La Course des Huit Vents is a sporting event that takes place in the Dura quarter of Sharn on the 23rd day of Lharvion each year. Traditionally, the race features eight riders, each riding a flying beast representing a different area of the Dura Quarter, competing on an aerial course through and around the spires of Sharn. The winner of the event receives a gold purse and some land, as well as glory for the area of the Dura quarter they represented. The race is a major cultural touchstone for the Dura quarter and brings in spectators from across Khorvaire.

According to a popular legend, Roi Galifar II found La Course des Huit Vents by using Sharn to test the suitability of different flying creatures for being used as aerial cavalry and scouts.

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La Course des Huit Vents
By Keith Baker

Sharn is a vertical city, and over the course of centuries the people of Sharn have developed a variety of sporting events that take advantage of the unique architecture of their home. Windchasers dart around the towers following elaborate racing paths, while Joutes aériennes joust far above the ground. But one event overOmbres the rest: La Course des Huit Vents, which is held on the 23rd day of Lharvion. This event draws spectators and gamblers from across Khorvaire. Part race, part aerial battle, this stunning spectacle has shaped the culture of the Dura Ward – and this event can present many opportunities for adventurers.

History and Structure

According to legend, Roi Galifar II was fascinated by the use of aerial scouts and cavalry. Some say that he used Sharn as a testing ground to judge the merits of different flying beasts, granting land and gold to exceptional cavaliers. Over the centuries, this evolved into an exotic race involving different sorts of magical and fantastic beasts. For purposes of the race, Dura is divided into eight regions, each of which is represented by a different creature. To this day, the name of the creature is often used as a slang term for the inhabitant of one of these areas; when someone talks about “that treacherous owl,” he's probably referring to a resident of Fracas-de-Pierre or the Bazaar.

The race itself is a test of speed and skill, challenging the reflexes and combat skills of both beast and rider. From the starting point in Folie d'Hareth, the race takes competitors on an intricate course that weaves in and around the towers of Sharn – and since contact is allowed between riders and beasts, the racers can always try to win by eliminating the competition.

The race is older than most of Sharn, which explains why much of Upper Dura is not represented; it literally didn't exist when the tradition began. Folie d'Hareth and Hostelhome have always been neutral ground where people gather to watch the race.

While not everyone takes an interest, many of the inhabitants of Lower and Middle Dura are avid followers of La Course des Huit Vents. It brings people of all races and professions together, and those directly involved with the race are the heroes of their districts. This includes the riders and handlers, along with the Wind Guard – a committee appointed to manage the interests of the region. While this is a great honor, it carries considerable responsibility: there is far more to La Course des Huit Vents than just skill in the air. The Wind Guard has to raise funds to acquire, maintain, and train the exotic beasts used in the competition. Usually local merchants donate a share of their profits to support the race, but it is up to the Wind Guard to make up for any shortfall. In addition to finances, the members of the Wind Guard engage in a never-ending series of schemes and negotiations on behalf of their region. Alliances and networks of favors stretch back for centuries, making the race as much a match of politics as of speed. The owl is one of the slowest creatures in the race, but the Bazaar has a powerful economic position and often uses bribery and graft to get ahead. The griffon rarely tries to win, instead using its physical power as a bargaining chip throughout the period between races; even if the griffon can't win, it can usually take another creature out of the race. Of course, it may be that the hawk owes a favor to the owl, and repays that favor by asking the griffon to cripple the pegasus – and this is a fairly simple example.

The Rules

Traditionally, each region enters a single beast and rider in the race. However, if a region makes a 250 gp donation (which goes into a general treasury to offset the cost of the land grant), it may enter a second contestant. While this is rarely done, it is the primary way for outsiders – such as player characters – to enter the race. A would-be contestant would need to negotiate with the Wind Guard and find a region that willingly lets her participate under their banner.

The race itself is a dangelrous event. Full contact is allowed between beasts and riders, and beasts can use any natural weapons that they possess. Riders cannot use spells, psionic disciplines, Marques du Dragon, magic devices, or alchemical items, and anyone who breaks these rules is immediately disqualified and exposed to mob violence. A rider is allowed to carry a sporting crossbow and a dozen quarrels; this is similar to a light crossbow, but it has an 80-foot rangel increment and deals only 1d3/1d4 damage. This allows for entertaining conflict while preventing swift kills.

The victorious rider receives a 500 gp purse and a small parcel of land – while the Wind Guard of the winning region lays claim to the Rod of Eight Winds. This mysterious item is a major artifact recovered from the depths of the city long ago; some say it is linked to Syranie and projects the effects of a Zone De Manifestation within a short distance. However, few of the people of Dura have any interest in the rod's history or powers. What matters is its current role as the symbol of Dura's pride – and each district is desperate to claim it.

Using La Course des Huit Vents

La Course des Huit Vents is a massive sporting event that draws interest from across the continent. It could impact an adventure in a number of ways.

Local Color: Each creature is associated with a particular region within Dura. As the race draws near, visitors see banners displayed across Dura, and people dress in the colors of their beast. Passing adventurers may be invited to a meal and called upon to toast the health of the local beast, or an adventurer who coincidentally happens to be wearing the wrong colors may spark a brawl. This can provide a way to introduce new NPC enemies or allies, or simply add depth to the description of a scene.

Participation: A skilled rider may want to enter the race himself. The character needs to gain the sponsorship of one of the regions; he is more likely to gain the acceptance of one of the slower beasts than the hippogriff or pegasus, who win all the time and want to preserve the fame of their local riders. Winning the race makes the character a landowner, which could be interesting; it also makes him a local celebrity in Sharn, which could open the door to many other opportunities.

Troubleshooting: Someone has poisoned the local griffons, and the Wind Guard of Précaire have only three weeks to find a replacement: Can the party find a wild griffon in time? The race is in one week, but the Rod of Eight Winds has been stolen; can the adventurers recover the Perdu artifact? The PCs are asked to provide security for the pegasus – which seems like an easy task until Daask gets involved. A friend of the party loses a fortune gambling on the race, and the Clan Saputo is threatening her life: Can the PCs help? If the characters are unscrupulous enough, they may even be hired to cripple racing beasts to skew the odds!

The Beasts

Looking to add a little color to Dura? Here are the eight beasts traditionally used in the race, along with the districts they represent.

The Eagle: The districts of Arche Brisé and Berceau de l'Orage support the Géant eagle, whose colors are brown and gold. Berceau de l'Orageers are especially passionate about the race, even though the eagle rarely wins. Many Berceau de l'Orageers take pride in being fierce and noble like the eagle, and they rarely participate in the politics and intrigue that often affect the final outcome of the race. They are especially dismissive of the other birds of Middle Dura; the hawk is a lesser eagle, while the owl is treacherous and far too clever.

The Gargouille: Effondré and Porte de Malleon were originally represented by the dire bat. As immigrants from Droaam came to Sharn, most settled in the Cogs or Porte de Malleon. Twelve years ago, the region of the bat made an unprecedented changel and shifted their regional beast to the Gargouille, whose colors are black and gray. Currently, the region is represented by Carralag (N male Gargouille rogue 4), a remarkably clever Gargouille with the Manifest Flight feat.

The people of Porte de Malleon are fiercely dedicated to the event. The violence appeals to the Darguuls, while the city Gobelins love the chance to compete against the elitist folk of the upper levels. While the Gargouille has yet to win the race, it has had greater success than the bat, and this has brought increased support for Daask and the Droaamites within the district.

The Aile-planante: This flying Dinosauree represents the districts of Porte d'Or and the Stores, and its colors are gray and green. The aile-planante is extremely popular among the hobbits of Sharn, and some say that the Clan Saputo is the financial force behind the Aile-planante Wind Guard.

The Griffon: This powerful beast represents Précaire and Oldkeep, and its colors are brown and red. During the race, red ribbons are usually tied to the forelegs of the griffon, giving the impression of streams of blood coming from its claws. The people of Précaire are fanatically (and often violently) devoted to the race, although many don't care if they win or lose; as long as the griffon brings down one of the other beasts, they consider it to be a victory.

The Hawk: Délabré and Négligé are represented by the dire hawk, whose colors are light brown and dark brown. The hawk rarely wins, but Négligé makes considerable profits off the tourist trade and most Délabréers are devoted followers of their underdog champion.

The Hippogriff: Garde-dague and Belvédère are represented by the hippogriff, whose colors are white and gold. The Goldwings (the aerial division of the Sharn Watch) are based in Garde-dague, and a Goldwing officer typically represents the district in the race. The hippogriff has one of the best records in the race, rivaled only by the pegasus.

The Owl: The Géant owl is the beast of Fracas-de-Pierre and the Bazaar, and its colors are brown and gray. While it is one of the slowest creatures in the race, the owl is famous for manipulating the outcome of the race with intrigue and diplomacy. While many of the inhabitants of Dura speak dismissively of “two-faced owls,” the merchants, con artists, and pickpockets of the region take pride in their mascot's cunning, and a strong streak of carefree pragmatism runs through these districts. A few former racing owls are now merchants themselves, which can lead to unusual encounters in the Bazaar.

The Pegasus: Haute Eau was the last district to join La Course des Huit Vents. Thanks to Maison Létourneau, Haute Eau is represented by the pegasus, whose colors are white and silver. The pegasus is the swiftest creature in the race, and it has brought Haute Eau to victory time and again. The people of Haute Eau are proud folk and are always willing to discuss the ways in which a pegasus is superior to the other beasts. However, success has its price. The other districts often team up to bring down the pegasus at the start of the race. And outside of the race, many of the inhabitants of the lower wards despise the people of Haute Eau; thieves and bullies will go out of their way to target a snooty pegasus supporter.

La Course des Huit Vents

Nature: Sports Event
Location: Dura, in Sharn

Sharn is a vertical city, and over the course of centuries the people of Sharn have developed a variety of sporting events that take advantage of the unique architecture of their home. Windchasers dart around the towers following elaborate racing paths, while Joutes aériennes joust far above the ground. But one event overshadows the rest: La Course des Huit Vents.

This event draws spectators and gamblers from across Khorvaire. Part race, part aerial battle, this stunning spectacle has shaped the culture of the Dura District. Dura, one of the oldest and poorest arrondissements of Sharn, contains inhabitants swept in from all corners of Khorvaire. They may not have gold, but the people of Dura have La Course des Huit Vents.

According to the Communly accepted — if somewhat unlikely — legend, Roi Galifar II was fascinated by the use of aerial scouts and cavalry. It’s said that he used Sharn as a proving ground to test the merits of different flying beasts, granting land and gold to exceptional cavaliers. Over the centuries, this activity evolved into an exotic competition involving different sorts of magical and fantastic beasts.
.

La Course des Huit Vents is primarily a test of speed and skill through a course that weaves around and through the spires of the city.

For purposes of the race, Dura is divided into eight regions, each of which is represented by a different creature. To this day, the name of the creature is often used as a slang term for the inhabitant of one of these areas; when someone talks about “that treacherous owl”, he's probably referring to a resident of Fracas-de-Pierre or the Bazaar.

The race itself is a test of speed and skill, challenging the reflexes and combat skills of both beast and rider. From the starting point in Folie d'Hareth, the race takes competitors on an intricate course that weaves in and around the towers of Sharn — and since contact is allowed between riders and beasts, the racers can always try to win by eliminating the competition.

The race is older than most of Sharn, which explains why much of Haute Dura isn't represented; it literally didn't exist when the tradition began. Folie d'Hareth and Hostelhome (gm: where?!?) have always been neutral ground where people gather to watch the race.

While the beasts may use any natural weapons that they possess, the riders may not use spells, psionic powers, Marques du Dragon, magic devices, or alchemical items. Anyone who breaks these rules is immediately disqualified, and are also most likely torn apart by an angry mob.

The only weapon a rider can use is a sporting crossbow, equivalent to a light crossbow but with an 80_foot range increment and 1d3/1d4 damage. Competitors may carry a dozen quarrels, allowing the rider to hinder the progress of another racer but making quick kills unlikely.
.

Traditionally, each region enters a single beast and rider in the race. However, if a region makes a 250 gp donation (which goes into a general treasury to offset the cost of the land grant), it may enter a second contestant. While this is rarely done, it is the primary way for outsiders (such as player characters) to enter the race. A would_be contestant would need to negotiate with the Wind Guard and find a region that willingly lets her participate under their banner.

The race itself is a dangerous event. Full contact is allowed between beasts and riders, and beasts can use any natural weapons that they possess. Riders cannot use spells, psionic disciplines, Marques du Dragon, magic devices, or alchemical items, and anyone who breaks these rules is immediately disqualified and exposed to mob violence. A rider is allowed to carry a sporting crossbow and a dozen quarrels; this is similar to a light crossbow, but it has an 80_foot range increment and deals only 1d3/1d4 damage. This allows for entertaining conflict while preventing swift kills.

The victorious rider receives a 500 gp purse and a small parcel of land — while the Wind Guard of the winning region lays claim to the Rod of Eight Winds. This mysterious item is a major artifact recovered from the depths of the city long ago; some say it is linked to Syranie and projects the effects of a Zone De Manifestation within a short distance. However, few of the people of Dura have any interest in the rod's history or powers. What matters is its current role as the symbol of Dura's pride — and each district is desperate to claim it.
.

La Course des Huit Vents brings spectators, tourists, and gamblers from across Khorvaire, and it also presents a host of opportunities for adventurers. The victorious rider receives a 500 gp purse at the end of the race, as well as a grant of land elsewhere in Brelande, donated by one of Sharn’s noble families.

While not everyone takes an interest, many of the inhabitants of Lower and Centre Dura are avid followers of La Course des Huit Vents. It brings people of all races and professions together, and those directly involved with the race are the heroes of their districts. This includes the riders and handlers, along with the Wind Guard — a committee appointed to manage the interests of the region. While this is a great honor, it carries considerable responsibility: there is far more to La Course des Huit Vents than just skill in the air. The Wind Guard has to raise funds to acquire, maintain, and train the exotic beasts used in the competition. Usually local merchants donate a share of their profits to support the race, but it is up to the Wind Guard to make up for any shortfall.

In addition to finances, the members of the Wind Guard engage in a never_ending series of schemes and negotiations on behalf of their region. Alliances and networks of favors stretch back for centuries, making the race as much a match of politics as of speed. The owl is one of the slowest creatures in the race, but the Bazaar has a powerful economic position and often uses bribery and graft to get ahead. The griffon rarely tries to win, instead using its physical power as a bargaining chip throughout the period between races; even if the griffon can't win, it can usually take another creature out of the race. Of course, it may be that the hawk owes a favor to the owl, and repays that favor by asking the griffon to cripple the pegasus — and this is a fairly simple example.

.

Each creature is associated with a particular region within Dura. As the race draws near, visitors see banners displayed across Dura, and people dress in the colors of their beast
.

The districts of Arche Brisé and Berceau de l'Orage support the Géant eagle, whose colors are brown and gold. Berceau de l'Orageers are especially passionate about the race, even though the eagle rarely wins. Many Berceau de l'Orageers take pride in being fierce and noble like the eagle, and they rarely participate in the politics and intrigue that often affect the final outcome of the race. They are especially dismissive of the other birds of Centre Dura; the hawk is a lesser eagle, while the owl is treacherous and far too clever.
.

Effondré and Porte de Malleon were originally represented by the dire bat. As immigrants from Droaam came to Sharn, most settled in the Cogs or Porte de Malleon. Twelve years ago, the region of the bat made an unprecedented change and shifted their regional beast to the Gargouille, whose colors are black and gray. Currently, the region is represented by Carralag (male Gargouille rogue), a remarkably clever Gargouille with the “Manifest Flight” (sharn:specific) feat.

The people of Porte de Malleon are fiercely dedicated to the event. The violence appeals to the Darguuls, while the city Gobelins love the chance to compete against the elitist folk of the upper levels. While the Gargouille has yet to win the race, it has had greater success than the bat, and this has brought increased support for Daask and the Droaamites within the district.
.

This flying Dinosaure (pteranosaurus) represents the districts of Porte d'Or and the Stores, and its colors are gray and green. The aile-planante is extremely popular among the hobbits of Sharn, and some say that the Clan Saputo is the financial force behind the Aile-planante Wind Guard.
.

This powerful beast represents Précaire and Vieux Donjon, and its colors are brown and red. During the race, red ribbons are usually tied to the forelegs of the griffon, giving the impression of streams of blood coming from its claws. The people of Précaire are fanatically (and often violently) devoted to the race, although many don't care if they win or lose; as long as the griffon brings down one of the other beasts, they consider it to be a victory.
.

Délabré and Négligé are represented by the dire hawk, whose colors are light brown and dark brown. The hawk rarely wins, but Négligé makes considerable profits off the tourist trade and most Délabréers are devoted followers of their underdog champion.
.

Garde-dague and Belvédère are represented by the hippogriff, whose colors are white and gold. The Goldwings (the aerial division of the Sharn Watch) are based in Garde-dague, and a Goldwing officer typically represents the district in the race. The hippogriff has one of the best records in the race, rivaled only by the pegasus.
.

The Géant owl is the beast of Fracas-de-Pierre and the Bazaar, and its colors are brown and gray. While it is one of the slowest creatures in the race, the owl is famous for manipulating the outcome of the race with intrigue and diplomacy. While many of the inhabitants of Dura speak dismissively of “two_faced owls,” the merchants, con artists, and pickpockets of the region take pride in their mascot's cunning, and a strong streak of carefree pragmatism runs through these districts. A few former racing owls are now merchants themselves, which can lead to unusual encounters in the Bazaar.
.

Haute Eau was the last district to join La Course des Huit Vents. Thanks to House Létourneau, Haute Eau is represented by the pegasus, whose colors are white and silver. The pegasus is the swiftest creature in the race, and it has brought Haute Eau to victory time and again. The people of Haute Eau are proud folk and are always willing to discuss the ways in which a pegasus is superior to the other beasts.

However, success has its price. The other districts often team up to bring down the pegasus at the start of the race. And outside of the race, many of the inhabitants of the lower districts despise the people of Haute Eau; thieves and bullies will go out of their way to target a snooty pegasus supporter.