The Grand Tourney (A Lore Video)

Heimdall, were you aware of “Herold Had the Plan”? It’s a short story in Tevinter Nights about a group of thieves (and members of the Lords of Fortune) stealing some valuables at the Grand Tourney and then being chased with unusual determination by the authorities.



I personally thought it was one of the best stories in TN, actually.

There is also a conversation between Varric and I think it might be Blackwall, that would indicate a Grand Tourney was actually taking place during the time of the Inquisition. When I heard that there was one actually underway, I was really annoyed that we couldn't attend even as spectators.

The writers of the Core Rule Book used it as the basis for one of their RPG scenarios and I still think it would make a wonderful backdrop to an adventure (which is why I used it in our story on the RPG section of these boards). The Core Rule Book makes mention of the fact that the frequency of the Grand Tourney is normally determined by a sponsor coming forward to finance it. I formed the impression that rather like the Gladiatorial Games in Ancient Rome, it can be a rather useful method of improving your standing in society as only the really wealthy or those who have influence over others with wealth, are in a position to sponsor the event, so a social climbing member of the merchant class might enhance their popularity by doing so.   Not so different to corporations sponsoring popular sporting events in modern times I suppose.

There is specific mention of a competitor by Varric I seem to recall: Lady Honorine Chastain. She has competed in four hundred jousts and has never been unseated. Then, of course, there is Thom Rainier himself, who speaks about the time he participated in the Grand Tourney and would have been eliminated early but for teaming up with a dual champion of the Tourney, Ser Geoffrey de Bordelon of Orlais. (I think we only learn his name in WoT2). Perhaps you could add in these known champions of the Tourney should you choose to revise your history at some point.