The entirety of the festival was being placed on something of a pause as the tournament was preparing to begin. Most everyone that was in good health was going to watch the opening ceremony and the first round that would follow, though there were exceptions. As members of pacifist orders, the Nemora Elohim sister was remaining with her herbs, as was, as far as those present could presume, the Gigori Medicus. Also of note from the high stands where Syndari was sitting with the kin leaders, was that Korrina had not yet returned with Captain Revius yet, though most of the Bannor delegation was present, including Confessor Gaius. Instead the fort's Commandant, a more minor military leader of the Bannor officially stationed as Torpala's leader, eventually returned, giving a few whispers to the Duke and the Chief, before he stepped forward to address the crowds.

"Citizens of the Bannor! I address you not as kins, but as countrymen, on this day of celebration of 20 years of unity and strength. When the Bannor first arrived upon these hills, they found a people divided by enmity and strife. Even in the face of the greatness of Junil's chosen, their distrust refused to be abated. It was then that the Bannor, under the guidance of the Archangel Sabathiel himself, proposed terms for the kins, offering to pay them tribute if two of their champions could defeat two humble Bannor footmen. But there was one small condition. Both pairs would be bound together, leg to leg. The champions, great warriors though they were, let their enmity for the other overtake them, and they were easy prey to the footmen, who had been taught how best to fight side by side as one. Realizing the strength the Bannor had demonstrated in their unity, the two Kins swore loyalty to the Bannor empire, and kinship with one another. So it has been since. Thus on this day do we honor Sabathiel's gambit, and great warriors, from every kin and land have arrived on this day, not only to prove their strength of arms, but also their strength of unity. Let this unity preserve itself for ages to come."

With that, and during the applause that followed, the two combatants are approached by the Tournament aides to have their legs bound to the other, their movements hampered to prove their teamwork within battle. Valk and Polk seem a little unsteady, but as they take a few steps you can see this has more to do with their drinking than with any lack of cooperation, something they seem to have spent at least some time working on.

((Jon and Kirnan roll initiative))
((Special Rules: At the start of each of your turns make either a Wisdom or an Intelligence Saving throw to determine your coordination with your partner, DC 10. Failure imposes disadvantage to your attack roll that turn.))

John, though encumbered by his leg-bind, releases his bolt aimed at Valk. It soars through the air and hits him in the thigh, piercing his leg armor, with a loud thunk.

John moves to load another bolt, hoping Valk's leg injury will slow down their approach while he reloads.

Yes the bosses are difficult and it might take many many tries.  But it took them a long time to implement the game play for new adventure.  The characters and the characteristics.  If most can clear it like the old adventure in a couple of weeks or just a month, then the time invested is wasted.  I think it is good and those items that are drop are good high mojo items.  If you can collect those frags you will not have to spend on mojos.