Post by Mongo the Destroyer on Oct 29, 2020 20:38:59 GMT -6
If you want to see if real prettylike go to this link drive.google.com/file/d/0B-8YUmKSXvLBOFpmZ2pQMzkwdjA/view?usp=sharing
That's the PDF version of the show and is downloadable. Shows even come with mp3 files built into the pdf for a more immersive viewing.
Conflict for the Crown
The IWA returns back to London, England to has out a problem that has been within the uppermost levels of government. The Conflict between Queen Elizabeth Devereaux and the Queen Regent Druscilla Bathory. Watch as their champions face each other in the ring one by one until Druscilla and Elizabeth face each other in the ring for the Crown of Britain!
Warhammer Board Meeting
Near Hong Kong inside the ancient fortress that makes up the Warhammer Corporate headquarters, a meeting room cut from the very bedrock of the Earth. A stone table sits in the middle of the room.
It is here where sit the Board of Directors and the Corporate CEO, otherwise known as the Circle of Fire.
Micheal Vastrix, Corporate CEO, slams a warhammer onto the table, sending sparks everywhere.
Vastrix: "Let this meeting come to order. Hakim Firath, good to see that you actually made it."
Hakim Firath looks around the room at the deep shadows nervously as if expecting something to jump out and get him.
Firath: "It's g-g-good to b-b-be seen."
Micheal smiles and a chuckle floats around the room as Hakim's fears and paranoia are very well known.
Vastrix: "Well, the main topic of today is to decide company wide policy. Should we continue to do business with Carthage and her ally nations or should we join the United States and her allied nations in opposing them. There are benefits and problems with both sides of this equation that I have been weighing for a long time. I would like to hear your thoughts and votes on the matter. Cardinal Mariano Urizar, you are first."
Cardinal Urizar looks around at the other board members with an arrogant smile.
Urizar: "I am making more money than ever as of right now. I am in a position of key religious importance with the death of the last Pope at the end of the Fourth Punic War. I am selling the most lethal and expensive weapons to Britain, Carthage, and Russia. Going against them would cost me trillions of dollars in profit! I vote that we not only continue support, but take an active stance against their enemies! It is the only clear solution that we take the side of the winners in any conflict as we always have done in the past! To do otherwise would be unprofitable!"
Vastrix: "And you think that when the dust clears from this World War that Carthage and her allies will be on the winning side? Aren't they not pagans and sinners? What about your religion? What does it tell you? Wouldn't it be to side with what is right?"
Urizar: "My faith tells me that we will be tested in the coming years. That we can live in peace with these demons, would be gods, and monsters because in the end, we of the faithful will go to Heaven while they will rot in the Pits of Hell. It is what is right!"
Micheal Vastrix nods, but doesn't respond. He instead looks to Herminia VanHeijden.
Vastrix: "My dear, what are your thoughts on this troubling matter? I have heard you were rather apathetic about it all until recently."
VanHeijden: "I was. Some of the nations in my region were a bit depleted of able soldiers and my own store of Shocktroopers were a bit down from sending people out to fight the big monster in Europe and the armies of Carthage during the Fourth Punic War, but otherwise we were not affected. The Stone Rain didn't hit any nation in South America and no one was working to annex any nations. That being said, the war has affected trade which has hit my bottom line. There has been an increased militerization which has helped, but the new empire in Mexico is pressing down on Central America. They do not seem to need the kind of weapons and such that I can provide, and only the dead are left in their wake. If they continue on into South America, it will kill my business! I vote that we take a stand against them! Nations like Carthage and the one built upon Mexico will sap away any real profits while damning us all into slavery!"
Cardinal Urizar laughs harshly.
Urizar: "It's amazing how you managed to find your way to this place twice, Herminia. You being baked with God knows how many drugs with lays of naked men and women on top of you. It's amazing that you can even form an opinion, much less a vote in your sin filled stupor!"
Herminia looks at Cardinal Urizar, her jaw hanging open and her face turning red. Her mouth opens and closes like a fish a few times before any sound comes out.
VanHeijden: "How dare you?! You self-righteous son of a bitch! How can you judge me when you murder hundreds of thousands of people every year in your little industrial hell? You are tolerating demons, zombies, Gods, and monsters to dictate company policy? You are a hypocrite of the highest order!"
Cardinal Urizar slams his fist on the table with a snarl.
Urizar: "I murder no one! Those dregs work for the betterment of the entire company! Might I add that half of your weapons, half of the weapons of EVERY division comes from my little industrial hell? The dregs that die there, those poor sinners, earn their way into Heaven by their efforts. I am saving their souls, you little whore! Though, with the weight of your sins, I doubt your soul would be saved by dying there while working your fingers to bloody stumps and breathing in the toxins in the air!"
Herminia opens her mouth to yell back, but the warhammer slamming into the table stops her. All eyes go to Micheal Vastrix.
Vastrix: "Enough! Cardinal Urizar, control yourself! I will not have this kind of behavior in this meeting! While it is true that the fires of Desolation are important, you can be replaced! Don't think I don't have a list of rivals in your division that would be in my debt forever should I throw my support behind them in bringing you down so one of them can take your place!"
Cardinal Urizar looks down at the table. If anyone else in the room had made this threat, he would have simply laughed it off. Micheal Vastrix making the threat on the other hand. When he speaks, everyone in the company, and indeed much of the entire world, listen.
Urizar: "Yes, sir..."
Micheal folds his hands onto the table and smiles. He knows that he holds all of the cards as his family has for generations since his family defeated the Sinister Peace organization and incorporated them centuries ago.
Vastrix: "Very good. Sebastian Jalabert. What is your take on this subject?"
Jalabert: "With Mexico in disarray, Canada absorbed by Britain, and the United States economy coming apart at the seams, my business is down. It's a simple choice really. I vote to go against Carthage. The Dark Warlock has caused enough damage around the world that siding with him is just pure insanity. It makes him think that it's alright to kill what, nearly a billion people?"
Micheal nods with a smile.
Vastrix: "The United States and Russia were the hardest hit from launching the most nukes. I really have to wonder why Tsar Miranov thought it was alright to align with Carthage after the brutal pounding his home took. I guess it was the lure of taking power instead of babysitting while a new power structure was built. Hakim Firath?"
Firath: "I have already made my intent clear. I vote for the defeat of Carthage. I have already sent out troops and supplies to help the resistance in Russia and to counter these foul nations where they can. Gods and monsters indeed! Wipe them out!"
Vastrix: "So far then, we're looking at three against Carthage and only one for. Tehuai Anxiu? Your thoughts?"
Anxiu: "I have been sending support to Tsar Miranov. Along with getting record high profits from dealing with Carthage and Britain. Why change what isn't broken? I vote for helping Carthage and her allies."
Vastrix: "Three against Carthage and two for. Kirios, you could tie the vote or finish it."
Spatharsis: "Between Carthage and the Elder God or Great Old One, whatever it is, and the damage done by the Claw guy, Europe is esentially destroyed. My business is down by a ton. I am still doing a good amount of business, but it's still cost me trillions. I vote against Carthage."
Urizar: "You're a fool! If you would have worked with Carthage and Britain like I have, then you would be having record profits! It's small minded idiots like you that make doing business difficult!"
Spatharsis: "You foul little git! Small minded? I am doing what's right for my division and the company as a whole! You only care for yourself!"
Cardinal Urizar opens his mouth to speak, but Micheal raises his warhammer.
Vastrix: "Don't start, Mariano."
Cardinal Urizar sneers at Kirios, but says nothing.
Vastrix: "The vote looks to be pretty clear, but let me add my own two cents here. Helping the United States and her allies in defeating Carthage and her allies is a massive public relations event. We can help turn the tide in this and come out of this looking like heroes. Then, we can help rebuild the shattered nations. Not only can we insert our people into positions of power and influence, we can come out with record profits! Corporate policy is now to work against Carthage. Tehuai Anxiu and Cardinal Urizar, you two must change your policies. I will have the Seven Shadows begin working on a weapon to deal with destroying undead flesh to cleanse the world of the masses of undead. Is this agreeable with the both of you or must I declare the two of you be defeated and find replacements? Four divisions and myself against you both will make for a quick downfall."
Anxiu: "It isn't what I want, but I will abide what has been decided here."
Cardinal Urizar remains silent as if debating his odds of victory.
Vastrix: "Mariano?"
Urizar: "Before we put this matter to rest, do you mind if a representative of Carthage came in and spoke on their behalf? It could change some votes."
Vastrix: "Fine."
The door to the room opens and a pale white elven woman walks into the room.
Urizar: "Allow me to introduce the diplomat for Carthage, Shaiaya."
Shaiaya takes an open seat with a smile.
Vastrix: "Well? This is a losing effort on your part, but you could potentially make it not a landslide loss for your master."
Shaiaya: "I will do my very best, Micheal Vastrix, decendant of the visionary Ezekiel Vastrix, who founded this fine company."
Vastrix: "You've done your homework. Now tell us why we should change our minds. Why we should support an evil as dark as Carthage?"
Shaiaya: "Evil is a mere term used by those who strive against it. Was Thamptis evil when he fought to save the world from an army spilling into Egypt from another world? No, but he was still damned for being powerful. When he claimed vengeance for the unjust acts done to him and his people? No, any just man would be praised for making things right once again. Was the United States deemed evil for avenging Peal Harbor or 9-11? No, the nations that fought against the Axis of Power were lauded as heroes despite the many dark deeds done in the name of vengeance. The nations that fought against the group Al Queda were also deemed heroes, despite the number of innocents that died. Was the Warhammer Corporation deemed evil for secretly playing both sides of every conflict since the days of Alexander the Great? No."
Micheal Vastrix nods with a wide grin.
Vastrix: "You make some very good points, Shaiaya. Why should each division change their votes? They have made their choices based on reasons other than the basics of good and evil."
Shaiaya: "Then let us start with Hakim Firath. You stand alone and afraid of everything in your Tower of Silence. You can have nothing to fear if you like. Thamptis can tranform you into a being of great power. A Lord of Fear instead of being always afraid. Invincible for your lifeforce is hidden away where no one can find it."
Hakim shakes his fear, looking upon Shaiaya in a mixture of fear and disgust.
Firath: "And I w-w-would be giving up my humanity to become a monster like yourself? You can forget about it! I won't stop fighting until the lot of you have burned!"
Shaiaya: "Then you will continue to live in fear until the day Britain decides to use their technology to bring down your tower with you in it! Your phobia of the supernatural will be your undoing!"
Firath: "At least I have my humanity. I am not bound to serve as your are, elf."
Shaiaya narrows her eyes, glaring at Hakim. Micheal clears his throat.
Vastrix: "I assume you knew how this vote was going to go down before we arrived here. Hakim will not change his vote. Who will you speak to next?"
Shaiaya: "Kirios Spatharsis. You say that you have lost a major customer base in Western Europe. I say you have gained an entire new market! You have geniuses working for you. Surely, you can create a device with a combination of magic and technology to implant in the masses of unintelligent undead to allow them to recall their past lives and become intelligent beings once again, albeit with a vicious bent. There's also a wide market to send your criminals and other undesirables into the domains of the undead because they hunger for life fluids and flesh. They all eat different things. Blood, flesh, souls, spinal fluid, and so on. Also, if you can create synthetic versions of these dietary requirements, you could make a fortune! And even in what was once the restricted zone, you can find markets. All intelligent beings would love to invest in some of the comforts that the Warhammer Corporation can provide. You might even find a steady stream of recruits! How powerful would a legion of Shocktrooper armed undead be? Think about the possibilities!"
Kirios is silent for a long time as he considers. Eventually, he smiles and nods.
Spatharsis: "It's a real funny joke you put there. I sent in my merchants and build new companies from the ground up, and your creatures will destroy my assets and kill my people!"
Shaiaya: "Oh, your people and assets will be provided the best of protections. The Warhammer Corporation and it's member companies will be safe anywhere in the world!"
Spatharsis: "Then, I am changing my vote. Let us help the noble people and help the undead become productive members of society."
Vastrix: "Well, you hav e surprised me, Shaiaya. You have made the vote a tie, but with my own vote, it is still a doomed effort on your part."
Shaiaya: "Oh, I'm not finished yet. Herminia VanHeijden, you are worried that the armies of Valora Salinas will come down into South America and destroy your market. I can assure your division will be safe from assault and you can do business in peace. As I told Kirios, you can sell tech to her armies. They will be glad to pay most generously for it. I would imagine that you could also fashion new vices and pleasures that even the dead will fall prey to."
VanHeijden: "Thanks, but no thanks. I am not interested in undead markets. I refuse to change my vote."
Shaiaya: "What if I were to come join you for a time? The arts of pleasure known to elves can bring you to new delicious heights of depravity unknown to your senses."
Shaiaya places her hand on Herminia's thigh, gliding her hand upwards. Herminia smiles and closes her eyes, but just before Shaiaya can reach her target, she knocks the elf's hand away.
VanHeijden: "I just don't think so. I am tempted, but sometimes I do have to think of the bigger picture. This is one of those times."
Micheal Vastrix chuckles, drawing a glare from Shaiaya.
Vastrix: "Two unchanged and one having changed his vote. Your last chance rests with whatever slippery words you can use on Sebastian Jalabert. You may proceed."
Shaiaya: "Sebastian Jalabert. It is well known throughout the world that you are dying. I am sorry to say that my magic can heal, but it cannot help you rebuild your body from scratch. I also need to apologize for the vampire that tried to get you to change your vote ahead of time. It should have been well known that you would not want to become a creature of the night."
Sebastian raises and eyebrow, his ecigarette in his mouth.
Jalabert: "This is your speech? You can't heal me and your sorry that the vampire sent was a brainless idiot?"
Shaiaya chuckles with a wide smile.
Shaiaya: "Of course not, that was merely the opening statement. You are searching for a way to extend your life and better your business position. Once the United States have surrendered to their rightful masters, we can concentrate on rebuilding the nation to deal with the damage caused when they unjustly attacked my master with weapons that corrupted the very land for thousands of years. Now for your health, Thamptis has discovered the location of a sword that you can enact a ritual to be bound to the it to become Immortal. Your health will return, you youth will return, and you will never die so long as your head is not removed. What do you say?"
Jalabert: "A sword that can make a person Immortal? I would ask why does Nebiryau not have this weapon?"
Shaiaya: "Because Nebiryau is Immortal from the blessings of the power granted from Thamptis. While Thamptis was being cursed by the Sunstone, his blessing could not reach Nebiryau and thus he had to seek another path to Immortality to live long enough to see the Curse broken."
Jalabert: "I can help with the surrender of the United States as well. President Lee listens to me. You say the nation will be rebuilt?"
Shaiaya: "Of course. The United States can be one of the strongest nations in the world once again. What is your answer?"
Sebastian Jalabert thinks for a time until he puts away his ecig and gets out a pack of Camel Turkish Gold. He gets one out and lights it up with a wide smile. The life support system beeps in protest at the introduction of toxins into his system, but he ignores it.
Shaiaya: "Do you have an answer, or should we wait for you to die first?"
Sebastian smiles, sending out a plume of smoke like he was a dragon.
Jalabert: "It comes down to me. The fate of the entire world hangs in the balance for what I have to say can swing the balance of power either way. Surely with the magnitude of such a choice, an old man can sit and enjoy a real cigarette or two while mulling over the ramifications of such a desiscion. I can tell you that I am leaning in your favor, but we will wait while I finish deciding. Okay?"
Shaiaya rolls her eyes, but with what Sebastian has said so far, she beams with confidence.
Shaiaya: "Oh you are still young, Mr. Jalabert. I was old when China first invented paper."
Sebastian finishes his first cigarette, putting it out in the ashtray in front of him. He lights his second and grins.
Jalabert: "Immortality would be nice, though the United States has been like a child of mine. I helped her raise her flag for the very first time when I was but a teen and my father was in charge. He and the ancestor of Kirios had a bet going on if the colonies could win their revolutionary war against Britain. I think my father won several hundred thousand pounds out of the event. I helped my child grow up and grow strong over the years. When my father died and I took the reigns, it was a struggle to keep the company and nation strong during the Civil War. I was still young and vital back then and advised General Robert E Lee that the time had long past for admiting defeat. He signed the surrender to General Grant soon afterwards. I have been behind every major event in history since in supporting the nation that I considered like a child of mine."
Shaiaya: "Then you'll be showing your child a little tough love! Make sure that child toes the line and it'll get all the love it needs from us. We just ask for obedience to the one true Lord of this World that can lead us all to a better age!"
Jalabert: "I have heard what goes on in the lands held by Carthage and her allies. Humans are degraded and treated like slaves or food unless they toe the line properly. I would be betraying the United States to a horrible fate by siding with your wicked lord. I vote to help those who are fighting against Carthage and her allies."
Vastrix: "And there you have it. I told you that your effort was doomed from the very start."
Shaiaya stands up with a shout of rage, knocking her chair to the floor. He looks right at Sebastion.
Shaiaya: "You're an old fool! Do you know the power that was being offered to you? To each and every one of you? The world could have been remolded into one of peace as was the goal of the original founding members of this very council before it was incorporated to simply make money! Do you realize that each of you will be slain by agents of my lord until the new people who take charge vote in favor of helping Carthage? You people have sealed the fate in every person in this room!"
The room goes silent as everyone in the room stares at Shaiaya. The threat was valid as Carthage and her allies do have the power to do this once news it taken back to her dark masters. Sebastian Jalabert is the first to speak as he presses a button on his watch.
Jalabert: "About that. Your masters will be waiting for you for sometime. By the time that they have discovered the outcome of this meeting, it will be too late."
The door opens and several members of the Solar Gaurd rush into the room. One of them places a collar around Shaiaya's neck.
Jalabert: "We can't have you escaping now, my dear. We don't want you warning your masters of their fate. Also, you will tell me the location of this sword and the ritual required to bond with it."
Shaiaya: "Why would I tell you this info? How do you know that I know it?"
Jalabert: "Oh, I think you know. You were ready to tell me if I had sided with you. I have specialists that will get this knowledge from you, and if you don't know it? Eventually, you will be freed from your bondage. That is, unless you must serve them even after death. (To the guards) take her to my plane. We will deal with her in Richmond."
The Solar Guard drag Shaiaya away while she kicks and screams.
Micheal Vastrix laughs as the door closes.
Vastrix: "Well it has been decided. We will go against Carthage. Any other objections? Cardinal Urizar? Mistress Tehuai?"
Urizar: "None. I don't like how this has turned out, but I will abide by it."
Anxiu: "So long as my war in Japan is not interupted, I will also abide."
Vastrix: "Very good! Now, go back to your divisions. I will keep in contact and help coordinate our assault upon them. I think we should begin with a grand betrayal. Act as if we are helping with specialized equipment that blows up in their faces at a specified time. Then, we will begin a global assault on their forces, joining in with the allies already at war. We will take a pounding I think, but in the end we will find ourselves in a position to help rebuild the world with. Stronger control than ever."
Opening
(The sounds of "Mandala" by The Dear Hunter flood in. A video package opens to the scene of Lady Apathy Elizabeth Devereux honoring Queen Druscilla with a curtsy in January. But then we fade to the two staring daggers at each other as their armies stand off at Onslaught #3.)
I lost my place in the world (KD Bacchus ziplines to the ring...)
It left me behind (But he gets ambused by Nebiryau and Valora.)
Now my soul is unbound (Valora poses with the IWA Championship.)
And my mind is free to roam (Apathy watches her guards surround Lenneth.)
Around, around, around, around, around
Around, around, around, around, around...
(A logo appears for IWA CONFLICT FOR THE CROWN. In time with the 'arounds', the faces of the IWA's competitors flash on the screen one by one. Valora Salinas, Zareth Korbin, Roux Delacroix, Lenneth, j0ker, "Zolothach" Tabitha Osborne, Lilly, Kronin, Tony Manzell, and Iro Waters. Following them are ASA's Khloe Kapla, Fathern Nathan O'Connell, and Hoskuld Lokison who's better known as "Guttertrash" Troy Adkins.)
Thoughts drip down to words on a page (Kapla kicks Plate Gilby into pieces.)
All scrawled in a foreign tongue (Zolothach shouts to push Roux away in a shockwave.)
Circles tending towards the center (Kronin makes Sikarin Tsooth yield...)
Leads you back to none (Then he and Lilly watch Tsooth's body dematerialize as an illusion.)
You can cry (Wally Kane rolls on the mat crying.)
You can beg (The new j0ker grinds on top of Kronin and kisses him.)
You can plead (Celes Adkins cheers her father on.)
You can pray (Father Nathan scissor kicks Freitag.)
You may doubt it, Apathetic (Apathy steals a victory with a large energy beam.)
But you never had control (Druscilla raises her hand to signal her army.)
You saw what you wanted (Apathy forces Iro to knock Roux out.)
But the rest was terrible (Lenneth puts Wally in a torture rack.)
Pull back the curtain (Manzell pokes Zareth's eyes and hits a DJ McBratty.)
And reveal the guilty, so (Kronin dumps j0ker with a German suplex.)
The veil can be lifted (And j0ker eats a Downward Spiral from Lilly.)
And the well will overflow (Zolothach giggles and bleeds all over the ring.)
You've been here before (Zareth crushes Elliot Lytle with the Clavicula Salomonis.)
You've seen it all (Roux slams Tabitha into the Cold Iron cage.)
But your conscience won't recall (Lokison drinks a beer while in Dasha's Iron Curtain.)
And your eyes are barely wide (Iro gazes around the arena before his debut.)
Enough to recognize (Valora saps Brice St. Vient's strength before he can react.)
What your heart keeps giving up (Lilly heals Kronin after a mist attack.)
And someday it might win (Druscilla drops her hand, and the war begins.)
If your mind's giving in (Valora headbutts Xerios into the canvas.)
Just try and lose yourself (Kapla rolls up Boris Drago.)
Or do your best 'til then... (Lenneth, Kronin, and Lily retreat through the Bifrost leaving a bloody warzone.)
The music continues as we segue to the Demons Den arena at ringside where sit Jane Coughlin and Neil Dizon.
Coughlin: "We have an action packed evening for you tonight. I know we would normally tell you this, but it is a step up from even the normal night!"
Dizon: "I'm on the edge of my seat and we hadn't even done more than the opening yet!"
Coughlin: "We open with Tony Manzell being set up in another punishment match. This time with Kronin."
Dizon: "Tony Manzell won't find it so easy to continue his winning streak tonight!"
Coughlin: "We continue the punishment as "Guttertrash" Troy Adkins from the ASA takes on Lilly! He specially risked life and limb to request to come here and face Lilly. Something about some personal grudge?"
Dizon: "Troy doesn't seem like the type to get mad at anyone. It's odd."
Coughlin: "Then we begin a gauntlet of matches. Druscilla has her champions lined up against those of "Lady Apathy" Elizabeth Devereaux. This is a conflict of Queen Regent against Queen, IWA Owner against IWA General Manager. A war of different titles for control. We begin this war with Iro Waters for Druscilla against Zolothach for Lady Apathy in a "Break-N-Enter" match. They will start off on a scaffold and have to break into a cell style cage to get the victory."
Dizon: "That's just crazy."
Coughlin: "Then we continue with Roux Delacroix for Druscilla against Zareth Korbin for Lady Apathy in a "Russian Inferno" match. The two will be connected by a steel chain and to win, you set your opponent on fire."
Dizon: "This one will have a blazing finish!"
Coughlin: "Oh that was just bad."
Dizon: "Bad, but awesome."
Coughlin: "Then we continue with Khloe Kapla from ASA for Druscilla against Valora Salinas for Lady Apathy in a "Tartarus Death Match". This thing has more deadly elements thrown into the match than you can shake a stick at. Easily one of the more dangerous matches of the night."
Dizon: "Khloe's first crack at facing a supernatural in the ring. ASA is a good company, but IWA has more supernaturals on the roster while ASA has more humans. She walks into this match at a disadvantage."
Coughlin: "Then we finish the night with a match between Druscilla and Lady Apathy, the leaders of this civil war, in a match which the details of the stipulations has yet to be revealed. The winner of this match will walk away with the Crown of the British Empire. If I'm not mistaken, if Druscilla wins, she will lead her empire out of the alliance with Carthage. If Lady Apathy wins, it will spell an acceleration of the war against the world. More than just a Crown is at stake with this match. The balance of power for the entire world will shift based on the outcome!"
Dizon: "The scope of this pay-per-view is far and wide. This event tonight could literally change everything!"
Coughlin: "That's right, Neil. This night will be recorded in the history books of not just the IWA, but the entire world! Let's get down to the ring where Stephan Theobald is ready to begin."
Manzell vs Kronin
Theobald: "This next match is scheduled for one fall. Featuring first, hailing from Aberdeen, Scotland...he is Tony Manzell!"
"Cigaro" by System of a Down begins playing as Tony Manzell begins walking to the ring. Despite being told to boo this man, the crowd cheers on the man who would dare defy the crown. He gets into the and begins to loosen up for his upcoming match.
Dizon: "I heard that they expect Tony Manzell to be crushed by Kronin because they are still keeping tabs on Frietag in that other company. So when he loses, Manzell still finds himself punished."
Coughlin: "That's barbaric! Though, Tony Manzell has found his way out of tight squeezes before. Maybe he can do so again."
Dizon: "Have you seen Kronin? He's mostly Asgardian like Lenneth now. Tony is only human."
Coughlin: "He has defeated both Tabitha Osborne and Zareth Korbin. Neither of which are normal humans."
Dizon: "Point taken, but this time I think it might be different. Tony's luck is going to run out."
Theobald: "And his opponent, hailing from...Sessrumnir? He is Kronin!"
A couple quick spots of white noise is heard over the PA before ‘Ich Will' by Rammstein plays. The JumboTron showing highlights of Kronin’s matches and Kronin marches out from the back, looking around the crowd and nodding, making his way to the ring every so often pausing to shake hands with fans and the like before climbing into the ring.
Once in the ring, Kronin warms up and begins to prepare for the coming match...
Coughlin: "Kronin has been much more active in taking a stand against Carthage and her allies. I hear that there has begun a movement to fight back."
Dizon: "Good luck to them. This kind of thing will be very dangerous for Kronin. Let's hope that he doesn't end up regretting it."
Kronin begins the match by catching Tony's fist and drawing him in for a short arm clothesline. When Tony tries to quickly get up, Kronin hammers him with a double axe handle that sends him back down to the mat hard enough to send out a reverberation around the arena.
Coughlin: "Did Kronin hit him hard enough?"
Dizon: "Maybe he's trying to end the match quickly."
Kronin picks Tony up part way, slamming him to the mat with a gutwrench suplex. He follows with a quick elbow drop to the chest before going for the pinfall.
Dizon: "If Tony was smart, he'd stay down."
One...Two...Tony kicks out.
Dizon: "He isn't."
Kronin applies a Pankration Achilles Leg Lock while Tony is down. Keeping the pressure on to try to make Tony submit. The ref checks with Tony, but he keeps shaking his head no.
Tony catches hold of the ropes to get the move broken. Kronin picks Tony up and piledrives him into the mat. Tony is picked up again and sent back to the mat with a full nelson facebuster. Kronin rolls Tony over and goes for the pinfall.
One...Two...Thr-Tony kicks out!
Coughlin: "Why? Kronin is mopping the floor with Tony!"
Dizon: "He is a stubborn man."
Kronin kneels up, looking down at Tony and shaking his head. He pulls Tony up into a power bomb position, but Tony shifts his weight to come down behind Kronin, and pulls him into a backslide for the cover!
One...Two...Thre-Kronin kicks out!
Coughlin: "In that move, Tony nearly stole away the victory! All that punishment he's taken and he still manages to almost win the match!"
Dizon: "He's crazy to be sure! What a bold, or very lucky, move!"
Both men get back up, but Kronin is quicker. He grabs Tony and hits a German suplex! He holds onto the move, bringing Tony back up!
Dizon: "The German Suplex Machine has begun!"
Kronin drops Tony for a second German suplex. He lifts Tony up for a third, but Tony gets in a stunning elbow, and brings Kronin down with a bulldog. Tony waits for Kronin to get up [art way before nailing him in the forehead with a spinkick. He locks in a reverse chinlock, cranking back on Kronin's head as best as he can.
Coughlin: "Tony's actually mounting a comeback!"
Dizon: "I'm shocked he can even stand up after the punishment Kronin inflicted on him!"
Tony releases the chinlock, pulling Kronin up into a straightjacket position. This converts into a belly to back toss, followed by a standing bombs away on Kronin with the pinfall!
Coughlin: "Tony with the DJ McBratty! Is it going to be enough to win the match?"
Dizon: "Doubt it."
One...Two...Kronin kicks out.
Dizon: "See? I thought so."
Coughlin: "He's still showing that he won't go down without a fight."
Tony pulls Kronin up, but then Kronin lunges up to grab Tony and lift him into the air with a bear hug. He squeezes Tony to try to get a submission out of him. The front row of the crowd wince as they hear something pop inside of Tony.
Coughlin: "You think that was a rib? Or you think he popped Tony's back?"
Dizon: "I don't know, but you can tell from Tony's face that it didn't feel good."
Kronin sets Tony down, brings him up into a suplex position, and drops down to land Tony on the top of his head with a brainbuster! He rolls Tony over and goes for the cover.
One...Two...Thr-Tony gets a foot on the ropes!
Coughlin: "He didn't have quite the strength to kick out, but Tony had the ring presence to know where the ropes were."
Dizon: "He should have left his foot down."
Kronin pulls Tony up enough to put his head between Kronin's thighs, hooks his hands under Tony's belly, and-
Coughlin: "Death by Metal! Kronin is dragging him to the middle of the ring!"
Dizon: "Tony looks like he's dead there on the mat."
Kronin goes for the cover, sure of victory this time.
One...Two...Thre-NO! Tony gets a shoulder up!
Kronin kneels up, looking down at Tony in frustration.
Coughlin: "That move has ended careers and yet it STILL didn't put Tony down! What will it take?"
Dizon: "Kronin's about to try something else. Maybe Tony will say down this time."
Kronin pulls Tony up into a suplex position and shifts him to bring him down at a high velocity and-
Coughlin: "NO! Metal Meltdown reversed into a King sized DDT!"
Dizon: "What the Hell? How could he?"
Tony drapes an arm over Kronin for the cover.
One...Two...Thre-Kronin kicks out!
Dizon: "Ok seriously, do these guys know that they are the opening bout?"
Coughlin: "A match ends when a match ends."
Both men lay on the mat, breathing hard from their exertions. The ref looks at both of them and begins to count them both out.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Both Kronin and Tony start to slowly rise. Tony dives at Kronin to get him into a front facelock. He strains at lifting Kronin up, and-
Coughlin: "Inverted Chancery! Kronin is on his back!"
Dizon: "Is Tony standing up? He is! He wants to try one more move!"
Tony Manzell reaches down to pull Kronin up, but leaning down causes him to fall down on top of Kronin for the cover.
One...Two...Three!!!
Coughlin: "How does Tony do it? He's on an undefeated streak here in the IWA!"
Dizon: "Extraordinary luck on his part I think."
Theobald: "Winner of this match via pinfall....Tony Manzell!"
Kronin slowly pushes Tony Manzell off of him and stands up while shaking his head. He kneels by Tony, speaking to him and nudging him until he wakes up. He then helps Tony Manzell up and raises his hand in victory to the cheers of the crowd. Tony tries to fall again, but Kronin catches him and starts helping him to the back.
Coughlin: "Kronin can't believe that Tony Manzell defeated him, but he's a good enough sport to help him to the back."
Dizon: "I would have used another finisher on him as payback."
Coughlin: "And that's why you're not a good sportman."
Guttertrash vs Lilly
Vengeance of a God
Theobald: "This next match is scheduled for one fall. Featuring first the challenger, weighing in at five hundred and forty-five pounds..."Guttertrash" Troy-"
A ring attendant runs down to the ring and whispers something to Stephan Theobald. He nods as the man leaves.
Theobald: "Alright. My misunderstanding. The challenger would prefer to be known as Hoskuld Lokison!"
"God of Fire" by Manowar begins playing as "Guttertrash" Troy Adkins walks out from the back. The crowd boo him right away, but many are uncertain of what to do so they remain silent. Troy Adkins makes his way to the ring, borrowing the microphone from Stephan Theobald for a moment.
Adkins: "For a long time I have lived many different lives from one to the next. I was not born with the name Troy Adkins. I was born with the name Thomas Mills. Yes, this does mean that I am the father of the ill fated Johnathan Mills...or as many of you have later known him as, Dr. Claw. His mother and I had a falling out and I left while promising to never return to his life again. I reinvented myself as Troy Adkins and became a drug addicted drunk who happened to know more about chemistry and the brewing of any booze than more people could learn in a lifetime. I spent my days working towards becoming THE man to come to for the latest kinds of drugs and boozes. I eventually fell in with Johnathan Mills as he became Dr. Claw. I tried to dissuade him from his path, but in helping him...I aided him in his madness. I regret that my son had to die, not once, but twice. It's something that still keeps me up at night. While wrestling in the ASA as part of a deal worked out with Terel Walker, I found myself going up against many supernatural and deadly foes. I sought out Loki and found him. Not only did he help me gain power, but he transformed me into the Asgardian God of Excess. My name changed again. This time to Hoskuld Lokison. My adventures in Asgard lead to my having an affair with Thor's beloved, the Lady Sif. Of this illicit union, a child was born. A troublesome child with no end to her capabilities to drive me and her mother insane with what she does. I wouldn't have it any other way. What I'm saying here and now is that I want to get my life on track. I want to become the father that Johnathan Mills should have had. I want to be the father that Celes Hoskulddottir needs. I am fully embracing what I have become and the potential that I can be by formally taking on the name Hoskuld Lokison. I am proud of what I have become alongside my adopted father and what being the father of a young goddess has made me. I'm not saying that I won't party to Excess. I'm not saying I won't make mistakes. I am saying that I will do my best to uphold the principles of Asgard as taught to me by my Father Loki, my Uncle Thor, my baby momma Lady Sif, and my Grandfather Odin. Yes, there are plenty of contradictions in these values so I will likely find myself in trouble...a lot. But in the end, everything I do that is good...will be for the sake of Celes. Thank you for allowing me to speak."
The crowd does a standing ovation as Hoskuld Lokison hands the microphone back to Stephan Theobald.
Coughlin: "That was a touching speech."
Dizon: "I think he's lying to try to win over the fans."
Coughlin: "Why would he do that?"
Dizon: "Because his lying is Excessive."
Coughlin: "Well..."
Dizon: "I know, right?"
Theobald: "His opponent, weighing in at one hundred and forty-five pounds...Lilly!"
‘Grace’ by Apocalyptica plays over the PA as Lilly comes out from the backstage area, escorted by Kronin. The two make their way down to the ring and Lilly hops up to the apron, then to the top turnbuckle playing to the crowd before jumping off in a moonsault landing on her feet, playing to the crowd again.
Coughlin: "Lilly looks to be in top form for this match."
Dizon: "I don't know how she could win. It seems that with fully accepting his Asgardian self, Troy's body has become dense like an Asgardian. Hence the weight change. He's about four Lillys now."
Hoskuld leans in the corner while waiting for the match to start when Celes appears on his shoulder while wiping away tears of joy.
Celes: "That was a good speech, Daddy. Win this match! Teach that witch a lesson not to mess with you!"
Lokison: "Celes. Go home. This match could be dangerous. Your Mother..."
Celes: "Sent me here to watch over you! She hates you for seducing her, but..."
Lokison: "But what?"
Celes: "She knows how much you love your daughter and wanted me to watch your back. Thor is a nice Grand Uncle, Step-Daddy, but you are my Daddy. I can't lose you."
Hoskuld nods with a smile, kissing Celes on the cheek.
Lokison: "Be careful, Celes. I can't lose you either."
As the bell rings to start the match, Hoskuld and Lilly meet in the center of the ring.
Lilly: "Why did you ask for this match, Troy?"
Lokison: "I am Hoskuld now and forever. You know why. You know what you did. I asked for this match to make you pay for that. Or should we cancel this match and talk things over with Kronin over there. Does he know what you did in Asgard? What you did to me?"
Lilly answers with a right cross that sends red sparks flying from the impact. This is followed by a kick to the spine and an elbow strike just below the chin. She rushes to the corner, leaping up into a springboard to land a flying forearm smash to the face that brings Hoskuld down to the mat. She stands next to him, jumps into the air for a standing moonsault legdrop, but Hoskul reacts by sending a palm straight up into the air with a rising lunge that catches Lilly in the thigh to send her backwards and landing on the back of her head on the mat.
Coughlin: "Lilly starting out strong, but Tr-Hoskuld turns it around with a single move."
Dizon: "He nearly punched her in the crotch there. I wonder if that was where he was aiming?"
Both Hoskuld and Lilly stand up at the same time Hoskuld launches himself to hit a spear, but Lilly calmly steps aside. Hoskuld hits the second rope with his belly and is launched backwards like an arrow. He catches Lilly by the back of the head, dropping down for a reverse neckbreaker. Hoskuld rolls up to his knees and motions to the crowd that he should do something to the downed Lilly.
Coughlin: "Is he asking the crowd if he should teabag Lilly?"
Dizon: "I think so."
Hoskuld kneels over Lilly's head to drop his crotch on her face. Kronin jumps onto the ring apron to protest and when the ref isn't looking, Lilly moves her face and bites! Hoskuld's eyes go wide as he lets out a high pitched scream. Once released, Hoskuld rolls away while curling up into a ball. Kronin drops back down to the floor and yelps in pain as Celes appears and kicks him in the shin! Lilly stands up, wiping blood from her face with an angry smile.
Coughlin: "Oh my goodness! Blood is leaking from the bottom of Hoskuld's trunks and onto the mat!"
Dizon: "Never lay your balls on a woman's face if you think she might bite. Never."
Lilly ducks by Troy's head with a laugh.
Lilly: "Come on, little god. Get up. At least make this match a challenge."
Hoskuld kneels up with his teeth gritted and blood leaking down his leg. He clears his throat before spitting a wad of nastiness into his hand. Lilly aims a kick at his face, but Hoskuld grabs her ankle with his unwet hand and drags her down to the mat before applying a brain claw with the hand he did spit in. Lilly begins thrashing about from the grossness of the situation and the pain inflicted by a brain claw from a man with a God's strength. The ref checks to see if she submits, but she doesn't.
Coughlin: "That's just gross!"
Dizon: "Who knows what could be in that filthy throat of his."
Troy stands up with Lilly still locked in the claw. He lifts her into the air and slams her into the corner while holding onto the claw. A bottle manifests in his free hand and Hoskuld drinks it while holding onto the claw. Though this time, the ref begins to count him out to break the hold. Hoskuld backs away while appearing to listen to the empty bottle. He smiles and nods. Lilly fiinishes wiping off her face when she sees Hoskuld rushing at her to impact her with lefts and rights to the face and body. A last blow to the midsection sends Lilly up high enough to be sat upon the top turnbuckle. The ref gets in the middle of things, sending Hoskuld back to the center of the ring. Lilly falls to the mat, coughing up blood.
Coughlin: "What a vicious assault by Hoskuld!"
Dizon: "Yeah. Troy really knows how to hit on a woman."
Coughlin: "He's Hoskuld now."
Dizon: "Yeah, whatever. A man can change his name, but not his stripes."
Hoskuld walks back to Lilly, pulling her to her feet. She responds with several forearm blows and a snap suplex!
Coughlin: "How did she get him up over her head for a snap suplex?"
Dizon: "Wow. Just bloody wow!"
Lilly jumps to her feet, leaning over Hoskuld and slapping him.
Lilly: "You're a piss poor Asgardian! You won't ever amount to anything! You should have just accepted your punishment for what you did!"
Hoskuld reaches up and grabs Lilly in a most uncomfortable place. He grabs her by the nipple and begins twisting. Lilly's eyes go wide and she lets out a shriek of pain. Lilly drops to the mat onto her side, but Hoskuld holds onto the move while sitting on her midsection. The ref asks her if she wants to give up, but Hoskuld yells at him to be quiet.
Lokison: "Buy me a drink, bitch! I said buy me a *beep*ing drink and I'll let you go!"
Kronin jumps up on the ring apron to yell at Hoskuld, but he keeps on twisting the nipple. Finally, Celes jumps up to the ring apron.
Celes: "Daddy! You're not at a bar! She can't buy you a drink here!"
Hoskuld looks at Celes with glazed eyes, but he shakes his head and is clear again. He lets Lilly go and backs up to the corner where Celes is standing.
Lokison: "I forgot. Thanks, kid."
Lilly stands up, holding her chest in pain, and glaring at Hoskuld. The two meet in the middle of the ring again with Hoskuld grabbing Lilly up and bodyslamming her down before dropping a knee on her forehead. He goes for the pinfall.
One...Two...Lilly kicks out!
Dizon: "How did she kick out with all of that weight on her?"
Coughlin: "Amazing strength? Okay...magic."
Hoskuld gets up, but Lilly jumps up and strikes him in the chest while screaming a word of power. The blow sends Hoskuld flying into the ropes to send him flying back at her. Lilly motions with her hands as if gathering something from the air, brings the butt of her palms together to thrust them both at Troy with a long stream of arcane words. A cone of energy blasts Hoskuld, enveloping his body. The blast continues through to destroy the ropes behind him, and strike into the crowd where several dozen people are vaporized in a flash. Hoskuld lays on the mat, smoke trailing from his body. Lilly goes for the pinfall.
One...Two...Three!
Lilly jumps to her feet and raises her arms in victory, but her victory is dampened when the crowd begin to furiously boo her. Kronin gets into the ring and takes her by the hand, but he too looks unhappy with how the match turned out. Celes appears by her father and begins casting healing spells over him while casting angry glares at Lilly.
Celes: "He was going to keep your secret, you bitch! Has he told anyone? Shown anyone? What would Kronin think of you if he knew what you did in Asgard? Hmm? I won't say what you did, but you know that he will be asking. Can you keep the truth from him when he knows you've done something so terrible? I bet you can still lie to him, even now! So let me tell him the truth! Kronin, she slipped into Asgard and-"
Lilly shouts in rage, blasting Celes with enough force to rip open the ring and drop her into the hole. Kronin steps back away from Lilly, looking at her in shock.
Lilly: "What? She was lying! Liars should pay for their crimes!"
Lilly heads to the back with Kronin right behind her.
Coughlin: "Kronin looks distraught."
Dizon: "Wouldn't you be if your girlfriend just used her magical power to blast a five year old Asgardian?"
Coughlin: "Yeah. I would be."
The Quest of Father Nathan
After the ASA Legendary #3 match between Father Nathan and Frietag, Father Nathan sits in the locker room. He had just gotten off the phone to check on Dixie Clement at the hospital. She's healing up well enough from the pounding given to him by that Russian giant.
Father Nathan clenches the cross around his neck tightly. Maybe he should ask for a chance at him. He would teach the Russian giant how to properly fight in the ring.
There is a knock at the door and an older man shuffles into the room in the robes of a Catholic Priest. He has long thinning white hair and hunches nearly to being bent in half. He uses a small gnarled wooden cane to not tip over onto his long crooked nose.
Priest: "At last I have found you, Father Nathan!"
Father Nathan gives the ancient priest an appraising look.
Father Nathan: "That you have. Kin I help you with something?"
Priest: "Yes! I am Father Abnar Kareem from Ethiopia. I have been sent to find you to help rebuild the Catholic Church in Africa. It has taken a terrible series of hits from Cardinal Mariano Urizar. He is more Catholic from the Dark Ages of the Old Inquisition than modern Catholic Church. He has done a lot of damage with his strict ways. Rumor has it that he has a relic of great power in his possession that could be used in the Catholic Chruch in Addis Adaba in Ethiopia to rejuvinate the modern church. We would have the courage to finally excommunicate him and rid ourselves of the darkest shadow of the Church."
Father Nathan nods, having heard plenty of stories about the man known as Cardinal Urizar and his methods of worship and business practice.
Father Nathan: "What is this relic?"
Father Kareem pulls out a small gold coin. It has an engraving of a cross on one side that looks wet with fresh blood and a dagger on the back.
Father Kareem: "This is a replica of the coin you seek. It is called the Coin of Faith and Willpower. It enhances his connection to divine might and fortifies his will against evil powers. Though what the Cardinal does in his Tower of Faith in his industrial hell cannot be called by any other name than evil. I am too old and those with me at the church are too inexperienced. We need someone as brave and powerful as you to go into Desolation to get this coin from him and bring it back to the Catholic Church in Addis Adaba. Can you do it?"
Father Kareem hands the coin to Father Nathan, who turns it over in his hand over and over while studying it.
Father Nathan: "I have never heard of such a relic. How has it come to be in the Cardinal's hands?"
Father Kareem: "He has said that an angel presented it to him on the orders of God himself! I do not know how this could be, but when I consider the source, I consider it very possible that he is lying."
Father Nathan: "I cannot do this alone or else it would be blind suicide, but you are in luck. There is a mission being planned to go into Desolation. This can be added to it. I will see what I can do, but the Cardinal is said to be very strong. If he has it with him at all times, then we would have to face him personally."
Father Kareem: "You planned to go there all along? Why would you do such a thing if not in the service of God?"
Father Nathan: "There is a fr-a man there that needs to be saved if he still draws breath. He is sure to be getting the warm welcome that only the Cardinal can dream of."
Father Kareem's eyes go wide.
Father Kareem: "You seek to free Terel Walker? He is said to be held in one of the deepest chambers of the Tower of Faith! It is a place where only certain select of the Cardinal's people go!"
Father Nathan nods, but then does a quick double take.
Father Nathan: "How do you know where he is? Have you been inside of the tower?"
Father Kareem looks down at the floor.
Father Kareem: "We were forced to sign non-disclosure agreements on the location of the Tower of Faith and of Desolation, but we do go there sometimes in the upper floors for a monthly meeting. Despite his evil, he is still a Cardinal within the Church and we still have to follow him. Desolation is...it is the dark heart of faith in Africa."
Father Nathan broods while looking down at the replica of the coin.
Father Nathan: "Cardinal Urizar is a blight on the Church that should have been dealt with long ago. Hopefully, it's something can be dealt with in the future."
Father Kareem: "So, will you go?"
Father Nathan: "Aye. I will do as you request. I just need to gather some support and get some info from you once that is done on protocols on getting into the tower. I am a man of the cloth afterall."
Coin of Luck
Khloe Kapla sits in her dressing room, running through her mind the strategies that she will use against Valora in the Tartarus Death Match. Keira and Declan had gone to get some drinks.
There is a knock on the door before it opens, Khloe doesn't look back at the door while lost in thought.
Kapla: "Druscilla has promised me help in finding my way home. I wonder if it can really be done? Keira, Declan? You get me one of those fizzy drinks too?"
"We are not those people."
"You have something that our master requires, Miss Kapla. Hand it over and we will leave you in peace."
Khloe turns and sees two Chinese men. One large powerfully built man and a slender smaller man.
The smaller man bows with a crooked smile.
"I am Tu Sha, and my companion here is Taag Sha. You have a special coin that you have recently found. You need to give it to us."
Khloe looks from one man to the next, probably wondering if they are joking with her.
Kapla: "How do you know I found such a coin?"
Tu Sha walks further into the room with a smile. Khloe watches him as he walks, but keeps both men in her sight.
Tu Sha: "Our master knows more than you know. Give it to us."
Khloe digs a old gold coin out of her pocket, shows it to them, and puts it back away.
Kapla: "It's given me luck! Now you bozos get out of here! I don't know who your perv master is, but he ain't gettin' this coin!"
Taag Sha: "I was hoping you would say that."
Taag Sha launches at Khloe with an overhead strike that Khloe moves out of the way of. The blow hits the dressing table with enough force to shatter it.
Another series of powerful strikes that Khloe narrowly avoids or deflects punches holes in the walls, and shatters a telephone on the wall. Khloe blocks a punch with her arms, but the blow sends her back into the drywall to make a hole in the wall the size of her body.
Khloe curses as she feels the bruise already forming deep in her right forearm. She ducks a slow kick, and leans in to strike Taag Sha in the crotch with an open palm. She clenches her fist around his manhood and pulls up hard. Taag Sha jumps with the pull to lessen the damage and is caught in the air. Khloe spins with him, landing a spinebuster that sends the man's head through the wall and bouncing off of the floor.
Kapla: "You don't mess with me!"
That's when she feels the stinging sensation in the small of her back.
Kapla: "What?"
Her legs give out on her and she falls down to the floor. Tu Sha stands over her with a smirk.
Tu Sha: "His Tiger Claw Kung Fu is a bit on the blunt side. My Serpent Fang Kung Fu is a bit different. I have poisoned your chi. If it isn't neutralized soon, your legs will never work again. Do you still feel lucky? Would you like to hand over the coin now so you can walk again, or do you think there is a market for wheelchair wrestling?"
Khloe curses as she reaches into her pocket and throws the coin at Tu Sha. He snatches it out of the air with a laugh.
Tu Sha: "Good girl. Good girl. Now for your legs."
Tu Sha pockets the coin, squating down and doing a two fingertip strike that sends long nails into Khloe's side. Within seconds, the feeling returns to her legs again.
Kapla: "How about you try that again while my back isn't turned? Gimmie the coin back and I'll let you leave alive."
Tu Sha: "Oh the folly of youth."
Kapla: "What?"
Tu Sha: "Forgetting to count your opponents."
Khloe turns and is grabbed by the face by Taag Sha, lifted up into the air, and slammed into the wall where her skull breaks through a stud in the wall. She is dropped unconscious to the floor.
Taag Sha stands over her, breathing in deeply as his right hand begins to glow, but Tu Sha lays a hand on his shoulder.
Tu Sha: "We have what we came for. There's no need to kill this one considering the foe she is preparing to face in the ring. Let's get this to our master."
Taag Sha exhales, the glow around his face fading to nothing. He nods and the two leave the room.
Moments later, Druscilla is on hand with a pair of British soldiers. She looks down at the scene with a frown.
Druscilla: "This treachery won't go without retribution, Devereaux."
Iro vs Tabitha
Coughlin: "We begin this match with Tabitha Osborne and Iro Waters already on the scaffolding above the ring, which is surrounded by a giant cage. Weapons lay around the ring, on the cage roof, and on the scaffolding. This is a very dangerous match stipulation. Both people must get into the ring where pinfalls count."
Dizon: "I wouldn't want to be in that death trap."
Iro Waters and Tabitha Osborne face each other in the ring. Tabitha breaks out into a giggling fit.
Osborne: "Come on little boy. Come through the fire and blood to become a real man!"
Iro doesn't look entirely certain that he really wants to mx it up with her, but shrugs. Iro takes a couple of swings at Tabitha, but she dodges the blows before giggling some more.
Osborne: "You're gonna drown in your own blood, boy. Does it soun-"
A knife edge chop wit the left hand that catches her at the collar bone shuts her up. He follows this with a headlock takedown, slipping in a couple of stiff punches to the head with his left hand. Tabitha works to get stood up and Iro goes with her. He spins around to get her in a front facelock, dropping her head into the scaffolding with a DDT. Iro stands up, but Tabitha lunges up to spear Iro to the edge of the scaffolding. She rises up to a seated position on him and grins wickedly before plunging her sharpened fingernails like a knife into his side. She rips them out, licking the blood off of her fingernails.
Osborne: "You are tasty! Though there's something...off."
Iro hits Tabitha in the midsection with his left palm to push her off of him. He stands up and grabs Tabitha as she rises for a hip toss to throw her towards the center of the scaffolding. He walks toward her, leaning down to pick up a steel baseball bat as he walks.
Dizon: "This is getting serious fast!"
Coughlin: "Zolothach brings out the violent in people."
Tabitha starts to rise, but Iro connects to the side of her skull with the baseball bat. He looks at the large dent he's made and tosses the bat to the side. Tabitha lays on the ground while senseless, bleeding from a rather large gash in the side of her head ast the hairline. Iro kicks Tabitha in the ribs and she comes to her senses enough to sit up. She feels the blood on the side of her head and giggles.
Dizon: "Why the *beep* does she have to giggle at everything?"
Coughlin: "To put her opponent off his game."
Iro pulls Tabitha to her feet and she grabs him by the legs for a double leg take down. She holds both feet while smiling to the crowd for a moment before stomping down on his crotch and twisting her heel. Tabitha drags the pained Iro over to the edge of the scaffolding to hang his head off of it to the top of his shoulders. She stands on top of him, driving her feet down into his belly and chest as she walks.
Coughlin: "What is she doing? She can't!"
Dizon: "I think she is!"
Tabitha does a moonsault, catching Iro just under the chin with an elbow as she goes over the side of the scaffolding. Iro flips and is also sent over the side. They both land on the cage below, Tabitha landing on her feet, and Iro landing on his back. He lays on the cage, clutching at his throat. Tabitha curses, walking around the top of the cage with a bit of a limp.
Coughlin: "Iro looks hurt and Zolothach looks to be trying to walk off her landing. It was crazy for her to do that!"
Dizon: "She is crazy!
Tabitha smiles as she begins walking without a limp and attends to Iro. She lifts him up to his knees with Iro reaching up to place his hands on her knees as if begging for the match to end.
Osborne: "Beg, boy. BEG! It will not stop me from bringing your broken body to my mother for her satisfaction."
Waters: "I don't beg."
Iro squeezes Tabitha's knee with his left hand, causing her to cry out in pain. She rakers her fingernails across his forehead, drawing out a splatter of blood that causes him to release her. Tabitha staggers backwards, falling on her butt. Iro Waters slowly rises up, stretching, and feeling the deep bruises already showing on his throat.
Waters: "I get the answers I seek from this match. I will get what I need!"
Iro walks over to Tabitha, reaching for her. She holds out a hand, whispering a word of power, amd sends a bolt of black energy to strike Iro in the chest. He falls to the cage roof, clutching at the burning wound on his chest. Tabitha then waves her hand over her crushed knee, forming it back into a whole. She rises with a smile.
Osborne: "You have faced nobodies before me. You defeated the bitch, Roux Delacrois, but only after my Shambler from the Stars had wounded her. Oh how it must have irked you when my mother told you to defeat her. I feel no such regret at finishing off a wounded opponent. You will find my heart empty and cold, devoid of mercy."
Tabitha walks arrogantly over to Iro, pulling him up to his knees again. Iro responds by taking Tabitha down with a dragon leg screw. He rises up quickly, dropping down to drive his left fist into her midsection. The roof of the cage begins to yield from the impact.
Coughlin: "Looks like these two might be entering the ring soon enough."
Dizon: "The fun way down."
Iro stands back as Tabitha slowly gets to her feet, holding her ribcage while wincing.
Dizon: "I bet Zolothach is feeling like she did when Zareth hit her with the warhammer not long ago."
Coughlin: "I think they were healed by magic, but they might have remained weakened a bit."
The two rush at each other, Tabitha catches Iro by the throat, lifts him up, turns over like for a power slam, and drives Iro into the roof of the cage. The section gives way, sending both down to the ring with Tabitha on top of Iro. The crowd goes wild from the move.
Dizon: "Going down!"
Osborne: "This might be it! The ref sees a cover being made!"
One...Two...Thre-Iro kicks out!
Coughlin: "How does Iro have the strength to continue?"
Dizon: "More courage than brains."
Tabitha is slow to get up, pulling Iro to his feet. She laughs as she grips the stunned man by the left arm at the elbow.
Osborne: "This is going to hurt you more than me!"
Dizon: "She going to try to tear that arm apart?"
Coughlin: "It would seem so."
Iro suddenly turns and knocks Tabitha down with a short arm clothesline. He reaches down to the mat to pick up a lead pipe.
Waters: "This won't hurt me at all, bitch!"
Iro swings down at Tabitha, but she rolls away from the strike to cause Iro to hit the mat with the pipe. Tabitha jumps to her feet, hip tossing Iro to the mat before doing a standing moonsault to bring both of her knees to his midsection. She draws her ritual dagger seemingly from nowhere with a smile.
Osborne: "Let's make this fun, shall we?"
Iro starts to sit up, but Tabitha slashes him across the chest. He reels back in pain and Tabitha runs the dagger through his meat just behind the wrist to pin it to the mat. She grabs his other arm again with a wide smile.
Osborne: "I have grown much stronger, little boy. Little lost boy who seeks answers that he could never comprehend. Behold my new strength!"
Tabitha tears apart the cybernetic arm at the elbow joint, sending sparks everywhere. She laughs as she backhands Iro with his own hand before turning and slamming the other end into his leg. Iro lets out a scream of pain as the shards of metal dig into his flesh. Tabitha just giggles.
Osborne: "How much more of you isn't real? Shall we find out?"
Tabitha stands up, pacing around the ring overcome by giggles. She jumps down to the floor to shake the cage a little.
Osborne: "What say you all? Should I tear all of the metal off of little boy Waters? Do you want to see a live dissection?"
The crowd boos in response, but it only draws more manic laughter from Tabitha.
Osborne: "Well...for those who don't have a strong stomach, you may want to look away!"
Tabitha rolls back into the ring, still occupied with her own insanity. Iro grits his teeth, ripping his arm from the mat. He can't pull out the dagger, so it remains impaled to his arm. He creeps up behind the oblivious Tabitha, who has obviously slipped into her own little world.
Osborne: "He thinks he is innocent like I was once! I will show little boy Waters just how his precious innocence can be ripped away!"
Tabitha turns to where Iro was pinned down and frowns as he is gone. She turns around to see Iro standing in front of her. She opens her mouth, but Iro jams the stump of his arm into the side of her neck. She goes into fits as the electrical power fueling his cybernetics rip through her body. She falls onto her back, smoke curling up from her smoking form. Iro drops to his knees, going for the cover.
One...Two...Three!
Dizon: "What the hell? Iro Waters won?"
Coughlin: "At what price? His arm was torn apart. The stunt he just pulled probably fried his internal systems. He's bleeding everywhere. He isn't winning unscathed."
Dizon: "Who does with that crazy bitch?"
Theobald: "Winner by method of pinfall...Iro Waters!"
Coin of Spirit and Pride
At the capital building in Richmond, VA. President James E Lee sits at his desk. A man stands in front of the desk until James looks up from his paper work. Worry lines have developed and deepened since he was elected to office two years before.
"Senator Paul Wilson from Wisconsin is rallying a number of Senators and Representatives from the Northern states to secede from the Union. You would think after about two hundred years that old wounds would have closed by now."
President Lee shakes his head and sighs.
Lee: "This was the best location left for the new Federal capital. I was elected by the people of this country to be their President during these dark times."
"Mr. President, my first instinct would be to have the man arrested and/or shot for treason during a time of war."
President Lee shakes his head.
Lee: "Thomas Woodford, I know you mean well and I did assign you as my Secretary of Defense, but we can't do that. The Northern Secession movement will not be harmed by killing or imprisoning its leader. Heavy handed tactics like that nearly ruined this great country even before the Fourth Punic War. We have to reason with them. We have to convince them that what we do here is for the betterment of this nation. We cannot force these views down their throats of they will resent us and it will fracture the union even further apart. We cannot risk a new civil war when the enemy stands upon our doorstep. In fact, our enemies have circled the house. They have been inside our house. We can't afford to feed our enemies at this dire time. These last hours that we spend as a free union must be spent upholding the dreams our ancestors upheld when they founded this great nation when we rebelled against the British Empire so long ago."
Thomas Woodford nods and sighs heavily.
Woodford: "I know. I know that we may not win this war. I just want to be able to win some small victories when I can."
President Lee smiles. He well knew how his Secretary of Defense felt.
Lee: "Our last stand is coming soon. We will decide how to deploy our forces to try to stop Carthage at it's very head in the Three Siblings. That will help everything crumble apart and we can pick at our enemies. Get some rest and we will find our heroes tomorrow."
Thomas Woodford opens the door, dodging to the side as a throwing blade whizzes into the room and cuts through the phone line.
Woodford: "What the heck is this? Who are-"
President Lee watches as Thomas is run through with a sword. An old Chinese man whose skin is wrinkled by the passage of many years walks in with green robes trimmed in yellow. He pushed Thomas Woodford off of his sword to let the body fall to the floor. He closes the door behind him. President Lee remains seated, seemingly motionless.
"No greeting? No shouts of rage and asking who am I to dare to walk into your office, murder one of your lackeys, and stand before you as if ready to kill you as well?"
President Lee sits at his desk with his hands folded on the top.
Lee: "Are you ready to kill me? If so, you better get to doing it. I have already alerted my secret service."
The man smiles, as if knows something.
"How do you think I entered this far? The secret service agents you have protecting you in this place are dead. Your house people are dead. Everyone here is dead except for you and me. Give me the coin you found, and you can continue to live."
President Lee stands up, reaches into a pocket, and produces a coin. It has a bald eagle on the front and a dagger on the back.
Lee: "You think I do not know who you are already? That my intelligence agency doesn't keep track of people who work for the Warhammer Corporation? Even the ones who are not on the payroll, Kwan TuSha the Serpent. That you seek this coin I recently found is a mystery though. It has given me what I needed to help try to turn the tide against Carthage. Why would Warhammer want it?"
TuSha: "My master desires it. He works with Warhammer and not for them. I do as he commands. Now give me the coin."
President Lee pockets the coin and pats it.
Lee: "No. I will not do that."
President Lee hits a button on the underside of the desk and a sword hilt pops from the side. He draws the sword, stepping around the desk.
Lee: "It seems to be a presumption that since I am a politician and President that I am incapable of fighting. That I am just a man who claims the blood of a famous Confederate hero. My family bled for this nation. My family never wanted to see this nation divided, but duty is duty. My duty now is to hold this nation together and help bring peace to the world by defeating the evil that plagues it. Do not think you can make me afraid enough to give in to your demands. I will die before I yield to evil's demands."
Kwan TuSha chuckles.
TuSha: "Then I will be glad to end your life."
Kwan TuSha launches into a quick assault, aiming his strikes low to try to sweep the President's legs from under him. The President blocks the blows, clipping TuSha's right arm with a gash. TuSha steps back with a hiss.
Lee: "Is that why they call you the Serpent?"
TuSha: "You'll know soon enough."
The President goes on the offensive with Kwan TuSha being pressed back to near the wall.
Desperate, TuSha locks blades with the President long enough to get a hand striking his fingernails into the President's shoulder, striking the bone. Far from crying out in pain, he smiles.
TuSha realizes his mistake too late that he's using his wounded arm to hold the sword. The President quickly disarms him and stabs him in the gut with the sword.
Kwan TuSha drops to his knees, laughing as President Lee's wounded arm begins to shrivel. He grabs Lee's good arm and pulls the sword all the way through him to reach around to jam his finger nails into the small of President Lee's back by the spine. He grabs the coin out of Lee's pocket, whispering a word that causes the coin to vanish.
President Lee curses ripping the sword out and running him through again.
President Lee releases the sword, staggering backwards to the front of his desk before falling down.
Lee: "What have you done to me?"
TuSha: "The Venom of the Serpent. The martial arts practiced by the House of the Serpent Fang is a poor reflection of my art."
Kwan TuSha stands up, pulling the sword from his chest with a laugh.
TuSha: "You didn't have a chance to kill me. You never did. Now, you will never use your left arm or your legs again. I also transported the coin to my master."
Lee: "You forgot one thing."
Kwan TuSha smiles, but he leans back against the wall, his blood loss starting to weaken him.
TuSha: "And what is that?"
Lee: "Sword fighting is not my only talent."
President Lee draws a side arm from his jacket, emptying the magazine into Kwan TuSha's chest and head. He watches as the deadly warrior known as the Serpent falls dead to the floor.
This is when secret service run into the room. They try to help President Lee stand up, but his legs won't carry him. They set him back down and someone calls for an ambulance. President Lee waves them off.
Lee: "Modern science likely won't fix this damage. Just get me a wheelchair and let's keep on going. If we get the chance to contact someone skilled in Eastern Medicine then fine. Until then, we have a war to win. Once I'm up, let's get an update on the rebellion in Russia."
Roux vs Zareth
Theobald: "This next match is a Russian Inferno match! To win the match you must set your opponent on fire while being bound together by a steel chain! Featuring first, weighing in at one hundred and thirty-five pounds...she is the Queen of Thorns, Roux Delacroix!"
"Sadness Part One" by Enigma begins playing as Roux Delacroix walks out from the back. Though the fans have been directed to boo, they cheer her on as she walks down to the ring. She stands and smiles as the chain is being manacled to her left arm.
Dizon: "Roux is smiling like she knows something. What do you think that is?"
Coughlin: "She is facing a killer in the form of Zareth Korbin. I wouldn't be smiling."
Theobald: "And her opponent, weighing in at two hundred and seventy pounds...Captain of the Guard, Zareth Korbin!"
"Hall of The Mountain King" by Apocalpytica begins playing as Zareth Korbin walks out with his warhammer in hand. He looks angry as he walks down to the ring, ignoring the boos of the fans. He glares at Roux as his left wrist is being manacled. It causes her smile to fade a bit as he looks into Zareth's face.
Dizon: "Zareth looks like death warmed over! His eyes are sunken in and he has a gaunt look to him."
Coughlin: "I wonder what he's been through?"
As the bell rings to start the match, Zareth rushes at Roux, catching her in the midsection with a punch that lifts her off of her feet by about three feet. Roux hits the mat while gasping for air from the blow. Zareth gathers up some of the slack from the chain, waiting for her to get back up before whipping her across the face hard enough to knock her back down. He lashes her across the back with the chain like a whip a few times before dropping the chain to the mat. He kicks her over before ripping her off the mat like a rag doll to hold her in the air with one hand.
Dizon: "He just rolled in there and started dominating."
Coughlin: "He is the Captain of the Guard for a reason."
Zareth throws her back down with a one handed body slam, kicking her in the ribs with a shout of rage that sprays spittle all over the place. He wraps the chain around her throat, pulling back on it while placing a knee into her back to help with leverage.
Dizon: "Is he trying to kill her?"
Coughlin: "That would help him light her on fire. There is fuel and matches at ringside for that."
Roux holds onto the chain, trying to pull it away from her throat just enough for her to speak. When she does so, she speaks a word and electricity flows from her hands down the chain to knock Zareth onto his ass. She stands up, holding her throat.
Delacroix: "You want to play games? Fine."
Roux grips the chain with both hands, smiling as a vine grows along it, interweaving in and out of the links of the chain. Thorns grow on this chain, as long and sharp as daggers.
Delacroix: "Let's play, shall we?"
The chain moves of its own accord, lashing at Zareth with the thorns ripping open his flesh. Roux sneers as she watches the blood splatter before she grabs him, suplexing him to the mat. She stands, wiping at the blood that dripped onto her face with a cruel smile. She drags Zareth to his feet again, kicking him in the belly, grabbing him as if for a gutwrench suplex, but only lifting him up a little way before dropping backwards to land him on his head.
Dizon: "What kind of move was that?"
Coughlin: "A devastating one."
Zareth begins working his way back to his feet, but the thorned chain is on him again, tearing more uninjured flesh open. Flowers begin to bloom on the vine that spray a thick smelly fluid onto Zareth.
The sound of a vintage picture reel began to click and pop, the screen illuminating up counting down like a picture show. The pops, scratches, nicks and debris covered the screen, the numbers counting down, 5...4....3....2....1....as the reel continued, the screaming sounds of Lizzy Hale tore through the arena and the melody and guitar began to pick up. On the screen, a barrage of action shots from Apathy's career, centered and fixated, like an old film would. As the arena went down, red and white lights bathing the fans in a sea of color, Elizabeth emerged, arms held high, a smirk on her face, the boos chorusing from the rafters to the front row. Eyes closed, she sucked it all in, as the haunting sounds of "I Miss The Misery" filled the arena and surrounded her.
##Ohhh, I miss the misery!
##I've been a mess since you stayed,
##I've been a wreck since you changed,
##Don't let me get in your way,
##I miss the lies and the pain,
##The fights that keep us awake-ake-ake
##I'm tellin you!
Elizabeth Devereaux walks down the aisle in her full supernatural glory, her feet a few inches off of the ground.
##I miss the bad things,
##The way you hate me,
##I miss the screaming,
##The way that you blame me!
##Miss the phone calls,
##When it's your fault,
##I miss the late nights,
##Don't miss you at all!
##I like the kick in the face,
##And the things you do to me!
##I love the way that it hurts!
##I don't miss you, I miss the misery!
Elizabeth stands at ringside, holding two leather pouches in her hand with a cold grin, motioning to Zareth as he struggles with the thorned chain, blood pouring from dozens of wounds.
##Just know that I'll make you hurt,
##(I miss the lies and the pain what you did to me)
##When you tell me you'll make it worse
##(I'd rather fight all night than watch the TV)
##I hate that feelin inside
##You tell me how hard you'll try
##But when we're at our worst
##I miss the misery
Dizon: "Why is she at ringside?"
Coughlin: "No idea."
Devereaux: "Zareth. Are you playing me for a fool? Have you forgotten that I hold your very life in my hands? Fight like you are going to die if you lose or else you will most certainly die! Your father as well."
Roux Delacroix picks Zareth up, and throws him over the ropes to land next to Elizabeth. She looks down at him and smiles, sending a quick kick to the rib cage.
Devereaux: "Get up, fool! Go do some damage to the other side for once!"
The thorned chain whips suddenly, lashing at Elizabeth, ripping the bags from her hand, and throwing them into the ring for Roux to catch.
Delacroix: "You reveal your hand to soon, Devereaux! I have what I need now!"
The thorned chain wraps around Zareth's body, lifting him up and hurling him back into the ring. She whispers something by Zareth's bloody ear before standing up with a laugh.
Delacroix: "This is your empire, Devereaux!"
Another quick spell sends a spark at the thick fluids coating Zareth, lighting him ablaze.
Delacroix: "Your Crown will go to the rightful ruler of this land!"
The fire rages in the ring, spreading to the mat. Elizabeth narrows her eyes at Roux. She considers getting into the ring, but stands by as the ref puts the fire out. All around the blackened form of Zareth is burnt. Several areas of Zareth's destroyed body reveals scorched bone. Roux pockets the bags with a laugh. The ref checks for a pulse, but shakes his head. Elizabeth sneers, spreading her wings, and flying to the back.
Dizon: "Zareth Korbin is dead?"
Coughlin: "It would seem so. Queen Devereaux has lost one lackey."
Roux Delacroix exits the ring, the thorned chain following her, lifting the body of Zareth Korbin into the air to follow her like a macabre balloon as she walks. The ref just shakes his head as Stephan Theobald enters the ring.
Theobald: "The winner of this match...Roux Delacroix!"
Coughlin: "So far, Queen Devereaux's people have lost two of the matches. I know they don't have bearing on the main event, but you have to think that she's going to be going in without the momentum that Druscilla will have."
Dizon: "Go Queen Druscilla?"
Coughlin: "Really?"
Dizon: "I don't know? I don't know who we're really supposed to be cheering for! Who is the lesser of two evils?"
Coughlin: "As of yet, I don't really know. I don't know."
Khloe vs Valora
Theobald: “This next match is A battle of Champions match and it will be fought under Tartarus Death Match rules! Introducing first. Champion of Druscilla, and ASA Ascension Champion, Khloe Kapla!”
“Steampunk Revolution” By Abney Park begins as Khloe steps from the backstage area, being helped by Declan and Keira. Khloe is obviously injured and dazed, having trouble standing on her own, but marches forward to the ring and walks in as the door to the cage is opened, falling onto the ring mat but getting up and making her way into the ring, shaking her head.
Dizon: “How the hell is she supposed to win this match?! She better beg Valora for mercy.”
Coughlin: “Do you think Valora would grant it?”
Dizon: “Probably not.”
Theobald: “And introducing her opponent, Imperial Empress of the Aztec Empire, and the reigning IWA World Champion, Champion of Lady Apathy of Carthage and Queen of Britain, VALORA SALINAS!!”
‘Death Triumphant’ by My Dying Bride plays over the PA and the crowd boos loudly as Valora walks out from backstage, making her way to the cage slowly and deliberately, her trademark smirk on her face as she does so. As she reaches the ring, Declan and Keira step forward but Valora turns to them, drawing a silver knife and holding up a hand towards Keira, seemingly stopping her in place. Declan backs off too, growling and Valora enters the cage, the door closed and locked behind her as she circles Khloe, shaking her head and smirking.
Dizon: “Looks like Valora came prepared for Khloe’s friends.”
Coughlin: “Yeah, and now, she’s just stalking her prey in the ring…”
DING!!
DING!!
DING!!
Valora smirks, standing in the ring, waving Khloe on, telling her to take her best shot. Khloe charges and Valora sidesteps with a flourish as if she were a bullfighter and Khloe falls to the mat. Valora urges Khloe to try again and the same result replays as Valora does the flourish, this time brushing a hand on Khloe’s shoulder, draining some of her essence and then making the motion of licking her fingers and smirking. Khloe charges again and throws a punch but Valora blocks it and nails Khloe right in the head, sending her to the mat, before she moves and grabs Khloe, dragging her to her feet, only to drop her on back of her injured head with a reverse DDT.
Coughlin: “Valora’s just toying with her out there!”
Dizon: “And she’s targeting where Khloe was injured earlier. This really might be a death match for Khloe!”
Valora walks over to Khloe and bends down, slapping Khloe before pointing to Declan and Keira and yelling out.
Valora: “HEY! After I kill your friend, I’m gonna make her like me and Carthage will have someone to crush ASA too!”
Declan and Keira narrow their eyes and Khloe groans and lifts both feet, planting them in the small of Valora, causing the revenant to stumble forward into the cage where she gets a nasty shock before dropping to the mat. As Valora gets back up, she turns to face Khloe and Khloe nails Valora with a right and a left punch to the face but Valora isn’t phased. Valora replies by grabbing Khloe around the neck with one hand and then grabbing the cage with her free hand, both women shaking and convulsing as electricity courses through them and both finally fall to the mat, Khloe the more hurt of the two. Valora makes the pin.
1….
2….
3!
The ref waves that a pinfall was made and begins and Valora stands up as the ref begins the 10 count. Khloe lies motionless until the count of 6 when she starts moving and is up to her feet by about 9. The ref waves for the fight to continue.
Dizon: “Valora almost won right there! I would have stayed down if I were Khloe.”
Coughlin: “Me too. That’s why we’re not wrestlers though.”
Valora looks at Khloe and smirks, coming in and swings but Khloe half ducks, half stumbles out of the way of the punch and counters with a kick to the gut and Khloe grabs Valora sending her into the corner with an irish whip, falling down she whips Valora so hard. Valora hits the turnbuckle and a loud explosion goes off as the C4 sends Valora flying into the middle of the ring.
Dizon: “Holy shit! I thought the C4 was just kidding!”
Coughlin: “Apparently it isn’t”
Khloe crawls over and tries to pin Valora but Valora kicks out right away and both women fight up to their knees, trading punches until Valora nails Khloe with a few big punches that stun the girl and Valora climbs to her feet, pulling Khloe to her feet, sending her into the ropes, grabbing her and spinning her around, dropping her down into a tilt a whirl backbreaker, Valora holding the move, bending Khloe back over her knee as Khloe cries out in pain.
Valora: “That’s right! Beg for mercy, bitch!”
The ref checks for a submission but Khloe refuses to tap out and eventually, Valora stands up, carrying Khloe with her and sending her to the mat with a fall away slam.
Coughlin: “Valora showcasing that superhuman strength of the Undead… she seems to be more powerful every time we see her.”
Dizon: “And much more scary.”
Valora stalks around Khloe and stomps on the back of Khloe’s head as Khloe rolls over trying to get to her feet, driving her face into the mat. Valora hits another stomp and tries for a third time but Khloe rolls over and grabs Valora’s foot and throws her to the ground, struggling to get to her feet. But before anything else can happen, the lights go dark.
Dizon: “What the?”
Coughlin: “The first blackout apparently. This promises to make things interesting OH!”
Coughlin is cut off as the darkness is lit up by the electrified cage lighting up. The lights go on shortly afterwards and Valora drops to the mat as Declan and Keira drop down from the cage, both gritting their teeth from their own burns.
Coughlin: “Declan and Keira helping out here, trying to buy Khloe time to get back into the fight!”
Dizon: “Funny how when some people get outside help its called interference.”
Coughlin: “Well someone beat the crap out of Khloe, and we can’t be sure that it wasn’t Apathy’s forces.”
Dizon: “You really think Apathy is that worried about this fight? Valora’s the World Champ!”
Khloe notices Valora down on the mat and as Valora tries to get up, Khloe runs forward and brings her to the mat with a spinning neckbreaker. She pulls Valora to a knee and nails Valora in the back of the head with a double ax handle and then another and then a third before driving her knee into Valora’s face, pulling her to her feet and sending her into the ropes, nailing Valora with a dropkick that sends Valora back into the cage where Valora is once more electrocuted and falls to the mat. Khloe rolls Valora over and pins her…
1…
2…
3!
The ref calls the pinfall and begins the 10 count. As he counts, Khloe gets up and stumbles back into a corner, out of breath and trying to clear the cobwebs.
Coughlin: “Khloe making a comeback here but can she keep it going? She’s starting to wear down…”
Dizon: “I agree. The longer this match goes on, the more it benefits Valora.”
Valora gets to her feet at the count of 7 and shakes her head a bit, glaring at Khloe. Valora and Khloe meet up and lock up in the middle of the ring, trying to get leverage over each other before Valora buries a knee in Khloe’s gut and turns around, and lifts Khloe up onto her back upside down before charging and dropping Khloe on her head and neck in her version of the vertebreaker and immediately covers Khloe for the pin…
1…
2…
3!
Before she gets up to allow the 10 count, Valora leans down and kisses Khloe deeply, and as she pulls up from the kiss, draining a decent portion of Khloe’s essence from her before whispering something in Khloe’s ear and standing up, waving for the ref to count.
Dizon: “....That was hot. I wanna see that again.”
Coughlin: “I’m not sure that was good for Khloe..”
Dizon: “Well she seems to have enjoyed it..”
Khloe lies on the ground dazed but stares at Valora with a look of confusion and perhaps a bit of longing or desire. Ultimately she is unable to answer the 10 count and the ref calls for the bell as Valora blows Khloe a kiss and leaves the ring, Khloe never taking her eyes off Valora until Declan and Keira get to her.
Theobald: “Ladies and Gentlemen, the winner is VALORA!!!”
The crowd boos heavily as Valora makes her way to the backstage area, pausing to glance back at Khloe and smirking again before heading backstage.
Coughlin: “Well, Valora seems to have won as expected, due to Khloe’s injury. She fought bravely but just didn’t have enough to win.”
Dizon: “Well, that kiss seemed to help a lot. Valora could have killed Khloe with that.”
Coughlin: “True, but for some reason she didn’t. Hopefully Khloe can recover from that soon as well. She’s definitely talented and needs to recover quickly to face Dasha for the ASA World Championship.”
Battle for the Crown
Theobald: “Ladies and Gentleman, the next match is the main event of the evening and it is a special Trial by Combat to determine the Rightful Queen of the British Empire! It is set by one fall and will be fought under Lumberjack rules. Introducing first, the Lumberjacks for this match, the Champions!!”
‘Blood of Heroes’ by Megadeth plays over the PA as Valora and Zolothach walk out first and make their way down to ringside. Strangely, Valora and Zolothach are not bickering at all and almost seem to be on the same page.
As the song continues playing, Iro Waters and Roux Lacroix walk out and make their way down to the ring.
Theobald: “And now, introducing first, hailing from right here in London, England! She stands 6 feet tall and weighs in at 200lbs. She is the Queen Regent of the British Empire, challenging for the Throne, DRUSCILLA!!!”
‘Bloodline’ by Slayer plays over the PA and the crowd jumps to their feet cheering wildly as Druscilla makes her way out, pausing to look over the crowd as chants of ‘GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!” break out. Druscilla makes her way down to the ring, glaring at Zolothach as she climbs into the ring and grabs the mic from Theobald. Druscilla raises her hand and the crowd silences. Druscilla looks to Zolothach and smirks.
Druscilla: “Foolish brat! I was ancient before you were sucking your mother’s teat! Did you really think I would die so easily? And Apathy… this is not France or Carthage, you can not buy a Throne through murder and betrayal. This is ENGLAND and ENGLAND PREVAILS!”
Cheers and thunderous ovations break out from the crowd as Druscilla hands the mic back to Theobald and waits for Apathy.
Coughlin: “Strong words from Druscilla, but the crowd loved them and she has the momentum. Her team won the battle of Champions, Apathy’s hold on her Crown is weakening it seems. Also, as you’ve noticed, each team is minus a champion. Khloe is badly injured and we’re waiting updates and it appears that Roux killed Zareth.”
Dizon: “Well, that might be true, but Druscilla still has to do her part and Apathy will not be happy with Zolothach and Zareth dropping the ball.”
Theobald: “And introducing her opponent, she hails from Carthage, standing 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing in at 165lbs One of the Three Siblings and Queen of the British Empire, LADY APATHY!!!”
[The sound of a vintage picture reel began to click and pop, the screen illuminating up counting down like a picture show. The pops, scratches, nicks and debris covered the screen, the numbers counting down, 5...4....3....2....1....as the reel continued, the screaming sounds of Lizzy Hale tore through the arena and the melody and guitar began to pick up. On the screen, a barrage of action shots from Apathy's career, centered and fixated, like an old film would. As the arena went down, red and white lights bathing the fans in a sea of color, Elizabeth emerged, arms held high, a smirk on her face, the boos chorusing from the rafters to the front row. Eyes closed, she sucked it all in, as the haunting sounds of "I Miss The Misery" filled the arena and surrounded her.]
##Ohhh, I miss the misery!
##I've been a mess since you stayed,
##I've been a wreck since you changed,
##Don't let me get in your way,
##I miss the lies and the pain,
##The fights that keep us awake-ake-ake
##I'm tellin you!
[She took her time down the ramp, egging on those who stood opposing her and spouting off insults of her own, laughing at the crowds and waving them off, dismissively. She rolled into the ring, and ran to the far corner, thrusting her fist into the air and sending a hand sign with her free hand, to her daughter at home.]
##I miss the bad things,
##The way you hate me,
##I miss the screaming,
##The way that you blame me!
##Miss the phone calls,
##When it's your fault,
##I miss the late nights,
##Don't miss you at all!
##I like the kick in the face,
##And the things you do to me!
##I love the way that it hurts!
##I don't miss you, I miss the misery!
[With the crowd throwing some debris in the ring, she hopped down the turnbuckle and ran to the other on the far side, again throwing her fists into the air, a smug, cocky, careless look on her face, taunting at the crowd, working them up.]
##Just know that I'll make you hurt,
##(I miss the lies and the pain what you did to me)
##When you tell me you'll make it worse
##(I'd rather fight all night than watch the TV)
##I hate that feelin inside
##You tell me how hard you'll try
##But when we're at our worst
##I miss the misery
As the song ends, Apathy turns, and without wasting any time, her and Druscilla meet in the middle of the ring and begin trading punches as Theobald dives out of the ring and the bell rings to begin the match.
Coughlin: “Holy crap! These two aren’t wasting any time!”
Dizon: “This is one of the biggest matches in Chaos Wrestling history! You can be sure its being watched around the world, and these two women know what’s on the line!!”
The two continue trading punches until Druscilla boots Apathy in the gut and nails her with double ax handle smash to the spine as she lifts her knee into Apathy’s face sandwiching the
woman between the two blows and bringing her to the mat. Dragging Apathy to her feet, she whips her into the ropes and grabs her, planting her with a Belly to Belly Suplex. Druscilla runs to the ropes but as she rebounds off them, Valora and Zolothach each grab a leg of Druscilla and yank, bringing the woman to the mat face first.
Coughlin: “and we’re seeing the lumberjacks get involved now as Zolothach and Valora try to give Apathy a chance to get back into the fight.:”
Dizon: “Yeah, but Roux and Iro don’t look too happy about it…”
Druscilla gets to her feet but Apathy gets there first, running over and plants Druscilla with a DDT. Apathy immediately holds a hand over Druscilla and begins using magic to try and bind Druscilla once more but Roux jumps onto the apron and holds up a hand, using her own magic to disrupt Apathy’s spell, distracting her for a moment. Apathy glares at Roux but drags Druscilla to her feet and sends her into the ropes and catches her as she comes off the ropes, lifting her up into a tilt a whirl michanoku driver type maneuver, going right into a cover.
1…
2…
Druscilla kicks out!
Coughlin: “Powerful move from Apathy there, but Druscilla isn’t done yet.”
Dizon: “I don’t think this match will end soon, there’s just too much on the line!”
Apathy pulls Druscilla to her feet, but Druscilla cuts her off with a European uppercut and then another and then a third, stunning Apathy. Druscilla’s eyes glow violet as she grabs Apathy by the throat and jumps up into the air driving Apathy into the mat with a massive choke slam that shakes the ring and echoes throughout the arena. Druscilla goes into a cover..
1…
2…
Apathy kicks out!
Coughlin: “...Druscilla and Apathy are both showing just how powerful they can be, I can’t believe the ring survived that choke slam.”
Dizon: “Wait! Looks like things are about to get real interesting!”
Zolothach and Valora look at each other and smirk, nodding as they jump onto the ring apron. Zolothach springboards off the ropes and nails Druscilla with a dropkick, sending her to the mat and Valora leaps off the top turnbuckle hitting Druscilla with the Aztec Moonsault. Roux slides into the ring and nails Zolothach with a clothesline as she gets up, Iro and Valora trade punches until Valora plants her knee in Iro’s gut and nails him with a jumping enziguri style kick to the back of the head. The ref tries to restore order but is unable to as both Druscilla and Apathy get to their feet and look at the chaos in the ring.
Coughlin: “This match is breaking down! Everyone’s in the ring.. the ref needs to get a hold of things here.”
Dizon: “Yeah, good luck with that, wait.. Nebriyau is coming out…”
Nebiryau walks out from backstage with a mic in hand and smirks. “Alright, so we’ll do things this way then. Both teams will fight each other now! The leader of the winning team will gain the Crown of Britain!”
The 6 people in the ring look at Nebiryau and then at each other and immediately the brawl resumes, Valora running to the ropes hopping onto and springboarding off of them, turning and nailing Iro with a dropkick knocking the man to the mat. Zolothach, draws a knife and charges Roux who narrows her eyes as she holds up a hand and nails Zolothach with a blast of magic that knocks her to the mat. In the middle of the chaos, Apathy and Druscilla lock up, trying to gain advantage over each other until Apathy headbutts Druscilla before kicking her in the gut and planting her with a double arm DDT.
Coughlin: “Well, gotta ask yourself how much longer this can go on? Its like a mini war in the ring!”
Dizon: “It’s great and listen to the fans cheering for Druscilla and her team.”
Zolothach gets up and looks at Roux who smirks and begins chanting a spell and a bright green flash erupts over the ring, drawing the attention of those in the ring for a moment. Zolothach laughs and readies her knife and prepares to charge but suddenly Zareth charges out from the crowd and nails Zolothach in the back with his big hammer, sending her stumbling right into Roux who grabs the girl and runs up to the top rope, springboarding off and planting Zolothach face first in the ring with a bulldog and rolls her out of the ring.
Coughlin: “Lead to Temptation and Zareth is alive and has entered the match! What’s more he seems to be helping Druscilla!!”
Dizon: “That won’t end well for him..”
In the ring, Apathy turns and glares at Zareth, turning to Valora and yelling. “Kill him!” Valora smirks and charges, ducking under a swing of the hammer from Zareth and rebounding off the ropes and bringing the man down with a chop block to the back of his knee. Apathy, seeing a chance, charges and nails Iro with a dropkick that sends him up and over the top rope and to the floor. Druscilla looks over at Zareth, but turns to Apathy and grabs her by the back of her hair and sends her towards Zareth with an Irish whip and he nails Apathy with a hammer blow to her gut and then to her back, bringing her to the mat. Valora gets to her feet and Roux tries to grab her but Valora smirks and nails her with a European uppercut before running full speed and diving through the ropes and nailing Iro, driving him into the railing. Valora wastes no time picking him up and dropping him on his head and neck on the outside floor.
Dizon: “Zolothach and Iro seem to be out cold, but its Apathy and Valora vs Druscilla, Roux and Zareth..”
Coughlin: “And.. it looks like Valora is in trouble…”
Druscilla turns to her army and points to Valora. “Handle her. I’ll handle Apathy.”
Zareth and Roux nod and head after Valora who smirks waving them on. As they battle outside Druscilla leaves the ring and grabs a weapon from under the ring, drawing a sword and tossing one to Apathy. The two waste no time crossing blades, Apathy charges in and lunges but Druscilla seems to disappear and reappear behind Apathy she moves so fast and cuts Apathy on the back before placing a boot onto Apathy’s spine. Outside the ring, Valora has booted Zareth in the groin and turns just in time to get nailed with a kick to the head from Roux who then whispers an enchantment and Valora finds herself unable to move as the earth itself seems to grab her feet and hold her in place. Zareth grabs his big hammer and nails Valora in the back. Valora reaches a hand back and drains essence from Zareth until Roux boots her in the face.
In the ring, the sword fight continues, both Dru and Apathy have cuts, Apathy takes a big swing and Dru once more moves faster than the eye can see, stabbing Apathy in the back. She pulls the sword out and tosses it aside before grabbing Apathy and lifting her up by her arms, holding Apathy up and then turning and planting her face first onto the mat, going for the cover.
1….
2..
3!
Coughlin: “Dark Endings!! Druscilla has done it!!”
Dizon: “I don’t believe it! We’ve actually seen Carthage lose a battle!!”
Theobald: “Ladies and Gentleman.. the Winner and the rightful Queen of the British Empire...DRUSCILLA!!!”
The crowd goes nuts as chants of ‘GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!’ break out once more. Druscilla looks at Nebriyau who looks at her. “Druscilla…”
Druscilla grabs the mic from Theobald and waves for the crowd to quiet.
Druscilla: “Well Apathy… it seems your Celtic deities that you betrayed as well as God have seen fit to restore me to my rightful place. Roux Delacroix. Thank you for your aid. I will keep my word and we will discuss the future of Ireland in the coming days.
Iro. You wanted answers. Carthage is responsible for the stone rain. Russia and the United States launched nuclear missiles at the flying citadel and in response, Thamptis used his power to rain down destruction on the world.
Zareth. I believe you’ll need a new job after this. We will speak.
And last, but certainly not least… what Nebiryau, Carthage, Britain and indeed the entire world wants to hear. What now?”
Druscilla takes a moment and draws in a deep breath. “As Queen of the British Empire and all her domains, I command all those under my rule to fight Carthage to the death! The Empire of Great Britain stands with our allies Germany and the United States!”
The crowd cheers as Apathy, Valora and Nebiryau glare at Druscilla before leaving the ringside area…
Coughlin: “Well, there you have it! Carthage has another enemy to deal with, now as Druscilla made her intent quite clear!”:
Dizon: “Indeed. Let’s see what happens..”
The Price of Treason
Thamptis paces his throne room. Nebiryau and Elizabeth Devereaux stand by, though they look nervous at the Dark Warlock's anger.
Thamptis: "I thought you had things under control, Lady Apathy. I thought we had Druscilla under control, Nebiryau. Between the two of you, one insisting on killing her and the other insisting on bringing her back to life...we lost her! This nonsense about determining the fate of an entire nation on a wrestling match? Insanity!"
Thamptis spins and glares at his siblings as they are about to speak.
Thamptis: "Silence! I won't hear apologies or excuses! I know all about the rivalry and the relationships! None of it matters now as we have lost one of our most powerful allies!"
Thamptis walks out to the balcony with Elizabeth Devereaux and Nebiryau right behind him.
Nebiryau: "What will you do, Elder Brother?"
Thamptis sighs, looking over London as it shrinks in the distance.
Thamptis: "I won't punish either of you for your passions. I will punish Britain and Druscilla for their treason. I will call upon all of my power."
Nebiryau: "All of it? Thamptis! The portal is sealed with some of your power!"
Thamptis waves him off.
Thamptis: "If the evil army comes through again, we will defeat it again. We are in a better position to do so now than then."
Devereaux: "How will you punish Britain, Elder Brother?"
Thamptis: "They must be made to know the penalty for crossing me. An example."
Nebiryau: "Thamptis, I know that Druscilla has caused us harm yet again. It's just that-"
Thamptis: "You love sick fool. I will not kill her today, though we will do so if we need to in the future. No, I have something a bit more dramatic in mind."
Thamptis breaths in deeply, drawing in some of the power he has stored in various power troves in the castle over the years. Green motes of light fly into his mouth to be sucked in. When this stops, it's a few more minutes before a large green star flies from the South East. It shrinks as it nears Thamptis until it enters his mouth.
He points an open palm out over the Atlantic Ocean.
Thamptis: "The Stone Rain was the height of my power then. This is a fraction of my full power now."
Thamptis shouts a word of power, sending out a stream of yellow and green energies entwined.
We follow the beam as it travels across the ocean until we can see the small island of Iceland. The beam strikes the island in the center.
Off in the distance, the Three Siblings can see the massive explosion long before they can hear it.
Thamptis: "Let this act ring out across the entire world. The ocean will rush in and fill the void left by Iceland, but not before the shockwave strikes everywhere nearby with waves that these people will have never seen before."
Thamptis walks away from the balcony as Elizabeth and Nebiryau look to each other with concern.
The Ruins, the Spirit, and the Portal
At the ruins of the arena in Luxor, Egypt...
Two men stagger to the ruins. Their clothes are ragged and bloody and they appear as if they had not food or water in some time. As they reach the scorched walls where the Dread Dragon had struck years before, they collapse to their knees.
"Please, kindly Spirit of Luxor! Help us! We have escaped the prison in Cairo, but we need food and water!"
A blue mist envelops the area, enveloping the two strangers. If feels their spirits, checking their stories, searching for enchantments, and putting their minds at ease.
When the mist begins to clear, a ghostly shape of a woman appears. She is a woman in a blue dress with a sad smile. She motions with her hand and pitchers of water and plates of food appear before the two men.
Woman: "Eat, drink, and find rest. This is a sacred place that Carthage dare not enter."
The men dig into the offerings, but when they are satisfied, they look closer at the woman.
"Rose? Rose Johnston? We traveled with you on the way to Israel!"
"We're Shocktroopers that were captured near Cairo while trying to hold of creatures so everyone else can make it by. We've been in prison ever since until about a week ago! Why are you-are you?"
Rose smiles, but you can tell that the smile does not quite reach her eyes.
Johnston: "I tried to retake Egypt, but was defeated and killed. I have been here in search of...looking for..."
"Captain Rogers. We were part of his security, but he sent us with everyone else to make sure that the caravan made it to Israel. When we knew we wouldn't make it by Cairo, that's when we stayed behind. To follow in his example."
Johnston: "Thank you for that. If it wasn't for the sacrifices of Captain Rogers and his brave men, we might not have made it into Israel. You are both brave, brave heroes."
Just then a sphere of energy flies by from the depths of the ruined arena. Rose Johnston frowns and moves inside. The Shocktroopers follow until all three stand before a great gateway that is closed by flames and sealed with a glowing green sigil.
Johnston: "I saw this before, but didn't understand the meaning of it. What has happened?"
The green sigil begins to fade away and then vanish. With it, the flames that sealed the door also vanish to bring a great city into clarity.
Johnston: "You two must go! Find Allen Anderson and tell him what has happened here! He must come and discover what lies beyond this gateway! There is a functioning jeep just south of the arena! Use it!"
The two men salute Rose Johnston with smiles.
"We will do as commanded. We thank you for your help."
The two men rush out of the ruins to go find the jeep. Rose Johnston stares through the gateway, making out the sight of men in old plate mail standing at the walls of the city.
Johnston: "What does this mean? What does this mean for the war plaguing our world?"
That's the PDF version of the show and is downloadable. Shows even come with mp3 files built into the pdf for a more immersive viewing.
Conflict for the Crown
The IWA returns back to London, England to has out a problem that has been within the uppermost levels of government. The Conflict between Queen Elizabeth Devereaux and the Queen Regent Druscilla Bathory. Watch as their champions face each other in the ring one by one until Druscilla and Elizabeth face each other in the ring for the Crown of Britain!
Warhammer Board Meeting
Near Hong Kong inside the ancient fortress that makes up the Warhammer Corporate headquarters, a meeting room cut from the very bedrock of the Earth. A stone table sits in the middle of the room.
It is here where sit the Board of Directors and the Corporate CEO, otherwise known as the Circle of Fire.
Micheal Vastrix, Corporate CEO, slams a warhammer onto the table, sending sparks everywhere.
Vastrix: "Let this meeting come to order. Hakim Firath, good to see that you actually made it."
Hakim Firath looks around the room at the deep shadows nervously as if expecting something to jump out and get him.
Firath: "It's g-g-good to b-b-be seen."
Micheal smiles and a chuckle floats around the room as Hakim's fears and paranoia are very well known.
Vastrix: "Well, the main topic of today is to decide company wide policy. Should we continue to do business with Carthage and her ally nations or should we join the United States and her allied nations in opposing them. There are benefits and problems with both sides of this equation that I have been weighing for a long time. I would like to hear your thoughts and votes on the matter. Cardinal Mariano Urizar, you are first."
Cardinal Urizar looks around at the other board members with an arrogant smile.
Urizar: "I am making more money than ever as of right now. I am in a position of key religious importance with the death of the last Pope at the end of the Fourth Punic War. I am selling the most lethal and expensive weapons to Britain, Carthage, and Russia. Going against them would cost me trillions of dollars in profit! I vote that we not only continue support, but take an active stance against their enemies! It is the only clear solution that we take the side of the winners in any conflict as we always have done in the past! To do otherwise would be unprofitable!"
Vastrix: "And you think that when the dust clears from this World War that Carthage and her allies will be on the winning side? Aren't they not pagans and sinners? What about your religion? What does it tell you? Wouldn't it be to side with what is right?"
Urizar: "My faith tells me that we will be tested in the coming years. That we can live in peace with these demons, would be gods, and monsters because in the end, we of the faithful will go to Heaven while they will rot in the Pits of Hell. It is what is right!"
Micheal Vastrix nods, but doesn't respond. He instead looks to Herminia VanHeijden.
Vastrix: "My dear, what are your thoughts on this troubling matter? I have heard you were rather apathetic about it all until recently."
VanHeijden: "I was. Some of the nations in my region were a bit depleted of able soldiers and my own store of Shocktroopers were a bit down from sending people out to fight the big monster in Europe and the armies of Carthage during the Fourth Punic War, but otherwise we were not affected. The Stone Rain didn't hit any nation in South America and no one was working to annex any nations. That being said, the war has affected trade which has hit my bottom line. There has been an increased militerization which has helped, but the new empire in Mexico is pressing down on Central America. They do not seem to need the kind of weapons and such that I can provide, and only the dead are left in their wake. If they continue on into South America, it will kill my business! I vote that we take a stand against them! Nations like Carthage and the one built upon Mexico will sap away any real profits while damning us all into slavery!"
Cardinal Urizar laughs harshly.
Urizar: "It's amazing how you managed to find your way to this place twice, Herminia. You being baked with God knows how many drugs with lays of naked men and women on top of you. It's amazing that you can even form an opinion, much less a vote in your sin filled stupor!"
Herminia looks at Cardinal Urizar, her jaw hanging open and her face turning red. Her mouth opens and closes like a fish a few times before any sound comes out.
VanHeijden: "How dare you?! You self-righteous son of a bitch! How can you judge me when you murder hundreds of thousands of people every year in your little industrial hell? You are tolerating demons, zombies, Gods, and monsters to dictate company policy? You are a hypocrite of the highest order!"
Cardinal Urizar slams his fist on the table with a snarl.
Urizar: "I murder no one! Those dregs work for the betterment of the entire company! Might I add that half of your weapons, half of the weapons of EVERY division comes from my little industrial hell? The dregs that die there, those poor sinners, earn their way into Heaven by their efforts. I am saving their souls, you little whore! Though, with the weight of your sins, I doubt your soul would be saved by dying there while working your fingers to bloody stumps and breathing in the toxins in the air!"
Herminia opens her mouth to yell back, but the warhammer slamming into the table stops her. All eyes go to Micheal Vastrix.
Vastrix: "Enough! Cardinal Urizar, control yourself! I will not have this kind of behavior in this meeting! While it is true that the fires of Desolation are important, you can be replaced! Don't think I don't have a list of rivals in your division that would be in my debt forever should I throw my support behind them in bringing you down so one of them can take your place!"
Cardinal Urizar looks down at the table. If anyone else in the room had made this threat, he would have simply laughed it off. Micheal Vastrix making the threat on the other hand. When he speaks, everyone in the company, and indeed much of the entire world, listen.
Urizar: "Yes, sir..."
Micheal folds his hands onto the table and smiles. He knows that he holds all of the cards as his family has for generations since his family defeated the Sinister Peace organization and incorporated them centuries ago.
Vastrix: "Very good. Sebastian Jalabert. What is your take on this subject?"
Jalabert: "With Mexico in disarray, Canada absorbed by Britain, and the United States economy coming apart at the seams, my business is down. It's a simple choice really. I vote to go against Carthage. The Dark Warlock has caused enough damage around the world that siding with him is just pure insanity. It makes him think that it's alright to kill what, nearly a billion people?"
Micheal nods with a smile.
Vastrix: "The United States and Russia were the hardest hit from launching the most nukes. I really have to wonder why Tsar Miranov thought it was alright to align with Carthage after the brutal pounding his home took. I guess it was the lure of taking power instead of babysitting while a new power structure was built. Hakim Firath?"
Firath: "I have already made my intent clear. I vote for the defeat of Carthage. I have already sent out troops and supplies to help the resistance in Russia and to counter these foul nations where they can. Gods and monsters indeed! Wipe them out!"
Vastrix: "So far then, we're looking at three against Carthage and only one for. Tehuai Anxiu? Your thoughts?"
Anxiu: "I have been sending support to Tsar Miranov. Along with getting record high profits from dealing with Carthage and Britain. Why change what isn't broken? I vote for helping Carthage and her allies."
Vastrix: "Three against Carthage and two for. Kirios, you could tie the vote or finish it."
Spatharsis: "Between Carthage and the Elder God or Great Old One, whatever it is, and the damage done by the Claw guy, Europe is esentially destroyed. My business is down by a ton. I am still doing a good amount of business, but it's still cost me trillions. I vote against Carthage."
Urizar: "You're a fool! If you would have worked with Carthage and Britain like I have, then you would be having record profits! It's small minded idiots like you that make doing business difficult!"
Spatharsis: "You foul little git! Small minded? I am doing what's right for my division and the company as a whole! You only care for yourself!"
Cardinal Urizar opens his mouth to speak, but Micheal raises his warhammer.
Vastrix: "Don't start, Mariano."
Cardinal Urizar sneers at Kirios, but says nothing.
Vastrix: "The vote looks to be pretty clear, but let me add my own two cents here. Helping the United States and her allies in defeating Carthage and her allies is a massive public relations event. We can help turn the tide in this and come out of this looking like heroes. Then, we can help rebuild the shattered nations. Not only can we insert our people into positions of power and influence, we can come out with record profits! Corporate policy is now to work against Carthage. Tehuai Anxiu and Cardinal Urizar, you two must change your policies. I will have the Seven Shadows begin working on a weapon to deal with destroying undead flesh to cleanse the world of the masses of undead. Is this agreeable with the both of you or must I declare the two of you be defeated and find replacements? Four divisions and myself against you both will make for a quick downfall."
Anxiu: "It isn't what I want, but I will abide what has been decided here."
Cardinal Urizar remains silent as if debating his odds of victory.
Vastrix: "Mariano?"
Urizar: "Before we put this matter to rest, do you mind if a representative of Carthage came in and spoke on their behalf? It could change some votes."
Vastrix: "Fine."
The door to the room opens and a pale white elven woman walks into the room.
Urizar: "Allow me to introduce the diplomat for Carthage, Shaiaya."
Shaiaya takes an open seat with a smile.
Vastrix: "Well? This is a losing effort on your part, but you could potentially make it not a landslide loss for your master."
Shaiaya: "I will do my very best, Micheal Vastrix, decendant of the visionary Ezekiel Vastrix, who founded this fine company."
Vastrix: "You've done your homework. Now tell us why we should change our minds. Why we should support an evil as dark as Carthage?"
Shaiaya: "Evil is a mere term used by those who strive against it. Was Thamptis evil when he fought to save the world from an army spilling into Egypt from another world? No, but he was still damned for being powerful. When he claimed vengeance for the unjust acts done to him and his people? No, any just man would be praised for making things right once again. Was the United States deemed evil for avenging Peal Harbor or 9-11? No, the nations that fought against the Axis of Power were lauded as heroes despite the many dark deeds done in the name of vengeance. The nations that fought against the group Al Queda were also deemed heroes, despite the number of innocents that died. Was the Warhammer Corporation deemed evil for secretly playing both sides of every conflict since the days of Alexander the Great? No."
Micheal Vastrix nods with a wide grin.
Vastrix: "You make some very good points, Shaiaya. Why should each division change their votes? They have made their choices based on reasons other than the basics of good and evil."
Shaiaya: "Then let us start with Hakim Firath. You stand alone and afraid of everything in your Tower of Silence. You can have nothing to fear if you like. Thamptis can tranform you into a being of great power. A Lord of Fear instead of being always afraid. Invincible for your lifeforce is hidden away where no one can find it."
Hakim shakes his fear, looking upon Shaiaya in a mixture of fear and disgust.
Firath: "And I w-w-would be giving up my humanity to become a monster like yourself? You can forget about it! I won't stop fighting until the lot of you have burned!"
Shaiaya: "Then you will continue to live in fear until the day Britain decides to use their technology to bring down your tower with you in it! Your phobia of the supernatural will be your undoing!"
Firath: "At least I have my humanity. I am not bound to serve as your are, elf."
Shaiaya narrows her eyes, glaring at Hakim. Micheal clears his throat.
Vastrix: "I assume you knew how this vote was going to go down before we arrived here. Hakim will not change his vote. Who will you speak to next?"
Shaiaya: "Kirios Spatharsis. You say that you have lost a major customer base in Western Europe. I say you have gained an entire new market! You have geniuses working for you. Surely, you can create a device with a combination of magic and technology to implant in the masses of unintelligent undead to allow them to recall their past lives and become intelligent beings once again, albeit with a vicious bent. There's also a wide market to send your criminals and other undesirables into the domains of the undead because they hunger for life fluids and flesh. They all eat different things. Blood, flesh, souls, spinal fluid, and so on. Also, if you can create synthetic versions of these dietary requirements, you could make a fortune! And even in what was once the restricted zone, you can find markets. All intelligent beings would love to invest in some of the comforts that the Warhammer Corporation can provide. You might even find a steady stream of recruits! How powerful would a legion of Shocktrooper armed undead be? Think about the possibilities!"
Kirios is silent for a long time as he considers. Eventually, he smiles and nods.
Spatharsis: "It's a real funny joke you put there. I sent in my merchants and build new companies from the ground up, and your creatures will destroy my assets and kill my people!"
Shaiaya: "Oh, your people and assets will be provided the best of protections. The Warhammer Corporation and it's member companies will be safe anywhere in the world!"
Spatharsis: "Then, I am changing my vote. Let us help the noble people and help the undead become productive members of society."
Vastrix: "Well, you hav e surprised me, Shaiaya. You have made the vote a tie, but with my own vote, it is still a doomed effort on your part."
Shaiaya: "Oh, I'm not finished yet. Herminia VanHeijden, you are worried that the armies of Valora Salinas will come down into South America and destroy your market. I can assure your division will be safe from assault and you can do business in peace. As I told Kirios, you can sell tech to her armies. They will be glad to pay most generously for it. I would imagine that you could also fashion new vices and pleasures that even the dead will fall prey to."
VanHeijden: "Thanks, but no thanks. I am not interested in undead markets. I refuse to change my vote."
Shaiaya: "What if I were to come join you for a time? The arts of pleasure known to elves can bring you to new delicious heights of depravity unknown to your senses."
Shaiaya places her hand on Herminia's thigh, gliding her hand upwards. Herminia smiles and closes her eyes, but just before Shaiaya can reach her target, she knocks the elf's hand away.
VanHeijden: "I just don't think so. I am tempted, but sometimes I do have to think of the bigger picture. This is one of those times."
Micheal Vastrix chuckles, drawing a glare from Shaiaya.
Vastrix: "Two unchanged and one having changed his vote. Your last chance rests with whatever slippery words you can use on Sebastian Jalabert. You may proceed."
Shaiaya: "Sebastian Jalabert. It is well known throughout the world that you are dying. I am sorry to say that my magic can heal, but it cannot help you rebuild your body from scratch. I also need to apologize for the vampire that tried to get you to change your vote ahead of time. It should have been well known that you would not want to become a creature of the night."
Sebastian raises and eyebrow, his ecigarette in his mouth.
Jalabert: "This is your speech? You can't heal me and your sorry that the vampire sent was a brainless idiot?"
Shaiaya chuckles with a wide smile.
Shaiaya: "Of course not, that was merely the opening statement. You are searching for a way to extend your life and better your business position. Once the United States have surrendered to their rightful masters, we can concentrate on rebuilding the nation to deal with the damage caused when they unjustly attacked my master with weapons that corrupted the very land for thousands of years. Now for your health, Thamptis has discovered the location of a sword that you can enact a ritual to be bound to the it to become Immortal. Your health will return, you youth will return, and you will never die so long as your head is not removed. What do you say?"
Jalabert: "A sword that can make a person Immortal? I would ask why does Nebiryau not have this weapon?"
Shaiaya: "Because Nebiryau is Immortal from the blessings of the power granted from Thamptis. While Thamptis was being cursed by the Sunstone, his blessing could not reach Nebiryau and thus he had to seek another path to Immortality to live long enough to see the Curse broken."
Jalabert: "I can help with the surrender of the United States as well. President Lee listens to me. You say the nation will be rebuilt?"
Shaiaya: "Of course. The United States can be one of the strongest nations in the world once again. What is your answer?"
Sebastian Jalabert thinks for a time until he puts away his ecig and gets out a pack of Camel Turkish Gold. He gets one out and lights it up with a wide smile. The life support system beeps in protest at the introduction of toxins into his system, but he ignores it.
Shaiaya: "Do you have an answer, or should we wait for you to die first?"
Sebastian smiles, sending out a plume of smoke like he was a dragon.
Jalabert: "It comes down to me. The fate of the entire world hangs in the balance for what I have to say can swing the balance of power either way. Surely with the magnitude of such a choice, an old man can sit and enjoy a real cigarette or two while mulling over the ramifications of such a desiscion. I can tell you that I am leaning in your favor, but we will wait while I finish deciding. Okay?"
Shaiaya rolls her eyes, but with what Sebastian has said so far, she beams with confidence.
Shaiaya: "Oh you are still young, Mr. Jalabert. I was old when China first invented paper."
Sebastian finishes his first cigarette, putting it out in the ashtray in front of him. He lights his second and grins.
Jalabert: "Immortality would be nice, though the United States has been like a child of mine. I helped her raise her flag for the very first time when I was but a teen and my father was in charge. He and the ancestor of Kirios had a bet going on if the colonies could win their revolutionary war against Britain. I think my father won several hundred thousand pounds out of the event. I helped my child grow up and grow strong over the years. When my father died and I took the reigns, it was a struggle to keep the company and nation strong during the Civil War. I was still young and vital back then and advised General Robert E Lee that the time had long past for admiting defeat. He signed the surrender to General Grant soon afterwards. I have been behind every major event in history since in supporting the nation that I considered like a child of mine."
Shaiaya: "Then you'll be showing your child a little tough love! Make sure that child toes the line and it'll get all the love it needs from us. We just ask for obedience to the one true Lord of this World that can lead us all to a better age!"
Jalabert: "I have heard what goes on in the lands held by Carthage and her allies. Humans are degraded and treated like slaves or food unless they toe the line properly. I would be betraying the United States to a horrible fate by siding with your wicked lord. I vote to help those who are fighting against Carthage and her allies."
Vastrix: "And there you have it. I told you that your effort was doomed from the very start."
Shaiaya stands up with a shout of rage, knocking her chair to the floor. He looks right at Sebastion.
Shaiaya: "You're an old fool! Do you know the power that was being offered to you? To each and every one of you? The world could have been remolded into one of peace as was the goal of the original founding members of this very council before it was incorporated to simply make money! Do you realize that each of you will be slain by agents of my lord until the new people who take charge vote in favor of helping Carthage? You people have sealed the fate in every person in this room!"
The room goes silent as everyone in the room stares at Shaiaya. The threat was valid as Carthage and her allies do have the power to do this once news it taken back to her dark masters. Sebastian Jalabert is the first to speak as he presses a button on his watch.
Jalabert: "About that. Your masters will be waiting for you for sometime. By the time that they have discovered the outcome of this meeting, it will be too late."
The door opens and several members of the Solar Gaurd rush into the room. One of them places a collar around Shaiaya's neck.
Jalabert: "We can't have you escaping now, my dear. We don't want you warning your masters of their fate. Also, you will tell me the location of this sword and the ritual required to bond with it."
Shaiaya: "Why would I tell you this info? How do you know that I know it?"
Jalabert: "Oh, I think you know. You were ready to tell me if I had sided with you. I have specialists that will get this knowledge from you, and if you don't know it? Eventually, you will be freed from your bondage. That is, unless you must serve them even after death. (To the guards) take her to my plane. We will deal with her in Richmond."
The Solar Guard drag Shaiaya away while she kicks and screams.
Micheal Vastrix laughs as the door closes.
Vastrix: "Well it has been decided. We will go against Carthage. Any other objections? Cardinal Urizar? Mistress Tehuai?"
Urizar: "None. I don't like how this has turned out, but I will abide by it."
Anxiu: "So long as my war in Japan is not interupted, I will also abide."
Vastrix: "Very good! Now, go back to your divisions. I will keep in contact and help coordinate our assault upon them. I think we should begin with a grand betrayal. Act as if we are helping with specialized equipment that blows up in their faces at a specified time. Then, we will begin a global assault on their forces, joining in with the allies already at war. We will take a pounding I think, but in the end we will find ourselves in a position to help rebuild the world with. Stronger control than ever."
Opening
(The sounds of "Mandala" by The Dear Hunter flood in. A video package opens to the scene of Lady Apathy Elizabeth Devereux honoring Queen Druscilla with a curtsy in January. But then we fade to the two staring daggers at each other as their armies stand off at Onslaught #3.)
I lost my place in the world (KD Bacchus ziplines to the ring...)
It left me behind (But he gets ambused by Nebiryau and Valora.)
Now my soul is unbound (Valora poses with the IWA Championship.)
And my mind is free to roam (Apathy watches her guards surround Lenneth.)
Around, around, around, around, around
Around, around, around, around, around...
(A logo appears for IWA CONFLICT FOR THE CROWN. In time with the 'arounds', the faces of the IWA's competitors flash on the screen one by one. Valora Salinas, Zareth Korbin, Roux Delacroix, Lenneth, j0ker, "Zolothach" Tabitha Osborne, Lilly, Kronin, Tony Manzell, and Iro Waters. Following them are ASA's Khloe Kapla, Fathern Nathan O'Connell, and Hoskuld Lokison who's better known as "Guttertrash" Troy Adkins.)
Thoughts drip down to words on a page (Kapla kicks Plate Gilby into pieces.)
All scrawled in a foreign tongue (Zolothach shouts to push Roux away in a shockwave.)
Circles tending towards the center (Kronin makes Sikarin Tsooth yield...)
Leads you back to none (Then he and Lilly watch Tsooth's body dematerialize as an illusion.)
You can cry (Wally Kane rolls on the mat crying.)
You can beg (The new j0ker grinds on top of Kronin and kisses him.)
You can plead (Celes Adkins cheers her father on.)
You can pray (Father Nathan scissor kicks Freitag.)
You may doubt it, Apathetic (Apathy steals a victory with a large energy beam.)
But you never had control (Druscilla raises her hand to signal her army.)
You saw what you wanted (Apathy forces Iro to knock Roux out.)
But the rest was terrible (Lenneth puts Wally in a torture rack.)
Pull back the curtain (Manzell pokes Zareth's eyes and hits a DJ McBratty.)
And reveal the guilty, so (Kronin dumps j0ker with a German suplex.)
The veil can be lifted (And j0ker eats a Downward Spiral from Lilly.)
And the well will overflow (Zolothach giggles and bleeds all over the ring.)
You've been here before (Zareth crushes Elliot Lytle with the Clavicula Salomonis.)
You've seen it all (Roux slams Tabitha into the Cold Iron cage.)
But your conscience won't recall (Lokison drinks a beer while in Dasha's Iron Curtain.)
And your eyes are barely wide (Iro gazes around the arena before his debut.)
Enough to recognize (Valora saps Brice St. Vient's strength before he can react.)
What your heart keeps giving up (Lilly heals Kronin after a mist attack.)
And someday it might win (Druscilla drops her hand, and the war begins.)
If your mind's giving in (Valora headbutts Xerios into the canvas.)
Just try and lose yourself (Kapla rolls up Boris Drago.)
Or do your best 'til then... (Lenneth, Kronin, and Lily retreat through the Bifrost leaving a bloody warzone.)
The music continues as we segue to the Demons Den arena at ringside where sit Jane Coughlin and Neil Dizon.
Coughlin: "We have an action packed evening for you tonight. I know we would normally tell you this, but it is a step up from even the normal night!"
Dizon: "I'm on the edge of my seat and we hadn't even done more than the opening yet!"
Coughlin: "We open with Tony Manzell being set up in another punishment match. This time with Kronin."
Dizon: "Tony Manzell won't find it so easy to continue his winning streak tonight!"
Coughlin: "We continue the punishment as "Guttertrash" Troy Adkins from the ASA takes on Lilly! He specially risked life and limb to request to come here and face Lilly. Something about some personal grudge?"
Dizon: "Troy doesn't seem like the type to get mad at anyone. It's odd."
Coughlin: "Then we begin a gauntlet of matches. Druscilla has her champions lined up against those of "Lady Apathy" Elizabeth Devereaux. This is a conflict of Queen Regent against Queen, IWA Owner against IWA General Manager. A war of different titles for control. We begin this war with Iro Waters for Druscilla against Zolothach for Lady Apathy in a "Break-N-Enter" match. They will start off on a scaffold and have to break into a cell style cage to get the victory."
Dizon: "That's just crazy."
Coughlin: "Then we continue with Roux Delacroix for Druscilla against Zareth Korbin for Lady Apathy in a "Russian Inferno" match. The two will be connected by a steel chain and to win, you set your opponent on fire."
Dizon: "This one will have a blazing finish!"
Coughlin: "Oh that was just bad."
Dizon: "Bad, but awesome."
Coughlin: "Then we continue with Khloe Kapla from ASA for Druscilla against Valora Salinas for Lady Apathy in a "Tartarus Death Match". This thing has more deadly elements thrown into the match than you can shake a stick at. Easily one of the more dangerous matches of the night."
Dizon: "Khloe's first crack at facing a supernatural in the ring. ASA is a good company, but IWA has more supernaturals on the roster while ASA has more humans. She walks into this match at a disadvantage."
Coughlin: "Then we finish the night with a match between Druscilla and Lady Apathy, the leaders of this civil war, in a match which the details of the stipulations has yet to be revealed. The winner of this match will walk away with the Crown of the British Empire. If I'm not mistaken, if Druscilla wins, she will lead her empire out of the alliance with Carthage. If Lady Apathy wins, it will spell an acceleration of the war against the world. More than just a Crown is at stake with this match. The balance of power for the entire world will shift based on the outcome!"
Dizon: "The scope of this pay-per-view is far and wide. This event tonight could literally change everything!"
Coughlin: "That's right, Neil. This night will be recorded in the history books of not just the IWA, but the entire world! Let's get down to the ring where Stephan Theobald is ready to begin."
Manzell vs Kronin
Theobald: "This next match is scheduled for one fall. Featuring first, hailing from Aberdeen, Scotland...he is Tony Manzell!"
"Cigaro" by System of a Down begins playing as Tony Manzell begins walking to the ring. Despite being told to boo this man, the crowd cheers on the man who would dare defy the crown. He gets into the and begins to loosen up for his upcoming match.
Dizon: "I heard that they expect Tony Manzell to be crushed by Kronin because they are still keeping tabs on Frietag in that other company. So when he loses, Manzell still finds himself punished."
Coughlin: "That's barbaric! Though, Tony Manzell has found his way out of tight squeezes before. Maybe he can do so again."
Dizon: "Have you seen Kronin? He's mostly Asgardian like Lenneth now. Tony is only human."
Coughlin: "He has defeated both Tabitha Osborne and Zareth Korbin. Neither of which are normal humans."
Dizon: "Point taken, but this time I think it might be different. Tony's luck is going to run out."
Theobald: "And his opponent, hailing from...Sessrumnir? He is Kronin!"
A couple quick spots of white noise is heard over the PA before ‘Ich Will' by Rammstein plays. The JumboTron showing highlights of Kronin’s matches and Kronin marches out from the back, looking around the crowd and nodding, making his way to the ring every so often pausing to shake hands with fans and the like before climbing into the ring.
Once in the ring, Kronin warms up and begins to prepare for the coming match...
Coughlin: "Kronin has been much more active in taking a stand against Carthage and her allies. I hear that there has begun a movement to fight back."
Dizon: "Good luck to them. This kind of thing will be very dangerous for Kronin. Let's hope that he doesn't end up regretting it."
Kronin begins the match by catching Tony's fist and drawing him in for a short arm clothesline. When Tony tries to quickly get up, Kronin hammers him with a double axe handle that sends him back down to the mat hard enough to send out a reverberation around the arena.
Coughlin: "Did Kronin hit him hard enough?"
Dizon: "Maybe he's trying to end the match quickly."
Kronin picks Tony up part way, slamming him to the mat with a gutwrench suplex. He follows with a quick elbow drop to the chest before going for the pinfall.
Dizon: "If Tony was smart, he'd stay down."
One...Two...Tony kicks out.
Dizon: "He isn't."
Kronin applies a Pankration Achilles Leg Lock while Tony is down. Keeping the pressure on to try to make Tony submit. The ref checks with Tony, but he keeps shaking his head no.
Tony catches hold of the ropes to get the move broken. Kronin picks Tony up and piledrives him into the mat. Tony is picked up again and sent back to the mat with a full nelson facebuster. Kronin rolls Tony over and goes for the pinfall.
One...Two...Thr-Tony kicks out!
Coughlin: "Why? Kronin is mopping the floor with Tony!"
Dizon: "He is a stubborn man."
Kronin kneels up, looking down at Tony and shaking his head. He pulls Tony up into a power bomb position, but Tony shifts his weight to come down behind Kronin, and pulls him into a backslide for the cover!
One...Two...Thre-Kronin kicks out!
Coughlin: "In that move, Tony nearly stole away the victory! All that punishment he's taken and he still manages to almost win the match!"
Dizon: "He's crazy to be sure! What a bold, or very lucky, move!"
Both men get back up, but Kronin is quicker. He grabs Tony and hits a German suplex! He holds onto the move, bringing Tony back up!
Dizon: "The German Suplex Machine has begun!"
Kronin drops Tony for a second German suplex. He lifts Tony up for a third, but Tony gets in a stunning elbow, and brings Kronin down with a bulldog. Tony waits for Kronin to get up [art way before nailing him in the forehead with a spinkick. He locks in a reverse chinlock, cranking back on Kronin's head as best as he can.
Coughlin: "Tony's actually mounting a comeback!"
Dizon: "I'm shocked he can even stand up after the punishment Kronin inflicted on him!"
Tony releases the chinlock, pulling Kronin up into a straightjacket position. This converts into a belly to back toss, followed by a standing bombs away on Kronin with the pinfall!
Coughlin: "Tony with the DJ McBratty! Is it going to be enough to win the match?"
Dizon: "Doubt it."
One...Two...Kronin kicks out.
Dizon: "See? I thought so."
Coughlin: "He's still showing that he won't go down without a fight."
Tony pulls Kronin up, but then Kronin lunges up to grab Tony and lift him into the air with a bear hug. He squeezes Tony to try to get a submission out of him. The front row of the crowd wince as they hear something pop inside of Tony.
Coughlin: "You think that was a rib? Or you think he popped Tony's back?"
Dizon: "I don't know, but you can tell from Tony's face that it didn't feel good."
Kronin sets Tony down, brings him up into a suplex position, and drops down to land Tony on the top of his head with a brainbuster! He rolls Tony over and goes for the cover.
One...Two...Thr-Tony gets a foot on the ropes!
Coughlin: "He didn't have quite the strength to kick out, but Tony had the ring presence to know where the ropes were."
Dizon: "He should have left his foot down."
Kronin pulls Tony up enough to put his head between Kronin's thighs, hooks his hands under Tony's belly, and-
Coughlin: "Death by Metal! Kronin is dragging him to the middle of the ring!"
Dizon: "Tony looks like he's dead there on the mat."
Kronin goes for the cover, sure of victory this time.
One...Two...Thre-NO! Tony gets a shoulder up!
Kronin kneels up, looking down at Tony in frustration.
Coughlin: "That move has ended careers and yet it STILL didn't put Tony down! What will it take?"
Dizon: "Kronin's about to try something else. Maybe Tony will say down this time."
Kronin pulls Tony up into a suplex position and shifts him to bring him down at a high velocity and-
Coughlin: "NO! Metal Meltdown reversed into a King sized DDT!"
Dizon: "What the Hell? How could he?"
Tony drapes an arm over Kronin for the cover.
One...Two...Thre-Kronin kicks out!
Dizon: "Ok seriously, do these guys know that they are the opening bout?"
Coughlin: "A match ends when a match ends."
Both men lay on the mat, breathing hard from their exertions. The ref looks at both of them and begins to count them both out.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Both Kronin and Tony start to slowly rise. Tony dives at Kronin to get him into a front facelock. He strains at lifting Kronin up, and-
Coughlin: "Inverted Chancery! Kronin is on his back!"
Dizon: "Is Tony standing up? He is! He wants to try one more move!"
Tony Manzell reaches down to pull Kronin up, but leaning down causes him to fall down on top of Kronin for the cover.
One...Two...Three!!!
Coughlin: "How does Tony do it? He's on an undefeated streak here in the IWA!"
Dizon: "Extraordinary luck on his part I think."
Theobald: "Winner of this match via pinfall....Tony Manzell!"
Kronin slowly pushes Tony Manzell off of him and stands up while shaking his head. He kneels by Tony, speaking to him and nudging him until he wakes up. He then helps Tony Manzell up and raises his hand in victory to the cheers of the crowd. Tony tries to fall again, but Kronin catches him and starts helping him to the back.
Coughlin: "Kronin can't believe that Tony Manzell defeated him, but he's a good enough sport to help him to the back."
Dizon: "I would have used another finisher on him as payback."
Coughlin: "And that's why you're not a good sportman."
Guttertrash vs Lilly
Vengeance of a God
Theobald: "This next match is scheduled for one fall. Featuring first the challenger, weighing in at five hundred and forty-five pounds..."Guttertrash" Troy-"
A ring attendant runs down to the ring and whispers something to Stephan Theobald. He nods as the man leaves.
Theobald: "Alright. My misunderstanding. The challenger would prefer to be known as Hoskuld Lokison!"
"God of Fire" by Manowar begins playing as "Guttertrash" Troy Adkins walks out from the back. The crowd boo him right away, but many are uncertain of what to do so they remain silent. Troy Adkins makes his way to the ring, borrowing the microphone from Stephan Theobald for a moment.
Adkins: "For a long time I have lived many different lives from one to the next. I was not born with the name Troy Adkins. I was born with the name Thomas Mills. Yes, this does mean that I am the father of the ill fated Johnathan Mills...or as many of you have later known him as, Dr. Claw. His mother and I had a falling out and I left while promising to never return to his life again. I reinvented myself as Troy Adkins and became a drug addicted drunk who happened to know more about chemistry and the brewing of any booze than more people could learn in a lifetime. I spent my days working towards becoming THE man to come to for the latest kinds of drugs and boozes. I eventually fell in with Johnathan Mills as he became Dr. Claw. I tried to dissuade him from his path, but in helping him...I aided him in his madness. I regret that my son had to die, not once, but twice. It's something that still keeps me up at night. While wrestling in the ASA as part of a deal worked out with Terel Walker, I found myself going up against many supernatural and deadly foes. I sought out Loki and found him. Not only did he help me gain power, but he transformed me into the Asgardian God of Excess. My name changed again. This time to Hoskuld Lokison. My adventures in Asgard lead to my having an affair with Thor's beloved, the Lady Sif. Of this illicit union, a child was born. A troublesome child with no end to her capabilities to drive me and her mother insane with what she does. I wouldn't have it any other way. What I'm saying here and now is that I want to get my life on track. I want to become the father that Johnathan Mills should have had. I want to be the father that Celes Hoskulddottir needs. I am fully embracing what I have become and the potential that I can be by formally taking on the name Hoskuld Lokison. I am proud of what I have become alongside my adopted father and what being the father of a young goddess has made me. I'm not saying that I won't party to Excess. I'm not saying I won't make mistakes. I am saying that I will do my best to uphold the principles of Asgard as taught to me by my Father Loki, my Uncle Thor, my baby momma Lady Sif, and my Grandfather Odin. Yes, there are plenty of contradictions in these values so I will likely find myself in trouble...a lot. But in the end, everything I do that is good...will be for the sake of Celes. Thank you for allowing me to speak."
The crowd does a standing ovation as Hoskuld Lokison hands the microphone back to Stephan Theobald.
Coughlin: "That was a touching speech."
Dizon: "I think he's lying to try to win over the fans."
Coughlin: "Why would he do that?"
Dizon: "Because his lying is Excessive."
Coughlin: "Well..."
Dizon: "I know, right?"
Theobald: "His opponent, weighing in at one hundred and forty-five pounds...Lilly!"
‘Grace’ by Apocalyptica plays over the PA as Lilly comes out from the backstage area, escorted by Kronin. The two make their way down to the ring and Lilly hops up to the apron, then to the top turnbuckle playing to the crowd before jumping off in a moonsault landing on her feet, playing to the crowd again.
Coughlin: "Lilly looks to be in top form for this match."
Dizon: "I don't know how she could win. It seems that with fully accepting his Asgardian self, Troy's body has become dense like an Asgardian. Hence the weight change. He's about four Lillys now."
Hoskuld leans in the corner while waiting for the match to start when Celes appears on his shoulder while wiping away tears of joy.
Celes: "That was a good speech, Daddy. Win this match! Teach that witch a lesson not to mess with you!"
Lokison: "Celes. Go home. This match could be dangerous. Your Mother..."
Celes: "Sent me here to watch over you! She hates you for seducing her, but..."
Lokison: "But what?"
Celes: "She knows how much you love your daughter and wanted me to watch your back. Thor is a nice Grand Uncle, Step-Daddy, but you are my Daddy. I can't lose you."
Hoskuld nods with a smile, kissing Celes on the cheek.
Lokison: "Be careful, Celes. I can't lose you either."
As the bell rings to start the match, Hoskuld and Lilly meet in the center of the ring.
Lilly: "Why did you ask for this match, Troy?"
Lokison: "I am Hoskuld now and forever. You know why. You know what you did. I asked for this match to make you pay for that. Or should we cancel this match and talk things over with Kronin over there. Does he know what you did in Asgard? What you did to me?"
Lilly answers with a right cross that sends red sparks flying from the impact. This is followed by a kick to the spine and an elbow strike just below the chin. She rushes to the corner, leaping up into a springboard to land a flying forearm smash to the face that brings Hoskuld down to the mat. She stands next to him, jumps into the air for a standing moonsault legdrop, but Hoskul reacts by sending a palm straight up into the air with a rising lunge that catches Lilly in the thigh to send her backwards and landing on the back of her head on the mat.
Coughlin: "Lilly starting out strong, but Tr-Hoskuld turns it around with a single move."
Dizon: "He nearly punched her in the crotch there. I wonder if that was where he was aiming?"
Both Hoskuld and Lilly stand up at the same time Hoskuld launches himself to hit a spear, but Lilly calmly steps aside. Hoskuld hits the second rope with his belly and is launched backwards like an arrow. He catches Lilly by the back of the head, dropping down for a reverse neckbreaker. Hoskuld rolls up to his knees and motions to the crowd that he should do something to the downed Lilly.
Coughlin: "Is he asking the crowd if he should teabag Lilly?"
Dizon: "I think so."
Hoskuld kneels over Lilly's head to drop his crotch on her face. Kronin jumps onto the ring apron to protest and when the ref isn't looking, Lilly moves her face and bites! Hoskuld's eyes go wide as he lets out a high pitched scream. Once released, Hoskuld rolls away while curling up into a ball. Kronin drops back down to the floor and yelps in pain as Celes appears and kicks him in the shin! Lilly stands up, wiping blood from her face with an angry smile.
Coughlin: "Oh my goodness! Blood is leaking from the bottom of Hoskuld's trunks and onto the mat!"
Dizon: "Never lay your balls on a woman's face if you think she might bite. Never."
Lilly ducks by Troy's head with a laugh.
Lilly: "Come on, little god. Get up. At least make this match a challenge."
Hoskuld kneels up with his teeth gritted and blood leaking down his leg. He clears his throat before spitting a wad of nastiness into his hand. Lilly aims a kick at his face, but Hoskuld grabs her ankle with his unwet hand and drags her down to the mat before applying a brain claw with the hand he did spit in. Lilly begins thrashing about from the grossness of the situation and the pain inflicted by a brain claw from a man with a God's strength. The ref checks to see if she submits, but she doesn't.
Coughlin: "That's just gross!"
Dizon: "Who knows what could be in that filthy throat of his."
Troy stands up with Lilly still locked in the claw. He lifts her into the air and slams her into the corner while holding onto the claw. A bottle manifests in his free hand and Hoskuld drinks it while holding onto the claw. Though this time, the ref begins to count him out to break the hold. Hoskuld backs away while appearing to listen to the empty bottle. He smiles and nods. Lilly fiinishes wiping off her face when she sees Hoskuld rushing at her to impact her with lefts and rights to the face and body. A last blow to the midsection sends Lilly up high enough to be sat upon the top turnbuckle. The ref gets in the middle of things, sending Hoskuld back to the center of the ring. Lilly falls to the mat, coughing up blood.
Coughlin: "What a vicious assault by Hoskuld!"
Dizon: "Yeah. Troy really knows how to hit on a woman."
Coughlin: "He's Hoskuld now."
Dizon: "Yeah, whatever. A man can change his name, but not his stripes."
Hoskuld walks back to Lilly, pulling her to her feet. She responds with several forearm blows and a snap suplex!
Coughlin: "How did she get him up over her head for a snap suplex?"
Dizon: "Wow. Just bloody wow!"
Lilly jumps to her feet, leaning over Hoskuld and slapping him.
Lilly: "You're a piss poor Asgardian! You won't ever amount to anything! You should have just accepted your punishment for what you did!"
Hoskuld reaches up and grabs Lilly in a most uncomfortable place. He grabs her by the nipple and begins twisting. Lilly's eyes go wide and she lets out a shriek of pain. Lilly drops to the mat onto her side, but Hoskuld holds onto the move while sitting on her midsection. The ref asks her if she wants to give up, but Hoskuld yells at him to be quiet.
Lokison: "Buy me a drink, bitch! I said buy me a *beep*ing drink and I'll let you go!"
Kronin jumps up on the ring apron to yell at Hoskuld, but he keeps on twisting the nipple. Finally, Celes jumps up to the ring apron.
Celes: "Daddy! You're not at a bar! She can't buy you a drink here!"
Hoskuld looks at Celes with glazed eyes, but he shakes his head and is clear again. He lets Lilly go and backs up to the corner where Celes is standing.
Lokison: "I forgot. Thanks, kid."
Lilly stands up, holding her chest in pain, and glaring at Hoskuld. The two meet in the middle of the ring again with Hoskuld grabbing Lilly up and bodyslamming her down before dropping a knee on her forehead. He goes for the pinfall.
One...Two...Lilly kicks out!
Dizon: "How did she kick out with all of that weight on her?"
Coughlin: "Amazing strength? Okay...magic."
Hoskuld gets up, but Lilly jumps up and strikes him in the chest while screaming a word of power. The blow sends Hoskuld flying into the ropes to send him flying back at her. Lilly motions with her hands as if gathering something from the air, brings the butt of her palms together to thrust them both at Troy with a long stream of arcane words. A cone of energy blasts Hoskuld, enveloping his body. The blast continues through to destroy the ropes behind him, and strike into the crowd where several dozen people are vaporized in a flash. Hoskuld lays on the mat, smoke trailing from his body. Lilly goes for the pinfall.
One...Two...Three!
Lilly jumps to her feet and raises her arms in victory, but her victory is dampened when the crowd begin to furiously boo her. Kronin gets into the ring and takes her by the hand, but he too looks unhappy with how the match turned out. Celes appears by her father and begins casting healing spells over him while casting angry glares at Lilly.
Celes: "He was going to keep your secret, you bitch! Has he told anyone? Shown anyone? What would Kronin think of you if he knew what you did in Asgard? Hmm? I won't say what you did, but you know that he will be asking. Can you keep the truth from him when he knows you've done something so terrible? I bet you can still lie to him, even now! So let me tell him the truth! Kronin, she slipped into Asgard and-"
Lilly shouts in rage, blasting Celes with enough force to rip open the ring and drop her into the hole. Kronin steps back away from Lilly, looking at her in shock.
Lilly: "What? She was lying! Liars should pay for their crimes!"
Lilly heads to the back with Kronin right behind her.
Coughlin: "Kronin looks distraught."
Dizon: "Wouldn't you be if your girlfriend just used her magical power to blast a five year old Asgardian?"
Coughlin: "Yeah. I would be."
The Quest of Father Nathan
After the ASA Legendary #3 match between Father Nathan and Frietag, Father Nathan sits in the locker room. He had just gotten off the phone to check on Dixie Clement at the hospital. She's healing up well enough from the pounding given to him by that Russian giant.
Father Nathan clenches the cross around his neck tightly. Maybe he should ask for a chance at him. He would teach the Russian giant how to properly fight in the ring.
There is a knock at the door and an older man shuffles into the room in the robes of a Catholic Priest. He has long thinning white hair and hunches nearly to being bent in half. He uses a small gnarled wooden cane to not tip over onto his long crooked nose.
Priest: "At last I have found you, Father Nathan!"
Father Nathan gives the ancient priest an appraising look.
Father Nathan: "That you have. Kin I help you with something?"
Priest: "Yes! I am Father Abnar Kareem from Ethiopia. I have been sent to find you to help rebuild the Catholic Church in Africa. It has taken a terrible series of hits from Cardinal Mariano Urizar. He is more Catholic from the Dark Ages of the Old Inquisition than modern Catholic Church. He has done a lot of damage with his strict ways. Rumor has it that he has a relic of great power in his possession that could be used in the Catholic Chruch in Addis Adaba in Ethiopia to rejuvinate the modern church. We would have the courage to finally excommunicate him and rid ourselves of the darkest shadow of the Church."
Father Nathan nods, having heard plenty of stories about the man known as Cardinal Urizar and his methods of worship and business practice.
Father Nathan: "What is this relic?"
Father Kareem pulls out a small gold coin. It has an engraving of a cross on one side that looks wet with fresh blood and a dagger on the back.
Father Kareem: "This is a replica of the coin you seek. It is called the Coin of Faith and Willpower. It enhances his connection to divine might and fortifies his will against evil powers. Though what the Cardinal does in his Tower of Faith in his industrial hell cannot be called by any other name than evil. I am too old and those with me at the church are too inexperienced. We need someone as brave and powerful as you to go into Desolation to get this coin from him and bring it back to the Catholic Church in Addis Adaba. Can you do it?"
Father Kareem hands the coin to Father Nathan, who turns it over in his hand over and over while studying it.
Father Nathan: "I have never heard of such a relic. How has it come to be in the Cardinal's hands?"
Father Kareem: "He has said that an angel presented it to him on the orders of God himself! I do not know how this could be, but when I consider the source, I consider it very possible that he is lying."
Father Nathan: "I cannot do this alone or else it would be blind suicide, but you are in luck. There is a mission being planned to go into Desolation. This can be added to it. I will see what I can do, but the Cardinal is said to be very strong. If he has it with him at all times, then we would have to face him personally."
Father Kareem: "You planned to go there all along? Why would you do such a thing if not in the service of God?"
Father Nathan: "There is a fr-a man there that needs to be saved if he still draws breath. He is sure to be getting the warm welcome that only the Cardinal can dream of."
Father Kareem's eyes go wide.
Father Kareem: "You seek to free Terel Walker? He is said to be held in one of the deepest chambers of the Tower of Faith! It is a place where only certain select of the Cardinal's people go!"
Father Nathan nods, but then does a quick double take.
Father Nathan: "How do you know where he is? Have you been inside of the tower?"
Father Kareem looks down at the floor.
Father Kareem: "We were forced to sign non-disclosure agreements on the location of the Tower of Faith and of Desolation, but we do go there sometimes in the upper floors for a monthly meeting. Despite his evil, he is still a Cardinal within the Church and we still have to follow him. Desolation is...it is the dark heart of faith in Africa."
Father Nathan broods while looking down at the replica of the coin.
Father Nathan: "Cardinal Urizar is a blight on the Church that should have been dealt with long ago. Hopefully, it's something can be dealt with in the future."
Father Kareem: "So, will you go?"
Father Nathan: "Aye. I will do as you request. I just need to gather some support and get some info from you once that is done on protocols on getting into the tower. I am a man of the cloth afterall."
Coin of Luck
Khloe Kapla sits in her dressing room, running through her mind the strategies that she will use against Valora in the Tartarus Death Match. Keira and Declan had gone to get some drinks.
There is a knock on the door before it opens, Khloe doesn't look back at the door while lost in thought.
Kapla: "Druscilla has promised me help in finding my way home. I wonder if it can really be done? Keira, Declan? You get me one of those fizzy drinks too?"
"We are not those people."
"You have something that our master requires, Miss Kapla. Hand it over and we will leave you in peace."
Khloe turns and sees two Chinese men. One large powerfully built man and a slender smaller man.
The smaller man bows with a crooked smile.
"I am Tu Sha, and my companion here is Taag Sha. You have a special coin that you have recently found. You need to give it to us."
Khloe looks from one man to the next, probably wondering if they are joking with her.
Kapla: "How do you know I found such a coin?"
Tu Sha walks further into the room with a smile. Khloe watches him as he walks, but keeps both men in her sight.
Tu Sha: "Our master knows more than you know. Give it to us."
Khloe digs a old gold coin out of her pocket, shows it to them, and puts it back away.
Kapla: "It's given me luck! Now you bozos get out of here! I don't know who your perv master is, but he ain't gettin' this coin!"
Taag Sha: "I was hoping you would say that."
Taag Sha launches at Khloe with an overhead strike that Khloe moves out of the way of. The blow hits the dressing table with enough force to shatter it.
Another series of powerful strikes that Khloe narrowly avoids or deflects punches holes in the walls, and shatters a telephone on the wall. Khloe blocks a punch with her arms, but the blow sends her back into the drywall to make a hole in the wall the size of her body.
Khloe curses as she feels the bruise already forming deep in her right forearm. She ducks a slow kick, and leans in to strike Taag Sha in the crotch with an open palm. She clenches her fist around his manhood and pulls up hard. Taag Sha jumps with the pull to lessen the damage and is caught in the air. Khloe spins with him, landing a spinebuster that sends the man's head through the wall and bouncing off of the floor.
Kapla: "You don't mess with me!"
That's when she feels the stinging sensation in the small of her back.
Kapla: "What?"
Her legs give out on her and she falls down to the floor. Tu Sha stands over her with a smirk.
Tu Sha: "His Tiger Claw Kung Fu is a bit on the blunt side. My Serpent Fang Kung Fu is a bit different. I have poisoned your chi. If it isn't neutralized soon, your legs will never work again. Do you still feel lucky? Would you like to hand over the coin now so you can walk again, or do you think there is a market for wheelchair wrestling?"
Khloe curses as she reaches into her pocket and throws the coin at Tu Sha. He snatches it out of the air with a laugh.
Tu Sha: "Good girl. Good girl. Now for your legs."
Tu Sha pockets the coin, squating down and doing a two fingertip strike that sends long nails into Khloe's side. Within seconds, the feeling returns to her legs again.
Kapla: "How about you try that again while my back isn't turned? Gimmie the coin back and I'll let you leave alive."
Tu Sha: "Oh the folly of youth."
Kapla: "What?"
Tu Sha: "Forgetting to count your opponents."
Khloe turns and is grabbed by the face by Taag Sha, lifted up into the air, and slammed into the wall where her skull breaks through a stud in the wall. She is dropped unconscious to the floor.
Taag Sha stands over her, breathing in deeply as his right hand begins to glow, but Tu Sha lays a hand on his shoulder.
Tu Sha: "We have what we came for. There's no need to kill this one considering the foe she is preparing to face in the ring. Let's get this to our master."
Taag Sha exhales, the glow around his face fading to nothing. He nods and the two leave the room.
Moments later, Druscilla is on hand with a pair of British soldiers. She looks down at the scene with a frown.
Druscilla: "This treachery won't go without retribution, Devereaux."
Iro vs Tabitha
Coughlin: "We begin this match with Tabitha Osborne and Iro Waters already on the scaffolding above the ring, which is surrounded by a giant cage. Weapons lay around the ring, on the cage roof, and on the scaffolding. This is a very dangerous match stipulation. Both people must get into the ring where pinfalls count."
Dizon: "I wouldn't want to be in that death trap."
Iro Waters and Tabitha Osborne face each other in the ring. Tabitha breaks out into a giggling fit.
Osborne: "Come on little boy. Come through the fire and blood to become a real man!"
Iro doesn't look entirely certain that he really wants to mx it up with her, but shrugs. Iro takes a couple of swings at Tabitha, but she dodges the blows before giggling some more.
Osborne: "You're gonna drown in your own blood, boy. Does it soun-"
A knife edge chop wit the left hand that catches her at the collar bone shuts her up. He follows this with a headlock takedown, slipping in a couple of stiff punches to the head with his left hand. Tabitha works to get stood up and Iro goes with her. He spins around to get her in a front facelock, dropping her head into the scaffolding with a DDT. Iro stands up, but Tabitha lunges up to spear Iro to the edge of the scaffolding. She rises up to a seated position on him and grins wickedly before plunging her sharpened fingernails like a knife into his side. She rips them out, licking the blood off of her fingernails.
Osborne: "You are tasty! Though there's something...off."
Iro hits Tabitha in the midsection with his left palm to push her off of him. He stands up and grabs Tabitha as she rises for a hip toss to throw her towards the center of the scaffolding. He walks toward her, leaning down to pick up a steel baseball bat as he walks.
Dizon: "This is getting serious fast!"
Coughlin: "Zolothach brings out the violent in people."
Tabitha starts to rise, but Iro connects to the side of her skull with the baseball bat. He looks at the large dent he's made and tosses the bat to the side. Tabitha lays on the ground while senseless, bleeding from a rather large gash in the side of her head ast the hairline. Iro kicks Tabitha in the ribs and she comes to her senses enough to sit up. She feels the blood on the side of her head and giggles.
Dizon: "Why the *beep* does she have to giggle at everything?"
Coughlin: "To put her opponent off his game."
Iro pulls Tabitha to her feet and she grabs him by the legs for a double leg take down. She holds both feet while smiling to the crowd for a moment before stomping down on his crotch and twisting her heel. Tabitha drags the pained Iro over to the edge of the scaffolding to hang his head off of it to the top of his shoulders. She stands on top of him, driving her feet down into his belly and chest as she walks.
Coughlin: "What is she doing? She can't!"
Dizon: "I think she is!"
Tabitha does a moonsault, catching Iro just under the chin with an elbow as she goes over the side of the scaffolding. Iro flips and is also sent over the side. They both land on the cage below, Tabitha landing on her feet, and Iro landing on his back. He lays on the cage, clutching at his throat. Tabitha curses, walking around the top of the cage with a bit of a limp.
Coughlin: "Iro looks hurt and Zolothach looks to be trying to walk off her landing. It was crazy for her to do that!"
Dizon: "She is crazy!
Tabitha smiles as she begins walking without a limp and attends to Iro. She lifts him up to his knees with Iro reaching up to place his hands on her knees as if begging for the match to end.
Osborne: "Beg, boy. BEG! It will not stop me from bringing your broken body to my mother for her satisfaction."
Waters: "I don't beg."
Iro squeezes Tabitha's knee with his left hand, causing her to cry out in pain. She rakers her fingernails across his forehead, drawing out a splatter of blood that causes him to release her. Tabitha staggers backwards, falling on her butt. Iro Waters slowly rises up, stretching, and feeling the deep bruises already showing on his throat.
Waters: "I get the answers I seek from this match. I will get what I need!"
Iro walks over to Tabitha, reaching for her. She holds out a hand, whispering a word of power, amd sends a bolt of black energy to strike Iro in the chest. He falls to the cage roof, clutching at the burning wound on his chest. Tabitha then waves her hand over her crushed knee, forming it back into a whole. She rises with a smile.
Osborne: "You have faced nobodies before me. You defeated the bitch, Roux Delacrois, but only after my Shambler from the Stars had wounded her. Oh how it must have irked you when my mother told you to defeat her. I feel no such regret at finishing off a wounded opponent. You will find my heart empty and cold, devoid of mercy."
Tabitha walks arrogantly over to Iro, pulling him up to his knees again. Iro responds by taking Tabitha down with a dragon leg screw. He rises up quickly, dropping down to drive his left fist into her midsection. The roof of the cage begins to yield from the impact.
Coughlin: "Looks like these two might be entering the ring soon enough."
Dizon: "The fun way down."
Iro stands back as Tabitha slowly gets to her feet, holding her ribcage while wincing.
Dizon: "I bet Zolothach is feeling like she did when Zareth hit her with the warhammer not long ago."
Coughlin: "I think they were healed by magic, but they might have remained weakened a bit."
The two rush at each other, Tabitha catches Iro by the throat, lifts him up, turns over like for a power slam, and drives Iro into the roof of the cage. The section gives way, sending both down to the ring with Tabitha on top of Iro. The crowd goes wild from the move.
Dizon: "Going down!"
Osborne: "This might be it! The ref sees a cover being made!"
One...Two...Thre-Iro kicks out!
Coughlin: "How does Iro have the strength to continue?"
Dizon: "More courage than brains."
Tabitha is slow to get up, pulling Iro to his feet. She laughs as she grips the stunned man by the left arm at the elbow.
Osborne: "This is going to hurt you more than me!"
Dizon: "She going to try to tear that arm apart?"
Coughlin: "It would seem so."
Iro suddenly turns and knocks Tabitha down with a short arm clothesline. He reaches down to the mat to pick up a lead pipe.
Waters: "This won't hurt me at all, bitch!"
Iro swings down at Tabitha, but she rolls away from the strike to cause Iro to hit the mat with the pipe. Tabitha jumps to her feet, hip tossing Iro to the mat before doing a standing moonsault to bring both of her knees to his midsection. She draws her ritual dagger seemingly from nowhere with a smile.
Osborne: "Let's make this fun, shall we?"
Iro starts to sit up, but Tabitha slashes him across the chest. He reels back in pain and Tabitha runs the dagger through his meat just behind the wrist to pin it to the mat. She grabs his other arm again with a wide smile.
Osborne: "I have grown much stronger, little boy. Little lost boy who seeks answers that he could never comprehend. Behold my new strength!"
Tabitha tears apart the cybernetic arm at the elbow joint, sending sparks everywhere. She laughs as she backhands Iro with his own hand before turning and slamming the other end into his leg. Iro lets out a scream of pain as the shards of metal dig into his flesh. Tabitha just giggles.
Osborne: "How much more of you isn't real? Shall we find out?"
Tabitha stands up, pacing around the ring overcome by giggles. She jumps down to the floor to shake the cage a little.
Osborne: "What say you all? Should I tear all of the metal off of little boy Waters? Do you want to see a live dissection?"
The crowd boos in response, but it only draws more manic laughter from Tabitha.
Osborne: "Well...for those who don't have a strong stomach, you may want to look away!"
Tabitha rolls back into the ring, still occupied with her own insanity. Iro grits his teeth, ripping his arm from the mat. He can't pull out the dagger, so it remains impaled to his arm. He creeps up behind the oblivious Tabitha, who has obviously slipped into her own little world.
Osborne: "He thinks he is innocent like I was once! I will show little boy Waters just how his precious innocence can be ripped away!"
Tabitha turns to where Iro was pinned down and frowns as he is gone. She turns around to see Iro standing in front of her. She opens her mouth, but Iro jams the stump of his arm into the side of her neck. She goes into fits as the electrical power fueling his cybernetics rip through her body. She falls onto her back, smoke curling up from her smoking form. Iro drops to his knees, going for the cover.
One...Two...Three!
Dizon: "What the hell? Iro Waters won?"
Coughlin: "At what price? His arm was torn apart. The stunt he just pulled probably fried his internal systems. He's bleeding everywhere. He isn't winning unscathed."
Dizon: "Who does with that crazy bitch?"
Theobald: "Winner by method of pinfall...Iro Waters!"
Coin of Spirit and Pride
At the capital building in Richmond, VA. President James E Lee sits at his desk. A man stands in front of the desk until James looks up from his paper work. Worry lines have developed and deepened since he was elected to office two years before.
"Senator Paul Wilson from Wisconsin is rallying a number of Senators and Representatives from the Northern states to secede from the Union. You would think after about two hundred years that old wounds would have closed by now."
President Lee shakes his head and sighs.
Lee: "This was the best location left for the new Federal capital. I was elected by the people of this country to be their President during these dark times."
"Mr. President, my first instinct would be to have the man arrested and/or shot for treason during a time of war."
President Lee shakes his head.
Lee: "Thomas Woodford, I know you mean well and I did assign you as my Secretary of Defense, but we can't do that. The Northern Secession movement will not be harmed by killing or imprisoning its leader. Heavy handed tactics like that nearly ruined this great country even before the Fourth Punic War. We have to reason with them. We have to convince them that what we do here is for the betterment of this nation. We cannot force these views down their throats of they will resent us and it will fracture the union even further apart. We cannot risk a new civil war when the enemy stands upon our doorstep. In fact, our enemies have circled the house. They have been inside our house. We can't afford to feed our enemies at this dire time. These last hours that we spend as a free union must be spent upholding the dreams our ancestors upheld when they founded this great nation when we rebelled against the British Empire so long ago."
Thomas Woodford nods and sighs heavily.
Woodford: "I know. I know that we may not win this war. I just want to be able to win some small victories when I can."
President Lee smiles. He well knew how his Secretary of Defense felt.
Lee: "Our last stand is coming soon. We will decide how to deploy our forces to try to stop Carthage at it's very head in the Three Siblings. That will help everything crumble apart and we can pick at our enemies. Get some rest and we will find our heroes tomorrow."
Thomas Woodford opens the door, dodging to the side as a throwing blade whizzes into the room and cuts through the phone line.
Woodford: "What the heck is this? Who are-"
President Lee watches as Thomas is run through with a sword. An old Chinese man whose skin is wrinkled by the passage of many years walks in with green robes trimmed in yellow. He pushed Thomas Woodford off of his sword to let the body fall to the floor. He closes the door behind him. President Lee remains seated, seemingly motionless.
"No greeting? No shouts of rage and asking who am I to dare to walk into your office, murder one of your lackeys, and stand before you as if ready to kill you as well?"
President Lee sits at his desk with his hands folded on the top.
Lee: "Are you ready to kill me? If so, you better get to doing it. I have already alerted my secret service."
The man smiles, as if knows something.
"How do you think I entered this far? The secret service agents you have protecting you in this place are dead. Your house people are dead. Everyone here is dead except for you and me. Give me the coin you found, and you can continue to live."
President Lee stands up, reaches into a pocket, and produces a coin. It has a bald eagle on the front and a dagger on the back.
Lee: "You think I do not know who you are already? That my intelligence agency doesn't keep track of people who work for the Warhammer Corporation? Even the ones who are not on the payroll, Kwan TuSha the Serpent. That you seek this coin I recently found is a mystery though. It has given me what I needed to help try to turn the tide against Carthage. Why would Warhammer want it?"
TuSha: "My master desires it. He works with Warhammer and not for them. I do as he commands. Now give me the coin."
President Lee pockets the coin and pats it.
Lee: "No. I will not do that."
President Lee hits a button on the underside of the desk and a sword hilt pops from the side. He draws the sword, stepping around the desk.
Lee: "It seems to be a presumption that since I am a politician and President that I am incapable of fighting. That I am just a man who claims the blood of a famous Confederate hero. My family bled for this nation. My family never wanted to see this nation divided, but duty is duty. My duty now is to hold this nation together and help bring peace to the world by defeating the evil that plagues it. Do not think you can make me afraid enough to give in to your demands. I will die before I yield to evil's demands."
Kwan TuSha chuckles.
TuSha: "Then I will be glad to end your life."
Kwan TuSha launches into a quick assault, aiming his strikes low to try to sweep the President's legs from under him. The President blocks the blows, clipping TuSha's right arm with a gash. TuSha steps back with a hiss.
Lee: "Is that why they call you the Serpent?"
TuSha: "You'll know soon enough."
The President goes on the offensive with Kwan TuSha being pressed back to near the wall.
Desperate, TuSha locks blades with the President long enough to get a hand striking his fingernails into the President's shoulder, striking the bone. Far from crying out in pain, he smiles.
TuSha realizes his mistake too late that he's using his wounded arm to hold the sword. The President quickly disarms him and stabs him in the gut with the sword.
Kwan TuSha drops to his knees, laughing as President Lee's wounded arm begins to shrivel. He grabs Lee's good arm and pulls the sword all the way through him to reach around to jam his finger nails into the small of President Lee's back by the spine. He grabs the coin out of Lee's pocket, whispering a word that causes the coin to vanish.
President Lee curses ripping the sword out and running him through again.
President Lee releases the sword, staggering backwards to the front of his desk before falling down.
Lee: "What have you done to me?"
TuSha: "The Venom of the Serpent. The martial arts practiced by the House of the Serpent Fang is a poor reflection of my art."
Kwan TuSha stands up, pulling the sword from his chest with a laugh.
TuSha: "You didn't have a chance to kill me. You never did. Now, you will never use your left arm or your legs again. I also transported the coin to my master."
Lee: "You forgot one thing."
Kwan TuSha smiles, but he leans back against the wall, his blood loss starting to weaken him.
TuSha: "And what is that?"
Lee: "Sword fighting is not my only talent."
President Lee draws a side arm from his jacket, emptying the magazine into Kwan TuSha's chest and head. He watches as the deadly warrior known as the Serpent falls dead to the floor.
This is when secret service run into the room. They try to help President Lee stand up, but his legs won't carry him. They set him back down and someone calls for an ambulance. President Lee waves them off.
Lee: "Modern science likely won't fix this damage. Just get me a wheelchair and let's keep on going. If we get the chance to contact someone skilled in Eastern Medicine then fine. Until then, we have a war to win. Once I'm up, let's get an update on the rebellion in Russia."
Roux vs Zareth
Theobald: "This next match is a Russian Inferno match! To win the match you must set your opponent on fire while being bound together by a steel chain! Featuring first, weighing in at one hundred and thirty-five pounds...she is the Queen of Thorns, Roux Delacroix!"
"Sadness Part One" by Enigma begins playing as Roux Delacroix walks out from the back. Though the fans have been directed to boo, they cheer her on as she walks down to the ring. She stands and smiles as the chain is being manacled to her left arm.
Dizon: "Roux is smiling like she knows something. What do you think that is?"
Coughlin: "She is facing a killer in the form of Zareth Korbin. I wouldn't be smiling."
Theobald: "And her opponent, weighing in at two hundred and seventy pounds...Captain of the Guard, Zareth Korbin!"
"Hall of The Mountain King" by Apocalpytica begins playing as Zareth Korbin walks out with his warhammer in hand. He looks angry as he walks down to the ring, ignoring the boos of the fans. He glares at Roux as his left wrist is being manacled. It causes her smile to fade a bit as he looks into Zareth's face.
Dizon: "Zareth looks like death warmed over! His eyes are sunken in and he has a gaunt look to him."
Coughlin: "I wonder what he's been through?"
As the bell rings to start the match, Zareth rushes at Roux, catching her in the midsection with a punch that lifts her off of her feet by about three feet. Roux hits the mat while gasping for air from the blow. Zareth gathers up some of the slack from the chain, waiting for her to get back up before whipping her across the face hard enough to knock her back down. He lashes her across the back with the chain like a whip a few times before dropping the chain to the mat. He kicks her over before ripping her off the mat like a rag doll to hold her in the air with one hand.
Dizon: "He just rolled in there and started dominating."
Coughlin: "He is the Captain of the Guard for a reason."
Zareth throws her back down with a one handed body slam, kicking her in the ribs with a shout of rage that sprays spittle all over the place. He wraps the chain around her throat, pulling back on it while placing a knee into her back to help with leverage.
Dizon: "Is he trying to kill her?"
Coughlin: "That would help him light her on fire. There is fuel and matches at ringside for that."
Roux holds onto the chain, trying to pull it away from her throat just enough for her to speak. When she does so, she speaks a word and electricity flows from her hands down the chain to knock Zareth onto his ass. She stands up, holding her throat.
Delacroix: "You want to play games? Fine."
Roux grips the chain with both hands, smiling as a vine grows along it, interweaving in and out of the links of the chain. Thorns grow on this chain, as long and sharp as daggers.
Delacroix: "Let's play, shall we?"
The chain moves of its own accord, lashing at Zareth with the thorns ripping open his flesh. Roux sneers as she watches the blood splatter before she grabs him, suplexing him to the mat. She stands, wiping at the blood that dripped onto her face with a cruel smile. She drags Zareth to his feet again, kicking him in the belly, grabbing him as if for a gutwrench suplex, but only lifting him up a little way before dropping backwards to land him on his head.
Dizon: "What kind of move was that?"
Coughlin: "A devastating one."
Zareth begins working his way back to his feet, but the thorned chain is on him again, tearing more uninjured flesh open. Flowers begin to bloom on the vine that spray a thick smelly fluid onto Zareth.
The sound of a vintage picture reel began to click and pop, the screen illuminating up counting down like a picture show. The pops, scratches, nicks and debris covered the screen, the numbers counting down, 5...4....3....2....1....as the reel continued, the screaming sounds of Lizzy Hale tore through the arena and the melody and guitar began to pick up. On the screen, a barrage of action shots from Apathy's career, centered and fixated, like an old film would. As the arena went down, red and white lights bathing the fans in a sea of color, Elizabeth emerged, arms held high, a smirk on her face, the boos chorusing from the rafters to the front row. Eyes closed, she sucked it all in, as the haunting sounds of "I Miss The Misery" filled the arena and surrounded her.
##Ohhh, I miss the misery!
##I've been a mess since you stayed,
##I've been a wreck since you changed,
##Don't let me get in your way,
##I miss the lies and the pain,
##The fights that keep us awake-ake-ake
##I'm tellin you!
Elizabeth Devereaux walks down the aisle in her full supernatural glory, her feet a few inches off of the ground.
##I miss the bad things,
##The way you hate me,
##I miss the screaming,
##The way that you blame me!
##Miss the phone calls,
##When it's your fault,
##I miss the late nights,
##Don't miss you at all!
##I like the kick in the face,
##And the things you do to me!
##I love the way that it hurts!
##I don't miss you, I miss the misery!
Elizabeth stands at ringside, holding two leather pouches in her hand with a cold grin, motioning to Zareth as he struggles with the thorned chain, blood pouring from dozens of wounds.
##Just know that I'll make you hurt,
##(I miss the lies and the pain what you did to me)
##When you tell me you'll make it worse
##(I'd rather fight all night than watch the TV)
##I hate that feelin inside
##You tell me how hard you'll try
##But when we're at our worst
##I miss the misery
Dizon: "Why is she at ringside?"
Coughlin: "No idea."
Devereaux: "Zareth. Are you playing me for a fool? Have you forgotten that I hold your very life in my hands? Fight like you are going to die if you lose or else you will most certainly die! Your father as well."
Roux Delacroix picks Zareth up, and throws him over the ropes to land next to Elizabeth. She looks down at him and smiles, sending a quick kick to the rib cage.
Devereaux: "Get up, fool! Go do some damage to the other side for once!"
The thorned chain whips suddenly, lashing at Elizabeth, ripping the bags from her hand, and throwing them into the ring for Roux to catch.
Delacroix: "You reveal your hand to soon, Devereaux! I have what I need now!"
The thorned chain wraps around Zareth's body, lifting him up and hurling him back into the ring. She whispers something by Zareth's bloody ear before standing up with a laugh.
Delacroix: "This is your empire, Devereaux!"
Another quick spell sends a spark at the thick fluids coating Zareth, lighting him ablaze.
Delacroix: "Your Crown will go to the rightful ruler of this land!"
The fire rages in the ring, spreading to the mat. Elizabeth narrows her eyes at Roux. She considers getting into the ring, but stands by as the ref puts the fire out. All around the blackened form of Zareth is burnt. Several areas of Zareth's destroyed body reveals scorched bone. Roux pockets the bags with a laugh. The ref checks for a pulse, but shakes his head. Elizabeth sneers, spreading her wings, and flying to the back.
Dizon: "Zareth Korbin is dead?"
Coughlin: "It would seem so. Queen Devereaux has lost one lackey."
Roux Delacroix exits the ring, the thorned chain following her, lifting the body of Zareth Korbin into the air to follow her like a macabre balloon as she walks. The ref just shakes his head as Stephan Theobald enters the ring.
Theobald: "The winner of this match...Roux Delacroix!"
Coughlin: "So far, Queen Devereaux's people have lost two of the matches. I know they don't have bearing on the main event, but you have to think that she's going to be going in without the momentum that Druscilla will have."
Dizon: "Go Queen Druscilla?"
Coughlin: "Really?"
Dizon: "I don't know? I don't know who we're really supposed to be cheering for! Who is the lesser of two evils?"
Coughlin: "As of yet, I don't really know. I don't know."
Khloe vs Valora
Theobald: “This next match is A battle of Champions match and it will be fought under Tartarus Death Match rules! Introducing first. Champion of Druscilla, and ASA Ascension Champion, Khloe Kapla!”
“Steampunk Revolution” By Abney Park begins as Khloe steps from the backstage area, being helped by Declan and Keira. Khloe is obviously injured and dazed, having trouble standing on her own, but marches forward to the ring and walks in as the door to the cage is opened, falling onto the ring mat but getting up and making her way into the ring, shaking her head.
Dizon: “How the hell is she supposed to win this match?! She better beg Valora for mercy.”
Coughlin: “Do you think Valora would grant it?”
Dizon: “Probably not.”
Theobald: “And introducing her opponent, Imperial Empress of the Aztec Empire, and the reigning IWA World Champion, Champion of Lady Apathy of Carthage and Queen of Britain, VALORA SALINAS!!”
‘Death Triumphant’ by My Dying Bride plays over the PA and the crowd boos loudly as Valora walks out from backstage, making her way to the cage slowly and deliberately, her trademark smirk on her face as she does so. As she reaches the ring, Declan and Keira step forward but Valora turns to them, drawing a silver knife and holding up a hand towards Keira, seemingly stopping her in place. Declan backs off too, growling and Valora enters the cage, the door closed and locked behind her as she circles Khloe, shaking her head and smirking.
Dizon: “Looks like Valora came prepared for Khloe’s friends.”
Coughlin: “Yeah, and now, she’s just stalking her prey in the ring…”
DING!!
DING!!
DING!!
Valora smirks, standing in the ring, waving Khloe on, telling her to take her best shot. Khloe charges and Valora sidesteps with a flourish as if she were a bullfighter and Khloe falls to the mat. Valora urges Khloe to try again and the same result replays as Valora does the flourish, this time brushing a hand on Khloe’s shoulder, draining some of her essence and then making the motion of licking her fingers and smirking. Khloe charges again and throws a punch but Valora blocks it and nails Khloe right in the head, sending her to the mat, before she moves and grabs Khloe, dragging her to her feet, only to drop her on back of her injured head with a reverse DDT.
Coughlin: “Valora’s just toying with her out there!”
Dizon: “And she’s targeting where Khloe was injured earlier. This really might be a death match for Khloe!”
Valora walks over to Khloe and bends down, slapping Khloe before pointing to Declan and Keira and yelling out.
Valora: “HEY! After I kill your friend, I’m gonna make her like me and Carthage will have someone to crush ASA too!”
Declan and Keira narrow their eyes and Khloe groans and lifts both feet, planting them in the small of Valora, causing the revenant to stumble forward into the cage where she gets a nasty shock before dropping to the mat. As Valora gets back up, she turns to face Khloe and Khloe nails Valora with a right and a left punch to the face but Valora isn’t phased. Valora replies by grabbing Khloe around the neck with one hand and then grabbing the cage with her free hand, both women shaking and convulsing as electricity courses through them and both finally fall to the mat, Khloe the more hurt of the two. Valora makes the pin.
1….
2….
3!
The ref waves that a pinfall was made and begins and Valora stands up as the ref begins the 10 count. Khloe lies motionless until the count of 6 when she starts moving and is up to her feet by about 9. The ref waves for the fight to continue.
Dizon: “Valora almost won right there! I would have stayed down if I were Khloe.”
Coughlin: “Me too. That’s why we’re not wrestlers though.”
Valora looks at Khloe and smirks, coming in and swings but Khloe half ducks, half stumbles out of the way of the punch and counters with a kick to the gut and Khloe grabs Valora sending her into the corner with an irish whip, falling down she whips Valora so hard. Valora hits the turnbuckle and a loud explosion goes off as the C4 sends Valora flying into the middle of the ring.
Dizon: “Holy shit! I thought the C4 was just kidding!”
Coughlin: “Apparently it isn’t”
Khloe crawls over and tries to pin Valora but Valora kicks out right away and both women fight up to their knees, trading punches until Valora nails Khloe with a few big punches that stun the girl and Valora climbs to her feet, pulling Khloe to her feet, sending her into the ropes, grabbing her and spinning her around, dropping her down into a tilt a whirl backbreaker, Valora holding the move, bending Khloe back over her knee as Khloe cries out in pain.
Valora: “That’s right! Beg for mercy, bitch!”
The ref checks for a submission but Khloe refuses to tap out and eventually, Valora stands up, carrying Khloe with her and sending her to the mat with a fall away slam.
Coughlin: “Valora showcasing that superhuman strength of the Undead… she seems to be more powerful every time we see her.”
Dizon: “And much more scary.”
Valora stalks around Khloe and stomps on the back of Khloe’s head as Khloe rolls over trying to get to her feet, driving her face into the mat. Valora hits another stomp and tries for a third time but Khloe rolls over and grabs Valora’s foot and throws her to the ground, struggling to get to her feet. But before anything else can happen, the lights go dark.
Dizon: “What the?”
Coughlin: “The first blackout apparently. This promises to make things interesting OH!”
Coughlin is cut off as the darkness is lit up by the electrified cage lighting up. The lights go on shortly afterwards and Valora drops to the mat as Declan and Keira drop down from the cage, both gritting their teeth from their own burns.
Coughlin: “Declan and Keira helping out here, trying to buy Khloe time to get back into the fight!”
Dizon: “Funny how when some people get outside help its called interference.”
Coughlin: “Well someone beat the crap out of Khloe, and we can’t be sure that it wasn’t Apathy’s forces.”
Dizon: “You really think Apathy is that worried about this fight? Valora’s the World Champ!”
Khloe notices Valora down on the mat and as Valora tries to get up, Khloe runs forward and brings her to the mat with a spinning neckbreaker. She pulls Valora to a knee and nails Valora in the back of the head with a double ax handle and then another and then a third before driving her knee into Valora’s face, pulling her to her feet and sending her into the ropes, nailing Valora with a dropkick that sends Valora back into the cage where Valora is once more electrocuted and falls to the mat. Khloe rolls Valora over and pins her…
1…
2…
3!
The ref calls the pinfall and begins the 10 count. As he counts, Khloe gets up and stumbles back into a corner, out of breath and trying to clear the cobwebs.
Coughlin: “Khloe making a comeback here but can she keep it going? She’s starting to wear down…”
Dizon: “I agree. The longer this match goes on, the more it benefits Valora.”
Valora gets to her feet at the count of 7 and shakes her head a bit, glaring at Khloe. Valora and Khloe meet up and lock up in the middle of the ring, trying to get leverage over each other before Valora buries a knee in Khloe’s gut and turns around, and lifts Khloe up onto her back upside down before charging and dropping Khloe on her head and neck in her version of the vertebreaker and immediately covers Khloe for the pin…
1…
2…
3!
Before she gets up to allow the 10 count, Valora leans down and kisses Khloe deeply, and as she pulls up from the kiss, draining a decent portion of Khloe’s essence from her before whispering something in Khloe’s ear and standing up, waving for the ref to count.
Dizon: “....That was hot. I wanna see that again.”
Coughlin: “I’m not sure that was good for Khloe..”
Dizon: “Well she seems to have enjoyed it..”
Khloe lies on the ground dazed but stares at Valora with a look of confusion and perhaps a bit of longing or desire. Ultimately she is unable to answer the 10 count and the ref calls for the bell as Valora blows Khloe a kiss and leaves the ring, Khloe never taking her eyes off Valora until Declan and Keira get to her.
Theobald: “Ladies and Gentlemen, the winner is VALORA!!!”
The crowd boos heavily as Valora makes her way to the backstage area, pausing to glance back at Khloe and smirking again before heading backstage.
Coughlin: “Well, Valora seems to have won as expected, due to Khloe’s injury. She fought bravely but just didn’t have enough to win.”
Dizon: “Well, that kiss seemed to help a lot. Valora could have killed Khloe with that.”
Coughlin: “True, but for some reason she didn’t. Hopefully Khloe can recover from that soon as well. She’s definitely talented and needs to recover quickly to face Dasha for the ASA World Championship.”
Battle for the Crown
Theobald: “Ladies and Gentleman, the next match is the main event of the evening and it is a special Trial by Combat to determine the Rightful Queen of the British Empire! It is set by one fall and will be fought under Lumberjack rules. Introducing first, the Lumberjacks for this match, the Champions!!”
‘Blood of Heroes’ by Megadeth plays over the PA as Valora and Zolothach walk out first and make their way down to ringside. Strangely, Valora and Zolothach are not bickering at all and almost seem to be on the same page.
As the song continues playing, Iro Waters and Roux Lacroix walk out and make their way down to the ring.
Theobald: “And now, introducing first, hailing from right here in London, England! She stands 6 feet tall and weighs in at 200lbs. She is the Queen Regent of the British Empire, challenging for the Throne, DRUSCILLA!!!”
‘Bloodline’ by Slayer plays over the PA and the crowd jumps to their feet cheering wildly as Druscilla makes her way out, pausing to look over the crowd as chants of ‘GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!” break out. Druscilla makes her way down to the ring, glaring at Zolothach as she climbs into the ring and grabs the mic from Theobald. Druscilla raises her hand and the crowd silences. Druscilla looks to Zolothach and smirks.
Druscilla: “Foolish brat! I was ancient before you were sucking your mother’s teat! Did you really think I would die so easily? And Apathy… this is not France or Carthage, you can not buy a Throne through murder and betrayal. This is ENGLAND and ENGLAND PREVAILS!”
Cheers and thunderous ovations break out from the crowd as Druscilla hands the mic back to Theobald and waits for Apathy.
Coughlin: “Strong words from Druscilla, but the crowd loved them and she has the momentum. Her team won the battle of Champions, Apathy’s hold on her Crown is weakening it seems. Also, as you’ve noticed, each team is minus a champion. Khloe is badly injured and we’re waiting updates and it appears that Roux killed Zareth.”
Dizon: “Well, that might be true, but Druscilla still has to do her part and Apathy will not be happy with Zolothach and Zareth dropping the ball.”
Theobald: “And introducing her opponent, she hails from Carthage, standing 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing in at 165lbs One of the Three Siblings and Queen of the British Empire, LADY APATHY!!!”
[The sound of a vintage picture reel began to click and pop, the screen illuminating up counting down like a picture show. The pops, scratches, nicks and debris covered the screen, the numbers counting down, 5...4....3....2....1....as the reel continued, the screaming sounds of Lizzy Hale tore through the arena and the melody and guitar began to pick up. On the screen, a barrage of action shots from Apathy's career, centered and fixated, like an old film would. As the arena went down, red and white lights bathing the fans in a sea of color, Elizabeth emerged, arms held high, a smirk on her face, the boos chorusing from the rafters to the front row. Eyes closed, she sucked it all in, as the haunting sounds of "I Miss The Misery" filled the arena and surrounded her.]
##Ohhh, I miss the misery!
##I've been a mess since you stayed,
##I've been a wreck since you changed,
##Don't let me get in your way,
##I miss the lies and the pain,
##The fights that keep us awake-ake-ake
##I'm tellin you!
[She took her time down the ramp, egging on those who stood opposing her and spouting off insults of her own, laughing at the crowds and waving them off, dismissively. She rolled into the ring, and ran to the far corner, thrusting her fist into the air and sending a hand sign with her free hand, to her daughter at home.]
##I miss the bad things,
##The way you hate me,
##I miss the screaming,
##The way that you blame me!
##Miss the phone calls,
##When it's your fault,
##I miss the late nights,
##Don't miss you at all!
##I like the kick in the face,
##And the things you do to me!
##I love the way that it hurts!
##I don't miss you, I miss the misery!
[With the crowd throwing some debris in the ring, she hopped down the turnbuckle and ran to the other on the far side, again throwing her fists into the air, a smug, cocky, careless look on her face, taunting at the crowd, working them up.]
##Just know that I'll make you hurt,
##(I miss the lies and the pain what you did to me)
##When you tell me you'll make it worse
##(I'd rather fight all night than watch the TV)
##I hate that feelin inside
##You tell me how hard you'll try
##But when we're at our worst
##I miss the misery
As the song ends, Apathy turns, and without wasting any time, her and Druscilla meet in the middle of the ring and begin trading punches as Theobald dives out of the ring and the bell rings to begin the match.
Coughlin: “Holy crap! These two aren’t wasting any time!”
Dizon: “This is one of the biggest matches in Chaos Wrestling history! You can be sure its being watched around the world, and these two women know what’s on the line!!”
The two continue trading punches until Druscilla boots Apathy in the gut and nails her with double ax handle smash to the spine as she lifts her knee into Apathy’s face sandwiching the
woman between the two blows and bringing her to the mat. Dragging Apathy to her feet, she whips her into the ropes and grabs her, planting her with a Belly to Belly Suplex. Druscilla runs to the ropes but as she rebounds off them, Valora and Zolothach each grab a leg of Druscilla and yank, bringing the woman to the mat face first.
Coughlin: “and we’re seeing the lumberjacks get involved now as Zolothach and Valora try to give Apathy a chance to get back into the fight.:”
Dizon: “Yeah, but Roux and Iro don’t look too happy about it…”
Druscilla gets to her feet but Apathy gets there first, running over and plants Druscilla with a DDT. Apathy immediately holds a hand over Druscilla and begins using magic to try and bind Druscilla once more but Roux jumps onto the apron and holds up a hand, using her own magic to disrupt Apathy’s spell, distracting her for a moment. Apathy glares at Roux but drags Druscilla to her feet and sends her into the ropes and catches her as she comes off the ropes, lifting her up into a tilt a whirl michanoku driver type maneuver, going right into a cover.
1…
2…
Druscilla kicks out!
Coughlin: “Powerful move from Apathy there, but Druscilla isn’t done yet.”
Dizon: “I don’t think this match will end soon, there’s just too much on the line!”
Apathy pulls Druscilla to her feet, but Druscilla cuts her off with a European uppercut and then another and then a third, stunning Apathy. Druscilla’s eyes glow violet as she grabs Apathy by the throat and jumps up into the air driving Apathy into the mat with a massive choke slam that shakes the ring and echoes throughout the arena. Druscilla goes into a cover..
1…
2…
Apathy kicks out!
Coughlin: “...Druscilla and Apathy are both showing just how powerful they can be, I can’t believe the ring survived that choke slam.”
Dizon: “Wait! Looks like things are about to get real interesting!”
Zolothach and Valora look at each other and smirk, nodding as they jump onto the ring apron. Zolothach springboards off the ropes and nails Druscilla with a dropkick, sending her to the mat and Valora leaps off the top turnbuckle hitting Druscilla with the Aztec Moonsault. Roux slides into the ring and nails Zolothach with a clothesline as she gets up, Iro and Valora trade punches until Valora plants her knee in Iro’s gut and nails him with a jumping enziguri style kick to the back of the head. The ref tries to restore order but is unable to as both Druscilla and Apathy get to their feet and look at the chaos in the ring.
Coughlin: “This match is breaking down! Everyone’s in the ring.. the ref needs to get a hold of things here.”
Dizon: “Yeah, good luck with that, wait.. Nebriyau is coming out…”
Nebiryau walks out from backstage with a mic in hand and smirks. “Alright, so we’ll do things this way then. Both teams will fight each other now! The leader of the winning team will gain the Crown of Britain!”
The 6 people in the ring look at Nebiryau and then at each other and immediately the brawl resumes, Valora running to the ropes hopping onto and springboarding off of them, turning and nailing Iro with a dropkick knocking the man to the mat. Zolothach, draws a knife and charges Roux who narrows her eyes as she holds up a hand and nails Zolothach with a blast of magic that knocks her to the mat. In the middle of the chaos, Apathy and Druscilla lock up, trying to gain advantage over each other until Apathy headbutts Druscilla before kicking her in the gut and planting her with a double arm DDT.
Coughlin: “Well, gotta ask yourself how much longer this can go on? Its like a mini war in the ring!”
Dizon: “It’s great and listen to the fans cheering for Druscilla and her team.”
Zolothach gets up and looks at Roux who smirks and begins chanting a spell and a bright green flash erupts over the ring, drawing the attention of those in the ring for a moment. Zolothach laughs and readies her knife and prepares to charge but suddenly Zareth charges out from the crowd and nails Zolothach in the back with his big hammer, sending her stumbling right into Roux who grabs the girl and runs up to the top rope, springboarding off and planting Zolothach face first in the ring with a bulldog and rolls her out of the ring.
Coughlin: “Lead to Temptation and Zareth is alive and has entered the match! What’s more he seems to be helping Druscilla!!”
Dizon: “That won’t end well for him..”
In the ring, Apathy turns and glares at Zareth, turning to Valora and yelling. “Kill him!” Valora smirks and charges, ducking under a swing of the hammer from Zareth and rebounding off the ropes and bringing the man down with a chop block to the back of his knee. Apathy, seeing a chance, charges and nails Iro with a dropkick that sends him up and over the top rope and to the floor. Druscilla looks over at Zareth, but turns to Apathy and grabs her by the back of her hair and sends her towards Zareth with an Irish whip and he nails Apathy with a hammer blow to her gut and then to her back, bringing her to the mat. Valora gets to her feet and Roux tries to grab her but Valora smirks and nails her with a European uppercut before running full speed and diving through the ropes and nailing Iro, driving him into the railing. Valora wastes no time picking him up and dropping him on his head and neck on the outside floor.
Dizon: “Zolothach and Iro seem to be out cold, but its Apathy and Valora vs Druscilla, Roux and Zareth..”
Coughlin: “And.. it looks like Valora is in trouble…”
Druscilla turns to her army and points to Valora. “Handle her. I’ll handle Apathy.”
Zareth and Roux nod and head after Valora who smirks waving them on. As they battle outside Druscilla leaves the ring and grabs a weapon from under the ring, drawing a sword and tossing one to Apathy. The two waste no time crossing blades, Apathy charges in and lunges but Druscilla seems to disappear and reappear behind Apathy she moves so fast and cuts Apathy on the back before placing a boot onto Apathy’s spine. Outside the ring, Valora has booted Zareth in the groin and turns just in time to get nailed with a kick to the head from Roux who then whispers an enchantment and Valora finds herself unable to move as the earth itself seems to grab her feet and hold her in place. Zareth grabs his big hammer and nails Valora in the back. Valora reaches a hand back and drains essence from Zareth until Roux boots her in the face.
In the ring, the sword fight continues, both Dru and Apathy have cuts, Apathy takes a big swing and Dru once more moves faster than the eye can see, stabbing Apathy in the back. She pulls the sword out and tosses it aside before grabbing Apathy and lifting her up by her arms, holding Apathy up and then turning and planting her face first onto the mat, going for the cover.
1….
2..
3!
Coughlin: “Dark Endings!! Druscilla has done it!!”
Dizon: “I don’t believe it! We’ve actually seen Carthage lose a battle!!”
Theobald: “Ladies and Gentleman.. the Winner and the rightful Queen of the British Empire...DRUSCILLA!!!”
The crowd goes nuts as chants of ‘GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!’ break out once more. Druscilla looks at Nebriyau who looks at her. “Druscilla…”
Druscilla grabs the mic from Theobald and waves for the crowd to quiet.
Druscilla: “Well Apathy… it seems your Celtic deities that you betrayed as well as God have seen fit to restore me to my rightful place. Roux Delacroix. Thank you for your aid. I will keep my word and we will discuss the future of Ireland in the coming days.
Iro. You wanted answers. Carthage is responsible for the stone rain. Russia and the United States launched nuclear missiles at the flying citadel and in response, Thamptis used his power to rain down destruction on the world.
Zareth. I believe you’ll need a new job after this. We will speak.
And last, but certainly not least… what Nebiryau, Carthage, Britain and indeed the entire world wants to hear. What now?”
Druscilla takes a moment and draws in a deep breath. “As Queen of the British Empire and all her domains, I command all those under my rule to fight Carthage to the death! The Empire of Great Britain stands with our allies Germany and the United States!”
The crowd cheers as Apathy, Valora and Nebiryau glare at Druscilla before leaving the ringside area…
Coughlin: “Well, there you have it! Carthage has another enemy to deal with, now as Druscilla made her intent quite clear!”:
Dizon: “Indeed. Let’s see what happens..”
The Price of Treason
Thamptis paces his throne room. Nebiryau and Elizabeth Devereaux stand by, though they look nervous at the Dark Warlock's anger.
Thamptis: "I thought you had things under control, Lady Apathy. I thought we had Druscilla under control, Nebiryau. Between the two of you, one insisting on killing her and the other insisting on bringing her back to life...we lost her! This nonsense about determining the fate of an entire nation on a wrestling match? Insanity!"
Thamptis spins and glares at his siblings as they are about to speak.
Thamptis: "Silence! I won't hear apologies or excuses! I know all about the rivalry and the relationships! None of it matters now as we have lost one of our most powerful allies!"
Thamptis walks out to the balcony with Elizabeth Devereaux and Nebiryau right behind him.
Nebiryau: "What will you do, Elder Brother?"
Thamptis sighs, looking over London as it shrinks in the distance.
Thamptis: "I won't punish either of you for your passions. I will punish Britain and Druscilla for their treason. I will call upon all of my power."
Nebiryau: "All of it? Thamptis! The portal is sealed with some of your power!"
Thamptis waves him off.
Thamptis: "If the evil army comes through again, we will defeat it again. We are in a better position to do so now than then."
Devereaux: "How will you punish Britain, Elder Brother?"
Thamptis: "They must be made to know the penalty for crossing me. An example."
Nebiryau: "Thamptis, I know that Druscilla has caused us harm yet again. It's just that-"
Thamptis: "You love sick fool. I will not kill her today, though we will do so if we need to in the future. No, I have something a bit more dramatic in mind."
Thamptis breaths in deeply, drawing in some of the power he has stored in various power troves in the castle over the years. Green motes of light fly into his mouth to be sucked in. When this stops, it's a few more minutes before a large green star flies from the South East. It shrinks as it nears Thamptis until it enters his mouth.
He points an open palm out over the Atlantic Ocean.
Thamptis: "The Stone Rain was the height of my power then. This is a fraction of my full power now."
Thamptis shouts a word of power, sending out a stream of yellow and green energies entwined.
We follow the beam as it travels across the ocean until we can see the small island of Iceland. The beam strikes the island in the center.
Off in the distance, the Three Siblings can see the massive explosion long before they can hear it.
Thamptis: "Let this act ring out across the entire world. The ocean will rush in and fill the void left by Iceland, but not before the shockwave strikes everywhere nearby with waves that these people will have never seen before."
Thamptis walks away from the balcony as Elizabeth and Nebiryau look to each other with concern.
The Ruins, the Spirit, and the Portal
At the ruins of the arena in Luxor, Egypt...
Two men stagger to the ruins. Their clothes are ragged and bloody and they appear as if they had not food or water in some time. As they reach the scorched walls where the Dread Dragon had struck years before, they collapse to their knees.
"Please, kindly Spirit of Luxor! Help us! We have escaped the prison in Cairo, but we need food and water!"
A blue mist envelops the area, enveloping the two strangers. If feels their spirits, checking their stories, searching for enchantments, and putting their minds at ease.
When the mist begins to clear, a ghostly shape of a woman appears. She is a woman in a blue dress with a sad smile. She motions with her hand and pitchers of water and plates of food appear before the two men.
Woman: "Eat, drink, and find rest. This is a sacred place that Carthage dare not enter."
The men dig into the offerings, but when they are satisfied, they look closer at the woman.
"Rose? Rose Johnston? We traveled with you on the way to Israel!"
"We're Shocktroopers that were captured near Cairo while trying to hold of creatures so everyone else can make it by. We've been in prison ever since until about a week ago! Why are you-are you?"
Rose smiles, but you can tell that the smile does not quite reach her eyes.
Johnston: "I tried to retake Egypt, but was defeated and killed. I have been here in search of...looking for..."
"Captain Rogers. We were part of his security, but he sent us with everyone else to make sure that the caravan made it to Israel. When we knew we wouldn't make it by Cairo, that's when we stayed behind. To follow in his example."
Johnston: "Thank you for that. If it wasn't for the sacrifices of Captain Rogers and his brave men, we might not have made it into Israel. You are both brave, brave heroes."
Just then a sphere of energy flies by from the depths of the ruined arena. Rose Johnston frowns and moves inside. The Shocktroopers follow until all three stand before a great gateway that is closed by flames and sealed with a glowing green sigil.
Johnston: "I saw this before, but didn't understand the meaning of it. What has happened?"
The green sigil begins to fade away and then vanish. With it, the flames that sealed the door also vanish to bring a great city into clarity.
Johnston: "You two must go! Find Allen Anderson and tell him what has happened here! He must come and discover what lies beyond this gateway! There is a functioning jeep just south of the arena! Use it!"
The two men salute Rose Johnston with smiles.
"We will do as commanded. We thank you for your help."
The two men rush out of the ruins to go find the jeep. Rose Johnston stares through the gateway, making out the sight of men in old plate mail standing at the walls of the city.
Johnston: "What does this mean? What does this mean for the war plaguing our world?"