Night Tournament Opening Ceremony

[undergroundmods]

Watch on YouTube

Every four years the Night Tournament is held in London as a celebration of the physical, mental and magical prowess of its supernatural inhabitants. Over three weeks the chosen competitors will take on various challenges in an effort to be crowned Champions of their species. Tonight, the grand opening ceremony is taking place at the Redbright Institute, where guests can expect a spectacle of magical wonders and of course the parade of this year's competitors.

The ceremony takes place from 8pm-11pm Sunday 6th August. It is being hosted by the school's Chancellor, Sylvia Redbright, accompanied by event organisers Alexandrie Belrose, the Dean, and Yasmine Merad. Guests must have purchased a ticket in order to attend the event, unless of course you are one of the competitors or someone involved in organising the tournament.

Rules of entry
• No weapons. Any weapons or objects that could be used as weapons will be confiscated.
• No drugs or alcohol except that provided at the event. Don't try to sneak any in.
• No violence.

There is security present on the grounds during the event. The school itself is shut. (In fact, if your character is a member of the Redbright Institute, you could have them acting as security if you want.) They will respond to and put a stop to any trouble.

Order of events
The entirety of tonight's ceremony takes place outside in the grounds, namely the football field. There are stands around the field where the audience can watch the show. A number of stewards (student volunteers) will check tickets and direct guests over to the right place. They are also selling a variety of drinks and snacks to cater for all supernatural tastes. Vampires without daylight jewellery are directed through to the "shade zone": a section of the stand which is completely shielded from the sun.

8pm-8.30pm: Redbright Choir
Led by the Head of Music Ms Sandra Ng, the Redbright Choir is comprised of a variety of students representing all supernatural beings coming together to sing in harmony. They are accompanied by a live band.

8.30-9.30pm: Welcome to the Night (nb. sunset is at 8.45pm)
Settle in for one hell of a show. The hour's entertainment, proudly organised and performed by students at the Redbright Institute, features a showpiece from every supernatural type, from witches performing a spectacular light show of magic, meta humans showing off their powers, to werewolves and shapeshifters dancing in fur costumes. The theme again is harmony: the show ends with all performers joining hands in a giant circle on the pitch before performing their final dance.

9.30-9.45pm: Sylvia's Welcome Speech
As the host and sponsor of the Night Tournament, Sylvia will then step up to a podium to say a few words. She talks about (you guessed it) peace and harmony and coming together to celebrate supernatural diversity. She speaks proudly of the Redbright Institute's record of welcoming and teaching any supernatural student, no matter their background. The one thing that does get all the journalists scribbling furiously, however, is a brief mention of the Night Council's new President. Though she doesn't mention him by name, she does say that she welcomes the President's stance on promoting peace and unity.

9.45-10.15pm: The Parade
At last the 16 competitors are introduced one by one. Dressed in spectacular costumes, each competitor gets their own float which makes one round of the field before they all meet in the centre of the pitch. The parade is accompanied by inspiring music and showers of glitter (or is it pixie dust?). Smile and wave, everyone. Smile and wave.

10.15-11pm: General Mingling
Finally, the audience are allowed to invade the pitch where they can mingle with the competitors as they please. Stewards walk around serving more drinks, and there is a live band playing until the end of the event. Stick around to catch some gossip, place a bet on your preferred competitor, or offer support to your favourites.

[OOC: Please see the information post for more details on this event and to ask any questions!]

Comments

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy glances over at Arthur and presses her lips together in a sort of grimace.

"You're not wrong. But he's trying. He used to run a nest back in the States."

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha hums at his question. She can imagine his distrust, but there's room for distrust and mutual interest.]

Beneficial. He's smart, in position of power, and while he doesn't love vampires, he's not above flirting with them.

[She says the last lightly, as though joking, but she means it as much figuratively as literally.]

[brightwitch]

Ugh, he's kissing her hand. Samantha manages not to recoil in disgust but her smile is strained. "Right. Nice to meet you, Mr de Lisle, but you're right, we were discussing private business. Do you mind if we...?"

She turns away slightly, indicating that she and Cesare need to move on. They still haven't finished their conversation and they're certainly not going to do it with the child vampire listening in.

[falsify]

Boxer wags his tail, looking up at Evie all happy for the attention. He's not as effusive as he is with even Natasha, but he is always delighted by new friends.

"I wouldn't make any promises if I were you," he says, a little teasing, "no idea when things are going to go crazy around here."

[falsify]

"Best grades, definitely." Eames crosses his arms, looking at Boxer as he sits down and looks up at the two of them, and then looks back to Natasha.

"How've you been, by the way?"

[falsify]

"Live in hope. There's still a chance I might get fed up and throw the towel in."

Not much of one, but it's been known to happen in the past.

[freelife]

And Evie is happy to be a new friend.

"Well, it's better than just setting a vague 'sometime soon' like we've been doing."

[specifiercity]

"Nests in the states can get away with a lot more than they can here," Arthur says, "It's good he has some experience being in charge with other vampires, but that's not what the game is here. He has to understand that."

[stauncherhearted]

She hangs her head slightly, but plays it off like she's taking a drink.

"Yeah." She swallows thickly.

"Other than that, things are real good, though." Well, she wasn't talking to her favorite brother, either. Or, she was quite certain, her best friend. Well, shit. She was doing quite far from good.

Time to drink.

[outstandingbalance]

"Some ups and some downs." She shrugs, wondering what he might have heard. "Overall, I think I'm coming out ahead. You?"

[bellbound]

He gives a feline shrug. "I shan't hold my breath."

A cliche it may be, but a fitting one. He supposes he should be grateful that Eames bothered to give him any reassurance at all.

[fauxdysseus]

[ he'd be likely to agree, but at the moment distrust, and a healthy dose of competitivity, are what have his ear.

he cocks an eyebrow at her choice of wording. ]

Really.

[ that could be one way to go about it, he supposes. ]

Better brace myself, then.

[outstandingbalance]

That's the most you can do. Most of the people competing, you won't have as many advantages as you're used to.

[He has a fair amount of experience—more than Natasha by centuries—but so do some of the others, vampires and fae.

Still, a vampire his age has strength to go with their tricks.]

When you see an opening, don't hold back.

[specifiercity]

Arthur's completely deaf to any change in Nancy's tone, taking a casual drink and then sighing. "So how do you think this is all going to go?"

[stauncherhearted]

She sighs. "No bloody clue. I think Eames probably stands the best chance- though Mick- Micheletto is a really accomplished fighter. I'd love for Lance to do well, but..." She shrugs. He was a total dork.

"And Lydia, as much as I love her, she's got no chance at all. So yeah, my money'd be on Eames. Yourself?"