Strength Competition I

[M'kel]

Eligibility: Bronzes and browns

Materials available: Riding harness. One fire lizard must be used (borrow from a friend if necessary!).

Activities: A pile of boulders sits on the beach at the bottom of a slope. A dragon must grab a boulder, fly with it up the slope, and drop it on a lever. This lever (which is rather shaped like a rudimentary catapult) will fling a pile of cooked noodles out to sea (see Search/Rescue competition). The distance the noodles travel will be measured by watchdragons positioned at known distances from the shoreline. After each boulder has fallen onto the lever, it will roll off into a chute which carries it back down to the pile on the beach. Dragons will be judged on the number of boulders they can carry and drop in ten minutes, as well as the distance the noodles fly. Each time noodles are flung, the fire lizard will be required to between in to deposit a new batch of noodles.

Finally, each dragon will carry one last boulder to another area on the hill, set it down, land, and give it a mighty shove. Wooden poles have been erected (pounded hard down into the earth), and the dragon will receive another score depending on the number of poles (out of ten) that are knocked over/broken.


Procedure: Everyone wishing to compete will have 3 days to post in this thread starting June 7th. At this point, the winners will be determined from those who have posted by dice rolling.

[M'kel]

The Weyrleader stood proudly upon the beach, admiring his handiwork in organizing the various contests for the Dragon Tournament. For some reason, he had found this task far less tiresome than his usual duties, and M'kel had greatly enjoyed planning each event, prodding dragonriders to sign up, and subsequently watching the competitions as they took place. He had decided to sign up for the Strength Competition only, since it was Tirenth's greatest 'strength' (aha), and they were both busy, as Wingleaders, preparing for the Team Coordination event at the end of the Tournament.

"Aren't the design of those levers fantastic?" M'kel chortled, eyeing them with almost motherly pride. Tirenth snorted, having heard this very same comment nearly a dozen times already today, and swiveled his head out to sea instead.

The first Rescue Dragon is nearly ready to begin! he warned his rider. They were the first pair up for the Competition today, and they were supposed to start at precisely the same time as the Rescue team.

"Right!" his rider cried, vaulting onto Tirenth's back with unusual enthusiasm. "Are you ready?"

You seem rather giddy, mine. Maybe the heat has gotten to you...

"Nonsense. I'm just excited! Come on; let's show those youngsters that age has not reduced your capacities in the slightest."

I'm not old! Tirenth began to protest, highly affronted, but the signal was given right then and he leapt into the air, his rider's words forgotten. The dragon was excited to compete as well, for the game looked fun, and he was very much intending to noodle the Rescue Dragon as many times as possible.

The bronze had barely left the ground when he reached the rock pile, so he grasped a boulder in his claws and swept his wings downward in powerful strokes, straining to gain height. It greatly slowed his momentum, for taking off was much harder than maintaining flight. Maybe you shouldn't have grabbed the largest one in the pile! M'kel chided. Tirenth ignored this, straining for height even as the ground climbed below him, until he had reached a satisfactory distance from the ground and had positioned himself over the lever. Triumphant, the bronze released his load, but he had forgotten to compensate for his forward motion, and the boulder missed the lever, crashing into some trees instead and avoiding the chute entirely.

Shard it, Tirenth! Be more careful! You're destroying the course down there. M'kel peered over his dragon's shoulder, worried that his carefully constructed game area would be ruined. It wasn't. Remember, accuracy over force.

Tirenth snorted at this advice, for the thoughts relayed from his rider during the event had revealed that M'kel, too, thought they were well-positioned for release. It was simply in the nature of their relationship for this teasing criticism to occur, and the bronze was not trifled by these words in the slightest.

Ignoring the fallen boulder, for it would be difficult to reach in the trees, Tirenth swept back down the slope to grasp another, wheeling out over the sea for its thermals before powering back up slope. He was careful to hover this time before releasing the rock, and the target was successfully struck. White, slimy noodles were flung out to sea, and Tirenth's whirling eyes followed their progress eagerly. Ah! Missed!

Well, hurry and grab another one! M'kel's excitement was not touched by irritation, for he was enjoying this far too much to be annoyed. Plus, that one had been close!

The pair continued in this manner for a few more boulders, whirling and hazel eyes alike following the progress of each noodle batch. The green dragon out at sea was doing well, but at last, they struck a hit. Yes! M'kel cried, while Tirenth rumbled in delight.

Once the time limit was up for that segment of the Competition, the triumphant pair landed, quite pleased with their success. Tirenth moved over to the final task, a particularly large boulder positioned on a piece of flat land containing erected poles. The bronze eyed the poles for a moment, then turned his shoulder to the boulder (M'kel had dismounted to avoid injury to himself) and shoved it with all of his might. The boulder rolled ominously towards the poles but began to curve at the last minute, snapping only 7 of the 10. "Great job, Tirenth!" M'kel pounded his dragon on the shoulder in appreciation. "That was fun!"

I agree! I think we did quite well.

[C'lyn]

L'kas tugged his gloves into place as he watched M'kel make his pass at the course and nodded, admiring Tirenth's form. Seath rumbled softly as he nudged against L'kas' back. L'kas grinned and vaulted into place on his bronze's back "Don't be jealous just because they had a good run," he said as he thumped Seath's shoulder affectionately.

Seath grumbled as he leaped into the air to take his position for his turn Then I will just do better and make more hits with the noddles,[/color] he said as he looked over the boulders. L'kas laughed out loud and patted the bronze's shoulder again as the signal was given.

Seath picked one of the larger boulders and grasped it firmly with his front claws, beating his large wings, straining to gain height to the lever. Once in place he dropped the boulder and was pleased that it landed on the lever, sending the noddles flying. Both he and L'kas looked out over the water to see the noddles find their mark on the blue weyrling. L'kas let out a whoop of laughter and Seath rumbled in delight as he made his way do to gather another boulder.

As each boulder was dropped onto the lever rider and bronze watched the noddles to see if they would find their mark.

When the time was called Seath landed and L'kas slid to the ground. The bronze eyed the large boulder and looked at the ten poles in the ground. He leaned his shoulder against the boulder and gave a might shove, sending the boulder bounding toward the poles, curving at the last moment to take out only seven of the ten. Seath snorted Well at least I hit with my first shot,[/color] he said as he walked away to watch the rest of the competition. L'kas chuckled and followed his bronze "You did good Seath."

[Skye]

A'idin tightened his straps and patted Gaelrith on the shoulder as he and his brown watched the two bronze make their run. Gaelrith had been quiet and brooding since Calith's flight as had his rider, but they were both focused on the competition.

The signal was given and Gaelrith winged his way to the starting position and looked at the boulders. He selected one and grasped it with his front claws, making sure he had a firm hold before lifting it. He and A'idin had been a team long enough to know each other well and Gaelrith let the boulder drop onto the lever and both turned to watch the flying noodles, but they missed their mark, but flew far out into the water.

A'idin smiled lopsidedly and patted his brown on the shoulder Good shot he said and Gaelrith merely rumbled as he selected another boulder.

The repeated this, watching the noodles each time as the fire lizard they had borrowed refilled the noodles. One of the clumps of noodles finally found a mark and A'idin grinned and Gaelrith let out a bugle of triumph as the signal that this part of the competition.

A'idin slid to the ground and Gaelrith tilted his head from side to side as he eyed the boulder and the poles in the ground. After a moment he leaned his shoulder into it to send the boulder rolling toward the poles, striking them, but only breaking eight of the ten.

Good job Gaely, A'idin said as he patted the brown's leg before they moved off to watched the rest of the competition.

[Felina]

A'tair watched, somewhat nervously, as the first three dragons and their riders made their passes. All three were full riders, but he and Tristiath had only been flying together a short time in comparison. And then the others had the size advantage, as well; two of them were browns, too, but they had their full growth on them, something Tristiath lacked. As Al'din finished up his turn, A'tair tapped Corenne on the shoulder. "Hey, you mind if I borrow Shilai for a few moments? I need a fire lizard to help, and I...."

"Don't have one. Yeah, I know. Go 'head, I don't care. Go say hello to that little goldrider while you're at it; I won't care about that, either."

He hardly heard her biting words, though, as he jogged over to Tristiath, the little green fire lizard following close behind. The handles on the leather harness felt right in his hands as he leapt astride the young bronze, admiring for a moment the raw power he could feel below him. All right, Tris, you know how this works. Go for the little boulders; we may not be able to get the noodles as far, but we can get off more loads of them. That, and you're smaller than the other dragons, and can't fly as fast with boulders as large.

We would not want the ranks to lose faith in their wingsecond, either, the dragon remarked. A'tair's face reddened; he had never asked for that to happen, and had been as surprised as anyone when he saw it posted.

True, but then they can just have faith in their wingleader. L'kas and Seath flew very well.

The day I see a rider fly is the day a trundle bug manages to crawl up your nose. Seath flew well. As the signal was given, though, the silent exchange of bantering stopped, and the bronze's eyes whirled an excited yellow-green as he leaped into the air, executing a quick little roll that had A'tair reaching for his straps as he headed for the boulders.

Unnecessary risks, Tris! You want me dead?! The dragon said nothing, but a certain smugness emanated from him as he swooped in on a small-ish boulder, landing heavily as he would upon a herdbeast to hunt. The boulder ploughed forward a meter or so as he struggled to grasp it with his hind legs, and suddenly they were airborne again, Tristiath clawing his way skyward. Not too high, now. A waste of time and energy. And learn what you did from the other dragons. Stop a moment before...!

Too late, though, as the boulder sailed landward. Tris, you dimglow! What was that for?! Now we'll have to...

Stop doubting the dragon, that is what. I let it go early, see? It went forward, and I did not have to stop, either. Shilai, go get more noodles. No, do not eat the noodles, put them over by that lever! The big... wood thing that shoots noodles. Yes, that. The little cousins can be such trouble, sometimes,[/color][/i] he remarked to A'tair as another boulder left a deep furrow in the ground before being lifted skyward. He didn't go quite as high this time, either, because valuable seconds were wasted going higher. The point of this game was quantity, not quality, because the larger dragons with the larger boulders had them beaten in that respect every time.

A'tair felt rather bad for the rescue dragon out there. He had to deal with a larger quantity of noodles than the previous dragons. Not that noodles could ever really hurt anyone, but they could be a pain to get out of the hair. Something that he knew from experience. More noodles, Shilai! Tristiath crowed triumphantly as he wheeled around for yet another boulder.

The time was called all too quickly, as Tristiath came in for a somewhat awkward landing in an attempt not to dump A'tair on the ground as he had only a couple of weeks prior. It was a close thing, though; A'tair had the straps wrapped around his hands, and still only just managed to avoid a painful fall to the ground. His own dismount was rather more graceful, and he landed lightly on his feet to survey the line of poles, the boulder, and Tris. Any ideas? Yours tend to be better'n mine.

Tristiath declined to answer, and instead simply put his back haunches against the boulder at an angle and pushed until it went sailing down the hill... at an angle that wasn't like to hit any poles at all. A'tair groaned as it turned slightly in the middle, to hit the fifth and sixth poles, leaving the ones before and the ones after unscathed. Or not. What was that supposed to be?

I tried to put a spin on it with the angle, so it would hit all ten. It did not work, though. It did spin like I wanted, but not enough. And I used the wrong angle. We are going to lose dreadfully, are we not?

A'tair could only nod glumly, looking down at the minimal destruction below them. "Yeah, probably. Eh, well, it was fun. Hey, Tris, might as well tell Shilai to get back to 'Renne now, before she hatches a plot to smother me in my sleep. I get the idea she's mad at me."[/size]

[M'kel]

And the results are in! *drum roll*

First Place: A'tair and Tristiath (ability: 16, dice: 3, 4)

Second Place: M'kel and Tirenth (ability: 17, dice: 2, 2)

Third Place: L'kas and Seath (ability: 16, dice: 3, 1)

Fourth Place: A'idin and Gaelrith (ability: 12, dice: 4)

Congratulations to our winner and thanks to all competitors! As you may have noticed, we had a three-way tie in the first round of roling, so it was a very close competition!