WHO: Natalya & Open
WHERE: Winter carnival, ice skating rink
WHEN: January 3, 1570 - early afternoon
— Truth be told, Natalya wasn’t terribly excited to be here when she arrived in Italy. She wasn’t quite sure why she needed to be present for negotiations between powers – negotiating was hardly her strong suit ( in fact, when it came to things Natalya wanted, it was often a case of her way or the highway ), and politics as a whole tended to bore her – she often found it better to leave these endeavours to her mother or her brother ( not that she was given much choice – it wasn’t as though anyone in the Russian courts trusted Natalya to navigate their relations with other powers, the fear that she would somehow make things much worse than they’d been to begin with no doubt plaguing them ). Nevertheless, her mother had insisted that Natalya and her fresh new fiancé ( who she was doing her very best to avoid ) come along for the trip to support their nation, though the very idea of such things made Natalya ill.
Of course, even she had to admit, the carnival was a nice touch. She’d visited Italy a few times in her youth and never cared much for it, but she could see the appeal now that her leash had been loosened ever so slightly so she could attempt to enjoy the festivities. Her family were no doubt off somewhere, scheming or colluding, as they were often want to do, but Natalya was determined to have a brief moment of reprieve before any real work began. While her family were all seemingly here to promote the betterment of Russia, Natalya had... ulterior motives. Her current goal was to do everything in her power to prevent her upcoming nuptials from going ahead – and though she may be no political strategist, she figured that someone here must be able to help her, in exchange for the right favours.
That, of course, was going to wait. Natalya had always rather enjoyed ice skating as a child ( Lord knows Russia, of all places, had enough frozen lakes in the winter to create the perfect environment for the sport ), but hadn’t participated in it in some time. Perhaps it was a remnant of her youth that she’d disentangled herself from – shedded away along with any innocence she’d once possessed, or perhaps she’d fallen one too many times and decided enough was enough and hung up the skates forever. Whatever the case, she figured there was no better way for her to find some peace and quiet and clear her head than by doing a few laps of the rink that had been set up as part of the carnival.
She’s lacing up her skates when she notices someone looming over her, eyes tracing up the length of the figure before settling on their face, a scowl evident across her features. “What?” She asks, impatience already leaking into her tone. “Last I checked, having a little fun wasn’t illegal. And just because the only people out there right now are children, doesn’t mean adults can’t enjoy it, too.”
An educated and travelled man, Mikael liked to think of himself in such a way while dismissing any romanticism of any kind if he could. The way he saw it, if it wasn’t beneficial to his goals then he did not see the point in entertaining it. One thing he lied to himself about was how infatuated he was with all things astronomy. Early afternoon he took a stroll around to familiarise himself again with the setting since it had been years. Noticing the darkness of the sky, he saw the place darken as the sun became covered. It felt like minutes but there was an unease around him and coming from him. Mikael was speechless as he looked around when the sky returned to normal and did not notice the sound of approaching footsteps coming toward him. The educator in him didn’t want to believe in signs but he could not ignore the dark omen he just witnessed.
The sound of the Swiss trumpeting alarm airs panicked noise through the country as the disappearances of several important individuals was announced by the heralds of each relevant and affected nation. With the airs of spring perforating the skies, momentary disappearances are viewed as brief escapes or planned rendezvouses yet it is not long before gruesome discoveries are made. Lord David Douglas’ corpse is found first, floating in the river. Along with his death, several other bodies have been found in varied fashions of manslaughter, speaking volumes for the violence that the assailant hopes to invoke in the fleeting peace. Duke Ludovico Sforza is found, poisoned at his desk. The French, too, have lost a young soul in the person of Jacques de Valois, Viscount of Orléans, whose body s found in an open field, not too far from the orchids. Close by, in the honey gardens, are the bodies of Beyhan Hatun and Safiye Sultan, holding each other tight even in death but perhaps the worst discovery is one of Prince Pyotr of Bely, whose headless body is found in the wine cellars.
Diebold’s men have disembarked to each scene, looking to bring ease amongst the panic. There was surely foul play afoot and yet there were no fingers to point or clues to make from the deaths, which happen so suddenly that many within the vast stretch of castle grounds have yet to hear the full list of the departed. But despite the lost and uncertainty, another trumpet sounds to announce the arrival of one of Switzerland’s own sons.
On a pilgrimage to Rome, Diebold’s eldest son, Prince Loris of Neuchâtel had been travelling. Upon his return, he was seen accompanied by a ferocious man by his side ─ a madman, who opens his mouth to direct words are the Italians, especially those that he claimed to be his children. “Giulio, Francesco and Giovanna. My own flesh.” He says it loud enough for all to hear but who knew it his claims were true ?
From behind, follow another three figures that leave onlookers gasping in confusion and shock. The Church’s dog, Lord Julius Orsini, arrives with three lost souls ─ each with their own truths to preach. The helmet resting on the knight’s head is removed, revealing the face of a woman who’s stark resemblance to the monarchs of Germany leave them in horrified realization. Whispers flow through the crowd : Elisabeth, who had once been declared made with grief, sobbing for hours as she declared that her firstborn was alive, now stood vindicated in terror-filled relief as she is faced with Princess Claudia Blanche, the eldest of the legitimate brood.
Another woman stands nearby, the Polish royal crest in her palm. She unravels a long parchment with the insignia of Sigismund’s deceased brother and the first heir of Poland ─ a marriage document, signed with his name and his wife, as well as the progeny that now stood before the crowd, in the flesh. Princess Helen Jagiellon of Poland, the lost and forgotten princess, has returned with a burning vengeance in her eyes. Dressed in the tradition garb of her mother’s homeland, she catches the eyes of those aligned with the Ottoman Coalition, interest sparking in her dark gaze.
And finally, a man believed to be dead has come from the grave with a snarl furling at his lip. An unforgettable face, matched with a familiar stance. Lord Simeon of Bely, the eldest son of the headless Pyotr and his late wife, greets Switzerland with murderous intent dressing his features. He bares his teeth at the Russians, eyes directed at the criminals who sit comfortably in their seats. They all thought him dead and buried, but he has returned, bringing hell on earth.
The Swiss Prince stands aside, nervously watching the four figures make their way towards their countrymen. The truth has become inevitable.
A NOTE FROM THE ADMINS
For our two month mark, the admin team is glad to be delving into something much deeper and darker with our plot. At this time, we will also be opening up spots for members to take their fourth and final character. However, in order to do so, the prospective member must contact the admins, with prior history of good activity ( across all three characters ) as well as consistent and accurate tracking of points and general character management. We will not be giving out the fourth character slots lightly and thus we hope those that chose to request for a fourth, take a careful consideration of who they select and are dedicated enough to develop the new character as much as the prior characters. For those who have not yet portrayed a POC canon in their current line up, the fourth character must be a POC.
With the new additions to our character list, the faceclaims for their roles will be ( 99% ) non-negotiable and are also plot heavy hitters that will require more in depth plotting and reading.
*We will be judging applications for these characters more harshly but for those who are extremely passionate in delving into some of the more complex plots available, we encourage you to apply and reach out with any questions during the application process.
Please do enjoy our newest and most chaotic update thus far ! We hope this fuels some exciting new plots for everyone to enjoy. As a reminder, our springtime event will be ending very soon so we encourage members to start wrapping up their existing threads ! A follow-up conclusion to this plot drop will be made shortly !
closed: @antiquatus
date: 4th feb
location: outside of the castle
Among all of this carnage, Pyotr’s concern was not for others. There were people far more suited to heroics and tending to the injured than he. In all his years of military service, he had fought through worse bloodshed than this, seen larger explosions take more lives. If this was some attempt to destroy the great houses of the world, then it was a failure. It was shock tactics meant to frighten women and children and, for now, he was more concerned with gauging the safety of his little family before counting heads from a safe distance. More could be gained from this - whatever this is - if he remained cool-headed and, most importantly, alive.
Therefore, from the observation stands where the panic unfolded, Pyotr slipped away, shoving others aside in a determination to reach the safety of the castle walls. Naturally, he was not the only one to do so. Amid the racket, others of varying rank ran with him. Like-minded fellows, he thought, sensible in their priorities.
Not all, it seemed, were as clear-headed. Others rushed *from* the castle and into the arms of the drama itself. Some were guards and servants no down scared for their master or their service, others were nobles - high born people with their own hides to protect. He all but collided with one half-familiar face as he neared the castle walls. A man of the Catholic faith, some Italian face he cared very little about and shoved aside indiscriminately as he blocked his path.
Preparations still await to be completed as the morning of the sixteenth day of the fourth moon begins with the breaking of dawn, coloring the skies in a bright, yolk - thick vibrancy that rouses occupants of all three castles from fleeting slumber as the highly anticipated day stirs vivacity among the masses. Horse - trodden paths between the three residences, once heavily patrolled with the precautionary measures necessitated to ensure safety between all factions, remain clear of foot soldiers who were now replaced with standard bearers carrying the banners of the Ottoman Empire and Germany, colors intertwined upon cloth. Trumpeting, three heralds call for attention from all those that would listen to begin the gathering at the castle of Sasso Corbaro, ushering in guests from all sides of the faction to account for the Duchess’s vast array of friends and extended family members. The wedding procession begins with the entourages of both bride and groom departing from the quarters of their respective countries, through the halls of the castle to eventually gather at the small chapel which now serves as mutual, sacred ground between the two faiths.
In the spirit of unity, the ceremony is appropriately themed around a fusion of Ottoman and Germanic traditions, considering the cultures of both bridge and groom, incorporated into the festivities to further emphasize the peaceful union. In line with the fashions of Europe, the bride dons a gown of blue as a symbol of her purity, cementing a statement for the rest of the wedding to follow suit. Jewel - toned blues are used to decorate Sasso Corbaro, with shades of gold interlaced in the detailing to symbolize grandeur and prosperity. The splendor of the ceremony is heightened by liberal use of floral arrangements in complementary shades, with roses being the most prominent through splashes of seasonal wildflowers.
Though the marriage is blessed by a Lutheran priest in accordance to the faith of Germany, the ceremony itself and the religious rites entailed are conducted in the Islamic faith. Both religious and legal requirements are carefully observed, with readings taken from the Quran before the groom motions to kiss the bride ─ three times on the cheek and once on the forehead, as is customary to the faith. After the ceremony comes to a completion, Friederike declares her intention to convert to the Islamic faith, the religion of her new husband and of any children that may be born of their union.
Behind closed doors, legal papers are drawn to finalize the decision and a new name is chosen by the bride, though she will always be known as Friederike ( or, more affectionately, Friedi ) to her nearest and dearest.
After the pair emerges from the legal proceedings, the true festivities begin. Guests are offered a choice between a European feast that Westerners may be more familiar with, interspersed with German dishes such as Sauerbraten, or a more flavorsome spread from the Ottoman Empire, featuring smoked meat and an array of sweets. The music that fills the halls is distinctly, uniquely, Ottoman in nature, played on the kemence, kanun and kadum while shadowplays and meddah amuse those who wish the newlyweds well. The tales weaved by these story tellers are not familiar to those who hail from the Ottoman Empire, however, drawing inspiration from Germanic folklore instead ─ another clear merger of the couple’s origins. With the scent of meats and sweets in the air, fluted music soothing the ear, the celebrations promise to continue well into the night, washing away all doubts of the union and invoking respect from the gathered countries as a new, joined force arises from the marriage.
CONCLUSION
Congratulation ─ our first wedding plot has been purchased by Shay and Henry and now fully rolls into effect !
Please note that the wedding will be taking place, in character, on the 16th of April, 1559.
This plot drop will last for an entire week, out of character, from the 16th of April ( 12:40PM, GMT-4 ) till the 23rd of April ( 12:40PM, GMT-4 ).
Characters are mandated to plot and write threads in response to the wedding, either being in attendance or purposefully choosing not to attend due to personal reasons. Regular threads are permitted to continue in this time but we ask that priority be placed on the current plot and references should be made on the union, as it will be known throughout the three different castles and the two different factions.
We sincerely hope that our members enjoy and participate in the purchased plot and once again, congratulations to Shay and Henry !
there lingers an air of anticipation as the morning of the third day of the second month in 1559 breaks over the snow capped mountains of switzerland, rousing the bodies of both highborn and lowborn from their deep slumbers to address the last day of the successful neuchatel fair with growing excitement. the courtyards of montebello are slowly filled with even more wears, fares and raw produce than ever since in the days prior as merchants from all the attending countries work to empty out their temporary stores to conduct a clearance of all persihable goods before the festivities are due to end. yet even in this, there lies an element of competition as the more ❛ generous ❜ of countries decide to offer their bountiful stores of food to the passersby, each neighboring land, allied or hostile, then refusing to be outdone by the other as good intentions are contorted in pride.
at the chinese tents, firemasters dressed in the cream-and-gold garb of switzerland carry crates upon crates of straw-cushioned bamboo and paper tubes, wheeling out the racks and preparing the fuses as visitors from all across the known world settle into their seats for dinner and a display of lights in the evening skies. the green men work to keep the nobility entertained with cartwheels and comedy as the erected tents are slowly disassembled behind the dining crowd. a hush falls upon the crowd as the fire pits are dimmed, children tucked close against the sides of their parents when the food is cleared and the firemasters begin their show of lights.
the first bamboo and paper tube ignites with a startling noise that sends a wave of shock through the crowds, both within and without the confines montebello castle as wide-eyed gazes reflect the array of golden and orange and red sparks dancing in the dark night sky. distantly, a babe cries in immediate response to the sudden commotion but the cries are quickly swallowed by a quick commencement of claps and laughter till only glee fills the courtyard, ring-adorned hands pointing towards the skies and mouth parted into gasps over the art made upon heaven’s canvas. behind the noise, servants and merchants alike are heavily laden with boxes and packages that are meant to be carried into the stables and carriage yards of montebello, peoples from differing countries now working together with tireless determination to pack the tents and unsold produce back into the wagons and cages as each monarchy is due to return to their respective faction-divided castles on that very evening. nursemaids rush forward to soothe the perturbed children, guiding royal babes back to the temporary lodgings within king diebold’s castle as a few lingering ambassadors forsake paper and ink for the festivities outside with arms wrapped around shoulders, friendship thick and ripe in the air.
( it is this image that will forever be burned into the retinas of some as the repeated, thundering sounds of ignited fireworks masks the steps of the devil within their midst. )
timed to perfection, the opposite ends of the castle shake with heavy quakes. the motions goes unnoticed by those gathered in the courtyard as the exploding pyrotechnics conceals the sounds of frantic horses and collapsing columns. the unfamiliar commotion in the skie means that it takes a few moments for even the hired mercenaries of king diebold to discern that anything was amiss but the sight of smoke and loose horses fleeing the scene sends a rush of guards and servants to the burning stables on one end and the destroyed carriage yard on the other, where two small but impactful explosions had been set off, masked by the display in the heavens. what greats the eye is enough to send chills down the back of any seasoned soldier ─ once neatly packed, crates of silks and works of art are now strewn across the rubble. thick smoke fills the air and perforates the lungs, forcing them to double over into harsh coughs and beneath the burning planks of wood and chunks of brick, parts of destroyed bodies are discovered, charred and ripped to piece ; both human and animal, intermingled like a grotesque mockery.
within the courtyard, the last of the fireworks are ignited in one long fuse, creating an array of lights as bright as the sun within the night skies and the cheers of the crowd nearly drown out the screams as more and more people happen upon the disastrous scene. servants flee from the destroyed stables, horses kick their way into the once-peaceful courtyard and like a match, panic ripples through the gathered nobility as shouts of death and treachery and danger are reverberated through the crowd. what commences is nothing short of a stampede as the hired mercenaries of the swiss king are overrun but the rush of panicking royals, nobility and wild animals, now set loose by the unforeseen attack. there lingers very little semblance of morality or dignity among the monarchs when lives are at stake and this is further evidenced by the careless pushing and pulling of one another into danger as each individual battles to get to safety within the palace walls. bodies are thrown to the ground, families are separated and the fire pits, which one warmed the frames of those gathered around in peace, fall to the floors and ignite wood and canvas, painting a fearsome picture that marks the end of the neuchatel fair.
welcome to the third and final part of our first event and our first plot drop ! the current date in-game is 4th of february 1559 ( three days after the last athletic event on the 31st of january 1559 ) though the above write-up occurred on the day before that ( 3rd of february 1559 ). the admins of bloodlessgloryrpg hope that our members will enjoy the last part of our first event and if there are any questions, please feel free to reach out for further clarification ! more details on the event, the deceased and the aftermath of the explosions can be found below !
the victims of the explosions in the stables and the carriage yards are as follows :
from the holy roman empire : commander dietrich von meran, second in command of the imperial army and godfather to the grand duke of carinthia ─ died in the stables, saddling up his stallion.
from portugal : duke carlos de barcelos, nephew to the late queen carlota de barcelos and cousin to the infantes and infantas of portugal ─ died in the carriage yard, preparing the portuguese transportation.
from poland : miss zofia nowak, chambermaid and childhood companion to princess agnieszka ─ died in the stables, tending to the princess’ steed.
from the ottoman empire : gelibolulu alaeddin pasha, beylerbey of the anatolia eyalet and adviser to sehzade bayezide ─ died in the carriage yard, en route to sasso carboro castle.
from the ming empire : ambassador park ji-won, uncle to the joseon royals ─ died in the stables, tending to the horses meant to be transported back to the ming empire.
from hindustan : maryam devi, urdubegis of the mughal empire and cousin to gulbadan devi sultan begum ─ died in the carriage yard, overseeing the packing of the hindustani purchases.
along with the deceased, the number of injured currently remains unaccounted for as the rubble of the stables and carriage yards covers a good portion of any potential survivors. members are encouraged to include their own characters among those injured during the stampede ─ minor injuries do not require admin clearance but please do notify the main of any lasting or life threatening injuries you may want to inflict upon your character.
as a whole, all characters will face a -5 point deduction from their physical and luck sections as a result of this plot drop, meaning that there will be a deduction of -10 points from each character’s total health statistics.
all threads should take place on the following morning after the attack ( 4th of february 1559 ) ─ though members are encouraged to write plotted, closed starters with their respective partners that detail the attack and the chaotic aftermath, all open starters should be placed after the initial panic and in an accessible area. as mentioned above, some characters may still be separated in the morning throughout the vast areas of the castle but all characters should be attempting to get to safety within the castle and reunite with the loved ones and allies. some suggested ideas for threads, locations and scenarios can be found below !
within the castle walls : with the castle still on lockdown, wood for the fires has become sparse. the injured take priority and warmth is bestowed in the rooms delegated for the sick, leaving some rooms chilly and forcing bodies to huddle together. your character could be charged with assisting the injured, gathering or making fireword from pieces of furnation, handing out blankets or calming the masses. your character could also be inciting further fear by desperation in trying to find the missing members of their families, throwing accusations around and starting quarrels. your character could also be plotting with their fellow allies or preparing a plan to escape from bellizona.
within the castle grounds : for those stuck outside the walls but within the grounds, the chaos of the night prior could have forced them to seek shelter in the various half-erected tents or the outside sheds of the swiss palace. as the noise has died down in the morning, they may be seeking refuge within the castle but the carnage outside ( from the uncleaned explosions and burned courtyard ) proves difficult to navigate through. besides those from the outside trying to find their way back in, battling weather and injury, there might also be groups from within the castle walls that have formed search and rescue groups as well as cleaning groups to help with the rubble and to rediscover any survivors beneath the fallen rock and wood or those that are merely outside to gather a glimpse of the aftermath itself.
outside the castle gates : the chaos of the evening had separated many, even pushing some pass the gates and into the crowd of peasants. while the good people of bellinzona are of a similar disposition to their jovial king, characters would either face extreme challenges or extreme comforts as they are completely out of their usual circle of friends. thieves may seek a chance to pick the pockets of frightening nobility though some would open their doors to the lost and give them rest for the night. either way, characters that are now separated from the rest of the monarchy must get back into the castle and while this is possible, it would be difficult as suspicion would easily fall upon them and armed guards patrol the streets, ready to arrest any suspicious looking folk.
though the grasp of winter begins to thaw some five or six days after the montebello attacks, the ground remains too hard to break through with a shovel, hidden beneath several inches of flurried ice even as the first buds of spring peek forth from the snow-capped trees in shades of greens and pinks and reds. the religious sisters of switzerland flock to the castle in their white and black habits, embalming the dead and packing snow against the walls of the chapel of rest, tireless in their duty to persevere the bodies whilst the switzer king worked towards finding the perpetrator behind such an unprecedented attack. the chroniclers would go on to lamenting the dead, reciting verses upon verses of waxed poetics for the deceased that ranged from fresh green lads to wizened patriarch, from underfoot innocents to duteous men whose bodies now laid, awaiting proper burials yet it is the entrapped nobility that haunt the halls of the castle, a solemn silence descending upon the once jovial gathering. tempers only rise when the swiss mercenaries storm through their royal ranks as if they were but petty thieves, awaiting judgement ─ each individual is separated and then heavily interrogated by the king’s men. not even the injured are spared from this scrutiny, broken and still-healing bodies carried into the king’s private council rooms to be interviewed.
stories collide with falsified news and paranoid accusation, a hundred versions of the same night leading the swiss guards on a wild goose chase that narrows down the blame onto the shoulders of three main countries, now placed under immense scrutiny. the ming empire of china lingers upon the tongues of many, the only common attribute in the stories that speak of thunderous fireworks in the skies that masked the first tremors of the explosion. some more religious folk, spurned into fervor by the sudden attack, place accountability upon the laps of those from the ottoman empire ─ an easy assumption to make as infidels from the east now seem foreign and barbaric to the pious. in return, the amount of deaths from the ottoman faction lead several fingers to point towards the catholic monarchs of spain and the holy roman empire, whose families and household staff remained largely unaffected by the attacks, most either kept safe indoors or away from the worst of the injuries.
in the end, it takes the drunken ramblings of a serving girl to lay the blame upon lord gaufrid neuchâtel of bern. the name sends an uproar through the gathered royals, a riot nearly occurring within the castle walls itself as kings and emperors from across the known world demand answers from the hosting king. as cousin to diebold, gaufrid was prepared to be regent over the young neuchâtel heir should anything befall the switzer king, effectively putting the overlooked lord in complete control over the power of switzerland’s troops. unlike his name, which, when placed together, means ❛ territory of peace ❜, the cousin of the king was known to be heavily and vocally discontent with his lot in life, thus his involvement in the peace treaty came as a surprise to be swiss royals, who had been lulled into a false sense of security by the conniving man.
all eyes draw towards the accused as the guards drag him before the king in the burnt remnants of montebello’s courtyard. those standing closest to diebold would say that the king trembled as he spoke the words that would condemn his kin to death by torture and execution, the furs of his large cloak dragging on the floor as he spun away, unable to watch as the herald announced the manner of punishments that would be dealt to the culprit before the mercy was death was bestowed. those with the stomach of such unpleasantries were invited to watch as justice was served but the gates of montebello begin to draw open for each respective faction to return to their allotted castles and mourn for their dead, with proper burials and funeral services being planned for the following few weeks.
to many, justice seems to have been served in the form of a most unexpected criminal though the visiting royals now grow suspicious of the swiss king, doubtful of his ability to maintain peace between the warring countries when he struggled to keep harmony within his own home. yet none are permitted to leave the cold grounds of switzerland without first meeting with the king and none wish to draw attention to themselves by fleeing earlier, each country bound by pride and determination to prove their innocence, now more than ever.
CONCLUSION
thank you to everyone who has participated in our first event thus far ! it has officially ended with the torture and execution of the criminal lord, gaufrid neuchâtel and the gates of montebello are now open for our characters to return to their respective castles as life attempts to return to normalcy. the next few weeks will be filled with funeral services and burials for the deceased as spring begins to settle upon switzerland.
for those of you who are just beginning your event threads or are in the middle of these threads, please feel free to continue until the conclusion but refrain from making any new threads actively reacting to the attack as it has been a week in-game since it has occurred ! we are so happy to see so much love and enthusiasm from all of you and we promise even more fun things in the future. keep your eyes peeled for the next installment of bloodlessglory’s juicy plots ! until then, for any further questions or concerns, you are more than welcomed to reach out to us !
as the first day of festivities and an evening of merriment dies down, the second morning of the fair rises with a similar excitement as the courtyard of montebello, its titles and greenery more commonly speckled with snowfall, is now hidden beneath the heavy foot traffic as noble visitants from all corners of the known world enjoy themselves within the erected tents, purchasing new clothing and foreign food displayed within the small stalls. the cacophony of crying salesmen, huffing beasts and laughing customers allows no room for doubt that the initiative proposed by the swiss king had been a successful one, and it had only just begun. chroniclers from all the cantons of switzerland scribe down the fruits of king diebold’s efforts on careful letters to their respective liege lords, to assure the continuous loyalty and pivotal support for the neuchatel monarchy, watching as the last of the participants rush to the list boards by the athletic fields.
the array of contestant differ in more than just their country of origin ─ green and mature, men and woman, nobility and royalty, were all made the same for everyone longed to boast of their physical prowess through friendly matches made with those who, not even a year prior, were met with hostility in larger, blood-drenched fields.
at midday of the twenty-eighth, the king himself receives the list of names from the scribes, ever-jovial as his eyes skim through the names of different nationalities and in different penmanships. with a hearty sigh of relief, followed closely by a beaming grin, king diebold announces the first contestants of each sport in a booming voice, nodding in approval before allowing his herald to continue in the calling and matching of each long anticipated match. the swiss king offers the best of luck to each and everyone participating in the games, enthusiasm flooding his robust frame as he garners a peak of the lush gifts to be awarded to the winners. there is a small hesitation to his gait as he moves to step down from the pedestal, as if he has merely forgotten one last announcement, eyes traveling across the crowd gathered by the edge of the podium as he reminds all his guests that this is a peace event and that sharp weapons, harsh words and violent intent must all be forgotten before one enters the ring.
( or else, remains his cutting, unsaid advice, as his exit from the stage gives room to yet another joyous performance, drawing the minds of the dignitaries away from their strange host. )
firstly, thank you so much to all our writers for your submissions into the athletic rounds of the neuchatel fair ! we will now be entering a stage of small updates / plot drops regarding the athletic events which will be detailed below. whilst we do not expect you to write out the actual competition, we encourage the mentioning of the list of competitors and the matches in your threads, but we would like you guys to follow with our timeline and the results posted by the admin team, as we are trying to be as fair as possible. we will not be tolerating any godmodding regarding athletic performance nor results.
please make sure to read the following :
archery : the archery competition will be composed of various contestant who will be competing during the entirety of a day ( ic : 29th of january, in the afternoon / ooc : 31st of january ) in the archery fields. each contestant will have five attempts to hit the circles of the bullseye, and whomever has the most straight shots, will win the overall contest.
for our writers, we will be determining the result of the match by calculating the luck + physical points, based on the last point count update submitted to the main ( through discord or the submit box ). the results will then be posted with another update on the day of the event ( friday, the 31st of january ).
the contestants for the archery competition are as follows ─ giovanna de medici of tuscany, irina trubetskaya of russia, joachim kostka of poland, margaret tudor of england, yi seonhwa of joseon and vitória de bragança of portugal.
melee : the melee competition is perhaps the harshest event there is on the lineup ─ a disorganized hand to hand combat contest that will be taking place on the 30th of january, 1559 ( ooc : 1st and 2nd of february ). the winner of the competition will be the last man standing in the field after the rest have forfeited.
for our writers, we will be determining the result of the match by calculating the physical points, based on the last point count update submitted to the main ( through discord, a post on the dash or the submit box ). the results will then be posted with another update on the day of the event ( SUNDAY, the 2nd of february ).
the contestants for the melee competition are as follows ─ adhémar de valois of france, antónio de bragança of portugal, arthur tudor of england and james tudor of england.
jousting : considered by some to be the most chivalrous physical activity that a man may engage in, the jousting event will be divided into three rounds, all of which will be taking place on a single day, one after the other ( ic : 31st of january / ooc : 3rd and 4th of february ). the first round of contestants will be mentioned below ─ the winner of each pair will compete with one another in a semi final, whilst the odd one out ( which will be determined by a random generator ) will be moving on to compete in the final.
for our writers, we will be determining the pairs from a random generator, while the result of the match will be by calculating the luck + physical points, based on the last point count update submitted to the main ( through discord or the submit box ). the results of the first round will be released on monday ( 3rd of january ) and the results of the semi finals and the finals will be released on tuesday ( 4th of january ).
the contestants for the jousting competition are as follows ( list of all the participants from the random generator ) ─ adhémar de valois of france, arthur tudor of england, james tudor of england, louis de valois of france, antónio de bragança of portugal and charles de valois of france.
by random generation, the first round of pairs are as follows ( list of the results from the random generator ) ─
arthur tudor of england VS louis de valois of france.
charles de valois of france VS james tudor of england.
adhémar de valois of france VS antónio de bragança of portugal.
