TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
To the Death!
=================

Are you powerful? Brave? Ambitious? Do you hunger for honor and glory?

IT’S........ TIMEEEEE!!!!! TO TESSSTTTTT YOURRRRR METTLLLLLLLE!

High Mage Tedithain of the Endless Arena is hosting a Tournament of Champions in celebration of the Reveler. But this is no mere tournament, no... this one is to the death.

THE RULES

• 16 combatants. Only 4 will walk out.
• Four brackets of four characters. Every match is a 1v1 arena fight to the death.
• Matches and brackets are drawn at random once sign-ups close.
• No magic items. Spells and class abilities are encouraged.
• No revives. Dead is dead.
• When you down another, High Mage Tedithain will command you to finish another. Not doing so is frowned upon but not forbidden. However the round is not over until only one player remains. Should you hesitate he promises much worse will be unleashed in the arena.
• One character per player.
• Between rounds 1 and 2, survivors take a long rest and level up to 2. (Know what you want to do for your second level ahead of time)
• 5.5e rulings if different than 2014 (Grapple, stealth, exhaustion, shove, etc...)
• Players not ready to roll initiative when their round is called (1 min grace period) are forfeit and their character captured by High Mage Tedithain of the Endless Arena to be used as desired for his own means.
• Each character will have 1 turn before "start is called" to cast spells/ready actions/whatever they can do in a turn (wont be able to project anything out of the starting area during this turn)
• Held actions are banned (The intent is to fight not hold actions to game the system)(If you try to hold an action your character will be instantly stunned for a round with no save)
• High Mage Tedithain wants blood and violence as such the following spells are banned and will bounce back on yourself if casted. You have been warned: (Sleep, silvery barbs)

Character building rules:

• Point buy or standard array only
• 2014 or 2024 (2014 get a 50% xp boost each round)
• Basic starting equipment only or starting gold. Purchases with starting gold must be done on WMG in the market before Oct 29)
• Sheet must be fully filled out with equipment/stats/spells to be approved. Players in the tournament may gamble on themselves winning.

THE REWARDS

• Survive round 1: 300 XP
• Survive round 2: 600 XP and a mystery box of treasure (rolled on the loot table, appropriate for a level 3 one-shot). Unwanted magic items can be sold to NQA.
• To wager sign up for session and in notes put "Gambling only" (Gambling will be done in session pbp.

WAGERS

Before each bout, any player may wager 50 gp on either contestant. Winning bets pay 2:1.

GM NOTES

• Build a level 1 character specifically for this. Only 1 in 4 survives. You can bring an existing level 1 character, but understand they are statistically likely to die.
• Contestants start on opposing sides in the starting areas (squares are 5 feet)
• Rules as written wherever possible. If a ruling is unclear, we roll a die: evens go one way, odds go the other.
• Know your abilities. Once your turn ends there are no retcons and no “oh, I forgot X.” If your turn drags or you are trying to decide what to do for longer than 30 seconds, you take the Dodge action. Have your plan ready before your initiative comes up.
• Characters who die may become NPC's in the Endless Arena but are not revivable or saveable.

THE INTENT

This isn’t about throwing characters away. The goal is for the winners to share a bond, forged in the blood of the fallen and the horrible games they endured. Bring a character you’d actually want to play, knowing full well they may not make it out.

Arena Map in pbp of this adventure and in link below

• Platforms between stairs 20 feet high
• platform in center 20 feet high
• ceilings 30 feet high
• starting areas on left and right after round one doors close and death saves in those rooms begin
• No blood by round 3 means a creature(s) is released into the arena
• Water is difficult terrain and 3 feet deep
• Pits are 10 feet deep
• Walls are 10 feet high and can be climbed on. Outer walls cannot be climed on and have a wall of force extending above them to protect the crowd.
• Floor is stone, and Walls are stone covered in wood paneling.

Arena Map