The Games

The Games held at The Ovar-Battled Festival is an event most look forward to, from commonfolk for the entertainment and novice adventurers looking to earn their right to adventure and earn their Adventuring Proofs.
Even the most seasoned of adventurers also look forward to the games, as it is a chance to compete again, renew their adventuring permits, and hope to achieve a greater medallion.
Magic is on display in its most finest of form, this is because the festival itself is blessed by the very gods that the games are so named for. Even in a small town with inexperienced clerics, those that gain the right to run an Ovar-Battled Festival are able to cast high-level spells for purposes of these games—which makes for a potentially once-in-a-lifetime event.

Participating

Those that wish to earn their Proof of Participation must, well, participate. Typically signing up 24-48 hours before the starting ceremony on the 29th of Midsummer. The games require a minimum group of 3 adventurers, homage to the three adventuring deities The Ovar-Battled to which the games are known. Those without a full party, or those that sign up alone are put into a group befitting their skills, experience (often none) and profession.

Sponsorship

It is not required, but highly recommended Participants obtain a patron or Sponsor for the Adventuring. A group can have as many Sponsors as they like, but the Sponsorship must be for the group, not individual Participants in the group. However, an unspoken etiquette seems to have become an unwritten rule that there be no more than one Sponsor per Participant in a competing group. Ergo, if a group contains three Participants, no more than three Sponsors for the group. Again, this is not a rule, and if such a group had four or more Sponsors, they would still be allowed to compete, but the crowd would be against them, and there is something to be said for having the crowd on your side.

Benefits of Sponsorship

Sponsors typically give gold for a group to purchase euipment to aid them in the games, or even loan items for the Participants to use. Any item seems to be allowed, except for creatures, steeds, or the like, but exceptions are made for those skilled adventurers who already have such creatures as part of their skill set. The most common of these are nature warriors and huntsman that compete in hopes of earning a Silver or higher Medallion to become Rangers, and many such warriors have mystical bonds with animals that serve as companions and for all intent and purposes count as Participants, likewise for familiars of arcane skilled Participants. However, such companions and familiars themselves do not earn a Proof for competing.

Restricted Items

Much like the Participants of the Games, no item that is deemed tainted by evil is permitted for use or can gain entry into the games.

Stages

Once a group is called to the Arena for their turn in the Games, they must face a various challenges (assuming they make it that far). No one knows what a stage might hold from festival to festival, but it tends to be the same for the entire event. To prevent any cheating or insight, Participants are housed in private rooms that are magically warded from any outside information, so whether you compete on day one, or day 5, a group has no knowledge of what is to come.

Stage One

Although it always varies, the first Stage, and the easiest to complete, seems to always be combat oriented. The oppoenents and challenges faced are difficult for the common breadmaker or farm hand, but should be overcome easily by any would-be adventurer. Getting past Stage One grants a Participant the Tin Proof.

Stage Two and Above

After the first Stage, all theories and speculation are just that. No one can know what the games will hold, it varies from Festival to Festival, and often even differs at the same Festival, as the challenges are altered slightly to provide a challenge worth their skill to the participants.

Every Four Years

The Adventuring Games, also known as The Proof Festival, is held once every 4 years, where 5 extra days are added to the end of the month of Midsummer, realigning the Aeonian calender (based on the moon).

The Medals

• Tin
• Brass
• Copper
• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum
• Feysteel

Participant Preparation

FromThe Aksar Way: So You Want To Be An Adventurer?

The only thing that can be truly said about the games, is be ready for anything.
However, in my history of watching the Games intently, I believe paying attention to the opening speech and ceremony is critical for success of obtaining higher than a Copper Medal, and a knowledge of The Ovar-Battled and its religion might be of help, it's officially called "The Ovar-Battled Festival" after all. But, this is just my opinion, and it helped me and my friends obtain a Silver Medallion on our first try! A rare feat! Yes, I brag (but I am a bard of sorts).

Despite how difficult the games can be, one thing is certain, it appears "fair" in the sense that no challenge is brought forth that a group couldn't have the potential to overcome it. Again, the "potential". For example, just because a holy warrior with the ability channel positive energy is able to cut down skeletal enemies in the first or second stages, it doesn't mean that same holy warrior will defeat the hordes of undead and greater versions of that challenge in later stages.

So, although the Stages seem tailored to the Participants base skills, professions, and so on, it does not mean that Participants are able to overcome all seven stages. In Fact, no one has ever completed the Seventh Stage, and to this Author's writing, no one has ever even reached the Seventh Stage.

- Ben Aksar of Baumgar, 3772 AE