Round Robin Story Debate Tournament

In the distance Asakia could hear the approaching enemy warriors, as he retrieved the priest’s staff from the village blacksmith. He held the staff, now fashioned into a spear high as he emerged from the blacksmith’s tent. “My people,” Asakia began. “Today we do battle. Every able bodied man will follow behind me. I will lead our charge. We will attack outside the village entrance, that our enemies may be stopped before they enter our village.” “Should any remain to guard the village?” one of Asakia’s warriors asked? “No.” Asakia cautiously replied. “We will need every able bodied man to fight. The armies in the distance are many and we are few. We must attack without restraint, for if we fail, there will be nothing left to protect in the village.” The men of the village departed to their dwellings, and emerged clad in the regalia of war. Every man carried a sword and shield and carried a hunting spear on their backs, except Asakia. Asakia held the priest’s staff high, and wore his sword in his belt. They marched from the village, in front of the oncoming army. “I am Asakia!” Asakia shouted at the rival army. “I demand that your leader present himself before me, that we may attempt to negotiate peace!” The rival army burst into laughter, as the rival chieftain emerged. “There shall be no peace between you and I, Asakia!” The rival chieftain shouted. “The prisoner you killed in the pit as a boy was my father!” “I did not know! I beg your forgiveness!” Asakia shouted, as the rival chieftain stood many yards away from him. “My forgiveness?” The rival chieftain was indignant. “How dare you ask my forgiveness! You killed him with a spear without even fighting him!” “He would have killed me.” Asakia explained. “And now I will kill you!” The rival chieftain shouted, as he charged Asakia. Asakia tried to hide his fear, but in that moment he saw, for the first time in a decade. It was not sight as he remembered, but a new sight that was knowledge. In that moment he knew exactly where to throw his spear. “I have been shown mercy! It was meant that I should see you now!” Asakia shouted, as his baffled troops stood in confusion. “Mercy?” The rival chieftain shouted as he drew nearer. “You were blinded by your own people!” Asakia thrust his spear through the air, and as it soared he prayed. “May you fall that no more blood is shed in vain.” Asakia proclaimed. The spear struck the rival chieftain perfectly above his heart, and though Asakia could not see him fall to his knees, the yell of pain confirmed his success. Asakia addressed the rival army. “I will grant you two choices. You may leave in peace, or you may die in vain!” Asakia’s boldness was overwhelming, even his own troops could not believe the miracle they just witnessed. The rival army rapidly dispersed. “They are leaving!” one of Asakia’s warriors shouted. “They are leaving!” “May you all go in peace.” The relief in Asakia’s voice was noticeable, as he turned and motioned for his own army to depart. “It is finished.” Asakia sent a warrior to retrieve his staff from the rival chieftain's chest, but the spearhead remained embedded in his now limp body. Asakia and his warriors returned to the village unscathed, and they were greeted by the priest who anxiously sat at the edge of the village. “Your staff.” Asakia presented the bloody staff back to the priest. “You have done well, Asakia.” The priest placed his hands on Asakia’s shoulders. “May we live forevermore without the shedding of any blood.” “That is my hope.” Asakia softly spoke. “No good comes from the ending of life.”