There were only 40 provinces with Orsan's crowns rings and scepters.  But many more had the signet rings that Keldrun had given the 79 royal families of a century earlier.  Suddenly these provinces could once again be contenders but few lacked any resources to mount such a campaign.  One of these nobles was the heir of the Tassin family.  Tassin was long ago taken over by the Brennor family who were not royals, but were regents for the Malpedi family who were incapable of assuming their birthright due to lycanthropy.  The family of young Athos Tassin [Richard Cable] had sought refuge from the Brennors in nearby Kalda in Corbam province, where Athos had spent his youth in service of the military elite of that province.  An idealistic youth, his mind was full of dreams of returning his family to prominence, even if his ancestral castle was a ruin.  Upon his fathers death, he became the last surviving Tassin and the possessor of the family signet ring.  When DOM Triplo was announced he knew that his chance had come. 

The Elemental Circus, which consisted of Lythe [Kevin], Jared [Chris], Garthon [Brian] and Tirian [Dave], was in Morban when they heard the Articles read aloud by a town crier.   They knew that the days of the traveling troupe would soon become very dangerous.  Wandering around while armies marched and battled is not a good idea.  The troupe decided that perhaps they should go to the one place that would not see action, DOM City.  They could try to make it in the big city.  They started on the road south from Morban.  They were camped for the night just south of Kalda in Corbam Province when Lord Tassin rode in. 

"Greetings peasants.  I see by your wagons that you are traveling performers.  Might I camp with you for the night."  "If you'll so lower yourself" smirked Lythe.  Jared smiled.  Lord Tassin was unmoved.  "I ride to the capital."  "We do too" said Garthon looking at him suspiciously.  "Then perhaps you shall accompany me" said Tassin, still sitting on his horse.  Garthon was about to reveal his innermost thoughts to the young Lord, when Lythe stopped him.  He knew that it would accomplish nothing, and perhaps this young poser had connections in the city.  Lord Tassin had a way of making you feel honored to be in his presence at the same time you felt that he felt genuinely honored to be in yours.  "The working man deserves more respect that he has been given" he would say while seeking a higher chair to sit on than the one you had.    As they travelled on, it became apparent to Tirian that this youth was indeed of noble birth.  And after they arrived in DOM City, Tassin confided in them all.  One night in the Gaping Maw Tavern, hiding his nervousness to all but Tirian who could easily detect it, he confessed that he was to sign the Articles of Contest on the following day.  Lythe looked at him incredulously.  This young paladin, for that is what he was, had no idea what he was in for.  "Do you have an army stashed somewhere?" "No."  "Do you have any support at all?"  No.  "Do you own a…" "Yes, I do."  The look on Tassin's face revealed that his blurted admission was one he had decided to make on the spur of the moment, and was not sure he should have.  But he had gone this far…  "I have the signet ring of Tassin.  I am the sole Tassin heir.  I must try to do this for my ancestors and their ancestors.  I may not be able to win.  But I must try".  Lythe knew in that moment, they all knew, that this was a ridiculous, foolhardy yet noble mission that they just had to be in on.

Next: Early Victories

THE ARTICLES OF CONTEST OF DOM TRIPLO

By order of the King and under the administration of the Church of Esam, there is a contest hereby declared to determine the next rightful ruler of the Kingdom of DOM.  This contest shall begin on the first hour of the first day of 1,199 [note: the Domish calendar was used at that time, this is the supplanted Traisgan date] and shall end on the first hour of the first day of 1,200.  All rules herewith explained must be followed exactly on punishment of forfeit.  Upon forfeit the next contender will be considered in the same manner.  The rules are as follows:

1. Each duke shall gather royal provincial crowns, rings and scepters by lawful means or through battle hereby sanctioned by the crown upon the starting date.  No duke shall obtain royal jewels by subterfuge except in the practice of lawful battle.  They shall bring those jewels to the capitol on or before the ending date and time of contest.  The duke having the most of said items shall be determined the winner.  Winning duke must have three more jewels than any other contestant.  Lesser or equal amounts shall duel for title, or, if both parties agree, the Church of Esam will decide the victor. 

2. Dukes shall be members of the families that they represent - to be verified by the Abbot of the Church of Esam.  On pain of forfeit, these dukes shall be in possession of at least ONE of the jewels of their own family (no other family may be in possession of all your jewels upon the end of the contest).  This is true even if you possess more jewels than any other family.  You are forfeit if you possess none of your own.  Signet rings awarded by Keldrun Fane are acceptable in this regard.

3 All jewels will be tested for authenticity by Court Wizard Alcazar, and will be held by the Church of Esam until the end of the contest.  They will then become property of the crown for disposition at the discretion of the new king.  Contestants must agree to bestow these and the Dukedoms they represent to no fewer families than 20 and no more than 50.

4. All dukes in competition must sign up in the capital and also sign a sacred oath of fealty to the crown, the contest and the Church of Esam and of fealty to the contest winner prior to the end of the contest.  They must agree that the Church of Esam shall remain the church of the realm, that they remian self-determinate, and that they may provide for the current king and his family in safety.  They must agree that the Family of Fane shall retain control of Fane province as a Dukedom.  The current Guildmaster, Efrem Fortan, shall remain Guildmaster for five years.
Any and all negotiations, arguments and settlements shall be channeled through the Church of Esam, who reserves the right to determine any outcome.  The Church of Esam reserves the right to declare any Duke forfeit for any reason.

5.  The province of Dorcer is not involved in contest, and no Duke shall engage Dorcer Province, nor maintain a standing army in Dorcer province or the City of DOM on pain of forfeit.  Dukes so forfeit must immediately depart Dorcer and Fortan provinces.  No army exceeding 100 men may winter in DOM, Dorcer or Fortan (excepting Fortan in their own province).

Next: Lord Tassin