The Fire and The Storm - The Nexus of Kellaran #2

Part 27

The time it took for each team's play was noted by some in attendance, and they ranged from three to twelve seconds, with one exception; when Mark was called, he stood on the stage for almost sixteen minutes.

Though they were forbidden to discuss their play, it was often apparent from a team leader's expression and bearing whether they thought they had done well or poorly. Many were obviously displeased with their result. The duration of their play seemed to bear no relation to their opinion of their performance. Mark seemed satisfied but no more than that, despite the extraordinary duration of his turn. The most interesting turn for those observing was that of Zarkog, who played seventy-first. About halfway through the nine-second duration of his turn, every god in attendance, whether old or new, suddenly became aware that he had joined them in divinity.

He and the organizers refused to discuss it, and he seemed to show no emotional reaction at all after his turn.

In just less than an hour the tournament was complete, and thousands began arriving in the hall to spectate the announcement of the winners.

"You think you did well?" Fire asked her father as servers began circulating among the contestants with trays of snacks and beverages.

"I think so. And you?" he responded with a smile and an affectionate squeeze of her shoulder.

"We did okay. The demons... Sorry. Can't talk about it yet." she finished in irritation, and flew off in search of a server with snacks that she liked.

Karz assumed his elven Simulacrum and took off after her.

Six and Val stood holding hands, thinking over their turn, as Mark stood with his wives in his arms and waited patiently.

Finally Pakdag took to the stage again, and a huge Revealing of him was cast above him. He had everyone's attention almost immediately.

"This has been a great and momentous occasion, as you will soon see. In many ways, the play of each team in The Tournament of Governors was very similar to the full-participation military exercises that have been held recently. The crucial difference being that everyone in the tournament scenarios were convinced that it was reality.

"The behavior of many people in a given situation in an exercise was essentially the same as their behavior in a similar situation that they thought was real. But many other people behaved quite differently. Some had less true courage than they'd shown in exercises. Almost everyone was less willing to sacrifice for victory, and less willing to sacrifice the safety of their families and friends in particular, when they thought the danger was real.

"But in some cases, those who were faced with all the horror and intensity of true warfare transcended themselves. They exhibited new levels of valor and honor and compassion and ability, even beyond the best they had shown in the exercises. This is true of the members of the twelve teams who were most successful today."

He paused for a moment to indulge

in a slight smile of deep satisfaction, then continued. "The challenge posed in this tournament was a worthy one, and not easy. Every

team who took part wasonly, nea

vel.ne

of brilliant individuals, yet only twenty seven teams achieved complete victory while also limiting our losses to acceptable levels. Two out of every three teams suffered complete defeat, which in this case entails the loss of every Kellarani and Triax life without exception. The remainder, some eight teams, defeated the demons but lost the majority of our populations and property, including the destruction of most of the surface and seas of Kellaran.

"Though we will assign no numerical ranking to the result of any but the best twelve, the records of each team's performance will be publicly available. By making comparisons between the various records, which will be studied in detail in the coming days, we will be able to identify specific practices as being more or less effective, and our overall ability will be greatly increased thereby. "Now, to the results.

"Thus far the tournament has been spectacular to those who have participated as organizers and contestants, while being quite uninteresting to those who have been spectating. Now all will see some of what has occurred.

The giant Revealing above him split into two, with the top half showing a diagram of the void around their sun out to as far as the demons' rock, with Kellaran and the demons' rock highlighted, and the bottom half showing various views of what he was describing.

"In twelfth place, the team led by Overlord Senchasi of Kletiuk and composed of twenty-six of the elite of his race, including his father Senchak of the new gods who consulted without commanding, and fourteen members from other races."

Pakdag waited a few moments while every dwarf in attendance cheered and congratulated each other with fierce back-slapping hugs amidst enthusiastic applause from everyone else, and Senchasi made his way to the stage with a huge grin on his bearded face, waving his ornate battle-axe in the air and pumping his fist in triumph. Above him the Revealing showed Senchasi making speeches to vast gatherings, then other vast gatherings celebrating victory over the demons.

"Let it be known;" Pakdag stated to Senchasi as the dwarf joined him on the stage. "Though your team placed twelfth, yours was still a valiant and victorious effort, and we know that even if every other leader on Kellaran were to perish, you and your team would still provide us with admirable and effective leadership. The fact that your magnificent play only gave you the twelfth place is a tribute to the depth of our leadership resources on Kellaran.

Pakdag turned back to the audience as he continued speaking. "The play of Senchasi's team was an interesting experiment in what Kellaran would be like if dwarves ran the world. Their race's inherent exuberance was infective throughout the populace under their leadership, and contributed to a high state of morale in trying times.

"Their team's military aggression was rated as moderate."

Above him the diagram of the void showed the travel of the demons toward Kellaran as the planets revolved around the sun, then the locations of battles, while personal views of those battles were shown below it.

"They waited almost two years, until

the demons were well within the

inner planets, before they attacked. They made good use of the time. Most significantly, by the time they attacked the demons, most of those who have received The Transformation of Hilsith had completed Valentia's Magic Education, and were qualified Journeyman class wizards at least. This provided them some advantage in the later stages of the war when demons were attacking Kellaran, over those teams who were more aggressive."

Pakdag spent ten minutes in total in presenting and discussing Senchasi's team's performance, and allowing Senchasi a few moments to acknowledge and thank his team members for their contribution to thei achievement. He spent the same amount of time with each of the other top-twelve teams, so the entire presentation of the results of the tournament lasted a few minutes more than two hours.

"In eleventh place; the team led by King Wosea of the gnome kingdom of Enj and Emperor Baltar of the giant Empire of Eskangir!" Pakdag announced, and when those worthies had made their way to the stage, he said, "King Wosea, though your team was officially led by yourself and Emperor Baltar, I think you would both agree that at every important moment of your contest, you were the true leader of your team. And, though there were other teams led by both gnomes and giants, as well as a team led by gnomes exclusively, we who have judged this tournament agree that you displayed the best of gnomen leadership, and showed the rest of us what is great about your race. The gnomes have always been secretive and opaque to the other races, but you showed the world their true nature, and even some of us of the old gods learned much of value of the fundamentals of gnomen character and behavior from your performance.

“Because of your small size and meager physical strength as individuals, yours is a race that only succeeds through complete co-operation, and through a fierce solidarity. You inspired all of Kellaran with those qualities, and it stood us in good stead under your leadership.

"Your team was judged to be the second-least aggressive in the tournament...”☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐