(http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr67/ItsHenryYay/Avatar%20RP/Sun_jian.jpg)<br/>After all the commotion, all the long travels, all the bitter trash talk and squabbles the time had finally come. The start of the events that would decide the next Emperor was about to commence and standing in the center of the proving grounds as excited eyes looked on from all sides stood none of then the Emperor himself gazing out into the crowd as they eagerly awaited the start of this grand trial he had put together before them. "<strong>My people I implore you to look upon these fights not as mere acts as savagery brought on to amuse you</strong>," he called out, "<strong>not as a simple competition of barbarians proving who is strong enough or who has the bigger stick too swing</strong>," he said raising his hand in the air pausing just long enough take a breath before continuing. "<strong>This is a interview, a chance for these men who are putting their bodies through hell to prove not just to the nobles or the churches but the people as well</strong>," he said. "<strong>For these men fight for more then a hand in marriage, they fight for approval...Approval offered by the church, by the nobles, and by the people themselves, only when they have earned your praise and your thanks shall they be allowed to ascend to the throne and take on my place in the days to come," </strong>he said. "Make no mistake the blood about to be left on this ground, the very sweat that falls from their brows, is sweat for my dear people," he said. "By the word of Emperor Edward Hellatious I hereby deem this tournament to begin," he said. Stepping off and away from the fighting grounds before he would be replaced by the official judge.<br/><br/>"You've all waited eagerly for weeks as this platform was built for these men to battle, and so we will waste no more of your time," said the judge as he would take hold of a scroll showing the brackets of the tournament which had already been posted. "The men who drew the number one and number two seeds shall step forward today," he called out. "Kirxu Layrinth and Erik Helmers Step Forward," he cried out with his excitement growing as he spoke. This would official mark the start of the Grand Tournament, and the first step towards the Imperial Throne.