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gobboguy · 10 months ago

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Chapter 34: The Grand Tourney

Phax, the sprawling capital of Zigan, unfolded like a fantastical tapestry before the eyes of those who entered its majestic gates. Towering spires, reminiscent of dragon's teeth, reached for the heavens, their intricate designs a testament to the dwarven craftsmanship that adorned every corner of the city. Each spire seemed to tell a story of centuries past, whispering tales of a civilization deeply rooted in its history.

The dwarves of Zigan, distinct from their kin in Bhia, paraded through the bustling streets, clad in garments that reflected a unique style and flavor. Their clothes, bearing the unmistakable touch of Zigan's cultural influence, flowed with intricate patterns and vibrant colors. The clang of jewelry that studded the beards of the dwarven men and the meticulously braided hair of the females added a symphony of sound to the lively atmosphere.

In the heart of Phax stood the grand Arena, a colossal structure that dominated the landscape. Its architecture spoke of a civilization deeply intertwined with the gladiatorial arts. The centerpiece of the arena was a massive statue of the Chief of the Old Kobblin Religion, Agieltha, Lady of Frost. The grand statue of Agieltha, Lady of Frost, stood proudly in the heart of Phax, holding a colossal ice crystal aloft as if offering it to the heavens. The crystal, crafted from shimmering glass, captured the ambient light and refracted it into a breathtaking display of a thousand pinpoints of brilliance that danced across the city. Agieltha's massive braids, intricately woven and tied into a knot resembling a braided horsetail, cascaded down her back, a testament to the dwarven craftsmanship that paid homage to the Lady of Frost's revered presence.

Her armor, meticulously carved and adorned, gleamed with an ethereal radiance, embodying both strength and beauty. Agieltha's facial expression conveyed a stern disapproval, a stoic countenance that watched over the city with unwavering resolve. Her eyes, carved with an otherworldly intensity, seemed to pierce through the souls of those who gazed upon her, echoing the ancient tales of her icy authority and protective spirit. As the glass crystal illuminated the night, Agieltha's statue became a beacon of both reverence and awe, a guardian overseeing the grandeur of Zigan's festivities.

As the city expanded across the land, the horizon was dominated by the grandeur of Phax. Dwarves from far and wide flocked to witness the grand tournament of Zigan, turning the city into a mosaic of diverse faces, accents, and styles. The anticipation in the air was palpable, promising a spectacle that would resonate through the ages.

In the heart of the grand arena, the clash of steel echoed as House Dwordrum faced off against Zigan's formidable House of Stonefolk. The melee unfolded with a chaotic ballet of combatants, each dwarf wielding an array of weapons that glinted menacingly in the sunlit arena. Gelbeg, the seasoned gladiator, stood alongside elven dwarves, a unique blend of agility and strength, facing the Stonefolk Dozen Dwarves.

Spears, swords, tridents, and nets filled the air as House Stonefolk unleashed their arsenal upon their adversaries. The arena became a whirlwind of action, dwarves on both sides falling to the ground amid the cacophony of battle. Gelbeg and Kathur fought back to back, their synchronicity evident in every strike and parry. The Dozen Dwarves closed in, encircling them on all sides.

As the pressure mounted, Gelbeg turned to Kathur with a sly grin, a spark of mischief in his eyes. "Hey Kathur, do you reckon these dwarves have ever felt the fury of a storm?" Kathur met Gelbeg's gaze, a nod of understanding passing between them. "Let's show them a hurricane, Gelbeg." In a daring move, Gelbeg dropped his weapon and seized Kathur by the ankles. With a powerful swing, Gelbeg whirled Kathur around like a devastating storm. Kathur, holding his axe aloft, became a whirlwind of destruction, beheading multiple enemy dwarves as Gelbeg spun him in a relentless and awe-inspiring display of combat prowess. The arena fell momentarily silent, the audience stunned by the unexpected and spectacular maneuver.

The arena trembled as a colossal Minotaur gladiator charged towards Gelbeg and Kathur with relentless force. In a split-second decision, Gelbeg reacted, throwing Kathur to the side to avoid the impending collision. As Kathur rolled away, Gelbeg swiftly evaded the Minotaur's charge, narrowly escaping the devastating impact. However, Kathur found himself surrounded by vengeful enemies, eager to exploit the opportunity.

Gelbeg, realizing the precarious situation, scrambled to his feet. A quick assessment revealed he was unarmed, an unsettling realization in the face of the Minotaur's looming threat. The massive beast brandished a heavy two-handed axe, a formidable weapon that heightened the urgency of Gelbeg's predicament. Sweat dripped from Gelbeg's brow as he scanned the chaotic battlefield, strategizing his next move. With determination etched on his face, Gelbeg prepared to face the Minotaur head-on, relying on his wits and agility to navigate the perilous situation.

Gelbeg assumed a battle stance, firmly planting his feet and raising clenched fists as he took a calming breath, preparing himself for the imminent clash. The Minotaur, snorting with an evil gleam in its eyes, seemed convinced of its impending victory. With a thunderous bellow and a relentless charge, the massive creature lunged toward Gelbeg, who stood resolute and ready for the confrontation. The arena echoed with the clash of imminent combat, the anticipation hanging in the air as Gelbeg faced the charging Minotaur with unwavering determination.

As the Minotaur approached, Gelbeg honed his focus. With the Minotaur raising its axe high for a powerful swipe, Gelbeg surprised everyone by swiftly extending his fist straight up, holding his arm rigid against the oncoming weapon. The haft of the axe struck the outside edge of his fist, causing the blade to slide down and crash onto the ground. The ensuing dust cloud temporarily obscured the fighters from view. As the particles settled, the Minotaur stood in shock, realizing that his attack had been effortlessly deflected, leaving Gelbeg unscathed. Grinning savagely, Gelbeg taunted with a cocky attitude, "Want to try again?" The arena erupted with cheers and roars as spectators marveled at Gelbeg's skillful and audacious maneuver.

The Minotaur let out a loud bellow and seized the axe, attempting a horizontal swipe. Once more, Gelbeg defied expectations. Just as the axe was about to connect, Gelbeg lifted his foot and stomped on the flat part of the weapon, driving it into the ground without inflicting harm upon himself. The Minotaur, frustrated and bewildered, let out another moo. Gelbeg, reveling in his feat, taunted the creature with his characteristic cocky attitude. "What's the matter? Did you roll out the wrong side of the stable?" The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers, thoroughly entertained by Gelbeg's audacious and skillful display against the formidable Minotaur.

The Minotaur abandoned its axe, driving the blade into the ground. With a resounding moo, it launched a relentless assault on Gelbeg, a flurry of punches and kicks executed with astonishing speed that left the audience in awe. Gelbeg displayed incredible agility, deftly dipping and dodging with each lightning-fast attack. The crowd gasped as each strike came perilously close to crushing Gelbeg's skull, showcasing the orc's remarkable reflexes and nimbleness in the face of the Minotaur's onslaught. The tension in the arena soared as Gelbeg danced on the edge of danger, narrowly avoiding each powerful blow.

With a devilish smirk, Gelbeg eagerly anticipated the Minotaur's next move. The moment arrived as the colossal creature charged, lowering its head for a bullrush. Gelbeg seized the opportunity, his instincts honed through relentless gladiatorial training. Swiftly sidestepping the charging Minotaur, Gelbeg skillfully grabbed its massive horns. Leveraging his own considerable weight, Gelbeg expertly turned the Minotaur downward, slamming the formidable beast into the ground. The culmination of harsh lessons learned in the unforgiving arena had brought Gelbeg to the peak of his prowess, and in this critical moment, he reveled in the satisfaction of applying his skills with precision and finesse.

Gelbeg's moment of triumph turned swiftly into a struggle as he underestimated the cunning of the Minotaur. Beyond being a mere beast, the Minotaur possessed the intelligence of a man. As the Minotaur lifted itself from the ground, it seized a handful of sand and hurled it at Gelbeg, effectively blinding him. Gelbeg's surprised cry was met with a punishing front kick to the stomach, knocking the wind out of him and sending him sprawling. The Minotaur, triumphant in its tactical use of the environment, let out a victorious moo as it flexed its formidable muscles. To further exploit Gelbeg's predicament, the Minotaur began kicking up dust, further obfuscating Gelbeg's vision and leaving him vulnerable to the next assault.

The Minotaur, engulfed in a cloud of dust, charged headlong into what it believed would be Gelbeg's location, only to find emptiness. Confusion crossed its bestial features as it slowed down, attempting to peer through the lingering dust. Suddenly, a potent kick slammed into the side of its head, sending the Minotaur to its knees. As the dust settled, Gelbeg emerged, his eyes closed and thick with sand, but his stance remained ready, fist raised for another assault. The Minotaur, thoroughly enraged by this unexpected turn, screamed in fury and charged once more, convinced that Gelbeg's compromised vision would be its advantage.

To any onlooker, it appeared as though Gelbeg was on the brink of being gored to death by the charging Minotaur. However, appearances can be deceiving. Unfazed, Gelbeg calmly kicked up a great blast of sand toward the sound of the approaching creature. Relying on his sharp Orcish ears, Gelbeg discerned the subtle noises of sand particles hitting the Minotaur. Blindness posed no obstacle for Gelbeg; his superior Orcish senses allowed him to detect the Minotaur just as effectively as his eyesight would. His stance and positioning were deliberate. As the Minotaur closed in, Gelbeg sidestepped and tripped the creature, sending it hurtling toward the head of the axe still embedded in the ground. The crowd gasped in collective shock as the Minotaur met its demise, beheaded by its own weapon. As the spectators remained in stunned silence, Gelbeg, eyes closed, raised his hand, and the arena erupted in cheers.

The cheers echoed through the massive arena as Gelbeg stood triumphant, showcasing not only his physical prowess but also his strategic intelligence. The unexpected turn of events left the audience in awe, and Gelbeg, despite his blindness, reveled in the sweet taste of victory. The acclaim from the crowd washed over him, a testament to his skill and resourcefulness in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Gelbeg's closed eyes hid the satisfaction within, as he basked in the adulation of the masses who now saw him as a true gladiatorial master.

Gelbeg's victory showcased not just his individual triumph but also the indomitable spirit of House Dwordrum. As he stood in the center of the arena, the roars of the crowd symbolized not only their appreciation for his skills but also their acknowledgment of the resilience and strength that House Dwordrum represented. In that moment, Gelbeg, the last of his kind, stood as a beacon of hope, proving that even in the face of darkness, the spirit of the Orcs could shine brightly. The cheers continued, a resounding chorus echoing through the colossal arena, marking a moment that would be etched into the annals of gladiatorial history.

As the tumultuous celebration unfolded around them, Kathur emerged from the jubilant crowd, his body marked with the scars of battle, yet his countenance radiant with joy. Pushing through the throng of celebrating dwarves, he approached Gelbeg, a broad smile stretching across his face. In a voice filled with genuine admiration, Kathur praised Gelbeg for his unparalleled prowess, acknowledging the pivotal role he played in securing victory for House Dwordrum and the glory of Bhia. The two warriors, bonded by the trials of the arena, exchanged heartfelt words, and their camaraderie culminated in a manly handshake that resonated with the unspoken understanding between them. The Grand Tourney had concluded, and House Dwordrum stood triumphant, a testament to the unyielding spirit of brotherhood forged in the crucible of battle.

#fantasy #goblins #orcs #literature #gobboguy #songsofpower6

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zebee-nyx · 1 year ago

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Neocago City

[ / / / Flag of Neocago & the NEX Conglomerate / / / ]

Neocago was founded atop the mostly abandoned city of Chicago following the Great Collapse by Phax Technologies. The city currently stands as one of the most populated in the American East, being one of the few cities in the world to have exceeded it's pre-collapse populations.

Stats & Info:

Population (as of 2020 CE): + Estimated Total Population: ~21,534,600 + Estimated Meta Population: ~6,250,000 + Estimated Android / Progen Population: ~3,000,000

Area (as of 2020 CE): + Neocago City: 340 sq mi + Population Density: 63,337/sq mi

Misc. Information: + Demonym: Neocagoan + Common Languages: English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, French + Originally Founded: March 4th, 1837 CE + Abandonment: 1987 CE - 1993 CE + Reconstructed Began: April 9th, 1996 CE

History:

In the late 1980s Chicago began experiencing a mass exodus due to growing food scarcity and rising violence. By 1991 most government functions across the Midwest effectively ceased. It wasn't long before corporations began filling in the power vacuum. One of these corporations was Plax Technologies, a major technology company responsible for massive advances in cybernetics over the last couple decades. In 1996 Plax-Tech began seizing property around the nearly abandoned city, often using rudimentary androids as manpower for takeovers and rebuilding.

With their properties secured, Plax-Tech began working on massive projects to revitalize the city that they renamed Neocago. Among these included preplanning, rebuilding the buildings in disrepair, contracting the construction of agri-towers and large modular housing blocks, and developing a city wide AI known to very few. These projects started to show early successes and began to draw in people across the globe with the promise of food, clean water, shelter, and security.

However, the reign of Plax-Tech didn't last long as in 2000 a coalition of the corporations that they had contracted to rebuild the city turned on them. In a rapid hostile takeover the organization that would become known as the NEX Conglomerate had the board of Plax-Tech executed and quickly seized as much of the corporation's assets as they could. In the scramble the elusive AI was lost, only leaving behind the codename "Holo" as any evidence that it had even existed.

Ever since the take over NEX has had dominance over the city. While the financial center of the city never stopped growing much of the city has been left to it's own devices. Junk piles up around the city, many buildings across the southern half of the city now known as the "Undercity" are haphazardly built atop one another, and any sense of order outside of the gleaming LED lights of the "Uppercity" waxes and wanes at the whims of gangs and small local companies.

Outside of Neocago, NEX has been slowly expanding their territorial holdings. Following a few aggressive acquisitions they managed to extend their collective ownership around Lake Michigan. During the Corporate War of 2008 they obtained several properties across the globe, thus securing access to vital resources and markets worldwide.

In current times the city is seen as the envy of the world from the outside and an absolute hellscape from the inside. Violence, exploitation, and rampant consumerism have all just become a part of everyday life for the average Neocagoan. Meanwhile the core of the city is in a constant power struggle between different corporations all clambering to make it to the top.

[Note: some details subject to change]

#writeblr #writing #cyberpunk #worldbuilding #Neocago #Digitally Dead

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