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Tournament of Champions! (The game has begun)
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@TenebrisNemo @KalamMekhar please post your remaining cards you want to have included in the match latest 20:00 CET time (19:00 London time or in 20 hours from now).
I want to start the match at 22:00 CET time so you can be a little delayed with your cards but please try to submit them as soon as possible.
If there is something among my stories you really need before posting the last card. Please send me a message asap and I'll try to write that segment rather quickly at first moment possible.
If you really want the last Stelladoran chapters before the match then I'll write a short summary of them.
The only card I have for the moment is Radhe's 7 mana card.
Also, congratulations for the 10k views! )
Here's Radhe's signature card. It's kind of a utility card for her. Radhe can generate some tokens, but has trouble reaching a critical mass of them fast enough, which is what the etb and first ability helps with right from the off. Radhe can't make the tokens any larger than they are, which is where the second ability comes in. Finally, Radhe is unable to make her tokens evasive, which is what the third ability helps with, and it is often game ending if you have used the first ability enough. The card gets around the "aura problem" by enchanting a land, which is harder to remove than a creature, and it can work through Blood Moon. Flavourwise, it represents the place she visited in her 'dream sequence', complete with floating radish and large tree. It is a place where life is sustained, empowered, and protected.
I personally dosen't have much more chapters to write. I have the Stelladoran and some smaller stuff in Crastine so for me almost anyhting works.
I could move the bronze final to Sunday afternoon/evening if it would get too tight there.
@Faiths_Guide @Gelectrode @TenebrisNemo @KalamMekhar
Question: should I remove the signature cards completely from the last matches (bronze and final)?
Since in my perspective it seems like it forces you to spend more time than it adds to the design evaluation.
Arrin is still ready to help out.
She was holding the grey peacekeeper in her hands.
She was fragmented in her thougts. The confrontation with Zaralim brought her mind back to Stelladora, to Decaotus. "The abyss is like water and the gate is like a dam. If the abyss becomes to powerful it will break the gate and everything it tries to defend. The abyss must let leak into the world. Let it sink back to where it belongs."
"She is a god. She must know what she is doing. That evil must not be let into the world again."
"It does not matter how many or how powerful her champions become. When the gate breaks everything will be destroyed. It must be stopped. Friyena must be stopped."
"She is just protecting the people."
"Her love for the people will be the end for us."
"So she should just abandoned them and let them die?"
"Death is only temporary. The abyss is eternal."
"You say that she should let millions of people die just because you believe there is no hope?"
"Praepotus failed to stop Septhis thousands of years ago and so will Friyena."
"Is there no other way. Can't you gods try to reason with the abyss. Septhis or Praepotus?"
"The abyss and Septhis cannot be reasoned with. They only seek to destroy and consume all living and dead. The abyss must be let sink into the world before it grows too powerful and destroys it."
There must be some way to stop it without sacrificing the people. She did not belive Decaotus that the abyss was beyond reason. She had met a monster of the abyss in Stelladora that had left her alone. She also thought back on that dream or what it was before she had arrived in Stelladora. No it had not felt like a dream. It was defenitely something real. She had met someone. Septhis or Praepotus and she had been given her life back or she had been saved from death. Whichever it was. She had been saved by someone from the abyss.
She crawled down into bed while she tried to calm down her thoughts.
She closed her eyes.
A crescent moon shined upon the villa of the contestants. It was a shadowy night. Large clouds covered most of the star sky and the winds howled around the city of Crastine. Tiamat was laying in her bed with her eyes closed. She turned in it constantly while she was breathing heavily. Nervous mumbling came from her mouth.
"No... stop..."
She saw visions of people. Humans with terrified faces, running away from a creature. They screamed. Tiamat realized that it wasn't a single creature. She could see many of them. Those creatures slaughtered humans and burned their homes.
"I don't... want this..."
Soldier's bodies burned to ashes and the blood of the weak was everywhere. Black smoke of a burning city blocked the moonlight. Winged dragons destroyed everything in their path and ate those who were far too slow. Their terrifying roars echoed in the dying city.
"Make it... stop..!"
To her horror, Tiamat wasn't witnessing this from the distance. She saw it from the eyes of the dragons. All five of them. She could see as if she was killing every living being before her. The screams turned louder. There were screams of men, women, boys, girls, and even a baby's cry.
"This is not me!!"
Tiamat's scream echoed in the villa, then it was quiet once again. She was sitting in her bed, still breathing heavily. Her eyes were wide open and she was sweating. Tiamat could faintly feel the heat of the burning city, but then she noticed that it came from within herself. Her soul was burning violently, but it wasn't as painful as the first time in Legorna.
Perhaps I've gotten used to it.
The dragon girl looked around her bedroom as she calmed down. Her scuffed armor was inside an open chest. Her curved greatsword, which was in its leather scabbard, was leaning against it. The leather bag was on a padded armchair. Paintings of some angelic deities were on the ceiling. A tall mirror was at the corner of the room. Silver moonlight came through the window and the white curtains.
Then Tiamat looked at the ugly flower, named as the grey peacekeeper, and picked it up from the nighstand. She wondered why she saw that gruesome nightmare even though this flower was beside her bed. After a moment, Tiamat thought of Henric, Robin and Veronica Wardnan as she looked at it. Then she thought of Radhe.
I hope I didn't wake you up.
Tiamat put the flower back onto the nightstand, got up from the bed, and walked to the mirror. She looked into it and saw a grown woman in white undergarments. Then she moved her left hand's index finger along the lines of her scars; small one in her right hand, two in her right side of the torso, one in the left side, and one large scar at the outer side of her abdomen.
Sir Wardnan died as he saved someone he barely even knew. Tiamat wondered if Radhe ever blamed Tiamat from his death, but then the dragon girl shook her head. Henric Wardnan's death was Zaralim's fault and nobody else's. Tiamat had cursed Zaralim until today, when the vampire bled and got beaten, even though he didn't die. Tiamat almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
If he is not allowed to die, what else can we do? Simply move on?
Silver light of the crescent moon reflected from Tiamat's greatsword as she unsheathed it. The blade was dull and scratchy. It also had cracks in it. The fight in the crossway hadn't been pleasant to it. Tiamat sighed and sheathed the sword back into its scabbard. Then she examined her armor and came to the same conclusion.
The repairs will cost me a fortune.
Tiamat walked to the window and stared at the cloudy night sky. Her thoughts wandered back to her soul. She remembers the feeling how it bursted into greater flames when she saw the Stelladoran dragon riders attacking the Galatea three weeks ago. During the battle, one of the dragon's eyes turned red as it noticed Tiamat and seemed to stare into her soul. That dragon didn't obey its rider as it furiously attempted to take Tiamat's life. But the dragon girl thrust her greatsword into the red dragon's heart, making its lifeless body sink on the bottom of the ocean along with its rider.
Battles, dragons, and the flight with Sophie's wings have affected my soul. The soul has influenced the corrupted drake and the red dragon. It has also accelerated my aging. Now these visions have appeared within my mind... but why? What did you hide from me, mother?
With these thoughts in her mind, Tiamat sat onto her bed. Tomorrow she may face consequences from her actions, so it would be better if she would get some more sleep.
How I wish you would be here, Nathan.
Before going under her bed's blanket, Tiamat took the flower from the nightstand, smelled it, then put it down. Her mind finally started to calm down, but she could still feel a little pain withing her chest. Nevertheless, the dragon girl fell asleep within a minute.
During her sleep, there was a moment which had an aura of an eternity. Stars of the universe orbited around Tiamat's spirit as she was asleep and drifted through the multiverse. When the moment was gone, Tiamat's mind started to wake up. She could hear the songs of birds and grasshoppers. Bright sunlight hit Tiamat's eyes as she tried to open them. After a while, she opened them again. Tiamat saw as she was lying on a tree stump. Her eyes widened as she stood up and looked around the familiar forest. Great trees blocked sunlight except from right above Tiamat. White, glowing flowers were all around the forest ground.
I'm... home?
Tiamat yawned and stretched her arms. Then she noticed something peculiar. Her scar was gone from her right arm. Her hair was shorter and she had a brown dress. She was a young girl again.
A puff of breath came from behind Tiamat. She turned around and couldn't believe her eyes. A great, green dragon was laying before her. Fallen branches of the trees were on it. The green dragon looked at Tiamat with its yellow eyes. Tears glittered in the young girl's eyes.
"M-mom?"
I am happy to see you again, my daughter.
The green dragon's thoughts transferred into Tiamat's mind with a familiar, calm tone. Tiamat tried to walk from the tree stump and hug her mother, but she couldn't move her legs. This made her feel as weak as when she saw the white dragon a long time ago.
It's alright, my dear. I have summoned you to our home for a moment. You can not leave the tree stump. It's magic allows me to communicate with you.
Tiamat wiped the tears from her eyes. "I am no longer a child, mother. Why do I look like this all of a sudden?"
This is how I remember you, our last farewell before your departure from this world. You had your old, brown dress before leaving to the city with your first greatsword. You bought your first armor and a blue dress, which you've wanted since the day when you visited the city for the first time. After that, you ventured to another world to compete in the tournament.
"I'm in the semi finals," Tiamat said and put her hands behind her back. "I've met people who've become my friends. Humans, mother. Some of them are soldiers, warriors, archers, contestants, and even wizards."
I am proud of you, my child, but I am afraid we do not have enough time to talk about what you've done in that world. I've summoned you because I need to tell you something. It has something to do with your soul.
"Yes... my soul. The only reason why you allowed me to go into the tournament was because my soul needed to grow stronger?"
No, Tiamat. I allowed you to go into the tournament because you wanted it. I could see how you needed it. By now, you must've grown into a valiant warrior. However, it's high time I tell you the truth...
( It didn't fit into the same comment. )
The Burning Soul - Final Part
When the last hour of the night was about to end in Crastine, Tiamat walked out from the villa. She didn't look like a little girl unlike a moment ago. She had white cloak, a new armor, and a golden crown, which was decorated with a blue gemstone. Her old golden tiara was hanging on her hip. Tiamat headed to the training ground within the nearby forest, even though her curved greatsword was still in her bedroom.
The forest welcomed Tiamat with cold winds and dead leaves. The dragon girl's face was slightly angry and sad as she kept walking towards the training ground. She had trained with Vateria these past few weeks, but this time Tiamat didn't expect to train with anyone. Everyone else was most likely asleep. The morning sun hasn't even risen yet.
After a while, Tiamat was standing in the middle of the training ground. The only noises which she could hear were the winds, which kept rustling the leaves of the forest. The forest opening was surrounded with wooden fences. Training dummies were on the left side of the opening. On the right side were different weapons, which many past contestants have used for honing their combat skills. Tiamat looked at her gauntlets and her white cloak.
Mithril armor, to help protect from brutal strikes. The cloak of clouds, to help protect from vile spells.
When the winds calmed down for a moment, Tiamat was surrounded by complete silence. She put her right hand into a fist and punched the ground with it. She could feel how her soul burned like a sun.
"Lent me your true strength!"
The fire within Tiamat spread into every part of her body, but she didn't waver. She punched the ground again with her mithril gauntlet and screamed.
"Ofan zu'u hin vahzah mulaag!!"
Light came from within Tiamat's body momentarily and the ground around her started to glow faintly as she said those words. Then white particles came from around her right hand. She could feel a handle from within the ground, where her right hand was. She gripped it and pulled it. The sound of metal and stones followed afterward. When Tiamat pulled the thing completely from the ground, she saw that it was a greatsword. It resembled her first one, except this one was twice as big and it had another, smaller blade on the location, where the pommel should be.
The sword of dragons, forged with the essence of my soul. I can summon it whenever I'll face battles.
Tiamat made a few large swings with the greatsword into the air. They weren't as smooth as the ones she had done with her curved greatsword.
Hopefully I will remember how to handle this kind of weapon.
The dragon girl thrust the greatsword into the ground with her left hand, then she raised her right hand up towards the sky, where the stars began to fade and the sky started to turn blue.
"Ofan zu'u viing wah bo!!"
White particles came from Tiamat's back. Dragon wings materialized through her armor. The white cloak moved aside as the wings grew larger. Their essence resembled Sophie's blue illusory wings, but these dragon wings were golden. Tiamat's heart started to beat faster and her arms were slightly shaking.
"Mother, I wish you could see, as I'm about to fly like a dragon, once again!"
Tiamat spread her mighty wings as she began to run while her new greatsword drew a line onto the ground behind her. When the wings caught the cold morning winds, she flapped them. Tiamat rose into the air and flew above the trees of the forest. She didn't look as gloomy as she did few minutes ago. She smiled brightly as she flew high above and could see the morning sun in the horizon.
I am Tiamat, queen of dragons. My swords are claws. My armors are scales. My soul is fire. My heart and spirit are wings.
hmm. Let's talk about that.
In the original desription it is supposed to be 4 stages for 16 player tournament.
This was however decided before the story segment was included.
With all these 8-mana champions running around it feels quite crazy.
@Faiths_Guide @Gelectrode @TenebrisNemo @KalamMekhar
So I have a question. Should we stop at 7 mana for the bronze and final match?
This would leave the design to eventually redesign the 7-mana champion and the signature cards.
This would leave the stages as:
3 - 5 - 7 - optional redesign of 7
9 mana humans are rather difficult to design after all.
Some of you have already thoughts on the last design but no one has designed a 9 mana version yet.
Then I could reduce the power level of my own champions with them being in the more realistic range of 6-8 instead of 7-10.
So what do you guys think? Do you want to keep the last 9 mana stage or replace it with an eventual redesign of the 7 mana stage?
If we decide to do that then the requirements for the last match will be:
7 mana champion (can be same as the semi final one or redesigned)
Two signature cards with max cmc at 5 (one can be same as semi final one)
OR
One signature card with max cmc at 7.
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/elaine-dragonblooded)
(also kinda wants to enter her in next tournament)
EDIT: Changed title to Dragonblooded as it fits more with story.
Also, the artist's full name is apparently "Kevin 'Spoonfish' Lee Broberg." I found his portfolio in artstation a while ago. )
(I will have to remake the card, but no matter.)
We'll go with 7 mana for the last matches.
Two signature cards at max cmc at 5 with the option to make it one at max 7 cmc.
The following match between Tiamat and Radhe will be played tomorrow evening when I get home (sometime after 20:00 CET)
Since I can't start the bronze match at the earlier specified time I will push it to Thursday the 29th and end on Saturday the 31th
The final will start on that Friday the 30th and end on Sunday the 1st of April.
So during a short time the matches will co-exist.
The contestants are during these games able to jump in and write themselves what their champion does and how they fight/plan and such. This is optional but will give extra character influence and it may be interesting to see how your champions fight in your hands.
The days that will be given to you for writing the match will be Friday for the bronze match and Saturday for the finalists.
Exact time will be from the match start to approximately 12:00 CET (or 11:00 PM London time) on the last day.
Or at least 36 hours from match start.
Try to design and submit your cards quite early for the final match. You always have the opportunit to re-design them before the match begins.
Sophie and two soldiers are approaching the contestant Villa. The soldiers are carrying something heavy as they walk up the stairs.
Radhe had already left the Villa for the day while Tiamat was in the training grounds trying to get comfortable with her new sword.
She heard people talk in the Villa so she dismissed the sword and began to walk back.
"Woah! what have happen to you?" Sophie was shocked over the suddenly larger Tiamat. "I thought you were Vateria for a moment there."
"Sophie? What are you doing here?" - Tiamat
"Well Friyena wanted to repay you for your sword so she asked me to get you this" The soldiers showed up a new curved greatsword similar to Tiamat's earlier one.
"Oh, I am very grateful for Firyena's kindness but the truth is that I don't really need it anymore." - Tiamat
"What? Do we have to carry this all way back!?" One of the soldiers said in fear.
"No please just put it down there in the corner. Oh by the way. Why aren't you in the western plaza yet?" - Sophie
"The western plaza? Why... oh right." Tiamat looked at the envelope with her name on at the table that a soldier had given her before she was completely awake this morning.
"It is best we hurry then. We should not be late."
Tiamat and Sophie began to go towards the western district. The two exhausted soldiers sat down in the chairs in an attempt to recover their strength while they got a chance.
While they walked Tiamat became curious and asked Sophie.
"How come it that William used my sword when he got his own which seemed stronger?"
"William's sword is said to have the scream of tens of thousands of dead souls within it since the day he was sent to save a settlement close to the Stelladoran border. The stelladoran sent a large army and did not stop their attempt to take the settlement until they were but a few hundreds left alive. The blood from all those soldiers where stained upon his sword and changed it's desired. His sword now only has the purpose to kill and it hunger to slay more lives. So he used your sword to prevent harming Zaralim more than necessary."
"Why did Friyena send William to save us?"
"Friyena loves her people and trusts her champions but I believe that she had begun to disbelieve in Zaralim."
As they came closer to the plaza, the sound of a mass of people and a shouting man became louder and louder. They came to the plaza which was filled with tens of thousands of people. They tried to see around if there was anywhere they could stand. Further to a side they saw Radhe and Haide stand upon some grown trees, most likely made by Radhe. They approached the other girls and got a lift up to the tree platform. The plaza was so full with people it was difficult to find anyone they knew but Tiamat believed to see a couple of assembly workers stand at the other side of the plaza. They seemed to hold up someone, probably Mishra.
At the fron on a platform above some stone stairs stood a man that looked like a priest. He shouted to the crowd, words such as traitor, betrayal and murder. Around the platform stood other priest looking people and on the side stood some of the champions. Only William and Blazagni was absent and so was Frieyna as well. In the middle of the platform sat the main character himself. Zaralim chained by his arms in tall pillars on his sides. Around his neck was also a chain that held him down above a large grail vessel. Zaralim was aside from the pillars surrounded by some magical crystals or stones of some sort.
"He has already mentioned Sir Wardnan. He had not been satisfied with the life of a chosen knight of our dear goddess but he taken her chosen knight Sir Henric Wardnan's life in cold blood as well. A hero had fallen to this traitors lust for blood that could not be controlled by his love for Friyena. An act made against her will in her name. He said. He has also mentioned the soldiers he had killed and many more." Radhe said from behind her branches on the tree while starring towards Zaralim.
The priest continued to mentioned other crimes but the greatest sin Zaralim had made was to consume blood from an Akon, blood from the abyss itself. He also mentioned that he had tried to take the life, unprovoked from not one but two contestants.
Timat looked at Radhe. "They say that since he had initiated the fight by pointing his weapons at us, we cannot be blamed for provoking him to anything."
The priest ended his speech by saying. "The 15th champion Zaralim. Chosen champion and noble knight of goddess Friyena has derby been declared a traitor to Friyena and her people. For his crime of the highest degree he is doomed to eternal torment in the abyssal prison!"
Zaralim remained silent when Two other priests approached Zaralim with goblets in their hands. They poured the liquid which looked very familiar to the liquid used by the priest in Legorna over Zaralim's head. The liquid ran down his hair into the large vessel underneath his head. The two priests took out pen and ink and began to write some marks around the vessel and Zaralim.
The priest that had spoken began to speak again but now in the same unknown language as Friyena had used during Wardnan's funeral. These words however were not gentle but cold. "Zieaka don, Zieaka aeston, Zieaka kisaron, Zieaka akon" The other priests moved out of the circle and began to lighten up the stone crystals surrounding him. The speaking priest continued the same line two times while he took out a pouch. From the pouch he took out something very small. Like a seed. He put the seed into a vial he had at his side and shook it gently as he continued his speech. "Zieaka don aeston kisaron akon. De'st lakies mert guet lo moun traed kuen."
The other priests moved away from Zaralim and the circle and the crowd became completely quiet as the speaker continued to speak. He stopped in front of Zaralim facing him. He turned silent and opened the vial which he held in a high hand. "Zaralim. Akon foralt" To those words he poured the content of the vial into the vessel and backed off. The vessel began to boil. The crystal was set aflame. Zaralim was still silent. "Akon Foralt" the priest said again. Now the vessel began to boil violently and some black liquid began to rise up on the chain towards Zaralim. The black liquid spread over Zaralim which began to reveal pain. "Akon foralt" the priest and the crowd said. Zaralim began to pull the chains as the liquid searched its way into his mouth and nostrils. "Akon Foralt" the crowd said with Tiamat joining in.
Zaralim was pulling all the chains with all power he had now and he began to scream. A scream that became louder.
Radhe was the only one in the tree that did not follow with the "Akon foralt". She felt she wanted to but she could not neglect something. Zaralim was now completely covered in the black liquid and his scream disappeared in the darkness of it. The two priests took up an axe each and with one strike broke the chain that was holding Zaralim to the pillars. With one last "Akon foralt" From the crowd, Tiamat, Haide and the others except Radhe. Zaralim was dragged down into the vessel which was set ablaze. The priests extinguished the crystals and the fire from the vessel stopped as well. Zaralim was gone. Timat was not as happy as she thought she would have been but at least now he would no longer harm anyone. She looked at Radhe who seemed to not be happy at all. "Radhe. What is it?" Radhe looked at her with a minor fear in her eyes. "I have dreamt of Zaralim ever since the boat and everything he has done and turned into has become true. Except one thing. He turned into a skeleton monster with many laughing mouths on his body.
I have not seen Zaralim for the last time."
Also it would be cool if we kept the tourneys going that are fun
The few destructible aktorium Assembly-Workers it had cost the genius were of no consequence. He now had access to so many, and the ability to construct so many more, that they were quite dispensable. Now all Mishra needed to do was keep his true methods a secret and await his final battle.
(to be continued)
I'm glad you like her character. Thanks! )
Radhe was sitting on the great central plaza in the middle of day. The sun was shining at her and all of Crastine undisturbed. She was holding a small piece of cloth in her hand. It still had the smell of both Reddas and Etrish, mostly of Etrish actually. She put her hand on the scar she had on her left shoulder. She chuckled a little at the thought "Just like a dog. Just a very big dog that can breathe fire, and eat a whole cow in one bite." If one so damaged by a lifetime of war could have such spirit then what would not be possible through peace? She wished she could return to Stelladora in peace and met everyone again. Arvos, Reddas, Akoden, Rigeron, Mielda, Berina, heck even Elaine. It felt like she had lied to everyone but she had to. Most hated Lisakdonia just as the Lisakdonians hated Stelladora. Why? yeah. Why? Could she really blame the gods? Friyena and Decaotus or should she blame Praepotus who released the abyss which is the reason the war started? It will not help even how much she think about how the war began but rather how it should end. She had thought for that for some time now. If she could become champion maybe she would be able to, if not stop the war at least make the people talk if not the gods would. Maybe she was a little too hopeful but she could at least try.
Her opponent today would be Tiamat. A very powerful warrior and a good friend.
Timat was walking up the long stairs to the central plateau. She believed that she had gotten used to her new sword by now. Her last training fight against Vateria, she had even managed put Vateria on the defensive. Tiamat had grown much stronger since her, Radhe's and Bristana's encounter against Zaralim so she was not too worried about her fight today except the fact that it was against Radhe. Hopefully the fight would go as smooth as her last two and they both could leave the arena mostly unharmed. Radhe had been able to summon animals to her aid last time so at least Tiamat knew about Radhe's power while her own new powers still was unknown for Radhe.
Tiamat got up to the plateau and met Radhe. After greeting each other they went towards the palace. They met both Sophie and Haide in the palace corridor. A tall but rather thin man with calm face said good bye to the girls and went into one of the rooms on the side and closed the door after him. Haide widened her eyes at the sight of Tiamat but tried to remain calm. "You have to stop growing Tiamat. you're making me feel short." Tiamat chuckled a little before the four girls went up to the hall with the champion room.
There were only a handful of people in the room this time. Vateria was there together with Skaforlin, Johanna and the young girl Jessica. In the corner stood a construct, probably one of Mishra's assembly workers. R5-T4 and Mishra himself though were nowhere to be seen. Friyena who was in her red haired human state welcomed Tiamat and Radhe with comfort. Tiamat went to the room with the circular portal while Radhe stayed to ask Friyena something. "Are there any animals where we are going?"
"There is anything you need there to be." Friyena nodded to Radhe who in turned thanked by bowing before she joined Tiamat in the room.
Friyena stepped into the room and opened the portal, first for Radhe and then for Tiamat.
Radhe was examining the arena with a quick look around when Tiamat appeared.
They where on the same location where R5-T4 and Mishra had fought earlier. However all damages where as non existent.
"Are you ready?" Radhe said while her hands began to glow holding a stone of some sort.
"Yes." Tiamat responded after she summoned her sword.
"Don't hold back"
Tiamat took stance "I won't"