13-06-2025: The fight in the Arena

Mind, Leo, and Gotrick lingered at the table in the living room a little longer that night, mapping out their strategy for the upcoming arena battle. Drawing on Cole’s advice, they carefully discussed who would focus on isolating the Warforged mage and who would take on the role of incapacitation of the archer. Their abilities, when combined, seemed to interlock with remarkable synergy—sparks of excitement crackled in their voices as they considered the possibilities. Not only would a victory impress Durgle, but it would also earn Gotrick a powerful warhammer forged by the gnome’s own kin. Spirits high and plans in place, the three made their way upstairs.   Before the rest of the household turned in for the night, Aerith caught Mae’s eye and drew her aside. At last, they had a quiet moment alone, one Aerith had been waiting for. She shared her unease about Cole. His strange, shadowy powers, displayed that morning, reminded her uncomfortably of the dark wizard Mae had described from her past. Mae paused, considering. The resemblance was there, yes, but she couldn’t say with certainty it was the same.   Aerith made it clear that she didn’t believe Cole was a bad person. Far from it. But she was ready to confront him if Mae wanted to take that step. Mae, though, preferred a more cautious approach. She promised to investigate him slowly, to learn what she could on her own terms. Aerith respected that—fully understanding how deep Mae’s trauma ran. Together, they glanced toward the window, where Cole stood in his usual spot, cigarette lit, bathed in the moonlight.   Later, Aerith sat down beside Aegaelion at the fireplace, curious about something that had been on her mind since the party. She asked him if he’d found anything of use in the room he’d investigated at the Varynthiel estate. With a small, satisfied smile, he confirmed that he had. He’d discovered a notebook—one that would greatly aid him in a separate task he’d been assigned. Lady Aenysiel, with her deep knowledge of House Varynthiel, had rightly predicted it could be found there.   Aerith was impressed eventhough Gaele didn’t divulge much more. Instead, the conversation casually drifted toward Cole once again. Aerith remarked on his powers, admitting she’d never seen anything like them. Gaele nodded. They were rare. That kind of black smoke magic originated from Arnotar, and few could wield it—Cole among the best. Aerith asked how many times he’d worked with Cole before. A few, Gaele replied, but always briefly. Cole’s abilities were best kept secret outside the mansion—exposure could compromise his role as their protector. Aerith promised to keep the knowledge inside this mansion.   Then, perhaps prompted by the intimacy of their conversation, Aegaelion posed a question—a philosophical one. He asked her if she would set a blighted forest ablaze, if no other options remained to save it. Aerith answered thoughtfully, explaining that she believed in the idea of the greater good. She had been faced with decisions like that before. Sometimes, sacrifice was necessary. When pressed with a more direct example—whether she would burn down a village to save others—Aerith hesitated. She wouldn’t commit to a yes, but neither did she deny the possibility. It would depend on the situation. Of course, her loyalty to those she loved was unwavering. Gaele agreed. There was rarely a clean answer in such choices. When Aerith asked why he had posed the question, he simply said he was curious about her way of thinking.   The mansion eventually fell into silence. Everyone went to bed—except Mae. Their earlier conversation still lingered in her thoughts. Restless, she crept through the halls and slipped a handwritten note beneath Cole’s door: Meet me at the second tree in the garden. Then she hid nearby, waiting. But nothing happened. No footsteps. No lights. No movement. She knocked softly on Cole's bedroom door. Still nothing. Peering beneath the door, she saw only darkness. With deft hands, she retrieved the note and made her way outside, circling the grounds. No sign of Cole. Either he had left the mansion for the night, or was simply asleep. She figured it was probably the latter.   Morning came with the smell of something warm and sweet. Another generous breakfast greeted them at the long dining table, and this time, both Cole and Aegaelion were already seated and chatting casually. Mind and Leo voiced their disappointment at the late start time of the arena, but Gotrick shrugged. Durgle had arranged it—it was not like he had a say in it. Still, Mind proposed they make use of the time beforehand. He could send Hugin ahead in his raven form to scout the Arena. Aerith suggested that she, Jaina, Leo, and Mae use the day to investigate the strange leather scrap they had received—the one marked with a spider. Leo proposed returning to the bar he and Jaina had visited, where they’d seen a flamboyant man receive a mysterious wine bottle package.   Then Gaele cleared his throat and stood. He had a plan—one he had designed with Cole—but he needed Mae’s permission to move forward. The plan was simple: Cole would keep surveillance on Fae and Illian Quoronriel. He told the group he had a meeting with the Lord of House Quoronriel himself, Illion, during which he apologized for the confrontation at House Varynthiel. Mae shrank slightly in her seat at the mention of it. But Gaele had good news to share about that meeting. Illian’s father apparently did not approve of Fae’s involvement with his son—though the reason remained unclear. If Mae agreed, Cole would be gone for six days, returning in time for the important gathering of the Luminous Concord. Mae didn’t hesitate. Whatever Cole was—whatever shadows clung to his past—he was capable, and she was desperate for any information about her sister.   Aerith praised Aegaelion’s ingenuity, and the others joined in expressing their gratitude for the apology delivered on their behalf. Cole, having finished his meal before anyone else, stood and announced his departure. They all wished him well, and he gave them a short wave before stepping outside—lighting a cigarette the moment the door shut behind him.   Mind and Gotrick made their way toward the Golden Archway, venturing into a part of the district they hadn’t explored before. As they approached, the sheer scale of the arena struck them—it loomed like a colossus over the city streets. Casually leaning against the outer wall, Mind sent Hugin into the sky, the familiar shimmer of his magic taking hold. Through the raven’s eyes, he took in the full scope of the battleground below. The stands were vast and clearly built to hold thousands. The field itself was clear, save for a few notable features. Scattered pillars offered limited cover, and four raised platforms stood at random places, providing potential vantage points or hiding spots. But what drew Mind’s eye most was a strange, mechanical dome embedded in the center of the arena floor. Its purpose was unclear, and it gave no indication of its function.   As Mind described the layout aloud, Gotrick listened intently. The dome, he concluded, was something they'd simply have to deal with—if it activated at all. He suggested they spread out during the fight, using the terrain to their advantage. His priority would be reaching the archer first, assuming that Warforged took a platform. Mind agreed, and the two strategized further as they walked the perimeter, the weight of the coming challenge beginning to settle in.   Elsewhere in the Golden Archway, Leo, Jaina, Mae, and Aerith stepped into the familiar bar Leo and Jaina had visited once before. It was pretty quiet—just a few early patrons enjoying breakfast. Judging by their worn clothes and tired eyes, most were working-class locals, likely regulars.   The group slid into seats at the bar, and Leo took the lead. He ordered drinks for the four of them, slipping a few silver coins—and the leather scrap with the spider emblem—onto the counter. The barkeep returned with their drinks, pausing in confusion as he noticed the scrap. Leo played it off casually, saying he must’ve grabbed it by accident along with his coins. The barkeep didn’t question it further, and the group turned to scan the bar for anything spider-related—but nothing stood out to them.   Mae mulled over the mysterious note that had accompanied the wine bottle: For those who know how to sip before they speak. One day, we toast to your curiosity. It struck her that perhaps the meaning was literal—maybe they needed to drink, and drink a lot, and maybe then someone would approach them. Sip before speech. It made a strange kind of sense to all of them.   But when she looked to the others to join in on this plan, Leo shook his head—he wanted a clear mind for the arena later. Aerith agreed, wanting to stay focused in case there was an opportunity to speak with Durgle during the event. Jaina, however, was happy to oblige. With a grin, she and Mae ordered another round.   They kept chatting with the barkeep, steering the topic toward specialty wines. Leo mentioned the flamboyantly, purple dressed man he’d seen on his last visit—the one who’d received a mysterious bottle. The barkeep nodded in recognition. His name was Wallace, and he ran a transportation business out of the Starlight Haven. At that, the group exchanged a knowing look. Mae leaned in and asked if the bar carried any special wine like he gave to Wallace. The barkeep brought out an expensive bottle—one from the island of Fhanor they were currently on, made by monks who ran a small winery. Limited, exclusive, and high in demand. Intrigued, Mae and Jaina bought a bottle and shared it between them.   Then Mae brought up Sable Blue 8—the very bottle they had been gifted. The barkeep’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. That particular wine, he explained, wasn’t available anywhere in the city. It came from the mainland, northwest of the island and typically sold for a hundred gold a bottle. The rarity and the cost left them stunned. When asked why they were interested, Leo admitted they’d received one as a gift. The barkeep eyes widened and told them that they’ve got themselves a very generous friend. Outside the bar, the question lingered heavily: who would gift them something so rare… and why?   They decided to split up. Leo and Aerith returned to the mansion to speak with Lorice about gaining access to the Starlight Haven, while Mae and Jaina wandered toward the Velvet Promenade. Their stroll was quiet and uneventful. Though a bit tipsy, the pair were still lucid enough to browse the market stalls. Mae seemed unusually focused all of the sudden. She mentioned she wanted to purchase a gem—Jaina raised an eyebrow at the sudden interest but didn’t press her. It didn’t take long to find a market stall displaying beautiful gemstones in every imaginable color and cut. Mae asked specifically for a moonstone, price be damned. A luminous one was wrapped up for her, and she paid without hesitation. With the gem tucked away, the two made their way back toward the Golden Archway, where Jaina spent some time training Kiwi. The session was fruitful—Kiwi responded quickly, gaining a little more wisdom with every passing moment.   Back at the Celebren mansion, Leo and Aerith met with Lorice. As always, she was efficient and composed. When asked if she could arrange access passes to the Starlight Haven, she assured them it was no trouble. She’d have them in hand within half a day. Leo and Aerith exchanged an impressed glance. Lorice explained, not without a touch of pride, that she knew her way through the proper channels. While most people might wait a week or more for such paperwork, she rarely had to. It was becoming increasingly clear that the people around them—Lorice, Cole and Aegaelion—were more than just competent. They were quietly formidable.   The time had come for the long-awaited arena match. The full group gathered at the towering entrance of the Arena, where Durgle was already waiting. He briefed them on the rules of the fight: death would not be a risk—thanks to enchantments placed on the field—but the pain and magical effects would be very real. The spectators will be protected by a magical barrier to protect them and prevent help from the crowd. The combatants would be allowed to prepare their spells before the match began. Across the field, the Warforged were already doing the same. The opposing mage raised shimmering arcane protections—Mage Armor and Mirror Image. Without hesitation, Mind mirrored the exact sequence of spells, locking eyes on the enemy across the sands.   With a few final words of encouragement, Durgle, Mae, Jaina, and Aerith made their way into the stands. As they took their seats, Aerith scanned the surrounding crowd, searching for any familiar faces—but the arena appeared sparsely populated. A few noble onlookers filled the lower boxes, but otherwise, it seemed the event was kept discreet. Beside her, Mae pulled out a length of string and began knotting it into simple bracelets. With a quiet incantation, she cast a glow over the strands, turning them into soft, radiant charms. She passed them out to Jaina and Aerith, and together they raised their glowing bracelets as they cheered for their friends below. A voice boomed out across the arena—an announcer introducing the combatants and promising a spectacular, off-season showcase of skill and Warforged magic. The enchantments in the stadium carried the excitement like a ripple through the stone.   The crowd stirred. The magic shimmered. And then, the fight began.   The Warforged fighter was first to charge—its form imposing, armed with a sword and shield. Embedded in both its sternum and shield were glowing green gems that shimmered with arcane power. Meanwhile, Leo, already invisible, slipped past the chaos and made his way toward the archer. The archer sprinted to a raised platform and struck Mind with an arrow. In response, Mind, mounted on Hugin, dashed forward and cast Hypnotic Pattern, stunning the archer. But the Warforged mage stepped up next and hurled a devastating fireball toward Mind and Gotrick. Gotrick’s shield absorbed the brunt, but Mind lost focus—and with it, control over the archer. Hugin faded away, and Mind landed gracefully as he dismounted.   Gotrick, on Serosh, attempted to Misty Step toward the archer—but his spell fizzled, siphoned away by the gem embedded in the fighter’s chest. Thinking quickly, he hurled two javelins instead.   The fighter turned on Gotrick, his twin gems glowing. He missed a shield bash but landed a punishing strike with his sword. At the same time, Leo reappeared behind the archer and unleashed Booming Blade—the crowd roared as the blow landed. The archer tried to retaliate but failed to hit Leo, who scorched it with divine energy as it retreated. Mind once again incapacitated the archer, and Gotrick followed up with a crushing warhammer blow that dropped it to the ground, limp and unmoving.   The crowd erupted—but the celebration didn’t last. The mechanical dome at the center of the arena began to pulse. A shockwave rippled outward, knocking Leo, Gotrick, Mind, and the mage to the ground. The fighter, unfazed, advanced on Leo, striking with such force that he was left bloodied. Mae called out to him from the stands with encouraging words. Leo tried to Misty Step away, but the magic was again absorbed by the fighter’s gem. Shouting to his allies, he called for them to focus on the fighter.   Mind rose and launched a fireball—but the shield absorbed it whole. However, the gem’s glow dimmed, hinting it couldn’t withstand much more. The mage stumbled closer as Gotrick leapt from Serosh and moved into position to let Leo strike again. After a moment of healing, the blood vanished from Leo’s face just in time for the dome to pulse once more, pushing Mind and the mage back.   Jets of steam released from the fighter’s armor. Another brutal hit from it nearly downed Leo again, but he managed a counterstrike. Mind teleported behind Leo, Gotrick and the fighter and stopped another fireball with a Counterspell, shielding both himself and Gotrick. In retaliation, Gotrick landed a punishing hit with his warhammer to the fighter’s legs.   As the battle neared its crescendo, Leo survived yet another strike, and Mind casted Web, pinning the fighter in place. But the mage saw its chance—Magic Missile struck Leo, and he fell. The crowd gasped.   Enraged, Gotrick dealt a heavy blow to the restrained fighter, now visibly damaged. Mind knee-slid into position, a calculated move, and shouted for Gotrick to heal Leo. Then blocked yet another spell with a Counterspell, protecting them both. Ignoring the crowd’s boos, Gotrick chugged a health potion while Mae’s voice rang out above the jeers, telling him to ignore them.   With a final effort, Mind unleashed his seldom-used Fire Breath. The fighter staggered and then collapsed to the sand. But it wasn’t over yet.   The mage clambered onto a platform and cast a spell unfamiliar to Mind—likely a Shimmerforge design. Gotrick took the hit and looked battered. He healed Leo, who sprang up and fired his crossbow. Mind once again used his Spider Staff, this time to entangle the mage. Gotrick seized the opening, smashing through the last of its mirror images with his warhammer.   Then, one last gout of fire from Mind—and the battle was over.   The crowd exploded with cheers—though a few boos echoed from purists displeased by the use of healing. But it didn't matter. Mind, Leo, and Gotrick clapped each other on the back, triumphant. Healers ran onto the field to tend to everyone. The Warforged rose, expressionless and synchronized, before marching off in silence.   Mae, Jaina, Aerith, and Durgle joined them on the field with wide grins. Durgle, clearly impressed, revealed that the fighter had been one of his own prototypes—those green gems were incredibly expensive, and absorbing magic had been a risky experiment. When Aerith asked about the mechanical dome, he explained it could do many things, including flooding the arena—but that particular mechanism wasn’t one of his.   With pride, Durgle turned to Gotrick and formally promised to begin work on his warhammer.   Victorious and a little bruised, the group exchanged satisfied glances as the sun dipped toward the horizon—another tiny step forward, and more secrets to encover soon.