What's a Tournament really like?

They differ from place to place and year to year, but Thor's Mountain's May Tourney is as typical as any. 

The Tournament will actually begin several hours before the fighting, with armor inspection and any authorization bouts we may have this morning. As a saftey measure, only fighters with a mimium amount of experience and training are permitted to fight in tournaments, and this tourney is no different. The authorization process is brief, and can be completed in a very few days or weeks. Experience fighters spend time with the new-comer, teaching him our basic rules of engagement, armor standards, and the esoteric art of "blow-calling." When he has informally demonstrated to his teachers that he can fight in a safe and controlled manner, he will travel to an event for "authorization." There, the official in charge of fighting for that event will witness a controlled bout with another experienced fighter, and pronouce the newcomer, "authorized." There will be, of course, forms to fill out, and neat little cards to carry around, as well.

After these administrative details are complete, the Nobility will start arriving and filling out the gallery. The King or Prince, if present, will sit with the Baroness for the processional.  The fighters will line up in the order of thier status.  The King or Prince, if he choses to fight, will be at the head of the the line, followed by dukes, counts, knights, laurels, pelicans, or other peers.  Behind them will be the armigers, or lesser nobility.  Last will be those newest to the tourney field, for rank is a thing earned with skill and courtly grace, over time.  The herald will read the name and title of each fighter, as well as any honors he cares to list.  As he is named, each fighter steps forward and is addressed by the Baroness.

After the processional, the Minister of the List will give the Herald the names of the first two fighters.  The Herald will call thier names and instruct them to make ready.  They will proceed to the lists, or fighting arena.  Once on the arena, The Herald will again "cry" thier names, and indicate who is who.  The cry is usually of the format "On My Dexter (right hand), Duke Sir Duke...   On my Sinister (left hand), Count Sir Count. Pay heed to the words of the Marshall."

At this point, the Herald will quit the field, 'cause she isn't wearing any armor, and control of the action falls to the Marshal in Charge.  He will quietly ask the fighters if thier armor is in order, remind them of any special rules for this particular Tournament, and then bid them "Lay on!" and the fighting will commence.   The Marshal looks rather like a referee standing out there, and he performs some few of a referee's functions, but his main job is to watch for safety problems, such as fighters moving out of bounds, armor failure, or heat exhaustion. 

What he does not do, is score the bout.  Our system of combat is run on the honor system, and the burden of calling a valid blow falls upon the man who is hit.  If you are struck with a good blow, you announce to your opponent, "Good!" and then collapse to the ground in a dramatic fashion to signal the victory to the gallery.  If you are struck in the arm or the leg, you loose the use of that limb for the remainder of the bout.  A wounded man may sue for mercy, and offer ransom.  A gallant opponent may give his wounded opponend the opportunty to yield the fight and live to fight another day.  In any case, should you lose or yield, or be disqualified due to armor failure, you are half-way out of the tournament.  A second loss, and you're done for the day.

The bouts will proceed, one after the other, ending when only one fighter remaining has one loss or fewer for the day.  There will usually be a short rest, after which the winning fighter will be presented to the Baroness, who will congratulate him, and invite him to dine at the head table.  Later, a court, his victory will be announced to the populace at large, and a prize such as a sword, helmet, or medallion will be presented to him.