The Contest
The Union's annual fencing tournament in the Agriont, won by Jezal in The Blade Itself.
The Contest is an annual fencing competition fought by the greatest swordsmen of the Union in the Square of Marshals within the Agriont in Adua. Entrants come from across the Union's three Kingdoms and two Protectorate cities; most are nobles, but commoners can enter. It is a hugely popular spectator event, watched by most of the capital, including the High King and the royal family.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Square of Marshals, the Agriont, Adua
- Held
- Annually
- Weapons
- One long steel and one short
- Past champions
- Collem West
- Sand dan Glokta
- Varuz
- Fortis dan Hoff
Facts from the source article.
Background
Fighters wield two swords, one long steel and one short, in a small ring of dry yellow grass. A bout is won by touching the opponent with the steel or knocking them out of the ring: best of three touches in the first round, five in the semi-final and seven in the final. The champion usually becomes a rising star in the Union. Past winners include Collem West, Sand dan Glokta, Lord Marshal Varuz and Lord Chamberlain Fortis dan Hoff. In The Blade Itself, Jezal dan Luthar beats Bremer dan Gorst in the final, thanks to the cheating of the First of the Magi.
More in Story & Timeline
Elsewhere in The First Law
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