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- Chapter One -
- The Six Benefactors -
- Unknown Location –
It was time for the centennial Clash of Legends tournament. It had been a tradition for as long as Heydal Harkan could remember, which was a very long time. Ever since Darkstalker J'Kqan was victorious on Heydal's debut tournament, he had been anticipating each event's crop of warriors. In particular, this year's contestants such as Empire's Norell Dragonslayer, the Alliance's Oljaneik, and Spectre's Ramadent the Haunted. Although picking such examples proved near impossible.
As Heydal drank the strange looking liquid in his glass, he thought of the quality of battles he was about to witness. As with previous competitions, the one hundred best warriors scattered across the six lands had been brought together to participate in Clash of Legends. With that thought in mind he decided that further indulgence in this drink could lead to death, or worse. He cast his glance to the bar before him, scanning the innumerable drinks for something a little less potent.
The bar had been specially constructed using the moderately expensive wood from the Pilgrim's Tree. Its white surface shone in the light of the room echoing its parent tree's sheen. The vast array of bottles rested on the bronzebark shelving; securely packed end-to-end on each level. He tried to choose between Marinal Shark named for its bite, or the Honeysap extracted from the famous Amber Grove; however, he settled on the safer choice of Empire Red which he was always partial to. Better safe than sorry.
With drink in hand, he turned his attention to the set of tables that ran the length of the wall opposite the door, awaiting the first of the benefactors to arrive. Heydal looked at the array of roasted tentacles, grey cheeses, glistening eyeballs, charred meats, glowing leaves, smoking jellies, and everything in between. He decided it'd be best to leave such delicacies to his guests.
Putting the food out of his mind, he perched on the edge of a plush armchair on the outside of a number of similarly fashioned seating; not limited to the single variation he had selected. Placing his drink on one of the small tables provided, he looked up to the central monitor, glancing left and right at the flanking screens; all devoid of anything to show. Heydal pulled his pocket watch free, sighing when he saw the time. He hoped for once his patrons wouldn't all arrive late as they were sometimes wont to do.
The doors were flung open and Heydal quickly hid his surprise as he jerked to his feet. A feminine figure strode into the room and Heydal made haste to greet her. He extended his hand for an introduction but the woman ignored him as she continued past him. Heydal turned, confused, and saw the woman quickly circle the room, trailing her hands across every surface. She briefly paused at the food laden table and Heydal could have sworn he heard her sniffing tentatively.
"Serpent, may I offer you a beverage of your choice?" Heydal asked as he approached her back.
Serpent turned quickly without a word. The mask she wore to hide her face seemed to be made of porcelain. The sculpted lips, beneath the equally sculpted nose, had been painted a dark green, reminiscent of her namesake. Resting across the crown of the mask were two snakes that met at its centre to intertwine together. Heydal was bemused to see the mask was smoothed over the area where eyeholes would normally be.
Taking her silence as a no, he said "May I offer you a seat instead?"
Once more silent, she walked towards a single seat, removing her sleeveless ankle-length coat as she went. A tight turtleneck, of finely woven wool, showed underneath; as well as black trousers fastened at the waist by a leather belt with various pouches attached. Her slightly heeled boots made no noise against the lush carpet as her gloved hands lifted the cushion of the chair she had chosen. Utilizing her naked fingers the gloves allowed, she ran them across the uncovered seat of the chair.
Heydal figured the Serpent was likely expecting a trap as she replaced the cushion and took a seat, her coat now folded along the back of the chair.
"Is everything progressing smoothly?" Serpent asked frankly.
Heydal stepped forward, surprised she had actually spoken, to answer. "As can be expected. The others should be here shortly."
With the exchange complete, Serpent lapsed back into silence and settled her would-be gaze on the monitors before her. Heydal stood awkwardly, wondering what to do, when he was saved by the doors opening a second time.
A boisterous laugh filled the room, proceeding the entrance of who Heydal could only presume to be Kraken. Proving him right, the large man ducked into the room with a smaller figure in tow. As before, Kraken's light grey pinstriped suit stood out in stark contrast to his dark blue skin and four yellow eyes, two either side of his face. A single item differed from his usual attire; a tattered human's captain's coat with three long gashes down its back. His chest-length straight beard swung over the single pearl affixed around his neck with a hemp rope, as his long legs carried him to Heydal. Heydal braced himself as Kraken swung a large hand down and slapped him on the back, causing Heydal to stumble forward.
"Heydal!" Kraken bellowed. "It's been too long, my friend."
"I take it you two are acquainted?" The second man said impatiently. Heydal took his red skin to indicate he had taken the name of the Dragon.
Kraken grinned with a heavy arm wrapped around Heydal's shoulders. "Acquainted? Bwahaha, we've known each other for decades!"
"You must be Dragon." Heydal said pulling himself free from Kraken's grasp and extended his hand.
With no hesitation, Dragon reached forward and clasped Heydal's hand firmly. The well-muscled man stood nearly a head above Heydal, giving the smaller man a good view of the scattering of scars across his bare chest and the pair of iron cuffs fastened around his wrists. The open vest Dragon wore seemed to be patched together with multiple leathers of varying colours.
"That's an… interesting vest, Dragon." Heydal noted.
Dragon smiled, showing his pointed teeth and bringing attention to his braided goatee and straight sideburns which fed into his swept back black hair.
Both men wore masks in a token attempt to hide their identities, but unlike Serpent's they only covered the upper half of their faces. Dragon's was simple, forged of iron in the shape of a dragon's maw; while Kraken's was more grandiose with eight tentacles reaching to the back of his head. Dragon's mask seemed to be held to his face by small polished copper chains pierced into the flesh of his ears; while Kraken's bore the ancestral history of his people embossed into the main body of his mask.
"Ah yes, he was telling me about that. He claims it's made of the skins of his foes." Kraken said.
"Only the ones who have tested me." Dragon intervened, his grin gone.
Heydal paused to contemplate such a thing before inviting them further into the room, leading them towards the chairs.
"Aha, new blood!" Kraken said as he noticed the small woman sat in the chair. "Going by your mask, I take it you are Serpent. I remember your predecessor, a great gal, but you're better looking. I'm Kraken!" He thrust out his hand energetically for a handshake. He held it there for a few seconds before Dragon spoke up.
"If you weren't such a buffoon, you'd realise she is blind."
Kraken paused for another second before dropping his hand to his side. "Well… this spoil-sport is Dragon, another new one!"
"At least not all of you are clowns." Dragon said towards Serpent.
"Yes, Dragon, I've heard Whispers of your proficiency in battle."
"Only whispers? I've heard all kinds scream my name."
Kraken's laugh interrupted them. "Ok, no-one likes a show off Dragon. Right. Who wants drinks!?"
Without waiting for an answer from either benefactor, Kraken stepped to the bar, leaning forward to look at the drink selection. Immediately he grabbed a bottle of Firemead and gestured it towards Dragon. "A spicy one for you without a doubt. Now, for the little lady…"
"I would prefer not-" Serpent started.
"Oh, that one!" Kraken interrupted and selected a bottle of Phantom Grey. Without a glance at the expertly stacked glasses, he took a bottle in each hand and made his way back to the pair. He stood between them and offered their respective bottles.
Dragon dubiously took the dense bottle and peered at its label, noticing the bubbling content within. "As expected of a brute, you have failed to supply a glass."
Kraken glanced at Dragon with a smaller grin than usual. "Hah, everyone knows the best way to drink is from the bottle." Noticing that Serpent had not yet taken her bottle, he wiggled it to and fro. "Just reach up in front of your face, love." Serpent paused before taking the bottle from Kraken and flinging it to the side. It spun through the air before hitting the wall with a thud and falling to land in a bowl of creamy green broth.
Kraken looked at the half-submerged bottle before bursting out with a hearty laugh. "I see you're not thirsty then. But me, on the other hand, I'm usually up for experimenting but I'll think this time I'll stick with a Corral Edge." To reinforce his words, Kraken made his way back to the bar and quickly picked out the stout bottle, taking a deep swig immediately.
For the third time, the door swung inwards and Heydal rushed to greet the two new arrivals. A man and woman entered the room, arm in arm; the Phoenix and Raven had arrived.
Phoenix slipped free of Raven and offered his gloved hand to Heydal. Heydal accepted with relief and took the hand in his. After a solid shake, Phoenix leant towards Heydal. "What's the time, sir?"
Heydal used his free hand to pull his pocket watch out. "Ah, exactly on time?"
"As always." Phoenix replied and dropped his hand to his side. A similar height to Heydal himself, Phoenix wore a ceremonial uniform. Atop his high collared blue jacket, a steel cuirass pressed the cloth tight. Etched into the metal was a rising phoenix visible behind a crimson sash adorned with copious amounts of medals, ribbons, and pins. His grey breeches had been tucked into highly polished boots that shone in the light of the chandelier above them.
The mask he wore was unlike the others, it seemed more like a helmet than a mask. It curved from the top of his head to his nose in a single plate. A arrow shaped slit revealed his pale blue eyes while his coal coloured hair hung straight down his back. Ornately shaped phoenix wings fed from hairline to jaw, extending backwards and out. "This charming woman is Lady Raven." He said gesturing behind him.
Raven giggled and stepped forward to kiss Heydal on each cheek. "I've heard so much about you, Heydal, dear." Tipping the scales over one hundred, Raven wore her years well. "I remember watching you at the last games."
"I prefer the word tournament." Heydal said.
"Semantics, dear, semantics." She said as she proceeded further into the room. The shear dress of raven feathers she wore flaunted her figure surprisingly well. A pair of long black gloves ran the length of her arms while black high heels, open fronted to show a greyish pallor, raised her a few inches. The bright lights twinkled off the jewelled necklace she wore, as well as the various gemmed rings on her fingers. Her grey hair, stacked gracefully on her head, only made her strange iris-less eyes stand out.
Although the smallest of the group, her mask was the grandest. It simply covered the area around her eyes and nose and had been fashioned to the likeness of a Raven's wings in flight with a beak protruding outwards. Dark amethyst gems flooded the mask enough to hide the metal they were mounted on.
Kraken appeared behind Heydal with a pair of bottles in hand. "Hi, I'm Kraken. Nice to see more new faces." He lifted one bottle slightly higher and nodded at Raven. "A nice Moonlight Symphony for m'lady Raven…" Then he raised the second bottle. "…and an Empire Red for Phoenix."
Phoenix took both bottles in hand, made his way to the stacked glasses, retrieved two, poured a glass of each bottle, placed the bottles back on the shelf, and presented the Moonlight Symphony glass to Raven. Raven took the offered glass from his hand and took a tentative sip of the purple liquid.
"Exquisite, Phoenix, thank you."
"I see we have a gentleman in our midst." Kraken chuckled.
"Everyone is a gentleman compared to you, Kraken." Dragon interceded as he walked forward, his bottle now only a glass.
Phoenix extended his hand for a second time and Dragon returned the favour. As the shake continued, Phoenix's mouth curled into a small grin while Dragon's face remained stoic. A couple of seconds passed before Phoenix broke the silence.
"You have a firm grip, Sir Dragon."
"As do you, Phoenix." Dragon replied as the two of them released their grips at the same time. Kraken couldn't help but let out a laugh.
While the exchange took place, Raven made her way to the seated Serpent and took a place to her side. Resting her hand on the blind woman's shoulder, Raven took note of the tensing muscles. "Try to relax dear, this is meant to be a party."
"Do you expect a dance, Raven?" Serpent said before reaching up and removing the hand from her shoulder.
"Nothing of the sort, dear. No drink for you?"
Serpent turned her head to Raven. "Poison is not normally my beverage of choice."
Without a reply, Raven looked down at her own glass before looking back at Serpent and giggling. "A bit paranoid, dear?"
"Always."
Phoenix appeared and took a seat in an armchair by himself, while Dragon chose the end of a sofa. Kraken immediately sat beside Dragon, much to his disdain.
Kraken, previously slouched, suddenly sat upright. "Hey, isn't there usually a unicorn at this thing?"
Heydal took a place in front of the central monitor with his hands clasped in front of him. "He has been invited, yes." He couldn't help but glance at the door, clearly expecting it to open on cue.
Kraken slouched down again and nodded towards Phoenix. "You must have many stories to tell, Phoenix, with as many medals as you have. Perhaps one of them goes hand-in-hand with the scar on your neck you're sporting?"
Phoenix took a sip of his Empire Red before answering. "You noticed."
"A man of my stature tends to notice such things." Kraken replied with a mischievous grin.
"You do have an impressive stature, Kraken." Raven commented.
"Thank you, m'lady Raven" Kraken said after gulping another mouthful of Corral Edge. "Phoenix isn't the only one I've noticed things about; such as those talons of yours."
Raven couldn't help but tap the talons along her glass; they were fused to the ends of the thumb, index, and middle fingers of each hand.
"You may notice things Kraken, but my Whispers tell of your exploits on the surface." Serpent said from her seat, still facing forward.
Kraken's face darkened behind his grin.
"Not as clever as you thought are you, Kraken?" Dragon interjected.
"If we are rating cleverness, your loss at the fields of Attylica speaks volumes, Sir Dragon." Phoenix shot in.
"Volumes that say, oh what was it... three thousand men?" Kraken said through his smile.
Dragon purpled and placed his glass heavily on the table beside him. "I may have lost three thousand men at Attylica but I still won that battle, unlike your last."
"Yes, on the Coast of Shattered Sands, I believe. You barely made it out alive." Kraken said, siding with Dragon.
"'Barely' being the operative word, Sir Kraken." Phoenix replied placing his glass carefully on his own table. "I succeeded in saving over two hundred lives from that trap."
Heydal considered stepping in to cool the air but was beaten to it by Raven. "You're both fabulous generals, dears. You don't have to prove yourselves here."
"Oh, I don't know." Kraken said. "I've always wondered who was more respected between Empire and Draken."
"That's hardly a question, Sir Kraken. The respect I've earned is leagues above anything a Draken could hope to achieve."
"I'm not just any Draken, Phoenix, my respect is demanded by my mere presence."
"If you demand respect, Sir Dragon, it is nothing more than a false courtesy."
Dragon pounced to his feet with a snarl. "Your virtues of honour and admiration are nothing in the face of a person's fear of punishment and retribution. I have spent my whole life beating down those trying to earn my respect. That kind of respect holds little sway in the minds of men. You hide behind the metal of your armour and your legions of soldiers while you'll find me at the front of my pack leading the charge. Your trinkets you wear so proudly are nothing but that… trinkets." He jabbed at his vest with a thumb. "These are my medals, a far more potent warning to those who wish to oppose me."
"Oh please. The same argument, different people."
Breaking their stare, Dragon and Phoenix snapped their gaze to the bland new voice. Raven swung her head in surprise, while Kraken let out an amused guffaw. Serpent's only movement was to tilt her head to the side slightly before speaking herself.
"You need to pay more attention to your surroundings." She said.
The petite man took a sip of the clear liquid in his glass from the settled position in his chair. Unicorn was wearing pale green layered robes that hung from his body in waves with a white shawl rested on his shoulders, decorated with colourless crystals. Half of his long white hair, that bunched at the crease of his waist, covered the tree-forged crown positioned around his head. An angular mask hung from the front of the crown by hinges, covering his jade eyes and pointed nose. The small horn, affixed to the centre of his crown, protruded outwards. The left side of his hair was swept back and secured behind his pointed left ear.
"Unicorn, I thought you'd never arrive!" Kraken laughed, pointedly ignoring his failure to notice the Alliance benefactor.
"Impressive stealth skills, Sir Unicorn." Phoenix commended.
"You sneak like a rat, scurrying for food." Dragon commented before returning to his seat.
"Oh don't be so cranky, it's not Unicorn's fault you lost the argument." Kraken jabbed, patting Dragon on the shoulder.
"It never is, yet people blame me anyway." Unicorn sighed from behind the curtain of hair that hid his face. He reached up with his gloved hand and pushed the right side behind his ear.
Dragon opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted as Heydal spoke up first. "Now that we've all arrived, it is time to introduce you to the Clash of Legends. Some of you are new…" he nodded towards Phoenix, Raven, Serpent, and Dragon. "… and some of you are returning." This time he nodded to Kraken and Unicorn. "As you know, it is run once every one hundred years-"
"This is the seventh time I've been here and yet you look exactly the same as always, Heydal Harkan." Unicorn said.
"I make sure to take care of myself." Heydal replied with a smirk before continuing.
"Draken. Empire. Shadow. Spectre. Alliance. Abyss. We have scoured these lands for your one hundred greatest beings. Be this man or monster. Some have been chosen for their achievements, some have been chosen for their ferocity, some for their wits, some for their prowess. All of them have been carefully selected by our most accomplished recruiters.
What is the point of this tournament, you ask? Is it a game? Is it war? Or is it simple violence? No, my friends, this is preparation. The central screen behind me will show a consistent view of the entire battle, while the two screens on either side will focus on each contestant. One." He signalled the screen on his right. "Two." He indicated the screen on his left.
"Each fight could take place in a location taken from a pool of twenty-six arenas. Each arena is a sample taken from an unique location from all over the world; from the Cleansing Grounds to the Towers of Myth. Some of them you may be familiar with, some of them are mysteries even to you. When the competitors have been selected, and the arena chosen, they will be placed in an infinite representation of these locations.
When the bout begins, the rules are thus. Most importantly, surrendering is not an option; we won't have cowards here. They can use the arena to their advantage, including any resources on location. This is a duel to prove ones greatness, not the wilds of a battlefield. To win, they can either render their opponent incapable of continuing, or, if called for, kill them outright. A shaft of compacted light envelopes the victor and transports them to a chamber that speeds up the natural healing process. However, some injuries will be too severe to heal completely and will be carried over to the next fight.
The first rotation of duels will be randomly selected to lead into the first round. This will leave sixty-four combatants ready to begin the competition proper. So shall we get started? I now leave you to your talks to ready yourselves for the tournament to begin. Feel free to partake in any refreshments you wish."
With his speech completed, Heydal Harkan bowed deeply to his audience of six and left the room, closing the doors behind him.
"Well, that was dramatic. At least now Abyss will demonstrate their skills to the surface." Kraken said before chuckling excitedly.
"This will show you that Draken aren't push overs." Said Dragon with the sound of glee in his voice.
"The Empire will prove once and for all their prowess." Phoenix retorted with steeped fingers.
"The forces of Spectre shall show that their experiments are more advanced than simple evolution." Raven giggled into her glass.
"The Alliance was successful last time, I'm sure we're in for a repeat performance." Unicorn proclaimed while squirming deeper into his chair.
"You won't even see the Shadow coming. As always." Serpent uttered, resting her arms along the armrests of the chair.
All three screens flickered to life, the outer screens showing the first two fighters, the central screen showing a close up of Heydal Harkan's face.
"This is not for the faint of heart. Welcome, viewers, to the Clash of Legends!"