DEATHMATCH - Information and Signups

General Information
DEATHMATCH, as discussed here, is going to be a future event for Physical Combat-oriented characters. This event is intended mostly for fun, and for neat rewards, rather than serious competition--and will have a strong element of randomness to it. It will be LOUD, it will be FUN, it will be BLOODY! This event is a throwback to the days of merciless Valkhound arena-testing, and so the rewards will be given by Master Vargas and the NPCs attending, and be Chaos and Corruption in theme.

Timeframe
Currently, this event is set tentatively for mid-July. It is likely to go on for two or so cycles (to give all participants time to finish their fights). This may turn out to be more or less depending on how many participants sign up. Players signing up should commit to posting minimally every three days to keep the event moving smoothly.

Mechanics
This is an elimination-style tournament. All initial participants will be randomly paired up for battles. Winners will be patched up and pitted against one another, again at random, for the next bouts. The last man standing will be considered the Deathmatch winner, and first place. The loser of the final match will be considered Second place, and the losers of the two finalist rounds will be pitted against one another to draw Third. (Note: bracket mechanics are subject to adjustment if the number of participants is higher or lower than expected.)

IC Rules
1. No magic is allowed. (If characters attempt to use 'invisible' magic, the NPCs may have detection rolled for them; it's possible to slip it past them! -but a failure to do so will result in elimination.) This includes the audience; those throwing magic into the ring will likely be ejected (unless it's really funny). Enchanted items are allowed.
2. The fights continue until death (see Deaths below), chrysalis, or surrender. (OOC, if characters have not hit this point by the end of Round 5, this will be solved on a case-by-case basis; some may be decided by the judges, or players may decide who surrenders, or a sixth "sudden death" round may be introduced with a deadly hazard, etc.)

Scoring and Winners
Deathmatch will include special scoring rules. To reflect this difference, the Activity Logs of involved characters will not read the typical "won/lost a fight against Name," but instead "won/lost a Deathmatch against Name."

• Matches are five rounds long.
• Age bonuses will be capped at +5.
• ONLY successful (barely+) attacks will be tallied into the score.
• Fights end early upon KO, submission, chrysalis, or death. In these cases, the match will go to the last combatant standing, and they will be declared a victor, with the other by forfeit.
• If no serious damage has been inflicted by rounds 4 or 5, arena hazards may be introduced to determine a winner.
• Arena hazards may also be introduced at other times, depending on how Nemean's feeling right then.
• The Audience members may also choose at any time to roll to introduce hazards by way of throwing objects into the ring and so forth. In these cases, the GM may request for double-posts by fighters to address these (these will be clarified on a case-by-case basis).
• GM-played NPCs and characters will serve as fight judges. If there's a situation where there's no clear winner, or where the numerical winner should not win the fight, they will also serve as OOC mediators.
• In cases where the numerical winner is judged the IC loser (ex. by forfeit or early defeat), the IC winner will be considered the victor for purposes of progression and Activity Logs.
• In the event that a combatant doesn't turn up, or for odd numbers, Vakornol may step in as an opponent.

Deaths
Character Death will not be forced. However, it's welcomed, and characters dying in DEATHMATCH! will receive an additional achievement for their horribly Deceased account. That being said, characters may aim IC to bring about the deaths of their opponents! This can be solved by simply having the victim enter a chrysalis, to be dragged away, if the player doesn't want that character to die. (The dead body and gemstone will go to the winner of the fight unless characters/players involved choose otherwise!)

Rewards and Achievements
All participants (including audience and medics) will receive a DEATHMATCH! attendance achievement. All COMBAT participants will receive a special, unique Technique.

First, second and third place will be given additional rewards as follows:

1. First place will be invited to Draco to be forced into a chrysalis beneath the Black Spire and reformed. The character will receive a free Mutation Slot they can design as they see fit, and will awaken fully Corrupted. (First place winners can also turn this down, and choose instead a duplicate of second or third place prizes.)

2. An immediate Corruption-themed mutation with features like spines, extra eyes, acidic/toxic glowing blood/eyes/mucus membranes, and ram's horns. (Players may design these and get them approved by GM.)

3. A GM-designed Valkhound's Oilstone to revive.

Signup Sheet

You do not need to sign up to turn up to the event, or even to fight. However, if you can sign up, please do so: it'll allow us to plan for character numbers and ready the brackets in advance. We can use:

• Fight participants
• Medics (for between matches--the healing can also be done offscreen if everyone involved prefers)
• Audience (sign up here if you'd like to be tagged to attend!)