Every season, one the Four Houses hosts the Avalayle Grand, the premiere tournament and festival of the coast. While the contest is “friendly” the competitors treat it with deathly seriousness. For the ultimate winner of the Grand is awarded a Miracle of their choosing from the Honored Blood. More than mere sport, it stands as both a celebration of martial skill and a solemn test of a House’s virtue, honor, and devotion to the Sibling Gods.

The Great Game

Yet, this peace proved fragile. While overt violence vanished from the tournament seasons, the Houses merely moved their rivalry into the shadows. What the nobles now call the Great Game began in earnest; where the Houses scheme behind closed doors, betray in secret, and do all they can to destroy their rivals without being caught. The Avalayle Grand thus became both a sacred contest and a theater of concealed ambition.

To this day, the tournament remains a time of festivals, sacred oaths, and fierce competition. Victors gain glory, influence, and the chance at a Miracle that can reshape the fortunes of their House. Losers nurse their pride and plot their next subtle move. Yet through it all, House Aetherian continues to uphold their original vision: that strength, patience, and piety can hold the coast together, even when lesser hearts falter.

The Grand Today

Now, the Grand spans an entire week, where the common masses and noble houses walk the streets as one, eager to watch the next spectacle. Politics practically grinds to a halt, as everyone gathers in the hosting domain. The Honored Blood watch from a distance, ensuring war doesn’t once again break out, while Zarin the Knowing encourages young lords to request the “right Miracles.”

Each hosting domain transforms with its own flair for the occasion. Roads are cleared and decorated, markets swell with merchants from across the realm, and every inn and tavern overflows with travelers, performers, and hopeful spectators. Since the Monster Crisis however, attendance is dwindling. Those that don’t travel with the nobles themselves often feel it is too risky to attend outside of their own domain.

The Flow of Events

As the day begins, distant Noble Houses begin setting up their camps, exploring the markets, and meeting with their allies and rivals. Typically, these distant Houses arrive on Monday, and spend the entirety of the day preparing for the events to come. Many folk indulge in recovering from the road, but for the craftsman competitors the contest has already begun. When their station has been reviewed by the Honored Blood, they may begin working on any masterpiece they see fit. They have all week to work on it, and will present it for scoring Saturday evening before the Grand Finale.

Each day passes with jovial energy. Commonfolk sell trinkets to visitors, taverns offer fine meals, and games erupt across the fields. While it isn’t uncommon for nobles to partake in the common man’s joy, their contests don’t begin until the early evening, when the masses funnel into impressive arenas.

Tuesday night begins with nearly an hour long performance from one of the Houses finest bards. The spectacle can range from staged plays, dramatic operas, and impressive ballads. There is no limit on the number of performers welcome for this part of the competition. By the end of the hour, the arena is filled, and the Honored Blood have silently scored the bards. 

The event that follows is an archery contest, where competitors prove their precision against a number of distant targets. Each House is allowed to field 3 competitors, their scores are logged and tallied throughout the week, building toward a final overall victory.

Following the archery marks the Grand Melee. Each house fields four contestants that compete in single-elimination bouts until only eight warriors remain. At night’s end, life in the city bustles for the common folk, while the nobles retreat to their camps and castles to lick their wounds, celebrate their victories, and prepare for tomorrow.

Wednesday follows the same format. Bards from a different House perform for an hour, and then the teams of archers return to the arena. Tonight, they compete against moving targets. Scores from the event are tallied, and added to the previous night’s totals. Once concluded, the Grand Melee resumes, and the eight advancing contestants meet again, narrowing the field to four. 

Thursday brings great pageantry and ceremony before the semi-final matches. Another House’s bards perform, and the archery finale occurs after. During it, the archers are challenged with hitting moving targets while under duress. The final points are tallied, and the winners are declared. Thus, the first points awarded by the Honored Blood are bestowed. Following the pageantry of this announcement, the semi finals for the Grand Melee occur. 

Friday, the final House’s bards perform for their hour. After, the climax for the Grand Melee occurs. It begins with the loser’s bout, to determine third place. Following it, the grand championship match crowns the overall melee champion. With its conclusion the Honored Blood award points based on position.

Saturday, Elderlings and Younglings of the Sibling Faithful perform orchestral hymns for the crowd, reminding them of the God’s blessings and encouraging them to bring about their vision across the coast. Afterwards, the craftsmen present their week’s work to the Honored Blood, and receive scoring. A brief respite ensues as the space is prepared for the Arcane Mastery, where wizards and arcanists face a series of escalating magical trials that culminate in a spectacular public display of power and control. This event is judged and scored by Zarin the Knowing, who often intervenes to keep the crowd safe.

Before the event is judged and the scoring declared, the hosting House welcomes its competition into their castle, and throws an extravagant feast, where fine food, wine, music and dancing take the night. The bard judged best from their Song of the Coast performances is announced and welcomed to perform throughout the evening.

The night passes in revelry, where the Houses are watched by the Honored Blood for chivalry, courtesy, and good spirit. As the night finally winds down to an end, Zarin the Knowing declares the scoring for the Arcane Mastery. After, the Honored Blood declare scoring for the houses who showed the most virtue. The revelry comes to an eerie silence, and the victorious House for the season is revealed. There in front of everyone, the Honored Blood reveal whom amongst the winning house displayed the most piety and virture throughout the season, and must immediately ask for their miracle.

On Sunday, the fields empty as travelers, merchants, and distant nobility pack up and return to their own domains. The Avalayle Grand ends, and everyone begins preparing for next season’s event.

Scoring

Points are Awarded for performance in the events and in Virtue throughout the event. 

1st place scores 5 points
2nd place scores 3 points
3rd place scores 1 point
4th place scores 0 points

Virtuous points are deliberated amongst the Honored Blood and applied or removed in secret, much to the dismay and frustration of the Four Houses.

Common Folk Events Throughout the Week

Throughout the week, the commonfolk induldge in rvelery and merriment, often completing or playing in the following events.

• Celebration of lights, lanterns, floating lights, candles, make wishes and pray

• Big Feasts, some with commoners, some with nobles, dancing, etc

• Providing the biggest feast for the commoners

• Ale Drinking Contest

• Pie Eating Contest

• Stump Chopping

• Pig Wrestling

• Barrel Racing

• Strength Contests

• Water Breathing Contest

• Longest Dancer Contest

The Grand Melee Bracket

Each block is broken down to ensure that no contestants from the same house can meet until the semi final.