The afternoon sun blazed over the golden sands of the First Citadel Grand Dueling Arena, where thousands of spectators filled the stone tiers to witness the meeting between two legendary swordmasters of Earth.
"I am Ilsa Venn, Blade of the West and elected champion of the forty independent mountain clans," the tall warrior woman announced, driving her curved steel falchion into the dueling sand.
"For three hundred years, the western clans refused to bow to warlords, empires, or foreign corporate syndicates," Ilsa continued, her storm-grey eyes sweeping across the gathered leaders.
"We survived in the high glaciers by relying on our own steel, our own courage, and our ancient clan codes," Ilsa said, her voice carrying the rough, untamed wind of the high peaks.
"We have heard tales of your coalition, your open ledgers, and your victories against the corporate cartels," Ilsa said, looking toward the central grandstand.
