The Challenge of the Necklace

Astra 9 (Cistyrgia) looked at Fred dumbfounded. This insignificant little squire was going to turn this into a question of pecking order? How dare he, in a matter that affected so many, approach this purely as a quest for personal glory?

She then declared, "Very well, Lord Fred. But mind you, once the contest is joined, no mercy will be given."

"And none shall be asked," replied Fred, drawing his sword.

Astra Transtyrgia tore a strip of cloth from her robe, quickly but carefully. She pointed to both Astra Cistyrgia and Lord Fred, and made a motion with two hands encircling her neck.

"Hold!" shouted Astra C. "Our friend Astra Transtrygria has something to convey."

"I will not be so ungracious as to refuse the reasonable request of a lady," answered Fred. He turned toward Astra T. Astra pointed her finger at Fred's collarbone, touching it, and then dropped the cloth to the ground. Fred was baffled. Astra Cistyrgia nodded.

"Are you challenging the winner to Duel of the Necklace?"

Astra Transtyrgia nodded her head vigorously.

Astra Cistryrgia paused, and then explained. "The Challenge of the Necklace is a ceremony that is performed within the cohorts of the Aqaualarian militia. The highlight of the ceremony is a great contest, where a number of non-violent duels are fought, until one soldier is crowned the winner. The rules are simple. A circle of ten paces is marked, and no one is to go outside of it. At the center, a length of chain, rope, or cloth is placed. The two combatants stand three paces away from the prize, with no weapons. When the signal is given to begin, then both combatants try to grab the object and tie it around their neck, using a square knot. Whoever succeeds, wins that round. Causing any permanent damage to an opponent is severely punished - the goal is to outfight, outwit, or outmanuver your opponent, not to injure. The soldiers are eliminated until only one is left. That soldier is declared the First Citizen of the Cohort, and is its spiritual leader, as he or she has won the favour of the heavens. Astra Transtyrgia wishes to challenge us for the First Citizenship of the cohort. I am willing to accept her challenge, if Fred is."

Astra 9 (Cistyrgia)

"Let us do it!" declared Fred. "I will stand up to anyone who wants to try their mettle against me!"

Belboz

Belboz spoke up. "It sounds like an interesting challenge. Is the use of the arcane arts fair game?"

Astra Cistryrgia replied, "Ah, do you wish to enter the lists? Yes, they are, with limits. The magic user cannot make any physical changes within the circle - transformation of any person or material is forbidden. Just as a fighter cannot enter the circle with a weapon, so the magic user cannot enter with any magical artifacts. The magic user is allowed the use of illusions, mind reading, and suggestion. And the use of magic in the Challenge of the Necklace is well established. The contest between Artemisa and Leta was legendary - they did not move from their initial positions for hours, but each was silently trying to break the other's will. So there is a place for magic in the contest."

"I can accept those limits. Place me in the challenge."

"And I would like to challenge as well," declared Tarin Gazin, who, like Astra Cistyrgia, wanted to test the quality of the four strangers.

Within minutes, all thirteen members of the expedition had placed their bid to be First Citizen of the Cohort. This implied that they would accept the leadership of whoever won the challenge.

It was decided that the cloth may not be strong enough to resist being pulled by two duellist, so instead substituted a length of rope that would comfortably fit around Lord Fred's neck, as Fred was the largest one in the Challenge.

The two Aqualarians organized the drawing of lots, and it was decided that one of them would serve as referee for any match with which they were not involved. If the draw placed them together, the referee would be drawn by lot. They needed to eliminate five to get the number of challengers down to eight, who could then fight each other in single elimination duels, until just two remained. They drew lots to see who would be paired in five preliminary duels. The other three would be spared the challenge until a second round, but they had to go outside the caves and prepare a feast, so that the Ceremony of the Necklace could be celebrated properly.

This was the way the lots fell:

First round

Annafrid v. Artizza
Lord Fred v. Jenny Elf
Tarin Gazin v. Astra Cistyrgia
Astra Transtyrgia v. Fertal
Checkers v. Jarleth

Prepare food, do not fight until the second round

Belboz
Ia'adoire
Lueoth

"Talk about the luck of the light elves," chirped Fertal, with a smile and a nod of the head that mocked sorrow.

"And the luck of Belboz," thought Astra Transtyrgia, in a more somber mood.

1. Belboz, Lueoth, and Ia'adoire leave the caves to hunt for food for the feast.
2. Annafrid and Artizza square off against each other, three paces from the center of the circle. Astra Transtryrgia drops the cloth to the ground.

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