"Welcome, Hydra fans! I'm Ryan Stykes" A smile breaking onto a handsome face with blond hair. "And this is my partner Mont-"

"Metroid Mercer!" Interjects his partner.

"What the hell??" Stykes looks on dumbfounded before eying the camera in his peripheral.

"It's the season of the Hydra and right out of the gate Xanth is being a boss with a two pronged attack on Beat Down's most decrepit duelist! Good tactics there.." Mercer chortles lightly.

"You realize, the man he's going after"is also one of the sport coordinators, and a multiple reign Archmage, right Monty?"

"I don't know this Monty you speak of. I'm Meeeetroooid! Mercer!" He looks from his counterpart to the camera. "We're about sensationalism here. Montgomery Milieu won't stick'so I'm Metroid! Mercer!"

"Moving on! Twenty-seven minutes into the first day of Hydra and there are ten, count that, ten titles challenged right out of the gate. I think this is what Sylus envisioned when he made the tournament. Every title being slammed in a single day."

"It's flippin, EPIC! Ryan. This is the atmosphere where herculean duelists shine. Like my boy Xanth! Surprised he didn't go for an easy win and try to take out his wife, Jesse. Any excuse to beat your spouse in public, am I right?" Grins like an idiot, digging his elbow in to Ryan's ribs.



"One thing clear is that Beat Down has a huge edge in all of these challenges. They stand to gain considerable ground if they win, but don't' give up much if they do lose. Apple is attacking the Simons, if she loses to Matt, Team Hydra gets points but if she loses to Koyliak then no one gains any points. But she wins both' Bam, thirty points right there."

"You're right Ryan, it's a safe tactic, splitting the difference. This is Hydra though, playing it safe doesn't get you first. It gets you Team Jacen t-shirts." Monty replies, cracking his knuckles before staring as Ryan takes a five foot adjust away from him. "Why'd you move?"

"In case an express chute to Hades opens up in the floor.." Ryan looks around anxiously.

"Oh right, don't make fun of demi gods. Isn't that why we get hazard pay' If you're so afraid, let's just sub-contract P.J. Ramirez and give viewers a hot Latina to be distracted by. Works for Harris!"

"Make sure the mini-bar in my dressing room is stocked daily."

"All four titles in Duel of Magic are being contested, three of which are for Hydra. All six baronies are challenged. As of yet only two titles in Fists have are sought after. It's Madness! Didn't these folks get enough of that in March?" Monty shakes his head with a giddy laugh.

"Might as well start at the top with all of these challenges. Candy is going after ShadoWeaver and Old Temple. Vinny and Kalamere. Vincent is SNL's heavy hitter in fists and Magic right behind Cory. Kalamere is Team Hydra's real leader for Swords. Sure Sylus is a damned good duelist given his history and Madness performance, but he's never held a title since the Talon of Redwin when he first came around. He botched an Overlord grant due to inexperience and lost to Deathlord in his only other swords challenge. Have to see how he fairs in his own tournament." Ryan shuffles a few cards in his hands.

"Candy is out to weaken two teams, with her challenges. Apple is just going after one. Jake is on the hunt for a Joku. Mur and Lem are both under challenge. If they sweep that's 105 points solid. They Lose" Team Hydra picks up 30, SNL snags up 15, Team Xanth gets his 30, 15 are wasted, and so on. Everyone knew that Beat Down was going to come out of the gate swinging. They strategize hard core and pick the battles they think they can win. Plus they have all three spots covered, each person on the team can challenge across the board, though some are better at one or two then others." Montgomery scratches his head. "I feel sorry for the historians, those books are backlogged as it is?"

"Hydra can't challenge anyone because they're all under challenge." Ryan cuts in on Monty. "Sylus just got himself reinstated to magic, was seen getting beat up by his girlfriend Joey in the Outback so not much stock in his fisticuffs skilly. DoS" Clearly he hasn't been around dueling a whole lot. Granted he's been supremely busy putting the season together, but makes you wonder why he didn't do more prep work."

"Maybe Captain Futility is rubbing off on him?" Monty leans back to look wide eyes and questioning at Ryan.

"Still early yet, Monty. We'll have to see how the week ends." A brilliant smile is flashed at the camera. "That's all the time we've got here at Hydra Sports Network. Signing off, I'm Ryan Stykes and this is my partner in crime, Mont-"

"MEEEETROOOID MERRRRRCER!?

"Hello Hydra ?" Ryan Stykes begins "-lites!" Monty interrupts happily.



"Hydralite does not sound like a type of lubricant!" Monty huffs indignantly. "What am I supposed to call all of the adoring public that loves Hydra" Hydrians" Hydraponents, you know merge Hydra with proponent..no, not that last. Just saying it made my brain belch." Monty leans over the desk with his eyes closed. "Stupid brain?"

"Anyway, let's get back to business. At last reports, there have been 103 duels fought since Hydra began on the 1st. As Friday Fight Night hasn't taken place yet, that is 103 duels in four days. I kind of want to break down those 103 because with the forty listed competitors in Hydra, each is competing to accumulate the four best duels a week. That's 160 duels. Four times forty. I have no illusions that these five teams are going to get in the full 160 duels a week among their members.

19 goes to Beat Down and Hydra each. Beat TBD is sitting on 155.5 points, while Hydra is at 111, Three or four solid wins will help get Hydra into first place depending how their string of upcoming defenses play out. Beat Down has earned 140.5 points from regular duels and 15 from Lem's successful defense against Xanth. Of the two teams, Apple and Jake are in the top ten scoring duelists with 33 and 31 respectively. Kheldar and Matt for Hydra are in the top ten as well at 29.5 and 27 points earned.

17 duels each to CDR and DRT shooting us to 72 duels. Company of the Dragon has 105.5 points holding onto a narrow lead over Dirty who is on their heels at 99.5 That's a single duel separating them. CDR in fourth place overall. Ellisa is fighting for third place on the top ten with Jake Thrash at 31 points herself, and the mono-named Jedi shares last with Matt of Hydra, Aenlyn from Champions of Mythos, and Xanth Van Bokkelen at 27 points.

CoM and SNL both have 16 duels, which has Champions sitting in 3rd place with 108 points, and Saturday Night's Leftovers are in the back of the fridge with 78 points, dead last. Rand, like Aenlyn is also in the top ten, leading by a single point. Leftovers have not gotten to the top ten as of last reporting.

Forces of Nature has a total of 15 duels to their name with 86 points to show for it.

12 to Great of Strength, or Team Xanth as they are still being called are in 7th place over all sandwiched between Forces of Nature and Saturday Night Leftovers?"

"That sounds like a one night stand at the Red Dragon!" Monty chimes in after an unusual silence.

"Anubis is leading over Apple in the number one duelist position by a point and a half, his boy Xanth is riding the back of the bus with 27." Ryan continues looking ready to hurt Monty. "It's Friday and that means Fight Night! All sports will get some love tonight and Sunday. The Hydra scheduling people were sneaky this year making the new week start on Monday to give everyone two Fight Nights to get their minimum duels. "

"Don't forget that tomorrow night is the challenge for Old Market featuring Xanth's second challenge against Lem. Beat down is all ready sitting on 140 of the 200 points available from regular dueling. The big event though is Siofra and Jesse going at it on the Isle tonight for the Keeper of Earth challenge. Who doesn't like a little girl on girl violence?"

"That's all for us Hydra fans, We'll be back on Monday to recap the weekend and keep you abreast of Hydra events as they unfold. I'm Ryan Stykes-"

"and I'm Montgomery Milieu!"

"Saying good night, and Good Hunting!"

"Gentlemen! I'm Ryan Stykes and with me as always is Montgomery Milieu. This, is Hydra Sports News." Ryan says. "And joining us tonight is a very special guest host. You all know her-"

"Some of you fantasize about her!" Monty cuts in.

"It's the current Overlady of Swords, Ellisa Morgan!" Ryan continues. The camera cutting in for a close up of the Overlady.

"Get closer with that camera and I will shove it somewhere very uncomfortable." Ellisa smiles sweetly at the camera operator.]



"This certainly has been a busy week for swords. What's your impression of the Hydra tournament so far, Ellisa?" Ryan steps in wearing a smile.

"It has good points and bad. Too many people in the Arena to enjoy yourself but at the same time that gives everyone a lot of choices for opponents. The newer duelers tend to shy away from the more experienced. As they should." Ellisa says with a gentle wave of her hand.

"Why do you say that?" Monty asks out of curiosity as he stares at the Overlady's tracts of land. "Wouldn't they become better, faster, fighting the more experienced fighters?"

"Some people believe that. When I started dueling, I fought mostly Warlords to hone my skills. I do fight at my own level in fisticuffs however so I suppose I can see the benefit of easing into something. They do not allow barstools in the rings..." By way of explanation of why she needed to duel at her rank in fists.

"Fair enough point. For the better part of the last week, CDR has been fighting with the Hydra house team for third and fourth place. What do you think your team will need to over take the likes of Sylus, Kheldar, Matt, Kalamere, and Jewell?" Ryan asks as a projection shows the dueling stats of the different team members in all three sports.

"We need Sal to pick up more points, and to reap more event points. Sadly I can only do that in swords at present. Hopefully I will gain some with my challenge this week. We need Rena to pick up a challenge in magic or in fists. We are doing well enough in duel points but falling far behind in events. That or maybe I should just take out one or two of the members on the other teams. I am told death slows some people down." Grins.

"Event points do seem to be where the edge is for a lot of teams, and projections show that Team Beat Down might win this season on challenges alone. You might better off trying those death blows on them. What do you think?" Monty responds while flailing his arms like some drunken kung-fu fighter. "Thank you for providing the list on that front too." Takes out a paper and writes down Sylus, Kheldar, Matt, Kalamere, and Jewell.

"I don't know, given Sylus penchent for opening round slashes, something tells me he's not a man to be caught with his pants down, Ellisa." Ryan chimes in with a grin. "You think you could actually take him outside of the rings?"

"I don't know, given Sylus penchent for opening round slashes, something tells me he's not a man to be caught with his pants down, Ellisa." Ryan chimes in with a grin. "You think you could actually take him outside of the rings?"

"Is he single?" She said with a flat tone that brought out her British accent.

Monty starts to speak and then goes through his notes...."Uhm...no. He's engaged." He responds after a moment.

"Then no, I would not take him, but I might be able to stab him." Her hands suddenly hold a petite dagger which she gently twists in her hands with lick of her lips. "I mean, were I the type to do such dastardly things, of course."



"For the second week, you're actually in fourth place for Hydra MVP at one hundred and eight points, Siofra Kelley trailing you by two points, and Kheldar of Hydra ahead of you by a point and a half. With Lem De Angelo leading everyone at one hundred and thirty two, he seems to have a death grip on first. What do you feel you'll have to do to topple his lead?" Ryan recovers and continues.

"You sound shocked that I am in fourth place?" Sighs. "I am not a bad dueler, you know, but I think Lem is about done his challenges. If I win the challenge against Teagan I think Kheldar will be coming for me next. That should yield me enough points to close the gap. Beyond that there is not much for me to do, yes?" There was a thoughtful pause and Lem's name is added to the list, the soft sound of scribbling filling that silence.





"What do you think are your odds at stopping Kheldar with two other Barons on his team" Ryan asks as the display switches to show Ellisa' dueling stats and Kheldars.

The Overlady shrugs. "I think my team has a chance of catching up if we get a few more challenges lined up, which we are all working at doing. If nothing else I am learning a great deal that can be applied for the next season of Hydra. Kheldar is not as troublesome as Kalamere in my opinion, but I suppose the rest of the season will prove me right or wrong on that."

"Are you surprised that no one on Team Beat Down has come after you yet?" Monty asks. For the viewers at home, hand drawn pictures of Mur, Lem, Candy, Apple, and Jake appear above Ellisa's head with creepy faces.

"I am, but perhaps they will once my current challenge is completed. They would need turn Renegade, half of them, but that would be their choice. I have a history of keeping Loyal Barons so perhaps they are looking toward the after-Hydra timeframe and allowing others to try and take me out."

"Speaking of Renegades, I'm surprised Joku didn't go after you immediately after you changed his alignment for him." Monty states with a scratch of his jaw. "I'd have been a bit miffed had someone done that to me."

"He could not. I did not change his alignment. He told me to give him an alignment. If he had just stated he wished to be Loyal and not call into question my written word that I would not step in against a challenger unless specifically requested to do so then he could have been Loyal. I do not take kindly to anyone questioning the truth of my word. And I do not forgive easily."

"Isn't that the nature of Duel of Swords, written word doesn't mean squat..it's your actions or inactions?" ONce more Monty speaks up while regarding Ellisa.

"I have a year of history as Overlord, such things could be verified if someone did not know me. My actions always follow my words." Tone calm and cold.

"Is that true when you're Britania" Or just Ellisa" What about when you're Britissa?" Monty asks dangerously.

"Call me that again and I promise you I will tear out your tongue. You have my word on that." Said with a cold smile. "I am never, nor have ever been, that last name. I suffered grievous wounds a few years ago, and lost my memory. During that time I was called Brit, or Britania, I still kept my word. A few still call me by that name, and that is fine."

"We'll be back after this word from our sponsors!" Ryan interjects as Monty gets on the phone to ask about hazard pay.



"And we're back. With us tonight is current Overlady of the Duel of Swords, Ellisa." Ryan reintroduces after the break. "Now, Ellisa, of the different team captains, who do you feel is underperforming the most?"

"That would have to be Anubis, right' I do not think I have personally seen him in the dueling areas at all last week and just a few moments in the first week. He filled the team with underperformers or non-existant duelers leaving Xanth hanging again."

"I remember a few years ago, he was in a challenge duel and said that everyone cares what others think about them, even if they pretend not to. Given a statement like that in public documentation, I'm surprised he's putting together the haphazard rosters he has this season and last. Only this season, Team Xanth won't be able to win on his own." Ryan chimes in.

"True, a shame to have talent like that on a waste of a team. Still, I suppose I should be happy he is not on a team that is a threat." Ellisa agrees with a nod.

"Very true. In Iron Fist League, Great of Strength was a decent team with active fighters. The Hydra version, I'm not sure what?s going through Anubis' head. Working from the bottom up, who is next on your list of underperforming captains" I know for me it's between Steve Armstrong and Claire Farron." Ryan continues.

"That is hard to say honestly. Both of them are doing well for newer duelers and I would not want to diminish those efforts. Steve defintely needs to up his game but for some people that just is not something they can just do. And Claire got three shut outs last week" Hard to say she is underperforming. I think the makeup of some of the teams could use a bit of a change up but for some it is about dueling with people they like and that is not something that can be measured. Maybe they should not be Captains if they want to surround themselves by friends" Hard for me to say much as G and I go back a long, long ways. Just so happens I am a halfway decent dueler."

"I agree that three shut-outs puts her at the upper-end of many performances. However, for a lot of teams, the captains are scoring fewer points then everyone else on their rosters. For the most part, I think Sylus took Collin's advice and just stands back and points at different rings for Kheldar, Matt, and Kalamere. Rakeesh has been fighting on the front lines to keep Champions in Second, but I don't think any team will over take Beat Down until close to the end of the Hydra Season. You think in the off season, some of the other teams will try to recruit the current roster, or just send out hit squads?"

"I hope they try to recruit outside their current rosters or at least prepare better. I know for next season I will try to be in a better position in magic and fisticuffs so that I can contribute more to my team; hopefully others will follow suit. At the least I am hoping Xanth find a new home, if the Captains are smart they will start sending him vouchers to libraries to burn."

"I think a solid team would have to include Lem, Matt Simon who has wone 18 of his last 19 defenses, Xanth, and I want to include Andrea. Those four together would be dangerous. In the off season, Seirichi was quoted that the reason for Beat Down's success is that they chose their members based on duelists who want to win and compete. Not their social circles. This season, she said that Hydra was the only other team that seemed to do that. And I quote "They got the picture". Do you think season three will produce more teams with that paradigm?"

"Maybe. I hope it is not all about that though. Getting some of the younger duelers involved or those that will try hard but are not necessarily at the top of the sports helps the competition and will increase the pool of those that will fit the Iron Man type build. If you squeeze them out completely eventually those in those positions now will retire and leave the competition in a sad state. There are some duelers that are middle of the pack that show potential. Hopefully they will still find homes come Season three."

"Before we wrap up, what do you predict the last week of the season will be like" On the 4th is the Hydra Invitational tournament. The top two seeded fighters from each team going to the party, and if we don't miss it by a complete week, I think the very last night for Hydra is the Archmage Tournament. Plus that week is Double Points for Duel of Fists." Ryan turns to give Ellisa his full attention.

"Talk about going down swinging, the last week of Season two is going to have something for every duelist and team!" Monty pipes up after being unusually silent.

"I think the Invitational will be a miss-see event. It will showcase those duelers that can successfully excel at all three sports and should be fun to watch. As for how the season will end? It is no surprise that Team Beat Down has pulled ahead but Champions of Mythos are not as far behind as people would have had us believe in the beginning of the season and Hydra not so far behind them. I think the last few weeks will be exciting as the top teams close in on the numbers and will make the winner actually work hard to keep on top. I hope I am right, this competition should be neck-to-neck bone breaking, blood letting, exploding magic and not some stroll to first place for any team' She says with a firm nod of her head.

"I think the fans and fighters will get that in the coming weeks and more." Ryan says before looking at the camera. "That's all for us tonight folks. Thank you for joining us, Overlady." Looking to her and then back. "I"m Ryan Stykes-"

"And I'm METROID! MERCER!" Monty croons.

"saying Happy Hunting!"