Our Champions

 

Our champions all met briefly in the preparation hall for an upcoming contest.  Several of you were first timers, but there were some veterans made doubly known later by the crowd’s enthusiasm at your entrance.  The crowd is chanting for the entertainment soon to come.  There was one champion from every faction present except Capreton.  Their champion got dragged in later by two assistants.  Despite him looking as drunk as a dwarf trapped in a wine cellar and losing his lunch all over the prep room floor they hastily strapped on his gear and tossed him into the arena with the others.

 

The contest of the day was a game of points, sponsored by the Capretons.  Larger foes are worth more points.  Those with the most kill points to their name at the end wins the prize, a tavern in the middle tier of town that was repossessed for dealing in stolen goods.  William Capret, Royal Steward of the Capretons, is at the front of the royal box.  Next to him is the unaffiliated Herald/Bard, Tony who announces our champions and signals the start of the contest!  Hladran mages initiate the magical barrier formed by several obelisks surrounding the area.

 

Gates open at the far end, through the landscape of trees, rocks, and other foliage, there are several suits of armor marching out.  This is something new to the arena and likely just the Capreton military research division trying to show off their new toys to the public.  Binx is the first into action, rushing forward with Tabaxi speed and tries to take cover near a boulder and tree, but the tree moves slightly in response.  Binx stabs at the tree and it groans as it wakes and begins to swing its branches at the cat who dared strike it.  Other trees and bushes around the area all begin to awaken as well.

Calvin tried to persuade the others to work together, but the nature of the contest is clear to all and they choose the individual route, for now.

 

Frank the goblin employs his spirit weapon to begin hacking away like a machete in the brush and quickly begins to rack up some points, even stealing some away from other combatants to the pleasure of the few of his faction members in attendance.  The crowd boos the kill stealing but has seen these tactics before and know that it's part of the game.

 

Bam-Bam plays with fire and really starts a bonfire underneath a section of the arena, hoping torch as much of the area around him as possible for maximum damage.  His unfortunate flames sputter erratically, but it's fire, and the poor plants eventually succumb.

 

I.G. swiftly and deftly slashes with his rapier, hitting several weak points in the trees, but it appears as though he's headed after the bigger points opportunity marching toward everyone.

 

Raiden brings down the lightning against the armored foes as well.  The Hladran members of the crowd rave over his famous style of combat.

 

Modera, champion of Gera, also thinks fire is the right approach for her first time in the arena and successfully lights several on fire around her, gaining some points and stealing a few from Binx who is dodging branch swipes on a nearby boulder.

 

Edwin of Tidus tries to stab at a few trees timidly and unsuccessfully alongside another champion.

 

Calvin of Cerepodol appears to be conflicted as to destroying nature itself before him.  A swipe of a branch later convinces him that this isn't "natural" though and he begins to fight back against the foes, while also battling his own conscience.

 

Our Capreton "drunkard", Denton, rushes forward and stumbles prone at the end of his dash where a nearby bush turns to smack him while he's down.

The suits of armor get closer and the clanking of them makes everyone think they are empty, except IG, being closer, notices that one seems to have something inside as it doesn't ring as hollow sounding as the others and moves differently.

 

As the fight continues, Denton crawls toward the oddly behaving armored being.  He proceeds to take a crystalline shard from his own side and thrusts it between two of the armor segments.  A violet glow shines out of every segment of the armor and it has deep purple glowing eyes.

 

"Fools!" It shouts.  "You desecrate this, my city, with your meaningless contests.". Denton begs for a "release" from the being, which it happily complies with by cleaving down with a sword and removing his arm at the shoulder which throws him into unconsciousness.

 

The glowing enemy reaches upward, funneling energy as it begins to control the magical barrier and slowly it contracts inward on the champions, withering any living thing it touches.

 

The crowd is in a panic, scrambling to exit, and the mages are desperately trying to regain some control over the barrier.  In the end, three of the mages work together to open a portal inside the barrier which only shows a dark blackness.  Modera motions everyone to get out through it.

 

IG, Calvin, and Frank are determined to fell this wicked creature and as IG lands the final blow, a last remaining burst of energy flows outward into the barrier.  "You will all wither like you were meant to," is it's last dying claim.  The scorekeepers are gone, but Frank is wondering just how many points others got and if it took the lead away from him.  They all go through the portal.  Calvin picks up the fallen Denton before finally going through.

 

Everyone gets thrown out of the exit portal on a far cliff side which stands just above the Nylus Academy across the bay from Forsdon City.  As they look toward the glowing sky over the city, an implosion of violet light radiates outward and passes by like an ill breeze.

After a quick stabilization of Denton, he still begs for a "release", which IG quickly grants before any more information can be gained.  Calvin takes a sample of the purple pus oozing out of a wound in his side.

 

Bam-Bam tries to devour the body, but the group quickly stops him, showing their disgust and he instead lights him up like a funeral pyre.  Frank decides these are sure odd customs for such "civilized" people.

 

Some scholars from the Academy come rushing up the hill to put out the fire before it spreads on the dry, grassy area and one of them mentions there's something he thinks they should see, beckoning them to follow him to the academy.