Koaneg Eskern Tournament
The Koaneg Eskern Tournament is a set of contests in which the Damez is chosen to rule the forest for the next three years. An ancient forest with links to the lesser salt path, the tribes of the Severn, and status within the Ys empire makes it a widely sought after title for royals and immortals who were not in the line of succession in their land.
Anyone can participate, but the harsh nature of the contests gears it primarily toward nobles with a degree of influence over an area, and to those who can only die under certain conditions such as Immortals, Double Walkers, and Alruna.
The Tournament is highly political, and serves as a meeting ground for influential people from all corners of Morisulis. It takes place once every three years, and the winner rules Koaneg Eskern (Forest of Bones) for that period of time, until it is time for the next tournament. It is part pageant, part war games, part dueling contest and the atmosphere is reminiscent of the Wild Hunt.
It begins on the first full moon after the Autumn Equinox (referred to in Ys as Al Kantol Gwallen - Plague Candle), where after tournaments and contests within the regions themselves to determine their champions, contestants must survive 9 nights in Koaneg Eskern. In a forest full of double walkers, thieves, and poisonous plants, this is not as easy as it seems, especially for a mortal. This determines the contestant's readiness to handle the harsh environment of the area. This is referred to as the Naw Nos Olau (Nine Lit Nights).
Out of those 32, the contestants face up against one another in games of fencing. In this game of fencing, one must remove one of their senses such as sight, hearing, touch, or a limb. They are grouped based on their choice, and face each other. 3 points for victory, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. The amount of contestants is reduced to the top 16.
The top 16 compete in the guillotine, where they face sudden death matches where the goal is to decapitate the other opponent. The top 8 enter the quarter finals, where the guillotine matches are also used to determine the top 4.
For the semi finals and finals, the contestants must gather enough members to play a game of human chess. The competitor can either take the place of King or Queen. This tests their ability to rally troops behind them, and their strategy. There is a vital difference- when a piece attempts to take another piece, they can fight to determine if the piece will be taken. If the piece meant to be taken wins, the other piece is set off the board. In the case of a stalemate, a guillotine is used to determine the winner.
A game of chess is also used to determine the winner of the finals.
The Round of 32 to the Finals takes place every three years on the 13th Month Trilithi. They are given from the Naw Nos Olau (September) of the previous year, to Trilithi (approximately 8 months), to complete the Naw Nos Olau, and then return to their land to compete in tournaments. Eight contestants are chosen from Deywos, Belisama, Ys, and Aranea respectively, amounting to 32 for the beginning of the tournament in Trilithi. The final competitors are assigned roles as the Oak King and Holly King, and this is especially poingnant if a Northern and Southern finalist each are competing.
A competitor can win as many times as they are able, and there are popular and unpopular rulers overall. It changes the fate of the south and the tides which affect the midlands of the north.
History
The tournament started sometime in 425, after the fall of Ankou. Populated by clans and tribes who lived on the outskirts of Ys and Ankou, the forest became overrun with petty scuffles, bandits. It went through several rulers who lasted very short periods of time. This was known as the Dark Quarter.
Sheena, who had been the presiding Saint of Ankou, was priming the newly created Alruna Princez Armelle to gather an army and take back the kingdom which had crumbled while she was sleeping. Her status as a Saint had been greatly affected by the queendom's falling and when challenging and losing against the Papess for control, she had lost her Sainthood in the process.
The neighbouring tribe of the Myacoris, the Vespula, who live in the mountain forests and have many tactical advantages, were being roped into helping Queen Baltza take over the forest's area so they could avoid being absorbed into Ys. Sheena helped Princez Armelle gather get troops. The Myacoris refused to fight. Baltza was lacking in numbers. With the help of Alloces, a train mistress in the Forest Clockmakers, she lured the Myacoris into the forest under the pretense Alloces was holding a meeting and lured Sheena and Armelle into attacking. She expected the Myacoris to be better fighters. Hundreds were slaughtered in one of the quietest but most bloody battles of the forest. Baltza knowing the corpses could be traced back to her, hid the corpses in a cave deep in the mountains. This would come to be known as the Myacoris Mass Disappearance, as Alloces and Baltza never speak of their greatest error and know they hold each other in mutually assured destruction.
Sheena won the battle but much of their army was lost, too. Armelle had lost most of her capable fighters. They retreated to rebuild their army. Armella ventured to the Salt Path and would eventually raise an army of korrigan and outlanders. In the meantime the Papess held frantic meetings with the tribe leaders and clockmakers of Koaneg Eskern to try and stabilize this vital expanse of land. They ultimiately allowed the Papess to decide who the ruler of the forest should be, and a tournament was created.
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