Trials in the Heavens (Round 1 - Trial of Strength)
The Trial of Strength featured six matches in the queen’s gladiatorial arena. With the help of a magical emerald, she was able to change the shape and landscape of the arena to anything of her choosing, or in this case, anything at random. By the trial’s end, half of the pantheon was defeated and eliminated.
Match #1Lady Ara -vs- Lord Arhakama |
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Match #2Lady Ajutess -vs- Lord Araznurum |
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Match #3Lady Adrina -vs- Lady Arlette |
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Match #4Lady Arkhillia -vs- Lady Arunaire |
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Match #5Lord Adinn -vs- Lord Angrinath |
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Match #6Lord Aegrok -vs- Lord Amaranthinos |
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Match #1 |
Match #2 |
Match #3 |
Match #4 |
Match #5 |
Match #6
At the conclusion of the Trial of Strength the defeated members were brought to a separate room. It was here that queen announced that though their journey had come to an end, their purpose had not. Taken by the Destroyer, they disappeared into the void.
Introductions |
Trial of Strength |
Trial of Wisdom |
Trial of Courage
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Winner: ArhakamaThe first match that took place was that of Lady Ara of the Aarakocra, versus Lord Arhakama of the Orcs. The battle took place in an area called the Golden Highlands. It has a green countryside with plenty of trees. However, a small cliff several feet tall separated it from a sandy beach that glistened gold in the sun. This is much of where this area got its name.
Ara started off the battle strong, taking advantage of her ability to fly. Ara unleashed a flurry of attacks. It seemed the Orc god, Arhakama, was overwhelmed. However, his stamina, endurance, and strength proved far superior, despite her speed. She quickly wore out as Arhakama began to launch his own assault. Within a brief period of time, the orc managed to clip her wings and pin her to the ground, brutally crushing her on the sandy beach.
Lord Arhakama of the Orcs defeated Lady Ara of the Aarakocra. Return to Top
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Winner: AraznurumThe second match was that of Lady Ajutess of the Lizardfolk, and Lord Araznurum of the dwarves. The battle took place in a desert called the Voiceless Waste. It is a desert full of strange and magical conditions welcomed both by the elements and a strange curse.
As the battle waged on, the arena shifted from subzero to sweltering temperatures to over 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Araznurum fared poorly in these conditions while Ajutess enjoyed the warmth. However, the desert had several different physical phenomena that Ajutess was not able to figure out or safeguard from. The heavy whirlwinds that appeared complicated matters, in addition to the strange fact that no sound could be heard. Araznurum used his wisdom and knowledge to gain the advantage and defeat the shamanistic Ajutess.
Lord Araznurum of the Dwarves defeated Lady Ajutess of the Lizardfolk. Return to Top
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Winner: ArletteThe third match placed Lady Arlette of the Fey, against Lady Adrina of the Sahuagin and Merfolk. The battle took place along the shores of and within Mythawar lake. Arlette was quite dismayed as the arena greatly favored Adrina.
While Lady Adrina was at home within the waters of the lake, she started to make quick work of the fairy queen. There was little she was able to do, however she soon realized that there was a massive creature who lived in this lake, one that Arlette could befriend to her advantage. With her ability to rally beasts to her aid (even aquatic ones), she awakened the monster and several other aquatic beings. The match was difficult, but in the end, Lady Arlette prevailed.
Lady Arlette of the Fey defeated Lady Adrina of the Sahuagin. Return to Top
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Winner: ArunaireIn the fourth match Lady Arunaire of the Humans faced Lady Arkhillia of the Spiderians. This battle took place with the central clearing of, and the forest of the Myrin Grove. The sky grew dark and only the moonlight showed overhead. The grove featured a central clearing that consisted of a single tree and a small, shallow pond with an altar in the middle of it.
The darkness and shadows of the outer rim of trees provided great cover for Arkhillia to gain the advantage. The battle here was the longest of them all. Arunaire’s endurance and perseverance weathered the storm of attacks that Arkhillia launched from the shadows. However, Lady Arunaire managed to use here knowledge of the stars and manipulate their power to counter her opponent and strike back, eventually granting her the win.
Lady Arunaire of the Humans defeated Lady Arkhillia of the Spiderians. Return to Top
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Winner: AngrinathThe fifth match pitted Lord Angrinath of the Tieflings against Lord Adinn of the Bugbears. Their battle was one that took place in a caustic cavern called Edorintubos Cevirnei. The cave walls bled as a caustic and acidic substance formed in pools on the ground. A black egg in the distance rested on a pedestal of stone.
Neither of the two combatants fared well in this environment. The green sludge burned the flesh of their bare feet. They fought ferociously against each other, exchanging blows, while stepping into and falling in sludge-filled pools. Even the occasional brush against the wall was damaging, each incident causing searing pain. It was Lord Angrinath that managed the weather the pain. His ability to endure the pain and remain focused on his opponent granted him the win.
Lord Angrinath of the Tieflings defeated Lord Adinn of the Bugbears. Return to Top
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Winner: AmaranthinosThe sixth and final match of the Trial of Strength placed Lord Aegrok of the Ogres against the Dragon Lord Amaranthinos. Their battlefield was the Ruins of Arlin. It was a place Amaranthinos actually knew well from the time he once visited with his wards, while witnessing Zephra’s birth. He looked around and all he could see were corpses and skeletons. Many were dragon skeletons, some also appeared dragonid, but were far smaller and wingless. The ruins of the buildings around him glistened from a globe above. It appeared as though the ancient city was suspended in a bubble, deep underwater. Light from the surface was pouring through.
Aegrok quickly launched a horrific assault as he used his power to raise the corpses and boney remains to act on his behalf. The sheer numbers were overwhelming and Amaranthinos was not only fearful, but distracted. His memories betrayed him, and to him it felt as if the queen herself was playing a cruel game with his fondest of memories. He tried to hide, gathering his strength, courage, and composure. However, bolts of dark magic would not give him any rest. Amaranthinos soon found himself surrounded, but finally realized that even though the dead had been raised against him, they were still dragons. Finally summoning all his courage, Amaranthinos transformed into a massive dragon, larger than any other. Bright opal scales illuminated the entire arena. He shifted the color of scales, a deep crimson color, and in a single breath of fire, decimated every single undead creature in the area. Aegrok struck back with his witchy bolts, but to no avail. Then Amaranthinos’ scales shifted color again. Metallic brass. When he roared the arena glowed with a strange energy. Buildings began to heal. Cracks in the stone walls had sewn themselves back together. Even more, the corpses of the dead began regaining their color. Skeletal remains grew flesh. Before long he had an army of his own. Dragons and dragonborn stood before him. “Astindu iu nastrem virem patistetim!”
Lord Amaranthinos of the Dragons defeated Lord Aegrok of the Ogres. Return to Top
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