Baldassare sat and watched as the six battles began. The combatants began slowly, some unsure of how to begin a fight against someone who had once been their ally only moments ago. A few stood relatively motionless, doing almost nothing to save their lives. A couple went purely for an offensive strategy, taking no time to fall back and defend themselves. There were two cases where only one combatant took action, and those would surely play out as naught much beyond a simple execution.
However, there was one pairing in which both parties refused to take action. The wolf and the knave, both vile creatures in their own right. Perhaps if the knave had survived this ordeal, he would have at least found a new ally among the other Pawns, but fate had seemingly decided that it was not to be. As both just stood there doing nothing, Baldassare rose to his feet.
"Tell me, my pets, how one can be entertained by two warriors participating in a staring contest? Surely you did not expect this to please the crowd."
He glanced to the soldiers on either side of him.
"Kill them both," he commanded. The archers raised their bows and killed the knave and the She-Wolf with quick, decisive strikes.
"Now, let's spice things up a bit. It's such a pity to lose part of the show like that, so I offer the rest of you an opportunity."
The combatants had all stopped mid-battle to watch as their two comrades and enemies fell. Now their attention was completely devoted to the vampire above them.
"There are three beasts hidden below the arena. Three gates from which they shall storm. Rather than fighting one another to the death, three pairs may choose to take on these beasts. Perhaps this will save both your lives, perhaps this will lead to both your demise. Maybe the one who would have been victorious will be the one to fall in battle. Who knows? The odds are ever changing. The first three pairs to walk to the gates will be pardoned from fighting each other, and given a second chance to fight the beasts that dwell below. The remaining two pairs will continue their battle as per normal.
"Now, which will it be? Of course, none of you may choose to fight these beasts, but is the promise of life something that any of you can pass up?"
Three gates sit with some sort of creatures writhing in the darkness beyond them. Three pairings may choose to battle the monsters hiding on the other side of the gates, but both players in a pair must agree to end their battle and take up arms against one of these creatures. Who knows what you could be risking, and who knows if it's the better choice. But isn't that all anyone deserves: a choice?
If you wish to walk to one of the gates, simply post here in the format of [b]Walk to[/b] Gate [1/2/3]. Both members of a pair must walk towards the same gate in order for it to count, and you may deliberate over your choice if you so wish.
Guttural roars echo from far beyond the first gate.
The second gate conceals a creature sitting in total silence.
And heavy claws can be heard scratching somewhere behind the third gate.
Choose wisely. If you do not wish to risk a gate, you may post saying [b]Remain in battle[/b] or simply not post at all.
Sopheria is dead, again. She was the Knave of Staves.
Ash is dead. She was the She-Wolf.
