Subject: Romb vs. Dantrag
Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2000 17:22:02 PST
From: "Bill Mullen" 
To: gschick@theocc.com
CC: beast0001@hotmail.com, maxpot46@hotmail.com

     Again, there is a good turnout today, despite the normal lull in
business after the conclusion of the Great Tournament.  Perhaps it's because
the crowd knows that today's battle will be a good one, between two highly
powered combatants.

     At the one end enters, Dantrag, of the Powers of the Dark.  The Drow
contingency is well known here in Saberhaven, and Dantrag promises to be a
very tough opponent.  He is clad head to toe in black robes, with an
executioner's style hood.  He walks through his door like a wraith, gigantic
Spectral Wings bearing him aloft, Ioun Stone whirling about his head.  He is
murmuring soft, Arcane syllables and making mystic gestures.

     At the other end, Romb walks through.  He is a small, elderly human,
with a short white beard and a bald head.  His face is wrinkled, and his
eyes shine with mystic wisdom.  He wears nothing but a pair of white shorts,
a single ring, and a gem that hangs from his neck, strung on a leather cord.
  In one hand he clutches a gnarled quarterstaff, and walks with an
incredible grace as dignity.  Little is known about this one, as it is his
first appearance at the Arena.  But he is from Athas, and everyone knows
that Athasians are powerful as hell, with freakish mind powers amongst even
the lowliest of the lowly--and Romb is reputed to be a master.

     Both combatants stand in the Arena only seconds, before they disappear
with small POPs as they teleport.  Romb appears 100 feet to his right,
Dantrag appears in the middle of the Arena and 50 feet up.  The black robed
Drow immediately casts a spell at the grounded Romb below him, and the dirt
at the aged sensei's feet instantly turns to dark mud!

     However, Romb sinks only inches before a look of concentration passes
over his wizened face, and then Romb just disappears.

     Dantrag looks about warily, cautiously flying in a tight circle around
the middle of the Arena, searching for his opponent, a wand appearing in his
hand.  He doesn't have to wait long...

     Suddenly, Romb appears out of nowhere, right next to Dantrag high in
the air.  Further, the old man seems to be entirely made of steel, his form
glittering in the light!  He quickly reaches out to grab Dantrag's ankles,
but barely misses.  He plummets to the ground below, landing with a BOOM,
raising a cloud of dust!  The crowd roars at the exciting manuever!

     Dantrag breathes a sigh of relief, and points his wand at Romb, who is
climbing out of the small crater he made, seemingly unharmed and still made
of solid steel.  A thin green beam shoots out of the wand, but the nimble
sensei dances away and the beam misses him.

     Dantrag curses, and points his wand again.  Before he can activate it,
however, Romb's eyebrows furrow as he concentrates his mental energies, and
a cylinder of shimmering energy springs into being around him.  When Dantrag
fires a second beam at the aged human, it hits the energy shield, and comes
out the other side, not affecting Romb at all!  Again, the crowd cheers
wildly--this is a damn good fight!

     Dantrag shrugs, and slides his wand back into his robes.  He quickly
casts another spell... but there seems to be no effect.

     Romb's shield disappears, and he again teleports with a small POP,
appearing once more in the air beside Dantrag.  Again, he reaches out for
Dantrags ankles.  Again, he misses plummeting to the ground, landing with
another BOOM and cloud of dust.  The crowd continues to roar!  He climbs out
of the hole, and he looks upwards serenely, where Dantrag is casting another
spell at the martial master.  Romb's steel form fades to normal fleshly
tones, and he stands there concentrating as Dantrag finishes his spell.
Again, there is no visible spell effect.

     Suddenly, Romb's form begins to shift and writhe.  He raises his arms,
and they grow in length, sprouting feathers!  In seconds, Romb has assumed
the form of a Great Eagle, and leaps into the sky!

     Dantrag reaches up and touches his Ioun Stone, and a bolt of Force
springs from his hand!  It slams into the eagle that is Romb...  and the
giant bird seems completely unaffected!

     The crowd gasps and cheers!  Usually a Lance of Disruption does
SOMETHING...

     Dantrag seems nonplussed at his magic's ineffectiveness, his features
hidden by his hood.  He simply continues to cast spells towards his
opponent, confident his magic will eventually bring him victory.  Again he
finishes a spell, but there is no visible effect.

     Romb's eagle form continues to close the gap on Dantrag, who has been
keeping his distance but is a hair slower than Romb and can only stay apart
for another minute.  He reaches up to his Ioun Stone, and points his finger.
  A pea-sized ball of flame shoots from it, and explodes into a giant
Fireball that engulfs Romb with fiery death!

     Romb flies through, completely unharmed.  The crowd roars as the eagle
catches up to Dantrag, and reaches out to clutch as him with his claws!
This time, Romb successfully manages to grab Dantrag's ankles... and
immediately changes back to human form, again glistening like steel!

     Both combatants plummet to the ground!  BOOMBOOM!  Romb quickly climbs
up and advances towards Dantrag, who for his part manages to recover fairly
quickly from the damage he took in the fall and whips out his wand.  He is
still groggy, however, and the beam that pulses forth misses wildly.

     Not so Romb.  With an elegant spin, Romb whips out his leg and kicks
the Drow necromancer square in the head.  KATHUNK!  Dantrag, wobbles, spins,
and falls with a THUD!

     The crowd goes wild as Romb is declared the winner!

     Romb bows politely to his fallen oppenent, then walks out of the Arena
gracefully, his head held high and posture straight.  He shifts once again
to fleshly form, bows to the crowd, and exits through his door.

Victor:  Romb
Rounds taken: 9
Damage taken, Romb: None
Damage taken, Dantrag: 36, before loss by KO.

Bill
maxpot46

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