EPT
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An Ode To the Dreamhack Finals: The Hunt
The great Predator, sleek and mighty, prowls the city, feeding on the weak. It does not belong in this land of steel, but there is only one remaining to challenge him and force him out, for all previous foes have fallen to his strong jowls. It seems hopeless, but there is no other choice.
Astride a great stallion rides our Champion, covered head to toe in finest armor and wielding a gleaming golden blade, prepared to defend the meek and avenge the fallen. He is strong, but his enemy is fearsome. Our hopes are with him, but doubt remains, a deep fear instilled in us that it will not be enough.
It begins in earnest: through the streets they clash, the fight rages. The Nemesis strikes first, but is deflected. Our valiant Warrior sees an opening and ripostes; his foe’s strength seems to wane. He has done it! Our glorious Guardian is poised for a final blow, but the Adversary is feinting, and a surprise strike forces defeat. The city is lost, our Protector retreats, to recover and fight another day.
The Hunter is starving, always hungry, and pursues his new favored prey. All through the night, he stalks his mark. But lo! A stronghold! The Minion of Valiance is not vanquished, and the battle resumes. As day breaks, the Hunter unleashes his power, but in his arrogance he has overextended. The Vindicator strikes swiftly, and his Foe is wounded. He has defended his people, but it is not over. As the Night Stalker flees, the Cavalier follows, and the city fades out of view.
Towards his own home he travels far in the distance, the Great Cat enters the jungle. Here, in the shade of the trees, he is prepared, a special strike for his foe. He grins as he springs his ambush, striking at his foe when he rides in from the volcanic wasteland to the east. He leaps into the fray, but the Knight is not caught unaware, and deals a vicious strike. The Villain flees again, deeper into the jungle, baiting his foe in towards the center.
In the heart of the jungle lies an enormous Altar, celebrating the hunt itself, and here the Predator has become the Prey. The Gallant’s mighty steed carries him through the darkest undergrowth, never allowing his target a moment’s rest. His attack is carried out with alacrity, and his Adversary is forced to flee once more. Total victory seems near!
The Chevalier marches onward, tireless and fearless. The jungle is left behind, ahead are the crags of the mountains, and at last, his home, and here the Beast cannot fall. A flash of fangs, a glimpse of fur, and the Templar has no choice but to give up the hunt for now, and fall back to the realm of man once more. He leaves the field of battle, still having achieved much, and heads for the edge of the world to heal.
The powerful Creature is wounded, but vicious and angry. There will be no safety for the one who harmed him, who injured his body and his pride. The pursuit picks up again, changing direction once more. To the edge of the world he pursues the Fighter, and his strength seems impossible as he forces the Horseman out from his seclusion. The Paragon of Justice has no other choice but to fall back: he has but one place to go.
It is the finish, the hunt will end here. Neither the Devourer nor the Paladin will retreat again, neither will back down. At the shipyards they engage once again in battle, and there will be only one victor. Still weakened from the last fight, the Warrior is on the defensive, moving cautiously and shielding himself until an opening is visible. With the fury of a thousand suns, the Hungerer strikes at the warrior, but he has made a mistake, and a vicious wound is opened on his flank. Parity is achieved between these two at last, both exhausted, both near death, and the fight rages forward, it must be decided here. Back and forth they fight, exchanging blows, neither giving an inch. It comes down to one final strike for each, the Fiend leaps for the throat, and the steel blade swoops in. The world itself freezes, a single moment of near perfect silence, and it is over at last. The cheers of the people erupt, and they are deafening. The Puma is dead, and the Hero stands tall, victorious at last.
By Whitewing
The great Predator, sleek and mighty, prowls the city, feeding on the weak. It does not belong in this land of steel, but there is only one remaining to challenge him and force him out, for all previous foes have fallen to his strong jowls. It seems hopeless, but there is no other choice.
Astride a great stallion rides our Champion, covered head to toe in finest armor and wielding a gleaming golden blade, prepared to defend the meek and avenge the fallen. He is strong, but his enemy is fearsome. Our hopes are with him, but doubt remains, a deep fear instilled in us that it will not be enough.
It begins in earnest: through the streets they clash, the fight rages. The Nemesis strikes first, but is deflected. Our valiant Warrior sees an opening and ripostes; his foe’s strength seems to wane. He has done it! Our glorious Guardian is poised for a final blow, but the Adversary is feinting, and a surprise strike forces defeat. The city is lost, our Protector retreats, to recover and fight another day.
The Hunter is starving, always hungry, and pursues his new favored prey. All through the night, he stalks his mark. But lo! A stronghold! The Minion of Valiance is not vanquished, and the battle resumes. As day breaks, the Hunter unleashes his power, but in his arrogance he has overextended. The Vindicator strikes swiftly, and his Foe is wounded. He has defended his people, but it is not over. As the Night Stalker flees, the Cavalier follows, and the city fades out of view.
Towards his own home he travels far in the distance, the Great Cat enters the jungle. Here, in the shade of the trees, he is prepared, a special strike for his foe. He grins as he springs his ambush, striking at his foe when he rides in from the volcanic wasteland to the east. He leaps into the fray, but the Knight is not caught unaware, and deals a vicious strike. The Villain flees again, deeper into the jungle, baiting his foe in towards the center.
In the heart of the jungle lies an enormous Altar, celebrating the hunt itself, and here the Predator has become the Prey. The Gallant’s mighty steed carries him through the darkest undergrowth, never allowing his target a moment’s rest. His attack is carried out with alacrity, and his Adversary is forced to flee once more. Total victory seems near!
The Chevalier marches onward, tireless and fearless. The jungle is left behind, ahead are the crags of the mountains, and at last, his home, and here the Beast cannot fall. A flash of fangs, a glimpse of fur, and the Templar has no choice but to give up the hunt for now, and fall back to the realm of man once more. He leaves the field of battle, still having achieved much, and heads for the edge of the world to heal.
The powerful Creature is wounded, but vicious and angry. There will be no safety for the one who harmed him, who injured his body and his pride. The pursuit picks up again, changing direction once more. To the edge of the world he pursues the Fighter, and his strength seems impossible as he forces the Horseman out from his seclusion. The Paragon of Justice has no other choice but to fall back: he has but one place to go.
It is the finish, the hunt will end here. Neither the Devourer nor the Paladin will retreat again, neither will back down. At the shipyards they engage once again in battle, and there will be only one victor. Still weakened from the last fight, the Warrior is on the defensive, moving cautiously and shielding himself until an opening is visible. With the fury of a thousand suns, the Hungerer strikes at the warrior, but he has made a mistake, and a vicious wound is opened on his flank. Parity is achieved between these two at last, both exhausted, both near death, and the fight rages forward, it must be decided here. Back and forth they fight, exchanging blows, neither giving an inch. It comes down to one final strike for each, the Fiend leaps for the throat, and the steel blade swoops in. The world itself freezes, a single moment of near perfect silence, and it is over at last. The cheers of the people erupt, and they are deafening. The Puma is dead, and the Hero stands tall, victorious at last.
By Whitewing
Hero Hwaiting!
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/OBOP2.png)
