The Suicide Cliff Race

In the crown city of the Northern Kingdom, in the district known as the Cliff District, there has developed a unique coming of age ceremony. In the year they come of working age, the young men of the district gather together on the docks to compete for a position in the district's worker's union. It is the Worker's Union that is responsible for the training and safety of the men that work in the Cliff District, so it is imperative that they employ only those men that prove themselves to be the most skilled at navigating the myriad of pathways, ladders, lifts, bridges, and hoists that connect the vertical maze that is the Cliff District. Traditionally the young men will gather in the docks starting in the year they turn 16, but those of older age are not excluded from the race and men as old as fifty have ran the race. Younger racers are discouraged, but orphans or young men supporting their family have been allowed to race at as young as twelve. The race starts at the King's Dock, and every eligible racer sets off on a course that allowed the racers to choose their own path, so long as they pass through specified checkpoints that are chosen to test their skills when facing a variety of obstacles that can be encountered in The Cliff District. The race leads them from the docks up to a specific point at the top of the cliff, where they must retrieve a flag from a checkpoint and descend once again to the docks. The race is dangerous and often highly competitive, as the young men are judged not only on how quickly they can return with the flags, but also on their skill at navigating certain sections of the district. It is common for crowds to gather at those areas selected to test the skill of the racers to watch and cheer the men on as they navigate complex pathways or quickly cross precarious bridges

History

The race began as a friendly competition between workers before there was a Cliff District, back when the area was no more than a system of pullies and rapel points between cargo platforms used to move goods from the docks to the city. After the Worker's Union was formed, the race was deemed the best test of skill to see if hopeful applicants truly had what it took to join the union.

Related Ethnicities