Challenge for PathFinder

[Bailey Raptis]

Dear Gatito,

I challenge for PathFinder.

Sincerely,

Bailey Raptis

[Jaycy Ashleana]

[Partly Cloudy]

Bailey—

I look forward to meeting you in the ring, my friend.

—gatito

[Bailey Raptis]

Dear Dueling Community,

This challenge is currently scheduled to take place next Thursday, February 11th at 9 p.m. Eastern time. The caller for this challenge is currently pending.

Sincerely,

Bailey Raptis

[Bailey Raptis]

Eden Parker will be calling this challenge.

Bailey Raptis

[Delahada]

Tonight's challenge will be personally catered by El Gatito's close friend and companion, fellow Opal holder Salvador Delahada. All thanks to Yuzuki Kuwabara for putting it in his head that the best part of challenges is the food. Since the prize on the line is the plant friendly PathFinder, the menu is strictly vegetarian in nature.

A large Middle Eastern inspired snack platter will be available, stocked full of seasoned, baked pita chips, fresh cut root vegetables, olives, hummus, muhammara, baba ganoush, herbed labneh and shirazi salad. For a main dish, the Spaniard has whipped up a spiced vegetable tagine that can be eaten alone or with the supplied jeweled couscous. For a little extra green, there will also be a Mediterranean Chopped Salad with an oregano vinaigrette.*



For dessert, or those wishing to skip a meal and dive directly into indulging their sweet tooth, the gatito himself has prepared a Greek Orange Honey Cake. Drink specials for tonight's challenge include the gatito's favorite kir royale cocktail, challenger Bailey's rumored favorite Caipirinha, and Eden's favorite Cherry Coke!, charged to a pre-arranged tab and therefore free to spectators upon request.



(( * All of these dishes, with the exception of the dessert option, were prepared by Salvador himself. ))

[Eden Parker]

In honor of tonight's challenge, the Outback has been decked out for the green opal, PathFinder.

The lights are out tonight on the vast majority of the Outback space, as a torchlit path draws you deep into the dark heart of the venue, straight to the Pond and the Fern. The air feels wet somehow, thick with anticipation, at once silent and loud with the sound of a jungle at night. Lush vines hang down from the second floor balcony creating living curtains, closing the space in shaded darkness. At every touch, the curtains just barely twinkle with unnatural lights and the shimmer of glossy leaves. Spectators find their way to ringside tables, close enough to the waterfall to feel the mist, and reach into the pool to touch the slick back of a dark fish as it swims by.

Lit only by the flickering torches, two additional rings have been set up.

Crossing from one part of the Outback to the other, weaving through the fronds of the Fern and slippery from the mists of the waterfall is the Root Bridge. Narrow and treacherous, the bridge swings and sways under the shifting weight of its fighters, creaking threateningly underfoot.

The last ring available to the duelists for the night is more traditional but still steeped in the PathFinder vibe. Edged in lava rocks and surrounded by torches, the flickering lights of the flames cast long shadows on this sand-filled ring.

[Eden Parker]

This challenge took place tonight at the Outback! Gatito was seeking his first defense of the green opal. Bailey was looking for his first ever title!

The first started off close, with five tied rounds. But in the seventh round, Bailey started to break away, scoring two quick points. Gatito demonstrated his mettle, picking up another point, holding Bailey off for one more round before Bailey picked up the final point!

FINAL: Bailey Raptis def. Partly Cloudy, 5 - 3 in 10 rounds.

For the second fight, they went up on the special ring of the night, the Root Bridge. The narrow, unsteady rope bridge ring, swayed under their feet while they fought.

The second fight started out much like the first -- mutual violence with both fighters getting on the board at once! Bailey edged into the lead, but Gatito tied it right back up again. It was tied through the fourth round as Bailey and Gatito traded blows once more. But then Bailey managed once again to push the score to 4-3, and from there he could not be stopped.

FINAL: Bailey Raptis def. Partly Cloudy, 5 - 3 in 6 rounds.

Well-reigned, Gatito! Congratulations, Bailey Raptis, on your first title in the Outback!