The Grand Imperial Games
"Every few years, men and women from all walks of life and every corner of the Empire, travel to Korium to witness the finest warriors in the land run around clad in elaborate armour and hit each other with sticks" (Senora Amitola, in a letter to her sister, written 1320)According to the scholar Hetracleus, everybody, be they a gold clad king or a low born farmer, loves a good bit of violence. The practice of holding gladiatorial games dates back to the peak of the Amstellburg Hegemony, and, while the tradition has suffered many storms both political and spiritual, it still continues to this day. And while an aspiring warrior can choose to ply their trade in one of the many unsanctioned arenas across the Empire, it is a truth universally acknowledged that every competitor hopes to one day compete at the grandest stage of them all, the Grand Imperial Games.
History
As previously stated, the practice of putting on fights for paying spectators has existed in history since the Amstellburg Hegemony, although it is considered fact that they took place even during the time of Kalgarn the Conqueror.
The first officially recognised Imperial Games took place during the reign of Gunthard II, and were held on the outskirts of his military camp during his conquest of Amstellburg. It was common practice for members of the burgeoning empires army to engage in combat drills while on campaign to keep their skills sharp. However, Gunthard II was a fiercely competitive man, and realised that his men would push themselves even harder if prizes were available for the mightiest combatants. And so Gunthard devised a tournaments for his infantry, cavalry and archers to take part in, with fat coin purses as prizes. The experiment was such a success that when Amstellburg capitulated in 988, the Emperor returned to Korium and held the tournaments again the next year, this time opening it up to anyone who wished to participate. The field was dominated by the veterans of his campaign, but over the next few decades many ameteur participants would become known across the Empire.
Since the first public games, the most popular of the three disciplines among the masses has been Infantry. For the first century of its existence, competitors in the Infantry tournament were not limited in the slightest. It was not uncommon for losing participants to die at the blade of the victor. At first it was expected that there would be at least one death in a games, and many records of the time can be seen to express discontent at the perceived lack of bloodshed if less than ten participants were sent to Casteria.
This changed in the year 1198 when, emboldened by the election of Emperor Friedhelm I the Pious the previous year, the Casterian Church called for the end of all blood sport across the Empire. This request nearly split the Empire in two, with the faithful backing the church and the bloodthirsty backing those who spoke out against its demands. Brawls broke out between the two sides across the Empire (with one small village even being burnt to the ground), and in the end Freidhelm himself had to step in and mediate. After meeting with the High Cleric he announced that fights to the death had now been outlawed, but the games would not end. It was accepted that accidents would happen, but from then on, one could not intentionally end the life of their opponent. This has not stopped people from trying however.
The most infamous moment in the history of the games happened in 1321, when Emperor Freidhelm II decided that he would participate in the mounted discipline. After breezing through the first round with his excellent horsemanship, he rode against Ser Ademar in the joust. The handsome young emperor was unhorsed by the experienced knight and suffered numerous injuries, the worst of which being a severe blow to the head. This injury kickstarted his descent into madness, that would eventually end in his deposing and the chaotic 'year of five emperors'. Soon after the accident (although many believe that it was intentional), it was decided that Emperors were no longer allowed to take part in the Games at all.
Execution
The Grand Imperial Games are split into three disciplines, each one representing the trio of fields seen in all good armies. These disciplines are Infantry (on foot), Cavalry (competitors are mounted) and Missile (the use of projectiles). Each discipline is run on a tournament basis and governed by a special group chosen at the start of each Games.
The Infantry discipline is open to those wishing to prove themselves the greatest pure warrior in the Empire. Each competitor is clad in their personal armour and wields a weapon of their choice (lowborn participants must rent their equipment from the organisers). Upon registration, the field is split up into groups of thirty. Then they take part in the first event, a foot race around a course marked out in the arena. The first ten to finish in each race advance to the next round, which is the melee. The ten winners of each group are then pitted against each other in a mock battle, expected to incapacitate their foes. The last man standing from each melee then gains entry to the Tourney, a straight knockout tournament that continues until all but one entrant is remaining. The victor is given their prize (usually an ornate sword and shield and a large purse of coin) and allowed to dine with the Emperor at the closing feast.
The Cavalry discipline is a showcase of horsemanship, and as such is open to anyone who can ride a horse. Nobles from across the land come to the capital with their prize steeds hoping, while lowborn stable masters rent out their best mounts to those without horses of their own who wish to compete. The first event is a race in which every entrant takes part (usually numbering in the hundreds) and is run on a course that encircles the capital. The top fifty finishers are then automatically entered into the Horsemanship portion, where they must control their horse as it navigates a course in the arena and vaults several obstacles. Each entrant is scored on their performance, with the twenty highest scorers moving to the joust. Like the Infantry Tourney, the joust is a single knockout tournament. Riders tilt against one another in five rounds under 'Gasner Rules' (one point for a hit, three for a broken lance, five for an unhorsing). The victor is gifted a gilded lance, a seat at the Emperors table at the closing feast, and, if a lowborn, knighted by the Imperial Master of Horse themselves.
Archery is often the discipline with the most entrants, as being able to use a bow is a very common skill in the Empire. Entrants often number in the high hundreds, and most are commoners. Contenders are split into groups of twenty and tasked with firing a quiver of ten arrows at a target. When everybody has exhausted their ammunition, scores are tallied and the ten lowest are eliminated. The groups are then merged so that they number twenty again, given another five arrows which they must fire at targets that are now further away. This process continues, with the targets getting further away every round, until the final twenty contenders are known. They are they given three arrows take it in turns to fire at one target stationed one-hundred and eighty metres away. The highest scoring individual is declared the winner (if the highest score is a tie, an additional round is to break the deadlock. It is not uncommon for these tie-breaker rounds to themselves end in ties, thus requiring even more rounds to decide the winner). The victor is gifted a bespoke Freihauisian bow and offered the customary seat at the Emperors table at the closing feast.
Components and tools
While the first Imperial Games was held on the outskirts of Gunthard II's military camp, they are currently held in in a purpose built complex situated ten miles south of the imperial capital city. There have been numerous updates made to the complex, which today consists of the Imperial Stage (the largest arena in Amath and used to stage the Cavalry discipline), the Breaking Pit (the home of the Infantry competitions) and the Nygaard Range (named after a famous Blackmoor archer and used to hold the Archery competitions). It is also home to many inns and, during times when it is in use during the games, so many tents that it becomes one of the largest cities in the Empire.
One of the key symbols of the Grand Imperial Games is the great bell that is rung to signify the start of the festivities. Known affectionately as 'Old Nell', it was cast to be a replacement for the bell in Amstellburg's largest cathedral, but was intercepted by Gunthard II enroute to its destination. He took it with him he returned to Korium and appropriated it for use in the first public games, a role it serves to the present day
Participants
When held, the Imperial Games are a key feature on any social calendar, meaning that the key political and religious figures from across the Empire arrive. It is expected that the rulers of each of the Empires constituent kingdoms attend, and each possess a royal box that allows them to watch the competition without mingling with the masses. The Emperor himself is expected to attend as well, and so far none have abstained.
Each discipline is organised, judged and refereed by a council that is hand picked by the Emperor. The first major event of the Games is the announcing of the Three Councils, with the list often read by the Emperor himself. Each council usually consists of masters in the field the council is judging and is headed by the figure in charge of that branch of the Empire's military (the Head-of-Arms would judge the Infantry competition for example) and consists of at least nine other individuals. Sometimes monarchs and their children are called to sit on the Three Councils, although this practice has fallen out of favour in recent times due to said individuals tendency to favour those who hail from their own nations.
Of course, as the Empire's largest event not tied to a coronation or pilgrimage, it sees a large influx of commoners from all corners of the Empire. Tens of thousands travel to Korium to witness the spectacle and grandeur of the games. Even citizens of Lours and the Shymurian remnant states make the journey, and a sizeable contingent of elves cross the channel from Penely to see how mankind conduct such events. The resulting throng of people means that many individuals with differing viewpoints are in close proximity to each other. Naturally this leads to conflict and mass brawls often break out. It is the role of the Custodians, a militia made up of members of the Imperial Army, to police the masses and ensure that the peace of the games is kept.
Observance
The Grand Imperial Games have no set date in which they can take place. Instead they are called by the Emperor whenever they see fit to hold on. Theoretically, they can be held every year or perhaps even monthly, but this would bankrupt the Empire and nullify the aura the games have generated. Therefore an unwritten rule has been created that forbids the calling of the games more than once in a decade. This rule has been broken several times, but, ignoring of the grumblings of the Imperial treasurers, nobody has complained. It is also expected that the games not be held during times of war, be it internal or external. As the nations of the Empire are almost constantly engaged in warfare with at least one other country, this rule would prevent the games from ever being held and is thus ignored. It is expected however that, for at least the duration of the games, all hostile actions cease.
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