Build it up

"Come on... put your backs into it or we'll never win!"The team of koboldi heaved, joints straining. In defiance of all probability the huge stone block began to move, sliding out of the stack."It's moving" said the forewoman in case any of her gang had somehow failed to notice, "Keep it coming! Get that sling over here now!"Revel stepped back as the thick wooden arm swung past him creaking ominously, a huge sling of rope and leather suspended beneath it. Slowly, incredibly it arced out to meet the heavy stone block the koboldi were pulling free of the pile.Once it was more than half-way free, the weight shifted and suddenly the block was moving under its own weight. "Clear!" shouted the forewoman, the signal for everyone to jump aside as the massive block fell free. The koboldi tumbled to the ground below, barely more than ten feet, but fortunately the block was caught by the sling before it could go far. The timber beam strained under the weight but it held, just."Get turning!" This time the instruction was to the team of koboldi manning the wheels that operated the complicated gears and pulleys that worked the crane. They began frantically turning the winch, and slowly the block began to inch upwards. The team were already scrabbling to clamber up the tall tower of stone blocks, taking advantage of the many holes to reach the top, so that they could receive the stone they had just removed.The forewoman stepped back so she could survey the progress. Revel seized the opportunity, bowing slightly as he stepped forward to make his introductions to Adamant's favourite ganger.

Overview

The heralds of the Iron Duke have come forth to issue two new challenges to the mortals of the Empire. For whatever reason, the Iron Duke has eschewed combat challenges for the Summer. Instead, he seeks to test the wits and skills of those who would take up his challenge, aiming to test the mental acuity and stealthy prowess of the denizens of the Empire.

The heralds are keen to stress that the rules continue to apply. Every person who has Challenge the Iron Duke cast upon them will be guaranteed entry to a challenge. Depending on the challenge, they may be able to bring a certain number of attendants with them to assist. The exact number will depend on the nature of the challenge and the number of challengers. The Civil Service will publish exact numbers in the Hub on Saturday morning for all to see.

Challengers will need to choose a reward from one of the items found in the Dragonforge. Challengers who have been victorious in the past year may not take part in another challenge until a year has passed.

Challenging the Duke

To formally enter one of the Iron Duke's contests, a citizen must be the recipient of the Summer ritual Challenge the Iron Duke. The ritual is magnitude 30, and only a handful of covens have it mastered. It is possible to cast the ritual without it being mastered, but it is harder and more expensive, so anyone who is interested in entering a challenge would be best advised to seek out a coven who are known to be able to cast the ritual. According to the heralds of the Traveller, eight covens successfully performed the ritual last season. The heralds advise those interested in taking part to seek out these covens first.

Even for those covens who have the ritual mastered, it is expensive. Champions who seek to prove themselves will need to find some way to convince a coven to put them forward. Just being able to pay the ritual's cost might not be enough, though it is likely the minimum price that will be asked.

Challenge of the Bulwark Sanctuary

To many, the Summer realm conjures up ideas of great wheaten fields in glorious sunshine, or oak trees greater and thicker than any seen in the mortal realm. But the Summer realm is also one of mighty peaks and vast mountains, studded with the carved fortresses of the heralds who battle over them. On one of these outcroppings is the location of one of Barien's latest challenges. There lies a modest sanctuary, constructed by Metamorphic, a herald of the Queen of Ice and Darkness to celebrate some victory none can remember save perhaps the Queen herself.

This herald was given orders by the Queen to protect the sanctuary and has done an exemplary job as one would expect of a follower of Cathan Canae. No one has come near the shrine in decades, and the being grows weary of its solitary defence. Now the Iron Duke has gained permission of the Queen to send challengers to try and steal from the herald's treasures if they can. The Duke seeks to challenge mortals, the Queen is eager to see how alert her herald is.

One at a time, mortal challengers will need to enter at one end of the sanctuary and attempt to retrieve one of the idols from the other end. Metamorphic is guarding the chamber, but the creature is blindfolded to protect his eyes from snow-blindness. Provided the challenger does not touch the herald or make a noise they will be able to creep into the chamber to remove one of the treasures. Too much noise from the challengers though, and they will attract the herald's attention. Disturb them too many times, touch them or make too loud of a sound, and the challenger will be driven from the chamber, and the test failed. Barien warns that the sanctuary is also laden with all manner of noisemaking traps and decorations. Extreme care will need to be taken to avoid attracting the attention of the herald.

Oh, and the challengers are on a time limit too. The heralds of Barien will advise what it is, closer to the time. The challenge will be accessed from the Hall of Worlds, non-magician challengers will be given aid by Barien's heralds to allow them and up to two spectators to pass through. Each challenger will be given a time to report to the regio, which will be available in the Hub on Saturday morning. The slots will run from 1:45pm until 3:15pm on Saturday.

Challenge of the Koboldi Squares

While most of the denizens of the realm of Summer could be described as some variety of brash, bold and boisterous, the koboldi who serve Adamant, the King Under The Mountain, stand out. Almost single-mindedly obsessed with buildings and the act of making buildings bigger and better, they can perhaps seem out of place compared to the conflicts that rage between heralds of the other eternals. Nevertheless, there is definitely something they share with their fellows in the Summer realm; they are very, very competitive, and are not shy about it when the time comes.

When not expressing this competitive spirit by building things, or comparing the things they have built with things other koboldi have built, on occasion koboldi like to partake in games. Usually these games are about, well, building things, but this can be expressed in more or less abstract ways depending on the game. At Barien's request, the koboldi have invited mortal challengers to take part in one of their games.

This particular game requires a team of four working together to complete a simple yet tricky task. Koboldi teams compete to see who can score the most in the time limit available. Here it is much the same; the koboldi will set the par score for the teams of challengers to beat in order to be considered successful in their challenge. There will also be a prize for the team of victorious Imperials who get the highest score.

Both the par score, time limit, and rules will be announced to the players when they enter the contest, to add to the difficulty. The rules will be available in writing throughout the contest. The challenge will be accessed through the Hall of Worlds to reach the koboldi's chamber between 6:15pm and 7:45pm on Saturday. Challengers will be given a timeslot listed in the Civil Service Hub on Saturday morning.

Further Reading

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