» Fri Apr 22, 2011 2:42 am
Back from the Holidays, Camarilla finally got some much needed exercise:
The days that followed my promotion to Arena Champion proved to be a blur of unfamiliar and well known faces alike. Strangers approached me in the streets and wanted my signature on copies of the Fighter's Guild posters they had torn from the walls. Kids ran behind me everywhere I went, chanting my name and pretending to be me in ragged homemade 'golden armors' emulating mine own. I needed to get out of IC, but something told me a brief trip wouldn't do the trick this time. I had to relocate.
During a trip to Bruma I had stumbled upon an old shack in the woods, which appeared to have been abandoned. It would serve well as a temporary refuge, but needed some serious work done before it was even inhabitable. I rented a mule, packed my stuff and headed for the mountains. The shack was overgrown with vines, floor boards were missing, it had cobwebs everywhere and I even think a badger lived in the basemant. This would require a lot more work than expected, but I put on my work clothes and tool belt and got down to it. It would be a nice distraction from the adventuring too.
When I was finally done it had been almost two weeks, but the place looked like http://i55.tinypic.com/34hi9lf.jpg. Temporarily at least.
The repairs had cost quite a few septims as I had to buy lumber and what not in Bruma. Once again the coffers were empty. Also, my sword arm had started to itch again. All it had been swinging lately was a hammer and a saw. The two problems combined brought up the only obvious solution I could think of: Challenge the Grey Prince for the Grand Champion title. There should be quite a few coins in that, and there would certainly be enough of a challenge. If I had to deal with the fans anyway, I might as well be Grand Champion.
I packed up my armor and weapons, locked up the cabin as best I could (I put a log in front of the door and hung a sign saying 'Don't enter, I live here!'), and wandered down the narrow path with the view of the grand arena below me.
At the Arena I was greeted by a half-crazed elf, who turned out to be my most adoring fan, as he put it. He wouldn't leave me alone, and it wasn't until Owyn threw him out we got some quiet time. I explained to Arena people what I had in mind, and they all got very excited by the prospect of such a fight. As it were, I had to go and challenge Agronak myself, as per the rules.
The Grand Champion himself hadn't been seen at the Arena for some time. Actually not since I brought him the news of his heritage. I found him outside, in the gardens, and issued the challenge. At first he didn't seem to hear me, so I said it again.
"Hail, Grand Champion of The Arena, honored be thy name. I, Camarilla Zext, Arena Champion, hereby challenges you to duel for the title of Grand Champion as is my rig..."
"Yes yes yes, I heard you the first time, little girl. Why are you in such a hurry to die?"
"Erhh...I was kinda planning on winning..?"
"Very well.....I accept. Now, go away and leave me alone in my misery."
The once proud Half-Orc was clearly still marked by the news I had brought him. Even though I was going to fight him for my life, I still felt bad for him. It had been quite a blow for him to learn of his father's vampirism.
The fight was set to take place three days from now. Time enough to gather the crowds and place the bets. The Fighter's Guild had dusted off the finest pencil pushers as well, and they were all present in the stands on the day of the great event. No publicity like it.
The hour before the fight was the most nervous I had ever been. Even more so than for my very first fight. What the hell was I thinking, challenging the Grand Champion?! A Half-Orc, twice my size, twice my strength and only the Nine knows how many times my experience in battle. I had to use all my cunning, my agility, my speed, every trick I knew, just to stay alive. There was no hope of wearing him out, he was as fit as any fighter I had ever seen. By the Nine, he had taught me the best moves I had, and how many more did he have in store that I didn't know about?! My only comfort was that this time I'd be in my own armor, tailored to my size and fighting style. It allowed for free movement so I could move as quickly as possible and hopefully dodge his blows while I waited for my opening.
A roar arose from the Arena above, and dust fell from the ceiling. The place had to be packed. The heavy oak beams holding the ceiling were creaking with the weight of the spectators as they were cheering the announcer's words. I checked my armor one last time, then wrapped my old good-luck rag around my left wrist and grabbed the hilt of my sword. Tight. Owyn stood in front of me, ready to slide my helmet on. As he did I noticed the nervous look in his eyes. Hah, if he was nervous, imagine what I felt!
With that he slapped my ass and sent me up the ramp with the words: "Go get him, pumpkin, and try to not get that cute ass of yours spanked." Good old Owyn, he still knew what he was doing. Apparently he wasn't afraid of the knee-job he'd be getting when I returned either.
As the gate lowered before me, I vaguely heard the arena announcer present me as 'The Golden Maiden'. It must have been Owyn's idea. Not that it mattered right now. I always seem to get distracted by details right in the last second. Focus!
I walked slowly toward the center of the Arena, raising my sword in greeting. The crowd went wild. What a rush this was! When the roar died down, The Grey Prince was announced as he slowly walked up from the opposite side to meet me. The roar was not as loud. Could it really be that I had the crowd on my side? A small glimmer of hope, but it all counted at this point.
Facing the Prince, our eyes met as our blades crossed in salute. And then I saw it. I saw the sadness in his eyes. He did not look a seasoned fighter, a predator looking for another kill. His shoulders were hanging and his back was bent. And that was all I had time to notice, as suddenly his ebony blade came down upon me like a lightning strike. I let the blow glance of my shield and spun to counter attack. Obviously he had anticipated that and blocked with ease. He drove me around the arena like he was herding a sheep to its slaughter, occasionally allowing me to attack, but it was clear he was the better fighter. I tried to fight on my own terms, fast moves, rolls, dodges, but he caught me out wherever I went, fighting with the calm of a seasoned professional. The fight seemed to last forever. I imagine he was playing to the crowd. Giving them a show before he finished it off. It made my temper flare, being played with like a cat plays with a mouse! It put me on the offense, and I rained the blows down on him, tried to bully him into making a mistake. And then, finally, it happened.
I took a long leap forward, attacking from the right, then a powerful strike from the left, and finished the combination with a powerful spin jump. As I swung my head around to take aim halfway through the spin, I saw his lips move. I heard him almost whisper "..Goodbye..", and then he dropped his shield ever so slightly, allowing the edge of my sword to connect with his neck and remove that sad look from his face. He died like a Champion, with a smile on his face.
I didn't even hear the crowd, but gave them the http://i51.tinypic.com/27yvhqp.jpg I knew they wanted before I turned to walk as fast as I could down the ramp to the Bloodworks. Before my tears broke through.
Grand Champion...what a hoax!