Tournament of Thear: Quest of The Devouring Blade.(QDB)

For Generations untold, many have searched in vain for a sword said to posses the ability to tear through any armor or defensive measure.  The few times this terrible weapon was uncovered, great and terrible battles resulting in devastation and destruction left scars so deep and even the land was marred for countless years.  After ten years, if one possessed it for that long, the blade would finally devour the soul and body of its wielder and wait for another vessel to unleash its terror.

  After several centuries, a group of miners and magicians searched for a substance that could negate the effect of the sword and bind its influence.  it was found when one worker hit an item that shattered his pick while digging.  This substance was tested for its durability and was found to take tremendous amounts of physical and magical abuse yet bear no scratch or scar on its luminescent blue surface.  the miners and mages tried in vain to craft the material until a small child came along and molded the stone as if it where clay.  It was then that they found that the stone could only be molded by those with good and pure intentions so was called "Purity stone".  Eager to counter the dark sword they searched for a child innocent enough to mold the material and old enough able to work without becoming distracted.  It was then that the unbreakable sword was made.  the sword that had the peoples hopes and dreams of expelling the devouring blade named Abur, and thus named Expellabur.

  The first conflict of these two mighty weapons created a stalemate for long hours.  The wielder of Abur astonished by this new event retreated from the fight injured but not as much as the champion that fought him.  The Sages then gathered the man and sword and started to question him on the dimensions of the dark sword.  They then searched for two children.  One for the creation of a sheath that would be able to hinder the malevolent powers of the devouring blade.  The other to create a greater sword, comprised of 7 other swords, that would combine with Expellabur.

  The sheath was fashioned so that 13 blessed keys would lock and seal the powers of the sword for 1000 years at a time.  Each key was different in form, the Miners would describe and demonstrate the functions of the locks and keys to the child as the scabbard took shape.

  The child who created the 7 blades was looked over by the Mages, who gave each sword a unique ability to aid in the binding process of Abur, but lost the natural resilience found in Expellabur.  The combination sword would be called "that which can bind what no tomb could hold".  When the swords where completed and fused the result looked fearsome, indeed a sword worthy of slaying even dragons.  When the sword passed into the hands of the new champion, it shifted into a broad form resembling the likeness of a shield more than a sword.  This earned the weapon the nickname "Sword of Shield".  

  The next match against Abur proved to be successful.  The champion returned to the Miners and Mages, the Devouring Blade in one hand, the Sword of Shield in the other, barely clinging onto life.  The miners quickly sheathed Abur to the Scabbard made of Purity Stone while the Mages started the incantation that would bind the power and hinder the influence of the sword.  The 13 keys where set into the lock and locked the Dark sword along with marring gouges along its spine negating the cutting ability of the sword.  Then the mages focused the binding spell through the Sword of Shield to bind Abur to the sheath until a thousand years had passed.

  After the ceremony was completed the champion beckoned the child who formed the 7 blades and whispered something into the childs ear.  They both nodded and gripped the sword which reverted back to its original form.  Then together they held the weapon high and shattered it into its 8 separate pieces.  The child then located Expellabur, ran off to where the remains of the Purity Stone was resting, and stabbed the sword into the stone.

  With the last of his strength the champion said to the dumbstruck company.  "This was the will of the sword, so that none here would be tempted to use its power.  Expellabur cannot be claimed unless one of child-like innocence and pure and good intentions comes before it."  

  Then the child spoke, "The great sword will only be remade by the same way it was broken.  by the greatest champion in the land and by the hands of a young child."

  The champion then smiled and laid to rest on the earth for the final time.  When the Mages and Miners started to search for the child, they meet after hours of searching to no avail.  Then both groups traveled to the place where it was decided that the Devouring blade would be kept hidden from the world for a thousand years.  The Miners collected the 13 keys the Mages the 8 swords and all split up to scatter the relics across the far reaches of the earth.


10000 years have passed since that event and recent talk that of one the 13 keys has suddenly reappeared stirs warriors, treasure hunters, and seekers of lore, to find and collect the remaining 12.   For It is only when all 13 keys are gathered will the resting place of the sword be revealed.

contestants:
1st round= 24  (Each judge chooses 2 of the auditioned if there are more than 24.)
2nd round = 12
3rd round = 6
4th round = 2 <-- this winner also fights the remaining contestant. or should it be a 3 way free for all?
semi-final = fight against Quest for the sword of shield winner

Tournament of Thear:  Quest for the Sword of Shield. (QSoS)

The rumors of the devouring blade's return have been confirmed.  Legend tells of one weapon that is able to bind the dark and destructive influences of that sword, the weapon known as the Sword of Shield.  Fearing that a weapon of this magnitude would fall into the wrong hands, the sages of old fragmented the Sword of Shield into 8 pieces and distributed them across the globe.  But the Sword of Shield had another plan.  It's pieces where forged into different weapons of power each unique as the form that they took.  Sensing the revival of The Devouring Blade the pieces yearn to be joined to one.  The countries owning a piece of the 8 are hosting fighting tournaments hoping that their champion will be the one to take on the wielder of the Devouring blade.  For the blade can only be brought back together by the greatest of the warriors of Thear.

contestants
preliminary round = 32 (Each judge, 8 in total, chooses 3 entries out of the auditions if there is more than 32.)
national finals round = 16
international round 1= 8
international semifinals = 4
international finals = 2
tournament semifinals = fight against winner of Quest of the Devouring Blade.

For Sword of Shield only:
Contestants may use the pieces of the sword that they own in the fight.


Tournament of Thear: Finale
if Devouring Blade wins = Boss Fight against Nemarsis Luminos.
if Sword of Shield wins = Boss Fight against Master of Secrets.

NPC List:
High judges of QSoS
Wrensthav/Venswrath Aviovus:  Previous owner of The Devouring Blade.  Embodiment of Southern Wind, and One of the High Judges for QSoS.
Arctavious Vegitari:  Embodiment of Starlight Tree,  Is in charge of recording both tournaments progresses.  One of the high judges for QSoS.
Terra Ouroboros:  Embodiment of Celestial Sea.  Is in charge of Transportation and locations for the contestants in QSoS.  Last high judge for QSoS.

High judges of QDB
Keeper Compost:  Dragon in constant state of rotting, a High judge for QBD.
Keeper Catacombs: Skeletal dragon, high judge for QDB.
Keeper Secrets:  Apprentice dragon to Master of Secrets.  Final say for final round in QDB.

Final Bosses
Master of Secrets: an immortal dragonoid (part dragon part robotics) who knows of all Secrets of the Universe.  The first Owner and Creator of the Devouring Blade.  is bound in chains and magic in the depths of Thear but still has the power to influence the happenings of the world.

Nemarsis Luminos:  Another immortal who has an extremely limited tangible form.  Creator of the Sword of Shield and the Billionblades summoning technique.  Was the first to bind Master of Secrets.


Warning:  Gunners are not unwelcome but be aware that this is a dark age-ish fantasy setting.  Bullets are rare to come by but may exist.  If you insist on using guns please be aware that you have a limited supply of ammo and replenishing is rather expensive.
Also if you have an overly-powered (almost god-like) characters will not be considered unless they have power caps.