Part 3

## Mists of Theros

Tension steadily built throughout the quarters. Contestants began to get an idea of their opponent. Adelphie questioned Atticus’ intentions and whether or not murder was **justified for the sake of his family’s hive**. Ptolomo questioned Garruk on the unusual companion he had chosen in the **frog Tahm**. Rylos, one of the elven twins, asks Hunedall if he was willing to **die for the masters** who had entered him into this competition and whether or not it was even something he wanted. Meanwhile her brother Nero discusses the morality of leadership and the **difference between serving a settlement and ruling it**.

Eventually, the contestants were allowed to choose their relics. Evangelina chose **Khrusor**, the spear of Heliod. Atticus chose **Ephixis**, the Bow of Nylea. Hunedall chose **Akmon**, the hammer of Purphoros. Finally Garruk chose **Dekella**, Bident of Thassa. After a night's rest, the contestants were brought into an arena with 5 rectangular areas. Once each pair was led into a rectangle, a barrier lifted along the edges. The first round of combat saw Hunedall smash Rylos against the barrier wall with his new hammar, Atticus summoned a familiar at Adelphies feet as she used a charm spell against him, Nero sent a blast of eldritch power into Evangelina as she blinded him with a beam of light from her spear, Ptolomo sent a spear of pure light into Garruks shoulder, but before he could unleash any further damage, Garruk using the Bident, turned him into a crab. From the furthest battle, there was a silenced cry from Yuri as Hector made quick work of him.

It was at this point that a yell from the entrance to the arena was heard, a man being dragged back into the dark of the tunnel yelled out to Evangelina. “Evangalina, you have to snap out of it. **She has taken him**. Too many have died already!”. The battle continue, Hunedall continued to be no match for Rylos, Atticus fought off Adelphie with his familiar, Evangelina continued to blind Nero in an attempt to close the gap between them, Tahm crushed the crab Ptolomo in his mouth as Garruk emerged victorious. As the barrier around Garruk dissipated, a voice called out to him in his mind “The spirits of the forest hold their grip, **the connection must be broken**”. At this moment, the ground began to rumble and crack. Hunedall swung his hammer one last time and **crushed the spine of Rylos**, leaving her broken on the ground. Atticus broke free of the charm and summoned a monumental beast, but as it took form, the ground of the arena cracked open and a **mist began to spill out**.

A connection in the minds of Atticus and Garruk began to sever as both disappeared. Evangelina went to grab Nero as he disappeared into fog in her hands, after a moment she too disappeared. Hunedall, now finding himself alone in the arena, walked toward the emerging fog in the middle and as she did so, she found herself waking up. As Nebrix opened his eyes, around him was Marsden, Menowin, Zilyana, Dankin and Varim, all trapped and bound in vines, glowing blue tablets around them and the body of Yolah crushed beneath him. Pallas and Ismark were nowhere to be seen as Menowin’s cries for Tess echoed throughout the forest.