Magus Tournament

The deciding tournament of just who is the strongest

The most famous tournament in all Altheria. This tournament is the biggest claim to fame for any mage, witch, wizard, warlock, sorcery, paladin or anyone who can cast magic.

Explanation/Rules

The Magus Tournament occurs once a decade, it pits the strongest magic users in the world in a free for all against each other that spans the entire Eastern continent. There are 2,000 contestants each year. Ranked 1-2,000 the tournament lasts for a year and a half the person who is ranked #1 at the end is the winner.

Participants move up and down the rankings by defeating other participants ranked higher than them. For example, if a person ranked #2,000 defeats #1,933 then they take the rank of 1,933.

A participant can only jump 100 ranks maximum per victory. So if #2,000 defeats #1,070 they would only improve to 1,900 while the person who was 1,070 drops to 1,170. This limit was set in order to help regulate fluke victories and loses. As it would be very dangerous if the #2,000 accidentally beat #50. This is because the ranks represent how powerful a participant is. If that victory was a fluke then they could be at risk of serious injury or death in their next fight.

A participant achieves victory over another by rendering them incapacitated, unconscious, or dead. A Participant can also surrender as well. If a participant was to die or remain incapacitated or too injured to fight for 2 weeks they are ruled out of the tournament. (Revival or reincarnation does not allow a person back into the tournament)

If a participant defends their rank from someone lower they will move up a maximum of 5 ranks (Depends on how big the gap is between current ranks) and receive the location of the participant that is 50 ranks above them as well as 100 ranks.

Fights can consist of teams (2v2, 3v3, etc...) or 1v1s. If fights are to be in a team format, they must consist of active participants in the tournament. The match ups in a team fight will result in the lowest person from each team being paired with each other. So when possible rank switches are made between the winning and losing teams it is between the participants that correspond with each other in their team hierarchy.

There are special rules for challenging the number 1 ranked participant. In order to challenge the #1 a participant must be within the top 25. If they lose they drop to rank #100

There are no boundaries to where a participant can be while the tournament is in session. As long as they remain in the territories of The Eastward Regions.

History

The Magus tournament has seen a few different changes throughout its history. In its very initial stages around the year 220 the six regions were on the verge of all out war. In a last ditch peace effort all six regions met on an island in the Shimmering sea, a long believed neutral area that lies between Eastern and Western Altheria. At this peace summit they came to the conclusion that each region would send their strongest magi to represent them in a free for all that would take place on the island. The six person free for all was a success and the helped settle the disputes that were taking place. However after a few months Enithe and Thurn believed they hadn't chose their strongest representatives and demanded a rematch. The other four regions being confident in their choice agreed. Word got out about a rematch of this intense fight and spectators from all over the continent showed up to watch the fight. This was the beginning iteration of the Magus Tournament.
Overtime citizens began asking their kingdoms if their would be more of those incredible fights between powerful mages as no battle before had been so grand on such a small scale. Eventually each of the respective kingdoms got together and saw the potential that could be harnessed, fame, pride, power, money. The idea seemed too good to be passed upon. The victors of these recurring fights were hailed as heroes and legends in their home regions. Fame followed them everywhere and eventually money became an incentive for the more powerful mages to start participating as the regions began offering to pay for their stronger mages to participate instead of declining the fight.
After centuries of different changes and iterations the Magus Tournament has become what it is today. The victor gets to claim the title of strongest magic user in all of Altheria for ten years. Famous all over the continent and granted land and lordship from their home region. While they receive 1,000,000 platinum coins from each other region.
It is considered an incredible honor and opportunity for a person to receive an invitation to the tournament. Even the participant who finishes in last is often revered and receives localized fame. It is incredibly rare for a person to make a fake claim of receiving an invitation as often times most grand libraries in cities contain lists of every person to ever receive an invitation to the tournament.
Right now the reigning champion is from Novius and is known as Ero the Endless. He is the most successful victor of all time, having protected his title for three tournaments in a row.

Execution

The 2,000 participants are chosen and deemed fit by a secret council of 9 Archivists, Sages and other Magi. Their identities are kept a secret due to how influential and powerful their position can become. They assemble for a week every two years in order to discuss candidates and active happenings throughout Altheria. They go about the selection process by ranking and discussing the achievements and feats. of a magic user. They work strictly off known and proven victories and accomplishments. If there is a rumor about a mage having an immensely powerful spell that can kill a dragon, the mage won't be considered unless their are eye witnesses or actual proof of the feat. happening.
Once the council has agreed upon the candidates they begin sending out personalized messaging spells contacting the candidates. If a candidate accepts, they are informed of the start date and are asked where they would like their magical rank tattoo to be placed. The tattoo then appears on the beginning date of the tournament in the color of the contestants choosing. The tattoo displays the persons rank and changes accordingly. Additionally, the tattoo will emits a soft glow and warm up slightly as it gets closer to another contestant.

Observance

News papers regular during this times will have entire sections dedicated to the current rankings of the tournament as well as have special sections that review eye witness accounts from some of the fights that occurred between printings. Often times newspapers will have an additional section focusing on participants from their local kingdom. It is a slightly uncommon occurrence to see a fight between participants in person, but many witnesses claim the fights to be the most incredible displays of power and battle prowess they've ever seen.
Every month the reigning council members send a message to the top 500 participants, providing them with a general location of where the #1 is.