(ooc: Clutch, I don't want to seem nasty, but what Peterson is doing is not likely to be much use. Firstly, the tower is outside, at the centre of the city. Though near the arenas, it's not a part of them, nor is it immediately adjacent to them. Secondly, the arenas, including this one, are inside closed stone domes, so you wouldn't even be able to see the tower from inside (although you might still be able to feel it as the source of the power-drain). Finally, there's basically no way out of the arena, except if you go through the gates, and there's about a thousand Oghrun guards waiting behind them. Finally, the crystal is orange, not green.)

(ooc: I'm going to assume that everyone, after appropriate cursing and tired, rude gestures, is going to follow Soul Reaver through the archway. There aren't really any other options open, mind you, other than getting pincoushined by crossbow bolts.)

Yue turns to face the other hounds. However, all that greets her are mounds of butchered flesh and pools of blood. The creatures have all been slain.

Soul Reaver, breathing hard, barely registers the cheering of the crowd. He looks around him in a daze, realising that he and his companions are the only things left alive on the bloody arena sands. Then he sees the ancient OGHRUN looking down at the companions with a wicked, appraising eye.

Peterson, as he runs towards one of the gates, is suddenly startled as all the gates are thrown open. A mass of OGHRUN guards pour out, surrounding the arena. Each carries a crossbow, almost big enough to be mistaken for a siege-weapon. They keep them carefully trained on the companions.

The ancient OGHRUN, safe up on his high perch, points wordlessly and imperialistically towards the only gate that is now still left open. Soul Reaver allows the flail to drop from his hands. He then throws down the remaining three spears on his shoulder, and hurls his dagger into the sand. With a derisive glance, Soul Reaver turns his back on the ancient OGHRUN. Limping slightly due to the cuts inflicted by the spines of the hounds, Soul Reaver walks through the darkness of the archway.

Soon later, all the companions are gathered in yet another chamber, undear heavy OGHRUN guard. After the companions have been disarmed, the ancient one walks in.

"You do well, yes? You proved yourself valuable now. We will find appropriate battles for you. Maybe you will be bought, or you will stay with the arena. Or you will die in glory. It all depends on how you fight.

This battle was just to make sure you would not be crushed in the next fights and make me look ridiculous.

You must know - many important OGHRUN watch these battles. Should you ever hear the sound of the Great Horn, you must cease fighting at once - it means that a buyer is so impressed he wishes to purchase someone on the spot. Fail to comply, and you die. If you do well and are bought, you may bring great wealth to your new masters, and will then be treated well.

I have watched you carefully and listened to the reports. I have found appropriate challenges for all of you. May you perform well."

With this, the ancient OGHRUN marches out of the chamber.

Before he has time to do anything else, Soul Reaver finds himself seized by the massive hands of two nearby OGHRUN. He shouts a protest, but is quickly dragged from the chamber. The other companions are split up into smaller groups, herded into cells in different areas of the battlefield.

Jharm, Asaki, Peterson, Zera and Thisias find themselves together in a cell. Shenba and Yue are placed together in another cell. Kanshisha and Keseno are thrown in with them. Tamrissa is left to languish alone in a damp, windowless stone cell. Gulver is treated with some caution by the guards, but ends up alone in a cell similar to Tamrissa's. All the cells contain another gourd of healing potion.

Soul Reaver is left alone in a bare cell, empty except for a wooden bench. After drinking the healing draught, Soul Reaver is left alone, wondering if he will ever escape from this place, will ever find a way to find Stavarus. Damn Stavarus. Why had he come back?

Soul Reaver's thoughts are interrupted as a OGHRUN guard appears at the barred window to Soul Reaver's cell. It whispers to him.

"Huh... HERKANON was right. You look like the NERKON. He has something special in store for you. I have something for you too. This is for you, tiny Sorcerous One, and your tiny companions... but I suppose you alone will do."

Without another word, the OGHRUN slips an envelope between the bars and disappears.

Soul Reaver, after hesitating, picks up the envelope and opens it. His face turns serious and steadly more pale as he reads it. He then folds it closed carefully, and places it neatly back in the envelope, finally storing it in his Infinity Pouch. It is obvious he is disturbed by what he has read. He runs this fingers through his hair in frustration as he waits for whatever further horrors the OGHRUN have in store for their one-time saviour.

The others, too, are left languishing in uncertainty...

(ooc: Whoops, I forgot to mention that Zera is with Jharm, Asaki, Peterson, and Thisias. Well, it's in my earlier post now - I edited it. Sorry)

Eventually, it was time for the battles to begin. Unbeknownst to Soul Reaver in his solitary cell, the others were being called to their respective tournaments.

Jharm, Asaki, Peterson and Thisias are summoned first. They are sent to an armoury, but this time they have no choice in their own weapons. Peterson is given a massive hammer with which to fight. Asaki is given a staff - both metal-shod ends of the weapon are set with short, curving blades. Thisias is left unarmed, as the OGHRUN are confident that he will again summon the power necessary for calling on his bone-blade. Zera is given a small, round shield and a scimitar, as well as some largely ornamental torso armour. Jharm, finally, is given a largely blunt but fierce-looking axe.

However, Jharm, Peterson, and Zera are pulled aside by a large, grinning OGHRUN blacksmith for more specific treatment. Using a massive pair of pliers, the creature clamps a pair of bracers over Zera and Peterson's wrists - Peterson receives the a bracer on his left arm, Zera on her right. To their immense discomfort, they see that a huge chain binds the bracers together. They have enough room to move... but little room to move apart. The OGHRUN blacksmith

"The master knows of your dislike for one another. He has seen your glaces. This will make things more interesting. As for the winged one... I must even the odds."

Jharm suddenly finds himself being grabbed by four OGHRUN, who hold him down onto his stomach as the blacksmith attaches chained steel bands to Jharm's wings. When he is done, the terrible weight and wicked, spiked design of the device makes flying impossible - indeed, spreading his wings will probably be all it takes to rip them apart.

The OGHRUN grins again, pleased with his handiwork.

"Good. You can fight now. Go!"

Without another word, Asaki, Peterson, Zera, Thisias and Jharm are thrown out into a round arena.

This arena is vastly bigger than the one before, and the crowds are deafening. It is almost impossible to hear the opposite gate opening from this side of the arena. Yet as the new foes draw into the light, the companions notice them, and realise with horror what they will have to do.

Their enemies are slaves, like themselves, dressed in rag-tag armour and weilding a number of weapons. The dull, fierce look in their eyes shows that their spirit to resist their oppressors has already been broken - they live now only for the bloody pleasures of their masters. They raise their weapons, preparing to rush in for the kill...

Meanwhile, Shenba and Yue are also undergoing cruel 'preparations' for their coming battle. The OGHRUN blacksmith has taken the two warriors aside and while the warriors were being held down, has forcefully attached a complex series of steel bands to their torsos. All too soon do they see what the contraption is for - Shenba has the unconcious body of Kanshisha is attached to her back, while Yue finds herself with the body of Keseno on hers. Held immovably by the metal bands, the unconcious bodies make for a terrible and clumsy burden.

The OGHRUN explains to them.

"In this fight, you fight not only to protect yourselves, but also your charges. If your charge is killed, then you will be too."

Saying no other word, the OGHRUN force Shenba, Yue, and their unwilling cargo into the arena. Yue has only a sword to protect her - Shenba is unarmed. And from the other side of the arena come the challengers... a group of lithe, agile creatures, humanoid but with the sinuous grace of a snake. Deadly venom drips from their spears, swords and scimitars, as well as from their poison-charged fangs. Protecting oneself would be hard enough... protecting their unconcious friends would prove even more difficult.

Somewhere else in the arena, Tamrissa finally finds herself being led from her cell by the OGHRUN. To her surprise, the ancient OGHRUN sees her in person.

"Your fighting earlier was brutal and pleased the crowds very much. Finding an appropriate match for you was difficult, but we think we have found a challenge worthy of you - fight well and you may have a new master. Fight badly, and you will be killed. Arm yourself, and then prepare to face the arena."

Tamrissa is given a surprisingly well-wrought pair of short-swords with which to fight. They are by far the best-quality weapons she has seen so far.

As she steps out onto the area sands, the roar of the crowd almost overwhelms her.

On the opposite side of the battlefield, a porticullis rises, and a thin, lank figure steps slowly out into the arena sands to confront Tamrissa. As the shadows slip away from its body, the figure is reavealed for who it truly is.

Gulver...