- The RhyDin Post's black and gold logo flashes with an epic, orchestrated introduction theme. The logo spirals off the screen, revealing two sportscasters set up on stools in the dueling Annex. To the left (Peter Pham) is in his early thirties, of Asian ethnicity, has gelled black hair, and is in a black suit. To the right (Chris Reed) is of Caucasian ethnicity with dark brown hair, is in his late thirties, is wearing a navy 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!

Chris: And my stomach is eating itself.

Peter: Thanks for tuning in with us tonight. This evening, we're LIVE from the Dueling Annex, where we are covering the Duel of Swords Madness Finale!

- The camera swings to the ring, where both fighters are exchanging words before the match. -

Chris: You know what makes me mad" That these things don't come with concessions. Seriously. What else are you supposed to throw at them when they don't score"

Peter: As it turns out, both Tarl Cabot and Soerl Lute are no strangers to Madness. And in fact, as I understand it Cabot is the only one in the past few years to make it to the Finals!

Chris: It's MAD that he's done it twice, Pete. Utter MADNESS! - Cackling. -

Peter: But more of that later! Right now we'd like to get right to the coverage, where Momus is already calling for the final match!

- Round 1. FCP/TH 1-0 Cabot. -

Lute: He took a moment to bring his longsword into position and then immediately went for a direct strike, lunging in at Tarl with the blade.

Cabot: Opens with the same defensive strategy as each of his fights in this tourney, and it has worked all but once. Deflecting the incoming thrust and moving off to one side for a quick counterstrike and the opening point.

Lute: The counter got a wince out of the minstrel. He brought his weapon back to a neutral position and took a step backward.

Chris: Bit of a surprise here, Pete. Lute is usually one to test the waters a little bit before his matches. It surprises me that he's so quick to bring on the heat this time around.

Peter: Perhaps it's a bit of a diversion strategy. Stunning deflection on Cabot's part, though. What kind of weapon is that he has there"

Chris: Looks like a short blade of some kind. I can't get a good look from here.

- Round 2. HC/FCP 2-0 Cabot. -

Cabot: Angling his body and extending the short blade up and over the defense for a quick second score.

Lute: He settled into a low defense, which proved to be quite a big mistake.

Chris: I swear Cabot was weilding a machete that time around. He'd be awesome at cutting down corn stalks. Mmmm....roasted corn.

- Round 3. LC/FSS 3-0 Cabot. -

Cabot: Reversing ther blade and bringing it down low, able to keep soerl from flanking him and managing a third point.

Lute: He took a moment before he tried to spin around Tarl, but the other man's shorter weapon stopped him dead in his tracks.

Peter: It looks like Lute can't quite catch his footing here just yet. He seems to be struggling to decide on what kind of tactic to take on this one.

Chris: Hey....is it just me, or is that Clover from the Alpha ads" - Looking at something off screen. -

Peter: Eyes on the match, Chris.

Chris: Man....That Alpha must be some strong stuff if an old man can get that kinda action.

Peter: He's an excellent duelist, Chris.

Chris: O.K. Then I guess that just makes her a complete and total sl-

Peter: CHRIS.

Chris: What' I was going to say slammin' babe.

- Round 4. FDU/SH 3-0 Cabot. -

Cabot: Dropping low, hoping to gain the advantage, but finding neither are able to land a blow.

Lute: He stepped into a brace, eyes on Tarl as he dropped low. The minstrel held the brace only for a moment before resetting.

Peter: Back to our match, we see that Cabot was keeping things sharp with a textbook bookend, but it looks like he obstructed his own line of sight there.

Chris: And it looks like the lead Cabot is hanging onto is making Lute a little bit skittish. I have no doubt he'll make a quick rebound, though. He's speedy like that.

Peter: That's nice of you, Chris.

Chris: Yeah, well....he didn't sign the contract, so if I don't kiss - Bleep. - he might sue me.

Peter: That's Cabot, Chris. Cabot didn't sign the contract.

Chris: Oh, crap. Uh....CABOT IS A GENIUS! And his ankles are very nice.

Round 5. TH/HC 4-0 Cabot. -

Cabot: Moving forward, getting just low enough to be under the high strike, extending in a straight forward thrust.

Lute: The high slice cut through empty air as Tarl got beneath the swing. A grimace settled on his features. It hadn't been pleasant. It didn't remain for long, however.

Peter: It looks like some other duels are getting underway here in the Annex also, but we're going to be keeping our attention on this Madness match. If you're just tuning in with us now, though, we have current running scores going on the bottom of your screen!

Chris: You know....this is why I always stuck to smaller weapons, Pete. Because not only are they more maneuverable, but especially against things like spears and longswords they can much more easily exploit openings.

Peter: I'm sure. There's something that doesn't surprise me about the fact that you use shorter weapons, though.

Chris: THE SIZE DOESN'T COUNT, PETE.

- Round 6. FSS/FDU 4-0 Cabot. -

Cabot: Looking to finish the tourney with style, moving off to one side but not able to close things out.

Lute: The minstrel went down into a crouch, his emerald eyes locked on Tarl as he moved off. After a moment, he stood again and reset.

Peter: Some might call this a null round, but I would call this good news for Lute. It's excellent to see him taking a round to step back and figure out a different approach.

Chris: Look at Lute's form there, though. His backbone is coiled up like a spring. He's not the type to lie in wait for long.

- Round 7. FCP/HC 4-1 Cabot. -

Cabot: Going back to what worked for him in the opening round, but it doesn't work here. "Well struck."

Lute: He moved forward when the opportunity presented itself and swung a high slice at Tarl, managing to avoid his defense. "My thanks."

Peter: You were right about that spring, Chris. I've never seen such a quick transition from such an unambitious stance.

Chris: It's the Madness Finals, Pete. It's not like Lute is just going to give it away.

- Round 8. LC/SS 4-2 Cabot. -

Cabot: Not pressing forward for the victory this round, and that proves a mistake. "Getting serious now."

Lute: He reversed his strike and went for a low cut at Tarl's legs to try and keep him from getting away.

Peter: Now we see here that Cabot is the one taking one too many precautions, and here is where Lute's longer weapon comes in handy. Chris: I swear he's got some kind of inhuman blood in him or something, Pete. He's way too quick for his own good.

Peter:: - Looking off screen. - Chris, I said no more making out on screen.

Chris: That was one time!

Peter: Three times.

Chris: Three times!

Peter: Have a little shame, why don't you?

Chris: - Looking off screen also. - She's not here to make out with me. ....Unless she wants to. Which I totally get.

- Round 9. SH/FLP 4-2 Cabot. -

Cabot: Stops the onslaught for the moment, glad to have at least caused Soerl to expend some additional energy.

Lute: A high defense came at the cost of stamina, his parry caught nothing but air as Tarl braced. He backed away a step and reset, emerald eyes locked upon Tarl.

Peter: Back in the Madness match, it looks like things are cooling down just a little bit. The duelists are taking things slowly, but the tension is doubtlessly near breaking point.

Chris: - Still looking off screen. - You got the goods? - Speaking to someone off screen and making impatient gestures from his seat. -

Peter: Surprisingly, both seem to be remaining relatively level-headed and generally amiable. Which I suppose is a good thing in such a high-intensity match.

- Round 10. SH/LC 5-2 Cabot. -

Cabot: Short blade moving high and low looking for the opening and finding it, getting underneath the defense for the final point.

Lute: Up came the longsword. He focused on trying to stop Tarl's blade at the middle, but it was far too high to keep the weapon from catching him. He let out a breath and stepped back. "My thanks. Well won, you are easily the toughest opponent I've dueled in a long while."

Peter: Of all the moves to end this one, Cabot takes it by going low. It's no wonder Lute is caught off-guard. That type of maneuver is completely untypical of both his fighting style and his weapon choice.

Chris: As I always say, it pays to be unexpected. And while Lute didn't seem as fluid as he usually is, he did maintain the same amount of poise he always exhibits in the ring.

Peter: That's one heck of a win for Cabot. Congratulations to Tarl, the Madness winner!