<span class="bbc_u"><strong>Delaiah</strong></span><br/><br/>The mercenary looks surprised and he replies to her; "Seriously? Oh well, basically there is game going on, game of chance where you win money based on lucky guessing numbers. You are alternative price which is won even if person does not win the main prize which is the money. Lottery is based on randomly drawn numbers, as you buy ticket you either yourself try to guess correct numbers or ticket seller randomly writes down numbers in ticket. The lottery which is going on asks guess six correct numbers from 58 numbers.<br/><br/>Now, person who wins you is based not numbers in lottery; but number on ticket itself. Each ticket sold has own number, sort code, determine it's genuine article and also double check nobody erases numbers in ticket and replace with main prize numbers. As ticket's numbers are recorded into magical memory storage. It's magically reinforced so it cannot be forged either.<br/><br/>So your next master is determined by random chance, based on who bought the ticket to try win main prize. Usually chance to win main prize is small but there is chance win smaller prices, or your case, special one which depends on number of the ticket person bought. The one who organizes lottery gets loads of money people buying trying their fortunes in lottery. Most majority do not win but people do not mind spending few gold pieces to try out luck winning<em>thousands</em>worth of gold.<br/><br/>Naturally as magic is involved in world and many try to cheat the system, the numbers drawn are protected by warding person or machine who draws the numbers against divinations. Or else diviners would win each time."<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u"><strong>The Mages (Aramis, Dask, Maya)</strong></span><br/><br/>As the contest begun, clearly there was blitzing lead by two mages; Aramis and Dask. They were equal on shoulder on shoulder until at water pool obstacle with the rings. In there Aramis took lead and albeit it took two spells to cast to reach to top, he was quicker than gorillon form and Rognar. Rognar and Dask climbed same time but Rognar had superior expertise in climbing and swimming area combined, so he narrowly carried the rings to the top quicker than Dask. So thus when final trio was revealed the winners were;<br/><br/>1st place: Aramis (4pts)<br/>2th place: Rognar (3pts)<br/>3th place: Dask (2pts)<br/><br/>All other contestants got +1 point score , expect the last one complete the competition; Maya (0pts).<br/><br/>Once all contestants had dried up and standing in front of audience and competition judges, Rathess II continues; "Splendid showing everyone! Now we go next competition; the test and measure of the mind. Casters, despite are they studious wizards, shamans, sorcerers or in-between must study the world around them. Have knowledge. As without knowledge you cannot properly employ your magic. Besides arcane there are many other fields of study which each one helps caster one way or other. Example knowing about nature can help caster know which plants to eat or use as additional spell components, knowing ways of gods and faith can help them understand divine magic which someways works similar to arcane yet are different and know where differences lay. Or know local laws which some may even forbid use of magic or limit it.<br/><br/>So this is competition where we measure your educational knowledge. We measure both the correction of the answer but also how thoroughly it was answered. Because there are so many of you and if we would one by one do knowledge game it would take<em>days</em>, so instead each contestant will be standing inside one of these chambers." A twelve blue crystal hexagonal shaped small towers descend up from the arena. Sides of the chambers open up into faintly glowing chamber. Rathess II continues; "Inside each pillar you are presented questions on all fields, you can also skip if you lack any knowledge on given field. Each answer is scored and this way you do not hear answers from fellow contestants and cannot know how much they know as well. Either way all spellcasting is forbidden for this portion and usage of items are forbidden as well. Including supernatural or extraordinary powers and abilities. This is pure measure of your educational skills."<br/><br/>Once all contestants are ready (and any buffs are dispelled away as well), the contestants enter the crystal domes and each dome closes up. Inside a magical screen appears and list of questions show up which each caster must by their best skill answer.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Ok, this is perhaps boring part but in here we measure your skills in knowledge areas. You score each time you pass DC 20 knowledge roll on all knowledge fields (taking 10 on skill check). However passing 20 can be easy to many so there is 'excellency' scores which measures thorough answers. Every +5 DC you pass above 20 (like someone with +15 modifier on knowledge roll) gains excellency score. You gain 2 excellency scores if knowledge modifier is +20 and so on.<br/><br/>However there is couple extra categories which give you additional excellency scores.<br/><br/><strong>Wise Kid:</strong> Pass all knowledge fields by DC 20 (+1 excellency)<br/><strong>Scholar:</strong> Pass all knowledge fields by DC 25 (+3 excellency, does not stack with Wise Kid)<br/><strong>Genius:</strong> Pass DC 40 knowledge roll (gain +5 excellency scores)<br/><strong>Linguistic:</strong> Every extra language past 4th will give one excellency score<br/><br/>Just confirm all knowledge fields mean the PHHB listed Knowledge (Arcana, Architecture and engineering, Dungeoneering, Geography, History, Local, Nature, Nobility and royalty, Religion, The planes). Yes, Local counts only once for scoring purposes. If char knows any other exotic lore (like psionic), then points and excellency scores are doubled from said field. Winner and placement based on total based on points and excellency scores.<br/><br/>Below are the scores from other contestants;<br/><br/><strong>Warlock:</strong> 12pts (+4 excellency), Wise Kid (+1 excellency), Linguistic (+2 excellency), Genius (+5 excellency)<br/>Total: 12pts and 12 excellency scores<br/><br/><strong>Arcane Warrior:</strong> 3pts, Linguistic (+1 excellency)<br/>Total: 3pts and 1 excellency score<br/><br/><strong>Witch:</strong> 3pts (+3 excellency)<br/>Total: 3pts and 3 excellency score<br/> <br/><strong>Mystic:</strong> 4pts (+2 excellency), Linguistic (+1 excellency)<br/>Total: 4pts and 3 excellency score<br/><br/><strong>Psychic:</strong> 12pts (+6 excellency), Wise Kid (+1 excellency), Linguistic (+1 excellency)<br/>Total: 12pts and 8 excellency score<br/><br/><strong>Unassuming Man:</strong> 5pts (+1 excellency)<br/>Total: 5pts and 1 excellency score<br/><br/><strong>Beastfolk Mystic:</strong> 2pts (+2 excellency)<br/>Total: 2pts and 2 excellency score<br/><br/><strong>Asgardian Mage:</strong> 3pts (+4 excellency), Linguistic (+1 excellency)<br/>Total: 3pts and 5 excellency score<br/><br/><strong>Wizard:</strong> 10pts (+10 excellency), Scholar (+3 excellency), Linquistic (+4 excellency)<br/>Total: 10pts and 17 excellency scores<br/></div></div><br/><br/>After a while as contestants knowledge is pitted against and scored, contestants leave the pillars and outside they get idea who scored highest and what is placement at the moment. Rathess II continues; "Now we go to last test; the true measure of caster's fortitude lays in their spirit. Your body may be frail or you may not be smartest, but the true endurance in caster lays in their strength of will. So we measure that next. Same rules as in the knowledge competition no magic or items are allowed to be used anyway nor supernatural or extraordinary ability. We test your wills against this obstacle."<br/><br/>Then arena reshapes anew and now three obsidian pillars topped with statues appear. Atop one statue lays fearsome dragon snarling towards the middle with mouth open, in another laid sensual succubi with 'come here' gesture with one hand and in last was image of grim reaper with scythe. Rathess II explains the obstacle; "Each contestant with turns enters inside those three pillars, the pillars then start in turn bombard your psyche, mind, with potent illusion and mind affecting magic which attempts to influence you. First attack is against fear, followed by lust and lastly despair. After each attack the potency of the attack grows stronger and once you break you succumb to the indicated emotion for one round. Then number of times you resisted will then measure how you fared on test of the spirit. Now all take your turns one by one. Also these special pillars will pierce any immunity inducing effect which you may possess naturally.<br/><br/>Once this competition is over, you have permission to retire to preparation area, refresh spells and prepare for tournament rounds then."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC 2</div><div class="spoiler_body">Now course is similar to earlier ones; you take 10 on the will save against the assaults and they start from DC 10. After first pillar DC grows by +1 and so you eventually 'fail' will save. First is necromancy/fear based attack, second is enchantment/lust and last one is enchantment/despair based attack (and these count as well spell based attacks so spell resistance if any works). You simply record how many rounds you resisted until falling (and as mentioned no items nor spells or buffs allowed). The list of other contestants resistance;<br/><br/><strong>Warlock:</strong> 17 (fell for lust)<br/><br/><strong>Arcane Warrior:</strong> 15 (fell for despair)<br/><br/><strong>Witch:</strong> 12 (fell for despair)<br/> <br/><strong>Mystic:</strong> 19 (fell for fear)<br/><br/><strong>Psychic:</strong> 13 (fell for fear)<br/><br/><strong>Unassuming Man:</strong> 16 (fell for fear) <br/><br/><strong>Beastfolk Mystic:</strong> 14 (fell for lust)<br/><br/><strong>Asgardian Mage:</strong> 11 (fell for lust)<br/><br/><strong>Wizard:</strong> 12 (fell for despair)<br/></div></div><br/><br/><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Sir Aeldrick</strong></span><br/><br/>The crowd cheered as mages ran obstacle course, but things quieted down during the two later trials. Applause when someone reaches one third top placements. Vendors come selling food and drinks across crowd, deliver them by using simple wand, making food and drinks float to customers and pick up the coinage.<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Sasha</strong></span><br/><br/>Competition grows less intense. Now not the body but the mind and spirit is measured. She gets images of contestants answering questions and hear their voices first time. Then she gets witness their spirit tested, see where it cracks and witness partly the illusion which crushed contestant's resolve finally reaching breaking point. Sense emphatically emotional traumas, sins and scars each one bore in their hearts. Scars which have hardened each contestants resolve.