( Archiving the report to the Argent Archives from the honorable Voice )

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THE GRAND TOURNAMENT IN EASTVALE

Fistfighting, magic, fireworks and a visitor from the Horde. The Eastvale Tournament had all that and more. We were on the spot and brought back a shedload of pictures, quotes and gossip. Find out who won the contests and the hearts of the crowd!

“Three shots in your own time! Loose!” The shouts from the archery range echo through Elwynn Forest, followed by a hiss and a thud as the arrows fly swiftly through the air. A bit further on, another area is marked with fires. It is here that the lists will be held. Spectators form a ring around the makeshift arena, sitting down by the trees and crowding at the fences to get a better view.

King of Fighters

Two fighting tournaments are held tonight: The open and the sponsored lists. While the open lists make for some spectacular battles – the face-off between Druid Erynia and Paladin Nilas lasts several minutes – it is the sponsored lists that provide some of the best entertainment of the night.

There is romance, when Sinclaire “Mutton-Chops for Dinner” Smith declares his defeat at the hands of Itko Kan is just another kind of foreplay. “I don’t so much see it as a defeat, than as an alternative victory. Since the young lady here will be conquered in a different fashion later on!”

There is confusion, when Suebeth “Huh?” Le May Bogswatch faces Veldor the Valiant, and wins a long, drawn-out fight with the help of a potion. A trick she later repeats when fighting the stout Dwarf girl Flintah. “They done tole me we cud”, she says after winning that battle.

There is drama, when Flintah and Suebeth face off a second time in a rematch without potions. “I’ll fight ya with me fists” says Flintah, and in a Rocky-esque moment she launches blow after hammering blow on the unsuspecting human. Victory is short-lived though, as Itko “Ice Cold” Kan later shock-frosts the Dwarven warrioress.

Flintah sets things straight with a right hook straight to Suebeth's chin.

The student meets his master

More surprises are in store at the open lists final. When Rogue Kerian defeats Druidess Erynia in the finals, she is overwhelmed. “I never really expected it, i just signed up to have a few fun fights”, she says. But it wasn’t finished there. The organisers had one more challenge for our upcoming champion. Laenas, the previous champion of the tournament – and Kerian’s very own trainer – makes a surprise comeback and wipes the floor with his former pupil.

Enter true sportsmanship. “She fought one too many a fight to get here, while I was fresh to face her. She deserves the title, not I”, says Laenas, and scores not only for fighting well, but also for being a true gentleman.

Secret contender Laenas won his fight against Kerian, but still ceded championship of the tourney to Kerian.

More, more, more…

Taiev, one of the organisers from the Silvereye guild, is happy with how the event unfolds, yet stresses the amount of preparation needed (”We have been preparing for perhaps a month”), as well as the help of the many people involved (”I would say, from the Silvereye, perhaps ten, with another five of six from the Dun Morogh”).

Initiated by Druid Acrona “to do something to improve relations between the peoples of the Alliance”, the Eastvale Tournament didn’t only consist of fighting! Snacks and drinks were sold by the people of Fingels Quest, fireworks could be purchased and detonated dangerously close to the horse stables – and drunken running was endorsed in the Steeplechase.

… and then some!

Have a look at the pictures in our gallery for more tidbits, gossip and quotes. And be sure to visit the Snap Sisters for Freckles was at the scene as well, and certainly has her own impressions of the event for you to share.

- GALLERY -

Acrona of the Silvereye guild came up with the idea for the event.

Spectators flocked to the Eastvale Logging Camp on Friday, March 31.

Druid Erynia handled herself well in the open lists, only loosing narrowly against Kerian: "Next time, make sure the stunning blow lands", she says regarding her battle-tactics.

The fence seperated onlookers from participators, though many strayed on the battlefield.

Fireworker Pizzle lightens up the night over Elwynn Forest.

Excited about his fancy mount, Hamfist insisted on showing us his "goat".

"We are the finest", said Commander Kalius of the Stormguard, while waiting to see his men fight in the tourney. He had to change that to "I believe some extra training is in order" later.

Tourney champion Kerian fought some tough battles, but considered Erynia her hardest opponent: "Knowing how good she is i didn't looked forward to it", she says.

King and Queen of the Eastvale Tournament: Shan Kaldorath Wiseleaf and Shan Darinea Mistrunner.

Though he swings his polearm impressively, Nilas eventually lost against Erynia's Druidic powers. Says the winner: "Nilas's ego has been brought back within acceptable parameters."

The fighters in the sponsored lists: Itko Kan, Suebeth Le May Bogswatch, Veldor the Valiant, Flintah O'Graw and Smolt Steelhead (Sinclaire Smith not pictured).

Visitors from the Horde included Thuzag the Orc and Tronn the Undead. Things stayed peaceful until Tronn later started hitting on scantily clad Silviá.

The Steeplechase runners get ready for the big event.

Carale explains her interpretation of the rules to referee Rattus.

Places atop the fence were highly sought after for the exceptional view.

People showed the most interest in the fighting, and then slowly dwindled away after the lottery was drawn.

Some runners in the Steeplechase tried to make better time be removing unnecessary clothing.

Suebeth fights Veldor the Valiant - did he hold back against the girl, like Smolt did with Flintah? Or is that just a bad excuse for loosing against a woman?

Night Elf Teeishai shows Thuzag his Kaldorei fighting skills in a friendly duel.

Silviá spent most of the evening looking for a man, resorting to more and more desperate measures.

The Voice gets lucky! Arving wins a parrot ("Howling Wolf") with his raffle ticket.

The grand finale: The winners of the Eastvale Tournament.

Cheering and fireworks accompanied the victory celebrations.

Zeo might have lost against Erynia, but he wins a pirate hat in the lottery instead. Will that make Gigma happy?

Itko's zergling was partly responsible for her victory. Says the owner: "Its like a charm! For good luck! He is almost as cool as I am! He is experienced, and lethal! And gives me mind powers!"

The winners:

Champion of the open lists: Kerian and Wanita
Champion of the sponsored lists: Itko Kan and her little Zergling
King and Queen of the Eastvale Tournament: Kaldorath and Darinea
Winner of the Steeplechase: Silth
Winner of the Archery contest: Loryen