Tournament Arc

The tournament arc is made up of 3 sessions. Each needs to contain elements that culminate in the shift into the second act of the campaign.

## Elements to be Explored

* **Dream Sequence** - Here, the player will walk through the burning city of O'Ferrall, with black mist coming from the mouths of the people panicking and dying in the destruction. Everyone's shadow is abnormally thin with oversized heads. The only sound is indecipherable talking in the direction of the castle. When the player gets there, they will see the party standing by the castle gate, shrouded in white mist, expressionless. A shadow will loom overhead and, looking up, the player will see Srough, gigantic, taking up the full sky, grinning at them with his yellowed teeth. Here the player will wake up in a cold sweat.
* Angus puts party up to finding out what is going on with his father. (Murchad will be inside Fergus' solar should the party go there).
* Introduce Fergus as the kindly old man he makes himself out to be.
* Fergus' solar has a secret room with occult materials, including bowl of black liquid (this triggers visit from one of the outsiders).
* Tease Murchad's powers.
* The Mighty is reintroduced, and explains himself and what happened in Dublin after the party left.
* Roland befriends The Mighty.
* Introduce a few members of Neille's family who are participating/watching the tournament.
* Introduce supers in the ranks of the tournament. This will include the sheer chaos that can ensue in many-on-many fights involving them.
* Introduce key figures of the tournament including:
	+ Lord Mitchel and his daughter Emily and their champion knight, Sir Harold.
	+ Sir William and Lady Catherine.
	+ Neille's Uncle Eochaid and clan reps. Includes her cousins Congalach and Báetán.
* Roland will pass the preliminaries against a standard opponent and a superior opponent. He will win the second fight through trickery of some kind. He will lose the first fight he has in the actual tournament however.
* After each fight involving a super who loses a fight, Fergus will invite them to his cabinet to discuss matters, as he is impressed by their performance despite the loss. (What he is doing behind the scenes is interviewing them to work for him - if they agree, he sends them off to await his call. If they don't, he kills them.)
* Players should have an opportunity to talk with Fergus. Fergus should mention being wistful of his old age, and regretful that an opportunity never presented itself for him to achieve his dream, to become the High King of Ireland. He hopes that his heir might be able to achieve what he could not, with the benefit of some preparation on his part.
* Fergus should take a liking to at least one player, and speak with them multiple times throughout the three sessions.
* Fergus' plan will be to swap bodies with the winner and begin moving to become high king of Ireland. If he is found out and his plans are brought to a halt for whatever reason, he will trigger the black mist prematurely.

* Fergus will, upon the completion of the tournament, call forth the winner (I'm thinking either Murchad or Brian, but probably Murchad). He will give a speech, announcing his hopes in his heir. He will then move for a private discussion with them, and when alone, pull out a knife, and making sure he is touching the heir, slash his own throat, and swap bodies with the heir. He will then take the heir to his secret room where there are others set up, supers tied and gagged, bowls of black liquid in front of them. He will drag his heir to an empty place near a bowl, and bleed them over it, following with the rest of them. This will trigger the Black Mist.

## Characters

* Neille's Family:
	+ Uncle Eochaid - Decent enough guy, but easily manipulated. Advocated against Neille, but set the condition of her getting married as grounds to return to rule.
	+ Cousin Congalach - Eldest brother, supported/advocated for Neille and helped her get away before coup with some moneys. Is a good man, has loyal followers from MacCarthy.
	+ Cousin Báetán - Youngest brother, doesn't support Neille, is a shady guy that manipulated the uncle into doing the coup. Stayed in MacCarthy while Uncle and Congalach went to the tournament. Is utterly ruthless and determined to rule. Has his minions
	+ Childhood Friend Ciara. Is in relationship with Congalach, but can't be together if he rules.