A mysterious figure looms over you as you stand about in an endless void.
Welcome champions. You have been brought from the waves of time, to stand and fight, and entertain. 12 are chosen, 12 will battle, 1 will win.
Light begins to fill the void, slowly, like an uncertain dawn on a cloudy morn. You stand on a dusty track in the middle of plains lands. You see nothing around you except 11 other challengers.
Prepare yourselves however you might. Momentarily I will send you to your battle arena against your chosen opponent. Fight to win, for glory. Fear not death, for it does not exist in my realm. Die, and you will return here to again gain your strength, and more. And then, fight again!
Suddenly the dusty track is filled on either side by shops and barkers, blacksmiths and potion brewers. Any manner of commerce, think of it and it is before you in a twinkling of an eye.
As you look about, you instantly know who amoungst this group will be your challenger in the next battle. You see their form, their armaments, and perhaps can draw some conclusions there of. The rest perhaps you will find out in the arena.
Beansidhe stands, air flowing around her lightly and keeping her hair in constant motion, yet it stays out of her face. She pulls out an arrow and runs her eyes over it, just to make sure it's set and ready. She puts it back into the quiver at her side, then eyes her challenger up and down, taking a mental note of what she can see.
"Wuh? Palthut ready to battling! Palthut have excitement!"
"Oooh, scary opponents. Those are the best kind!"
A strong but seemingly gentle warrior steps forward from the crowd, looking around at them for a moment. Then he addresses the mysterious figure.
When the dust and blood have settled, what exactly is it that the lone victor "wins"?
As his voice carries you catch a hint of a watery echo, as if he's speaking in a bath-chamber, or some other place that forces sounds to reverberate over pools of water. However, it's subtle to the point that you don't think you really heard it unless you focus on his speech.
The figure looks down upon Asaakoz, arcane sparks flying from the corners of his eyes.
You do not truly exist, but are motes of possibility from across the chaos of the weft and weave. If you win, then I will permit your possibility to come to fruition outside of this imagination. If you lose, then you will never have existed anyways.
Asaakoz ponders these words for a moment before conceding, then this explains why I have no memories. Fascinating.
Tobias Looks at Acrythe inquisitively before finding a dark corner to sit down in a meditative pose.
Anyone who is able to keep track of tobias will notice his shadow gradually stretching before forming a large serpentine creature directly behind only to vanish further into the shadows.
Belive his work done Tobias mutter under his breath to penny in a hushed whisper in the tongue of the outside. "Do not worry my precious, soon we shall show them the folly of opposing the shadows."
"Muhahahhahahhahahhahahhahah"
Boom! listens intently to the mysterious figure's explanation for Boom!'s sudden existence and nods along in comprehension. "Boom! understands! No dogs, no horses. Just fighters and food. Boom! likes this place very much."
"Possibilities, huh? Sounds like existential dread waiting to happen, but I never was one to care much for these things. I am the entity thinking this thought, and that's enough for me."
Aristotle opens a notebook and takes a few notes. "So, you don't like dogs and horses, little goblin? Good to know."
”Don’t care too much about what we win, although the chance to potentially exist in real is tempting.”
Acrythe muses while he strokes his goatee, not even bothering to follow his opponent into the shadow.
As Carlos and Aristotle fade back into existance, Carlos claps his hand on the elf's shoulder. "Good fight! I assume your magic would have done something nasty if you had gotten a spell off. I was very glad you didn't just head way out of range and started potshotting with that crossbow of yours. If you had, I would have had to do something nasty to your little friend there."
"It would have done something worse had I not made a fatal mistake in the thaumo-cronography. Had my preparations been proper, I would have crushed you. We shall see next time we meet, I assume."
Asaakoz and Beetly blink back into the lobby.
Well fought Beetly. May your electrical blasts do more than tickle your next opponent.
Asaakoz offers a slight bow of intended respect despite his botched words.
"That hurt!!!"
Tobias fade back into existence and shakes his head.
"Well that went to prove I cannot under estimate anyone, even if they are not from the plane of shadows."
Seemingly unfazed by coming back to life, Acrythe stares down Tobias.
”Interesting choice to fight so passively, next time do yourself some more honor and fight man to man. AH! But how can I fault anyone for using everything at their disposal to best an enemy. You have a hidden strength, best of luck going forward.”
And with that walks off away from everyone else to prepare himself for the next fight.
Tobias returns Acrythes stare unflinchingly.
"I am glad you you can understand my fighting style even if it does erk you, yours is rather interesting it self, I hope you fair better in your future fights."
Tobias then goes about shopping for items he deems will be useful.
As Tobias make his was further down the hall he notice a weird light projection show the match between a Sylph and a Oread that was looking like it was bout to get heated up, turning to anyone around him.
"100 gold pieces on the Oread winning this fight"
"Ha! Small one, I'll take that bet! The rock man is slow, and lightly armored, and the other one moves like the wind!
Tobias shakes the large mans to signify the bet has been made.
"That may be so, but my bet is he can take more hits then they can."
Tobias wince's as the Oread a arrow that look like it hit squarely and VERY painfully.
"Looking good for you my large fellow, by the way my name is Tobias, I don't believe I caught yours?"
"Carlos! I swear there should be more to it, but every time I think about it my mind goes a little fuzzy. Maybe what the weird spirit was talking about."
"Probably irrelevant unless you win this entire thing, I am guessing those of us who don't do well will probably wiped from existence, So probably best to think about the now."
As he says that he see's the oread get telly-ported away and then summons a frog.
"Hmmm bad move on his half, he should have keep't that for when he had some idea off were his opponent is, now its just wasted and will probably vanish before he even see's them."
As the match goes on Tobias turns to Carlos.
"So Carlos, it seems like we both finished our matchs around the same time, So I am going to suggest a mutual agreement, I'll give you information on my previous opponent if you do the same, sounds like a fair deal yes?"
At which point Tobias holds out his hand for a hand shake.
" Yes, that seems fair enough. My opponent was some kind of elvish wizard. I'm not sure what his magics were intended to do, as I did not stay in his sight long enough for him to cast one. He had a crossbow, but I was able to catch him before he just ran off and filled me with bolts. How about yours?"
Tobias rights down the info as Carlos gives it to him into a little book he keeps at his side.
"Hmm interesting, Mine was some kind of brawler, had a weird mechanical arm that could unleash a terrifying punch, I'd strongly suggest not getting in arms reach of it, he also had a crossbow but I doubt it was his main means of fighting."
Aristotle tries to overhear what Tobias is saying.
Beansidhe materializes back into existence on the wide, strange plane. She stumbles a bit, and begins to rub her feet then looks up at Palthut appearing beside her. "That was quite the hunt. I appreciate the challenge," she says extending her hand. "Beansidhe."
Tobias hands Carlos the 100 gold pieces.
"Going to have to keep a eye on her, she could be problematic for both of us I believe."
"Yes, that was a very good shot she made. I'll have to get in close, and you would probably have to stay out of sight!
Turning his attention to the last fight remaining, Carlos whistles. "Well, that's one way to make it go quickly. Fire is never a good death
Tobias also turns to watch.
"Not much experience with the stuff myself, least I don't think I have, plenty experience with the cold tho."
"Palthut bet 50 gp's dwarf crush puny golblin!"
Tobias looks at Palthut, looks at the match he is mentioning, thinks it over and nods.
"I'll take that bet, as long as the litte gretching plays it smart he should win this."
"Eeee heee heee"
"Dak li jdum hekk? Huwa dritt quddiemu!"
What takes so long? He is right in front of him!
"What? Dworf lose ing? ARGGGGGGGGGGGGG"
Tobias sighs before handing Palthut the 50 gold pieces.
Combatants and battle map for next round will be revealed on Monday assuming everyone has finished leveling by then. At that time you can take your prebuff and spell preperation actions. We will plan on diving in on Tuesday.
Now if you will excuse me I need to go see if Nazzerous is still interested in coming out to play.
In that vein, is everyone else still here? I know it has been 2+ weeks since round 1 started...besides Nazz do we still have everybody for round 2?