Tournament of Unity (団結武道会, Danketsu Budōkai)

In the turbulent times of the first millennium of the First Age, the realms of Ryūshu in Daitō were a hotbed of conflict. The sixty lords who once ruled their domains with an iron fist found themselves dwindling down to a mere dozen, their unity lost in a quagmire of bitter wars and diminishing resources. As the number of their subjects and servants dwindled, one amongst them saw an opportunity for change, a chance for unification, a Ryūjin named Shōryū.
Shōryū, the wise and strategic lord of a vast northern land, recognized the perils of the ongoing conflict and envisioned a singular rule that would unite Daitō under one flag. His proposed solution, a grand tournament that would determine the undisputed ruler of the continent, was a stroke of political genius that the other lords could not ignore.
The chosen battleground was the harsh tundra of Shōryū's own realm, a vast, icy landscape echoing the frigid relations between the lords. Yet, as the lords arrived to engage in a fight of honor, squabbling over the rules soon escalated to a full-scale conflict. The battle was titanic, bloody, and devastating, culminating in the fall of many lords until only five remained - chief among the dead, Shōryū.
The surviving lords, humbled by their near-defeat and recognizing the futility of their quarrels, agreed upon a mutual understanding. Daitō was divided between them, each promising not to infringe upon the others' domains. A central area of Daitō was left empty, a no man's land, a symbolic buffer zone that none could enter without the consent of all five.
This historic agreement came to be known as the Five Dragon Accord, an emblem of unity forged in the fires of war. It paved the way for cooperation, leading to the establishment of the Continental Congress where the five lords could discuss common issues and make decisions in the best interests of Daitō.

The Conflict

Prelude

The first millennium of the First Age in Daitō bore witness to the fractious rule of Ryūshu, a divine and militaristic race, steeped in vanity and the thirst for power. This was a time where hierarchy was defined by might, where the weaker Ryūjin lords paid tribute to the stronger, and their ceaseless power struggles held sway over the continent.
At the heart of the Ryūshu societal structure were the High Elves, beings of immense magical and physical strength, immortal and unaging. Artificially enhanced by their Ryūjin overlords, the High Elves served as the backbone of the realm, their roles ranging from bureaucracy to military service. This complex interplay between the Ryūshu and the High Elves facilitated the administration of around 70 distinct nations scattered across Daitō, each with their unique languages and traditions.
The inhabitants of these nations, predominantly human tribes transitioning from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to rudimentary agriculture and bronze metalworking, found themselves caught in a symbiotic relationship with the ruling races. However, the rhythm of their existence was disturbed as waves of plague and recurrent wars began to deplete their numbers, causing a dramatic shift in the social fabric.
In the northernmost region of Daitō, a lord of middling power but exceptional cunning, a Ryūjin named Shōryū, began to make his mark. Shōryū, despite his moderate power level, distinguished himself through his strategic acumen, transforming the harsh, frigid lands into a formidable stronghold. His most noteworthy achievement was the erection of the Lamps, monumental structures in the northern mountains that harnessed and magnified light, fostering agricultural productivity in this otherwise inhospitable terrain.
However, Shōryū's achievements in the north didn't earn him the respect of his peers. To the more powerful lords, he was an upstart from a backwater region, far removed from the heart of Ryūshu power. But his vision extended beyond their derision. Using the innate ambition of the Ryūjin, he devised a cunning plan - a grand tournament, a means to unify Daitō under one rule.
In preparation for the tournament, Shōryū employed his strategic prowess to orchestrate a diplomatic chessboard. Alliances were carefully maneuvered, and rivalries subtly stoked, all to ensure that the lords would be drawn to his proposed tournament, captivated by the tantalizing lure of power. His homeland, the northern tundra, was chosen as the battleground, its relative isolation making it a safe arena for the destructive might of the Ryūshu.
As these political currents swirled among the upper echelons of power, the common people remained indifferent. Their everyday lives, shaped by the toil of survival and the whims of their lords, went on, oblivious to the grand tournament that would radically alter the future of Daitō.

Conflict Type

Showdown

Start Date

981

Ending Date

981

Conflict Result

many Ryūjin are slain, Continental Congress forms, Five Dragon Accord signed

Location

Ausalon