Toron vs. Alaron


The crowd is pumped today; an arena favorite will be fighting in his 4th
bout since his recent arrival to Saberhaven.  Toron the minotaur strides into
the Arena slowly and sedately, soaking in the applause of the crowd.  He takes
a bow and then spins for the benefit of the crowd, his cloak flies wide
revealing a heavily muscled body with no less than half a dozen weapons
strapped on.  His grin is wide as he awaits his enemy.

Alaron steps forward gracefully, he is clad in elegant silk clothing. A
pair of scimitar rest on his hips and other magical implements are hung on
his belt.  The light from the sun above glints off the necklace and rings
on his neck and fingers and his face shows grim determination.  He obviously
realizes the power of his opponent and is giving it his all.

The gong is struck from high atop the arena and the combat begins.
Almost faster than can be seen Toron's hands are holding a large barbed
javelin and he hurls it with all his might.  It spirals end over end
through the air, only to land inches from Alaron's boot.  Alaron's mouth opens and
incomprehensible words are issued, the body seems to flicker, but it could
have been a trick of the light.

Toron pulls a pair of massive jagged edged swords off his back.  He
then takes off at a charge at the motionless Alaron, who stands with his two
blades level out in front of him slanted in.  Toron's bellowed war cry dies
down in confusion as his enemy still stands there.  He maintains his speed
regardless, and sends his blade screaming through the midsection of Alaron.
The two blades flash forward, one should have decapitated the warrior the
other leave him gutted like a fish.  However the body doesn't move.  The
bull man turns around looking wide about the arena then bellows "COWARD!!! FACE
ME LIKE A TRUE WARRIOR!" Toron backs away from the now obvious illusion and
then drops into a crouch, as his oversized nose goes to work looking for a scent
in the air.

He grins as he seems to get a whiff of something.  He pulls a net from
his belt and studies the air overhead, searching for a confirming sight.
Abruptly chanting is heard form over his head.  He smiles as his hunch is
confirmed then utters an earthy curse as abruptly huge black tentacles
appear all over the floor.  The massive magical creations start waving around like
massive black serpents.  Then they seem to lunge toward the minotaur with a
mind of their own.  Toron's swords blaze with light as he swings desperately 
at them.  He then stands still, his eyes glint red for a second, Toron then
explodes out with his weapons in a massive circle of destruction, swinging
fast and furious.  As the tentacles dart in to attack he destroys them with
single hits of his weapons, sending the tentacles smoking to the ground.
Seven tentacles fall to the ground, leaving seven left.  Four tentacles
crack forward like whips, but he dodges aside and they smack against him but do
not seem to cause him any harm, they then fade away in a cloud of black vapor.
Three tentacles remain, they all slip around him and constrict him, again
he seems to resist all damage.  Toron grunts in surprise as he is suspended in
the air with three tentacles holding him around his legs and torso.

Toron bellows in pure rage as he struggles.  His face flushes red as the
blood rushes to his face, his muscles bulge and he gets his arms free, he
immediately hacks away at the writhing tentacles.  His sword flashes with
power and the three tentacles fall to the ground.  He free falls to the
ground from about 25 feet up, but lands in a crouch, unharmed from the fall.
Long thin bruises are all along his legs and chest from the pressure of the
tentacles.  He allows himself a slight grin but then hears an ominous
chanting from far above him.  He turns and looks up, seconds pass then three
spheres of dark energy fly through the air towards him.  The bull men makes
a flying lunge to the right trying to dodge, the spheres simply track his
progress and smash into him, searing his flesh.  Toron yells "How much have
you got? Have you got enough? I will not die until you come down here and
fight me, FOR I AM TORON!"  The crowd cheers in ecstasy as their hero
continues to prove his mettle, while the newcomer hides.  Despite his
words, they do not heal his seared and battered flesh.

Suddenly the sound of laughter is heard and suddenly the voice of Alaron
sounds though the Arena, loud and clear. "Have I got enough? Tell me, have
YOU got enough? For I have only just began." Abruptly glowing mystical
darts fly through the air and pepper the minotaur skin, darkening his fur
wherever it strikes.  He seems to shrug, then he chants in a deep voice, the
necklace beneath his hand abruptly starts to glow.  His skin changes to the color of
granite, then the color washes away and he stands looking the same, his
grin says it all though.  "I am still waiting oh brave warrior."

A voice is heard loud and clear throughout the arena "Hmmm, like a former
contender once said, 'this might require some thought.'" A soft chanting is
heard. Suddenly a large sheet of ice forms above the bull man and a shout goes out
"TIMBER"!  Toron moves fast and fluidly, his legs pounding as he seeks to
escape the wall, as he makes a desperate lunge it smashes down on him,
shattering into ice shards as it crushes him.  He groans in pain as the
slivers of ice draw droplets of blood.  He pulls himself to his feet and look
toward the sky in the area where he last sensed his adversary.  Toron starts
sniffing again and tries to confirm his suspicion, he takes 3 barbed javelins
and jams them into the turf, set so that they can be fired quickly.  His
eyes are clouded with a mixture, of rage, weariness and confusion.

Toron just stands still, waiting for his enemy to make his move, his
entire body is crisscrossed with burns and bruises.  Toron listens as
chanting is once again uttered and he awaits the attack.  The words are
finished when a massive blue bolt of lightning lances down from the sky.
The bull throws him self into a sidelong roll and dodges the brunt of the
attack.

Toron bellows, "You think you have won don't ya?  You might have the upper
hand with your trickery, but I'm not done yet!"  He reaches down to a ring
on his finger and twists the emerald on it.  Green healing energy flows out
and bathes him in its glow, all his wounds, lacerations and bruises vanish.  He
rolls up on his shoulders and kicks out, standing instantly, his grin
doubles as he takes a deep breath and says "Oh yes, that is the right stuff."

Toron surveys the sky, looking for his opponent, he looks very hard at
one location and sniffs delicately.  He grabs the three javelins and with
savage fury launches all of them into the air.  They arc up put then come
down, landing point first in the turf.  The bull scratches his head as he
looks up and around.  Abruptly a shimmering green ray launches directly at
him from mid air.  His mouth opens in denial as he sees oblivion coming for
him.  With finally honed reflexes he sidesteps the attack with ease and
pulls a massive trident off his back that has a length of rope and a net attached
to it.  His movements are cautious as he waits to dodge another lethal
attack.

The attack was not exactly what he expected, as abruptly he finds
himself sinking into the ground.  His eyes bulge with confusion trying to
understand why the earth has betrayed him.  He looks around and then notices he is in
a massive mud pit, sinking far to fast for his liking.  He grabs a length of
rope off his belt, then looks around, and curses as his javelins are out of
reach.  He thrashes around in the mud, twisting madly to get free.  Toron
sinks under the mud and Alaron is declared the winner.  Some of the crowd
cheer, but most boo as they are disappointed to see their champion lose and
be undone by an invisible opponent.

Alaron becomes visible flying close to the mud pool. His shoulders are
dropped low and his face sad. This is not the face of a winner. Slowly he
descends toward the ground.

Once on the ground Alaron draws both his scimitars and raises them in salute
to his opponent. Suddenly his voice sounds clear through the Arena. "You were a worthy
opponent Toron. I almost feel ashamed to have battled you in such an unfair
way but to me there is more at stake then fighting a fair battle," he shakes
his head and looks at the clouds, "I needed to win, on of us needs to win."
Then he slowly walks away.