Torgal stretches in his seat as he stares out into the arena. The number of visitors has been dropping lately and he curses himself for his poor business attitude. "You know Melanos, I love this place but it seems so hard to find time to make it what it can be. I hope the help that I am hiring can turn things around for me." Torgal yawns and slowly gets to his feet and slogs to the balcony. Turning his head over his shoulder he once again addresses Melanos, "Where in the nine hells has my energy gone?"

Melanos' face splits into a wide grin. "I see you have been visited by Mistress Sharanyl last night again." Melanos hides his smile in a glass of ale before once again regaining his solemn composure.

"Hmmm… good point, I guess that would definitely do it." Torgal flashes a wry grin at Melanos before turning to the crowd, his humor seeming to have lifted a bit. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I have withheld from you the entertainment that you have come to expect. Times are rough and believe me, things here are chaotic. But I will not bore you with my problems. You came for blood…" The crowd erupts into roars, "violence…" Even louder cheers reverberate throughout the cavern, "and the chance to see massive amounts of pain inflicted on our competitors!" The crowd goes ballistic with the announcement of the impending carnage. Torgal looks quickly to the ceiling unsure if it will hold after the heavy rains of spring. "Then I will stall no longer, lets watch Valorien BloodSteel and Valanthas Quesada maim each other!!!" Torgal returns to his seat as the two gladiators are greeted by screams for blood.

The two gates open simultaneously and both fighters enter the ring. Valorien exits from the western gate with his black cloak swirling around him. With a fluid motion two blades spring into his hands and are twirled for a moment before being thrust into the ground. With a cold glare at his enemy he pulls forth his bow and strings it, knocking an arrow in the process. Valanthas enters with less ritual and proceeds to his spot. With his eyes closed he looks at the ceiling in an unspoken prayer before pulling forth his rapier and preparing to cover the distance.

With some silent command the two spring into action. Valanthas darts across the floor, sidestepping left and then right as Valorien's two arrows sail past him and into the dirt. Valorien has almost no time before Valanthas is upon him. With a quick twist the dark elf draws both blades from the dirt and spins, blades cutting through air with lightning speed. Valanthas pulls up and tries to bring his rapier around in order to stop the duel blades but the first one strikes true and bites into his abdomen, drawing blood and tearing at organs. Blind luck sees the second blade stopped by his rapier. Even through the pain though, Valanthas' skill shows as he slides his blade along Valorien's steel and at the last moment, before crossguards connect, he flicks his wrist and steel meets flesh and bone as the rapier edge slices into the elf's arm, threatening to severe it. Valorien howls in pain as he steps back trying to gain a second to abolish the pain from his mind. Valanthas grabs his abdomen and also backs away, his blade weaving a deadly shield in front of him.

Valorien acts first and drives at him again as he strikes the knight's head, ripping into his temple. The crowd gasps as Valanthas twists to the side violently, his body seeming to collapse before they realize that he avoided the elf's second blow and almost landed one of his own. Valorien's first blade hums toward Valanthas but the knight, blinded by blood and holding his innards in with one hand drops to his knees, escaping the blade by less than an inch and thrusting his own blade up into Valorien's chest. The immediate look of death on the elf's face screams to the crowd that the rapier found his heart. Valanthas sits in the dirt as the elf slides backward off his blade and slumps into the sand and blood of the floor.

Valanthas - 375exp, 67gp and a full healing. Excellent first fight.
Valorien - 275exp, 43gp and a full healing.