The Games of Saberhaven
Revorn vs. Morann
       The crowd continues its chatter as the contestants are introduced. Revorn, of course, is the seasoned combatant in his 29th cycle, a true regular. His opponent, Morann, is a complete unknown, hailing from Lostow, via the Magician's Consortium and Tokiwa-Dai. Word has it that his training lies in magic as well as the newly popular Way of the Mind.
       The doors open and the two step out. Morann wears bracers and holds at his side a dagger, bo stick and nunchaku. He wears gloves hiding his hands and average clothes, obviously not a vain man.
       Revorn emerges is his customary flair, quarterstaff strapped to his back, mandolin strumming as the melodious sounds come from him. He emerges singing to the delight of the crowd, enjoying the antics of this fierce competitor and wonderful chanteur.
       In the blink of an eye, the bard appears within 5 feet of the mage. He strums loudly and sings, obviously hoping to evoke a charm from the man. Having prepared, the mage resists the charm with the gum arabic over his ears, avoiding an easy victory for the bard.
       Immediately, three brilliant globes of magical energy streak from the hands of Morann. As each of the three missiles strike the bard, they explode into a three foot radius concussive blast, the second of which destroys the bard's instrument.
       Reeling from the blows, Revorn shrieks, "You destroyed by Mandolin, you bastard! You'll pay dearly for that!"
       "Not here in the arena," replies Morann calmly. The monk drops back into a defensive stance, bo held ready.
       Revorn starts chanting his incantation. Morann focuses his mind power to bend and muffle the sounds from the bard's mouth, stopping the spell, much to the surprise of the wide eyed Revorn.
       The bard pulls the quartertaff from his back and advances.
       As Morann begins to cast, Revorn spins with lightening speed thrusting his magical staff at the monk. His blow, sure to disrupt Morann's spellcasting, flies wide missing the man altogther.
       Morann speaks a mystic word and raises his right palm from its grasp on the staff. The very air seems to quiver momentarily, and the audience in the bleachers behind Revorn feel the benches throb with a tangible noise.
       The bard is knocked back a step from the blow, then advances again angrily.
       Morann leaps backwards into the air, landing over 15 feet from his original position and out of immediate danger. He reaches quickly into the pouch on his belt and pulls out a small cube. Glancing at it, he presses one side of the cube, then waits for Revorn's attack.
       As the monk jumps backwards, the bard begins to speak, but finds his words are muffled and incomprehensible. He angrily advances forward with his staff held forth, but the wooden shaft stops as it hits the Cube of Force's wall.
       Morann appears to passively watch the frustrated Revorn beat against the invisible walls.
       But the bard has his own trick, popping out of sight and appearing inside the cube's walls, standing behind the monk, quarterstaff held ready.
       As soon as he sees the bard disappear, Morann spins around, staff held in a defensive position. The mage-monk furrows his brow in concentration and seems to stare into Revorn's soul.
        At the last second, something runs afoul of the monk's plans and his face falls blank. Revorn smacks him with his staff, sending a resultant jolt of electrical energy through the Morann's body.
       Morann shakes off the shock and takes a step back. As he does so, his entire body seems to momentarily blur and slide off to the side.
       Revorn swings at the monk again and misses the displaced man.
       Morann once again attempts to attack Revorn's mind through brute psychic force.
       The power seems to have no effect on the bard as he hurries a blow against the mage-monk, sending another slight electrical shock through him.
       Morann, seemingly unfazed by his second failure, points an index finger at Revorn. Five bright flashes of mystic energy streak forth from the digit, pummeling the bard soundly.
       The bard takes the missiles in stride, steps forward and smacks the monk across the head again, sending another minor electrical charge through him.
       Morann tries yet again to blast the bard with brute psionic force. Again, no effect takes place as the bard catches the mage across the back with the electrically changed staff.
       Morann, bloodied and burned, holds up an open hand, and at first the crowd thinks he may be signalling submission. Suddenly, a huge disembodied hand appears between the combatants, and begins to push Revorn slowly backwards.
       The bard struggles to move around it, but to no avail. With a frustrated murmur, he swings and misses the large hand with his staff.
       Now able to concentrate without fear of being struck, Morann disengages the Cube of Force and attempts yet another psychic attack on Revorn.
        The monk-mage is finally able to blast through the bard's mental defences it seems, as the mind blast effect visibly weakens Revorn as he swings and misses the large force hand again.
       Exhausted from the beating he has taken, Morann clearly decides to take no chances. Uttering a mystic phrase that the wizards in the audience recognize well, the monk points his right index finger towards a spot just above and behind Revorn. A ball of fire flies forth from his fingertip and explodes, engulfing minstral and hand in flames.
       The bard falls to the ground, unconscious. Morann heaves several gasping breathes to the cheers of the crowd. Soon, the healing prioests come forth to revive the burnt bard.

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