EVENT on the LAURELIN SERVER

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Hail and well met!

As the end of summer comes within reach, the Dwarves of Khuzd Belkul and Durin’s Folk and the good Hobbits of the Shire Angling Club will together host the 3-day-long Harnkegger Games – On 27th, 28th and 29th of August.

Known for its various gaming contests, general merriment and consumption of rather large amounts of ale, this festival of Dwarvish origin, is often nicknamed the Deep Ale Fest. As ever the fest and games will be opened to all, be it dwarves, hobbits, men or yes… even elves 😉

This year the Games will be bigger then ever before, with 7 full-scale events spread over 3 days… and the largest hoard of prizes ever seen in Middle-Earth!
Our grand benefactors of these Harnkegger Games are the good people of Turbine, who have donated a harras of horses ((Perlino- and Cremello Steed codes)) and hundreds upon hundreds of Tasty Pies ((codes for 9000 TP IN TOTAL!)) to be given to the winners. On top of these very generous prizes the organizing committee will also ensure additional exclusive gifts and gold coins.

On overview of the Schedule Activities:

DAY 1 – TUESDAY 27TH AUGUST
Opening of the Harnkegger Games (at the top of the steps at Thorin’s Halls) by Lord Kandral of Khuzd Belkul – start at 2:30 PM ST August 27th – The opening will include plenty of ales, food and music for all.

1) The HARNKEGGER RACE – our first Horse Race of the Games, starts at 3PM ST- in good dwarrow tradition, having a horse race after having had plenty of ales, will surely provide a merry opener of the Games.

RACE INFO: The Harnkegger race is a short but exciting race and uses the area of Thorin’s Halls

Harnkegger Race

RULES: See horse race rules below

RACE COURSE: Entrance of the Festival Arena – Down the steps to Frerin’s Court (must go round the central statue) – back up the steps to the Festival Arena, first one to make it up the stairs wins.

PRIZES: The organizing committee will grant the following prizes:
• WINNER: 2 gold pieces + 1 Perlino Steed code + 1 Cremello Steed code + a 500 TP code + 1 Raffle number (*3)
• RUNNER-UP: 1 gold piece + 1 Perlino Steed code + 1 Cremello Steed code + 1 Raffle number (*3)
• THIRD: 500 silver pieces + 1 Perlino- OR 1 Cremello Steed code (selected by the third place**) + 1 Raffle number (*3)
2) THE BROKEN BONE RACE – our second Horse Race of the Games, starts at 3:30 PM ST – And takes us from Thorin’s Hall to the borders of the Shire.

RACE INFO: Though this yearly grand race is originally a pony race, like last year, goats and horses will be allowed… and is open to all… so allied men, elves and hobbits are most welcomed.

RULES: See horse race rules below

RACE COURSE: From Thorin’s Hall Gate, through the vale of Thrain – passed Noglond – then the first checkpoint* at Gondamon – through eastern Ered Luin toward the second and final checkpoint* at Duillond – to the finish line just West of Needlehole. *officials will be present at the Gondamon and Duillond checkpoints, which all competitors must pass.

PRIZES: The organizing committee will grant the following prizes:
• WINNER: 2 gold pieces + 1 Perlino Steed code + 1 Cremello Steed code + 2 x 500 TP code + 1 Raffle number (*3)
• RUNNER-UP: 1 gold piece + 1 Perlino Steed code + 1 Cremello Steed code + a 500 TP code + 1 Raffle number (*3)
• THIRD: 500 silver pieces + 1 Perlino- OR 1 Cremello Steed code (selected by the third place**) + 1 Raffle number (*3)

3) FISHING CONTEST at the Needlehole river – Hosted by the Shire Angling Club.

GAME INFO: This fishing contest marks the start of the Needlehole Festivities, commemorating the founding of Needlehole 677 years ago – (2342 T.A) There will be fine music and plenty of food between the end of the fishing and the announcement of the winners. Cooks will be standing by to turn your freshly caught carps and dace into delicious dishes.

RULES: Competitors will all have 15 minutes to catch as many fish as they can. They will receive points depending on the type of fish caught:
• 1 point per normal fish
• 3 points for cooking fish
• 10 points for mountable fish

((All competitors must be in fellowship, judges will count the points))

LOCATION : Needlhole River

PRIZES: The organizing committee will grant the following prizes:
• WINNER: 2 gold pieces + 1 Perlino Steed code + 1 Cremello Steed code + 1 Fisher’s Backpack + 2 x 500 TP code + 1 Raffle number (*3)
• RUNNER-UP: 1 gold piece + 1 Perlino Steed code + 1 Cremello Steed code + a 500 TP code + 1 Raffle number (*3)
• THIRD: 500 silver pieces + 1 Perlino- OR 1 Cremello Steed code (selected by the third place**) + 1 Raffle number (*3)
• CONSOLATION PRIZE (4th-till 14th placed): Shire Angling Club Lebethron Rod
END OF DAY 1 – With music, food, fine drinks and Fireworks!

DAY 2 – WEDNESDAY 28TH AUGUST – Start at 3PM ST

4) MUSIC EVENT (Needlehole) – Continuing the Needlehole Festivities that commemorate the founding of Needlehole 677 years ago, this Music Event searches for the finest of singers and musicians.

GAME INFO: Can you impress the judges with your musical skills?

Music Event

RULES: A best song competition – contestants will be judged on lyrics, song tune and performance.

* Can be groups or individuals
* Each contestant can only enter one song, either individually or as part of a group.
* Jury decides the winner, runner-up and third place.

LOCATION: Needlehole market square.

PRIZES: The organizing committee will grant the following prizes:
• WINNER: 2 gold pieces + 1 Perlino Steed code + 1 Cremello Steed code + 2 x 500 TP code + 1 Raffle number (*3)
• RUNNER-UP: 1 gold piece + 1 Perlino Steed code + 1 Cremello Steed code + a 500 TP code + 1 Raffle number (*3)
• THIRD: 500 silver pieces + 1 Perlino- OR 1 Cremello Steed code (selected by the third place**) + 1 Raffle number (*3)
5) THE DRUNKEN MERCHANT RACE – A foot race that takes us through the pubs of the Shire.

GAME INFO: Competitors must run on foot, drinking one or two drinks at each pub they pass, first one to cross the finish line wins. This is a race that commemorates the first trade between Dwarves and Hobbits in the Shire.

Drunken Merchant Race – Course

RULES: Competitors must follow the following route (1-8):

• 1) Start at Needlehole Market to Brockenborings.
• 2) At the Plough and Stars: purchase and drink 1 Wooly-foot Stout
• 3) To Stock: At the Golden Perch, purchase and drink 1 Old Withywindle
• 4) To Frogmorton: At the Floating Log inn, purchase and drink 1 Toad’s Tongue Ale
• 5) To Bywater: At the Green Dragon, purchase and drink 1 Green Dragon’s Breath Ale
• 6) To Hobbiton: At the Ivy Bush, purchase and drink 1 Thistlebelly Brew
• 7) To Michel Delving: At the Bird and Baby, purchase and drink 1 Blagrove’s Brown
• 8) Run to the finishing post at the statue in the centre of Michel Delving.
• Competitors must run a fair race on foot ((no buffs, no mounts of any kind))
• Stewards will monitor the race at undisclosed locations ((competitors will be in fellowship/raid to ensure correct drinks are purchased))
• The route taken by the competitors is at their own choice (suggested route below), they must however pass the taverns and drink the drinks that have been specified in the specified order.
LOCATION: Starts at Needlehole market square – Ends at Michel Delving Centre Statue.

PRIZES: The organizing committee will grant the following prizes:
• WINNER: 2 gold pieces + 1 Perlino Steed code + 1 Cremello Steed code + 2 x 500 TP code + 1 Raffle number (*3)
• RUNNER-UP: 1 gold piece + 1 Perlino Steed code + 1 Cremello Steed code + a 500 TP code + 1 Raffle number (*3)
• THIRD: 500 silver pieces + 1 Perlino- OR 1 Cremello Steed code (selected by the third place**) + 1 Raffle number (*3)

END OF DAY 2 – With music, food, fine drinks and Fireworks!
DAY 3 – THURSDAY 29TH AUGUST – Start at 3PM ST

6) SPARRING TOURNAMENT (Gondamon) – We start of the Ered Luin festivities in Gondamon with a good old sparring tournament, organized by the Dwarves of Durin’s Folk

GAME INFO: Participants will be put into groups depending on their strength ((level)).

RULES: Standard sparring rules will apply – depending on the number of participants several rounds can be held until we declare a winner of each category. Minimal 3 Groups will be made ((low, mid, end-game lvls)) – exact divide of the groups will be done when the amount of contenders is known before the start. The Judges decide how the divide will be made.

LOCATION: Gondamon center trading square

PRIZES: The organizing committee will grant the following prizes:
• WINNER of EACH GROUP: 1 Gold piece + 1 Dwarrow Gift Box + 1 Raffle number (*3) (+ For winner of End Game Group: 1 Riddermark Crystal)
• TOURNAMENT BEST(*4): 2 gold pieces + 2 x 500 TP code + 1 Tarnished Symbol of Celebrimbor + ‘ 1 Raffle number (*3)
We will then move to the Lune River as a group where the final event of the Harnkegger games will be held:
7) THE LUNE SWIM – A swimming contest in the Lune River.

GAME INFO: Swimming from an island in the Lune, round a pillar of the Bridge that crosses the Lune, back to the island. First one to set foot on the island is the winner.

The Lune Swim

RULES: Competitors must follow the route described above (will be displayed by the judges once we reach the Lune) –

• Competitors must swim a fair race on foot ((no buffs of any kind, nor steeds))
• Stewards will monitor the race

LOCATION: Starts on an island in the Lune River.
PRIZES: The organizing committee will grant the following prizes:
• WINNER: 2 gold pieces + 1 Perlino Steed code + 1 Cremello Steed code + 2 x 500 TP code + 1 Raffle number (*3)
• RUNNER-UP: 1 gold piece + 1 Perlino Steed code + 1 Cremello Steed code + a 500 TP code + 1 Raffle number (*3)
• THIRD: 500 silver pieces + 1 Perlino- OR 1 Cremello Steed code (selected by the third place**) + 1 Raffle number (*3)

THE HARNKEGGER

The Harnkegger games will end with the traditional ceremony of the Harnkegger – the grand winner of the Harnkegger games will be announced. This winner, selected by a group of judges from all the winners of the events in the past three days, will receive the title “Harnkegger” ((in game title code: “The Sociable”, will be given)), in addition to 6 gold and 500 silver pieces.

Additional rules and notes :

HORSE RACE RULES:
(Grand thanks to folks of Windy Acres Ranch and gracious Kiralynn especially. As we’ve used their standard rules as a base for our races)
* Only standard speed ponies, horses or goats (62% – NOT 68%!) will be allowed.
* We ask all competitors NOT to use any mount speed buffs. People that have acquired the new Apprentice and Journeyman riding skills are kindly asked NOT to enter the race, as this would give them an unfair advantage over the other racers. As it would otherwise become impossible to determine which racing tier a steed belongs in.
* Participating riders will be given a clear explanation again of the course before the race begins. Riders are welcome to visit the race site and practice the course before race day.
* Riders must only use their pony, horse or goat for transportation. Changing steeds will not be allowed mid race, you must finish the race with the steed you started with. Stables, milestones, wayfaring, camps, rally points, acorns, mustering horns, summons and all other non-mount forms of travel are not allowed.
* Spamming fellow riders, giving a false start signal, having allies ride in the wrong direction to mislead riders, and all other forms of unsportsmanlike behavior will result in disqualification.
* Riders must clear all checkpoints in the proper direction and order. Course judges are the final authority in determining if a checkpoint has been properly cleared. ((A decision can be appealed if screenshots or video can be presented immediately after the race.))
* The winner will be determined by the first rider to cross the finish line, not the first mount.
* If more than a dozen riders show up to participate, there may be a qualifier race to narrow the field.

NOTES ON PRIZES:
** For some games the competitors that finish in second or third place have the choice to select either a Perlino or Cremello Steed code. If one of these codes would have become depleted (through previous races) the choice would become void and the competitor will be given a Steed code of the type that is still available.
*3 = each winner will receive a Raffle Number to be used at the next Open Day of The Shire Museum of Fishing and Hunting’s Grand Raffle – Held on August 31st 2PM ST @ 2 Chalk Road, Harville, Shire Homesteads.
(*4) = The tournament best is selected from the winners of each category of the sparring tournament

Have you ever wondered how to advance your angling skills, or where to catch that elusive Darter? Wonder no more! The Shire Museum of Fishing and Hunting is holding another Open Day, and this time the subject is ‘Fishing Holes of Middle Earth’. Come along to discover how to catch game fish including Trout and Salmon and where to find safe spots to angle for Darter and Sturgeon. All-comers welcome, regardless of angling skill. Take part in the Crazy Catfish Catch then let our fish chefs convert your catch into supper. There will be plenty of music and dancing and a grand firework display!
August 31st 2PM ST @ 2 Chalk Road, Harville, Shire Homesteads.

NOTE ON TIME ZONES / TIMES OF EVENTS:
All times mentioned in this post are on SERVER TIME of the LAURELIN Server (which is Boston Time) – Meaning that 3PM ST, would equal 8PM UK Time and 9PM Central European Time.