"Soon enough," Torgal replies. With a deep sigh Torgal looks to his friend. "Did you ever manage to get the perpetrators of those heinous acts? If not I shall be forced to call up the elite squad and they are so expensive."

"We haven't yet sire but we did track them as far as the hills to the east of the city. Its just a matter of time before they are flushed out." Melanos looks into his mug uncomfortably, wishing for another drop of the amber liquid, uncertain whether Torgal perceives the lack of a suspect as failure.

"Have Eliak meet me later this evening. I have need of his services it seems." Torgal lazily dismisses the gnome to carry out his order. With another sign Torgal watches the crowd assemble for a few more moments before he stands to address them.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight we have two favorites gracing us with their skills. Both are at the top of the standings and tonight we will definitely find out which one is the stronger of the two!" The crowd erupts into a frenzied roar and Torgal lets it continue for a few more minutes before calming them. "Calathra Tealeaf, the vicious little halfling fighter from the Old Empire, will attempt to cleanse the Pit from the scourge known as Crwag! I promise this to be an interesting battle and I hope those with money are weighing their choices well. Without further adieu, let the bloodshed commence!" The crowd again screams in anticipation, threatening to bring down the cavern ceiling.

The gates slowly swing open and the first to emerge is the hobgoblin Crwag. Gliding across the surface of the arena his eyes dart around the crowd. A slight sense of anxiety seems to surround him as the crowd cover their mouths and scream profanities at the creature. From within the western gate strides forth the diminutive halfling Calathra. The halflings in the crowd cheer her on even as they place bets for and against her. Calathra steps to her mark and speaks softly, "I am already dead. What more can you do to me?" Her eyes cut the distance and burrow deep into Crwag.

A translucent form begins to take shape several feet out from Crwag and the crowd boos as the predictable constructs begin to take their form but those boos turn to gasps as a new type of creature manifests itself before then. A giant mantis type creature with translucent wings begins to form, its front appendages resembling scythes. The construct flexes its front claws and they move with an unnatural swiftness. Calathra hastily weaves a spell and the arcane energy briefly flashes in front of her as shimmering traces of blue energy form a wall before slowly fading. The mantis creature takes flight and quickly darts towards the halfling, a scythe-like blade cutting towards her. A loud crackle of energy causes many in the crowd to move back away from the wall as astral and arcane forces collide. A second constructs begins to appear in the middle of the arena and the words to another spell pour forth from the lips of Calathra. A dark cloud begins to coalesce in the middle of the arena next to the assembling construct.

The second construct, upon completion, darts towards the halfling to aid its fellow construct. Both constructs flail at Calathra with their deadly limbs, but at each strike they are turned back by the arcane shield of the halfling. Crwag is unraveled by the failings of his constructs so far as yet another one begins to take shape. A dog charges forth from the dark mist and snarling menacingly it lunges at Crwag. The hobgoblin gracefully sidesteps the dog and the dog collides with the wall behind him, dissolving back into the mist it came from. Calathra has no time to notice as she begins wielding her sickle and dagger with a vengeance, slicing cuts upon the newly form construct but doing little visible damage.

The small halfling's situation seems desperate as a third constructs bears down on her. The three assail her with a barrage of scythe like blades, and energy crackles around her as their astral energies attempt to beat a hole through her arcane protection. Calathra continues to lash out with her sickle and dagger but only minor gashes appear on the constructs. Crwag smiles smugly to himself as he watches the halfling buried under his creations. Loading his crossbow he level a steel tipped bolt and fires into the mass, the bolt glancing off her shield and shattering against the wall.

The intense melee continues for several long moments as the crowd moves closer to get a better view of the action. Crwag desperately keeps firing his crossbow at the halfling as his constructs slowly dissolve one at a time. As the last construct dissolves Calathra is left standing, sweat pouring from her face but no wounds upon her body. A grim smile creases her face and a look of greater anxiety manifests itself upon the hobgoblin hideous visage.

Calathra slowly advances on the hobgoblin while setting her sling into motion. A stone bullet flies towards the hobgoblin as another one of his bolts sails towards the halfling. This exchange of missile volleys occurs for several seconds, only minor injury being suffered by Crwag when a flash signals the end of the arcane shield. Crwag grins, thinking his luck has turned. Carefully raising his crossbow as the halfling calmly recites the words to her spell. The bolt flies through the air, inches from her face the bolt drastically changes direction and streaks up into the crowd where a yelp of pain is heard.

Calathra slowly advances again continuing to send sling bullets flying and Crwag slowly glides back, answering each sling bullet with a crossbow bolt. A few more cuts appear on the hobgoblin but the halfling remains uninjured. Without warning Calathra throws down her sling in frustration and lets out a horrendous yell. The crowd starts and many cover their ears. The halfling's face begins to turn red as blood rushes to her face. Gabbing her sickle in one hand and the dagger in the other she charges the hobgoblin. Crwag frantically attempts to move from the crazed halfling's path but the sickle scores a nasty gash across the hobgoblin's filth encrusted stomach. Entrails begin to slip out as Crwag collapses to the floor. Calathra screams in victory and drives her dagger deep into the unconscious hobgoblins back. The crowd erupts into a frenzied mob cheering loudly and celebrating the perfect victory of Calathra.