Fivefs

"Time is relative and given your position you have plenty to spate. You seem familiar, are you a descendant of a survivor from the original club? And as for my offer, before I had considered the committee foolish, but now I better understand the subtle nuances that it affords. So with my collection of rare items and wealth and the connections that the committee has I feel my induction may be mutal beneficial. But perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself, maybe we should simply start with some wagers and enjoying the fights."

@, Knightfall grinned, "Hmph, you're not very smart are you? First, Swordpoint was the winner of my match, Lite Shade fought some weakling. Also you might not understand it but sssome battle that are much bigger than a little stadium sssquable are being fought on a much larger ssscale, the game of pawns is no interest to me. Ssecond, I'm the spirit of an ancient Dragon Lord and what are dragons know for? GREED. A normal dragon collects a hoard of staggering wealth, I was a Dragon King, what do you think my hoard isss like? And finally, I'm an old dragon. I was around when the original Black Black Club started the Dark Tournament, how else would I know of there little groupss name? I supported them in their activities and we had many lucrative dealings. I'm wish meet those had the ability to restore the old wayss and establish new mutually beneficial tiesss. Would your masters be happy if you turned away such an opportunity?"

@,@, @ Knightfall had found his way to the committee's private seating, several groups of different creatures and ponies stood outside the door, obviously the bodyguards of the committee. Knightfall approached cautiously, these were dangerous warriors and he was still weak and the committee inside was not something to trifle with. "I would like to humbly request an audience with the committee, please inform the Black Black Club that Knightfall will be joining them to watch the remainder of this rounds fights." He stood waiting as a Minotaur turned to speak into an intercom.

@,@, @, (Hey guys sorry for that delay that made my response so strange haha had a work shift that got in the way) Knightfall let the two ponies lead him along, he could at least pretend that Rune still had some control but he was so far off in his dreams that nothing Knightfall did right now would rouse him. After they left he got up, 'Now time to go have a little talk with the ponies running this show.' He trotted out of the infirmary and set out to find the Tournament Committees box seating.

@, "Yeah, the great thing about it is it's runic, so the longer you have it the more powerful it will become, like some big battery you can store in or draw from," Rune Beaker yawned his eyes drooping, "just don't absorb it all at once like you did the last one or break it cause the alchemy circle is in there somewhere and I don't know what it might do to you..." His head was bobbing up and down eyes slowly closing falling asleep standing up, "but it's made of my magic too so," a large yawn, " since my magic is getting better at resisting Knightfall it should," yawn, "slow the curse and be more fire resist....." Rune fell asleep then and there. However his eyes slowly open and shook his head back forth, his irisis blood orange and oval pupils. "Heh, Swordpoint good to see you again, got any questions about that curse of yours? Cause if not get out of my way I have work to do," Knightfall grinned cruelly. Rune's body remained almost the same except for his tongue which had become slightly forked.

@, "Well you absorbed your armor yesterday when you were fighting me then used it to overload the alchemist circle, so you can't use it anymore, but I mean I bet you'll need it if you want a chance at winning so I worked to make a new one. I know it's not Celestia made so it might not be as good but I compressed all the runes and the circle from the fight into it and the magic you used left an impression of what it was like and how it worked" Rune, sleep deprived as he was, realized he was rambling, "just try summoning in the armor, haha lets see how it turned out."

The magic circle wrapped it's way around Swordpoint covering him like a mummy in runic text and patterns and then sinking into his skin to disappear. "Oh yup of course! haha and it worked too! I had to pay you back I mean for what I-... what Knightfall did, though I had a part of it too. I want you to win so you can undo what he did and to win you've got to be at your strongest."

@, "Nothing, hold still this might pinch a little." Rune lit up his horn and stamped his hoof, "At least it should only be a little... I hope I cast it all right. Oh well." He flicked his head upward and his magic flared. The circular rune suddenly snapped up on to Swordpoint like a bear trap, pieces of it flipping out and clamping like smaller rat traps all across his hide. The swirling patterns flowed to the points where it met his skin pushing their way out and digging into his skin. Rune Breaker grimaced, "Okay! Little more than a pinch! Sorry! Don't fight it though, try to stay still..."

@, "Okay..." Rune's gaze started to become distant before snapping back, "yeah follow me." He turned trotting back to the 3rd arena, there were no more runes or the circle visible at all, except for at the very center of the ring which glowed blindingly bright. It seem to be a rune contained in the ground but patterns seem to swirl in it, they couldn't be made out though they were too bright it hurt to try and look at them so closely. "Swordpoint go stand in the center of that."

@, At first Rune didn't realize that Swordpoint had trailed off and began to reply, "I've been working really hard on something," his fogged mind caught up with him as he saw the strange look on Swordpoint's face, it seemed like happiness, confusion disbelief and peace all at the same time, "I think it will help you a-... Are you okay?'

@, @, "You've got a horrible curse on your head eating away at your brain! And it's there because of me, of course I'm distressed!" Rune was obviously very sleep deprived and the words came out sounding a lot worse then he had intended. But his mind was operating slowly right now so he didn't seem to notice or care.

Rune Breaker jolted awake, he was in a cot in the infirmary and still very very tired. 'What?! No! How did I get here? Did I fall asleep I couldn't have fallen asleep!' 'Heh, you did worm and you know what happens when you fall asleep.' Runes eyes narrowed glancing around the room, his sleep deprived mind racing full of paranoia 'What did you do?! Why am I here?! How long did you have control!?' Knightfall sounded absolutely delighted with himself, 'Heh heh heh. You are so easy to play with. I did nothing I've been saving my energy. The cursed one and the one kissed by fire came and left you here.' "What!?!" Rune yelled out startling the medics, "Swordpoint is already at the tournament? I've got to go get him!" He quickly galloped out of the room to find the others.

@ Rune Breaker sat just before the center of arena 3 the runes and circle from the last fight were gone. He was in a semi-asleep somewhat mediative state. He hadn't slept last night, he had been working on the ring all night, all that was left was a simple sustained magic flow to keep improving it. The cheers from the 1st arena distracted him briefly, he glanced around figuring out where it was coming from. He had dark bags under his bloodshot eyes but he'd keep working till someone made him stop. He wanted to sleep; he was weak again but it didn't bother him last night and the magic had been for a good cause. It wouldn't be long before Swordpoint came back and then had to fight again. For now he closed his eyes focus his magic into the spot in front of him again.

New possible names for Bomb Voyage since I think you weren't set on that right? How about: Fuseloose or Chancy Dud? Fuseloose, it is a play on footloose meaning to be eager to travel, the fuse part is pretty obvious haha so I just imagine it as being the feeling she has around live explosives, she just wants to travel any where but here when the fuse is loose haha Chancy Dud, I like this one because you described her as such an unlucky pony but she is still here and given her line of work she is as lucky as she is unlucky. And the idea that even when you have an explosive that is a dud sometimes it's not as dead as you think and you need to treat even an explosive dud with respect and a bit of fear.

@, @, @, @, @, @@Sapphire, Blank hadn't done it on purpose but as the voice had blast in the room explaining a little more of what was going on and what the key to this room was, he just continued laying on the floor watching all the ponies react and respond. He continued to do this even as the light blue unicorn walked into the next room and fell away and did nothing as the dark pegasus pulled her out. He didn't like it, none of it, not one bit. 'The voice had never said anything about killing each other, but most of the ponies had jumped to it instantly. Although they instantly start speaking against it, it showed that their minds were already mulling over the idea...' As far as was concerned the only one he could trust right now was the strange talking one. He was cruel and disregarding the others but at least that was honest. 'I can trust him, because I know what he'll do. If I get in his way or slow him down, won't hesitate to fix the situation. Hmmm, the others seem pretty good and truthful though... I just don't know where the chips will fall with this.' He used his magic to give the many pockets of his vest a once over, everything was still there including the switch blade and gimmicked roulette gun and its one unpredictable bullet. 'So what type of stallion were you Blank? Are you ready to kill others to get out of this? You think these were yours before, you must have been dangerous... No I'm not that type of pony. I'll play along for now.' "Hey, brown guy you asked for a hat? I can't give you mine but," his magic running through his many pockets, "ah! I bet this could work!" From the pockets depths came a small stuff animal, it was hefty full of beans, made to look like a little Wiener Dog complete with a little leather leash. He used his magic to toss it to the mean acting earth pony. Then he looked at the other ponies, "The announcement never said anything about killing each other, just about narrowing down the field and given what happen to her," he point at the light blue water logged unicorn, "It's pretty obvious we could simply eliminate ourselves..."

@@aRegularPony, Knightfall felt Rune Breaker stirring and was force to calm his loud thoughts toward Mao. He sent one last message, 'Hmmph... Bah! Stupid slug won't wake up fine. Just remember this mind reader, you'll hear from me again, when that happens you will answer me. It will be one hoof beat for yes and two for no, I will here you and we will converse as such.' @, Rune Breaker shifted restlessly something was bugging him and he couldn't remember what. 'Couldn't Remember' he jolted awake sitting in the infirmary. He could hear Knightfall rumbling quietly in the back of his mind he couldn't understand what though. He noticed the note on his chest and reading it got up went the mirror examining his horn. He smiled the pegasus was right most of the damage from the fight was undone. Thinking of Swordpoint made his heart sink, distantly he swore he could hear Knightfall laugh. He looked sadly at the pegasus soundly asleep in the nearby cot. It was a terrible curse that had been put upon him, though still it was a slow one. He had a year at least probably more. 'We'll find a way to break it, I promise.' He swore Knightfall laughed again, his voice came weak barely existent in Rune's head, 'You know how wards work worm, you know no one can fake that magic. There is no saving him.' Rune gave a soft and sad sigh as he looked down at Swordpoint once more, 'I know you want an explanation as soon as possible but you need to sleep. The knowledge would only weigh you down tonight and you need all your strength for the fight tomorrow. I'll tell you in the morning. Sleep well my brother born of battle.' Rune Breaker turned and left the room. He made his way through the stadium and then through the contestants lounge, he walked through the gladiators gate into the 3rd arena. He stopped and stared at it, the alchemy circle was still glowing gently. He took a deep breath preparing himself and gathering his strength, he had a great deal of work to do and it was going to be a long night.

Blank moaned from the floor, "that was stupid..." He shifted the move off his face. "Okay I'm settled down now," it was a lie but he was doing his best to not let the situation make him too paranoid again. 'Okay time to start playing it cool, even if I'm freaked the fuck out.' His heart and mind were still racing.

@@aRegularPony, Rune Breaker laid in the infirmary cot sleeping peacefully it was the best sleep since Knightfall had entered his body. Usually when he slept the dragon would try and control his unconscious body but right now there was now pressure at all, nothing working to push him aside. A silent deep sleep was a blessing to him. But some evil never sleeps. Knightfall was weak but right now he didn't need to use magic or fight Rune for control, all he had to do was think and focus it towards a particular pony sharing the infirmary, asleep in a cot across the room. 'Hmph, mind reader, wakey! wakey! you slug. Time to open those pretty eyesss of yours, not physically that would be to obviousss but stop dreaming and hear me! Do you hear them when you sssleep? Do thoughts pouring in from all around since you can't keep them out? That must make for horrible nightmaresss or do you dream of others dreamsss? I could show you a nightmare or two. Heh. IF I THINK HARDER DO YOU HEAR ME LOUDER? WAKE UP MAO!'

Rune Breaker lunged forward wrapping his forehooves around Swordpoint's shoulder's, he was barely able to support himself. Weeping onto Swordpoint's back he was choking and hiccuping on his word, "I-I-I....ff-f-forf-*hic*-eit.... I-I..*sniff*...f-forfiet." His backlegs gave out falling so he was lean almost completely on Swordpoint, "I-I ccouldn't stop him, I-I'm sssorry. I'm sssorry, ssso sssorry. K-keep her-er in your head, k-keep thinkin-ing of her. Do-don't lettther g-o. I-I'm s-sorry, so-o s-sorry." Rune loosened his grip on Swordpoint slinking to the ground, where he lay; quietly blubbering over and over how sorry he was.

Done pretty much just need to forfeit and give the final call I really enjoyed that! @ If Swordpoint surives the tourney would you be interested in playing this story out more? I like how much we built into it haha and I mean we'll still have to play out the news of that last rune on your forehead during the rest of the time . Man, playing Knightfall makes me hate myself ugh trying to have that horrible mindset, this day has been exhuasting.