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The Proving Grounds is Recruiting!

People of the world! Do you long for excitement, for a thrill that leaves your knees weak and your heart racing? Then the Proving Grounds are what you need! A spectacle of blood! Battle! Furious fighting on the sands of the Goblet with only one who can claim the coveted prize and be called CHAMPION. 

But it’s not just blood that spills on the sands! Whether you’re a grizzled warrior down on his luck or a wealthy merchant trying to get some coveted brand recognition, the Grounds has something for YOU. 

Fight on the sands! Earn the glory and love of our first-rate bloodthirsty audience! Sponsor a gladiator to bring blood and glory to you and yours! You wouldn’t want your competition to think they’re tougher than you, now would you? All of this, and MORE, can be yours if you…. 

SIGN UP FOR THE PROVING GROUNDS TODAY!

(( Please send a message to this blog via Tumblr if you’re interested! One of the admins will get in contact with you about getting more information and access to the Discord! ))

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The Proving Grounds XXVI - Beach Brawl!

The fish has all been fried, the chips all finished or tossed out to the gulls, and Eorzea prepares to match until the milder Autumn moons, but there is one last heat wave to take advantage of before all of that settles in! One last bloody hurrah for the sunny beaches as we go to paint that pristine sand crimson. That’s right, the Proving Ground’s Beachside Brawl is upon us! Break out your swimwear one more time, grab a fruity drink with seven umbrellas, and watch as some of the fighter roster’s finest slug it out in one of the most demanding tourneys cooked up! Because it’s not just a single brutal beating sending challengers home tonight, our losers will have a chance to prove themselves worthy of another shot at the dagger through a double elimination style tournament!

Headlining the first fight is the very first champion versus champion match in the history of the Proving Grounds! Freshly crowned as the first Golden Dagger champion, the well weathered Highlander showman Rothgar Gunnarsvard will be taking on the only remaining Ivory Dagger champion and the fighter with the most bouts under their belt, Bremwyda Abylnpfefwyb! Two titans of the games squaring off for the first time, bringing the weight of their titles to bear against each other is an intro match you do not want to miss!

The other half of our unfortunate souls who’ll be put through the ringer repeatedly this time around is made up by the masked Steppe warrior Kojhin Oronir and his quest for another bloody brawl, and his ‘Ghostly’ opponent Silam Kisuk who’s eager to have a rematch against the relentless force from the East. These two have clashed beautifully before, and the both of them have only had time to reflect on the ways they’d go about murdering one another more efficiently since then!

And of course, we’ll get to watch all four of these hardened veterans of the sands on a very different stage out in Eastern La Noscea, and they’ll be earning their chance to take their battered ass to task right around again to claw at another handful of glory. This one is going to be special, folks! Gather at the rear pavilion (( 36.5 , 25.5 )) in Eastern La Noscea on ((Saturday, September 7th)) at ((8 PM EST, 5 PM PST))! 

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

Proving Grounds Social XXVI Promo: Beach Special!

Good people of Eorzea! You beloved Promo Writer Extraordinaire, Pressed Ham returns to service in the Proving Grounds writing offices after overseeing the wildest tourney in the history of the games! Though we could all bask in the glory of the Golden Dagger championship for another moon easily, time marches forward and so does the well tended schedule of the ‘Grounds! And that can only mean we are closing in on the next bloody bout of carnage for the whole family! And as such, we’re right on the doorstep of our next Proving Ground’s Social!

In a special celebration for the final days of the Moonfire Faire, we’ll be hosting our Social and the next series of fights on the festival island just off the coast of Costa del Sol! So come out to the beautiful shores of La Noscea, grab yourself a fried fish and popoto basket and enjoy the Fighter Selection Ceremony live! Gather at the rear pavillion (( 36.5 , 25.5 )) in Eastern La Noscea on ((Saturday, August 24th)) at ((8 PM EST, 5 PM PST))! Don’t forget to come in your best beachwear!

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

The Proving Grounds XXV!

Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of Eorzea and parts both exotic and mundane, join us for a very special edition of the Proving Grounds as we celebrate our XXVth installment!  Come join us as our gladiators strip down to their gloriously gilded undergarments and fight to the near-death in a sandy, bloody pit of mostly regret!  We guarantee it'll be a fun way to spend your time!  For this edition of the games, things are getting changed up in celebration of our milestone event: A very special guest Gamemaster shall be presiding over the event, a gleaming Golden Dagger will be presented to the winner rather than a Rosewood Dagger- and only one of these is required to be called a Proving Grounds Champion.  Lastly, some of the games' usually iron-clad rules of engagement have been relaxed.  Absolutely anything goes for these XXVth games, folks!  We set the stage for these special games with what promises to be a barnburner between Erdenechimeg Kha and Eigengrau Hatasashi.  Erdenechimeg won a Rosewood Dagger on his very first games, defeating a pair of former winners along the way, while the talented dancer looks to return to the path of victory at the Kha's expense.  Our second match involves a veteran of the games, the enigmatic Kojhin Oronir- who's never met a fight he didn't want to pick- and a special guest gladiator, the personal champion of our Very Special Guest Gamesmaster, a mysterious warrior hailing from far off lands whose name is as shrouded in mystery as the rest of them! The third bout is between former winner Kindoron Tumet and the Proving Grounds very own proverbial bridesmaid C'novhi Tia.  Will the terrifying Tumet claim the Golden Dagger or will the tenacious Tia finally break through?  And rounding out the first round is a battle of previous winners, Rothgar Gunnarsvard and Delesta Dorel in a battle of unorthodox experience versus cagey street smarts.  Will either of these two seasoned veterans rise up and claim the Golden Dagger?  The bookmakers are saying 'Maybe'!  See you there!

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

Proving Grounds XXV Social Promo!

Denizens of Eorzea, your great summer drought draws swiftly to it’s close! Not that the heat is going anywhere, but we have the imminent return of this stars premier blood-sport tourney to draw your mind from the sweltering weight of the summer moons! And we have a very special set of games with very special guest Gamesmaster in a unique tournament where the winner will be given a Golden Dagger, only one of which is needed to become a Golden Dagger Champion! And that’s only where the surprises start, my friends!

But before we get into the next bout of bloody glory, we must first see which brave fighters will take the challenge upon the sands for fame and fortune! So come join us  on ((July 27th, at 8 PM EST, 5 PM PST)) at The Haughty Mason ((16/30 in Lavender Beds)) for the Proving Grounds Social! Watch the ego’s flare and tempers boil over as the scent of unchecked ambitions and bloodlust fills the air during the fighter selection ceremony! Don’t miss out!

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

The growing heat of the approaching Summer months sets nearly as oppressively upon the brow as the rumblings on the Garlean borders, and opportunities to escape such thoughts grow rarer by the day. But worry not, good people of Eorzea, for distraction and relatively viewer-safe* violence among trained combatants have not faulted in the sweltering abyss! The Proving Grounds will be running it’s 24th tourney in all of the spectacle and glory it’s fans have come to expect! Come join us for one last bounty of bloodsport before our mid-year break, which is definitely unrelated to cleaning out the blood caked sand and selling it to void cultists to off-set stolen patron money!

The first matchup of the night has the thrill-seeking warrior of the Steppe Kojhin of the Oronir facing off against one of the more enigmatic new faces of the roster, Silam ‘The Ghost’ Kisuk! Both take to the arena with distinctive Eastern fighting styles, though very much different from one another. However, each were keen enough on challenging the other to set it up even before the selection ceremony, and we now reap the benefit of two souls hunting for their best possible battle!

Next we have long time fan, first time fighter Erdenechimeg of the Kha setting his excitable fists against the De’uden’s pet feral, Dagger the combative miqo’te! Even when given his pick of the litter, the man opted to challenge the near-beastman to his first venture into the sands. Will the most recent dagger winner take the next step towards championship and gnaw off the rookie’s leg in the process, or shall he find a way to quell the raging creature?

Third in the lineup is a rematch of one of the wilder Dagger matches of the Ivory Dagger era! C’novhi Tia will take sword and shield once again against the champion herself, Bremwyda Abylnpfefwyb! The literal flames of their last match up may have died that day, but the burns they left and the fire stoked in the pit of each gladiator’s heart is very much alive and smoldering in the both of them!

And last of the pre-lims we have eccentric tactics taking on more traditional fundamentals in a Highlander showdown! Rothgar’s unique take to the arena is nothing new to long-time ‘Grounds fans, but all the showmanship in the world may not be enough to get him past Katalin Hunter and her dedicated commitment to proper combat with her polearms.

Don’t find yourself left listening to others tell the tales of glory, come watch the victors claim their glory as it happens! Bring your friends, your kids, even your pets! It’s a blood sport for the whole family! This has been Pressed Ham encouraging you all to come take in the bounty of blood on ((Saturday, June 15th at 8 PM EST / 5 PM PST)) in the 1st Ward of the Goblet, South of the Brimming heart! 

* The Proving Grounds, it’s Patrons, Fighters, and Staff are in no way liable as a whole for any pain, suffering, dismemberment, or death of crowd members. Viewer discretion is advised.

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

Proving Grounds Social XIV!

Citizens of Eorzea! The beckoning cry of the arena is calling out once again for a bounty of blood to be offered to it’s sands! The contenders of the Proving Grounds will soon once again face off for a Rosewood Dagger and a step towards claiming the title of Proving Ground’s Champion! And that means the Proving Grounds Social and it’s heated fighter selection ceremony draws near! The passion that pours out into the fights for all to see is first stirred and seasoned at the Social, so don’t miss out!

But before we get into the next bout of bloody glory, we must first see which brave fighters will take the challenge upon the sands for fame and fortune! So come join us  on ((June 1st, at 8 PM EST, 5 PM PST)) at The Haughty Mason ((16/30 in Lavender Beds)) for the Proving Grounds Social! Watch the ego’s flare and tempers boil over as the scent of unchecked ambitions and bloodlust fills the air during the fighter selection ceremony! Don’t miss out!

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

The Proving Grounds XXIII Promo!

Eorzeans and guests from near and far, the time once again is upon us for the running of the Proving Grounds! Only a few suns separate you from the bone-crunching, blood-spilling, skull-shattering feast for the eyes that only the premiere venue of violent glory can bring! A truly unique night in ‘Grounds history is set to unfold staring old faces in new roles, new challengers hunting for glory, and hungry veterans ready to grasp their first Rosewood Dagger! All under the care of a very special guest Games Master that you won’t want to miss!

The night will start with the man recently disqualified from taking part in a dagger match, Eigengrau Hatasashi face off against former Games Master turned fighter, I’llia Mitnu in her debut as a combatant. Will the fan-wielding xaela dancer take steps towards redemption, or will his opponent be there to announce his defeat herself?

Next we have perhaps the most lopsided weight class matchup in the history of the Proving Grounds; Tiny-Terror-turned-guard-turned-fighter Scorching Orchard and her mouthful of distressingly sharp teeth will be taking on none other than the champion herself, Bremwyda Abylnpfefwyb! As only the second lalafell to take the sands, Orchard is going to have an actual mountain to climb as her first trial, but the sea wolf has been on a losing streak since their change of weapons. It’s anyone’s match!

The third match of the pre-lims marks the return of the De’uden’s feral fighter ‘Dagger’ and his beast-like savagery against newly minted fighter Den Ashfell! While it’s always good to see fresh meat take the sands, one can only hope he can manage against one of the most aggressive creatures involved in the Proving Grounds, and her fighter!

And the last of the early matches brings us the battle-smith A’lera Tristelle in her second appearance in the Proving Grounds aiming to smash expectations against long-toothed veteran and recent Rosewood Dagger winner Delesta Dorel and her punishing cesti! A pair of blunt-weapon specialists set for a proper bruising contest to usher in the semi-finals can’t be missed!

Don’t find yourself left listening to others tell the tales of glory, come watch the victors claim their glory as it happens! Bring your friends, your kids, even your pets! It’s a blood sport for the whole family! This has been Pressed Ham encouraging you all to come take in the bounty of blood on ((Saturday, May 28th at 8 PM EST / 5 PM PST)) in the 1st Ward of the Goblet, South of the Brimming heart!

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

The Proving Grounds XXII Promo!

Citizens, can you catch the mote of blood upon the wind? The clashing of steel against steel like a distant whisper? Worry not, for it’s not an impending invasion of Garleans waiting on the borders of a sister nation, but instead marks the call for the next running of the Proving Grounds! And what better way to escape the thought of the ravages of potential war than to come to the Goblet, light up a definitely legally imported cigarette from the East, and relax to the sights and sounds of well trained souls trying to rend and maim one another? Look no further than the Proving Grounds’s twenty-second games!

The first of our prelims will take a shockingly prolific patron-turned-fighter and pit them against some of the Proving Ground’s new blood! Cycloptic salt’n’pepper highlander and magitek enthusiast Arden Tide will be the welcoming committee for the polearm wielding Katalin Hunter in her introduction to the sands and the roar of the crowd. Will the new face throw the old man back into the patron seats, or will the Proving Grounds tradition of ‘old man strength’ carry him through?

The second matchup brings a recent champion against one of the more flamboyant members of the roster. Rothgar Gunnasrsvard, renown kiss bandit and winner of the second Rosewood Dagger, will be pitting his ‘creative’ method of getting at his foe against a man nearly as gay as he is golden, Khal ‘The Pale Shark’ Hatasashi and his unrelenting blunt tongue. If this wasn’t going to be charged enough, I’ve heard that the Gamesmaster had to spend a portion of a rather sizeable donation on body oil just for this match.

Thirdly, we have a rare matchup of two entirely new gladiators getting their first taste of the Proving Grounds sands! A’lera Tristelle and her hammer are out to smith up a championship bid, but Silam Kisuk and Far Eastern swordwork look to put up more resistance than the anvils the miqo’te might be used to. One will start their career with victory and cheers, and the other fuel for the fire to keep the hunt alive.

And with the final match of the prelims we have a pair of well tested fighters looking to take the next step up within the games. The masked Steppe warrior, Kohjin of the Oronir continues his hunt for truly engaging battles against sword’n’board and multiple finals competitor C’novhi Tia. Only one of them though will have an opportunity to move on and try and grasp their first Dagger.

New challengers, seasoned veterans, and more homoeroticism than you can shake a suggestively shaped stick at! Don’t miss out on this blaze of glory! This has been Pressed Ham encouraging you all to come take in the bounty of blood on ((Saturday, April 20th at 8 PM EST / 5 PM PST)) in the 1st Ward of the Goblet, South of the Brimming heart!

PS: The Proving Grounds, it’s patrons, fighters, and staff are not responsible for your personal behavior on moko grass. Please enjoy responsibly. Or don’t, we’re not the Brass Blades.

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

Proving Grounds XXII Social Promo

We close once again on the running of Eorzea’s premier option in bloodsport, The Proving Grounds! But while we still have our crews working to clean the blood out of the sands from the last set of games, we’ll be hosting the Proving Grounds Social to pour our trademark cocktail of barely-behaved and equally rowdy patrons out for anyone brave enough to stand within barstool chucking distance!

As always we’ll be deciding the matchups for the first round of fights live on stage, and if history is any sign we’ll get a preview of one of them just outside immediately after! So come join us  on ((April 6, at 8 PM EST, 5 PM PST)) at The Haughty Mason ((16/30 in Lavender Beds)) for the Proving Grounds Social! Watch the ego’s flare and tempers boil over as the scent of unchecked ambitions and bloodlust fill the air during the fighter selection ceremony! Don’t miss out!

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

The Proving Grounds XXI Promo

Citizens of Eorzea! Rejoice for the Proving Grounds have returned once again! Will we see a our first Rosewood dagger champion or will we see a new contender taking the win as we continue our search for our first champion of this brave new era! Our first fight sees the first of our dagger winners, Kindoron Tumet, facing off against the beautiful and deadly Eigengrau Hatasashi! We’ll see if beauty out does brawn or if might (and maybe a good bit of ego to boot) will take the win for the round! The next fight we see our second contender for champion and the winner of our last games, Rothgar Gunnarsvard facing the feral and furious fighter of the De’uden’s. Will we see Rothgar move on to make a run for his second dagger or will the untamed miqo’te surprise us all and make a play for his first win! After that we see our reigning queen of the sands Bremwyda Abylnpfefwyb facing off against the shining son of the sun from the Steppes, Kojhin Oronir! Will our verbose queen put the little sun in his place, or will Kojhin prove just how bright he can shine!

Finally, back from her long hiatus we have the self proclaimed sultana of the sapphire markets, Delesta Dorel, facing off against her one time patron, Arden Tide. Will the fiery redhead show the old man a thing or two about fighting on the sands or will Arden show Delesta he’s still got his own fire! We have a spectacular show laid out before us and it proves to be an exciting time for all involved! And there might just be a special surprise to keep the bloodshed going! Come join us ((Saturday, March 23th at 8 PM EDT / 5 PM PDT)) in the 1st Ward of the Goblet, South of the Brimming heart!

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

Proving Grounds XXI Social

Good people of Eorzea! The call of the arena is ringing out once again to call the land’s greatest combatants together in search of a Rosewood Dagger and a step towards claiming the title of Proving Ground’s Champion! The fighter selection ceremony is always a hotbed for sparking tensions that light the fires of passion at the Proving Grounds Social. The flames burn their brightest on the sands, but it’s the Social that stokes the fire into that beautiful pillar of flame, so don’t miss out!

But before we get into the next bout of bloody glory, we must first see which brave fighters will take the challenge upon the sands for fame and fortune! So come join us  on ((March 9, at 8 PM EST, 5 PM PST)) at The Haughty Mason ((16/30 in Lavender Beds)) for the Proving Grounds Social! Watch the ego’s flare and tempers boil over as the scent of unchecked ambitions and bloodlust fill the air during the fighter selection ceremony! Don’t miss out!

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

Rejoice, Eorzea! The time draws near once again for the running of the Proving Grounds! We continue on into the Rosewood era in our hunt for the first champion of the new year, and with a field of tested hopefuls we’re certain to either add to the honor of a seasoned veteran, or star building the legend of a rising star!

We look to open the next games strong, with Kindoron Tumet’s arrogant bluster after claiming the very first of the Rosewood daggers is challenged against the final Ivory dagger champion, the equally mouthy queen of the arena, Bremwyda Abylnpfefwyb! It’ll be a wonder if the sands have enough room for these two egos, let alone the fighters themselves!

Moving from there a pair of relatively recent additions to the roster square off for the first time. Proud Steppe warrior of the Oronir, Kojhin looks to redeem himself after a loss to his xaela ‘teammate’ faces off against Arden Tide’s sword and shield, which earned him a spot in the finals in the previous games. A battle of ferocity against experience, which I’m told is a much nicer way of saying it’s a greenhorn taking on an old man!

Third we have a previous dagger winner and one of the most flashy fighters, Eigengrau of the Mankhad’s deadly fans will be up against Rothgar Gunnarsvard returning to the sands under the banner of The Haughty Mason. I have it on good authority that if the Highlander pulls off the win, the first round at the afterparty will be half off, and if he loses his patron will probably break his arm.

Last, but by no means least! Guard-turned-fighter, Khal ‘The Pale Shark’ Hatasashi will clash against C’novi Tia as he takes up sword and shield in the arena once more. Familiar faces either from deep runs in the tourney or for their work outside of it, but only one of them will take that next step towards becoming a champion!

We have a full lineup of skilled combatants with nothing in the way between them and glory but one another! Watch them get cut down mercilessly one by one until only a single blood-stained warrior standing atop the pile! This has been Pressed Ham hoping you all make it out to join us on ((Saturday, February 23th at 8 PM EST / 5 PM PST)) in the 1st Ward of the Goblet, South of the Brimming heart!

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

Proving Grounds XX Social!

Citizens of Eorzea and beyond! The time draws close once again for brave gladiators to take to the sands in search of fame and fortune in a display for the blood thirsty public! And as such, that means the Proving Grounds Social is right around the corner! We celebrate moving forward into the Rosewood Dagger era, on the chase for its first champion while celebrating the last to hoist the Ivory in the past games!

But before we get into the next bout of bloody glory, we must first see which brave fighters will take the challenge upon the sands for gil and glory. So come join us  on ((February 9, at 8 PM EST, 5 PM PST)) at The Haughty Mason ((16/30 in Lavender Beds)) for the Proving Grounds Social! Watch the ego’s flare and tempers boil over as the scent of unchecked ambitions and bloodlust fill the air during the fighter selection ceremony! Don’t miss out!

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

Proving Grounds Proving XIX - Season II Recap

By the blessing of the Twelve, the Kami, and whatever other gods saw fit to watch, the second season of the Proving Grounds opened to a truly thunderous night of violence and passion! Long held rivalries boiled over from the patron stands into the arena, allies turned into foes settled matters in proper bloodsport, and two men tangled themselves into one writhing mass of murderous intent! And that’s not even touching on the championship settled as a life-long fued against an entire city-state! Two daggers were awarded on this emotional night, the last of the Ivory and the first of the Rosewood, ending one era of greatness while throwing open the gates to even more bountiful opportunities!

The new season started off immediately with a long awaited grudge match between Arden Tide, patron-turned-gladiator who had demanded the chance to bloody the newest member of the De’Uden roster, Dagger the feral miqo’te! One would think the wild man properly understood the heated rivalry of his backers against Arden and his wives, seeing as he didn’t even bother to wait to get introduced or have the fight called to start properly before he charged down the highlander and began an unrelenting assault. It looked for a time that the feline’s savagery would fully overwhelm his opponent, but when Arden began to give into his own instinct and rage and managed to get atop Dagger and battered his head until the miqo’te wasn’t left in any state to fight. Though a high Tide rolled in on the De’uden dreams this time out, there’s no doubt that the bad blood is far from settled.

The second match brought out both of the fighters of the rising star of the patron ranks, Kadour Astollias. Two Steppe Warriors, who had worked as a team in the last games, were pit against one another after that bitter loss. Kindoron of the Tumet, a fiery axe wielder came immediately into things throwing the blame and dishonor of their loss on his foe, Kojhin of the Oronir, who was more than ready to show his ‘friend’ the error of his ways. Passion and pride were nearly as overwhelming as the blows they raining down on one another, right along a great deal of tribal taunting, that if I’m being honest I definitely didn’t get. But they sure meant it! Though both through the very length of the entire fight brought on emotional flame that’s normally reserved for blood feuds and exotic mating rituals, it was Kindoron’s axe that got in the deciding swing, even if the Oronir he was fighting used his last breath before passing out from blood loss to fling a dagger into the other man’s shoulder.

And speaking of mating rituals, the last of the preliminary fights set between one of our hard working guards stepping up to the sands Khal Hatasachi and his unrelenting spear against the winner of last month’s games and seasoned veteran of the sands Eigengrau of Mankhad! Though through the fight blades cut deep and bones were broken between the two men, the undertones of reverberated with more sexual tension than Admiral Merlwyb doing a white glove inspection. In the end it was Hatasachi who finished with a hard slam of his spear into Eigengrau’s face, and earned himself a place in the finals!

Before moving on to the finals to give out the first rosewood dagger to herald in the new season, there was one matter left to settle from the year before. The last of the ivory daggers was up for grabs, a chance to grasp the glory, the boon, and the title of champion for themselves between the two fighters who had earned a pair of daggers each. Garinn Armstrong, longest tenured of the active fighting roster and proud son of Ishgard and one of their Dragoons took to the sands against a mountain of a woman who’s stood in almost every running of the games since she joined, and former prisoner of the man’s homeland, Bremwyda Abylnpfefwyb.

The pale titan started an unforgiving assault, both against the man himself with her blades and the whole of his city with her words. Vitriol and blood were flowing in equal measure, and though he tried to quell her with reason and his halberd both, the roe’s rage would not be contained so easily. Garinn pushed the sea wolf to the limits of consciousness while hammering away at her face, the half that ISN’T metal, but she was able snatch her victory by taking the man’s arm and snapping it in half backwards at the elbow bare handed, and started to throw her own punches until he blacked out. Before she claimed her dagger, and the boon of having an airship commissioned, Bremwyda got one last bit of revenge on Ishgard and the man symboling it; pulling off his helmet and slicing off the back of his mullet.

With a champion crowned and the prior season finally put to bed, it was on to the three-way final between Khal, Arden, and Kindoron, all seeking to be the first to hold a rosewood dagger! The insults came early and often as each of the three of them began to lay into one another, and as they found extra targets with their weapons, the hateful words swung wide into mothers and wives as well. Despite his confidence and a fine performance, Khal was the first to fall from the match under Kindoron’s assault. Arden withstood the brunt of his assault a while longer, and was able to make the xaela pay for his dagger in all the more blood for it, but in the end it was arrogant warrior of the Steppe who stood tall above both of his opponents, making good on his claims that he could battle two men and stand the victor, and now stands halfway to being the first Rosewood Champion of the Proving Grounds!

And so another running of the games has come to a close, with a new champion, new contenders, and fresh blood seeping into the sands. We invite you and your whole family to see the next games in person, hear the roar of the cheering crowds, watch the displays of athleticism, and feel the blood splash on your face if you get into the front rows! This has been Pressed Ham, and I speak for all of us at the Proving Grounds when I say we hope to see you there next time!

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

Proving Grounds XIX: Season Two

Citizens of Eorzea and beyond, rejoice as Heavensturn has passed and set the last year behind us and we can set our eyes forward to another glorious year! And what better way to properly start off a new year than with a new season of The Proving Grounds! New rules, new fighters, and of course, new gore and glory!

The next running of the games will see the last offering of an ivory dagger, a final triple dagger champion as the prize moves to a new series of blades. Only two rosewood daggers will be needed for future champions to claim their boon, and the first of these will be awarded to the tourney champion! We celebrate both the multitudes of blood already spilled upon the sands, and welcome the violent bounty of matches to come! And speaking of matches..

The very first bout of the new year will be against long time patron turned gladiator Arden Tide against the newest member of the De’uden stable, Dagger the wild miqo’te! It’s little secret that the highlander and everyone’s favorite Ishgardian nobles have been boiling over at the Grounds for months, and now they finally have a chance to settle the way it should be; on the arena floor for all to see and cheer on!

Next we have a pair of warriors of the Steppe who share a patron squaring off against one another, Kindoron of the Tumet against Kojhin of the Oronir! Perhaps the man’s looking to pick himself a favorite, or he’s just as eager to pit a couple of dangerous men against one another for the amusement of the masses. Either way we’re in for a proper treat of the special brand of violence imported from the Far East!

The third slot has another matching of au’ra men, though this time a former member of the guard Khal “The Pale Shark” Hatasashi is stepping out onto the sands to battle against the last month’s winner, the ever nimble and energetic Eigengrau of Mankhad! There’s no slouches on the guard staff to be sure, but now we’ll get to properly see if the Raen has what it takes to best one of the more accomplished Xaela on the roster!

And as a special match outside of the dagger tourney itself, we’re sending off the Ivory Daggers with one final match. The two souls who each have claim to a pair of daggers each will compete directly against one another to claim the last of their kind, the final Ivory Champion of the Proving Grounds. The former Dragoon of Ishgard and keeper of the golden waterfall of hair Garinn Armstrong and is unique split halberd will be set against the mountain of alabaster and her bloodthirsty twin-blades, Bremwyda Abylnpfefwyb in what is sure to be a brutal rematch for the height of glory!

We’re set for a night of old grudges, new rivalries, and champions! Everything the public has come to expect from the premier destination for raw bloodsport in all Eorzea! This has been Pressed Ham hoping you all make it out to join us on ((Saturday, January 26th at 8 PM EST / 5 PM PST)) in the 1st Ward of the Goblet, South of the Brimming heart!

[theprovinggrounds-blog]

The Proving Grounds XV! September 22, 2018, 8PM EST!

People of Eorzea! It’s that time again for the most gruesome games that Ul’dah has to offer, The Proving Grounds!   This weeks games, the 15th to bloody the sands,  are sure to tantalize the young and old with a spectacle of blood and circus that hasn’t been seen in a long time.   A newcomer to the ring, known only as Dagger, has the guards whispering about different ways to restrain the miqo’te should he win a fight.  The wolf howling W’amarok is going to have his hands full with that one!   Add to that the pairing of giant and petite with Bremwyda Abylnpfefwyb and D’atlas Lhex for the second round.  Both fighters were eliminated with Delesta got her coveted dagger, what will happen when these two go up against each other?!?  To finish off the final round we have lady highlander on lady highlander action with the wild and unpredictable Hailstorm going up against the relative newcomer Bloodbraids.  Hailstorm is an old favorite, but Bloodbraids has a charming manner that’s hard to resist.   What?  That’s an odd number of fights you say?  Well yes people of Eorzea it is.  What will happen after that?  It’s anyone's guess!  The only way you’ll find out is to come down to the sands this Saturday the 22nd of September in the year 2018 in Ward 1, Goblet, South of the Brimming Heart.  The spectacle starts promptly at 8PM EST.  We hope to see you there!   Disclaimer:  The Proving Grounds and the staff are not responsible for churning stomachs, fainting spells, bitten off nails, or any other physical or mental instabilities created by watching the event.  Come at your own risk, stay because you couldn’t look away.