Waiting for the arena gate to open, This new arena and the power of the V’tar soon to be with in the control of Sortilege. Our library had discovered new creatures spells to assist me in this conquest. Creatures called Sslak orb guardians, the V’Torrak Gate, and of course Galaxxus, a conjuration which mimicked the the V’Tar Orbs.
The drawing of lots indicated I would have to face a Johkari beast master.
It is almost insulting to have a fire mage of my caliber duel one of those beast slinging, tree hugging, stump-humpers. My contempt had no bounds.
The practice rituals of the academy had several well thought out battle plans. She is fast, nimble, and prefers ranged weapons. Though the Johkari do employ some very powerful beasts like the Steelclaw and Cervere, I had planned for those. Finally the gate opens and the new arena greats me.
It was like nothing I had seen before, no rectangular pit, this arena was alive and already populated. I counted four V’tar Orbs each with a Sslak guarding it. Near my opponent’s entrance the ground was broken and burning with bubbling lava. To my left was a pool of acid, splashing in all directions. This was going to be easy, I will start by casting an harmonized gate near the Sslak. It will guard my conjuration as well as the orb.
I delayed casting the gate so that I could get in range of the guarded orb. The Johkari did not seem in a hurry to push out a quick spell. Finishing summoning and harmonizing the gate. I glance at my opponent, did I just see her hurl a rock at a Sslak… hehe it will take more potentl spells than that to down one of those beasts. Then her mana takes the form of a powerful black panther, Cervere.
A gremlin will not tip the balance, but dare I channel all my mana and summon a Gorgon Archer? Yes! I can recover the mana and the S’sak will guard everything in the zone as long as it’s precious orb is there.
A flash of black and the Forrest Shadow devours the S’sak nearest my opponent. The beast master runs and activates the first V’tar orb. I see the mana flow from the orb to her. She then summons Galaxxus behind her, Two sources of V’tar…. I was not prepared for this.
Focusing on the gate to bring forth a blue gremlin from Voltari, commanding the gorgon to fire on the Johkari, and preparing a seeking dispel and a curse for her. I quick cast chains of agony, and move into position for an arcane zap if I don’t need to dispel her enchantment.
A wall of thorns appears behind me. I swear as I feel the force push hit me. An apprentice mistake. Luckily there is minimal damage as the thorns rip through my newest set of robes. Out of range, no line of sight. I spot a secret passage and scrabble to the other side of the arena, comfortable within the protection of another S’sak. The Johkari gains still more mana and V’tar from the orbs.
Using the Volari gate, I summon another gremlin, command the gorgon to continue firing at the beast master. Channeling mana into my first gremlin, he teleports and neutralizes the orb. I move toward the contested orb, cast a hawk eye enchantment and zap the beast master. She regains control of the orb and sets Cereve to guard it. Mana and V’tar continue to flow into my opponent. This is getting out of control. I must get rid of Cervere.
A third gremlin appears, I am able to banish Cervere and the beast master summons a raptor, and fires a rock at one of the gremlins. They are able to neutralize her orb and the V’tar, though still flowing from Galaxxus, wanes.
The beast master conjures a wand with a wind storm, pushing both gremlins toward the lava. They return and gain control of the orb, I realize now that the Johkari will soon have enough V’tar to vanquish me.
To succeed she must live! I have to kill her now. All creatures under my control concentrate on attacking the beast master. I can see the poison of the archers arrows sapping her strength. The gremlins dart in and out of range. One falls to the jaws of the raptor, but not before injuring her further. I am frantic, hurl rock, arcane zap, almost out of mana. She falls. It is over.
