Crowning of the First Exalted Warlord of Polema

Political event

The independent tribes of Polema come together to elect a leader through mortal combat, who would come to be known as the Exalted Warlord.

United by their mutual worship of the Valorian Monumental Polemos, companies representing the independent Polemian tribes gather to decide upon a singular leader. At the head of each of the eight warbands stood their commanders, who would face each other in a tournament to the death to determine their strongest, and thus the warrior most worthy to lead. On the first day, the warbands gathered and set up camp, followed by a day of preparation, prayer and sacrifice to the Calamitous One. It's only on the third day that the combat begins, and the battles are fierce on all sides. Soldiers circle the combatants with shields and spears at the ready, set to punish those who are foolish enough to let themselves be cornered. The first and second contests take place on this third day, with the third and fourth initiating at daybreak on the fourth. At the end of the first round of combat, a day committed to feast and rest begins, allowing the combatants to recover for the second round. The second round is almost as furious as the first, though the wounds of their previous engagements had begun to impact performance. Upon the second round's completion, another day of rest, followed by the final confrontation. While the majority of the warriors names have been lost to time, those who competed in this final struggle for leadership have been etched in Temples to Polemos all across the Region.   Of the Vounos tribe, who made their home in the mountains, was Orion The Frost-Piercer. Bearing the dark skin and long dreadlocked hair that was common among his people, Orion wielded a spear and gleaming golden shield and fought with the fury of his Tundra stricken homeland at his back. His opponent, Megaera, Blade of the Diamond Shore, whose tribe were one of few Polemian groups to work the seas. She wielded a longsword and shield, garbed in light tunic and gleaming golden armour, as was typical among the soldiers, and her blows landed with inhuman accuracy, while her wounds seemed to close on their own as the battle wore on.   Hours passed, and Orion grew weary with each thrust of his spear that was deflected. Even with the cold winds that followed his strikes, Megaera simply could not be slowed, and each of her counterattacks found it's mark. In the late evening, Megaera, Blade of the Diamond Shore, collapsed exhausted, atop the corpse of her defeated foe. The following day was reserved for her recovery, the burial of the honourable fallen and a sacrifice to Polemos, their patron Monumental, with a day long celebration to end this tenday long event.   And so it was that Megaera, formerly Blade of the Diamond Shore, became Exalted Warlord, henceforth recorded as Megaera Polemarchos. The title of Exalted Warlord would only be passed down through rite of combat, requiring extensive military service to be recorded before a challenge can be made, though it is not uncommon to see ones own kin challenge for the crown.