The Games of Saberhaven
Prince Kroobor vs. King Nighthawk
The doors open and both opponents fly out into the closed air of the Arena - or perhaps it should be said all ten of them, as Nighthawk appears with eight duplicate images of himself, shifting and surrounding him in a blurred kaleidoscope that make him almost difficult to look at. Neither opponent is wearing armor: Nighthawk says it weighs him down too much to fly, and it is hypothesized that Kroobor is forbidden to do so by his god, a divinity of magic. Nevertheless, neither the Winged Folk nor the halfbreed should be an easy mark; both wear enchanted bracers, Kroobor wears a cloak, Nighthawk a ring, and both fighters are slippery as eels when it comes to dodging blows. Unusually, Nighthawk is not holding his bow drawn, but instead has it slung across his back, and before the announcements are even finished, all nine of him appear to be casting a spell. No effect is visible - but Kroobor, flying winglessly through the air toward Nighthawk, laughs contemptuously and finishes a spell of his own - also to no visible effect.
Nighthawk attempts another spell, this time a more elaborate casting. While he gesticulates and chants, Kroobor flies yet closer. Before Nighthawk can complete his spell, a blinding ray zaps from a ring on Kroobor's right hand and surrounds Nighthawk in a blinding flash. Nighthawk throws his arms up at the last second, but still he appears dazed, and is having trouble maintaining altitude. Kroobor casts another spell, this one involving some string he dangles from his fingers. He completes the spell, and then quite loudly says, "I --" and then stops, looking amazed at himself, as if he did not expect to speak. Meanwhile, the Winged King shakes his head to clear it, then sets his shoulders with new determination. Kroobor pulls his two rods from his belt, speaks a word, and both alter into double-headed flails. Armed, the priest closes the final gap.
Nighthawk, meanwhile, appears to be readying another spell. Kroobor begins swinging at the various manifestations of Nighthawk, managing to strike and dispel one image with each flail. Apparently satisfied, Nighthawk reaches out with his bare hand to slap at the prince, and is amazed as his hand goes right through the image. Kroobor chuckles grimly and swipes away a third of Nighthawk's reflections as the king realizes his opponent is displaced. Grimacing, Nighthawk reaches out again, swinging his hand in a wide arc to try to catch the half-dragon. Kroobor responds with frantic flailing, dispelling one image, missing another then hitting that same image with the other flail, and then - finally - striking Nighthawk himself. The king begins to laugh as the flail bounces harmlessly off him with a *tink* sound - then the air freezes in his throat. With a look of horror, Nighthawk turns ashen: his skin, feathers, and all his equipment turn a granite gray, and his wings suddenly cease to beat. Plummeting like a stone the five stories to the ground, King Nighthawk smashes into dozens of pieces, even broken once across his mighty torso.
Kroobor laughs, twists about in the air, and shouts, "His majesty the King appears to be shattered by his loss. Tell Panther I eagerly await his defeat as well!" On the ground, the healing clerics, assisted by frantic members of Nighthawk's entourage, gather up the chunks and shards of the late king.
[ Atlas ][
Mythology ][
Bestiary ][
Faiths ][
Kalendarium ][
Credits ]
[ History ][
Lexicon ][
Artifacts ][
The Games ][
PBeM ][
Other Worlds ]