Meh.
Well if I do disappear and don’t come back, I already left my picks (and backup plan) with @TaliaParks. Of course he’s asleep now too so in that case we’d be waiting another 9 hours or so from now anyway. But at least things were decided upon. Past that it’s out of me control again.
Zelfore had acquired two mementos to call upon his new allies, Mercy, and Moloch. With the most difficult part of his journey out of the way, their next stop awaited in the city of Adana.
The metallic rusted city was not of great appeal to Zelfore, finding the various contraption strewn through rather crude and inconvenient in design. Still, there was one ally that would be of much use within, just now coming upon their oddly scented shop.
The brewery was no pub, but instead a place of concoctions and unknown ingredients, multi-colored liquids lined the walls with unintelligible writing describing their names and effects, at least that what to be assumed considering none but the writer himself could say which way the notes read.
“Alchemist!” Zelfore bellowed for the potion maker, little patience as the time for battle drew nearer. A sudden *boom* could be heard from the back.
“Yes, yes! I’m coming, hold your explosions.” The Alchemist cam forth from the nearby room, covered in ash and a heavily color-stained robe. “Where do you Heroes learn you manners? Always in such a hurry. I swear.”
“Alchemist, I would like you to join me in the upcoming competition.”
The old man started wiping himself with the table rag, “Ah yes, I heard of this competition. I wondered whether I would be asked to participate. Not that I minded either way, mind you.” He paused, finishing his quick clean-up, “I accept your invitation. I’ll go ahead, I assume you have somewhere else to be.”
“Indeed, I do.” Zelfore exited the shop, needing to make one final stop before his team would be complete.
Alchemist is brewed up for battle!
Apologies for the wait. Forgot to check for an hour and it’s suddenly then that you’re needed. 
@Shiratori, it’s all yours, if you’re still on.
My soothsayer!
Um MY Soothsayer you mean.
It was the last hurdle and quite honestly the most beautiful. Zelfore briskly walked into Pan’s Vale to acquire his final ally.
While home to many kinds peaceful creatures, they weren’t ones to back down when threatened. There were plenty of battle ready Fey, some which used their foes strength against them, and others that acted with such speed and grace that few could keep up.
Zelfore listened carefully for the target, drowning out all other noise around them to catch it.
The song.
Rushing to the sound, Zelfore came upon a well-lit meadow, in the center upon a stone sat the Siren.
“And what brings you here, oh traveler?” She spoke without ever turning to face me.
“I know you have not likely heard, as you land is secluded and not one for mindless bloodshed, but there is a competition, a battle to be fought for rewards. I ask that you help me in my venture.”
She sat quietly for a moment, no noise aside from the wind and rustling of leaves could be heard. It reminded me of the last time I’d come here to vanquish the deafened foe. She sat up, the small woodland creatures gathered around her scampering off, “Very well. Let us see where this event may take us.” She turned her head and smirked fiendishly.
Siren has sung her tune!
We returned to the Broken Spire stadium, entering the waiting rooms where we found Alchemist waiting.
“Ah, welcome back ol’ friend! I take this woman here to be our last ally?” He pointed to Siren, she nodded silently in response, “And where be the others then?”
Zelfore pulled out the Merciful Crest and Menacing Totem from my travel sack. After summoning Mercy and Moloch, a speech was in order, “The time is nearly upon us! This is not a fight for the most powerful, or most beloved, it is a battle of appeal! We will take on the enemies and aim for victory, in the time remaining, ready yourselves!”
The contest was nearly upon us. Who shall be our first opponent.
Final Line-Up: Alchemist, Siren, Mercy, Moloch
@PowerPlay, time to prove your drafting skills!
I deny any responsibility in the above explosion. No one saw me in the back of that shop, and the alchemist knows mum’s the word. Or as someone said…
@PowerPlay is that a no one my trade offer?
That would be a no.
Power Play traveled far and wide with Sheggra, Herdmaster and Banshee, hoping to come across a musician of such renown that his very tunes turn enemies into shivering masses of blood and flesh. He finds one such minstrel named Elwyn, who is currently playing a lute version of Free Bird. The unicorn stands in awe and waits for he performance to end. After several minutes and over 12,000 gold coins in tips, Power looks at Elwyn.
“Holy… bucking… hell. I can’t even do that in the game that song is in but here you are, hitting it note for note! I bow to your prowess with the lute. I also ask that you join my team. There’s just enough room for you.”
Elwyn gives the unicorn a headtilt, unsure what to make of this request.
“I’ll also throw in 1,000 gold.”
Elwyn joins Power Play’s menagerie!
@Bobomb is next, yes?
Correct
Bobomb walks through the grounds near the Arena, deep in thought. How did the glowing emerald find its way to him? What is the meaning behind it? His allies have pledged their allegiance to his cause for the combat, drawn by the mysterious power of the gem. Perhaps the mystic forces of nature are showing their favour. Yet one ally is missing. Where might it be found? Whom to turn to? Thoughts whirl inside his mind. The boar rider brought tidings from his lord, who might look kindly upon a solemn request. An eerie, silent, disturbing entity has shared his sleep on some nights. Looking out over the Arena, he considers the might of the fearsome hulk known as the Gobchomper. Which to choose? Bobomb pulls out the emerald gemstone, seeking an answer in its malachite depths. As he stares, he sees the world, split into facets, refracted, broken, multiplied. The mesmerising depths divide and merge together. More, have more. Take more until all is one. Until all is won.
The earth begins to tremble, then shake. The stone glows brighter, becoming iridescent. A shaft of light shoots out towards a nearby oak. It sunders, crumbles into chips. And the chips begin to move, looking more and more like some scaly, writhing thing that raises its wicked head, no heads! And the eyes of the great snakes glint green. The hydra. The chosen totem. Endless potential made flesh.
Hail Hydra! Let the meek tremble!
@actreal, the gauntlet is tossed to you!
As the combatants select their final Troops, Actreal can be seen arguing loudly with his captain, Shadow-hunter.
“I cannot allow this!”
“You cannot? When you gave your services to me, you agreed to the rules of competition, which state I can choose whomever I wish!”
“I anticipated that I would fight alongside daemons and undead, but it is unseemly for me to fight alongside a mercenary who has not yet returned to the Clans! My people might think I was a mercenary, seeking my own personal honor!”
“You’re working for me, aren’t you? What is the difference?”
“…”
At the entrance to the Courtyard, a large, broad figure appears and the source of the argument becomes clear. The figure strides towards Actreal, drawing a giant sword and kneels before him.
“I am summoned and I come.”
The Rakshanin does not once look at the Raksha princess as he moves to Actreal’s side.
@Tacet, it’s time for your last troop selection.
The Competitors were surprised to hear the event for the afternoon consisted of a challenge to best a Cyclops in personal, weaponless combat.
Competitor after competitor fell as nobody’s strength could match the Giant’s.
When it came for @Tacet to attempt to defeat the hideous creature, instead of stretching and preparing to fight he chose to drop to his knees and hand-dig a hole in the sprawling field outside the compound’s grounds.
The Cyclops rushed towards the unassuming @Tacet and raised it’s foot to drive it, and @Tacet’s head, into the ground. At the last possible moment, @Tacet rolls out of the way and the Cyclops stomps into the freshly-dug hole, trapping it’s leg up to it’s knee in the dry dirt.
“Great work @Tacet. Not all problems are solved by brute strength. Now once you dig out the Cyclops, you can claim your prize. The Cyclops itself!”, announces the Commissioner as the day’s events come to a close.
@DemonicDraco, you are on the clock!
I almost came in time. xD
dwarf lord
Um gigity i think.
Warlock I’m out with my wife and cannot check who is next
@Grimmorith is next according to the spreadsheet in the OP
Some people are following this closely 