Challenge for Overlord - ART Grant

[Ebon Ilnaren]

Salvador,

Now that the holiday hubbub is behind us, it's time to put on a show to open the new year. With the grant that I claimed in the most recent All-Ranks Tournament, I issue challenge for the title of Overlord.

Let's meet at my townhouse in Dragon's Gate and hash out the details. I'll cook.

Ebon Ilnaren

[Alasdair Galloway]

- Title holder acceptance must be publicly posted within 5 days of this validation.
- The challenge must be fought within two weeks (14 days) of validation.
- This tool will assist in helping verify the required dates.

[Delahada]

Ebon -

I've been waiting for this.
Congratulations on your grant.
Challenge accepted.
See you soon.

- Sal Delahada
121st Overlord

[Ebon Ilnaren]

Salvador and I have agreed to meet on Monday evening, January 3rd of the new year at 9:00 pm to fight this challenge.

The ever-wonderful Eden Parker has agreed to call for us!

Ebon Ilnaren

[Partly Cloudy]

After conferring with Salvador and Ebon, gatito put together a menu to honor their chosen caller, the wonderful Eden Parker.

Meat lovers, Hawaiian, and veggie pizzas
from Nicole’s Bistro and Pizzeria



Double cheeseburgers, fries, and onion rings, with plenty of special sauce
from the Burger Shake Shack



Pineapple macarons and individual pineapple upside-down cakes
from Kitten’s Confections Bakery & Café



Cherry-Cola Ice Cream Floats (vanilla ice cream, cola, and grenadine, with optional cherry liqueur or cherry rum)
Pineapple Upside-Down Cocktails (pineapple juice, cake-flavored vodka, amaretto, and grenadine)
made by Reginald and GumYum at the Arena’s bar

[Eden Parker]

You guys! This challenge happened tonight and it was SO EXCITING!

Okay, so our challenger was Ebon Ilnaren! He comes by this challenge by way of the ART so that made this a test-free challenge! Ebon fought under the banner of the eight-pointed star on a field of black. His Second was Baron Eregor of New Haven. His Ladies of Honor were his wife Phen Seer Ilnaren, and his daughters Azure and Olivia.

Defending the title tonight was Salvador Delahada! Salvador was looking to defend the title for the third time! He fought under the banner of the golden crowned tribal sun rising over a symbolic line of water on a field of red. His Second was el Gatito Lindo, and his Person of Honor was himself, because the Overlord fought for his own honor.

The Overlord selected a best of three challenge for the fight, and boy oh boy was it a best of three!

The first fight began with a trade of blows! Salvador fought with his trusty tanto, a blade we have seen him wield with tremendous skill in the ring! Ebon fought with a pair of pointy-looking katars. Salvador jumped out to an early lead, and while Ebon continually kept it close, the Overlord seemed in command until round 7 when Ebon finally surpassed him picking up his first lead of the night with a timely matchpoint! In the final move, Ebon twisted around and caught a shot to Sal's flank to take the first fight!

FINAL: Ebon Ilnaren def. Delahada, 5 - 3 in 8 rounds.

If the first fight seemed like a question -- does Ebon have the edge between these two fighters? -- the second fight seemed like the answer. Salvador bodied his way into the first point, using his tanto to block while he threw Ebon off balance. And then he just picked up point after point after point. Three unanswered points gave way to two trades and the second fight was over! Ebon never got in a clean blow, while Overlord Delahada just cleaned up (or bloodied up) the ring until it was over in just five rounds.

FINAL: Delahada def. Ebon Ilnaren, 5 - 2 in 5 rounds.

With the score tied at a fight apiece, it all came down to the third and final match. Proving just how evenly matched these fighters are, five rounds had passed before there was an opening lead in this fight. The fighters seemed to hold nothing back as they went after each other, but it was Ebon who finally took a lead in round 6 when he managed to cut past Salvador's defense. Ebon didn't waste the opportunity. He stayed with his aggressive approach and beat Salvador to the next direct blow, setting himself up in good position at matchpoint with Delahada still miles behind with just two points. But you don't get to be the Overlord for nothing, do you? Salvador set up a risky defense and closed the gap in round 8, and in round 9 he cut his way back into the fight and made it sudden death! Sudden death between the juggernauts of Overlord Salvador Delahada and Challenger Ebon Ilnaren! There would be four more sudden death rounds before Ebon finally found the opening he had patiently been waiting for! The Overlord thought a high strike was coming, but instead, Ebon cut low! And just like that, Ebon Ilnaren became the Arena's newest Overlord!

FINAL: Ebon Ilnaren def. Delahada, 6 - 5 in 14 rounds.

It was a challenge worthy of the title and worthy of these two storied fighters!

Well-reigned Salvador Delahada!

Congratulations to Overlord Ebon Ilnaren!

[Anubis Karos]

I see that this Rhydinian calendar year is off to a wonderful start.

Cadentia stands Renegade.

~Anubis Karos

[Strawberry]

Battlefield Park will align Renegade. Nothing personal.

[Ebon Ilnaren]

I see that this Rhydinian calendar year is off to a wonderful start.

Cadentia stands Renegade.

~Anubis Karos

Understood, and not unexpected. I know you're loyal to Salvador.

Battlefield Park will align Renegade. Nothing personal.

No offense taken. Thank you for your candor.

[King]

Make Orange Crush free in the Arena and Arcade as your Overlord rule.

Thanks,
King

[Ellie Luisante]

I don't know if I'm supposed to say it here as well, even though I also said it in person, but Dragon's Gate stands Loyal. The first reason is that I appreciate that your challenge with Salvador was friendly, from start to finish. The second reason is that I appreciate that you wish to discontinue the official use of those horrid, ear-piercing sudden death sirens. Kindness is met with kindness.

Hugs and twirls,
Ellie Luisante

[Ebon Ilnaren]

Make Orange Crush free in the Arena and Arcade as your Overlord rule.

Thanks,
King

I don't know if I'm going to have Overlord rules... but since I am part of the Arena management, I'll see what I can do. Perhaps Orange Crush, Cherry Coke (for Eden) free, plus a third selection that rotates every month.

I don't know if I'm supposed to say it here as well, even though I also said it in person, but Dragon's Gate stands Loyal. The first reason is that I appreciate that your challenge with Salvador was friendly, from start to finish. The second reason is that I appreciate that you wish to discontinue the official use of those horrid, ear-piercing sudden death sirens. Kindness is met with kindness.

Hugs and twirls,
Ellie Luisante

Sparkly lights and confetti cannons for the win!

[Anubis Karos]

I see that this Rhydinian calendar year is off to a wonderful start.

Cadentia stands Renegade.

~Anubis Karos

Understood, and not unexpected. I know you're loyal to Salvador.

Battlefield Park will align Renegade. Nothing personal.

No offense taken. Thank you for your candor.

I'm loyal to myself and those select few I care for. Salvador just so happens to be worthy of respect for his skill in the rings and his carriage outside of it, and I also share his philosophy towards the bloodsport. Neither of us subscribe to the pleasant-sounding fable that this is a soft and childlike endeavor. When one seeks to win by striking another's body with a tool specifically designed to kill human beings, some chivalry will fall by the wayside. To your credit, my experience is that you at least accept this reality, even if you do not embrace it.

In general, I do not despise you, but I do not hold you in a high enough regard to stand Loyal on it's own merits, and you don't seem willing to offer me any inducement to do otherwise. This is no fault of yours; my standards are lofty.

PS.: I do support getting rid of the screeching from the lowest hells that occur at every sudden death. If this is not possible, I suggest channeling the ruckus from the Arena or Outback to Col. Simon's house.

~Anubis Karos

[Goldglo]

Old Market will go Loyal unless the new Overlord prefers otherwise.

--Matt

[Ebon Ilnaren]

Old Market will go Loyal unless the new Overlord prefers otherwise.

--Matt

Accepted and appreciated.