Genagis

[Inkshade]

an incredibly small and somewhat desolate country near the center of Odyssia. Its terrain is very hilly, and heavy storms result in constant mudslides. There are only small patches of the land that are fertile anymore, so it has a poor agricultural system. Its people are poor and its capital lackluster. To say this land is struggling is a horrific understatement.

[Inkshade]

Cerberus leans against one of the deteriorating walls of the throne room. Bits and pieces of the stone crumble off as he shifts position and crosses his arms. He was greatful to be leaving for an tournament, this place was depressing. Most of the lighting was natural, formed by holes chisled out of the stone in the old fort that made up the castle, because materials used for torches were determined a bigger priority to be used for cooking food, than light. Cerberus lets out a pained sigh, looking at all the dust the light showed. In the past that dust might have been glitter, from some grand celebration. His eyes move to the tapestries on the walls. Most were tattered, and their colors dull. Above the throne, which was nothing more than a big wooden chair with a long shabby pillow so the Emperor wouldn't get splinters, was the last remaining Genagis flag that was still in tact. But even it was begining to dull and it's edges fray.

Cerberus sighs again and slightly turns his head as the Emperor enters, looking paniced. Behind him Meda, who was carrying a sack for him.

"Oh man...this is it...How much is the prize again?" Cael asks.

"I'm not sure. We'll find out." Meda says "Did you pack all you need?"

"Yes." he nods, before noticing Cerberus "Oh, good you're already here." he says "I'm...going to ask them if I can sell enchanted things....so I can pay you even if we lose..."

"We won't lose." Cerberus says.

Cael smiles "No with you we won't."

[Dynamax]

He was ready.

Visiting his Master's grave only confirmed Tai Shindo's will to fight in the tournament. As he steps out of the door to his home, travel bag slung over his shoulder, Tai prepares to head off to the Tournament.

"This is the last time I will be able to hear these people call you a coward Master. I will win this tournament and will make sure they all know the full truth. For your honor..." He looks back at his home. "...for all you gave me I will see it done...or die trying." He says before he begins his walk into the main part of the city to find the means of getting there.

[Inkshade]

"Alright, let's go wait for the other champion out front, then we can all go together." Meda says.

"That's probably best." Cael nods "They're all going to hate us so we need to keep close."

"Don't say that. They won't all hate us." Meda says.

"Enough banter. let's go." Cerberus says and leads the way out.

Cael and Meda follow him. "Hey...Meda..."

"Yes Cael?" she asks

"There....there will be Zeuterrians at the Arena won't there..."

"Yes..." Meda says and puts an arm around him, knowing that of all the races, he feared them the most.

[Dynamax]

As Tai Long walked down the street he felt the gazes of others, heard their words and hushed whispers. The were speaking of the lie everyone thought was true. Calling him the student of a coward. He was used to it by now but he chose not to reply...that was until...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcJCyosoZ4o&list=FLCMRywxD9RcZ8wgQXv6YRQA&index=149&feature=plpp_video

"HEY COWARD'S SON. HERE'S WHAT'LL HAPPEN IF YOU CHICKEN OUT LIKE YOUR FATHER!!"

He knew something was thrown and he did not stop it. He let the egg hit him. He did however drop his travel bag and urn to face the man that did it. Ciro, a merchant's son who lost a lot of money betting on the match his Father quit.

"Ohhh...he dropped his bag, what are you going to do Coward's son, hit me?" Ciro asks.

"No." Tai Long says.

"Oh...afraid, just like your Father?" Ciro laughs.

"No...because if I give into what you make me feel...I'll pound you into the ground until I kill you. Then your friends, and whoever else gets in my way. There simply is no honor in that and you're...so not worth it Ciro." Tai Long kneels down and picks up his bag. "Feel free to throw the rest of your eggs. it is to me like the barking of a little dog. A false show of strength by something weak and frail." He says before continuing to walk.

"You son of a BITCH!!" Ciro looks down and sees a small rock and picks it up. "You won't disrespect me." He throws it and it hits Tai Long in the back of the head. It took a moment for the bleeding to show as Tai Long froze in place for a while. But only for a moment as he continued to walk off. "YOU FUCKING COWARD!!! I HOPE YOU HAVE AT LEAST THE DECENCY TO DIE IN BATTLE!!"

Tail Long did not reply. Ciro's words did not matter. He had his purpose. Nothing else mattered. Though he did shed a tear, not for himself, but for the harsh reminder of his Master's own suffering those many years.

[Inkshade]

As the reach the front and step outside, the front guards salute them. They looked no different than everyday citizens, except they had crude weapons. Cael smiles at them as they pass.

"I told him to meet us at the front steps." Meda says

Cael nods "Well...we're here." he sits on the bottom step.

Meda reachs into one of the bags and pulls a book out of it. she places it in his lap "You should study while we wait."

"Good idea." Cael nods and opens the book carefully, because it was old and fragile.

[Dynamax]

It wasn't too long before Tai Long showed up in the distance. Added to what Ciro did to him was a splattered tomato or two. But his gaze was the same as when he left Ciro, cold and full of resolve. Tai Long walks up to them and without looking at them speaks. "How soon can we leave?" His voice hid his rage but it was obvious he was angered over his mistreatment.

[Inkshade]

"We are just waiting for the representative from the league to summon us." Cerberus says "You look like shit."

Meda scowls under her mask "They would disrespect a champion, who fights for the money to make things better for them. Times are hard but that is no excuse..."

"It's a waste of resources. Genagis doesn't have the surplus of goods to be throwing them at people." Cerberus says, not seeming to care as much about Tai Long as Meda did.

Cael looks up at him. he draws a rune in the air and it spirals around Tai Long, cleaning him off. "It's wrong for both reasons...we're all we have...we can't fight each other..."

"Tai Long, this is Emperor Cael, he...has insisted he accompany us." Meda says "Cael, this is Tai Long, the third champion."

"Thank you for fighting for us Tai Long." Cael says, timidly.

"And then this, is Cerberus." Meda says

"Hmph." is Cerberus' only responce.

[Dynamax]

"What else can I expect given what has happened to my Father's good name?" Tai Long says. "He forfeited a win to save this nation's honor...to not kill a man by dishonorable means with unregistered tampering to his weapons...to come home to live and die with this hate as his reward." Tai Long says before realizing who he was introduced to. "The...Emperor?" He looks a Cael. "Forgive my rage...I..."

[Inkshade]

"Have good reason to be angry." Cael says "We need to be a great nation again...maybe not even great, just self sustaining...but not by cheating...if we can rebuild Genagis through the arena...I'll see to it his name cleared in the people's eyes." he says.

"When we rebuild it." Cerberus says

"Yes...when." Cael nods "We have to...we need the prize...to the other nations it's just cash, but for us it's...going get us food...clothing...if we can talk another nation into it, land." he looks at Cerberus "It will keep Lord Cerberus with us....I'm going to see what I can do about that win or lose but....the people are counting on you all...I am...so please try hard." he says with a shakey voice, trying his hand at a pep talk.

[outerlimits]

"Not bad for a start!," says a cheerful voice, "I'm sure you'll get better in time though!"

In front of them a circle of runes appears and glows red, suddenly releasing a swirling vortex of flames. After a couple seconds, the flames and circle vanish, revealing a red haired man in red and gold clothing carrying a decorated staff and an orange cloak on his back. He smiles cheerfully at them and nods his head in greeting.

"Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Ignacio, a summoner of the League! I am here to escort you to the League headquarters so that we can test to see if qualify to become champions. Once that is over with, you are more than welcome to participate in the upcoming tournament, which is obviously the reason why you have recently applied to become champions, correct?," he explains happily.

[Inkshade]

"We already took your blasted test last week." Cerberus sighs

"Sorry about him, his strength goes to his head." Meda says, shooting Cerberus a dirty look that could be felt just by looking at her body language. "The three of us did meet with an Eicara, last week. We were unable to stay at the arena due to...responsibilities here." she explains "And the Emperor merely plans to be a spectator."

"Um...speaking of which, Lord Ignacio...are there any rules that say I can't-...I-I mean would it be ok if I set up a table and-...see I can enchant-" Cael studders.

Meda places a hand on him to calm him "What he's trying to ask, is would it be ok if he sold enchanted items to the Champions, or offered enchanting serives to them in exchange for money?"

[outerlimits]

"Hey hey hey, hold up, one thing at a time here.," Ignacio says, waving a hand in front of himself. "First things first, you say you passed the test already?" Snapping his fingers, he summons a sheet of paper in a burst of flame and reads it to himself. "Huh. Would you look at that. HQ must have forgot to mention that." The paper disappears in another burst of flame and he says, "Well, nevermind the whole test thing for you three. I still need to test you however.," gesturing to Tai Long. "As for setting up a shop, I do recall us talking about adding some sort of shop system to Arena matches, as a way to add more strategic depth to them. Of course, that wouldn't be an actual profit, which is more what I think you're talking about, right?"

[Inkshade]

"Yes, it is. We only mean between matches." Meda nods "Oh and by us three I meant myself, Cerberus and Tai Long there. We are the Champions, the Emperor only wishes to spectate and, hopefully offer services if it is allowed. We were told he wouldn't have to be tested..."

Cael suddenly looks petrified at the possibility that he might have to take the test as well.

"I told you we should have had him take it too. But no, you said he was too young..." Cerberus grumbles, irritated by the apparent set back.

[outerlimits]

"Are you serious?," Ignacio exclaims, sounding annoyed. "I'm going to have to talk to person who briefs me in advance about this stuff. I don't even know why they had Eicara talk to you guys and do the judgement since that's MY job."

Ignacio sighs. "Okay, look, I don't know about whether you can set up a shop or not, but what I do know is that the only people allowed in the League are champions and summoners."

Ignacio brings a hand up to his chin and thinks for a second. "Wait, aren't you the Emperor of Genagis? Why do you want to join the League?"