A Stupid Idea
“I have an idea. A very stupid idea.”
Kayel glanced up from his drink and his communicator. He’d been messaging with some of his old friends, namely his old captain, who had wanted to get back in touch after Kayel’s… adventure. And, just like everyone else in the building, he was...Read More »
Team Confirmed
There was always something about the Raptor that unsettled Retvik. Sure, he had fought a multitude of beings in all the years he had been working for her, heck, he had even been face to face with literal deities, but the Raptor had an unusual, almost ancient aura to her....Read More »
A Simple Strength Check
“Hit me.”
The four very different beings stood in the middle of the hall. The floor was made from a springy, wood-like substance, while the walls were insulated, to protect from loud noises. Along one wall was a wide array of various blunted weapons and equipment, all meant for practice and...Read More »
Aiming Difficulties
Kayel cursed at himself as he yet again failed to hit the centre of the target. He’d been at the aiming range at the back of the training hub for the Great Arena for a couple of hours now, and he was starting to get frustrated. While Kayel was perfectly...Read More »
Chat With A Fellow Gladiator
“Where have you been all this time?”
Retvik scooted over on the steps, making space for the rather tall, emerald-plated Skyavok to sit down next to him. The House Fighter Cafe was barely an actual cafe, more a small kiosk and some concrete stairs overlooking the larger training grounds, but the...Read More »
Measuring Interview
“So, tell me about yourself, Tenuk.”
Tenuk didn’t answer at first. He was busy watching the handful of Ksithans work. He was standing on a stool, being measured up. When it came to the Twelve, most species were either scaly or furry, not both. Tenuk himself was very furry,...Read More »
Hearty Meals
“Eat up, we have a big day tomorrow.”
Four plates appeared on the table, and Retvik sat down to join his friends in their meal. Nyssi eyed her dish suspiciously, while Kayel glanced awkwardly at the meal Tenuk was happily tucking in to.
“Not hungry?”
“No, just… confused… What is Tenuk eating?”
Retvik smiled....Read More »
Unlucky Battle
Vel rubbed their eyes, trying to work out what had just happened. Everything had been going swimmingly. They had been fighting this weird team of beings, one of which Vel was sure was the Lightbearer, except there were only three of them and the other two were definitely not Rethans....Read More »
Celebratory Drinks
“Uh, were you expecting anyone, Retvik?”
The exhausted Rethan peeled himself off the sofa, giving Nyssi a tired tut as an answer. While their battle today had only lasted half an hour, the crowds continued to cheer for nearly an extra twenty minutes, demanding to know who they had just witnessed....Read More »
Race Against the Clock
The Tainted Fangs were a menace even compared to other Temthan teams. Vicious and somewhat cruel, they openly used pheromones and toxins to knock their challengers out. Unfortunately, it seemed that Kayel hadn’t read the tactics sheet that Retvik had printed out for his team mates, and now he was...Read More »
Caging A Beast
“Oh hello there, beauty!”
Nyssi couldn’t help but smile as the colossal True Thrack glided from pillar to pillar. She’d helped capture the beast not too long ago, and was wondering when she’d finally see it in the Great Arena. She just didn’t think she’d be trapped in the same stadium...Read More »
Bloody Family History
Nyssi crossed her legs awkwardly, trying to hide her nervousness as as she sat on the stool in the Raptor’s office. The Raptor had wanted to speak to Nyssi specifically, and she was not exactly sure why. She had some idea, but, as far as Nyssi was concerned, she’d been...Read More »
Capture the Flag
“Is that Lightbearer?” Kama whispered to Matu as the four Lanex entered the arena. The Imperatorai Hordikai were the second highest ranked Lanex team fighting in the Great Arena, and considered one of the best when it came to Capture the Flag matches, beaten only by those with rather… unholy...Read More »
Another Chat With A Fellow Gladiator
“So, you guys got kidnapped again.”
Retvik grunted as he sipped awkwardly from a small can. Like most Rethavok, Retvik very rarely drank caffeine, because it gave him headaches. But he was still recovering from some sort of amnesia-inducing sedation, while at the same time trying to catch up with his...Read More »
Sickening Confusion
Most Vohra didn’t really use names. Since Vohran nests were all telepathically linked, actually calling out a name was somewhat needless, and only higher ranked Vohra and their Vahyra Queens would have some sort of name, which was used when speaking to non-Vohra races. However, the Vahrga, the adult males,...Read More »
Unwanted Challenge
Kayess-En, Kass for short, was a huge being. Standing at nearly 3m tall, she towered over most, even her fellow Rethavok, and had the strength to back herself up. As the leader of Retha Squad One, Kayess-En had lead her team to victory over and over, to the point that...Read More »
Angry Explanations
Nyssi, Tenuk and Kayel all glanced nervously at each other as Retvik paced back and forth, his tail swishing angrily from side to side.
They’d just finished a Capture the Flag match against a Temthan team, and had ended it swiftly despite the hideously bright lighting set up to prevent Kayel...Read More »
Unwarranted Prayer
Kayel was exhausted. Ever since his team had accepted the challenge from Retha Squad One, the four of them had been training non-stop. Kayel in particular had been practising more efficient shadowjumping, something that was both physically and mentally draining. Doubly so if Kayel was shadowjumping while carrying someone else....Read More »
Shapeshifting Tricks
“Hello Tenuk, you wanted to…”
Nyssi didn’t finish her sentence, watching in awe as something reptilian but not a Thraki soared around the small, closed off arena. This place was supposed to have been a small stadium for bloodless arena battles, mostly beast-catching stuff, and Nyssi had recently been in it...Read More »
Retha Squad One VS Xeno Dessaron One
Retvik took a shallow, almost unwanted breath, then regretted it, an unfamiliar taste in his mouth. One he hadn’t experienced in a long, long time. He was lying in a bed in the recovery bay for his team, a screen to his right, three beds to his left. As Retvik...Read More »
After-Battle Depression
Retvik, Nyssi, Tenuk and Kayel all sat in their private training area, none of them really knowing how to feel. There were excited beings wandering around, hoping to catch members of the team Xeno Dessaron One and get interviews and selfies with them. Not just normal beings in the public...Read More »
Gold Suite
Despite having been a gladiator for the entirety of his adult life, Retvik had never been to the fancy suites rented out to rich viewers. Sure, he had watched battles himself, but house fighters had their own viewing area, closer to ground level, and even then, it was mostly there...Read More »
Lightbearer's Fury
“Lightbearer, I challenge you to battle!”
Retvik glanced up to see who had just spoken to him. He didn’t quite recognize the voice, mostly became it came from the internal microphone of a gladiator helmet. But, weirdly, not his own. This was doubly strange because he had literally just finished a...Read More »
A Sweet Return
“Retty!”
Retvik did not expect the welcome he got as he returned home. Nyssi, Tenuk and Kayel had all rushed out to hug him tightly. Clearly they were worried sick about him. The large black and red van behind Retvik slammed its doors shut, before driving off, its occupants not sticking...Read More »
Fangs of the Whenvern VS Xeno Dessaron One
“Tenuk, are you sure all those energy drinks are good for you?” Retvik asked as Xeno Dessaron One prepared for battle. They should have been nervous, but ever since Retvik and his team had taken down Retha Squad One, fear and anxiety before battle no longer seemed to be a...Read More »
Chat in the Medical Bay
“Heya, mate!”
Kayel frowned as he straightened himself out. He and his team were supposed to have been going home, but he was currently sitting around outside the Dessaron team medical bays, as Retvik had been dragged away by the Raptor to discuss something important, and Tenuk and Nyssi were busy...Read More »
Catching Up With The Team
A knock on the door woke Retvik from his slumber. He’d forgotten that he had fallen asleep on the big sofa in the living room, and his friends had all just somewhat moved around him, not wanting to disturb the colossal, armoured, snoozing beast. Thankfully, someone else was up and...Read More »
Late Night Confessions
“What are you doing awake?”
Retvik had been meaning to get that creaky middle step fixed for years. It had always bothered him whenever he got up for his early morning snacks, and while it hadn’t woken any of his new housemates, the death god lounging in the living room had...Read More »
The Banikan Team
While tour guides were common around the Great Dessaron Battle Arenas, there was one area where visitors were forbidden to go, where challengers feared to tread and only the bravest of house fighters were allowed to visit. The Panicked Wardens was a heavily barricaded area where the Banikan house fighters...Read More »
Big Bad Offer
Tenuk was rather confused as he reached the private training area for his team, Xeno Dessaron One. The lights were all off, and there was a strange, meaty, rotten smell coming from somewhere in the room. However, he could definitely hear movement, and as Tenuk opened the door, the lights...Read More »
Gifted Blades
As far as everyone was concerned, today had been a good day. As Retvik, Nyssi, Kayel and Tenuk returned home, they all relaxed in the living room, the central hub, filled with soft sofas, covered in cushions and blankets. Sure, the house belonged to Retvik, but after nearly a decade...Read More »
Yet Another Chat With A Fellow Gladiator
“Hello, Psiksi!”
Psiksi glanced up from what he was doing. He was currently eating lunch and watching a match in the arena below, while also fiddling with his health meter. He was pretty sure he’d damaged it during his last battle against an overly arrogant Temthan challenger, and was trying to...Read More »
Watching From The Rich Seats
“Hey big brother!”
Levik hated being called that. As far as Levik was concerned, he had no family, he was a single, unnamed, unknown individual trapped in a body that wasn’t his. But the rest of the universe constantly told him that he was Levik tou Ahvran, the second son of...Read More »
Rethan in the Garden
“You cannot hide forever, you have to come out at some point, and the more you hide, the more people are going to stay weird and confused and demanding.”
Retvik sighed, not liking how the Raptor was berating him over the phone. While she had admittedly done a lot to keep...Read More »
Grand Reveal
“Before we go out there, I got some questions?”
The Raptor paced up and down, inspecting her four gladiators. She was a little upset that she couldn’t get their customized armour ready in time for their big reveal, but it was probably for the best. The world knew Xeno Dessaron One...Read More »
Return of the Rethan in the Garden
Retvik didn’t want to wake up, he was very comfy, dozing on the sofa with one of Kayel’s hoodies wrapped around his head, and Kayel himself purring, half asleep by Retvik’s side, wearing a bright pink and salon striped hoodie of his own. But something was poking Retvik in the...Read More »
A Lack of Opponents
“Boys and girls, we have a problem.”
Nyssi glanced at the rest of Xeno Dessaron One, wondering why the Raptor had used the word ‘girls’ when she was the only actual girl present. Then again, despite the other three all using the same pronouns, technically, Tenuk was the only boy present...Read More »
More Chats With A Fellow Gladiator
The force of the heavily armoured Rethavok sitting down on the bench next to Psiksi nearly made him fly into the air and drop his sandwich. Despite being a famous gladiator, Retvik was an exile and didn’t really have many friends outside of work colleagues, and Psiksi was probably the...Read More »
Planning A Trip
The Great Dessaron Battle Arena was the main form of entertainment for the twelve intelligent races of this small, cozy universe, where people would watch, either in person or on live streams, gladiators fight against each other, with real blood and injuries, but also none of the death. Everything was...Read More »
Twisted Palms
Kolasi, despite its name referring to a place of fire and brimstone, was only really slightly better than a non-existent afterlife. It was an abandon-world, meaning that most of the jungle-laced planet was free from civilization, and the megafauna was allowed to run wild. That being said, there was a...Read More »
Attempts at Relaxation
Xeno Dessaron One were supposed to be having a relaxing day before they set off into the treacherous jungles of Kolasi, but Retvik was struggling with that simple request. While Nyssi was sunbathing by the pool, Tenuk was getting a special treatment for his fur and Kayel was getting a...Read More »
Jungle Clearing
“Alright, here are your health metres, here’s where the trail starts, you guys got a tracker on your GPS to lead you back here, have fun!”
The team of Lanex and Temthan researchers had very quickly driven off, leaving Xeno Dessaron One somewhat perplexed. Sure, they had just been given a...Read More »
Camping Under the Stars
Things had taken longer than expected, and the sudden arrival of night had forced them to slow down, and a well-hidden tree stump had forced them to stop completely. The 4×4 vehicle was fine, but Kayel was insistent that they take a break and camp for the evening. Not because...Read More »
Sinic Wyvern
For a mountain, Mount Helvede wasn’t very mountainous. Sure, it had a steep point, but the incline was relatively low, to the point that you could drive up parts of it with ease. In fact, that was kinda what had happened, since Kayel had been somewhat blindly just following the...Read More »
Fight Above The Trees
A burst of flames erupted from Thassalin’s jaws as the colossal Thraki set fire to a very specific patch of forest, then circled above, watching for moment. Weirdly, as he had slowed down, the weird screaming noise from behind him had stopped. Thassalin had forgotten he had passengers on his...Read More »
Mission Accomplished
“So, uh, Retvik, can you actually drive?”
Retvik frowned as he awkwardly sipped from a very tiny champagne glass. After their stupid adventure, the four of them were now sitting in an extra large jacuzzi, eating fancy food and drinking fancy drinks. The locals were very happy that the big scary...Read More »
Potentially Exposed
“Fuck no, no way, no fucking way, no no no!”
Tenuk had wished he’d not checked his messages before the flight. The flight had been delayed by half an hour, so everyone was kinda stuck on board, waiting for, well, something. Things weren’t too bad, since Tenuk and his three friends...Read More »
Breaking the Truth
Kohra and Levik both felt somewhat uneasy as they waited in the narrow hallway. Sure, they had ten bodyguards with them, two of whom were Rethavok supplied by the Great Arenas, but they were also sharing a hallway with the mighty Lightbearer, a living legend that even the two Rethan...Read More »
Catching Up With Recent News
It was nice being back home. Sure, Retvik needed to go shopping, but he could finally take off his armour and just wander around in a stomach wrap and loin cloth. In fact, his housemates had already gone and done something similar. As soon as they’d stepped back inside Retvik’s...Read More »
Awkward Morning Call
“Hey babe, what’s up? Long time no speaky!”
Nyssi twirled around the house, letting her breasts flap about freely, only a pair of bright pink knickers covering her modesty. She’d gotten a phone call and had picked it up instantly. Normally her old buddy Kinigos was allergic to phone calls, so...Read More »
Blast to the Brain
“For the one of you who hasn’t been here before, welcome to the Torn Islet.”
Nyssi’s truck rumbled over a very rough, bumpy bridge that led to the large island. Really, it only just counted as an island, because the Asprokremmos river had split in two around it before rejoining on...Read More »
An Introduction to the Family
Kuta did not at all expect the cheers that erupted from this very nice four bedroom Rethan home as the front door opened.
“ARKAY!”
“GUYS!”
Arkay almost exploded with joy, opening his arms as Retvik, Nyssi, Kayel and Tenuk all hugged him at once. Really, the four of them completely swamped the Death...Read More »
Temthans of Anarchy VS Xeno Dessaron One
Finally, after weeks of nothing, someone had finally stepped up to challenge Xeno Dessaron One. The problem was, the team that had stepped up was the Temthans of Anarchy, demanding a rematch. They were the team Xeno Dessaron One managed to beat just before the Whenvern crashed into the Great...Read More »
Psiksi's Check-in
Tenuk had been sitting on the plastic bench in the hallway for about an hour now, feeling absolutely awful while shapeshifted into a bright blue, extremely fluffy cat. He was patiently waiting for a nurse or doctor to come by and say that he could go in and see Retvik,...Read More »
Kitty Recovery
Tenuk purred as he turned himself into a cat then leaped up onto Retvik’s lap, brushing up against him.
“You’re awake! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean it!”
Retvik didn’t answer at first. He glanced to his left, where a Rethan nurse was standing. The nurse smiled, then came over and undid...Read More »
Delirious at Home
Retvik had been genuinely surprised when the nice nurse had told him he could go home, as long as he stayed at home and rested as much as he could. He thought he would have been stuck in that room, fastened to that bed, for at least a week, awkwardly...Read More »
Big Bad Skyan
Normally, the Big Bad in the popular Thirteenth Night arena game show would be announced in advance, and there were several House Fighters who would regularly play as the big, scary monster that would go around pretending to kill contestants. Today though, the identity of the Big Bad had been...Read More »
Post-Show Weirdness
“Well that was hot.”
“Definitely.”
Kayel yawned and sat up, stretching out his arms. There were still specks of blood on him from his arena battle. He’d played the Big Bad, a vicious monster, his job being to stop a bunch of contestants from escaping a specially set up arena. Had any...Read More »
Sinian Demands
It was pretty late, and most of the arenas had shut down. There were a couple of late night matches just finishing up, but things were quiet, which meant that the commotion in the Gold Suite sounded weird. Normally, the Gold Suite was left empty, as it was meant to...Read More »
Discussions of Weird Traits
“So, while we’re all just chilling out, mind if I ask a question?”
Kayel glanced up from the kitchen, where he was busy preparing two pigeons he had shot and killed earlier. Pigeons were considered a massive pest in the city of Palaestra, and there were no laws against killing them....Read More »
A New Path
Kuta was utterly miserable. It had been a long time since they’d experienced a breakup, and Kuta was taking it badly. Things were made worse by the fact that they still loved each other. And things were made awkward by the fact that Kuta had been forced to report the...Read More »
Curious Tea Strainer
Being a small, mechanical being that also somehow had emotions, Nuh regularly wished that he had a way of expressing them outside of the tone of his flat, mechanical voice, and the brightness of his large, lime green crystal eyes. Sure, Nuh would occasionally use his telepathy to express particularly...Read More »
Apology Pizza
“Today’s been weird…” Tenuk muttered as he sat down with a drink and a bowl of marshmallows. He was supposed to have been eating more healthily as part of a training routine to give himself more muscle mass, but Tenuk had been struggling, and it turned out that Spasts couldn’t...Read More »
Abrupt Arrest
The evening had turned out quite nice, but Kuta was still somewhat shocked at how they had been so blatantly ‘adopted’ into this small family of friends. Admittedly, Kuta hadn’t really said much. They had sat back and mostly just listened in, but they definitely felt like they fit in....Read More »
Tharric Message
As soon as Nyssi had read that sickening message, she knew she needed to urgently do something. Right that second. Without hesitation, she cancelled the date she’d planned with a random fan from her slowly growing gladiator fan club, she’d apologized to her team for bailing on going to the...Read More »
Shenanigans With Ritlir
“I thought the High General told you to take a few days off?” Ritlir smiled as they looked up from their work. Things had been oddly quiet lately among the 10th Legion, despite the recent change in leadership.
“They did, but I do not want to spend time in an empty...Read More »
Meeting of the Unmourned
“Thanks for coming with me, Tenuk… Uh… Tenia…”
Tenuk glanced down at his chest. His female chest. Tenuk was currently shapeshifted into a pale blue female Temthan and was pretending to be Nyssi’s girlfriend, calling himself (herself?) Tenia and wearing quite a few of Nyssi’s clothes, mostly a black vest top...Read More »
Temthan Recovery Room
Tenuk didn’t expect to wake up and see a yellow blur next to him. As his eyes focused, Tenuk realized that, no, the yellow blur wasn’t part of the hospital room he was currently in, it was in fact his friend Kayel.
“Uh… hi…” Tenuk was groggy, and his stomach felt...Read More »
Running Away From Family
“I am so glad I kinda instantly heal now…” Tenuk muttered as he climbed into the back of Nyssi’s truck. “Kinda surprised that we’re driving home though.”
“I know I shadowjumped Retvik and myself here and I know I once shadowjumped an entire ship, but I don’t have the strength or...Read More »
Online Weapon Browsing
“How are you feeling, Nyssi?”
Nyssi tutted to herself as she flicked through a digital magazine. It was more of a catalogue than a magazine, full of reviews for the latest weapons and armour for gladiators. Sure, Nyssi had her cool custom Xeno Desssaron One armour, but she wanted some more...Read More »
Bloodline Ended
Retvik checked the map, then looked up at the building in front of him, then checked the map again. The map said he was in the correct place. The presence of members of the 47th Legion suggested he wasn’t. This bothered Retvik greatly, because the 47th Legion, dressed up in...Read More »
Out Longer Than Expected
“So, where the fuck have you been?”
That sentence was spoken in unison by three different people. But while Kayel and Nyssi were being playful, Tenuk seemed genuinely annoyed.
“Uh…” Retvik stuttered, not really sure where to start.
“You said you were going out for LUNCH! You’ve been gone for two days!” Tenuk...Read More »
Vanishing Guard
Political figures visiting the Great Dessaron Battle Arenas weren’t that uncommon, but normally the visitors were diplomats or lower rank politicians representing their governments. Today though, the Great Arenas were on high alert, because Elkay Athanasion, the All-Ksa, the leader of the Skyavok, had come by to visit. That being...Read More »
The Target and the Truth
“I broke it, I broke it, I broke it…”
Teekay was somewhat lost, but it didn’t matter. As far as he was concerned, he was already dead. He should have run sooner. He shouldn’t have agreed to this trip. He should have just locked himself in his apartment, like he always...Read More »
Shadow's Offer
Skyavok folklore was mostly rather bland, what with the Skyavok having had to rebuild from scratch on multiple occasions, dragging themselves away from the cliffs of extinction. Most of their ancient history was lost to time, and what little they had was mostly oral and rarely written down. Just keeping...Read More »
Deserved Endings
Phovos had been waiting around for a while now, not really sure what she was waiting for. To the point that she wasn’t too surprised when Elkay Athanasion, the All-Ksa of the Skyavok, stepped through a shadow, then collapsed in the seat opposite her.
“You look rough.”
“I feel rough…” Elkay muttered...Read More »
Dreamland Revenge
“I want to know EVERYTHING you are about to do to me, Little Bitey!”
Parts of that sentence bothered Kuta more than others. Mostly the fact that the yellow-plated Skyavok sitting on the bed in front of them had just called Kuta a nickname they had not heard in decades.
“I, uh,...Read More »
House Fighters' Dinner
Tromos was quite surprised at the turnout for the Top House Fighters’ Dinner. This was an event that Tromos hosted almost at random, but normally, he’d not have that many guests. The Vohran house fighters never turned up for the dinner, they were admittedly too… hormonally addled to do so,...Read More »
Stay-At-Home Date
It had been a while since Retvik had had so few people in his home. Kayel was on a date with Psiksi and had stayed at Psiksi’s oversized mansion down the road; Nyssi was on a date with Timik and they’d gone clubbing; and Tenuk was… somewhere. Apparently he was...Read More »
A New House Fighter
Talok felt very small right now. To be fair, she’d always felt small among other beings. She was a Vohra, and Vohra were short, round creatures that were never more than a meter tall. Worse, Talok felt naked. Vohra didn’t wear clothes. Sure, Talok wore a special sash and medallion,...Read More »
Misplaced Communicator
Kayel waved as the sleek, shiny silver car sped off, then made his way down the pavement, towards what was now essentially his second home. Sure, Kayel did rent a tiny apartment in the Skyavok sub-district of Salla, but these days, he mostly lived with the three freaks that made...Read More »
The Golden Charge VS Xeno Dessaron One
It was extremely rare for Torr to willingly participate in the Great Arenas. They were a prideful, cruel, powerful race that heralded from a strict, survival-of-the-fittest society and believed themselves to be better than everyone else. Not only were Torr muscular, athletic beings, but they were rather technologically advanced and...Read More »
Yet More Awkward Conversations
“Whew! What a day!”
Retvik grunted as he laid down on the sofa, watching as Kayel bounced around, fetching drinks for everyone. The mood was high, but everyone was pretty tired. They’d all just got back home from work, having fought a massive beast in the arenas. However, Kayel also fought...Read More »
Challenging the Queen's Favourite
“I WANT TO FIGHT YOUR BIG GUY!”
Talok was on a roll. It seemed that pretty much everyone had underestimated the tiny telekinetic monster, who carried a great sword larger than she was. She’d already fought six matches and won them all handily. In fact, Talok had just beaten a Temthan...Read More »
A Watery New Mission
Tenuk used to fear coming to the Raptor’s office, but these days, he wasn’t so bothered any more. Sure, the Raptor was an ancient Ksithan warlord who had taken over and united the Ksithan territories of Portalia, fought back the Clan Unmourned and now ran the largest gladiator arena in...Read More »
Pulled From The Pool
Valorier watched with great intent as the heavily armoured Rethan very slowly swam back and forth across the pool. After each length, Retvik would noticeably slow down, getting more and more tired. Valorier kept on watching until he noticed that Retvik had stopped in the middle of the pool. After...Read More »
Brief Intimacy
“Oh, I did not think you would just… instantly arrive…”
Retvik smiled weakly as he picked Kuta up off the floor. As always, his cute little poten-partner had briefly knocked themselves out by shadowjumping to Retvik’s bedroom. But today, Kuta seemed far more tired than normal. They were almost delirious as...Read More »
A Cheerful First Meeting
The wind was quite harsh as Xeno Dessaron One disembarked from the small shuttle. Thalsa Two wasn’t a particularly popular place to go outside of two particular species, Vrekans wanting to go on holiday and Lanex who wanted somewhere new to explore. Because of this, the large islands were nothing...Read More »
Frantic Wildlife
The only way to get to the Floppy Isles was by boat. By a small boat. Like many of the smaller islands of Thalsa Two, the Floppy Isles were technically in a restricted zone, and visitors were only allowed to set foot on the islands if they had a permit...Read More »
Camping Chat
The tents were all set up, a small fire had been lit and dinner had been eaten. While Nyssi and Retvik were currently lying in their tents, Tenuk was sitting on the beach, watching the waves lap across the sand. He’d been mostly sitting on his own, but he quickly...Read More »
Finding A Cave
“That… is a lot of dead penguins…”
“It’s only, like, twenty penguins.”
Tenuk, Nyssi and Ilga all stared at Kayel.
“What? It’s twenty penguins! It’s nature, they get eaten all the time!”
Nyssi crossed her arms and tutted. “Normally the prey gets dragged away or eaten or whatever. Not just left and killed for...Read More »
Trapped Below
“Normally I quite like swimming, but I didn’t like that.”
Kayel shook himself down as he climbed out of the water and into a strange, glistening cave. Everyone else had already swum through and sorted themselves out and they were now looking around, trying to work out what was going on....Read More »
Taking The Plunge
Retvik paced up and down in front of the cave mouth, occasionally pausing to glance at one of two things. Outside the cave were the smouldering remains of a Corruptiid that had attacked Retvik. They had caught each other unaware, but Retvik had swiftly killed the monster. It had struck...Read More »
Corruptiid Carnage
Smouldering ash lined the ground, soaking into the slimy floor, as the crazed Rethan tore through monster after monster, ripping limbs from their bodies, tearing flesh out with his teeth, slamming their bodies with his armoured tail, throwing himself into the scattering horde. The Corruptiids were large beasts, larger than...Read More »
A Worrying Aftermath
“I feel awful.”
Kayel glanced up to see who was talking to him. One thing he had noticed about Lanex was that a lot of them sounded the same, and in the last few hours, he’d spoken to a lot of them. Although Thalsa Two was a Vrekan territory, because Kayel...Read More »
Missing Fourth
Kayel sighed as he pushed uneaten food across his plate. He, Nyssi and Tenuk were alone in the all-you-can-eat buffet in the main hotel restaurant. It turned out that most Vrekans ate two massive meals a day, one at about 11am and another at around 10pm. Considering it was currently...Read More »
Kindly Medic
Retvik had been staring at the wall for about a day now, his head and body strapped down to the table, rendering him unable to move in any way. He hadn’t slept properly for a while and he hadn’t eaten or drank anything in days. He’d hardly moved either, outside...Read More »
Tired Team
Retvik wasn’t really sure how to respond as Nyssi, Kayel and Tenuk all hugged him tightly. Tenuk had exploded into a myriad of apologies, Kayel said he felt bad and Nyssi offered Retvik food and other comforts. But Retvik sighed to himself and sucked up his emotions, just like a...Read More »
Romantic Holiday Offer
“Retvik! Come with me! Right now!”
Retvik grunted as he picked Kuta off the floor. Kuta had just shadowjumped into his bedroom, but everything was currently a mess. He and his friends had literally returned from their stupid trip to Thalsa Two an hour ago, it was evening and Retvik needed...Read More »
Questions about Gifts and Temthans
“Hi, Timik, are you busy right now?”
Timik Lilac-Crown, the top Temthan house fighter, had just taken a massive bite out of the whole roasted chicken he was making his way through. Being a massive, powerful and sexy gladiator, Timik ate a lot of protein and little else. He tried to...Read More »
Swimming Together
“Is something wrong, Kuta?”
Retvik and Kuta had been happily making their way through the fancy Temthan resort. It turned out that the resort Kuta and their Legion had been left at was the Twisted Palms, the same resort Retvik had been to the last time he was on Kolasi, and...Read More »
Birthday Surprise
“Happy birthday!”
Nyssi really didn’t like how Kayel and Tenuk were standing over her. Especially since Nyssi had returned to her little home in the Torn Islet for the weekend and, somehow, Kayel and Tenuk were in her house.
“What the fuck are you both doing here and how the fuck did...Read More »
Super Weird Duty
“Hello, dearies, how are you all?”
Retvik was not at all amused. The Allbirther had just ruined his favourite sofa with her colossal, serpentine body. Thankfully, Sini was not all slimy, but she normally left some sort of strange, floral smell wherever she went.
“I would be happier if you knocked on...Read More »
Ceremonial Gladiator Planning
As the Raptor and her little friend Talok stepped into Xeno Dessaron One’s private training area, she immediately noticed that something was off. She had explicitly asked them all to be there at 10am sharp, but Kayel wasn’t present. At 10:05am, Kayel burst through the shadow in the corner of...Read More »
Psiksi's Wardrobe
“Aren’t you supposed to be training for your match or something right now?” Psiksi asked as he watched Kayel rummage through his wardrobe. Kayel had his own wardrobe at home, but Psiksi always kept a full wardrobe in his private training area, because he was a very popular person and...Read More »
Ceremony of the Doom Drums
The Demon Rat growled and hissed as she circled the Death Wolf, nothing on her mind but murderous intent. She was hungry, volatile, vicious and desperate to taste blood. She was a colossal entity, 4m long with a 2m long tail, covered in thick fur, heavy armour and spikes,...Read More »
The Sexy Plan
“Hello, dear.”
“OH FUCK!”
Kayel had just been lying in bed, as naked as a Skyan could be, thinking… thoughts, when the massive, pink Temthan appeared at the foot of his bed. Instinct kicked in and Kayel rolled off the bed, through a shadow on the floor and reappeared behind the sofa...Read More »
Waking Up In Someone Else's Bed
Arkadin rubbed his head as consciousness returned to him. That was the first time he had been unconscious since he’d been reset and gone back to his cold, lonely duties, and he was certain he’d been attacked. However, as the world around him began to focus, Arkadin realized something was...Read More »
Chastised by a Mortal
All things considered, the last hour or so was… genuinely nice. Arkadin didn’t want to admit that he was enjoying both not working and spending time with a cute Skyavok, but, well, he was. He hadn’t stopped working since the 29th, he hadn’t stopped at all, not even to eat...Read More »
Fluffy Concerns
“I find it so weird that a collective species shut down most of the city last week and the same thing is kinda happening this week…” Tenuk tutted as he sat on the sofa, browsing on his tablet, swishing his fluffy tail back and forth. “It’s been weird that Nyssi’s...Read More »
Donuts and TV
“Hey! You came back!” Kayel beamed as he opened the front door to his tiny apartment.
Arkadin, the Thantophor and god of death, glanced around awkwardly. “Uh, yeah, I guess I did.”
Kayel dragged Arkadin inside, then closed the door behind him, before gently forcing Arkadin onto the sofa. Kayel then playfully...Read More »
Reassurances and Missing Memories
Kayel paced up and down one apartment, before deciding to shadowjump to another. He wasn’t going to be able to get these troubles out of his head on his own. But as Kayel made his way down the stairs of Retvik’s nice, four-bedroom home, he realized there were three people...Read More »
11pm Visit
The knock on the door did admittedly make Kayel jump, but it was the muttering he could hear that bothered him more. A defeated sigh and the repeated words of “I shouldn’t be here” and “why am I doing this?” were enough to force Kayel out of bed and see...Read More »
Coffee at the Mall
“Well, piss.”
Arkay’s shoulders dropped as he realized that the coffee shop he had brought Kayel to was closed. And had been closed for a good couple of months.
“So, uh, was there a reason why you brought me here?” Kayel asked.
“Yeah. I found this place when I...Read More »
Steps Forward
“Hey! You came back already!” Kayel was grinning as he opened the door to his apartment, but that grin very quickly faded as he realized that Arkay had fabric wrapped around his neck and wrists. “Uh… are you well?”
“No… can I come in?”
Kayel nodded and led Arkay in, gently closing...Read More »
Angry Boss
“So, you seem pretty pissed off at us.”
The Raptor was a terrifying person. Everyone was well aware how vicious she could be, how she was an unkillable death machine who had torn the Tharr Clan apart and used to rule over a quarter of the planet of Portalia with an...Read More »
Not Reintegrating Fast Enough
“Hello, sibling. May I join you?”
Retvik sighed but quickly relented, shifting across the bench so that Rethais could sit down. They had been sitting on their own, staring out of a nearby window, looking down at the streets of the city of Phos. It was a very large, pretty and...Read More »
Back Home Finally
“Thank the Light, I am so glad to be-” Retvik suddenly paused as he realized that Kuta had completely passed out and collapsed on the floor in front of him. Kuta passing out from long distance shadowjumps was somewhat common, but the way Kuta hit the deck was somewhat concerning,...Read More »
Great House Mate
“How much is your rent?”
Kayel had admittedly forgotten that he’d let the God of Decay stay in his apartment. But to be fair, Arkay had been the perfect room mate. Apart from the pillow and the light blanket on the sofa, one wouldn’t have known Arkay was there. He...Read More »
Shadowy Worries
“I hate to bother you, Retvik, but can you come with me for a bit?”
It was about midnight, Retvik wasn’t really sure, but that familiar thump as Kuta shadowjumped into his bedroom and hit the deck had woken him up.
“Are you alright, Kuta? Retvik immediately asked as he threw his...Read More »
299th Battle
The crowds were going insane as the two gladiators entered the arena. On the left, Timik Lilac-Crown, the Great Blade, lifted his great sword, Crownbreaker, into the air, greeting the audience with his signature pearly white smile. On the right, Retvik Rethianos, the Lightbearer, remained somewhat silent as he raised...Read More »
Settling Nerves and Memories
Retvik should have been celebrating, but he was currently pacing up and down the living room, stressed out of his mind. News was beginning to spread about some sort of strange “mind bomb” at a secret Torr lab that had left a lot of people dead. A secret Torr lab...Read More »
Challenge Accepted
Retvik rubbed his eyes as he sat up and looked at his communicator, which, for some reason, was ringing. Ringing, but not with a number Retvik was familiar with. Rethan phone numbers were particularly long and consisted of their ID numbers randomly scrambled, an area code and a planet code,...Read More »
Battered Pink Thraki
Nyssi had planned to go to the Torn Islet on her own, to check in with her cousins and help them move into new accommodation, but since Retvik didn’t have any plans and had been pacing around being anxious, she’d decided to bring him with her. Not only did Retvik...Read More »
Strange New Friends
“So, what the fuck are you doing here on Portalia?”
Thassalin shifted awkwardly on his seat. He was a Thraki, he wasn’t used to sitting on chairs. At least, not Temthan chairs. While Temthans did vary greatly in height and size, they were all upright beings and they all had long...Read More »
Challenge Signed
It had been a while since Retvik had visited the Certification Chamber, a fancy building where contracts and things were signed. The chamber was designed to be luxurious since most of its visitors were there for political purposes, ironing out the terms and conditions for arena battles to settle disputes...Read More »
Into Temptation
“Oh hey, you’re a cat again!” Kayel smiled as he let himself in, immediately took off all his clothes and threw them into the washing machine. Kayel blatantly didn’t care that he’d just stripped off in front of the God of Death, he was hot, sexy, young-ish and had been...Read More »
Preparing for Battle
Telumeus sighed to himself as he watched the final touches being added to his mech by his team of technicians and assistants. His MK9 mech wasn’t ready yet, it didn’t have all the features he wanted, so he’d been forced to use his MK8 mech again. That wasn’t too bad,...Read More »
Fight of a Lifetime
The sun had just set, and the audience was eerily quiet as the two gladiators stepped into the main arena. Retvik’s footsteps were almost silent compared to the heavy crunches of Telumeus and his mechanical suit, but both of them were wrapped up in heavy armour, both of them were...Read More »
Triumphant Crown
“Dude.”
“What?”
“Dude!”
“What?”
“DUDE!”
Retvik snapped to attention, realizing he was in a bed. Standing over him were some familiar faces. Immediately, something blue and fluffy forced its way into Retvik’s arms. This was followed by far too many people trying to hug him, and a shower of confetti.
“Dude, you fucking did it!” Kayel...Read More »
Birthday Mess
Phovos didn’t know what to expect as she knocked on the front door to the large, fancy villa. The only indication that she was in the right place was a single red balloon tied to the lamp post in front of the house, next to a red and gold Rethan...Read More »
Battered and Bruised
Retvik gasped for breath as he suddenly woke up in his bed, his head spinning and nausea in his throat. Something… something had happened. Retvik hadn’t gone to bed. It was 2pm. Far too early for bed. The memories slowly trickled back. It was his birthday party. He had friends...Read More »
Broken Father
“Son?”
Tenuk had been woken up by the sound of a door opening and soft, fluffy footsteps. Slowly approaching the massive, cozy, self-heated bed was the last person Tenuk wanted to see. Fear though petrified Tenuk, making him unable to move as Ahvra, the Lord King of the Spasts, came closer,...Read More »
Ruined Birthday Aftermath
The Raptor had raced back to Retvik’s villa as fast as she possibly could, and she’d brought some of her guards with her. But as she reached the front door and was let in, Phovos realized she didn’t really need to.
“Hello, Queen!” Talok clicked. The little Vohra seemed chirpy on...Read More »
Awkward Reassurances and Questions
“Thanks for the ride, mate!” Nyssi smiled as Kuta pulled her through the shadow in Retvik’s bedroom. She’d been somewhat stuck at her place at the Torn Islet, mostly because an angry space goddess had teleported everyone home, but Nyssi’s truck had been left outside, parked in front of Retvik’s...Read More »
Alternate Access
“Litvir! Are you busy? Can we talk?”
Akah skidded past the open door to the joint Thantir Leaders’ office, span around and peered inside. Being someone used to walking on icy terrain, Akah knew how to not slip over and since both the main villa and the patient areas were always...Read More »
Space Port Chat
Tenny: Hey guys, can we voice chat? I’m sitting here in the space port and feel sad.
Retty: Yes, of course!
Retty: Also, who keeps on changing our nicknames?
Nyssy: lol sorry it’s funny tho
Kayy: No, it’s fucking stupid. Anyway, Tenuk, we’re free, what’s up?
Retvik’s communicator rang as everyone gathered around on the...Read More »
Trip to the Capital
Tenuk felt rather anxious as he made his way to the exit of the Phos Cerntral Space Port. He’d been flying alongside a lot of travelling Rethans, who were all much, much taller than Tenuk was. That normally wouldn’t have been a problem, but shapeshifting wasn’t allowed in space ports,...Read More »
More Game
KL1492L: yay we did it
IceShield: We did, good job!
While Kayel may not have understood, well, anything about this strange game, mostly because all the voice acting was in a language he didn’t know, he was slowly getting the hang of things. Thanks to this friendly IceShield guy, Kayel had slowly...Read More »
Three Months
It was weird, sharing a bed with someone again.
Kuta glanced to their right, where Retvik had been sleeping, but he had clearly gotten up, possibly to go to the bathroom. The bed was empty right now aside from Kuta, but it was temporary. It made a change.
Kuta hadn’t been living...Read More »
Planning A Name Reveal
“So… I have some explaining to do… Hang on, is that STILL leftover pizza?”
Retvik rolled his eyes. “Yes, it is. Unfortunately it is over a week old, and I do not think it is good to eat.”
“Aw…” Tenuk frowned, then went back to what he wanted to talk about. “Anyway,...Read More »
Coming Back
A knock on the door scared the life out of Kayel.
Over the last week or so, Kayel had been regularly switching between his small apartment in the Skyan sub-district of Salla and Retvik’s villa in the mixed race sub-district of Skipou. He’d originally told his team it was because Kayel...Read More »
Big Bad Argument
“Well, I’m not normally one to argue against polling data, but by the Darkness, you can be utterly terrifying, Ret.”
Timik and Valorier shrugged as Tanok swept up bits of rubber training mat into a neat pile. Meanwhile, Retvik had just torn through a second rubber mat with his teeth, and...Read More »
Seeking Shelter In An Apartment Block
“Um, there’s someone at the door.”
Kayel blinked, then sighed. He was busy making out with a super hot death god, the first person Kayel had properly seduced in a long time, and just as things were about to get naked and very sexy, something had to ruin it.
“Mind telling me...Read More »
Gladiator Counter Offers
“Fuck me, you are fucking huge!” Kayel accidentally exclaimed, before swiftly apologizing. “I’m so sorry, you are… just way bigger than I expected. And I have met some pretty big folks.”
Abius stopped what they were doing, some simple weight-lifting, put the heavy dumbbells down and grinned.
“It is fine! Retvik, it...Read More »
Stuttered Questions
Gath grunted to themselves as they finished a call with one of their external captains. While seven of their captains worked alongside Gath, three of them had separate jobs, and had been inducted into the 1000th Legion while continuing their duties elsewhere on neutral territories.
Veliir was originally from the 500th...Read More »
Interrupting Session Zero
“That is a lot of snacks, paper and dice.”
“Well, we have a lot to go over!”
Retvik glanced around the room, feeling ever so slightly nervous. The last time Arkay was here, the Panelix (the goddess Retvik used to worship) had invaded, teleported his friends across the universe, beaten Arkay up,...Read More »
Waking Up On The Floor To Questions
“Hey, guys, I think he’s waking up!”
Arkay rubbed his eyes as he rolled over and picked himself up. Standing over him were his team of friends, plus an extra friendly face.
“So, which of them did you save this time?” Sini asked as she helped Arkay to his feet. “You were...Read More »
Son's Revenge
“Hello, Kyr Raptor, you wished to speak to me?”
Retvik used to fear Phovoula, the head manager of the Great Dessaron Battle Arenas. After all, she had given him a job when no one else would, and, for a long time, Retvik knew that if he stepped out of line, he’d...Read More »
Arena Tour
“Firstly, it is great to see you, sibling. Secondly… what the actual fuck?”
Relkir was well known to not swear much, so that statement caught pretty much everyone off guard. Relkir and Gath had come to the Great Arenas for a private tour, given by none other than the Lightbearer himself.
“What?”...Read More »
Weird Gifts for Relkir
“Heya, Relkir, you alright?”
It turned out that Gath was very popular among the house fighters of the Great Arenas, and everyone had spent a great afternoon having fun and chatting. Somehow, that afternoon turned into drinking games in the evening, combining into a celebration of multiple things. Also, it seemed...Read More »
Candlelit Dinner
“BOO!”
Retvik nearly jumped out of bed. The whole house had been completely silent, what with Kayel and Nyssi staying at their own homes and Tenuk spending the night at Talok’s place, so Kuta suddenly leaping out from the shadow in the corner and throwing themselves into Retvik’s bed did catch...Read More »
Swift Surgery
“You, uh, called me earlier than expected.”
Most Rethan doctors were either really young or really old. Or, rather, they just looked like it. Doctor Fetiir, a somewhat tall but skinny pale blue-plated Rethan, had been Kuta’s main doctor for pretty much all of Kuta’s adult life, for nearly seventy years,...Read More »
Post-Surgery Recovery
Kuta glanced around the recovery room. They were tired, but they refused to sleep. They had just had surgery while conscious, and while everything had gone incredibly smoothly, Kuta felt weird. Like something was wrong.
“How are you feeling, Kuta?”
Kuta’s main doctor, Fetiir, was standing in the doorway. They seemed slightly...Read More »
Recent Victories
“Twenty fucking wins, baby!” Kayel shouted as he burst through a shadow and into the House Fighters’ canteen, where the gladiators who worked for the Great Arenas themselves regularly sat down for lunch. “I didn’t think I’d enjoy this, but I fucking well am!”
“You’ll stop enjoying it after your first...Read More »
Chat Before Leaving
“It is funny, you wish to spend the last day of your holiday, here with me.”
“Penultimate day, but yes.”
While most of the Twelve did have sub-districts in Palaestra, all three Panelixian races lacked one. The Torr only ever visited Palaestra on business and the local travel and tourist industry was...Read More »
Day After Dates
“Well, I think we all had dates yesterday!” Nyssi laughed as she headed downstairs, where Retvik was lying dozily on the sofa, and Tenuk was eating a bowl of porridge and honey. Kayel was sitting in the kitchen, switching between his communicator and a yellow, portable games console.
“I wouldn’t call...Read More »
Post Big Bad Silliness
“Dude, you were so awesome!”
Abius didn’t expect to have fans waiting for them as they plodded out of the Dasoudi Arena, utterly covered in blood, but right now, they had four fans, one of whom handed Abius a towel so they could wipe their face down.
“You were great, Abius!” Retvik...Read More »
Expanding Masses
Tromos had expected this match to be not so difficult, but Retvik was kicking the crap out of him. Sure, Tromos didn’t think his chances of winning were amazing (bookies were saying a 40% chance), but as Retvik picked Tromos up by the neck and threw him across the arena,...Read More »
Dessaron Disappearance
“Nyssi! Nyssi! Where are you? Nyssi, my love! Please!”
Timik had been searching through the remains of the second arena for a while, digging through rubble with his bare hands.
The Corruption was being held at bay for a long time. Despite being one of the worst affected areas, the gladiators of...Read More »
Dessaron Decayling Thoughts
“So, what do you guys think?”
Nyssi, Tenuk and Retvik all glanced at Kayel. The four of them were sitting on the small beach on the lake at Savepoint, keeping to themselves. They’d spent the morning reading through various text books and asking the two Decay Lords looking after them lots...Read More »