The obstacle course attracted many a people. Many wanted to see how their favoured countries would do in this peculiar race. For some reason the obstacle course would attract the most gamblers out of any event. Even more than in gladiatorial combat!
It looked like there were three parts to this. The first part consisted of scaling wooden platforms and walls as well as climbing up ropes. Once high up in the sky there was a bridge of ropes the contestants have to cross in order to reach the other side. If they fell they'd fall into a pool of mud, embarrassing themselves. Once at the end of that, the contestants would swing their ropes across to the final part of the course, which was a descent filled with pitfalls and enough places to get your feet stuck in that you'd lose precious time, not to mention tree trunks that made you roll faster down. It would be hard to keep yourself stable on this one. An important rule was that it had to correlate with the day of combat, though.
The announcer for this course was cheerfully announcing each team of three and their representative countries. They would need teamwork to cross this course.
It looked like there were three parts to this. The first part consisted of scaling wooden platforms and walls as well as climbing up ropes. Once high up in the sky there was a bridge of ropes the contestants have to cross in order to reach the other side. If they fell they'd fall into a pool of mud, embarrassing themselves. Once at the end of that, the contestants would swing their ropes across to the final part of the course, which was a descent filled with pitfalls and enough places to get your feet stuck in that you'd lose precious time, not to mention tree trunks that made you roll faster down. It would be hard to keep yourself stable on this one. An important rule was that it had to correlate with the day of combat, though.
The announcer for this course was cheerfully announcing each team of three and their representative countries. They would need teamwork to cross this course.
Archer was standing at the starting line, two dark,shadowy figures standing beside him. The two figures looked exactly alike... "Now, we should be fair. Stay tangible and no melting." he said to the figures. They appeared to nod.
"From ruins in the southern jungles, Archer, Timothy, and Peter!" cried the announcer. Archer and the two figures simply held an arm up each.
"From ruins in the southern jungles, Archer, Timothy, and Peter!" cried the announcer. Archer and the two figures simply held an arm up each.
Broak walks in, besides the tatooed Nola Ita, his thick shoulder occupied by Cyrille's feline-like rump. Cyrille idly swings her legs, as Broak looks to the other three, then towards the course, "Seems this will be a good exercise." Nola Ita's hands lift upwards, a dozen tower shields lifting upwards from a nearby wheel-barrow, that slowly rotate around them, "This will be done." Cyrille's chest puffs up and she points her fist to the heavens. Broak lifts his thick arm and points his fist to the heavens. Together, they shout a prolonged, "Yeeeaaaaahhhh--"
As the announcer attempts to speak over them with, "From the crater of Coronet, Broak, Nola Ita, and Cyrille!"
As the announcer attempts to speak over them with, "From the crater of Coronet, Broak, Nola Ita, and Cyrille!"
And in walk three scruffy looking kobolds, apparently too busy having a slapfight with each other to really take note of their surroundings. Those who listened in could hear the fight was about choosing what to buy with the shinies their 'boss' promised to them if they won.
"From the fabled city of Ark'Halez, better known as the Ark: Igg, Ogg and Ugg of clan Blightherd!"
"From the fabled city of Ark'Halez, better known as the Ark: Igg, Ogg and Ugg of clan Blightherd!"
Xilo and two other scouts of the Ahuachtli walked to their positions. They all wore matching scout garb that consisted mostly of tightly wrapped grayish-navy wrappings with charms affixed her and there for their convenience. You could only tell that it was Xilo due to the fact that he was the only one that you could see part of his face and hair, the other two you couldn't make any guesses about.
"Hailing from deep inside the most treacherous regions of the southern jungles, the scouts from the Nation of Warriors, Ahuachtli: Xilo and... 'two fellow scouts who wish not to be named'?" the announcer said as he read a slip of parchment that was handed to him at the last second.
"Hailing from deep inside the most treacherous regions of the southern jungles, the scouts from the Nation of Warriors, Ahuachtli: Xilo and... 'two fellow scouts who wish not to be named'?" the announcer said as he read a slip of parchment that was handed to him at the last second.
After everyone was announced, the man grabbed a worn looking pistol and aimed it for the air."Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen!" He cried out."Are the contestants ready!? Get set! Go!" He yelled as he fired the pistol.
The first stretch was a road of dirt, which didn't go for long until obstacles started appearing. A few short wooden walls to jump over, but then they became bigger, and it would require people to crawl over them in order to keep on going. Some were so high it was even too difficult to climb over. This was where the teamwork came in. If clever, the teams could get over these thick wooden walls without needing to leave anyone behind. But should they fail to plan ahead, one would need to stay behind as the race would be in full effect. However, only one person needed to reach the finish line in order to win.
The first stretch was a road of dirt, which didn't go for long until obstacles started appearing. A few short wooden walls to jump over, but then they became bigger, and it would require people to crawl over them in order to keep on going. Some were so high it was even too difficult to climb over. This was where the teamwork came in. If clever, the teams could get over these thick wooden walls without needing to leave anyone behind. But should they fail to plan ahead, one would need to stay behind as the race would be in full effect. However, only one person needed to reach the finish line in order to win.
Archer, Timothy, and Peter bolted forward when the race started. They quickly got through the first couple of obstacles. As they went further along, they simply jumped higher and higher. But then the walls became too tall to jump over. So, they ran up the sides. If one looked closely, wherever Archer's feet fell a dark shadow appeared.
Xilo and his scouts waited to see how the other teams faired with the obstacles, he was a patient scout - reckless at times, but always patient.
Three Ahuachtlites began walking in unison, step for step. They would be smart about things, they would do things the Scout's way - and that way was through the absolute humiliation of others.
Three Ahuachtlites began walking in unison, step for step. They would be smart about things, they would do things the Scout's way - and that way was through the absolute humiliation of others.
Team Coronet's gaze snaps towards the shadowy people, before Cyrille points to them, "They are cheaters!" Looking to Broak, as her finger points to them, "Look at that, that's definitely cheating!" Broak's mustache curls upward, as he frowns deeply, his thick legs beginning to charge towards the first obstacle, "We'll fix that, then. Hup!" Nola Ita's form carries after the other two, her hand gesturing towards the ground and the first obstacle, her first tower shield slamming itself to lean against the obstacle.
Her hand gestures repeatedly, the shields slamming into place, to create a diagonal line of towershields. Once Team Coronet was upon the third one, the first one would return to floating besides Nola Ita's side. Broak's right hand hooks itself under Cyrille's backpack, upon the rise of the second obstacle, "We'll fix that, right, now!" His right leg plants itself firmly into the towershield below, his right arm arcing backwards, before he throws a spiraling and panicked Cyrille towards Archer.
Her backpack emits a spiraling trail of heat, her form propelling forward, steering herself partially towards the male.
Her hand gestures repeatedly, the shields slamming into place, to create a diagonal line of towershields. Once Team Coronet was upon the third one, the first one would return to floating besides Nola Ita's side. Broak's right hand hooks itself under Cyrille's backpack, upon the rise of the second obstacle, "We'll fix that, right, now!" His right leg plants itself firmly into the towershield below, his right arm arcing backwards, before he throws a spiraling and panicked Cyrille towards Archer.
Her backpack emits a spiraling trail of heat, her form propelling forward, steering herself partially towards the male.
Archer looked back and saw the spiraling female. He stopped and caught her as Timothy and Peter made it over the top. "You okay?" Archer asked as he carried her to the top, setting her down once they were there. "Your teammates should be more careful." He then jumped down after the two Shadows, running towards the next obstacle.
Cyrille lands into the male's arms, her lips curling into a faint smile, "Uh...hey. Thanks..Oh, and this is for you." Small wholes appear in her fingertips, as a mist sprays itself into Archer's face, before a towershield moves itself to settle beside Cyrille, who smiles and waves to the other two shadow things, "My heroes."
Should the male fall victim, he would be asleep for the next 10 rounds, or until a loud enough sound awoke him.
Should the male fall victim, he would be asleep for the next 10 rounds, or until a loud enough sound awoke him.
Archer smelled the sleeping mist. "Nice try, but it won't work." he said, calling back. "I'm used to stronger stuff back home. Jungles are nasty places." He laughed as he and the two Shadows ran off.
(If it makes you feel better, the plants he is used to makes him extremely drowsy for a few hours...)
(If it makes you feel better, the plants he is used to makes him extremely drowsy for a few hours...)
Cyrille's face scrunches up, as she hops onto the towershield, her fists clenching, "Ooohh, I'll get him. Cheater-face.." The towershield lifts upward and Broak reaches downward, lifting her by her backpack. Team Coronet travels after Archer.
The kobolds did not display anything special or particularly impressive as the started. They merely ran for the obstacles in a single file. As the first kobold connected to the wall, the other would run over him, followed by the third doing the same. They then jumped together to vault the higher one over the walls, during the jump used their tails to stay attached and to pull each other over with some handy crawling and the aid of gravity.
Every obstacle they switched positions in their formation to help with fatigue.
Every obstacle they switched positions in their formation to help with fatigue.
Now most of the teams would have reached the large wooden walls with climbing ropes. However, it was notable each wall only had two ropes, and with this many teams, it would mean duking it out who got to use the ropes. Currently Archer was in first, but that could very easily change.
Once on the top it was time for the rope bridges and and the huge caps that had to be jumped lest you fall into the mud and have to start over again to catch up. This is where most people lost team members.
Once on the top it was time for the rope bridges and and the huge caps that had to be jumped lest you fall into the mud and have to start over again to catch up. This is where most people lost team members.
Archer quickly grabbed a rope and started sprinting up the wall. The two Shadows close behind, with Timothy using the other rope. Once they reached the top, the three paused to survey the next parts. Then they took off.
Nola Ita's shields collided together to create a downwards ramp, Broak carrying Cyrille by her backpack, as the three descended. Nearing the rope-wall, Nola Ita's gaze snaps to the ropes, then to the others. Broak shakes his head, quickly, "They taunts us. Why not just run up it, like the last ones?" Nola Ita's shields slam into each other, vertically, besides the rope that Archer was upon. Her hands hold themselves upward, before pulling together to clap, the shields moving to smash themselves against the man.
Archer saw a shadow in front of him, looking back to see the shields heading straight for him. He continued running, diving at the last moment. He rolled, popping back up. He then took off again. "Not nice!" he called back.
Nola Ita's shields drift towards her, before turning to lay themselves flatly against the ground, near the bottom of the obstacle. The shields push together to form a wide, flat platform, which Nola Ita's boot steps onto. Broak sets Cyrille upon it, before stepping onto it. Nola Ita's right hand rises, as the shields rise. Broak and Cyrille hop off of the platform, landing upon the ground, while Nola Ita's form drifts over to reside above Archer's, "You are very persistent. What do you have to fear of losing?"
Nola Ita's gaze drifts over to the two shadows, then towards Archer, "They didn't even look. Do you think we are blind?"
Nola Ita's gaze drifts over to the two shadows, then towards Archer, "They didn't even look. Do you think we are blind?"
Archer looked over. "Hey, I'm just here to have fun. Winning is a bonus." he said, looking forward again. "As for them, they didn't need to look. They're Shadows." The three of them then bolted forward, jumping the gaps.