The Tournament

The Tournament is Graal's most celebrated combat sporting event and is hosted by Albin Leigh, the governor of Graal. It is held twice a year and the matches are varied in rule-sets, themes and objectives. However the final round is always to the death and is usually one versus one - the victor of the current rounds versus the previous champion. The event is held in the Amphitheatre Fulminis, where the very same tournament has been held for many years. The contenders themselves are often built into dramatic plots, stories and even legends, which all helps to build up the mythos, hype and interest in the sporting event. Kariades has been the reigning champion for five years, defeating and slaying all new pretenders to the title. Albin Leigh often promotes rumours and stories himself, seeking to attract continued interest in the events. However matches are also known to be rigged, usually with the contenders unaware, to keep things fresh for the audience throughout the years.