The Games of Saberhaven
Argoth Dreamslayer vs. Pal
        The crowd is swelled and buzzing this day--word has spread like wildfire that a strange new being has entered the Games. Some in the crowd have seen half-dragons fight before, but rumour has it that this one is half-Shadow, and wields a sword of near-artifact power. His opponent, the Githyanki Dark Paladin Pal, is well known, and the crowd eagerly anticipates the upcoming clash.
       A cheer goes up as the names are called. Pal springs through the door, his silver two-handed sword gleaming with power. He is clad in splint mail and wears a shimmering black helm studded with opals.
       At the other end, Argoth Dreamslayer makes his first appearance in the Arena. Actually, five Argoth Dreamslayers make their somewhat blurry appearances behind a flickering sheet of blue flames. Three ioun stones whirl around his head, and there is a sword sheathed at his side. At the moment, however, he is carrying a large bow, and the behemoth smoothly nocks and fires. The oversized arrow snakes towards the far end of the Arena.
       Pal smirks, and disappears.
       The arrow smashes into the wall, shattering.
       The giant form of Argoth leaps high into the air, his massive wings stretching out to carry him toward the top of the domed Arena. The many swirling forms of the Dreamslayer stretch languidly with a giant roar accompanying the cracking of bones and joints. He licks his lips with his long serpentine tongue, and looks down towards the Arena floor, as he darts back and forth, dodging and weaving through the air.
       He shrugs slightly, in a nonchalant manner. Then, the Dreamslayer bellows, in his deep, rumbling voice, "You may bow your head to the power I wield, or you may be destroyed! The choice of yours, but I plead you--make it wisely."
       Argoth flies back and forth across the skies. Pal does not answer.
       Suddenly, as Argoth wings his way through the air, Pal appears in the air behind him. The Githyanki grins as his silver sword flashes with unholy power. The five swirling images instantly sharpen in focus, revealing the full visage of the mighty half-dragon for the first time.
       The corded muscles on Argoth's arms flex in slight irritation, as he swoops away, his large, dark-hued wings beating quickly, and he growls in anger. The half-dragon's mighty wings flap purposefully as he continues on in an arc, turning towards his opponent.
       Pal stands there in mid-air and watches the huge half-dragon fly away from his position. He smirks again, waves his hand and mouth's "bye-bye". Then, he disappears.        Argoth flaps his great wings, continuing to circle, gradually lowering himself. Finally, the half-dragon descends upon the Arena.
       The massive frame of the Dreamslayer settles lightly to the ground. He turns, drawing his sword in one smooth motion, bringing it up in a stance ready for parry and repost. He waits, his eyes flickering, wings twitching... Argoth's images all doing the same.
       His shroud of dull red fire pulses as he waits for but a moment. He shifts slightly, and bellows out in his rumbling voice, "You broke my arrow, scum-spawn." He waits, poised on his toes, ready to attack.
       A full minute ticks by, and Pal does not show himself.
       The sudden snarl of the massive Half-dragon rumbles the very earth on which the Arena is set. His lips twist up in a sneer, and the bass mutters of cowardly opponents emits from his writhing lips.
        Argoth flexes his mighty wings, angered that the Githyanki will not fight.
       Suddenly, the Dreamslayer's images disappear, as does the sheath of protective fire that had coated the half-dragon. Argoth whirls about--he sees nothing, but his animal senses tell him he is not alone...
       The Dreamslayer smirks slightly, hefting his sword and reforming a parry-repost stance. "So, my doomed friend, you are ready to face me? Or do you still wish to hide behind your pathetic protections?"
       His massive wings beat once, a flurry of swirled dirt and dust spraying around him.
       Seconds pass slowly, as Argoth warily paces about, ready to pounce on his unseen enemy... Suddenly, he jerks forward, grunting in pain as a huge gash opens up across his back. The Dreamslayer spins, and he can see a man-sized shimmering before him.
       Pal's voice rings out, "I'm ready to fight, now that I've dispelled most of YOUR protections. Come on, 'Dreamslayer', let's see what you've got..."
       The shimmering seems to come closer to Argoth, and the half-dragon hears the whistle of a blade. However, he is not struck again.
       The once ponderously-slow movements of the Dreamslayer seem to be all but forgotten as he swiftly draws patterns in the air, while the Githyanki approaches, his feet creeping back so he can stay out of reach. The foreign, unrecognizable syllables that pour from his mouth set the ground to uneasy shaking. His eyes but for a second as he concentrates. The shaking of the ground becomes a wave of earth suddenly popping from the ground to enfold the Githyanki's legs.
       The earthen arm seems to grab something... it struggles for a moment, then seems unable to find purchase. It claws in the air for a few moments more, then sinks back into the earth.
       Pal chuckles. "You'll have to do better than that, dragon-spawn.
       Argoth sighs heavily in what seems exasperation before immediately weaving his hands in the air and chanting deeply, his steps still taking him away from the Githyanki. He finishes his spell and flares his left hand out, a finger pointed at his foe, while finishing his spell with a mutter of 'puppy.' He continues backing away, his sword help at the ready, and frowns as there seems to be no effect.
       A harsh laugh comes from nowhere. The shimmering launches itself at the Dreamslayer--the image of Pal fading in just a little during the burst of speed, and the crowd can get the impression of a mighty swing of the anti-paladin's two-handed silver sword. Black blood sprays everywhere as a giant gash opens up in the scales of Argoth's torso, and the half-dragon is knocked back by the sheer strength of the blow. Blood gushes freely...
       The shimmering follows up that attack and again closes in on the Dreamslayer. Argoth is actually lifted up off the ground by the force of this blow, another gout of blood spraying into the air.
       Argoth Dreamslayer falls to the ground on his back with a mighty "THUMP". He does not get up.
       Pal fades into view, sunlight sparkling off the opals in his mighty black helm and his glittering silver sword, still clutched in his hands. "Welcome to Saberhaven, chump," he says with a smirk, then salutes the stands.
       The crowd goes crazy as the healing priests rush into the Arena to tend to the half-dragon. Pal walks triumphantly off the field.

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