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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JollyDoc" data-source="post: 5470828" data-attributes="member: 9546">BEWARE OF PITAXIANS BEARING GIFTS“Greetings from His Supreme and Inimitable Magnificence, Castruccio Irovetti, by the grace of the gods the rightful King of Pitax, Marvel of Numeria, Master of Mormouth, and Prince-Regent of the Sellen. It is with great delectation and delight that I greet you, my fellow River Kings. I would be honored if you would accept my invitation to attend the fifth annual Rushlight Tournament as my guests. I know you to be discerning rulers, and trust you would not dare miss such an extravagance, for I plan for this to be the finest Rushlight yet! And to sweeten the pot, as it were, I have secured a mighty magical item, a gold and gemstone rod of lordly might, which I am willing to bestow upon the Kingdom that proves itself by fielding the true Rushlight Champion! Could this champion be one of your own? Please confirm your attendance via this invitation’s courier. I look forward to your attendance!”-King Castruccio Irovetti of PitaxTwo years had passed since the events of Fort Drelev and the second death of Armag the Twice-Born, and Kardashia was thriving while enjoying a relative peace. To be sure, Mox and her council had not forgotten the slight afforded them by Pitax, but they’d been biding their time, and harnessing their resources. Now, seemingly, their enemy was inviting them to his home, apparently unconcerned that he had for all intents and purposes declared war two years past. “This is, indeed, an interesting turn of events,” Selena observed. “The Rushlight Tournament has been a prominent tradition of Irovetti’s since he claimed the crown of Pitax. It draws participants from throughout the River Kingdoms. It might be just the opportunity we’ve been looking for. We might find some potential allies in Irovetti’s neighbors.”Mox pondered this for several moments, then nodded.“I agree,” the Queen said. “I think it’s high time we paid our Pitaxian friend a diplomatic visit. Send the word out that we leave for Pitax on the morrow.”___________________________________________________________As the royal entourage prepared to depart on the following day, Mox received a last minute request for an audience from a local brewer.“Your Majesty,” the man said as he bowed low. “I am Bixen Libixyten.”“Yes, master brewer,” Mox nodded. “What is it that you would ask of me? I bid you to make it a speedy request, as I have pressing business in Pitax.”“Yes, m’lady,” the brewer bowed again. “It is about your upcoming travels that I would speak. The word among the people is that you go to participate in the Rushlight Tournament. As I am sure you are well aware, the finale of the tournament is the Drunken Joust.”Mox looked at the man blankly. He cleared his throat.“Ah…yes,” he continued. “Well, it is tradition that during the joust, the competitors are…intoxicated. I humbly request that if you or your armsmen do indeed compete, that you consider my blackberry mead for your drink of choice. It would bring great prestige to my brewery, and in turn, fame to our fair city. I believe that trade revenue such fame would bring in would be a boon to the nation’s economy.”Mox considered for a moment, and then smiled.“I believe we can accommodate your request, master brewer,” she said, “and I think I know just the jouster…”__________________________________________________________The Rushlight Festival was held at a massive festival ground a dozen miles northeast of the city of Pitax, about half a mile from the southern shore of the Rushlight River itself, on the banks of a minor waterway known as Cutter’s Creek. The grounds were thronged with people, essentially transforming the area into a small town. Wandering merchants jockeyed for space, crying their wares, whether hot from a basket or cool from a cask. Stages with jugglers, minstrels, mummers’ troupes, and trained animals danced and leaped for the attention (and coin) of the crowds that reveled in King Irovetti’s bounty. A coliseum with an attached staging pavilion on one side had been erected on the north shore of Cutter’s Creek. On the opposite side of the coliseum stood the royal pavilion, reserved for Irovetti and his courtiers. Across the creek was the menagerie, an enormous purple pavilion that served as a showplace of tamed horrors and monstrosities from across Golarion, as well as the Royal Blue, a small lake surrounded by grand silken tents reserved for the private use of the visiting dignitaries from the other River Kingdoms. As Mox and her retinue arrived, they were greeted by a Pitax herald who escorted them to one of the pavilions.“King Irovetti requests the pleasure of your company in the Royal Pavilion at your earliest convenience,” the herald said as he took his leave.“I can’t wait,” Mox muttered.The companions settled into their accommodations, and then made their way around the lake and across the creek to Irovetti’s tent. The interior of the pavilion stood in sharp contrast to its relatively plain exterior. Lush red carpets covered the ground and a dais that supported a carved and gilded chair evoked the feel of a throne room, while a haphazard collection of pedestals bearing sculptures and mounted paintings of wildly varying quality and realism suggested a strange sort of art gallery. A small raised stage supporting numerous large musical instruments sat to one side of the pavilion.Irovetti himself was a handsome, muscular, dark-haired man in deep red velvets. A crown sat comfortably on his brow, and an elegant cloak draped his shoulders. His belt was thick with tools, weapons, and pouches that bespoke an adventuring lifestyle not completely left behind. He also carried two strange pieces of equipment. The first and most impressive was a long staff of unusual metal, one end of which was fitted with thin blades and a spike that periodically shifted and moved with a soft whirring noise. The second was a thin, short rod of strange metal with a single spike at the end. Small circular lights periodically flashed along its length. The king sat upon his thrown, attended by a pair of beautiful women. He smiled warmly as Mox and her allies entered.“My most illustrious guests!” he greeted them warmly. “I am so eternally and unendingly happy to see that you have safely arrived. Come, my pretties,” he directed the young women, “bring refreshments for these weary travelers. Whether by magic or by shank’s mare, traveling is thirsty work! Drink with me to our continued success and the bonds of brotherhood and friendship that shall be ours!”The next hour or so was spent in small talk and niceties. Mox had admonished her companions before they had arrived not to make mention of events at Fort Drelev. The time for a reckoning would come, she assured them. For the present, she wanted to simply play nice, bide her time, and gather what information they could. Irovetti seemed content to do the same. He was the consummate host, but the conversation was shallow and inconsequential. At the end of the evening, he wished his guests good luck in the coming games, and bade them good night.__________________________________________________________The first day of the tournament was given over to trading, feasting, a preview of the beasts of the travelling menagerie, entertainment, and after sunset, a grand display of fireworks. That evening, the Kardashians were visited by the tournament’s master of ceremonies, Nunzio Arpaia. “I’ve come to apprise you of the tournament rules, and the nature of the contests,” he said as he entered the tent. “First, though each event has its own rules, there are three that govern the tourney as a whole: harm no spectators, kill no competitors, and don’t get caught cheating. Breaking any of these rules is grounds for disqualifications from that event. The events themselves are an archery contest using longbows, a test of strength using handaxes or greataxes, a boasting contest, and a drunken jousting competition. I respectfully request the names of your individual competitors, and how they wish to be introduced.”The companions discussed the events for several minutes while Nunzio waited somewhat impatiently.“I shall participate in the archery competition,” Davrim said finally. “You may introduce me as Davrim the Executioner of Kardashia.”Nunzio blinked silently at that.“I’ll take the test of strength,” Stevhan volunteered. “You may call me the Stag Lord.”Velox spoke last. “I will compete in both the boasting contest and the…drunken joust.” He said this last with a glance askance at Mox, who hid her smile behind her hand. “I will be introduced as the Voice of Iomedae.”“Very good,” Nunzio bowed slightly. “I leave you to your rest and preparations for the coming games.”___________________________________________________________The second day of the Rushlight Tournament was designated for the archery competition. “The rules are simple,” Nunzio explained to the contestants. “You will all use the bows and arrows provided. You are given six arrows, all of which must be fired in the allotted time of thirty seconds. You have a choice from among three targets, one at a range of 30 feet, one at 220 feet, and one at 550 feet. The first target awards one point per arrow, and the arrow must stick solidly in the target. The second awards three points, and the third five points. A bull’s-eye on any target awards double points. If you fire all of your arrows in less than the allotted time, you will be awarded bonus points. The contestant with the most points when time has expired wins. Any questions?”The other kingdoms represented among the competitors, besides Kardashia, were Daggermark, Gralton, Mivon, Tymon, and, of course, Pitax. Daggermark’s archer was a roguish-looking fellow named Ilraith Valadhkani, while Gralton’s was a well-muscled half-even woman called Florante Mayank, and Mivon’s was woodsy female elf named Navarathna. Tymon representative was Damanjot, a half-orc who looked as if he had just come in from a week spent in the wilderness, and Pitax’s champion was Villamor Koth, a giant of a man whose physique looked to be carved from iron. Davrim walked with the others to choose his bow and shafts. As his opponents made their selections, something caught the inquisitor’s attention. When Ilraith Valadhkani reached for his arrows, he flicked the sleeve of his tunic ever so slightly, and six adamantium-tipped shafts slid out of it into his hand. “He’s cheating!” Davrim shouted.Nunzio whirled around. “What is this nonsense?” he asked.“Check his arrows!” Davrim pointed. “He pulled them out of his sleeve!”“Bring them to me!” a voice boomed from the royal box.Everyone, crowd and competitors alike, turned as one. Irovetti stood at the railing of his seat, his face a stone mask. Quickly, a runner seized Ilraith’s arrows and raced up the coliseum stairs to the King. Irovetti glanced at the shafts, then back at the contestants.“The Kardashian’s claim is valid!” he declared. “Daggermark has been disqualified!”The crowd erupted into jeers and taunts as Ilraith left the field in disgrace.Once the furor died down, the competitors lined up on their marks. First up was Florante Mayank. The half-elf woman fired with deadly precision, loosing her arrows deliberately, and exactly within the time allowed. All of her shots were aimed at the middle green target, and two of them were bull’s-eyes. The crowd roared as her grand total of 30 points was announced.Mivon’s archer, Navarathna shot second. The elf maid was something of a show-off. She also chose the green target, but she rapid-fired all six of her arrows in just 12 seconds, earning herself a hefty time bonus, but finishing with only 26 points total.Damanjot, the half-orc from Tymon was next. He took his time lining up his shots, and when he shot, he arced his arrows high, causing them to travel farther, and hitting the red target each time. He to earned 30 points.Villamor Koth of Pitax also chose the red target, and so strong was his pull on his bow, that each of his arrows sank to the fletchings inside the target. Thirty points was his tally, and thus a three way tie was the result.Last came Davrim. In his first volley, the inquisitor scored two hits on the green target. He then paused for a moment to speak a brief prayer, asking for Iomedae’s divine favor. It seemed his goddess was not listening. His next two shots struck the red target, but his fifth missed entirely. His last shot struck the red again, but that brought his total only to 21. He lostPitax, Tymon, and Gralton each began firing for the tie-breaker, and though all three acquitted themselves well, it was the barbarian Villamor Koth who raised his bow in victory at the finish.___________________________________________________________Day three of the tournament was given over to the Test of the Axe. This competition, Nunzio explained, would consist of each contestant being given six logs and their choice of using either a greataxe or a pair of handaxes. In one minute, the competitor had to chop through as many of the logs as possible. Each log destroyed granted 5 points, while each one damaged granted 2. The winner would be the axeman (or woman) with the most points. This time, Stevhan carried the banner for Kardashia, and the ranger chose a greataxe for his chopping. His opponents were Yegina Varudu of Daggermark, a rather small and frail woman dressed in robes, Kilbaskian Ord of Gralton, a gruff human who wielded a pair of handaxes, Dizon Marmada of Mivon, a burly female dwarf, Timsina Siraj of Tymon, a female priest of Gorum, and once again, Villamor Koth of Pitax.When the horn sounded, each of the competitors began their own preparations. Though Yegina drew much mockery from the crowd due to her small stature, the calls changed to awe as she began weaving several potent spells, causing her first to double in height, and then become hugely muscled and incredibly fast. Kilbaskian Ord whirled like a dervish with his two hatchets, finishing the round by hurling them both at an undamaged log to score a few last second points…and a few jeers from the stands. Dizon Marmada was straightforward in her approach, wielding her greataxe like a seasoned lumberjack. Villamor Koth took a swig from a large drinking horn before he began, and moments later seemed to be moving like greased lightning. The whites of his eyes turned red, and foam and froth spewed from his lips as he hewed away  with his axe. Timsina Siraj also called on magic, but it was the divine power of her god. Her axe began to glow, and she too grew in strength and stature as she set about her task. Stevhan also took a draught from a flask before he began, growing in size as other competitors had done. He then stamped one of his enchanted boots, increasing his speed, gripped his axe in both hands, and never looked back.The crowd cheered wildly at the antics of the contestants, and when the dust and wood chips cleared, the outcome was clear. The sorceress from Daggermark, though impressive in the initial seconds, only managed to destroy two logs, and damage one more, for a total of 12 points. Gralton’s ranger fared better with his two-axe style, but only marginally. He destroyed two logs as well, but damaged three, for a total of 16 points. The dwarf woman from Marmada managed to decimate four logs, earning herself 20 points. Gorum's priestess also scored 20, and Villamor Koth stood proudly over his four destroyed logs, and one damaged, gathering 22 points, and confident of a second victory…until he looked to Kardashia. Stevhan stood over six completely destroyed logs. The crowd was silent for a moment, and then broke into a deafening roar as the newest River Kingdom claimed their first prize.____________________________________________________________Day 4 of Rushlight brought the event that the audience had been most anticipating, as well as being one of the most traditional: a test of boasting and storytelling. Nunzio Arpaia explained that each contestant would take a stage in the middle of the coliseum and boast to the fans of one of his greatest accomplishments. The rules stated that the tale must last for five minutes, and consist of an introduction, the tale itself, and an artistic performance to enhance the story. Audience response would determine the overall winner.First up was Daggermark’s storyteller, Memon Esponde, a rakish chap with a mischievous gleam in his eye. He spun an improbable tale about how he once stole into a temple of Calistria and seduced all seven of its priestesses, including the high priestess, in a single night. When the clergy realized he loved none of them, he escaped on the back of the temple’s sacred giant wasp, with the high priestesses corset as a trophy. It was obvious to all listening that the high priestess in question was none other than Tymon’s contestant, a beautiful elven woman named Mialolessa. The priestess seemed nonplussed by the rogue’s ribald tale.Next was a rotund dwarf from Gralton by the name of Ankus Depergode. He made up for his apparent awkwardness with a bombastic voice, however. He boasted of how he stowed away on the Seawraith, the ship of the goddess of pirates, Besmara, and of his adventures in the outer sphere. In particular, he bragged of how he won a deva’s wings and a devil’s beard in a single gambling game. Despite the audacity of his claims, the crowd seemed to be particularly excited and delighted by his tale. As Tungdill observed the audience, however, he began to notice a pattern. Several people positioned a key locations throughout the stands were the loudest and most enthusiastic, inspiring those around them into greater cheers. After several moments, the druid noticed one man in particular placed in the midst of the stands. His eyes were closed, and his fingers worked quick gestures as he mouthed to himself quietly. A spellcaster! Tungdill surged to his feet and bulled his way through the throng until he could reached the man. He seized him by the tunic and lifted the frightened fellow from his seat.“Another cheat!” Tungdill boomed. “He’s manipulatin’ th’people!”This fact was quickly proven true when several of Irovetti’s heralds cast about for the presence of magic and found many of the onlookers to be enthralled. Ankus panicked and fled from the stage amid the catcalls and jeers of the mob.“Gralton has been disqualified!” Irovetti announced.Mivon’s teller came next. She was a well-spoken warrior named Ceala Ravenbrow. Her boast was a tale of blood and danger…how she single-handedly saved a small village in northern Galt from the ravages of a demonic chimera who had wings of fire and a scorpion’s tail. If her story was to be believed, she had lopped off the chimera’s dragon head with her sword, crushed the goat head under a falling rock, and tore the tail from its body and then strangled its remaining lion head in order to kill it…all without spilling the glass of elven absinthe she’d started to drink when the chimera had spotted and attacked her. The crowd was dubious.Pitax’s representative was a woman of lovely voice called Annamede Belavarah. She was a well-known comedian and social commentator from Pitax City, and was beloved by the populace. She’d also won the boasting competition in every previous year. The story she told was a strange one. It was all about how shed’ spent the past several years spying upon the kingdom of Kardashia, and using her influence to cause general misfortune for its rulers. Her knowledge of various embarrassing failures and problems the kingdom had experienced felt eerily accurate to Mox and her companions. They were the only ones among the audience not amused. Clearly, Annamede was once more the front-runner.When Kardashia was announced, to the astonishment of the crowd, it was not a person who walked to the stage, but a sleek, ebony stallion. Windchaser mounted the stage gracefully, and when he opened his mouth to speak, the crowd erupted in disbelief.“It is my distinctive pleasure,” Windchaser boomed, “to announce to you the greatest general the River Kingdoms have ever known! I give you the Voice of Iomedaeeeeee….Veeeeeelox!”The crowd went wild as the oracle emerged, bedecked as he was in golden armor that shined with light of the sun, robes of deepest crimson and brilliant purple draped across his shoulders. Numerous badges of honor bedecked his chest, and the jewels that gleamed within them were dazzlingly bright in the noon-day light. Velox bowed deeply to the crowd, and with mock-respect towards Irovetti, eliciting laughter and cheers from the onlookers. He then launched into the tale of Fort Drelev, and how the innocent folk there had been duped and betrayed by an unholy alliance between their evil overlord and his savage barbaric allies the Tiger Lords, as well as a ratty band of mercenaries of dubious skill. He spoke derisively of their lack of character and skill as he and his companions invaded the town and the keep, slaying the despot and his whores, as well as destroying to a man the ragtag army who had obviously been in the employ of some scurrilous cad of questionable parentage. He finished his story with the tale of how he and his companions had pursued the second-coming of Armag to the tomb of his ancestor, defeated the tests of Gorum, and faced the warlord and his undead minions in mortal combat. This last part he illustrated by dancing a complex performance simulating the battle itself, ending with Armag being disarmed of his legendary blade, and then having his spine severed. The audience was mesmerized, and when he’d finished his story, the roar of approval could be heard for miles around. Kardashia had won again, and was now tied with Pitax for first place.</blockquote>

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