Choose your destiny! Flawless victory! [Inevitable Tournament Arc]

[meat_mooks]

No sooner did the Obs Deck descend to Arena Planet LXIII, and the crew allowed to disembark, than they were met by a veritable cloud swarm of cameras. Sleek, elegant things that might have been living, might have been machines, maybe were even magical... but were definitely nuisances as the swooped around to capture video of the crew at all conceivable angles, close up and far away. Their every move from this point on would be on camera.

In front of a small crowd of retainers stood what appeared to be a great circular orb whose only distinguishing features were a nose, and what appeared to be the most overblown mustache ever, which actually appeared to be supporting that two-foot-diameter orb at shoulder height to a tall man. Then the orb took a couple of steps forward,revealing that no, those were actually just really, really hairy legs. A seam cracked open on the creature, and in a voice loud enough to echo across the broad open plains without any need for amplification, it bellowed, "AND NOW! STRAIGHT FROM THE TRANSMIGRATION NINE VESSEL! OUR NEWEST COMPETITORS! FRESH TO THE STAGE OF BATTLE, BUT NO STRANGERS TO WAR--"

It went on like this for some time.

Under cover of this introduction, a small man that to all appearances seemed to be the love child of Richard Nixon and a particularly aggressive Furby stepped forward, and in a bored businesslike tone recited, "Welcome to the tournament. There will be one battle per day. The arena in which you battle will be determined by random draw. Our medical crew will perform all healing necessary and ensure no deaths so feel free to not hold back. Please refrain from accepting any bribes or favors from on-planet spectators--"

"--ARE YOU READY?!" the orb bellowed even louder than before, completely swamping the smaller man's recitation. "THEN STEP THIS WAY!"

And so saying, the orb and its procession began a clearly well-choreographed procession towards a large, medieval-looking fortress that hung dramatically just on the edge of clear vision. (Conveniently, this procession passed several large advertisements.)

Comments

[Mingling]

[meat_mooks]

The castle, bleak and severe as it appeared from the outside, had every luxury of home once they stepped inside. Each of them had a room to themselves with all the furnishings they could want -- a comfortable bed, a shower, a hot tub, a stocked mini-fridge, television...

They also had access to a private lounge just for the ship's crew, as well as a larger one where all contestants could mingle (though the odds of actually seeing other contestants there were quite low indeed).

This would be their home for the next several days.

[Start threads under this post just to enjoy yourselves, talk, or whatever!]

Re: [Mingling]

[hit_girl_mindy]

So they could get comfortable? Hit Girl felt uneasy with that. If there was one thing she could count on, it was bleak surroundings: Ruffnut's castle was breezy and dusty enough she felt like it was a part of everything else on the ship that was disjointed and strange. Luxury felt wrong, like you were just waiting for the other shoe to drop. She didn't like it.

So she started on push-ups to get her mind at ease, hoping this feeling would go away. She would feel better once the fighting started.

Re: [Mingling]

[electricman]

Cole, on the other hand, actually appreciated the furnishings. He had been a middle-class guy at best back before everything had hit the fan. And now, the hot tub, the beds, just the castle itself, almost made him feel him feel 100% content and relaxed.

Almost...

He wasn't a whiner, never was one. But his mind drifted back to how his world was gone, how everything he'd done had been for nothing, how his friends and loved ones MIGHT be alive, but could potentially be gone forever.

He couldn't sink into depression. He couldn't let this get to him. He needed something to distract him.

So he left his room, and wandered into the lounge to mingle with some of the other guys.

If anyone wants to talk with him, you'll probably notice that while he looks happy, there's a hidden sorrow in his eyes. He'll either be on the couch, or standing around.

Re: [Mingling]

[dragonspooker]

Man, all these people in the crew being suspicious. They had good reasons to be, but Lina still thought them a bunch of spoilsports. After all, if the people running this fight were offering the bit of luxury, they might as well enjoy it while they can, right? Being uneasy with all this could wait until there was an actual reason to be uneasy.

Lina can be found taking advantage of this place offering actual food, and is surrounded by stacks of plates on each side.

Day 1 Matches

[meat_mooks]

Deathbringer Saurfang vs. Maxim

[meat_mooks]

The Tower of Grim Illusions seemed like an ordinary tower, but in truth its insides were riddles with deceptions and mirages that played with the senses.

King Bradley versus Kaouru Koganei

[meat_mooks]

The match in the Standard Raised Ring was swift and painful for both sides, but at the end, master swordsman King Bradley claimed victory over his far-younger opponent.

Lash vs. The Exsanguinator

[meat_mooks]

The Crystal Ice Chasm proved to be a deep gorge in the middle of a cold, windy mountain. Freezing wind cut like knives on exposed skin, and the rocky sides of the chasm promised bone-crunching hits to anyone who was thrown into them.

Mokuren vs. Four-Glass-Walls

[meat_mooks]

Fighting in the Desert of Death proved far to Four-Glass-Walls' advantage, and he easily defeated Mokuren.

Tsukishiro vs. Kyladriss

[meat_mooks]

In the Moonlight Arena, the two competitors faced off on a transparent glass platform elevated high above the ground, under a full moon and a clear sky. Only glimpses of refracted light showed the outlines of their arena, and while the tournament had no "ring out" rules, the impact from a fall from this height would undoubtedly spell a loss for the poor soul who endured it.

Genjuro vs. Recca Hanabishi

[meat_mooks]

The pair fought in the Arena of Steel. Though he seemed to have the advantage, a foolish move by Genjuro led to him being consumed in flames and deemed unable to continue.

Sindragosa vs. Kai

[meat_mooks]

Kai gained a massive advantage when this fight's arena proved to be Lone Island. He easily defeated the massive undead dragon.

Damaramu vs. Dr. McNinja

[meat_mooks]

These two fought on a fairly convention battleground: a massive stone pillar in the middle of a lake of lava. Don't fall in.

'Vadum vs. Sir Keladrisk

[meat_mooks]

Though their arena was the City Quarter, they needn't worry about spectators. The city in question was constructed solely for this battle; it had no inhabitants and no one's livelihood or property would be damaged in the violence.

Sonic vs. Kaya

[meat_mooks]

These two competitors will fight in the Grand Forest, an ancient(-seeming) woods with mighty trees, little undergrowth, and maybe even some dangerous wild animals to add spice.

Hana vs. Kurei Mori

[meat_mooks]

The two face off in the Nuclear Wasteland -- a broad, ugly swath of dirt, rubble, and pathetic straggly plants that struggle to survive in the harsh terrain. Don't worry, there is no background radiation, despite the name!

Lina vs. Mimiron

[meat_mooks]

These two drew the Grand Bridge -- a stone pathway about twenty feet wide and so long neither beginning nor end were visible from the middle. Of course it had no railings, guards, or other protective barriers to keep people from plummeting over the edge.

Ian vs. Sakura Menou

[meat_mooks]

The stage of this battle was the Abandoned But Inexplicably Active Factory, which had dangerous catwalks over vats of noxious chemicals and substances, hanging chains, robot arms that were clearly programmed in absence of any OSHA compliance, and so forth.

Bight/Crucible vs. Crematia

[meat_mooks]

Finally, the organizers get to use the full glory of the Sky Arena! It is exactly as it sounds: the sky high above the castle, with one oddly-solid cloud in the middle of it all where creatures could land and find support if necessary.

Shoutarou vs. Naoto

[meat_mooks]

This fight would be a particularly miserable one; they squared off on the Airship Deck, which much resembled a ship's deck except for being elevated. And in the midst of a storm which lashed the deck, adding dangerous winds and violent rocking along with a slippery footing at best.

Argent Confessor Paletress vs. Jack Rakan

[meat_mooks]

These two fought at the Base of the Great Waterfall. The battle was extremely short; Jack Rakan claimed the victory.

Kukai the Merciful vs. XT-002 Deconstructor

[meat_mooks]

The massive robot and the friendly-looking monk went to the Gratuitous Cliff Edge arena; after several hours, both returned. The robot was the victor, but by all reports, just barely.

Shade of Aran vs. Talia

[meat_mooks]

These two found themselves in the University Library. Five floors of bookshelves and even a microfiche machine! Don't worry, they're all prop books.

Lady Blade vs. Grimrazor

[meat_mooks]

Lady Blade claimed victory after a rather epic swordfight that nearly brought the entire Circus Tent arena crashing down on them both.

Joker vs. The Walking Fortress

[meat_mooks]

Bad luck for the fortress, which could navigate the twists and turns of the Canyon Complex poorly at best. Joker claimed easy victory.