He started with the main areas, weaving through stalls and minigames, endless crowds of people essentially pre-gaming the festivities.Since the game let you pick your race, there was a healthy mix of humans, orcs, faeries, trolls, and so much more.Including the towering centaurs that would, whatever their boasting, knock Tristan not just on his ass, but clear across the arena.Real centaurs were larger than typical horses; towering walls of muscle and spite whose hobbies included getting drunk, starting fights, and getting drunk while starting fights.
Pausing to purchase some food, including a meat pie that almost made him weep it was so good and a cupcake with neon pink frosting that was so out of place he loved it all the more, Lancelot continued his recon with the actual tourney grounds.
Like most tournaments, it started with a lot of people that were quickly whittled down to the final sixteen, and those were the knights that would be made a production of, given the grand tournament treatment.
The elimination rounds would be starting soon, but Lancelot had time enough to explore each of the arenas set up for them.Once the final sixteen were settled, the walls would be removed and the single large arena opened up fully.Archery would go first, as it required the most setup and takedown work, with all the obstacles and targets.Then would be hand to hand combat, and of course jousting last because it was the most anticipated.
It was petty and childish, but he hoped he got to knock around that uppity little Hobbit.Maybe the bastard who'd made the snide remark about Arthur, Morgan, and Merlin.Or he could be really mean and tell Arthur.
Finished with his tour and his snack, he finally made his way to the tent that had been assigned their team.Like all the others, it was a striped, brightly colored monstrosity, with their flag on a pole mounted to the top of it.
Inside, of course, it was far bigger than the outside indicated, with a cookstove, tables and chairs, and beds for everyone, even though this tournament would only last a day.Which was strange.Normally things like this ran three to five days.But the game was still new, so likely this was a test run sort of thing before they brought out the big guns.
"Hail, Lancelot," Dred greeted, bringing him over a plate heaped with still-steaming slices of roast beef, roasted tomatoes, fresh bread heavily buttered, and more.Though he'd already eaten, Lancelot was happy to eat still more.Waters knew he'd be burning the calories shortly.Fuck, his poor body was going to be an aching mess when they finally exited the game, even with the state-of-the-art equipment keeping them healthy.
Hopefully all the weirdness with game vs pocket dimension vs weird mingling of both meant they were all doing okay, since he didn't even know where the fuck some of them were offline.
"Thank you.Have funcanvasingthe place with Galahad?"
Dred grinned shamelessly."Obviously."
Lancelot rolled his eyes, but smiled faintly as he set to work demolishing his food.
"How many modrats you think will be ruining the fun for everyone?"
"Can't be too many, surely, given the game is only a couple of weeks old," Lancelot said, "but I guess it only takes one bad apple."He pressed his lips together as he thought, then said, "Six.No, I'm not placing an actual bet.I leave that nonsense to you and the others."Partly because he had no taste for it, but also because, at the end of the day, he was their captain, no matter how casual their inner circle tended to be.
Mordred scoffed derisively."Boring."
"As I can possibly be," Lancelot replied dryly."Our lives have enough excitement as is.So what did you and Gawain settle on for your earlier bet?"
"Which one?We have three running."
Lancelot shoved his empty plate into Mordred's chest."Nevermind.I'm sure I'll see the results soon enough.Good luck.If you see a smarmy little asshole wearing a teal and gray checkered tunic with a crest of black sparrows, punch him in the face.The hobbit is all mine."
"What'd the sparrow do?"
"Didn't like seeing Arthur kiss his beloveds.Had plenty to say about how stupid and crazy I am for acting like I know what I'm talking about.Which is fair, he has no way of knowing I amtheLancelot, but I'm taking it personally anyway because he acted like Arthur, Morgan, and Merlin being together was disgusting."
Mordred grinned and cracked their knuckles, then punched their right fist against the palm of their left hand."Consider his nose broken, Captain."
A horn sounded, and all their UIs lit up with a notification to assemble for the start of the elimination rounds.
"Time to ruin some days," Lancelot said.He called up his armor and buckler, leaving his helmet clipped to his belt for the moment.
The stadium seating that had been empty before was filled now, though it was just cosmetic, a representation of everyone who had logged in just to watch, since each instance of the tournament was locked to a hundred competitors per challenge, three hundred total.As the game grew in popularity that would increase significantly, as would the types of challenges offered.Though jousting would no doubt remain king.
He sent a silent query to Gawain about the wards, and got a reply just seconds later."Wards are proceeding on schedule so far.By the time the elimination rounds are finished, they should be about half done.The longer we can drag things out, the better, but so far things are going well."
"A stodgy old man once told me—"
"If you assholes don't quit doing that about my advice, I'm going to do a lot worse than break your noses."
"—that when things are going well is when you should most be on your guard, because otherwise the inevitable problem will be all the worse for catching you unprepared," Mordred finished.
"I'm neither stodgy nor old," Lancelot said, punching them lightly in the stomach before striding off.
Mordred caught up to him easily, slinging an arm across his shoulder.The scent of smoke and burning wood clung to him as ever, reassuring like smelling a hearth or campfire in the moment before it came into view, and you knew you were nearly safely home.
