The Trials of Reyncester

The Trials of Reyncester are a series of three tests that a prince must undertake when it comes time for him to ascend the throne and become the new High King of Reyncester. The trials occur across the entire geographical area of the kingdom, but begin in a sacred place known as the Forest of Swords. The trial is conducted in three stages that the prince must complete in order to be crowned the next High King.

History

The Trials of Reyncester began when the goddess of the kingdom, Helyngea, wished to marry one of the fae residing there. Her closest geographical sister, Akowaaro of Okmalu, insisted that she deem the fae man worthy of standing alongside her sister as the High King of Reyncester. The manner in which she wished to test the fae man was through a series of trials, devised using Akowaaro's virtues of creativity and adaptability, but also incorporating Helyngea's virtues of altruism and compassion. The man had to prove he could retrieve a sword the ground of the Forest of Swords, embedded deep into the soil by Akowaaro and Helyngea with the assistance of their earth goddess sister, Creterielle. He also needed to prove his capabilities in working with delegates from her sisters' kingdoms, and thus had to seek out seven other fae, each from one of Lyfeldea's other kingdoms, to teach him about each of the other countries in Lyfeldea. The Trials of Reyncester were seen by Helyngea, Akowaaro and Creterielle as a safeguard for Reyncester's future, as Helyngea was the most likely sister to be taken advantage of for her kindness, and with the least strategic mindset in the event of something happening to the sister goddesses.

Execution

As previously mentioned, the Trials of Reyncester are executed in three specific stages. In every instance of the trials throughout Reyncester's history, these three stages have been completed in the order listed. The three stages are as follows:

1. The first of these trials is that a prince must be able to retrieve one of the swords embedded into the earth of the Forest of Swords. There is a grove within this forest where a great number of swords are stuck in the ground, their halts and half the blade sticking out from the soil. These swords are supposedly planted by the water goddess Helyngea herself and are believed to be imbued with her essence so that she can assist the High Kings of Reyncester with the protection of their kingdom. When Prince Cai undertakes his trials, he fails to retrieve a blade from the Forest of Swords. However, with Runa's guidance and encouragement, he completes the second stage of the trials first and then returns to pluck a sword from the grove, the first High King to complete the trials in a different order.
2. The second trial involves the prince selecting the members that will form his council of advisors when he ascends the throne (the "round table" of the Kingdom of Rain). Each of these advisors possesses a different elemental affinity (or from a different kingdom) so that the High King has the support of all forms of Lyfeldea's elemental magic. In order to succeed in this trial, the prince must have these advisors offer him their own blades, a demonstration of their unwavering loyalty and an oath to support and protect him during his reign.
3. Once the future High King has secured a ceremonial sword and a council of seven/eight members, the final trial involves the prince and his chosen advisors slaying a great beast. The final trial is typically conducted in an arena that is close to the border of the desert kingdom Nursham, away from the towns and villages of the Reyncester. The High King and his council must all take part in the battle, and must all survive in order for the High King to be crowned. The ability of the group to successfully defeat the beast demonstrates their ability to work well as a team and that they have one another's backs, essential skills for those who are responsible in the betterment and politics of the kingdom as a whole.

Components and tools

The key components of the Trials of Reyncester are swords - both the one that the candidate for High King must pull from the Forest of Swords and the seven other swords that his chosen representatives and council members wield - a total of eight swords representing the eight kingdoms of Lyfeldea.
The other component of this event is a powerful, legendary beast for the final trial, often secured by a team of specialist hunters or purchased at an exotic wares market.

Participants

The Trials of Reyncester are always supervised by a female member of the royal family, usually the prince's mother or aunt, and in extreme cases where an elder female figure is no longer alive, a sister or female cousin will supervise the trials. This was the precedent set by the goddess Helyngea and her sisters supervising the very first instance of the trials.
The trial in the Forest of Swords is attended only by the prince and the supervising figure. The second trial has no formal attendance, as it is more a series of quests that the prince must traverse alone to secure his delegates from other kingdoms/representatives of the other forms of elemental magic. The final trial, however, is partaken in by the prince and his chosen representatives, and may be observed by any citizen of Reyncester who wishes to watch the spectable of the battle between fae and legendary beast.

Observance

The Trials of Reyncester are only observed when there is need for a new High King, irrespective of season or calendar date.

Primary Related Location

Reyncester

Important Locations

• Forest of Swords