Fonhinqann
Gladiator Arena
Five Hours before Twilight
"Weapon of Darkness ... Be Nullified ... Now!
Xira doesn't react, merely watching carefully, as Manalagna focuses upon disabling the Death Scythe. To his astonishment, a sheer dark force overwhelms his spell, and with a burst of darkness to that effect, the Death Scythe remains as it was.

"Fahinn did that too once," Xira states, "and got the same result; this weapon cannot be quelled so easily."
Xira's armour has turned white hot, but its pain is more of a nuisance compared to the damage being dealt by her own weapon. Xira draws the scythe back, its black aura spreading up her arms and enshrouding her body. With a scream of pain, Xira unleashes a devestating blow. The scythe pierces beyond Manalagna's armour and body, somehow wounding him from within, in his soul. The pain is incredible. Darkness shrouds his vision, but somehow Manalagna finds the strength to hold on. His vision returns just in time to see Xira crumble upon the ground, deathly pale. (-54 hp Manalagna, and you made the Massive Damage save)

Across the entire arena, the ground glows as an intricate pattern and array of white lines, circles and runes cover it from the center out. It feels warm, and Manalagna can tell that it is to prevent death.

The crowd roars with applause, and Ken can be heard shouting "IT'S OVER!"
However, Ken's words are not the most important, as running towards Xira is a medical group, including none other than Fahinn. They quickly douse Xira's armour with a Create Water spell, and take her away in a stretcher, with Fahinn remaining behind for a moment.

"I'm glad you survived." Fahinn murmurs, and bestows a Heal spell upon Manalagna, restoring all his vigor.

Fahinn excuses himself and runs after the others. Ken then appears, having jumped down from his perch.

"Behold the victor!" Ken bellows, and having retrieved his sword, he points it at Manalagna, as if there were any question of who won, "And now, behold the victor's spoils!"

Ken slams the ornate greatsword into the ground, and the ground rumbles slightly, the white array already vanishing with Xira off of the field. A table of sand forms in front of Manalagna, and from within pops out a hefty sack of coins. Even though Manalagna can't count them right away, he can tell all two thousand golden coins are there. The crowd, satisfied with watching, begins to thin. Surprisingly quickly, only Manalagna and Ken are left in the arena grounds.

Fonhinqann
Gladiator Arena
Five Hours before Twilight

The crowd roars with applause, and Ken can be heard shouting "IT'S OVER!"

However, Ken's words are not the most important, as running towards Xira is a medical group, including none other than Fahinn. They quickly douse Xira's armour with a Create Water spell, and take her away in a stretcher, with Fahinn remaining behind for a moment.

"I'm glad you survived." Fahinn murmurs, and bestows a Heal spell upon Manalagna, restoring all his vigor.

Fahinn excuses himself and runs after the others. Ken then appears, having jumped down from his perch.

"Behold the victor!" Ken bellows, and having retrieved his sword, he points it at Manalagna, as if there were any question of who won, "And now, behold the victor's spoils!"

Ken slams the ornate greatsword into the ground, and the ground rumbles slightly, the white array already vanishing with Xira off of the field. A table of sand forms in front of Manalagna, and from within pops out a hefty sack of coins. Even though Manalagna can't count them right away, he can tell all two thousand golden coins are there. The crowd, satisfied with watching, begins to thin. Surprisingly quickly, only Manalagna and Ken are left in the arena grounds.
"Not too bad for nearly losing my life in the arena! Any chance that Tenarr has the ability to restore my Flaming Scimitar?"
Manalagna Hammer was staring at the generous bag of golden coins as he directed his conversation towards the Charismatic Orc Announcer ... as he and Ken were the only ones remaining in the arena.

The Dwarven Druid extended his right hand upwards towards Ken in a gesture of genuine friendship and greeting ... his blazing red eyes focusing upwards towards Ken as he asked:

"So ... My Friend ... What Now?"

Fonhinqann
Gladiator Arena
Five Hours before Twilight
"Not too bad for nearly losing my life in the arena! Any chance that Tenarr has the ability to restore my Flaming Scimitar?"
Ken shakes his head, "Unfortunately, no. No one takes the lad seriously enough to provide him enough training in the mending of weapons. Most people aren't even aware of his talent at making weapons, like this sword!" Ken says, holding forth the ornate greatsword.

"But I digress; that would be if the weapon was not magical." Ken adds, "Tenarr hasn't learned how to use magic in the least, and so cannot restore the fiery heart of your blade, even if he restores the material whole."

"So ... My Friend ... What Now?"
Ken takes the offered hand in an overwhelming grip and even embrace, "Ha ha! Well, you should go see Xira, just so she can offer you that Death Scythe. I personally don't recommend taking it; you can see how it can far shorten anyone's life expectancy. Xira is probably not going to be recovered until after an hour or so, but I imagine Fahinn will want to talk to you regarding that scythe. I imagine he's back in his office already, since his healing is only needed to cure the worst of the fallen's wounds; generally the other clerics are more than capable of healing most fallen warriors here."

"For what it is worth, I am sorry," Dusk said quietly as the human's body crumpled to the ground. The elf looked solemnly at the body for some time, not even acknowledging the tiger cub that limped back towards the pair, three arrows sticking into its flesh.

The taking of a life never pleased Dusk. He did it only when he deemed it necessary. Whether it was to save another life from an evil act or on contract, he only killed when he accepted it. There had to have been something that drove this man to torture and kill these creatures. Perhaps he had been hurt by similar creatures. He had not defended himself or his actions before except by pressing his attack. The child had seemed innocent. Was it?

The questions floated amongst other thoughts in his mind. His body requested some rest and cleaning. The blood on his shirt felt dirty and the cuts in his clothing would need repair. His soul felt some strain as well. It was not easy to force oneself from the material existence, let alone do it more than once.

The elf moved forward, stepping around the muddy earth and pulling the corpse beyond the mess. He had heard the snap of a chain and checked the man's hands and neck along with the rest of his body for his possessions. He would need to be laid to rest somehow and the best way to complete such a task here was a cairn.

"Why?" he said without looking up. "Why did this man wish you dead..."

((Sorting the possessions on the ground beside the corpse. Asking it of the tiger cub, seeing if it can answer.))

Somewhere Between Wanqir and Aqinarr
Plains of Tiancann
Three Hours before Twilight
The man's possessions are nearly non-existant, and are very simple. He doesn't even carry a mat to sleep on or a waterskin or even food for that matter. All that the man has is his quiver of silver arrows, silver sword, his bow, the studded leather armour that he is wearing, a simple ring with a clear, blue gemstone on the ring finger of his left hand, and a pouch on his belt. Within the pouch is a book, likely to be a diary. Within the man's hand, pulled off of his neck in his dying moments, is a silver locket.

"Why?" he said without looking up. "Why did this man wish you dead..."
The young tiger growls softly, to get Dusk's attention. Deliberately, it raises a paw to cover its eyes, then points at Dusk, and waits.

Fonhinqann
Gladiator Arena
Five Hours before Twilight

Ken takes the offered hand in an overwhelming grip and even embrace, "Ha ha! Well, you should go see Xira, just so she can offer you that Death Scythe. I personally don't recommend taking it; you can see how it can far shorten anyone's life expectancy. Xira is probably not going to be recovered until after an hour or so, but I imagine Fahinn will want to talk to you regarding that scythe. I imagine he's back in his office already, since his healing is only needed to cure the worst of the fallen's wounds; generally the other clerics are more than capable of healing most fallen warriors here."
"Sounds Like Good Advice!"
Manalagna Hammer gave a courteous bow of honorable recognition to Ken as an expression of his thanks and gathering up his broken Flaming Scimitar and the generous bag of gold coins, the Dwarven Druid made a beeline to Fahinn's office!

After the courteous exchange of conversation Manalagna Hammer will enquire about Xira's condition and ask Fahinn about the Black Scythe and fate of the defeated Xira, plus the fate of himself as the victor!

Fonhinqann
Gladiator Arena Main Office
Five Hours before Twilight
As soon as Manalagna enters the office, Fahinn looks up with a smile and says, "Perfect, just the person I wanted to see."

Looking directly into Manalagna's eyes, Fahinn says, "Well, now you've seen exactly what that Death Scythe Xira has is capable of, not only against the one it is wielded against, but also against the wielder."

Fahinn sighs, "That scythe gives a lot of pain, a large cost, but for what benefit? My old eyes have seen none. That weapon... should really be destroyed."

"Oh, I am sorry." Fahinn says, "You're probably getting tired of hearing about Xira's scythe by now, and you probably have other questions for me, do you not?"

"Cover my eyes? If you wish... I have seen worse than a werebeing's transformation," said Dusk, noticing the cub's paw over its eyes. The elf turned his back to the tiger, placing the man's weapons and quiver to the side and taking up the locket and book, inspecting both to the best of his ability while awaiting further signal from the child.

((There, easier I suppose, heh.))

"Your boss told me earlier that people tend to find their misplaced objects fairly soon after they loose them. I'm merely asking to have mine returned early, so if you have my rings, I would like to have them back."

Casia actually begins to shake at the comment, her hands dropping the offered package onto the floor. She shakes her head, several times, and a few tears form in her eyes. "I didn't do it!" She half yells. It would appear she was more adversely affected by accusations than her manager let on.
Willow watched the disturbance in the woman's psyche spark and build like a bonfire from the festivals following the age when all of nature went to war with itself. Within seconds the appropriate fuel had been applied and what was mere moments before a lick of flame had now become a spectacle for the eye to behold.

Am I mistaken then? Does she truly have no knowledge of these reports of lost objects that follow her? These tears, they are not the tears of them spoiled noble girls who are used to getting their way. Willow knelt to pick up the package where it dropped, and spoke, quiet as usual though gently too, less than usual. "I believe you, if you say you don't know about my ring. Maybe you were just a victim of circumstance. I got it from a very special friend of mine and I overreacted when I saw it gone from my finger."

She folds her arms over her stomach and leans against the door frame, to which she has stepped back to. "I am sorry." Thereafter she says nothing, if neither Yin nor Casia say anything then the silence stretches on, with Willow looking down at her boots considering everyplace she had gone that day since interruption those few short hours ago.

Somewhere Between Wanqir and Aqinarr
Plains of Tiancann
Three Hours before Twilight
Just barely a moment after Dusk had his back clearly turned, he hears a rustling as the grass as the tiger's body Changes. Dusk can also hear sharp exhalations as well, likely caused by the pain resulting from Changing with the arrows

"It's only because I don't get to keep any clothes when I change form you know." A somewhat young girl's voice murmurs.

"But, to answer your question... I really don't know. That man's been stalking me and mother for the past week; he killed father a few days before that."

"Decency's novelties were lost on me long ago, child," Dusk murmured, almost to himself. Without turning, he thumbed open the book, looking at the first page and the covers, trying to see if there was anything that would help him understand the human or the girl. "I was going to use his cloak to wrap him in, but you may use it if you need."

He also looked over the locket as to any answers, or questions, it may provide.

"The arrows need to come out. Now rather than later," he added quickly. "I can aid you with that task."

Aqinarr City
Soldier's Barracks
Three and Three Quarter Hours before Twilight
"I am sorry."
Casia dries her tears quickly, trying to be stoic. Unfortunately, that's just among the list of things she isn't able to do, and so she sheds a few more tears.

"It's... alright." Casia says in between choking on her tears, "Some other people have done worse."

Casia wipes a couple more of her tears away with her sleeve, and wanders out of the barracks, nearly tripping twice along the corridor. Yin looks between Willow and Casia's retreating figure, with a clear look of 'what was that about?' on his face.

Yin shrugs, then turns back towards Willow. "Well, that was interesting... anyway, I wanted to give you this."

With that, Yin pulls out and offers Willow a box about the size of a small jewellery box. It is a perfect cube, and is wrapped with light silk and tied with a velvet silken ribbon.

Somewhere Between Wanqir and Aqinarr
Plains of Tiancann
Three Hours before Twilight
The book seems to be a diary of the hunter. Dusk flips past the first pages, since they are rather mundane, referring to a rather ordinary life. However, at the center of the book, there is an abrupt change, and the entries become very short and brief.
Village attacked today. At least half of the people are dead. Culprits: half humanoid, half wolf. Some half rat, others half beast. All probably lycanthrope.

Attacked again. Heavy casualties. I'm the only one left of the guard.

They attacked again. This is unforgiveable. I couldn't do anything. I fell, and I hid, but I still saw. My wife, my daughter, and everyone else... they're all dead.

There's no point in writing in this book any more. I'll still carry it, but I won't write. There's nothing to write. I have nothing left. I sold it all. What was left anyway. By my silver blade, I won't stop until they all die. My pain will not ever be repeated! Wolf, tiger, bear, boar, rat they're all the same, and they'll all perish. I'll hunt them. I'll hunt them all!
All the pages beyond this point are blank.

The locket is a simple two-sided oval locket that opens along the split between the two sides. Inside are two small portraits, which can only be of the hunter's wife and daughter.

"I was going to use his cloak to wrap him in, but you may use it if you need."
"I might... if I need to stay Half Elven at all; I'm usually just fine as a tiger."

"The arrows need to come out. Now rather than later," he added quickly. "I can aid you with that task."
"Yes, they hurt quite a bit. I'll switch back, since I got them as a tiger, so it'd be better to remove them that way."

There is another rustling of grass, and the young tiger growls softly, to show she's ready.

Fonhinqann
Gladiator Arena Main Office
Five Hours before Twilight

As soon as Manalagna enters the office, Fahinn looks up with a smile and says, "Perfect, just the person I wanted to see."

Looking directly into Manalagna's eyes, Fahinn says, "Well, now you've seen exactly what that Death Scythe Xira has is capable of, not only against the one it is wielded against, but also against the wielder."

Fahinn sighs, "That scythe gives a lot of pain, a large cost, but for what benefit? My old eyes have seen none. That weapon... should really be destroyed."

"Oh, I am sorry." Fahinn says, "You're probably getting tired of hearing about Xira's scythe by now, and you probably have other questions for me, do you not?"
These are the questions Manalagna Hammer asks Fahinn:

"Am I free to go my own way?"

"What becomes of the arena now that Xira has been defeated?"

"Where is the nearest city to seek adventure?"

"What will happen to Xira now that she has been defeated?"

"Can Xira be fully restored from the effects of the Black Scythe?"

"Where did that Black Scythe come from?"

"How did Xira get possession ... or get possessed ... by the Black Scythe?"

"How do you propose to destroy the Black Scythe?"

"Do you know of any way my Flaming Scimitar can be restored ... or replaced?"

"Is there anything I can do to help Xira recover?"

"May I talk to Xira before I leave?"

Fonhinqann
Gladiator Arena Main Office
Four and Three Quarter Hours before Twilight
"Am I free to go my own way?"
"That entirely depends on if you remain the defending champion or not." Fahinn explains, "If you wish to continue to show your prowess in the arena as the defending champion, then it would merely be easier for you to stay here at the arena. Of course, you can still wander, but if you wish to retain the title of champion, you have to be here when there's another tournament. If you don't wish to remain the defending champion, then by default the title will return to the most recent champion, which is Xira, and if she declines, then it is merely left open for the next tournament winner."

"What becomes of the arena now that Xira has been defeated?"
Fahinn shrugs, "The arena remains just that, the arena. A place where people chose to show their battle prowess. Who is currently the champion isn't all that important; the fact remains that they're still the person to defeat."

"Where is the nearest city to seek adventure?"
"Well, the nearest city would be Wanqir, the capital of Tiancann. It is due north along the highway, and quite a lot of happenings take place there."

"What will happen to Xira now that she has been defeated?"
Fahinn shakes his head, "I do not know what is going through her mind. With regards to arena standings, she is still a competitor that can compete, but whether she will or not I do not know."

"Can Xira be fully restored from the effects of the Black Scythe?"
Fahinn breathes in sharply, "I wish I could say yes, but despite all of my efforts, I still haven't made any progress at all. Her continuing to wield that scythe even with all of us, that is Ken, Tenarr and myself, trying to pursuade her otherwise doesn't help either."

"Where did that Black Scythe come from, and how did Xira get it?"
Fahinn shakes his head, "I don't know. The only person that does know is Xira, and she has not told anyone."

"How do you propose to destroy the Black Scythe?"
"I truly have no idea how to destroy such an item. Its magic is potent, and will not ever be quelled by standard means, and physically it is even stronger than Xira's regular scythe. It is quite possible that there is no way to destroy it."

"Do you know of any way my Flaming Scimitar can be restored ... or replaced?"
"Unfortunately, the metal smiths are generally all within the city of Girhn, almost on the other side of the continent from here. There is also, strangely, a couple in the wooden city of Hylon, but I don't think they can enchant blades. As such, it'd almost be easier to just purchase a new blade. The market for such blades is not all that large, and so there are few merchants that take the goods from Girhn all over Tiancann; they mostly display their wares in Wanqir, so the best place to look would be there."

"Is there anything I can do to help Xira recover?"
Fahinn smiles, "I truly appreciate your concern, however... I do not know if Xira will ever recover. If I find out anything that might help, you can be sure that I'll let you know."

"May I talk to Xira before I leave?"
Fahinn nods, "Of course. She's still in the infirmary, although she's mostly mended. The infirmary is under Ken's outpost in the arena, and you can enter directly from the arena grounds. It's designed that way so as to let us swiftly take the wounded there."