As a crisp spring wind blew down the Zaphar river and past the Delosian
Bridge, briefly clearing the air of the stagnant smell of algae, the dry
rustling of paper drew a traveller's eye to a notice posted by the side
of the highway. "A tournament among beast masters!" proclaimed the
poster, in bright, colourful letters. Galviarn Desh had returned.

Early Miraman of the year 534 AF found the heart of the Sangre Plains
filled with warriors, adventurers, and eager onlookers from every city
on Sapience. Their steeds paced and snarled, from warhorses and grand
stallions to regal pegasi, marvelous hippogriffs flexing their wings,
and even a pair of great, elegant swans.

At the centre of the commotion, a rajamala commanded attention from the
back of his rust-red manticore. The ranks of the contestants had been
reduced, through two rounds of brutal competition, to five contenders:
Azzad Ravenstar of Cyrene, perched high atop a war elephant; from
Shallam, Sir Khaz Xanatov, whose soot-coloured bull had captured the
crowd's attention earlier in the day; the sylvan Narsina El'Jahiem, her
viridian form borne aloft by a grey stone gargoyle; Kazu Stormwind,
Sentinel of Eleusis, with his fierce Baarian tiger; and the quietly
imposing Herenicus Coldraven, sitting astride a daemonic stallion that
burned with cold blue flames.

Each would ride against each other, declared Galviarn Desh, in a final
series of ten jousts to determine the tournament's victor. The crowd
stood back as the final five were marshalled, lances at the ready.

"Joust!"

The thunder of hoofbeats still ringing in the air was replaced with
cheers and calls of congratulation as the champion of the tournament
emerged: Kazu Stormwind, whose nimble steed had carried him to victory
against every rider he faced. Kneeling before the victor, Galviarn Desh
presented the Sentinel with a jousting lance of incomparable quality to
commemorate the day.

Not to be outdone by her companion Galviarn, an armoured mhun woman
announced a tournament of her own to follow: an archery contest, for one
and all familiar with the bow. Beckoning those interested to a target
erected nearby upon the plains, Quoulea Arkedden explained the rules,
and passed out blunt-tipped target arrows to the waiting knights and
serpentlords.

One after another, the archers took aim and spent their arrows, the
strong wind blustering across the grasslands proving a constant
adversary. The most accurate of those present competed again in a second
round to determine the tournament's best, for, as Quoulea explained, an
archer may be lucky, but he must also prove consistent.

Kerrilynn Yuridja fired first, followed by Sir Tynil Jinx, Elvar
Ar'kena, Zaric, the Crimson Blade of Cyrene, and Sir Vadimuses and Sir
Tirac of the Maldaathi knights. But it was Sir Khaz Xanatov, shooting
last of all, who found the mark, rounding off his second turn with a
perfect bullseye to seize victory.

Bidding farewell once more, Galviarn Desh and Quoulea Arkedden trudged
away across the swaying grasslands. And if any upon the Sangre plains
that day gazed up at the Ivory Tower, none saw Atlantia, champion archer
and head of the Ivory Mark, watch them depart.

Penned by My hand on the 7th of Valnuary, in the year 534 AF.