Hawk the Hawker and the Skal Cup III
Hawk the Hawker, not exactly an adventurer but someone hired as a town crier from the castle just prior to the Skal Cup III celebration during the summer months between Kythorn and Flamerule of the year 181 AR. (Though I suspect that wasn't his real name.)
This being the third cup event, I asked Mister Hawk about the previous two and this is what he had to say about them:
"The first cup was held by a foreign merchant league, racing several boats to dock and grab flags from several islands. The first to arrive in Skal, won the cup. The dreaded Dreadnought ambushed many of the contestants and tragically, many died. Many contestants were attacked by a ship heralding a Drow house's colors. It was a tragic slaughter. What should have been a victory celebration at the end, was mourning."
"The second was held just a few years later, a wild horse race up and down the land of Skal. Prizes were of the contribution of the legendary noble house Derlson. The second Skal Cup went swimmingly, but was understandably, underfunded! No one died, though many were lost, all eventually found their way to town."
"The Skal Cup III, over a decade later now, shall bring it back to glory!" He would exclaim.
The Skal Cup III we participated in consisted of two main events, both hosted by Countess Elairajin Fae. Teams were made of one to three persons. Visitors, who were present, from the mainland were also encouraged to participate.
The first was a flag hunt through the tundra of Skal, there were eight teams that made it through this round.
The second pitted two teams against one another and were made to steal each other's flags. Slips of paper were drawn from a barrel to determine the rules of the fights. We were teleported by the countess to an arena of dense woods and plenty of hillside surrounded by a permeated fog. After a round of this, the countess took us to our final arena, resembling a desert but with a roaring thunderstorm overhead.
[Some quotes from Mister Hawk's advertising are recorded below]
"Are you a lonely hooded Sun Elf? Find warmth from the cold in the Grand Skal Cup III! Sign up today!"
"Need a tailor, but don't know who to ask? Sign up for the Skal Cup III and find out!"
"Can't break up with your horse? Riding out on an adventure? Stop first and sign up for the Skal Cup III!"
"Are you a Druid with a big stick? No idea what to do with it? Take it with you to Skal Cup III! Sign up today!"
"Are you a shady man? Like to be dark and gloomy? Find happiness with the Skal Cup III today, and break free of the suspicion!"
"Are you a Dwarf with a perfectly groomed beard? Want to flaunt it and bring glory to your clan? Sign up for the Skal Cup III today!"
"Not ready to fight a wyrm? Sign up for the Skal Cup today! Possibly win a dragon egg to throw at the wyrm!"
"Knees what they aren't used to be? Join the Skal Cup III and win prize that might just make your knees better permanently!"
"Man suddenly walked away from you? Not sure what to do with the awkward absence? Sign up for the Skal Cup III today!"
"Staring at the mayor's door? Contemplating that 'one more writ' that might be your last? Sign up here instead!"
"Living under a bench? Rise up in life. Join the Skal Cup III today!"
"Sign up for the Skal Cup III! Even without a hawk, it hawkens to you!"
"Struggling with your Draconic? Wanting to flirt with Skal's Beautiful White Dragon? Join the Skal Cup III, and show it your victory prize! Any accidental deaths are not the responsibility of the Skal Cup III and funding associates, please approach dragons at your own risk."
"Trying to get a book made about you, but not interesting enough? Join the Skal Cup III and find glory in competition!"
"Too shy to show your face? Feel the need to be constantly hooded? Bring your mystery to the Skal Cup III, and be the enigma everyone talks about!"
"People spitting in the face of your Magocracy? Wanting to be taken more seriously? Find glory and geat magical prizes in the Skal Cup III! Register Today!"
"Are you a brilliant musician? Seeking to find an audience to enthrall with your powerful stringed notes? Sign up for Skal Cup III today, and become a bard of legend!"
Day 19, Month 10 (Marpenoth (Leafall)), 181 AR
Mana Redd