Tournament of the Supreme
The Tournament of the Supreme is a biennial inter-realm contest held to determine the next Lord Supreme of Magic. Founded by Merlin at the establishment of the Pact of the Supreme, the tournament is the only legitimate path to claiming the title. It is open to any Weave-attuned individual, regardless of realm, birth, or station.
Held in the Realm of the current Supreme, the tournament functions as both a trial of magical prowess and a public reaffirmation of the Supreme's legitimacy. It is not a spectacle of pageantry, but a binding obligation: failure to hold the tournament on time invokes a lethal clause written into the Pact itself.
The tournament proceeds through several phases: general trials, elimination duels, and the final challenge phase, wherein the reigning Supreme must face the remaining challengers in direct combat. Only by defeating the Supreme may a contender claim the title.
While technically a governance mechanism, the Tournament has become one of the most observed and celebrated events across the 75 realms. Entire cities host festivals, realms pause inter-realm trade to observe outcomes, and countless lives are changed by the result.
Victory is rare. Most Supremes retain their position through multiple cycles.
History
The Tournament of the Supreme was established by Merlin during the creation of the Pact of the Supreme and the founding of the Council of 75. Its core purpose was to prevent magical rulership from becoming hereditary, stagnant, or politically manipulated. The right to leadership, Merlin declared, must be contested in the open, through strength and mastery of the Weave.
From its inception, the tournament has been the only legitimate means to claim the title of Lord Supreme of Magic. Since then, the Tournament has been held consistently, with only rare postponements under wartime provisions. Its structure has remained relatively unchanged.
Though originally intended as a purely functional mechanism of succession, the Tournament gradually became a realm-spanning event. Entire regions now commemorate its occurrence with festivals, dueling exhibitions, and public celebrations of magical tradition.
Execution
The Tournament follows a clear structure:
Open Registration – Anyone with the ability to use the Weave may enter. No realm may bar its citizens from registering.
Elimination Rounds – Participants duel in successive rounds, typically single-elimination, until a small number of finalists remain.
Supreme Challenge – Each remaining finalist faces the reigning Lord Supreme in individual combat. Only by defeating the Supreme does a challenger claim the title.
There are no tests to verify Weave-affinity beforehand. It is understood that anyone foolish enough to enter without magical ability will not last long.
The location of the Tournament changes with each reign, hosted in whichever realm the current Supreme resides. There is no fixed arena—each Supreme chooses or constructs a venue for the event.
Protective wards are established around the venue to contain magical discharge and protect spectators. Outside interference during combat is strictly forbidden.
Components and tools
The Tournament does not require complex equipment or sacred artifacts. However, the following are standard:
Protective Warding Arrays – Magical boundaries cast around the arena to prevent collateral damage and ensure duels are isolated.
Battlegrounds – These vary by realm and Supreme. Some are traditional open dueling rings; others may be elaborate structures or open fields.
Scroll Records – Maintained by volunteers and scribes to document victories, defeats, and outcomes for archival purposes.
Participants
Challengers – Any individual capable of manipulating the Weave may enter. No titles or bloodlines are required.
The Lord Supreme – The reigning Supreme is required by the Pact to remain at the tournament venue until all challenges have been resolved.
Council of 75 – Present as observers and archivists. They ensure the rules are upheld and the results documented.
Volunteer Marshals – Trusted individuals—often former challengers, magical veterans, or realm-neutral sorcerers—who assist in maintaining order and protecting bystanders from magical fallout. They do not intervene in matches.
Scribes and Recordkeepers – Responsible for transcribing results, combat details, and preserving the history of each tournament.
Spectators include scholars, realm emissaries, and citizens. Viewing is public, and no realm is permitted to bar its people from attending if they choose to travel.
Observance
The Tournament is required to occur once every two years. This is not tracked by an external council but known directly to the Supreme through the Pact itself, which exerts a magical compulsion to act before the end of the term.
While the full elimination rounds may span days or weeks, the final challenge against the Supreme is typically held on or just before the final day of the required period. If the Supreme fails to initiate the Tournament within this timeframe, the Pact will terminate them instantly.
The official announcement of the Tournament date is usually made by a selected member of the Council of 75, acting in their capacity as a realm-neutral official. This is done once the Supreme has confirmed the venue and schedule.
Related Organizations
