Challenge

[Xavior Mues]

I challenge Deathlord.

[G]

Challenge is valid, may proceed.

[Deathlord]

Silence blanketed the baronial estate. Moonlight glittered off the ice gardens that surrounded the New Haven manor. Winter was only just falling upon Rhydin, but the ice was a permanent fixture. As the temperature turned colder, and rains turned to sleet and snow, the ice sculptures took on a renewed glitter. Life, of a different kind, was returning to the manor house.

Within the grand sitting room, resting upon a carven throne, a long still figure came to wakefulness. Dark red embers, deep-set within the sockets of dead flesh, reignited into a burning flame. Skeletal fingers twitched and released their grasp upon the arms of the throne. Awareness crept over him.

The manor held the quiet of a crypt. The baron's minions rested about the manor and grounds awaiting their master's call. The long oppressive summer was over. The over-bright sun had cooled her harsh demeanor. The leaves had fallen from the trees; their only decoration now was the hint of frost that clung to them, like glittering lace.

The streets grew silent as the cold embrace of winter drove the living into their protective domiciles to cower near burning fires. A chill wind scoured the streets, chasing after those restless souls that dared to be out. Now was a time more suited to the baron's liking.

The baron's burning gaze turned outward, to gaze through the French doors and out into the gardens. It appeared that a few more unwary visitors had wandered into the garden and discovered the fountain of ice at its center. Their frozen bodies added new decoration to the garden, but should be better placed. The baron made a mental note to attend to this after he had woken his minions.

A platter rested on a nearby table. Upon it lay the various missives that had arrived at the manor during his slumber. Most of these he ignored. One, the most recent, lay open. It drew his attention. Fingers of bone reached out to take up the thin parchment.

A simple note. One of challenge. The baron's attention turned away. The parchment caught fire, and the skeletal fingers released their grasp. The note fell back to the platter and burned. Flecks of ash and bright cinders floated up into the air and drifted through the room.

Deathlord strode towards the French doors. They opened as he approached and his pace did not slow as he moved out into the chill night. Pale moonlight streamed into the gardens, glistening off the icy statues and winter lace. The baron turned his fiery gaze upward and he gazed into the night. The wintery winds swept around him like a lover's touch.

Sometime later, a minion limped its way back to the Arena and posted a note beneath the one of challenge.

"All hail Deathlord! Your challenge is acknowledged."

[Xavior Mues]

The Senior Baron and I will meet Thursday the 30th at 9:00. The challenge will take place in the Annex. Sarah will officiate .

[Deathlord]

((Challenge date being adjusted. Update soon.))

[Deathlord]

((New date, same time. Sunday the 2nd, 9:00PM. Sai has agreed to officiate. With thanks to Sarah who initially volunteered but isn't available on Sunday.))

[DUEL Sai]

There was a challenge! I was there! I saw it! It was cooool! It was actually a short little affair, too. It was a single match between Deathlord (and his little sword) and Xeric Mues, and it went six rounds. Well, how'd it go?

Deathlord had momentum for the majority for the duel. In fact, it was almost a perfect shutout. But Xeric managed to dodge Deathlord's thrust in round five to get on the board and deny the notion! He couldn't take the momentum any further though; he ducked down into the path of the hungry sword to bring it to an end, 5 to 1 in 6!

Code: Select all

Deathlord .vs. Xavior Mues
Ring Jecht

Rd. | Deathlord / Xeric | Score

01. |  TH / HC  | 1.0 - 0.0 Deathlord
02. | FCP / LC  | 2.0 - 0.0 Deathlord
03. | FSS / TH  | 3.0 - 0.0 Deathlord
04. |  HC / FCP | 4.0 - 0.0 Deathlord
05. |  TH / FSS | 4.0 - 1.0 Deathlord
06. |  LC / FDU | 5.0 - 1.0 Deathlord

Deathlord .def. Xavior Mues, 5.0 - 1.0 in 6

Deathlord remains the Baron of New Haven! Well won, Deathlord, and well tried, Xeric! Tonight's challenge and writeup were brought to you by Red Orc Brewery, creators of Badsider Black! "For when you're REALLY feeling on the badside!"

[SwordofDeathlord]

::slashed into the bottom of the results, the edges lightly singed::
CORRECTION! Really BIG sword! GRRRRRR!

[Sai Kurou]

Compensating much, Sword? It's not the size, it's how you use it!

::A big, grinning smiley face is scribbled beneath the barely legible scrawl of his writing.::