[center][h3][color=FFCC33]Kumbha Yatta – the Stands[/color][/h3]
[@Oblivion666][/center]

[color=FFCC33]”Hah hah!  Now this is a match to see!”[/color]  It had been an intriguing match from the very start.  Having never heard of either Iron Enigma or Pirate Lord before now, Kumbha had been filled with expectation, practically demanding that the two live up to the image they'd created for themselves by getting into the games.  Merlina and Jacob had not disappointed.  Shapeshifting, being so far removed from any magic that he'd ever be able to try, and not within the realm of most Frenzy Plant soldiers for one reason or another, always piqued Kumbha's interest.  When the excitable former mercenary saw the lunging snake morph into a swooping hawk, a seemingly inescapable maneuver foiled by his adversary, he nearly rose from his seat.

The fight went on, neither competitor relenting and both quick to show just how far they were willing to go.  Though boisterous and loud, Kumbha had a keen eye for the art of combat, and could tell after just a few exchanges that neither was holding back.  Even the announcers were having a tough time calling the match, which was a sentiment the Gel Magician temporarily shared.  Finally, the duel came to a single point: a point-blank status match between fire and poison.  Which affliction would burn strongest?  Was one of them willing to burn themselves out reaching for victory?  Kumbha's heart, and that of thousands of others, craned his neck to see.

Then, after a few more moments, the combat broke.  Jacob took on the form of a bird, weaving around Merlina's avatar.  A single strike for either meant defeat -a stray bolt hitting the sparrow, or the phoenix letting her guard down- but this evasive dance fascinated Kumbha less than previously.  Noticing a fellow Frenzy Plant soldier intent on the fight, Kumbha shouted to Ike Riven over the general roar, [color=FFCC33]“Heck of a match!  Up til now, I thought Demetri's brimstone burned the hottest, and that Xyster lashed out the quickest, but these two might give each of our friends a run for their money!  What do you think, rookie?”[/color]  He used the nickname common to all new guild members in their first few months, more a term of companionship than derision.

[center][h3][color=d8BFd8]Nero the Genie – The Stands[/color][/h3]
[@Invisible Man][/center]

As Eve approached the infirmary, she caught sight of a familiar, raggedy purple cloak and combed-back mop of stark hair, their owner leaning on the railing near the stairs that led to the infirmary area.  Evidently, he had been watching the matches from here.  Once the necromancer made her way over, Nero noticed her presence almost immediately and treated her to a grand smile, as if he were on top of the world.

[color=d8BFd8]”Hi there, E!  Enjoying the matches so far, I hope?  I've been having a whale of a time!  Magic is truly a wonderful thing, don't you think?”[/color]  Of course, she probably didn't quite pinpoint his context.  No matter.  [color=d8BFd8]”I am honored and truncated...wait, was that the right word?  I dunno.  Anyhoo, I'm super duper happy you sought me out.  Either I've finally earned my first friend, or you want something from me.  No matter which way, I'm a happy man.  Or kid.  Or genie.  Whatever.  What can I do for you?  Something on your mind?”[/color]  He still hadn't heard about her experience with the so-called Time Lord last night.

[center][h3][i]X[/i][/h3]
[@Burthstone][/center]

While all eyes were on the spectacle currently taking place in the arena, a late arrival was making her way through the stands.  So packed were they, and so universally despised was her enormous, view-blocking hat, that even when she found a seat she decided to relocate so as to not get in anyone's way.  Ultimately, she found herself in a crowd that the general consensus deemed less than savory: Iron Enigma.  The late arrival, intensely curious as to the nature of dark guilds, as this one was rumored to be, was not at all dissuaded by her new company.  The tales one told about guilds such as these were wild.  Were they really full of criminals?  Of wackos, maniacs, weirdos, murderers, and the scum of the universe?  Well, how then could they work together under a single banner for a common purpose?  Stacy craved the knowledge.

She seated herself with her back to a wall, meaning that her head ornament wouldn't be ruining anyone's view of the match between Jacob and Merlina now underway.  Next to Stacy was a being of indeterminate feature, though she guessed female judging by her proportions.  Her shimmering, all-covering robe gleamed white as the sun, but even in the broad daylight her face was indecipherable beneath a face-obscuring shade that must, Stacy decided, be magical.  Between this hooded girl and Stacy was a young man, slender and very tanned, and rather attractive in her opinion.  Brushing a thick, bright-orange strand of hair out of the way of her glasses, she crossed her legs and said brightly, “Hope you don't mind me parking myself here!” even though she'd already seated herself.  “Y'know, I must say, I'd heard such awful things about this guild, but here I am and you guys are just like everyone else!  I bet you're all just misunderstood.”

As she was talking, she kept her eyes mostly forward.  Rather than looking down at the wizards, however, she looked up.  By squinting, she was able to make out two dark figures on the edge of the opposite colosseum roof.  One stood tall and rigid, like a black pillar.  The other sat with his legs over the lip, his arms back and supporting his head lazily.  [i]Well, that's not creepy at all,[/i] Stacy thought.