Jemal
Adventurer
This morning you woke up in a clearing. Around you were a couple dozen other beings, some of which you couldn't even recognize. The clearing is about a mile diameter, ringed by forest. In the middle of it stands a large castle. Over the next few hours, beings had kept appearing in the clearing until there were nearly a hundred.
Some knew why they were here, some didn't. Those that didn't raged at being summoned and imprisoned like this.... For imprisoned indeed it does seem you are. No force can get into the castle (Many have tried and failed utterly) or into the forest. Some tried to take out their frustration on their fellow "captives" only to fnd that they could do no harm to anyone.
Eventually, everyone managed to piece together the basics of what was happening. This was an interplaner Fighting Tournament the likes of which was seen only once a century. You had all been brought here to participate, whether willingly or not.
About half an hour after the last 'straggler' appears, the gate opens and several figures walk out. The one in the lead is dressed in a leather vest and pants and has a wand tucked into his belt. The others are all nearly identical. Just under 6 feet tall, well built but not "huge", and wielding various weapons.
"Good day" says the leader, his voice not seeming loud, yet it sounds clearly and in each persons native tongue. "For those of you who are NOT here by choice, I apologize but my lord felt your presence was required in order for this to be an effective measure of prowess. To the rest of you, congratulations on winning your way here. NOW, it is time to get on with the information that you require to compete. First off, to clear things up for those in the audience who didn't know they were entering.. This is THE tournament of Fighting Masters. You are all some of the best and most powerful beings in the multiverse, and over the next while, we will be finding out which of you is THE best. If you do not wish to participate, all you have to do is sit right here until the tournament is over. Of course, that won't last forever..." his easy smile converts into a wicked grin "But so long as you participate we needn't worry about that. Now, the rules are as follows: You've allready found that you can do nothing offensive to each other within this clearing. Outside of it, however, that changes. Once you leave this clearing (Which you'll be able to do at first light tommorow), everybody becomes open game. The Island we are on is several miles around, so you needn't worry that this will devolve into some sort of mass brawl. That's not what we want, anyways. We're looking for Skill, Cunning, and Power, best shown in single or small scale combat. The tournament will continue until there are 20 or less of you left. At that point, the 'safe zone' around the castle will be turned off, and the 6 of you with the highest scores will be taken inside. The rest will be entered into a battle royal TO THE DEATH, until there are two survivors. Those two will join the other 6 inside, to prepare for the final rounds. The details of those rounds will be explained at that point and no sooner. Now, I was speaking earlier of Points. This tournament is not a simple 'defeat or kill the opponent' thing. Such is one way of going about it, but we believe it takes greater skill and power sometimes to bring your opponent in alive. As such, there are various ways of gaining points. 1 point if you kill your opponent and bring the dead body(Or enough to prove it's dead) back to the gatekeepers. They will hand out all points. You will receive TWO points if you bring a living..."He glances over at a trio of pale-skinned, sharp-toothed people "Or it's equivalent... Body back to them. Three points if you can bring someone back and convince them to Surrender.". He continues speaking over any interuptions, and they don't cause trouble understanding him.
Clearing his throat, he looks around at all of you"A few other things you should know about this island. it is it's own Demiplane, as most of you who are familiar with the term have probably deduced by now. As such, it has traits that are slightly different from the normal Material Worlds. As you may have noticed, the Vampires over there are not on fire from the sun. As well, death has a different meaning here. If you die here.. Even those of you who normally don't STAY dead.. There will be no coming back. Also, there are several different areas of the island.. Plains Forests, swamps, mountains, underground caverns, and a sea surrounding it. Each of these areas has a... slight problem that you may encounter. If you are able to destroy one of these problems and return with proof, you will gain extra points.
These men behind me are the guards. They are all Demigods, and each alone is aproximately as good a fighter as you, though as Divine Beings, they are not allowed to enter the tournament itself. Any attempt to break into the castle or assault them will be met with deadly retributive force. Once I go inside, they will be your only liason with those of us running this tournament. You will not see me again unless you are one of the Lucky 8 who make it to the finals. SO, before I go are there any REAL questions?"
Some knew why they were here, some didn't. Those that didn't raged at being summoned and imprisoned like this.... For imprisoned indeed it does seem you are. No force can get into the castle (Many have tried and failed utterly) or into the forest. Some tried to take out their frustration on their fellow "captives" only to fnd that they could do no harm to anyone.
Eventually, everyone managed to piece together the basics of what was happening. This was an interplaner Fighting Tournament the likes of which was seen only once a century. You had all been brought here to participate, whether willingly or not.
About half an hour after the last 'straggler' appears, the gate opens and several figures walk out. The one in the lead is dressed in a leather vest and pants and has a wand tucked into his belt. The others are all nearly identical. Just under 6 feet tall, well built but not "huge", and wielding various weapons.
"Good day" says the leader, his voice not seeming loud, yet it sounds clearly and in each persons native tongue. "For those of you who are NOT here by choice, I apologize but my lord felt your presence was required in order for this to be an effective measure of prowess. To the rest of you, congratulations on winning your way here. NOW, it is time to get on with the information that you require to compete. First off, to clear things up for those in the audience who didn't know they were entering.. This is THE tournament of Fighting Masters. You are all some of the best and most powerful beings in the multiverse, and over the next while, we will be finding out which of you is THE best. If you do not wish to participate, all you have to do is sit right here until the tournament is over. Of course, that won't last forever..." his easy smile converts into a wicked grin "But so long as you participate we needn't worry about that. Now, the rules are as follows: You've allready found that you can do nothing offensive to each other within this clearing. Outside of it, however, that changes. Once you leave this clearing (Which you'll be able to do at first light tommorow), everybody becomes open game. The Island we are on is several miles around, so you needn't worry that this will devolve into some sort of mass brawl. That's not what we want, anyways. We're looking for Skill, Cunning, and Power, best shown in single or small scale combat. The tournament will continue until there are 20 or less of you left. At that point, the 'safe zone' around the castle will be turned off, and the 6 of you with the highest scores will be taken inside. The rest will be entered into a battle royal TO THE DEATH, until there are two survivors. Those two will join the other 6 inside, to prepare for the final rounds. The details of those rounds will be explained at that point and no sooner. Now, I was speaking earlier of Points. This tournament is not a simple 'defeat or kill the opponent' thing. Such is one way of going about it, but we believe it takes greater skill and power sometimes to bring your opponent in alive. As such, there are various ways of gaining points. 1 point if you kill your opponent and bring the dead body(Or enough to prove it's dead) back to the gatekeepers. They will hand out all points. You will receive TWO points if you bring a living..."He glances over at a trio of pale-skinned, sharp-toothed people "Or it's equivalent... Body back to them. Three points if you can bring someone back and convince them to Surrender.". He continues speaking over any interuptions, and they don't cause trouble understanding him.
Clearing his throat, he looks around at all of you"A few other things you should know about this island. it is it's own Demiplane, as most of you who are familiar with the term have probably deduced by now. As such, it has traits that are slightly different from the normal Material Worlds. As you may have noticed, the Vampires over there are not on fire from the sun. As well, death has a different meaning here. If you die here.. Even those of you who normally don't STAY dead.. There will be no coming back. Also, there are several different areas of the island.. Plains Forests, swamps, mountains, underground caverns, and a sea surrounding it. Each of these areas has a... slight problem that you may encounter. If you are able to destroy one of these problems and return with proof, you will gain extra points.
These men behind me are the guards. They are all Demigods, and each alone is aproximately as good a fighter as you, though as Divine Beings, they are not allowed to enter the tournament itself. Any attempt to break into the castle or assault them will be met with deadly retributive force. Once I go inside, they will be your only liason with those of us running this tournament. You will not see me again unless you are one of the Lucky 8 who make it to the finals. SO, before I go are there any REAL questions?"
