Of f*cking COURSE they brought you a dance partner… all these pious assholes enjoy watching the real talent work.

Of the many peculiarities that lingered about Althanas, perhaps none were more resonant to the aged warrior than the omnipresence of the truly gifted, and the propensity of those less endowed to force those powerful people to fight. The allure of gladiatorial combat was universal; an insight to the primal components of the human (or at least semi-human) instinct during times of duress. In times of peace, the uncovering of the great unknown horrors of war that could scare men into peace.

And propping up the power-puppets puts all those pedestrian pussies toe-to-line right quick. Some day I’m going to rally all of the special, and take down the controlling pedestrian class with me. This bullshit has to end.

His deep thoughts resonant as the tobacco swirled about his lungs, Storm popped a few large rings of blue-grey smoke out as signals to the approaching monstrosity. It was a familiar ghoul – the massive lava-man that called himself William. William had made his presence known to the wizard a few times; in previous combat alongside Shinsou, and in a similar combat-type scenario not so long ago. The staggering pile of rock, meat, and fire should have been stupid, but a keen intelligence lied behind those burning eyes. Finishing the intoxicant exhale, the electromancer felt his nostrils flare as he sized up the approaching danger.

Good news: he’s reasonable, likely pissed off at this nonsensical establishment, and makes a hell of an ally.

Bad news: he’s probably just pissed in general, and may see you as the barrier to getting what he wants, including possibly freedom.

…and he’s really good at fighting, and a hammer is wont to see the world as nails.

…and with his fiery affinity, your electric touch likely isn’t going to do shit here today.

Appearing wholly nonplussed, Storm instinctively tapped his daggers, sword and satchel, tiny touches to make sure that his faithful tools were still there. It wasn’t entirely clear if they’d be useful at all for anything except for making lovely craftwork amid the staggering heat of his potential adversary, however it still left the mage slightly more reassured to have them on hand.

Tugging his gauntlet into place beneath his long-sleeve shirt, the adventurer stood tall, as an Alerian Blowing-Beetle puffed wide to appear strong in spite of his internal terror. If he wanted to be run over, appearing weak or unconfident would make for a hell of a start. His voice boomed loud and clear, mid-range deep and strong.

“Well, well, Am’aleh be damned! William, correct? Storm Veritas at your leisure; I think last we spoke we tore down half of Radasanth in our wake.”

Or so he should remember. If he forgets the part about you being left to bleed out in a pool of blood, with electrically fused scars about your torso to prove it, all the better.

Gesturing about the large arena, Storm extended a raised, open palm at the two gates behind him.

“War. Famine. Pestilence. Death. These religious types have a flair for the dramatic. I’ve been told if we don’t play nice and try to kill each other, they send one of those big horse-backed bastards at us to end our little party. Conveniently, they’ve stripped me of my own big bastard of a horse.”

With eyes fixed on the approaching goliath, the wizard felt his silver-flecked hair yield a bead of sweat that had made its way to his brow. Hiding his nerves with this abomination bearing down on him was futile.

Ooh, the float! The float is always imposing. Do the float.

Smiling, Storm lowered his hands, directing an invisible pulse of electromagnetic energy at his own feet. The repulsive force of the charged field did the trick on his metal-soled shoes, lifting him casually some four feet from the ground, as though he were on the spine of an invisible horse. Clenching his teeth, the wizard struggled to keep perfectly steady as he maintained the hover trick he had learned.

“Me? Well, shit, I’m never one for playing nice. You have a particular horse you’d like to bet on today?”