Results of the Games

[The Scribes apologize for their long inactivity; they profess the most pressing trouble upon them has been the rumor of the Red Cloud and his imminent threat to the Dual-Cities. And that, because of duties relating to this trouble and the sending and receiving of messages, they have had little time to chronicle things for the barbarians of Cothon ...]

The Tsamri-Hane Games were held several months ago; and though the results of the gladiatorial matches are at this point widely known (and probably widely forgotten by many whose worries about the Red Cloud overwhelm their enthusiasm for the combats of the Arena), the barbarian-adventurers who dwell in Cothon may not have heard their results.

Truthfully, it matters only to perhaps a couple barbarians--the most paid the Games hardly any heed--but for those who were interested, the results are here posted for their knowledge:

1. In the match Drago v. Barshan the Strong, it was Barshan who came out victorious. In a surprise upset Barshan closed the distance quickly, clinching his enemy in a wrestling bind, and Drago yielded quickly after that

2. In Idrig v. Charna of Arnhe, Idrig performed as expected. The two closed into melee and exchanged several blows, but Idrig's skill proved superior and Charna found herself defeated. When she yielded, Idrig granted her life (a theme that would continue through the rest of the Games)

3. Between the javelineers Theriax the Peltast v. Korbassh the Sakkra, it was the Sakkra who proved superior. Bearing out his specie's skill in thrown weapons, Korbassh wounded his enemy in the first exchange of darts, and then, after avoiding all of his enemy's javelins, caught Theriax in a strong clinch; Theriax yielded and was granted life

4. In the battle between Elam al Kir v. Hiri Man-Hunter, the latter won handily with his superior Kzin strength. The two came together in melee, but Elam was unsettled by Hiri's "scream and leap" and surrendered with the Kzin's fangs at his throat; he was allowed his life

5. And in the anticipated Mortu the Black v. Shalla the Aridani another upset! After only a short melee and clinch, Shalla was able to disarm Mortu of his dreaded "Blade of Death"; without his weapon, Mortu offered his throat to be cut, yet much to the disappointment of the crowd, Shalla granted Mortu his life.

As for the animal battles:

1. The pack of gadhars easily overwhelmed the chlen they were set upon

2. Between the qaqtla and the yeki, the poisonous whips of the qaqtla serpent took their toll, and the yeki succumbed to the venom and was ultimately killed

3. Finally, between the zrne and the crowd of chnelh ape-men, the crowd was surprised when the leaping predator succumbed to numbers, and the chnelh closed together with their crude clubs and beat the zrne to death (not without a few bloody deaths of their own, to the satisfaction of the crowd)

The only barbarian that the Scribes received word of actually betting on the Games was Durham of the Ringing Anvil, who successfully bet only on the initial battle between Drago and Barshan the Strong. Alas for Durham, his other bets all backed the losers. But with 100 dinars (gp) bet to Barshan, Durham at least wins back 125 gp through Barshan's victory. Better luck next Games, Durham!