The gnomish fighter looks impassively at Torgal for a moment, "Hard day again? I share your sympathy. Getting things organized has not gone as smoothly as it had in the past. But like you I am very interested in witnessing a match since we were not here for the first one. Although I hear it was quite entertaining." Melanos crosses the room and steps out onto the balcony to join Torgal.

Torgal scans the crowd assembled. "Ladies and Gentlemen. Tonight we have the first of two matches for you. The cold-hearted child of Auril, Nathaniel Sather, has decided to try his luck again and match strategy and blades with the newcomer Melquiades. Please refrain from reaching over the wall and into the Pit since we would hate to see paying customers lose limbs." Torgal smiles to himself as several people move back from the edge of the wall. "Without further ado let the festivities begin!!!"

The large gates at either end of the Pit begin to creak open. The crowd quiets down but hushed whispers can be heard throughout. The first to emerge is the pale sorceror know as Nathaniel. A faint shimmer seems to surround his body but as your eyes try to focus it disappears. Across from the sorceror a thin man seems to gracefully walk into the arena. With a grand flourish he waves and bows to the crowd. The crowd cheers loudly as this newcomer shows them a respect and attention that the bloodthirsty mob loves. Both combatants move to their starting marks just inside the arena.

With an unspoken signal both combatants begin to advance on each other. Nathaniel grips his sword firmly in both hands, preparing for a strike while Melquiades nonchalantly strides forward. With a movement almost to fast to see a small blade flashes from the bard's hand. The blade flies straight but Nathaniel calmly bends to the side and lets it fly harmlessly past. Melquiades is undaunted as they continue their slow advances, waiting for the other to move first. As the crowd silences in anticipation Melquiades begins to sing a tune. Quiet at first but slowly increasing in volume and tempo.

The two combatants stop short of one another as both began to intone spells. Nathaniel reaches forward as his hands begin to glow with a pale blue light. Joining his thumbs a ray of blue energy fans out before him striking the bard. Melquiades twists to the side to minimize the impact but as the temperature in the Pit drops a few degrees a sickly white burn can be seen on the exposed flesh of the bard. Grimacing through the pain Melquiades lets loose his own spell. A faint yellow spray extends from his hands and settles on Nathaniel's mace, the sorceror's grip tightens but nothing seems to happen. Nathaniel smiles menacingly as he realizes that whatever spell the bard intended had failed.

Nathaniel quickly lashes out with his mace and the bard barely has time to step back before being crushed. Quick on his feet though Melquiades answers back with his own blade, only to strike air. Nathaniel presses the attack he began though and his mace connects hard with the bard's side, drawing red fluid. Melquiades, singing loudly now, grimaces through the obvious pain and drives his own blade through the thigh of his opponent. Blood slowly seeps from the wound in Nathaniel's leg but his eyes remain focused on the bard as his mace again connects. This time Melquiades staggers backwards as the words to a spell pour from his lips. A greenish blue aura surrounds his wounds and the blood begins to stop flowing and the wounds close together. Nathaniel unfortunately doesn't see a beauty in it as he steps forward again and delivers a crushing blow to the side of the bard's head. Melquiades stops singing as he slumps to the ground. The fan's stop cheering for a moment as they realize what has happened, before erupting into even louder cheers than before.

"Well, that sorceror was rather handy with his mace today." Torgal turns from the balcony and steps back into his chamber.

Both of you receive full healings.