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TOURNEY 2 TOURNAMENT HOSTS TYPES OF KNIGHTS Tournaments can be hosted by any king, great noble, The typical knight is male and openly bears his own or religious fighting order. Hosting tournaments is an coat of arms. However, there are three other types of expensive exercise, as catering, prizes, entertainment, and knights that deserve mention: black knights, champion so on must be organized. The high costs usually prohibit knights, and female knights. all but royalty from hosting large tournaments. The actual organization of the tournament is Black Knights not managed by the host but by his steward, who is Occasionally, a knight will attend a tournament referred to as Master of the Tournament. This official is incognito, wearing a helm that hides his face, bearing responsible for ensuring that all preparations are made no coat of arms, and carrying a blank shield. For the and that the guests are suitably accommodated, fed, and purpose of charging an entry fee, he would be classed as entertained. a landless foreign knight. The mystery participant is usually referred to as a KNIGHTS OF THE TOURNAMENT “black knight,” although he is not obliged to wear that color. Ironically, some black knights are garbed in white! At nearly all tournaments, only knights can The presence of a black knight is often a source of participate in the Joust and Melee. Roughly one quarter intrigue for the other knights and spectators, who can of Hârnic feudal knights hold land in exchange for only speculate as to his true identity and measure on the military service. The rest are knights-bachelor, who hold field. Perhaps the black knight is a prince from another no land and serve as retainers of lords, as members of kingdom in disguise, or maybe he is a dangerous outlaw. fighting orders, or with royal guard units. The fighting ability of the black knight is unknown, thus Many landed knights cannot find the time to attend he tends to attract many challenges, particularly from the tournaments. Knights-bachelor often outnumber landed younger knights. knights by at least six to one. A typical tournament is It is expected that if a black knight is defeated in attended by 30 to 50 knights, most of whom are local. combat, his identity will be revealed. Once this happens, The largest tournament on Hârn is the Royal he must bear his heraldry for the remainder of the Chelebin Tournament of Chivalry, held every midsummer tournament. If the defeated knight refuses to reveal at Olokand in Kaldor. This grand event draws as many as his identity, he will be required to leave the tourney 400 contestants, and about 5000 spectators. immediately. Barred From the Tournament SampleChampion file Knights Tournaments are generally open to all knights, Many important knights are unable or unwilling to regardless of nationality. However, there are often specific participate in tournaments. They seek representation exceptions and unwelcome knights may be attacked and to bring honor to their name and also to fulfill their arrested. In kingdoms dominated by the church of Larani, obligation to support their lords. such as Kanday or Kaldor, the following exceptions are For example, Baron Dwyn Elorieth of Nubeth keep rigorously enforced: in Kaldor is too old and frail to participate in tournaments • Knights who have failed to meet their feudal but always has someone represent him, for personal obligations or otherwise shown disloyalty to their honor and to show support for his lord, Earl Sedris liege. Meleken of Qualdris castle. Similarly, the young Earl • Worshippers of Agrik, Morgath, or Naveh, or Meleken may not be able to attend tournaments if he harborers of such worshippers. is away questing, so he may wish to send a proxy to • Violators and excommunicants of the churches of represent him and fulfill his duties. Peoni or Larani. The proxies are referred to as “champion knights” • Knights who have been defeated in a duel of honor. and participate in tournaments by carrying the banner • Oath breakers, liars, and bearers of false arms. of their lord and fighting under his name. Any entry fee • Robber knights and other outlaws. is the same as if the lord himself were participating. Traditionally, champion knights are the eldest sons of the • Cowards. lords, but often they are tough warriors with a reputation • Profiteers. for tournament prowess recruited from among the lord’s • Men who have dishonored ladies. vassal knights. Copyright © 2009, Columbia Games, Inc. HârnWorld TOURNEY 3 Champion knights are effectively noble retainers of their lord for the Retinues duration of the tournament. Hence, they must charge their shields with There is an unspoken expectation in noble their patron’s arms in the center over their own. They must also bear their society that the size of a knight’s retinue lord’s emblem on their surcoats. The lord covers all costs associated with is proportionate to his rank. It would be attending the tournament and is also entitled to any prizes won by the recalcitrant of an earl to attend with only a champion knight. handful of companions, just as much as it would be presumptuous of a simple knight- A champion knight is bound by duty to behave in a manner befitting a bachelor to arrive with a large entourage. knight of his lord’s station. Any misdeeds committed by a champion knight The generally accepted retinue size is given reflect poorly on his patron, who may be forced to pay restitution. Hence, a below: lord must choose wisely when selecting a knight to represent him. Landless knight: 1–2 Landed knight: 2–12 Female Knights Baron: 12–24 Most contestants in tournaments are male, although a few female Earl: 25–50 knights have been known to attend. The majority of male knights are uncomfortable with the presence of female warriors at Laranian An earl’s full retinue typically comprises the tournaments, an ironic double standard. Although most knights worship following: Larani, a great female warrior, they also believe that fighting is exclusively Squires men’s business and women should stay off the battlefield. Valets and pages The challenges of female knights are often politely ignored. Even if a Men-at-arms contest is accepted, the tendency to “go easy” on the women pleases no Family members one. For this reason, many female knights attend tournaments in disguise Friends and companions as black knights, revealing their true identity only after a contest has been Heralds and scribes settled. Some champion black knights have turned out to be female. Priests of Larani Weaponcrafters, ostlers, etc. Physicians and apothecaries Entertainers and fools Servants, cooks, laborers, and maids Some lords bring hardened criminals in chains or caged wagons for public punishment or execution, earning them Sample file prestige among their peers. Copyright © 2009, Columbia Games, Inc. HârnWorld TOURNEY 4 STEEDS TOURNAMENT VENUE Each knight usually arrives at the tournament on Accommodating so many visiting knights and a courser (a knight’s preferred riding horse, typically their retinues in existing structures is usually beyond ridden for hunting) or possibly a simple rouncy. He the capacity of any tournament venue. Only the most is accompanied by a squire mounted on a rouncy or important and wealthiest knights would be invited to stay perhaps a humble cob. The knight’s riderless warhorse at the local castle. (generally a charger, or a destrier if the knight is very After paying their fees and greeting the host of the rich) is led by the squire or a groom and normally carries tournament, the contestants usually pitch colorful pavilion the knight’s heavy armour and armaments when traveling. tents flying their gonfanons (flags) in the designated There would also be a few pack-horses such as sumpters campgrounds in one of the commons. A single knight carrying the party’s belongings. may have several tents; the largest is for the knight and If a lady travels with the knight, she would ride a his family and the rest for the squires, retainers, and gentle riding horse such as a palfrey, or in a horse-drawn servants. The knight’s shield is hung from the entrance of wagon accompanied by handmaidens and servants if the the main tent. An open area, usually roped off, adjacent knight is particularly wealthy. to the cluster of tents is used to keep horses and (if Therefore, each participating knight might bring four applicable) carts and wagons. to eight horses with him; feeding and stabling hundreds Tournaments attract great numbers of spectators, of horses obviously becomes a logistical challenge. and with them come those seeking to feed, amuse, or Feeding the animals is an enormous task, one that exploit the crowd. Merchants set up their stalls wherever keeps squires, servants, and ostlers very busy during the they can, hawking a bewildering assortment of wares tournament. Tons of grain and a much greater amount ranging from the mundane to the exotic. Costumed of fodder are required just for the beasts every day. acrobats, jesters, jugglers, and thespians entertain the The granaries of the local castle and nearby manors crowds. The clergy walk among the people, chanting are stocked with surplus quantities of grain to support their plainsongs and preaching to potential converts. this demand and teamsters are kept busy throughout Innkeepers conduct a roaring trade selling cheap ale and the tournament transporting the grain to ostlers for wine to the masses; drunkenness is common. distribution to squires and grooms. While the spirited warhorses are fed hay and grain in the local ostler’s common, all other horses must graze on the grass and Sample file stacks of hay or even straw piled by ostlers’ apprentices in an open field, usually the same field as the one that hosts the Melee.