The Bards' Challenge

For millenia, bards throughout the worlds of Klustraa have participated in a special type of playoff which is a test of both musical prowess and combat ability, or rather, a test of how well one combines the two. This is something in which their friends can participate. Additionally, you do not dishonor the Bards' challenge, lest you suffer tremendous consequences at the hands of the bards involved.

History

One day, a talented musician stumbled across another, and they envied one another's playing skills. So one of them uttered the words, "bards' challenge." His words rang through the air, and they both suddenly felt compelled to respect this challenge as a contest where you try to defeat your opponent with your music. Eventually, they ended in a stalemate and went off in search of other opponents for their new challenge.

Execution

When a bard initiates a bard's challenge, their opponent starts off by playing a tune or coming up with their own creative notes to play. The challenger then follows up with their own notes, and they start a duet, each one trying to play better than the other. After this, others may join in, whether they be other bards or friends intending to dance-fight.
Once all participants are in, the fighting may begin. The bards involved may only fight by casting spells through their music, while others may dance-fight each other, but not attack the bards. When non-bards cast area of effect spells, they are allowed to hit bards, but not directly target them. They may also attack other non-bards while dancing in time with the music.
The bards' challenge ends when one side is either knocked out, killed, or surrenders to the other side. Until then, the bards' challenge may not end under any circumstances.

Components and tools

Musical instruments, as well as anything that might add extra flair.

Participants

The Bards' Challenge may only commence if both the challenger and challenged are bards with the ability to channel magic through their music.

Observance

There is no specific time at which the Bards' Challenge takes place. However, some bardic communities have made an unofficial tradition out of meeting up during the second Full Serran of a month and challenging each other for fun. To participate in this, you must be part of a team of three or more bards. Additionally, this special challenge may have more than two contesting sides. Because of this subset of the Bards' Challenge, the second Full Serran of a month is now known as a Bards' Moon. All that is known about the origin of this is that somebody wanted to have a good time with his bard buddies, and they chose to do this, eventually spreading the word of the new tradition. The next Bards' Moon is on Qrethur 37th, C.C. 1364.