Raithsfall Tournaments
A highlight of every Raithsfall Eve are the annual tournaments, held in every city large enough to field them. The Valorian Tournament of Knights is particularly popular, drawing much of Albion to the Forums for at least a few hours of the holiday. Like most of the Raithsfall tournaments, the Tournament of Knights is dedicated to Valor Ascendant and serves as a recruitment tool for the Valorian Knights.
I saw the Faun that Saved Damerel Shire fight once, a few years after the battle. That Raithsfall was particularly chilly, but I'm sure every goosebump I had was from seeing her. She was decked out in Dragonforged armor, but she didn't need it--didn't take a single blow all day. Threw down every one of the Flight Commanders in turn. I was breathless. Very next year, I stood in the youth tournament and fought my way into the knights myself, and I can't say it wasn't half for hope I'd see her again.
History
The tournaments started as brief martial demonstrations included in the pageants, but quickly split off and grew into events of their own. The Valorian Temple's Tournament of Knights was among the first, and remains the largest both in terms of participants and attendance even without counting the youth tournament portion.
Initially, the youth portion was held first, earlier in the day before the larger crowds were out; however, while the knights were in a recruitment slump, they moved it to the evening. This seemed to successfully entice young people, inspired by the day's events, to enter on a whim. Enough of these spur-of-the-moment candidates were successful that the order was kept, though there are always some complaints that the youth tournament runs so late.
Execution
Tournament of Knights
The Valorian Temple's Tournament of Knights opens with a brief ceremony dedicating the knights' show of honor and skill to Valor Ascendant. There are few formalities, however, and the fights begin in short order, beginning with field battles. These pit squadrons against each other, and (at least according to barracks rumors) factor into who will "get their wings" the following year. Next up, the less experienced Wings put on an aerial performance. Actual battle at this stage is deemed too risky for the young Gryphons, but the acrobatic feats are generally choreographed to evoke combat, if not quite simulate it.
By that point, the seats are filling up, and the more veteran knights begin to take the field, first by unit, then in single combat. The duels between the winners of the other bouts and the four Flight Commanders are particularly well attended, both because they feature high skill and because the Flight Commanders are relatively well-known in Albion. The Valorian Knights are sure to feature the champions they believe will best inspire the audience in this finale.
Youth Tournament
As soon as the main tournament has finished and the Knight Champion has been acknowledged, signups for the youth tournament are opened, and hopefuls are randomly paired. Though most of the crowd filters out ahead of the youth tournament, enough spectators stick around that the knights can see how the applicants perform under pressure, as well as their current degree of strength and skill. An applicant to the knights is not required to fight in the youth tournament, nor is anyone from the youth tournament required to join the knights--but anyone who shows themselves well in the tournament is bound to be (perhaps persistently) recruited.
Tournaments outside of Albion
The other tournaments generally follow a similar model to this, albiet on a smaller scale, and may include both team and single combat, mounted or on foot. These other tournaments frequently offer generous prizes to the winners: money, treasure, or both. This both attracts more combatants and encourages more competitiveness. For the Valorians, however, the honor before Valor Ascendant (and the increased chance of promotion) is considered prize enough.
Observance
After weeks or even months of planning, the tournaments are held on Raithsfall Eve, the second day of the Raithsfall holiday. Most begin in the afternoon, after people have had a chance to do a little baking, plenty of eating, and a bit of socializing around the Raithsfall bonfires. Though they are annual event, the tournaments are particularly lavish on key anniversaries--such as the Knight's Tournament in year 333, when even the reclusive hero of the Battle of Arlickson's Field was convinced to participate.
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