Undergrowth Events

About this event

If you could have anything your heart desired;

What would you ask for?

This story, like many good stories, starts with two people in love. In a time before time, before gods, and most certainly before the moon fell and everyone had a really miserable time about it, there were two great magicians whom were bound by heart, soul, oath, bureacracy, and likely the knowledge that they knew too much about each other to let the other out of their sight.The pair constantly sought to outdo and amaze the other: a field of rolanberries that remained fragrant year-round, a constellation in the night sky leading home, a cooking pot that never emptied. Eventually, the competition came to a head when the younger of the pair thought of something brilliant -- they would always win if they could make something to answer to their lover's every want and need. They worked tirelessly, without end, but just as they finished their greatest creation -- the time before time ended, the star's first seconds ticked on, and the lovers and their inventions were both left behind with the exception of that one last gift.The Rose of a Thousand Dreams, as its current caretakers refer to it, is a large crystal carefully cut into the shape of a rose, imbued with ages-old creation magicks. The lady of the house, Naid, refuses to reveal how she obtained this item, and while she's eager to be rid of it, it's not something she wants to just set out at a yard sale. In the interest of finding a worthwhile inheritor (and also an unhealthy adoration of terrible violence), she made the decision to host a tournament. But it's seen better days -- and it has just enough magick left in it for one last wish. Will yours be the one it grants?

Okay but really

Out of Character Explanation

The Rose of a Thousand Dreams is, effectively, meant to be a Deus ex Machina for those who desperately want an in character reason for something to happen -- or something to unhappen. While Naid will describe this wish as a responsibility rather than a prize, what the winner wishes for, whether it backfires, and what happens to them after is entirely in the hands of their writer. Want your character's wealth to match your in-game wealth? Wrote yourself into a corner, and haven't been able to figure a way out without retconning a LOT of character development? Maybe you just, I dunno, want your character to go mad with power. This is meant to act as an option to make (major or minor!) changes to your character for people who don't want to or are nervous about just handwaving choices, or want it to be something public.

Other Offerings

We're suggesting wearing a flower corsage that corresponds to the challenger of your choice! However, if you've forgotten to or couldn't get one, certain volunteers will have flower corsages available in the colors assigned to the challengers. These will be free of charge, but please send a tell and wait for the volunteer to start the trade.If you'd like to tip the Undergrowth, we also have corsages for sale on the retainers. Please check both for the color of your choice.

Food

Please note that food and drink for this event will be NPC-manned.

Item	Details
Buscaroon’s Pretzel Braids	The Undergrowth’s signature buttered pretzel recipe. Braided into rods and served with cheese or mustard.
Miq'abob	Roasted meat and/or veggies on a skewer. Pick either Keeper classic (mushrooms, tomatoes, aloe) or meat (dodo, tomatoes, pepper)
Baumstriezel	Sweet yeast bread twirled around a spit, dusted with cinnamon sugar and ground walnuts, and filled with whipped maple cream.

Item	Details
Roasted Dodo Leg	A full-sized dodo leg, roasted with the skin on and seasoned with salt, garlic, onion, and at least 3 different kinds of peppers.
Diremite Roll	Tender baked diremite meat with chives, onions, shroud butter, and a drizzle of lemon juice. Served in a toasted, short baguette.
Sourplums	A package of various fruit preserves covered in a hard candy coating and dusted with powdered sugar and sour dust. If the fight doesn't make you wince, this will.

Drinks

Non-alcoholic and other options available upon request.

Item	Details
Shadedark Black Cherry Cider	Alcoholic. A full-bodied, dark cider with that classic apple taste, followed with a sweet and surprising cherry finish.
Black Barghest Porter	Alcoholic. A heavy-bodied ale with notes of heavy-roasted malt, coffee, chocolate, and caramel, finishing with a slightly fruity note of raisin and molasses. Comes in a black tinted glass.
Memory of a Summer's Eve	Alcoholic. A sweet, dry mead with heavy orange blossom notes, light citrus fruit notes, and a hint of Zinfandel wine. Summer is on its way, after all.

Item	Details
Liquid Courage	Alcoholic. Odin's Full Moon Moonshine mixed with cold brew espresso - a sharp, bitter drink meant to distract from any impending near-death expriences.
First Blood	Alcoholic. A glass of bourbon shaken with Shroud blood currant liqueur and black cherry puree, resulting in a gruesome looking beverage.
Lady's Favor	Alcoholic. Apple brandy made with pixie apples, limoncello, orange juice, and club soda, served in a glass with an apple slice on the rim. Sorry, gentlemen - lady's choice.

The Challengers

The blood on which this garden grows.

An image of a male miqote with dark tan skin, dark brown hair, and dark eyes. He's in a monk's position with a serious expression on his face. He's framed by a stained glass frame with green roses.

W'ren Tia

Doe & Dove Society

Green Rose
_{Prosperity, Hope, Potential.}

Pronouns: He/Him
Age: 30
Hometown: Ul'Dah
About: Formerly a circus performer with his twin sister, left the traveling life for a more secure profession as a courier for Lady Khannrael Geisswynn's workers. Often seen around the Dove's Rest as a server or the First Harvest, helping his mistress serve the upper crust of Ul'Dah society. Easy to overlook him - which is rather the point, in his current position.

An image of a male hyur with dark tan skin, pale eyes, a faint beard and mustache, and dark brown hair with a white streak near the front. He stares at the camera seriously. He's framed by a stained glass frame with red roses.

Lorenzo Agostino

Fury's Vigil

Red Rose
_{Passion, Desire, Bravery.}

Pronouns: He/Him
Age: 30
Hometown: Northern Coerthas
About: You've seen him in various places before, you've heard his charming accent, and you've witnessed his passion for the pit. Lorenzo, the rose that doesn't wilt, can deal a whole lot of damage not only with his impressive skills of the arcane but with his fierce attitude and dreamy stare. Don't tempt him with a good time because he might come crawling back for more.

An image of a bulky male miqote with light skin, dark eyes, a beard around his chin and jawline, and silvery-blue hair. He stares at the camera pensively while wearing glasses. He's framed by a stained glass frame with blue roses.

Captain Rezaria

Da Family

Blue Rose
_{Mystery, Aspiration, Pride.}

Pronouns: He/Him
Age: 45
Hometown: The La Noscean Seas
About: Captain of the airship Blue Skies, ~~smuggler~~ trader, and acquirer of goods, this crafty challenger is stocky enough to be Roegadyn even if he only stands at 5 fulm 2 ilm. He may be a fresher face to the competition circuit, but don't be fooled -- no seafarer lives as long as he has without knowing how to throw a few punches.

An image of a female raen au ra with light skin, light eyes, and shoulder-length black hair. The image is shadowy with a bit of light coming from behind and up. She's framed by a stained glass frame with purple roses.

Locke Holiday

Quanta Fight Club

Purple Rose
_{Charm, Admiration, The Extaordinary.}

Pronouns: She/Her
Age: 33
Hometown: Gridania
About: Healer and Mistress of Quanta and the Mystic Materia Oasis, affectionately referred to as just The Oasis, Locke Holiday is just as capable at putting people back together as she is at tearing them apart. Don't let your guard down just because of a pretty face.

An image of a male miqote with dark brown skin, blue-black hair, and big shiny purple eyes. He's smiling while looking a little askew. He's framed by a stained glass frame with white roses.

Fiachna Valera

House Guillaume

White Rose
_{Loyalty, Remembrance, Renewals.}

Pronouns: He/Him
Age: 450.
Hometown: Dravania
About: May or may not be human (not that he seems especially concerned about the rumors), but one thing's for sure -- there's no better postman in Eorzea. He might have a piece of candy for you, but don't say thank you.

An image of a masked stranger with cat ear shapes on her hood, holding a large weapon behind her. She's framed by a stained glass frame with yellow roses.

Masked Thorn

Smoking Gun

Yellow Rose
_{Intensity, Undying Love, Betrayal.}

Pronouns: She/Her
Age: ???
Hometown: ???
About: The sun begins to fall over the horizon. A wind sweeps through the plains. A mysterious stranger rolls into town. I think you know the rest. Will fortune favor this dark horse, or will she be sent to the glue factory?

An image of a female miqote with tan skin, dark eyes, and brown hair with orange highlights. She's looking off to the side in a thinking pose. She's framed by a stained glass frame with orange roses.

Temenha

Cactuar Cantina

Orange Rose
_{Creativity, Enthusiasm, Joy.}

Pronouns: She/Her
Age: Late 20s/Early 30s
Hometown: The Peaks
About: The youngest of six children raised in a family of seekers that tended to a Nymeian temple north of Ale Ghanna, she's taken up operations of a traveling tea tent in the past few years. Whether she fights for the Spinner or for herself remains to be seen.

A greyscale image of a male viera, presumably with white hair and darker skin. He has an eyepatch covering a straight, long scar and looks angrily towards the camera. He's framed by a stained glass frame with black (really, just very, very dark purple) ros

Meridian Fennel

The Undergrowth

Black Rose
_{Death, Rebirth, Strengh.}

Pronouns: He/Him
Age: 250+
Hometown: Golmore
About: A withdrawn, if not slightly abrasive fighter with a history of fighting in rings all around Eorzea. Meridian brings to the arena a unique (and slightly horrifying) manner of combat, though few can say what he fights for. Currently works as a bodyguard at the Undergrowth. (Presumably.)

The Substitutes

The wall against which your back hits.

An image of an elezen man with lightish skin and mid-length grey hair, holding a booze bottle to his lips while looking on disdainfully. He's framed by a stained glass frame with rainbow colored roses.

Tufant Duval

Pronouns: He/Him
Age: 33.
Hometown: N/A
About: He's got a chip on his shoulder and he'll be sure to take a chip off yours. No rage baiting required.

An image of an au ra woman with light skin and long purple hair. She looks to the side amused. She's framed by a stained glass frame with rainbow colored roses.

The Sullied Sky

Pronouns: She/Her
Age: 34
Hometown: Limsa Lominsa
About: Silent, tall, deadly. If it weren't for the rules, she'd be swinging well past the bell.

An image of a hyur man with light skin and blonde hair. He looks off to the distance, determined. He's framed by a stained glass frame with rainbow colored roses.

Cyr Blyme

Pronouns: He/Him
Age: 24
Hometown: Idyllshire
About: Don't tell the Halonic Orthodix Church you saw him here. Snitches get stitches.

Rules & Guidelines

General Rules and Guidelines

No physical altercations outside of the arena.
No bigoted (racist, transphobic, homophobic, misogynistic, similar) behavior will be tolerated in or out of character.
This will be held outdoors to allow the use of striking dummies - please note that while The Undergrowth does not prohibit non-sexually explicit adult language, other players in the neighborhood might and it is a reportable offense.
Please keep your pants on and stow weapons unless in use.
If you want to show your support for a specific challenger, staff will have different colored flower corsages available, matching the challengers' respective rose color. Leave the trash-talking to the challengers.

Fight Rules - One on One

We are using a modified Grindstone ruleset.
One-on-one fights have a 25 minute time limit.
Who goes first is determined by initiative.
All rolls are to be done in party. Announcers will not react to results until the defense posts.
Challengers can also choose to bypass rolls as feels narratively appropriate, but should mention as such and still keep in mind the time limit.
Win is determined by first to 3 hits OR most hits at time.
Attack rolls over 950 will be considered a one-hit KO if the defending roll cannot beat it.
If an attack roll is higher than a defense roll but is under 100, this is considered a failure.
If tied at time, a sudden death roll will be used to determine the winner - highest roll wins.
No restriction on fight style.
The first 4 fights will be one on one to determine semi-finalists - semi-finalists will then fight in a battle royale following the intermission.
Both challengers should be off the arena within 10 minutes of the match's conclusion, and will be pulled out if they cannot do so themselves.

Fight Rules - Battle Royale

All four challengers will be in the ring at one time.
The Battle Royale has a 1 hour time limit.
As on one-on-ones, all rolls should be done in party chat. A pair may choose to forgo a roll and agree on a hit or fail, but be mindful of the time limit.
Immediately preceding the fight, challengers will roll for initiative to determine turn order.
Instead of wins being determined by hits dealt, hits received will determine who is out.
Once a challenger receives 3 hits, they are out.
Challengers will need to communicate who they are aiming for in party chat -- no more than 2 challengers can attack another challenger at any given time.
Challengers being attacked will make a defending roll and write out their defense only. This will look like: The turn order is Paul, Ringo, George, John. Paul aims for John, and rolls a 514. John rolls a 783, and writes a post detailing how he avoids or blocks the hit assuming he does not choose to let it pass. John does not write an attack post until his turn. Ringo then takes his turn.
As above, rolls over 950 will result in a one-hit KO if the defending party does not beat the roll, and attack rolls under 100 will be considered a failure.
If two challengers are still standing at time, a sudden death roll will be initiated.
If three or more challengers are still standing at time, a limit break roll will be initiated - the highest roll wins, and all others are knocked out.
Challengers that are out should leave the arena immediately, and will be pulled out if they cannot do so themselves.

Sign-Ups

So now you're interested -

The columns below have the different volunteer positions we're accepting, including position specific guidelines. This does include our challengers! Please read these guidelines carefully to ensure your consideration.

Healer

Healers will assist with removing challengers from the arena and administering first-aid.
Healers can sign up for either the first half or second half of the tournament.
Healers can both act as aetheric healers (healing through casting) or as physical healers (like a chirugeon or a nurse).
Challengers will be asked what kind of healing they prefer - if they prefer any at all.
Avoid pushing healing on characters who insist they don't want it - if your character wouldn't, consider it an order from Naid on the basis of legal liability.
Healers will be notified of selection by Sunday, May 24th.

Healer Sign-Up

Challenger

For this specific event, you will need to have a sponsor.
Sponsors are qualified as roleplay communities, free companies, or venues that are currently active and open.
No actual monetary exchange is required for an entity to count as a sponsor. The purpose of sponsors IC is for a character witness and OOC is to encourage collaboration.
There will be at least 4 general public slots subject to approval and randomized - this is not first come first serve.
Other slots are subject to reservation for VIPs of The Undergrowth.
Challengers will be notified if they were selected or not on Sunday, May 17th.

Challenger Sign-Up

Announcer

Announcers can sign up for either the first half or second half of the tournament.
Announcers should be able to both read, type, and react quickly to different posts.
While announcers will be in a party chat and privvy to any actual rolls between challengers, they should wait until the defending challenger has their post out before sending a shout for the results.
Challengers and announcers will all make use of /yell chat.
We ask that any announcers avoid commentary on delays in hits - these can be dismissive of the actual action going on.
Announcers will be notified of selection by Sunday, May 24th.

Announcer Sign-Up

Special Thanks

Thank you to Da Family Feud and Martin Freepaw for allowing us to use ~~and slightly abuse~~ their fight rules.Thank you to The Still and Strings for use of their distillery.Thank you to Dove & Dove Society, Fury's Vigil, Da Family, Quanta Fight Club, The Firmament, Smoking Gun, and Cactuar Cantina for sponsoring some of the fighters tonight, with additional thanks to The Redbelly Hive (FC) and Lichen's Lantern, whose fighters did not make the cut.Thank you, as always, to House of Ren and Delita's Dagger for their ongoing support.