The Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame, sometimes shortened to just the Pilgrimage, is a national sporting/combat tournament held at the Stadium of the Sacred Flame in Natlan. It is held as needed in response to Abyssal threat, and thus has been held more frequently in recent years.[1]
Overview[]
Due to the overwhelming number of participants, the tournament is divided into two phases. The first phase is a team competition, in which teams, usually led by a Ancient Name bearer, participate in various battles across Natlan to accumulate Contending Sparks and bring them back to the Stadium of the Sacred Flame. Teams can, but rarely, contain more than one Ancient Name bearer, though some feel doing so can give the perception of cowardice. Defeat in combat, departure from the contest grounds, and running out of time all lead to elimination. The impetus for a team component is to instill the importance of working together, particularly for Ancient Name bearers. Participants from the winning teams move on to the second phase, which is composed of individual one-on-one matches. The outcome of these matches determines their rankings and the contestants' next opponent;[2] closely matched opponents battle it out to see who comes out on top.[3] The ultimate victors of the Pilgrimage are the top scorers at the end of the second phase. They are acclaimed as heroes, and the Ancient Name bearers among them earn the right to take part in the Night Warden Wars, a continuous battle against the invasion of the Abyss. For the tournament held just after the Traveler first arrived in Natlan, it was predetermined that the top five Ancient Name bearers would be the team sent to the Night Warden Wars, though it has not been stated how this number was decided upon. The specific wording used implies that different numbers of team members have been previously selected and sent.[2][3]
The Pilgrimage serves numerous purposes. Its initial function was to collect Contending Fire to fuel the Sacred Flame, which protects Natlan from the Abyss as long as it keeps burning. Crucially, Contending Fire can only be produced in battles between people of Natlan. As such, outlanders are prohibited from participating. It also chooses the strongest warriors to defend Natlan in the Night Warden Wars. Finally, the Pilgrimage is also how the Natlanese select their Pyro Archon; they believe that the most comprehensive test for a future Archon is performance in battle.[2]
Prior to the tournament, individual contestants are required to fill out a pre-registration form (along with an optional supplemental form for personal information such as hobbies and the people closest to them)[4] at the Stadium of the Sacred Flame. Team captains are then expected to register their team before evening on the day before the tournament. The Weary Inn provides free food and lodging for contestants and their friends and family on the night before the competition, courtesy of the Pyro Archon.[2]
While being defeated is the most common way to be eliminated, contestants must also be on time for the opening ceremony on the morning of the tournament.[2] Sleeping in (alcohol-induced or otherwise) and showing up late will get one's entire team disqualified.[5] Additionally, contestants are expected to practice good sportsmanship, though each year there are a few 'sore losers' when eliminated. Harassing other competitors still in the running can lead to tournament staff issuing a warning, and if such behavior persists, offenders can be barred from future competitions.[3]
Other Languages[]
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 归火圣夜巡礼 | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 歸火聖夜巡禮 | |
| Japanese | 帰火聖夜の巡礼 | |
| Korean | 불이 돌아온 밤의 순례 Bur-i Dora-on Bam-ui Sullye | |
| Spanish | El Peregrinaje del Retorno del Fuego Sagrado | The Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Fire |
| French | Pèlerinage de retour du sanctifeu | Pilgrimage of Return of the Sacred FlameSacred FlameSacred FlameSacred Flame Tooltip for Sacred FlameSacred Flameⓘ |
| Russian | Паломничество возвращения Священного пламени Palomnichestvo vozvrashcheniya Svyashchennogo plameni | |
| Thai | จาริกเพลิงศักดิ์สิทธิ์หวนคืน | |
| Vietnamese | Nghi Lễ Hành Hương Về Lửa Thánh | |
| German | Pilgerreise zur Rückkehr des heiligen Feuers | Pilgrimage to the Return of the Sacred Fire |
| Indonesian | Ziarah Kembalinya Api Keramat | |
| Portuguese | Peregrinação do Retorno da Chama Sagrada | |
| Turkish | Kutsal Alevin Dönüşü Yolculuğu | |
| Italian | Pellegrinaggio del ritorno della Fiamma sacra |
Change History[]
References[]
- ↑ NPC Dialogue: Karpa
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act I - Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn, Part 1: Natlan! A New Adventure
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act I - Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn, Part 2: Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame
- ↑ Kachina's Character Story: Character Story 1
- ↑ Archon Quest, Chapter V, Act II - Black Stone Under a White Stone, Part 5: Past and Future
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