Riakenis was in his early 20s with extremely pale skin and a very noticeable limp. The limp had prevented him from entering military service in Nordmaar where he now ran the cities local news postings. Not being in the military in Nordmaar meant he had much less of a standing among his people. Riakenis wasn't by any means shy, but he was very timid and cowardly and for good reason. He was skin and bones and could probably be beaten senseless by women 40 years older.

"Aye, ah called yae 50 damned minutes ago! Whute yae bae doing? Shagging sume mutt yae found at the Black Rose?" Rupert replied.

Rupert was a stout bald headed man well into his 70s. He sports a white goatee and wore an eye patch over his left eye. Rumor has it that no man has EVER seen him smile. He has also been Nordmaars minister of defense for as long as anyone could remember.

"No sir, I wouldn't.."

"Shutup lad, it was a joke! I swear to Cliath thute ahve near found ah lad more dense than yae!"

Riakenis blushed and said nothing else.

"Ah called yae here because there bae ah announcement thute wae bae most interested in happening in Althainia tomorrow. Yae need ta bae there for it. Tha Baron Randorf bae announcing if thute mutt champion bae stayen in thae Gladiator League. Since Arcana bae tha number one contender, wae need ta knuwe!" Rupert shouted with a frown.

"Minister, how do you expect me to be there by tomor.." Riakenis said before being cut off.

"Find someone with tha magic, use ah portal if yae need to, juss gaet there and then gaet buke to us! No excuses!!"

The next day at an office in the Algoron Gladiator League, Althainia.

The Baron wore expensive silk clothing and plenty of gold jewelry. He made sure everyone knew he had more money than entire kingdoms and wasn't shy about it. He had long red hair and a long traditional dwarven red beard. Members of several kingdoms news organizations surrounded a table while artists sketched the scenes before them. The Baron began to speak.

"Greetins and welcome to tha Algoron Gladiator League Coliseum. As many of yae knuwe, I have recently outlawed the participation of Gladiators who possess the powers of tha Manatonics and the curse of the Vampires. This left mae with a dilemma. Our own champion, Maxx from tha Slayers, removed Deykans head in their last title defense thus taking his manatonic powers frume him for himself. We have given Maxx the decision ta stay as champion if he's willing ta lose his new found powers, or hae cune leave penalty free with his powers if he wishes, with all rights an privileges a champion deserves. And, well ahll let the Champion make his announcement himself."

Randorf motioned towards a couple of servants who then opened a double door. A Yinn with pitch black fur walked into the room. He stood over 7 feet tall and wore armor that matches his fur color. The only real distinction one could make out was several scars that stretched across his face.

Maxx stood proudly before the news people and Randorf a moment before saying a word. He took special notice of Riakenis, who stood before him in awe. It was no secret to anyone in the world that Nordmaar and the Yinn of Daetok have been through a grueling and bloody war for many years now. Riakenis wished to himself that he would have wore something that concealed his kilt and tartan'd shoulder wrap that showed the world he was from the Wallace clan of Nordmaar.

Maxx begin to speak. "I was offered a choice. Have these new powers removed and leave with full honor or have them removed and stay as champion. I never intended to join the AGL, much less become its first champion. Someone pissed me off and I went to the Arena to poke my dagger in him. Since then, I have taken pride in my accomplishments there. However, I won the championship without these powers. I defended the championship without them as well. They have helped me in my war against dragon kind however, and the demons and winged feigns of the world. Never the less, I have come to a decision."

"I want all of you to look at me closely. I am NO coward. I will fulfill my obligation as champion without these cursed powers. So you tell your people and the other gladiators' two words for me. Bring it. If I die as champion, let it be said that I ran from no man. Randorf is always asking me who do you want next? And my answer is ALWAYS the same. It doesn't matter. Bring one, bring them all, whoever shows up will get my daggers up their arse!"

Randorf smiled. Something told him this was great press. Smiling, Randorf turned toward the news representatives. "You may ask a few questions if you like."

A tall dark man with an Arabic rag over his head raised his hand.

"You there, frume New Thalos ah presume." Randorf said.

"Yes, Maxx, rumor has it that your next fight will be against the undefeated Nordmaarian Arcane. Do you have any hard feelings towards simply because he is from Nordmaar?"

Maxx looked the New Thalos man with contempt.

"Yes, indeed I do. Their people are cowards. He's already been running from me. He doesn't want to face me. Randorf should lock his arse up now as his slave. But that's no surprise. These are the same people that killed innocent people and burned Daetok settlements. This means women, children and the elderly. They have no honor and should be treated as such."

Maxx turned towards Riakenis. "You make sure you relay that for me."

Another man raised his hand and spoke after the nod from Randorf.

"Any predictions on the outcome of your next fight?"

"I predict my dagger will need to be cleaned afterwards. Don't ask me stupid-ass questions like that. It really pisses me off."

Another man spoke. "Maxx, you have spared both gladiators from permanent death that you have defeated so far. Why, and do you intend to change this trend in the future?"

"If they bring it and show me that they are not cowards, I will continue to spare them. Both Troen and Deykan faced me like men and gave me great challenges. My respect will go out to any warrior who does the same. But if I get some whiney arsed freak who begs for mercy and hides during the match, they will die that day and I will hang their pathetic embalmed corpses above my fireplace." Maxx replied.

Riakenis timidly raised his hand. Randorf expression changed to one of worry as he nodded at the young Nordmaarian.

"Yes, mister Maxx. I just wanted to correct your misunderstanding of that Yinn settlement attack. It was actually a Daetok staging ground for future land invasions against Nordmaar. There were supply buildings there with weapons for hundreds of soldiers to use against us and Daetok shielded those buildings with the lives of women of children. How do you respond to that information?"

Maxx made one swift move that ended before anyone had a chance to respond. A black furred arm moved with such speed, it was all a blur. A loud pop was heard and Riakenis dropped to the ground. Maxx had knocked Riakenis out cold. Maxx then yelled. "Any other questions?"

No one said a word.

Randorf ushered everyone out of the room and thanked them for coming while doing his best to play down the incident.

You can't attack the reporters! Randorf blared.

Maxx said only three words. Get me Arcana.