Grand Tournament - Finals

Sporting Event / Competition

With the battlefield magically cleared and contestants granted a brief rest, the arena prepared for the final phase of the tournament: a series of 1v1 public elimination duels. The remaining fifteen contestants would fight in sequence, one by one, until only a single winner remained.

The stadium was at capacity, and the crowd’s energy was electric.

Pre-Match Tension

River, fresh from an assassination attempt, was summoned to a meeting with tournament officials. She expected protection. Instead, she was met with cold pragmatism. Her concerns were dismissed with bureaucratic politeness. The officials, well-acquainted with Laura, reasoned that if Laura had been present, River had never been in real danger.

River refused to surrender her captured assassin. When the officials prepared to argue, the crowd outside began to boo—Tiamat had cast Darkness during a match, obscuring the fight. While not against the rules, the spell was widely frowned upon.

Eager to calm the crowd, the officials ended the meeting early and sent River back to the arena to replace Tiamat.

A Shadow Moves

Before River returned to the field, Tiamat met with her privately. They discussed the assassination attempts, and Laura offered to accompany him on his investigation. Tiamat declined—choosing to keep River protected in case more threats appeared.

Alone, he left the arena and confronted a guard who had been lingering suspiciously. Though Tiamat intimidated him for information, the man had only been lightly bribed and knew little. Still uneasy, Tiamat continued on.

He didn’t get far.

A crossbow bolt struck the road at his feet, a warning. He turned—and two more bolts found their mark. Wounded and bleeding, Tiamat retaliated with a Hellish Rebuke, engulfing one of his attackers in flames before the assailants fled.

Ironically, it was the same suspicious guard—along with others—who found him and rendered aid. The man helped stabilize Tiamat’s wounds and escorted him back into the arena.

Opening Duels

• Dreg vs. Dreg – Forgettable. One fell quickly.
• Torgil vs. Azgora – This match stunned the crowd. Azgora, known as one of the only fighters to ever overpower the arena’s shield magic and kill a contestant, was defeated by Torgil through brute strength alone. Her loss was unthinkable.
• Bjorn vs. Joran – A close match. Bjorn claimed victory by inches.
• Vin vs. Dreg – With Darkness cast by Tiamat cloaking the field, Vin eliminated his opponent—but the crowd booed the obscured match heavily.
• Viconia vs. Dreg – Efficient and merciless.
• Lilly vs. Brynna – Brynna, furious over her sister Torra’s earlier elimination, unleashed overwhelming force. River’s evocation sculpting spared Lilly from a Fireball’s damage, but the explosion still launched her from the stage. Lilly survived. Brynna, though severely injured, was stabilized and removed.
• Thrain vs. Zorath – A heavy, grounded match. Thrain won through endurance.
• Nomicus – Advanced automatically by bracket rotation.

Mid Bracket

• Torgil vs. Bjorn – A slow and punishing fight. Torgil endured.
• Nomicus vs. Thrain – A spectacle of absurdity. Thrain’s gravity hammer never connected. Nomicus charged in and repeatedly punched Thrain in the groin, ending the match with humiliating efficiency.
• Vin vs. Viconia – Vin was paralyzed early by Viconia’s poisoned strike and beaten while helpless.
• Lilly vs. Torgil – A dramatic sibling match. In a shocking reversal, Lilly overpowered Torgil and knocked him from the ring.

Final Rounds & Assassins

The crowd remained oblivious, but the Misfits were not.

Another assassin made a move—attempting to kill Viconia’s wizard support mid-match. Laura intercepted and neutralized the threat, casting binding magic before the assassin could finish the job.

River cast shielding spells and helped secure the area, ensuring the safety of Viconia’s spellcaster and preventing further disruption.

Meanwhile, Tiamat, returning from his ambush, rejoined the group battered but alive.

Final Duels

• Viconia vs. Nomicus – A technical battle of strength and finesse. Viconia landed a lucky poisoned nick, dropping the gnome.
• Lilly vs. the Minotaur – Lilly held fast, winning with calm precision.
• Lilly vs. Viconia – The final fight. With her wizard support absent, Viconia was clearly off-balance. The match ended with a coordinated strike—Lilly attacked in melee, and River followed up with a devastating Magic Missile barrage. Viconia fell.

Awards and Recognition

In a public ceremony, the winners were announced and prizes distributed.

• Brynna – 100 gold
• Zorath – 200 gold
• Bjorn – 300 gold
• Thrain – 400 gold
• Vin – 500 gold
• Torgil – Greatsword of Life Stealing
• Nomicus – Necklace of Fireballs (6 beads)
• Minotaur – Declined item, accepted 800 gold
• Viconia – Oathbow
• Lilly – Bracers of Defense
• River – Manual of Bodily Health, for her critical role in the team’s success

Viconia, though visibly displeased, accepted her loss without protest.

Afterparty invitations were extended to the top ten.

The Grand Tournament of 1976 had ended—with spectacle, blood, and no shortage of secrets.

The Bloody Misfits had claimed their place in history.