- The RhyDin Post's black and gold logo flashes with an epic, orchestrated introduction theme. The logo spirals off the screen, and displays a high-tech news studio with flat screen television sets, and a massive, glossy black desk. Two men sit behind the desk. To the left (Peter Pham) is in his early thirties, of Asian ethnicity, has gelled black hair, and is in a navy blue suit. To the right (Chris Reed) is of Caucasian ethnicity with dark brown hair, is in his late thirties, is wearing a khaki suit, and has a vertical scar running down one side of his face. Both men, equipped with headsets, smile at the camera. -

Peter: How's it going, RhyDin" I'm Peter Pham, sports columnist for the RhyDin Post.

Chris: And I'm Chris Reed, former dueler.

Peter: Thanks for checking in with us today. We at the Post have been getting repeated inquiries about new challenge footage since the Showcase Showdown, so we caved in and sent in one of our cameramen to get one of the most controversial fights of the new year on tape.

Chris: That's right, Pete. We're talking about the challenge between Warlord Guillermus Fortis and Baroness of Dragon's Gate, Teagan Rielea.

Peter: Now, Fortis has been under a lot of criticism lately, Chris. Care to tell our viewers why"

Chris: Absolutely, Pete. Fortis, as I understand it, is a very talented dueler.

Peter: Most Warlords are.

Chris: Indeed. But as I understand it, Fortis has been extraordinarily vocal about his disapproval of the right to intercession in Swords dueling. Given that intercession is a well-known and frequently taken advantage of right, naturally the Warlord is going to have a lot of angry veterans hot on his tail.

Peter: As an ex-dueler, how does his comment make you feel"

Chris: All I have to say is, if you decide to take up dueling, then you deal with all its rules and regulations. You don't like it' Quit.

Peter: That's a valid point to make there, Chris. Now getting along to the challenge. It's no surprise that Baroness Rielea didn't wind up actually participating in the challenge thanks to an intercession from the Overlord.

Chris: It's only appropriate, Pete. Rielea is loyal to the Overlord. Of course he wouldn't let her pick up her sword first, if he disagrees with Fortis's perspective.

Peter: It only makes it all the more exciting! Rather than having a Baron-Warlord face-off, we're privileged to bring you an Overlord-Warlord face-off.

Chris: Should be a good one, Pete.

Peter: Despite his criticism, it doesn't look like Fortis is taking this match very seriously.

- Roll footage, pre-match. Focus on Guillermus's getup: t-shirt and slacks. -

Chris: Maybe he just got off work"

- Roll footage, pre-match. -

Rielea: "I have always chosen single match, I do not intent to change that for one idiot. But..." The blonde gestured toward the Overlord. "He's going first." Audience laughter.

Peter: The audience seems thoroughly amused at this point.

Chris: It's pure entertainment, Pete. Rielea is a talented little spitfire, and she's illustrating a point.

Peter: At least both Fortis and Overlord Carter made it into the ring without some horrible tragedy. So the duel's underway!

- Roll footage, Round 1. SS/FLP 0-.5 Fortis. -

Carter: He starts off with defense, the longsword flips out quickly and he arcs it up in a defensive set. A slow shake of his head as Guill simply steps around it.

Chris: What Carter's doing here is spending a round to get a feel for Fortis's style. He needs to check the man's footing.

Peter: You think he's just using that round for practice"

Chris: That's my sneaking suspicion.

- End footage Round 1. Roll footage, Round 2. LC/HC 1.5-1 Fortis. -

Fortis: A low slice, tagging Tical on the legs, but gets tagged himself, grunts a bit.

Carter: A quick step back out of the failed defense and he is going with what he knows. The longsword flashes out high and he sweeps it towards Guill's shoulder in a measured cross-cut. Even as he makes contact, he knows he left himself too open down low. The shot causes him to pull back with a grunt.

Chris: Youch! That's a double-hit. It looks like the Overlord is a little too eager to get some points on the board. He should have seen Fortis coming in low.

Peter: His eyes were on Fortis's shoulder. How could he"

Chris: That's a good point, Pete. And from what I'm seeing, Fortis doesn't give away his moves, either. He's very subtle.

Peter: No wonder he's made Warlord in such a short time.

- End footage Round 2. Roll footage, Round 3. TH/LC 2.5-1 Fortis. -

Peter: Ouuuuuuch. Fortis had to see that bookend coming from a mile away.

Chris: He's quick, Pete. Take a look at how he doesn't even hesitate once he finds an opening.

- Zoom in on Guillermus lunging. -

Chris: He's like an acrobat.

Peter: The Overlord will have to turn this thing around if he expects to prove his point.

Chris: Still, they spend the next round a little breathless, it seems.

Peter: Everyone's got to take a breather, Chris. Even you.

- End footage Round 3. Roll footage, Round 4 and 5. SH/FDU 2.5-1 Fortis; LP/LC 2.5-2 Fortis. -

Carter: Out of the duck, he rises and stalks back to Guill. No mind games this time, he cross-cuts out quickly and manages to tag under the offered parry.

Peter: And Carter's back in the game. We see here how the Overlord takes advantage of misdirection.

Chris: Absolutely. He sees Fortis bracing for an attack, so he changes strategies and goes in low.

- End footage Round 5. Roll footage, Round 6. DU/TH 2.5-3 Carter. -

Chris: Oh, beautiful. Beaaaaautiful! Just when he looks like he's pulling back, BAM! Skewers him like a shish kebab!

- Zoom in on Carter's connecting thrust. Rewind. Slow motion. A white arrow traces the direction of the move up until the point it hits. -

Peter: That's dangerous, Chris. I didn't even see that one coming.

Chris: They don't call him Overlord for nothing!

Peter: Still. Fortis has got skill, you have to admit. He sees Carter coming in low again and crosses with him before he can connect.

Chris: I don't blame him, Pete. That longsword of Carter's looks like it'll smart. Whatever he does, though, he must be making Fortis unsure of himself, because the Warlord gets antsy the next round and tries for an opening that isn't there.

- End footage Round 6. Roll footage, Round 7 and 8. LC/LC 2.5-3 Carter; TH/FLP 2.5-4 Carter. -

Carter: His grip instinctively tightens on the longsword, then relaxes again. His eyes narrow and he anticipates the lunge, that instinct pays off as he's able to guide the longsword into the path of the lunge and knock it away. His left elbow shot out after the deflection in an attempt to counter.

- Action replay on Guillermus's lunge. Slow-motion. A white arrow is drawn along the path of the lunge, and a half-circle is drawn onto the frame where Ticallion smoothly parries it and connects an elbow in one continuous motion. -

Chris: Look at the path of that thrust. Fortis is coming in hot and frustrated, and you can tell. His weapon's almost knocked from his hand with the force of the Overlord's parry.

Peter: And Carter manages to land an elbow. He means business.

Chris: Oh believe me. About a third of the way through a duel - it doesn't matter what kind it is - the adrenaline kicks in, and duelers just get pissed.

Peter: I shudder to think of what you must have been like in a ring, Chris.

Chris: - Laughter. -

- End footage Round 8. Roll footage, Round 9 and 10. LC/LC 2.5-4 Carter; FDU/FSS 2.5-4 Carter. -

Peter: Wow. You think they're tired, Chris"

Chris: It's not even that. I think Fortis is unsure of himself at this point and is backing off and going on the defensive.

Peter: And that would mean that Carter is responding accordingly.

- End footage Round 10. Roll footage, Round 11. FLP/HC 3.5-4 Carter. -

Fortis: Flatly parrying once more, finding it the perfect defense for the Overlord's cut.

Peter: And Fortis is back in the game. That defense seems to be working out for him after all, as the Overlord gets a little too eager and chances taking a shot at an opening that was really too small to begin with.

Chris: It's down to the wire, Pete. Can Fortis take it back, I wonder"

- End footage Round 11. Roll footage, Round 12. FCP/LC 4.5-4 Fortis. -

Peter: And take it back he does, but not by much. Still, if I were in the Overlord's shoes, I would have been biding my time. He had the lead; there's no need to get over-eager.

Chris: What you have to realize, Pete, is that duels - especially challenge duels - are exhausting. Both mentally and physically. He wants to end it quickly, and I don't blame him.

- End footage Round 12. Roll footage, Round 13. SH/HC 4.5-5 Carter. -

Carter: Undeterred, he steps back in and reverses the cut yet again. The cross-cut finally finding Guill as he drops into a brace.

Peter: Looks like the Overlord is onto his strategy here, Chris.

Chris: Absolutely. Carter is not buying into all this defense, so he goes in quick before Fortis can change his mind about that brace.

Peter: Still, if you'll take a look at the next round, Fortis doesn't change things up and it works out to his advantage.

- End footage Round 13. Roll footage, Round 14 and 15. SS/FCP 5 all; TH/FSS 6-5 Carter. -

- Camera pans over to duel caller Sinjin Fai. -

Fai: "Guil moves in with a hard thrust to break the tie and score himself a win against the friggin' OVERLORD! .....that's what I would have been yelling if Tical didn't just go thataway for some defensive justice."

Chris: Oh that's cruel! - Laughter. -

Carter: He took a step forward, the longsword kept between the two of them. At the last moment, he opts to spin to his right. And as Guill rushes in, he's able to bring his left elbow around and shoot it out for him to look for that final counter.

- Returns to round footage. Zoom in on Ticallion's last minute sidestep and retaliatory counter. Frame-by-frame, his expression is analyzed. -

Chris: This is quick thinking on the Overlord's part, Pete. Here we see just how quickly he can think on his feet - literally! He has the opportunity to clash blades with Fortis, but instead he opts for a dodge-and-counter, earning him two half points and the win.

Peter: You can see the obvious moment where he decides it's easier just to evade the thrust than it is to try and parry it.

Chris: Like I said. He isn't called the Overlord for nothing!

- Camera pans back to the studio, where both men sit behind the desk chatting. -

Peter: I suppose it's a little bit of poetic justice that Fortis was defeated via intercession, but I can't help but applaud his spectacular effort.

Chris: Not bad at all, Pete, not bad at all. I hope the Warlord can just learn to take criticism in stride, though, because whatever his views, he is a very entertaining competitor, and I'd like to see more of him.

Peter: You're saying you'd like him to stick around"

Chris: Sure. I wasn't exactly universally liked in my day -

Peter: - Interrupting. - At all.

Chris: - but I kept at it anyway. As long as you kick ass, it doesn't matter what people say about you. You still kick ass.

Peter: Speak for yourself. I'll sympathize with him for his talent in the ring, but nothing else.

Chris: You know who I'd like to sympathize with, is Baroness Rielea"

Peter: - Laughter. - I think 'sympathize? is the wrong word for that, Chris.

Chris: - Makes phone-calling motion at the camera. - Call me!

Peter: Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the most desperate sportscaster in RhyDin.

Chris: - Laughter. - You're just jealous. You wish you were in my shoes.

Peter: If I ever end up in your shoes, I want someone to shoot me.

Chris: - Flings his pen at Peter and looks back at the camera. - That does it for us here at the Post's challenge coverage.

Peter: Thanks for watching. You stay sporty, RhyDin.

- End tape. -