The Ruby Phoenix Tournament day 1

1489
Year of the Warrior Princess 

The Feast of the Moon

    It seems as if all of New Harbor wakes before dawn. Even as the dull orange sun creeps slowly over the eastern horizon, the fishermen have already crowded into their boats. They move swiftly, like blackened silhouettes dancing against dawn’s watercolor pallet, eerily silent except for the shuffling of ropes and oars, and the caws of their trained cormorants.  Marthysan greets the party when they rise and tells you that time is short and you should get going so you won't be late for the opening exhibition.  You find a steady stream of boats carrying contestants and observers who can afford passage across the bay to the seaside arena, while droves of locals follow the coastal path to the pavilion. The Grand Pavilion and surrounding fairgrounds lie deep within the cove, and feature a massive and elaborate combat arena specifically constructed for the tournament. Scores of colorful tents cram the grounds spreading from the wood almost to the water. A line of spectators stretches from the Grand Pavilion, waiting to enter the arena. Contestants are given priority, and red- and orange-clad monks usher the eclectic collection of warriors and battlemages into the arena to stand before the Emissary.  Loud music blares from the center stage but all quiets down as the Emissary enters. The curtains part, revealing the Emissary flanked by the oni Kiang Zhen and the previous Ruby Phoenix Champion, the half-elf paladin Marthysan the Righteous. Behind the Emissary, like motionless statues, stand no less than a dozen qinggong monks—his mystic disciples and bodyguards. As all watch rapt, the Emissary rises and addresses the crowd. “I am Sifu Xho Nuo—Emissary of the Ruby Phoenix Tournament and guardian of the legacy of Hao Jin, the once immortal sorceress in whose name you are gathered here to battle. To honor the Grandmaster’s legacy, I stand before you to carry out her final will: the thirty-first decennial Ruby Phoenix Tournament. Without further delay, we begin our first round of the contest. May the worthiest  win!” Upon his final words, the crowd erupts into clamorous applause, and the contestants scatter for
their respective seats or positions throughout the pavilion. The party are escorted by a group of silent usher monks and directed to the center of the fight stage to face their first opponents, the most skilled martial artists of the famed Monastery of the Enduring Spirit in Quain!

The Grand Pavilion

   The battle is fierce, but our heroes prevail.  They have passed the first challenge!  Riddick and Hannibal play up to the crowd and seem to get some support.  They certainly could use as many fans as they can get here in the foreign land.  In between the next match the group along with several other teams are invited to show the crowd skill at breaking various items using only their hands, feet and heads.  They don't fare too well, but they do manage to break all of the items.  They are allowed a few hours of rest when they are summoned back to do their daily exhibition match.  The daily exhibition matches are held to entertain the crowd and can be held off site near the pavilion or even in the pavilion if there is room in the schedule.  During the early rounds there won't be many open spots in the pavilion.  The opponents for the exhibition matches are former contestants, those that could not get into the tournament, and even monsters that have been captured in the past year by the church of Abadar!

The group receive word that they have been selected for one such exhibition, to be held in a small fighting ring a short distance from the Grand Pavilion. When they arrive, they find Kiang Zhen waiting for them with a large, closed sack at her feet. As several dozen onlookers watch eagerly from the stands, the oni directs them into the center of the ring before chanting something quietly over the sack and motioning in the PCs’ direction.  At Kiang Zhen’s gesture, a massive headless form marches into the ring carrying two fearsome axes. This undead giant serves the will of whoever possesses its head—the contents of the oni’s sack—and fights the party!  Seriade does a quick religion check and shouts "Its a Shenzuzhou!"  Shrugging, Hannibal and Riddick along with Rusty's Solomon, advance while Azten, Rusty, Landon, and Seriade fling spells from the rear.  After a few intense rounds go by they defeat the monster!  The crowd roars, and departs quickly as a cloud kill spell heads their way thanks to the monster.

A Shenzuzhou

     After the day’s events—32 official matches as well as many exhibition fights and tests of  skill—draw to a close, competitors progressing to the next round are treated to a great feast. Long tables filled with food and wine are set about the pavilion grounds while the crowds are entertained with drumming and dancing. As soon as the sun sets, the Emissary’s monks put on an impressive fireworks display over the cove.  Everyone enjoys the feast, but Riddick chooses to drink water instead of the wine that is offered.  The food and drink are delicious. Riddick and Landon notice Risha Coaltongue and her Zhentarium allies sitting with an intimidating and scar covered hobgoblin, all  drinking from their own wine skins and turning down offers of food or drink from the monks serving the feast.

    In the middle of the night, a very bad stomach virus hits everyone in the party except Riddick.  Several party members spend most of the night on the loo fighting off the effects of what Azten and Landon sense is poisoning, most likely from the wine given that Riddick was the only one not affected.  In the morning the party hears rumors of other participants also suffering the same symptoms as our group.  Someone is tampering with the tournament!