so...

by azrieljohnson

The Grand Tournament by Azriel Johnson

Introduction

Randonius, the Planeswalker

Orbs float in a special room made just for them. The orbs contain part of he essence of those who they depict. All the orbs are made of spiritual energy, if I were to run my hand through them, those inside would feel a slight wind blow by. There have been a total of 500 orbs, only twelve remain. Some are larger than others. They all float in the proximity of the area that the being inside is at on Torxania.

The young girl walks in the room and smiles at me. "Randonius," she asks. "What are you doing?"

I turn and smile, "Just watching the orbs Skye."

She moves further into the room. Her dress flows around her, black with red frills around her. Her long, brown hair flows behind her wavy as it's ever been. She smiles sweetly and leans up to kiss me on the cheek.

"Did you make the calling yet?" she asks.

"Not yet Skye. I'm preparing for it. I'm trying to decide where they should meet," I smile, stroking my beard.

"Why not make their destination Dragon Tail's castle?" Skye asks.

"I've thought of that," I frown. "Her followers are all over the area. I want the fights to be as fair as possible." I stare at the larger orb; it contains the warrior that Skye spoke of, Dragon Tail. Dragon Tail paces back and forth in her room. Her black hair streaked with blood red strands. Her build is small, but muscular; she is the oldest and most powerful of the Immortals. Her beauty has increased with her age, redefining itself every time she took a soul.

"Randonius," Skye speaks up interrupting my train of thought. "You should decide soon."

"I think the best course of action would be to send a message to all of them that the time has come to see a victor in the contest of the Immortals." I look at Skye and frown a bit.

She points to the orbs, "Look Randonius, these orbs are close together and two more in a different area."

I turn back and look closer. The cluster of three have the Immortal known as Tiger Claw leading his army into the city of Needan to destroy it. The other two orbs are the brothers Moon Wolf and Night Owl. Tiger Claw's army is well armored and well armed. The Needan tribe is less ready; they begin to take heavy losses right away. I see Night Owl move forward and attack the mortals; I do not fear for Moon Wolf, he is very strong. Tiger Claw stands amidst his army. He knows exactly what is going on, he's creating chaos so that he might take Night Owl's and Moon Wolf's souls.

The other two orbs on the other side of the room contain Desert Snake, a lone Immortal living in a city once populated by thousands, and Fire Drake, the lover of Dragon Tail. No wonder she was pacing. She's worried; Desert Snake is more powerful than Fire Drake. As these two separate battles play out, I will send the calling.

Night Owl has made his way to Tiger Claw. They clash, Night Owl armed with a Tomahawk, Tiger Claw carries a Katana. Tiger Claw is slightly stronger than Night Owl, but it doesn't show, Night Owl is a prolific fighter. He swings his Tomahawk with a fury. It's back and forth as they swipe at and they stab at one another. Night Owl gets an opening and kicks Tiger Claw in the left side, his sword side. Tiger claw winces in pain. Night Owl kicks him in the face knocking Tiger Claw to the ground. Tiger Claw lays face down and Night Owl raises his tomahawk over his head to deal the death blow to the heart.

Fire Drake calls out to Desert Snake in the city of Telmacalis. I cannot hear what is said, the orb does not allow for that, but Desert Snake makes himself known. Fire Drake carries a saber and Desert Snake holds a scimitar. A conversation occurs between them, Desert Snake gesticulating wildly. He looks enraged. I would be too were I him. Dragon Tail and Fire Drake were the ones who destroyed his clan.

All of a sudden Fire Drake strikes at Desert Snake. Desert Snake parries and disarms Fire Drake in one move. Fire Drake did not stand a chance and now he knows too late.

Fire Drake begs for his life, Desert Snake hurls Fire Drake's saber through his heart. Fire Drake's face pales and he looks forlornly at his saber. Suddenly a deep blue light splits Fire Drake apart and enters Desert Snake. Desert Snake is over come with the light then it is absorbed into his body. There isn't much ceremony when an Immortal is killed. What can I say?

Tiger Claw has dodged Night Owl's intended death blow and has regained his katana. They are squaring off once more. Night Owl is distracted for a moment as Moon Wolf breaks into the fray. Tiger Claw runs Night Owl through cleanly. The blue light shows again and Tiger Claw goes through the same metamorphosis that Desert Snake did.

I cannot watch anymore.

I cast my spell to all the orbs; it is a beckoning spell, calling them to me for a word of mouth message.

Moon Wolf tries to attack Tiger Claw while he has the blue light surrounding himself. The blue light knocks Moon Wolf down; it fades just before my message reaches them. Once it does, Tiger Claw looks at Moon Wolf on the ground and smiles. He seemingly yells out to his followers because they all pull back and disappear.

All the other immortals look very solemn upon receiving my beckoning, except Shark Tooth that is. He licks his lips because he's been hunting Dragon Tail for a time. He'll get his chance. The least excited was War Bird. He is the least experienced, with only a few kills under his belt.

My vanguard Lion Mane looks up to where he knows my orb to be depicting him and nods.

Storm Crow wakes up suddenly from her slumber at her city of Topolis.

The Eye of the Leopard, prowling her city, Dark City, looks the same, unchanged as her past had been.

The Great Bear nods solemnly closing his eyes.

Dragon Tail, sighs as she realizes as if by blood instinct, that Fire Drake is dead without even knowing it. She points at one of her mortal servants and says something, which I cannot hear, causing them to leave there in a hurry.

Skye walks towards me and cuddles me. Her slight frame is seemingly nurturing me as though she's been alive for thousands of years instead of me.

"Night Owl was a favorite of yours wasn't he?" she asks.

"Yes, he and Moon Wolf were great fighters, now Moon Wolf cries for his dead brother without even blood to remember him with."

Moon Wolf sits with tears on his face. He rocks back and forth chanting something of his tribe, I could not hear it obviously, but I could not make out what his lips said either. He reaches over and takes his brother's tomahawk from the ground holding it tightly as he holds his own in his other hand.

It is a sad time for him.