Morning: The Opening Ceremonies

Veli-Matti: The morning mist clings to the grass of the tilt-yard, but the heat of the sun soon burns it away, replaced by the heat of ambition. You make your way to the castle, as the day will start with the Opening Ceremonies and the Processional at the lists in front of it. The Host, Thespian III, the Duke of Brackenwold, is present, with his whole family, including the youngest daughter, Lady Zoemina, a beautiful young lady who is yet to marry.

The Duke’s Herald reads out the Tourney invitation that was sent far and wide, and then the Duke officially welcomes everyone to the Tourney and wishes them good luck—lots of cheers.

After that, the Duke gets on a very fine warhorse and leads the Processional of knights. Sir Hoarsent Waverly, the previous year’s champion, rides at his side, followed by Sir Osric Hazelmire, the Duke’s champion, and then the rest of the knights in the order the heralds have seen fit. You are nearer to the tail of the procession, being foreign and unknown.

Nevertheless, it’s a magnificent display of martial pomp and circumstance, polished armor gleaming in the sun, the banners fluttering in the breeze. The commoners clap and cheer for their favorites, as the heralds read out each knight’s name as they ride into the lists and past the beautiful ladies and the stylish gentlemen of the court, who are paying close attention to this year’s contestants, especially new ones such as yourselves. And possibly vice versa?

You feel your hearts swell with pride as your names are announced, dreaming of the day when the heralds will again declare your name, but follow it up with: “The Champion of the Joust!”

By the time the ceremonies are over, noontide is approaching. Meanwhile, you swing by the Archery contest to witness the Finals of the target and wand shooting, won by the white-mustachioed Duke’s Forester, Mr. Weavilman, and a grim, scarred young woman named Moralil from Fort Vulgar, respectively. Afterward, you head to your tents to enjoy a quick lunch.

Afternoon: The Qualification Jousts

Veli-Matti: After lunch, you return to stand before the lists. To qualify for the Main Joust, you must first prove your mettle against the other lower-ranked knights, as your names are still unknown in these parts. You only need to unhorse your opponent to advance to the Main Joust. If you and your opponent are both unhorsed in the same pass, you continue jousting until only one of you is unhorsed. You check with the heralds when your turns come, and it is still hours away. In the meantime, you can take the opportunity to wander the markets and the crowds, see the other events, or stay and watch your future opponents.

Michele: What other events are ongoing at the moment?

Veli-Matti: Let’s see… The Bardic competition is happening right now at the Willows Stage. Imagine a combination of rap battle, a comedic roast, and storytelling.

Michele: Ooh, sounds exciting! Sir Roslyn will head there!

Jani: Sir Gareth will stay to watch the jousting.

Exploring the Festival Grounds

Veli-Matti: Alright, in the interest of time, we will skip forward: Sir Rosalyn has fun at the Bardic competition, laughing at the jokes.

Jani, remind me during the Main Joust that, since Sir Gareth watched the qualification round, he might get a bonus for studying the competition.

Sir Roslyn vs. Sir Grennigore the Black

Veli-Matti: Michele, we’ll start the Qualifications with you, roll 1d12 to determine your opponent.

Michele: <Rolls 1d12> An 8. 

Veli-Matti: From the far end of the lists, a stallion snorts, the warhorse hoofing the ground. Atop sits a man in a midnight-dark plate mail. His helm is crested with a golden cockatrice that seems to leer at the crowd. This is Sir Grennigore the Black, born to a human mother fathered by an unknown longhorn noble, a bastard with a chip on his shoulder. A man of erratic temper and booming voice, he is eager to win a reputation for himself. He eyes you, Sir Roslyn, with a sneer before slamming down his visor and spurring his horse for a charge!

Michele: I’m gonna aim for the head! <Rolls a 3 + 7 jousting bonus – 4 for the head-aimed strike> That’s a 6. A clean miss. 

Veli-Matti: <Rolls for Grennigore: 9 + 5> A 14! Sir Roslyn’s lance finds only empty air as Sir Grennigore leans in for the kill. His lance scrapes against your shield, which is tilted just enough to make it skid—a glancing strike. The judges mark one point for the Black Knight.

Michele: He won’t have another. <Rolls 1d20> A Natural 20! Plus 3… that’s a 23! 

Veli-Matti: <Makes a Jousting Roll for Grennigore> A Natural 1! A calamity! <Rolls 1d12-1 = 4, the horse rears.> Fortune turns her face away from the Bastard of Malbleat! As you thunder toward one another, Sir Roslyn, your lance becomes an extension of your very soul. You strike his helmet with the force of a falling star—a Mighty Strike! That’s a -10 to his Saving Throw to stay mounted, as his head snaps back.

His own lance misses you completely, while his horse rears at the tug of the reins… <Rolls a save: 14 – 10> A 4! Fortunately for Sir Grennigore, the reins fall from his hand as he tumbles senseless from the saddle, his horse managing to avoid falling onto its master. When Sir Roslyn turns around at the end of the lists, you can see squires and healers racing to the fallen knight. You are victorious and have qualified for the Main Joust!

Michele: Serves him right, sneering at me like that! Sir Roslyn waves to the crowds, pleased with her victory.

Veli-Matti: The crowds cheer at you, for such a dramatic end to the joust.

Sir Gareth vs. The Hound of High-Hankle

Veli-Matti: Now, Sir Gareth, your turn to face the music of splintering ash. Roll 1d12 to determine your opponent.

Jani: <Rolls> A 6. 

Veli-Matti: Your opponent is Sir Chynce Waldermost, also known as the “Hound of High-Hankle.” His shield bears a red hound rampant, pierced by golden arrows. He is a man who thrives on the chaos of battle, giving a quick laugh at something his squire says, as the lad hands him his lance. He aims his lance at you, and at the wave of the flag, the joust is on!

Jani: Let us see if the Hound can bite! I aim for the head! <Rolls 14 + 6 bonus – 4 for head shot> A 16. A solid hit on the helm! 

Veli-Matti: <Rolls for Chynce> A 3 + 3… only a 6. A pathetic miss. You strike true, Sir Gareth! The wood rings against his steel helm like a cathedral bell. The Hound is rocked back, his head snapping toward the sky. He needs to make a Saving Throw at -5 to stay on that horse. <Rolls for Chynce: 7 – 5> A 2! The Hound is unkennelled! Sir Chynce flies backward over his horse’s croup, landing with a clatter of steel and bruised pride. He scrambles to his knees from the dirt, unbuckles his helmet, and throws it towards his running squire. His unruly face is twisted in a mask of vindictive fury as he glares at you. He will not soon forget this indignity, but the victory is yours! You have qualified for the Main Joust.

Jani: Sir Gareth ignores the churlish cur, turning away from him and saluting the crowd instead.

Veli-Matti: OK. <Scribbles a note.>

Evening: The Feast of Hayme

Veli-Matti: The violence of the day gives way to the opulence of the evening. The Hall of Brackenwold Castle is filled with the scent of roasted venison, spiced wine, and the sweat of dancers. Both of you roll a d10 for an Event, please.

Michele: <Rolls 1-1> A 0. No specific event for Sir Rosalyn, just a night of celebration. <Rolls Eat/Drink/Merry: 5+1> A 6! Success! 

Veli-Matti: Sir Roslyn, you are the life of your corner of the hall. Laughter follows your jests, and you dance until your boots are worn thin. You gain +2 Favor from the impressed onlookers. 

Michele: <Rolls CON> A 5. Rosalyn will wake up tomorrow with a head as clear as a bell. No hangover for the Trueheart!

Jani: <Rolls 2-1, one event. Then 1d10 for a Feast Event> A 5. The Lady’s Token. 

Veli-Matti: As the music swells for the Maiden’s Pavane, a hush falls over the nearby table. A lady of striking beauty and sharp wit approaches you, Sir Gareth. <Rolls 1d12 to determine which lady, 11>. It is Lady Cordelia Malbleat, the half-sister of the man Sir Roslyn unhorsed today. She does not seem to share her brother’s bitterness. In fact, she seems quite charmed by your performance in the lists. 

Jani: I try to make a good impression and flirt with her. <Rolls CHA: 6 + 1 + 1 from a previous dance> That’s an 8. I shall return her attention with a knightly flourish, keen to make her acquaintance.

Veli-Matti: The two of you hit it off, sharing a plate at the table, discussing the philosophies of chivalry and the weight of a knight’s vow. When the time comes to dance, she smiles at you, holding out her hand. “Shall we?”

Jani: I smile back at her and get up, accepting her hand and escorting her to the dance. 

The Maiden’s Pavane

Veli-Matti: The evening ends with the Maiden’s Pavane, a graceful dance that allows you to show off your dancing skills. (Both players succeed, although not enough to win prizes.) The dance is beautiful, though Sir Roslyn’s mind seems to wander to the lances of tomorrow rather than the steps of today. As for Sir Gareth, are your eyes on Lady Cordelia? 

Jani: Of course!

Veli-Matti: Her cheeks are flushed from the dance by the time the music ends, her eyes sparkling at you with enjoyment of the dance. Before she departs, she draws a silken handkerchief from her sleeve and presses it into your hand.

“Wear this tomorrow,” she whispers. “Let it be the wind beneath your wings when you tilt.”

What do you do?

Jani: I accept with a bow over her hand and whisper back: “It will be my honor to wear your token, m’lady.” (Grants one re-roll in the joust.)

Veli-Matti: As the two of you make your way back to your distant pavilions, Sir Roslyn is singing drunkenly, helped by Sir Gareth. The stars shine bright over Brackenwold Castle…

Jani: Like Lady Cordelia’s sparkling eyes?

Veli-Matti: About her eyes: They’re very—unusual. Her right eye is golden, with the strange, rectangular pupil common to breggles. Her left eye, more human, is sapphire-blue. You could get lost in those eyes, but, honestly, you never know which one to look at! And with that romantic thought, we’ll end this day. Time to rest up. Tomorrow is Misdummer’s Day, and you’ll both be competing in the Main Joust!

XP Awards

Veli-Matti: Let’s see, Michele… For your Mighty Strike on Sir Grennigore, you get 20 XP. He’s a Level 4 knight, so you get 80 more for winning the match.

Jani, your Solid Strike on the Hound gets you 10 XP. He’s Level 3, so winning the match gets you 40 more, for a total of 50 XP. Oh, and you win another for the successful dance check with Lady Cordelia, so mark down 55 XP.

Recommendations for running the Duke’s Tourney

1. Preroll opponents, ladies, and feast events, so that you can weave them into a coherent narrative, rather than needing to improvise everything on the spot. But improvise if the players do something interesting and go off the beaten path.

2. Reuse characters as much as you can. Don’t bother rolling a new rival or a boorish knight for a feast event if you already have a suitable knight rolled up as an opponent in the tournament. Having twelve interactions with twelve different NPCs is not nearly as impactful as having two interactions each with six NPCs (or three interactions each with four NPCs), and it makes it easier for players to keep names and relationships in mind. Let the PCs form long-term rivalries, enmities, and friendships with select NPCs, rather than always resetting the situation by introducing another NPC.

3. Focus on what the players want to focus on. If the players are more interested in adventuring, run through the tournament quickly. If they want to explore the market stalls and talk to the NPCs, let the time slow to a crawl so they can do that. As long as you make sure that the rest of the players are not getting bored, of course.

For this article, we decided knights would advance to the Main Joust by unhorsing their opponent. Both players chose the Aim for the Head maneuver as their gambit — and it really paid off! We could just as easily have used the three-lances system, awarding points to determine the victor. Which system to use is always the Referee’s call, based on how quickly they want to resolve the competition.

See You in the Lists!

The mechanics showcased in this session—the dramatic jousting rules, the feast events, and the courtly intrigue—all come from Knights of the Wood: The Duke’s Tourney, our comprehensive medieval tournament supplement written specifically for Dolmenwood but easily adapted to any OSR game. It includes everything you need to run authentic jousts, mêlées, hunts, and feasts, complete with random tables and historically-researched mechanics. Also now available in a Sans AI Edition!

If you’re specifically interested in just the jousting rules without the full tournament experience, Excerpta 1: The Joust provides the complete lance-splintering action in a focused, affordable format. Both products give you the tools to create memorable moments like Sir Roslyn’s mighty strike or Sir Gareth’s courtly romance at your own table.