Legion (Episode 2)

"Come forth Champions of the Realms of Man." Booms the recognizable voice of Lord Orb.




"Enter Champions and welcome to the Chambers of the Inner Council of T'Lorn." Chamberlin voices to the eight. "Mine is the distinct pleasure of introducing you to each of the members of the council and their respective esteemed aides."

"Of the council members, seated left of our Lord Orb, is Master Fane: High Priest of Slortar the Old." He gives a waving gesture toward a dark-skinned Eldren male, dressed in highly decorative robes.





"Continuing counter-clockwise, is the Lady Sibylla; sister-mate to Master Fane." He gives a waving gesture toward a dark-skinned Eldren female in equally elaborate ensemble.



"Seated to the Lady Sibylla's right is the enigmatic Lex Grimoire." He continues gesturing to a robes figure with a feminine face highly tattooed with strings of arcane symbols.



Chamberlin switches hands and indicates a cyborg female seated on the other side of the doors. "Our next council member is Lady Cybrexia Nox." The gearhead cyborg nods slightly to acknowledge her name.



"Coming on around the circle, we next arrive at Lady Naustia Tormtor." He indicates an attractive Tiefling female with very arachnid-like features, and wearing nothing save a long black loincloth.



"And..last, but not least of the council, is our Oracle." Chamberlin nods to a woman with lavender hair seated just to Lord Orb's left.



"Now, completing our introductions, I will continue with the council's indispensable subordinates." Chamberlin announces. "Also seated beside our Great Lord, is Physician and Healer, Doctor Talosh Anemonn." the masculine figure he indicates has silver-blue eyes in pools of darker blue. His skin seems to scintillate in the light of the chamber and is lightly scaled in light grey mottled in places with blue. Shoulder-length tendrils writhe about the atop his head, tipped with slightly glowing globules; not unlike the stalks of a sea anemone.



"Seated between Master Fane and Lady Sibylla is Sanguinor, head information gatherer and chief procurer." Everyone will recognize this as the androgynous vampire who came to breakfast.



"Seated between council members, Lady Naustia and Lady Cybrexia is Torment: High Inquisitor."



There is no doubt in anyone's mind that Torment is at least a greater demon of pain.

"Does anyone have questions before we begin?" Chamberlin asks the eight Champions.

Keltos steeples his hands, his eyes silently assessing each of the council members.

"One question. Are we going to be told what is happening, or is it a figure it out as we go along type thing?" Lucian doesn't like how they are surrounded, but knows better than to complain about it.

Chamberlin looks directly at Lucian. "Happening? What isn't clear here to you, m'Lord Falken?"

"Honestly, lots of things. I did, perhaps, phrase it poorly. We're going to be sparring for you all to watch and judge however you plan to do so, but sparring can mean a lot of things. And, really, this doesn't seem like a room for fighting each other, so this might be a small meet and greet? You all know exactly what is happening, but I had no idea here even existed until last night. Vague instructions are all well and good until you're the one receiving them. My idea of sparring and your idea of sparring could be entirely different - and that is just a people thing, let alone a world universe thing." Lucian shrugged as he simply told them what he was thinking.

"I like rules for this sort of thing. Is it more 'free for all good luck' or 'here are the guidelines good luck'? Yes, you may have been about to tell us, but I find guessing rules tedious at the best of times so I figured I'd just ask while you gave me the chance. Just incase it's the 'try not to murder each other' type of sparring." While his attitude could appear flippant, it more seems like he has often missed the chance to ask something he would have benefited from knowing and has learned to ask when he can. Even if it made him look slow or stupid -which had actually been useful a time or two - Lucian had learned questions were always best asked. If the other party chose not to enlighten you, well at least you asked.

Besides, it wasn't like he had any idea about what any of these people were like. It was all well and good to trust people, but the council most likely knew a lot about him while he knew essentially nothing about them. Asking questions, even if redundant and he knew the general answer, was a way to gather information that could prepare him for what was to come. Behavior could tell you a lot as well, so he might even learn something from how they received his questions despite how they answered them. And he didn't have to limit this to the council, but it could also teach him things about his fellow champions that might be useful later on.

Chamberlin listens to Lucian's concerns and nods. "The observation and assessment matches will begin in short measure. Combatants will be transported from this central chamber to the locations of the actual contests. Each match will be observed by the council and those in this chamber who remain."

"Conditions of each Champion during the contests will be closely monitored. These matches are not intended to kill our Champions and a match will be ended should an individual's life be considered in peril. Doctor Anemonn will be here for immediate response should his expertise be required."

"Also, a Champion may call for quarter to end a match, if they can not or wish not to continue."

Radu stands in silence, listening to the outline of the pending contests. In turn, he bows. "My venerable Lords and Ladies," he says with a smile. "I suppose I also have a question - this contest, I gather it is meant to learn of our strengths. Our weaknesses. You say it is not meant to end any of our lives, so it is not a means to cull out the weak. I must gather, then, you intend to strengthen us through these trials against the greater threat you have alluded to.

What I don't believe is fully clear - what are your short term intentions for the winners and losers of these matches? Should we be expecting simply to lick our wounds and better ourselves for the next match?"

Lord Orb clears his throat as a cue for Chamberlin, that he will answer the latest question.

"Win or lose in the matches, all will be rewarded by the experience. Those who win, will be granted access to the vaults and there allowed to select a prize for their success. When the assessments conclude, each of our Champions will be given the opportunity to train and learn from experts to better their capabilities for the upcoming quests beyond the Eternal City."

Satisfied with the answer, Radu nods. "Thank you Lord Orb. Surely the experience alone will be of great value. You humble us with your resources and the opportunities given us. I can only hope you had such a hospitable patron when you yourself were chosen to be a champion."

Lucian listened to Chamberlin and gave a nod of thanks and understanding when he was finished. No death was good. As Radu asked about what happened for winners versus losers, he found it interesting that the winner would be granted a prize. Useful, both potentially in the future and now as motivation. Yet, with his suspicious mindset, he also saw how it could be used as a method of establishing some sort of hierarchy within the champions. Although he wasn't sure how dividing them would benefit anyone, assuming the information they had been given so far was factual anyway.

"Then. With no other questions, let the games begin!" Chamberlin announces.


Lord Orb claps his hands together and everyone can feel the circular council chambers begin to slowly rotate clockwise. The entrance area vanishes and more seats materialize in its stead completing a perfectly spherical viewing stadium. Tajuri and Leh'veia fade out and disappear, as the other six Champions remain.

"Sit." Lord Orb invites them with a gesture of his hand toward the new seats.



When everyone has been seated, the floor opens up like an iris valve and, as the room slowly turns, everyone within has a full view of a spherical-shaped chamber ringed with columns and illuminated by glowing lines and sigils. There, in miniature, stand the first two combatants squaring off across the room from each other.

Scene 2: Tajuri vs Leh'veia

The combatants find themselves transported into a spherical-shaped chamber surrounded by ancient columns. Beyond is only darkness. It is illuminated by a series of lines and sigils in the stonework floor and ceiling. The six standing columns rise to ten feet and appear to hold up the ceiling. The ceiling is slightly dome-shaped, rising from ten feet at the columns to twelve feet in the center of the chamber. Behind each combatant stands the base of column which is flat on top and rises four feet from the floor.

Leh'veia draws her demon weapon and it transforms into a revolver. She dances about and invokes the arcane.

She aims the demon gun at Tajuri, as the Moonfolk Hexblade strides toward her and fires.

Taj sidesteps the bullet and glides in for the attack, whirling her demonic naginata and empowering it the with smite of her patron goddess. The greater demon weapon snickers, as Tajuri's thrust picks up Leh'veia and throws her prone, on her back, onto the floor.

Doctor Anemonn immediately appears beside the fallen Leh'veia and begins to administer healing techniques.

Tajuri fades from the arena and finds herself standing once more in the center of the Inner Council chamber, with blood dripping down the blade of her polearm.

The High Priest, Master Fane, is surprised by the sudden and brutal one attack that ended the first match. He glances over to Lord Orb and nods. "It is as you said, Orb. Having now seen for myself, this one is even more deadly than beautiful. The Queen of Swords is well Championed by the embodiment of Tajuri Shadowmoon."

He turns and nods to Tajuri and retakes his seat.

Momentarily, Kris and Lucian fade from their seats in the Inner Council chamber and appear in the arena for the second match.

"Blood and Souls for my Lady, Xiombarg!" Tajuri calls out, as the dark-skinned high priest mentions her patron. She bows to the compliment given. Her wicked demon weapon vanishes, and she glides over to take one of the two seats vacated by the next pairing of combatants.