dûr to the misty marshes of the northern Ibeshi swamp lands. Invitations of bread and games, to allow respective champions, warriors and even peasants to fight for their homeland if they so choose and no doubt the mention of Rokkarian fighters being thrown into the pits inspired the fanatics of the Ibesh to attend and compete.

Upon arrival the delegates and champions were greeted by Khrom-Vestrian royals and nobles, the great Sdacha Mayakolovitch attended the festivities and took charge of the safety of all visitors whom were not there to compete. They were greeted with all the foods Vestria graciously provided from breads, meats, dairy, herbs and fish to highly sought after Vestrian wine. After the esteemed guests were seated and provided for the Tourney began, champions and fighters from all civilisations were given equipment and were given flags of their nations to represent their people in battle. The Ibeshi fighter Hadba Omad of Sulhufaa seemed intent on fighting Rokkarians, he got his wish.

The tourney was set in two phases, phase one was fighting captured raiders and mercenaries whom had no allegiance and phase two was the duel phase, allowing champions from all nations to compete directly with others, to the death (with the sole exception of Fanhorim-Dûr).

The first phase saw relentless fighting with the champions teaming up to kill the raiders, dozens of raiders were slain in glorious battle and saw little casualties from the champions. But some were killed fighting such as Ibn Mashed of Miqyas who was struck down by a sword but was noted as screaming no doubt a religious phrase at his end after fighting gallantly. But none saw more causalities than Rokkarstan in this phase as several of their fighters were struck down in the fray. Khrom-Vestrian fighters were noted as slaying many with serrated KhromKharr blades and dominating the untrained raiders but it was not met without extreme challenge. It was noted too the Republic of Fanhorim-Dûr fared well fighting with honour but refusing to take lives on the battlefield but still earning them as many distinctions as Khrom-Vestria.

The second phase, the duels, took a more interesting turn as the duels allowed fighting styles and tactics to be tested by the very best in Drugovia from all nations. There were many duels, most of which were the respective champions dominating over the numerous unnamed "warriors" of Rokkarstan who were not given the honours of names. Those who were most successful were the the highly respected Vasily Brothers of Khrom-Kharr, Ralesh Ilad of Sulhufaa, Hadba Omad of Sulhufa and Farn Girur of the Republic graced the final rounds of the Tourney. Ralesh Ilad of Sulhufaa was slain in combat by Tzizev Vasily, a Rokkarian warrior was slain by Hadba Omad of Sulhufaa, a victory he was most recognisably delighted about. Farn Girur then fought Vlegna Vasily and was victorious forcing Vlegna to yield allowing then the final round to be between Farn Girur and Tzizev Vasily the two most triumphant champions. The duel lasted the longest and was met with great anticipation by both nations but in the end Tzizev was able to achieve victory sparing the life of the fighter, recognising a worthy challenger.

The event was a success allowing for all nations to witness an event on a grand scale and also broke down any insecurities held by other nations about the capacity of Khrom-Vestria to control all facets of a once and perhaps still, dreaded nation. All the surviving nobles and delegates were given safe passage home afterwards. The Rokkarseum allowed Khrom-Vestria to show, once again, its domination of warfare and its technique as being unmatched by any other. Long live the Iron-Belt.

Though much trepidation was had with considerations of sending any figure of relative importance to the Madlands, following the egregious incidents that precipitated the Avengement, nothing short of the opportunity to spill Rokkarian blood on the sand could convince the Sultanate to accept their invitation. As such, the daunting and potentially even enlightening task was assigned to the newly risen Sheikh Abbud, granting the diplomat the means to represent the lands of the lake lizard as much so shoring up any potential loss of a greater personage to sinister stygian schemes.

Accompanied by three veteran vindicators of the aforementioned War of Avengement, the Sheikh conducted himself in a cordial and unusually polite manner at all times during the proceedings - often feeding Vestrian grains to his pet gecko perched upon his shoulder. The vindicators in question were determined to prove the valour of the Ibesh, yet were inspired more so in their determination to mete justice against any native Rokkarians they would meet in the Rokkarseum. The farris Hadba Omad of Sulhufaa earned the greatest accolades in the provings, personally decapitating a nameless clownsman whilst screaming praises to Paratis - delivering peace to the people of his homeland by returning the claimed black banner back to the harbour of the turtle.

Unfortunately the same glory would come at great cost for his companions, the frenzied Ibn Mashed of Miqyas succumbing to the bandits that outnumbered him and perishing with a profound love of Occulem spoken on his lips. Furthermore the death of the typically composed Ralesh Ilad to the Khrom warrior Tzizev Vasily, leaving only the courageous Omad to claim distinction for his countrymen. With one accomplishment to call their own, the Sheikh and the only remaining farris returned to the north to spread word of a new battleground from which to test their worth in the years to come.