Challenge for PathFinder

[Stitch]

Arsenic green paint dripped from a swooping hand-style across the back of the Red Dragon, greeting entrants from the back alley and those leaving the Outback as well.

SAL
Fight you for the rock

((Using the Badass Grant to make it a Slugfest format.))

[Ria Graziano]

(( Per the terms of the Badass Breaker Challenge Grant, this challenge shall be slugfest style! ))

[Delahada]

“Sir, you are aware of the tasteless graffiti that has been recognized as an official challenge, are you not?”

“Hm? What graffiti?” Rhydin was a city littered with the enterprising artwork of countless urban talents. Lauren needed to be more specific.

“The large green one that spells out your name on the wall behind the Red Dragon, sir.”

“Why the f*** is someone writing my name on a wall?” Salvador had not seen it. Passing through the courtyard between the Red Dragon and the Outback had not been a part of his recent meandering routes.

“As I said, sir,” his PR Specialist pressed, “it is a notice of challenge. The sports officials in charge of the Duel of Fists have declared it valid.”

Salvador snorted. “And this challenge is to me?”

“Yes, sir. It is a validated challenge for the Opal known as PathFinder that is in your possession.”

“Not my possession,” Salvador grumbled irritably. He still refused to touch that rock. “Dama’s.” And his dryad continued to guard it gluttonously.

“Yes, sir. That’s what I meant.” Lauren smiled her ceaselessly oily, perfectly bureaucratic smile.

Salvador only just resisted the urge to wring her neck and set her clipboard on fire. He skipped ahead to the next relevant question. “Who’s it from?”

“Pardon, sir?”

“The challenge,” he said slowly. “Who is it from?”

“Oh.” Lauren fidgeted. “Well, that’s unclear, sir. Regrettably, the notice was not signed.”

Another derisive snort escaped him. “Figures.”

A long silence stretched through the office, until Lauren couldn’t take it anymore. She cleared her throat.

Salvador tore his gaze off the middle distance as seen through the office window to scowl at her. “What?”

“Will you be accepting the challenge, sir?”

With a lingering frown he looked for the answer outside, through the tempered glass. A young tree swayed meaningfully. Salvador grumbled, scrubbing a hand over his face.

“Guess I better if I want to keep Dama happy,” he said dully.

“Very good, sir. I’ll notify the sports authorities right away.”

[Stitch]

By Thursday, the spray painted challenge had spread to include thorny, vine-like flourishes that crept and curled and swooped.

By Thursday night, once the sports channels had reported and repeated Salvador's notice of acceptance, there was a new addition, quick and sharp:

Sat - June 4th - 9pm

Mallory will call

[Mallory]

Tonight we were lucky enough to witness Salvador's first defense of his current, second reign as PathFinder's holder, and Stitch's first ever challenge in any sport!

As the Badass grant winner, Stitch decided to slug it out in Slugfest for the challenge.

A plant-based beast named Nikky stood in for Salvador tonight, with Lauren Burton, Salvadaror's representative, on standby to handle any details.

Stitch came out swinging hard in the first match, and held onto the lead until the sixth round! From there, Stitch and Nikky seesawed, until Nikky jumped ahead two points to win the match.

The second match, Stitch again opened in the lead, this time with a solid defense, and found his way to match point by the fifth round. But Slugfest is fickle! By the seventh round it was sudden death, and in the eighth Nikky secured another win.

Well won, Sal, and well tried, Stitch! We hope to see you back out there soon!

Ring Hemlock 1: Stitch scores! (FJB / FeJB | 1+ - 0, Stitch leads.)
Ring Hemlock 2: No action this round. (FJK / FLS | 1 - 0, Stitch leads.)
Ring Hemlock 3: No action this round. (FJB / FeFL | 1 - 0, Stitch leads.)
Ring Hemlock 4: No action this round. (FDU / FAB | 1 - 0, Stitch leads.)
Ring Hemlock 5: Everybody scores! (CH / FJB | 2 - 1+, Stitch leads.)
Ring Hemlock 6: Delahada gains position. (SN / DO | 2 - 2, Delahada and Stitch.)
Ring Hemlock 7: Stitch scores! (FL / JB | 3 - 2, Stitch leads.)
Ring Hemlock 8: Delahada scores! (JB / FL | 3 - 3, Delahada and Stitch.)
Ring Hemlock 9: Delahada scores! (FSP / FUC | 3 - 5, Delahada leads.)
FINAL: Delahada def. Stitch, 5 - 3 in 9 rounds. - slug

Ring Tulips 1: Stitch scores! (FDO / FJB | 1 - 0, Stitch leads.)
Ring Tulips 2: No action this round. (FLS / JK | 1 - 0, Stitch leads.)
Ring Tulips 3: Delahada scores! (FSP / FDU | 1 - 1, Stitch and Delahada.)
Ring Tulips 4: Stitch scores! (FJB / FLS | 2+ - 1, Stitch leads.)
Ring Tulips 5: Stitch scores! (FCH / FSN | 4 - 1, Stitch leads.)
Ring Tulips 6: Delahada scores! (FLS / FJB | 4 - 2+, Stitch leads.)
Ring Tulips 7: Delahada scores! (JB / FFL | 4 - 4, Stitch and Delahada.)
Ring Tulips 8: Delahada scores! (AB / LS | 4 - 5, Delahada leads.)
FINAL: Delahada def. Stitch, 5 - 4 in 8 rounds. - slug