Links:
Jibril sketch
Ibith’s Great Game
Welcome to Ibith, City of the Great Game.
For centuries, heroes and adventurers from across the continent have met here every two years to participate in the Great Game. It is the most famous event for a thousand miles, and children grow up imagining it, hoping to one day see their name inscribed on the Obelisk of Champions. However, the game is not safe; to enter is to risk your life. Some die inside, others are gruesomely injured or crippled, and some simply…don’t come out.
It is a complex game of strength, skill, courage and teamwork. Teams enter the gamefields at different gates, and proceed through a variety of challenges. Points are awarded based on how long it takes to get to the end of the gamefields, how many challenges are completed, and how the team works together.
Entry to the game is decided by a combination of entry fee, qualification, and lottery. Those who pass the qualification round and can afford the fee are entered into the lottery. Competitors can enter as a team, or as in individual/pair, and then be matched by lottery to other team members. There is often swapping/replacing of game members within the game fields, and this will be reflected in the final score (sometimes positively, sometimes negatively, depending on circumstance).
The main challenges require completing a test of some sort, and then choosing a token as proof of success. Choice of token can be a test in and of itself. Some tokens are treasures, some are parts of a larger device, some are clues/hints/helpful to defeat other challenges, etc. Only one token can be taken from each challenge, and each challenge can only be attempted once by each team. Some challenges are new every time, some are permanent.
Other encounters within the game are not part of the token system. There are fights/traps etc. sponsored by particular guilds/businesses/individuals, and the reward is either recognition, or a particular treasure of some kind. Many of these are advertised, or at least hinted at, before the game begins.
Scry-eyes are set up around the game fields, allowing people with access to the scry-network (or money to pay for it) to watch the game. It is one of the most heavily wagered-on events, and lives are made or ruined just by betting on the winning team. The scry-eyes see much, but not all that happens on the game fields. There are known dark zones within the game fields, and some that change from year to year.
Many important guilds, generals, and employers of all sorts watch the games, with a keen eye for recruiting new talent. Many enter the games not specifically to win, but to catch the eye of a scout or agent that may be watching. Others hope to catch the eye or attention of a lover. Some hope for wealth, for glory, or to win a particular item that my be known or rumoured to be contained within. There have been tales of adventurers tricked, blackmailed or bribed into participating, but the Game Authority takes such rumours very seriously, and has all but eliminated such shadowy activity from the game.
The game has a time limit, and it changes every time. The shortest game was just under three days; the longest was a month. Upon entering, an arcane game mark is scribed onto the contestants skin. As time elapses, the mark fades. When the mark disappears, the game is over and those remaining in the game are teleported to the end. It is important to judge how quickly the mark is fading, and try to fit in as many challenges as possible while still allowing time to proceed to the end.
The marks also allow use of the in-game teleportation system. Much of what happens is within the gamefields, but some challenges are located offsite. Marked teleported within the game fields allow travel to these other locations. Only bearers of the arcane game mark can use the teleporters (in either direction).
You would be entering as a team, either previously known to each other, or assigned by lottery. All standard races and classes are welcome. Characters are currently 4th level.
