"Then why don't we leave?" squeaks a voice in the mage's ear. A tiny, black, winged creature rests on his shoulder, its beady eyes glaring contemptuously at its surroundings. "I hate this place. And I'm hungry."

The lizard-man shakes his head. "You do not ssssee beyond the present, Sithyigul. We shall endure thisss... sssswordplay... if we must, as a favor to Torgal Wessstran, to ensure hisss support our... other business." Idly, he removes a small stone from a pocket and begins to sharpen his claws.

"Look!" the tiny imp whispers suddenly. "Finally. They're ready to fight." It fades into invisibility as Ivan Zagad steps up to the balcony railing and speaks.

"We have an interesssting combat for you tonight... the barbarian and paladin Dis Loveth faces the ssssorcerer... Nathaniel Sssather. Their blood to be ssspilt... for your pleasure..."

Nathaniel steps out of his gate first, waving his hands and muttering the words of a spell. A flash of magic surrounds him protectively, fading away as Nathaniel lowers his arms and Dis Loveth enters. The stocky, armored dwarf draws one pistol and declares his usual challenge. "I, Dis Loveth Of The Jarnack, have accepted your challenge and hereby present you with an ultimatum. Surrender now and you will not have to suffer and be humiliated, by me, your fellow warrior. If you refuse to surrender, I, with conscience clear, will defeat you and purify your soul. Pray to your god so he will accept your soul when you die a quick death. Know that my honor will safeguard this battle." The white-haired sorcerer only smirks.

"Begin!"

Both combatants immediately charged toward each other. As he nears the center of the arena, Dis Loveth raises his pistol and fires. The scrap of metal hurled by his strange weapon flies wide, however, and Nathaniel slows and begins to close on his enemy. Quickly, Dis Loveth draws his second pistol and fires, and this time the bullet lodges in Nathaniel's left arm. Unaffected by the pain, the sorcerer slows and scatters a sack of caltrops in front of his advancing opponent. At the same time he spreads his fingers and shrieks a command, and a cone of frost seeps forth from his hands toward Dis Loveth. The dwarf's beard turns icy white; he slows, circling the caltrops, drawing his massive two-handed sword.

Nathaniel shrieks out his spell again, and another icy cloud envelops Dis Loveth. Screaming in pain and anger, the dwarf rushes at him and swings his greatsword. The weapon catches Nathaniel in the chest, sending him sprawling, but the mage's protective dweomer slows the movement of the sword and it draws little blood. Nathaniel leaps up and replies with an attack of his own, but Dis Loveth's sword blocks the attack and the two opponents are locked together for a moment, staring into each other's eyes. It is Dis Loveth who breaks the stalemate with a sudden twist of his amazingly agile body, dropping down and driving the hilt of his sword into Nathaniel's stomach. As the sorcerer doubles over in pain, Dis Loveth administers a vicious blow with an expert thrust of his blade. Nathaniel collapses to the floor-- dead. The roar of the crowd drowns out Dis Loveth's shout of victory.

"You see?" mutters Ivan Zagad's invisible companion. "The stupid paladin actually won! This place is depressing."