What appeared to be a beautiful, lilac-cloaked woman strode out of Fail's southern gate, and observed the lay of the arena.<br/><br/>Lions on the south, around the entrance.  Mistress was fond of beasts, and Lucy recorded a special  note of their health and strength in the observation core - but her mission in this town was not to collect the life-essence of beasts.<br/><br/>Beautiful gem-encrusted stakes on the east.  Mistress was fond of gems.  The echo of Mistress' personality within Lucy reacted with a twinge of covetousness as tangible as physical hunger or lust - though far less intense - and Lucy made a mental note of the apparent riches to be found in this place.<br/><br/>As to the gem-encrusted lions in a pit on the northwest, Lucy's lips twitched in a smile, and the Mistress would no doubt have laughed outright.<br/>They were amusing beasts, though probably deadly, and probably created at the behest of deadly and whimsical madness.<br/><br/>The competitors, though, were the focus of her mission.  They were brimming with energy and vigour, apart from the Yellow-Orange golem, and if they remained in this vicinity for a long enough time, the Mistress would certainly enjoy taking some samples of them.<br/><br/>Unfortunately, all of the competitors apart from one dark-skinned human seemed to be at least slightly outside of Lucy's standard operational parameters, and that human was currently being approached by a seemingly very eager individual with a magical blade.<br/><br/>The mission would not be abandoned, however.<br/>Aggressive Collection would take place, and though it would be somewhat less enjoyable for all parties than the passive or receptive version, tastes of all the incredibly high-quality life-energy here would be transferred to the designated receptacle, so as to entice the Mistress' palette.<br/><br/>Perhaps Lucy could lay hands on the more mighty competitors when they had themselves been laid low by equally mighty opposition.<br/>Perhaps she would have to burn beyond standard parameters in an attempt to lay some of them low herself.<br/>For the time being, though, watchful opportunism seemed the wisest course, and so she rested her hand on her sword's hilt, and waited for the sound of the second trumpet.