Proving Grounds Proving XIX - Season II Recap
By the blessing of the Twelve, the Kami, and whatever other gods saw fit to watch, the second season of the Proving Grounds opened to a truly thunderous night of violence and passion! Long held rivalries boiled over from the patron stands into the arena, allies turned into foes settled matters in proper bloodsport, and two men tangled themselves into one writhing mass of murderous intent! And that’s not even touching on the championship settled as a life-long fued against an entire city-state! Two daggers were awarded on this emotional night, the last of the Ivory and the first of the Rosewood, ending one era of greatness while throwing open the gates to even more bountiful opportunities!
The new season started off immediately with a long awaited grudge match between Arden Tide, patron-turned-gladiator who had demanded the chance to bloody the newest member of the De’Uden roster, Dagger the feral miqo’te! One would think the wild man properly understood the heated rivalry of his backers against Arden and his wives, seeing as he didn’t even bother to wait to get introduced or have the fight called to start properly before he charged down the highlander and began an unrelenting assault. It looked for a time that the feline’s savagery would fully overwhelm his opponent, but when Arden began to give into his own instinct and rage and managed to get atop Dagger and battered his head until the miqo’te wasn’t left in any state to fight. Though a high Tide rolled in on the De’uden dreams this time out, there’s no doubt that the bad blood is far from settled.
The second match brought out both of the fighters of the rising star of the patron ranks, Kadour Astollias. Two Steppe Warriors, who had worked as a team in the last games, were pit against one another after that bitter loss. Kindoron of the Tumet, a fiery axe wielder came immediately into things throwing the blame and dishonor of their loss on his foe, Kojhin of the Oronir, who was more than ready to show his ‘friend’ the error of his ways. Passion and pride were nearly as overwhelming as the blows they raining down on one another, right along a great deal of tribal taunting, that if I’m being honest I definitely didn’t get. But they sure meant it! Though both through the very length of the entire fight brought on emotional flame that’s normally reserved for blood feuds and exotic mating rituals, it was Kindoron’s axe that got in the deciding swing, even if the Oronir he was fighting used his last breath before passing out from blood loss to fling a dagger into the other man’s shoulder.
And speaking of mating rituals, the last of the preliminary fights set between one of our hard working guards stepping up to the sands Khal Hatasachi and his unrelenting spear against the winner of last month’s games and seasoned veteran of the sands Eigengrau of Mankhad! Though through the fight blades cut deep and bones were broken between the two men, the undertones of reverberated with more sexual tension than Admiral Merlwyb doing a white glove inspection. In the end it was Hatasachi who finished with a hard slam of his spear into Eigengrau’s face, and earned himself a place in the finals!
Before moving on to the finals to give out the first rosewood dagger to herald in the new season, there was one matter left to settle from the year before. The last of the ivory daggers was up for grabs, a chance to grasp the glory, the boon, and the title of champion for themselves between the two fighters who had earned a pair of daggers each. Garinn Armstrong, longest tenured of the active fighting roster and proud son of Ishgard and one of their Dragoons took to the sands against a mountain of a woman who’s stood in almost every running of the games since she joined, and former prisoner of the man’s homeland, Bremwyda Abylnpfefwyb.
The pale titan started an unforgiving assault, both against the man himself with her blades and the whole of his city with her words. Vitriol and blood were flowing in equal measure, and though he tried to quell her with reason and his halberd both, the roe’s rage would not be contained so easily. Garinn pushed the sea wolf to the limits of consciousness while hammering away at her face, the half that ISN’T metal, but she was able snatch her victory by taking the man’s arm and snapping it in half backwards at the elbow bare handed, and started to throw her own punches until he blacked out. Before she claimed her dagger, and the boon of having an airship commissioned, Bremwyda got one last bit of revenge on Ishgard and the man symboling it; pulling off his helmet and slicing off the back of his mullet.
With a champion crowned and the prior season finally put to bed, it was on to the three-way final between Khal, Arden, and Kindoron, all seeking to be the first to hold a rosewood dagger! The insults came early and often as each of the three of them began to lay into one another, and as they found extra targets with their weapons, the hateful words swung wide into mothers and wives as well. Despite his confidence and a fine performance, Khal was the first to fall from the match under Kindoron’s assault. Arden withstood the brunt of his assault a while longer, and was able to make the xaela pay for his dagger in all the more blood for it, but in the end it was arrogant warrior of the Steppe who stood tall above both of his opponents, making good on his claims that he could battle two men and stand the victor, and now stands halfway to being the first Rosewood Champion of the Proving Grounds!
And so another running of the games has come to a close, with a new champion, new contenders, and fresh blood seeping into the sands. We invite you and your whole family to see the next games in person, hear the roar of the cheering crowds, watch the displays of athleticism, and feel the blood splash on your face if you get into the front rows! This has been Pressed Ham, and I speak for all of us at the Proving Grounds when I say we hope to see you there next time!
