Suddenly, another roar of the crowd echo's through the stone, dark, torch-lit corridors and long 'locker-room' you find yourselves in. The benches once more find themselves caked with some amount of dust as something epic above must've been going on - perhaps the next rising star after you all finish this battle? It sounds as though he or she has certainly gained the crowds attention, with their cheers and shouts going on for some time before fading. A muffled, but projected voice can be heard, but no words can be made out - far too distorted by the thick rock and echoing of the corridors. A thick guard, easily a giant of a human and clearly overfed from a lifetime of lazy duty pokes his head in, his armour shining pridefully as he holds an interesting kind of spear one handed, only the metal 'tip' continues a bladed edge along the wooden shaft, reinforcing it into some kind of short helbard and guarding his hands. Likely the weapon would function well in battle, but lost reach from say a sword or spear would traditionally have. "<span style="color: #FF8000">'Ey. Yoo up.</span>" His accent is thick and he clearly has to project in order to be clearer. His jolts to the direction for them to follow, before leaning back into the corridor from where he came and already making his way towards the arena. No doubt his gait needed the head-start.<br/><br/>Following him; you might expect some odorous male musk, however it seems he looks after himself as much as his armour and a feint scent of summer fruits wafts behind him, likely to be eventually ruined by the hot atmosphere and the long days guards tended to work, but no less pleasant for now. The bright light ahead signalled the arena's approach and before he would come anywhere near the limelight, he stops and turns, taking a position against the wall. The place is crawling with guards, armed with a variety of weapons suitable for such confined spaces, though there are some exotic things - likely money wasted for the purpose of standing out or for cool factor. "<span style="color: #FF8000">Git in formashun fer duh crowd, then as yer like.</span>" He barks at them, putting hands on one of the party in order to put them shoulder to shoulder and was pretty aware of where he put those meaty palms, possibly a soldier who had to deal with men and women in his unit and had to remain professional.<br/><br/>A female voice ahead; the source of the earlier muffled tone makes use of her powerful voice as she calls out to the crowd, whom react as they begin cheering in response. Clearly these kind of enterances were rehersed and well-timed or one of the guards had signalled the groups arrival. The chunky guard gives one final thumbs up to the group as they pass, smiling. Though you don't recognize him from previous shifts; one jiggling audience member that attended some of your earlier matches might spring to mind for some of you. COuldn't be the same person, could it? Still, the commentator dawns eerily closer as you begin to head into the arena for real. "<span style="color: #0080FF">-been all waiting for!</span>"<br/><br/><img alt="Image" src="https://i.imgur.com/TXeVdXa.jpg?1"/><br/><br/>The light is blinding, the crowd is deafening and the announcer pauses for a break to allow the group to exit fully and show themselves off in formation (if it lasts this long), before likely breaking up to do a bit of their own thing. Meanwhile, her voice bellows once more and with adjusted eyes, you're able to see what looks like the large form of a jester centering the arena and cantering around as part of her performance. At first, you might think it a horse and rider, but with no head - it becomes clear it's a Centaur dressed rather unusually. Around her neck, is a square-edged castle like design that functions as some kind of neck guard, stretched over her neck and resting neatly on her shoulders like a neck-skirt. Then in a mix of blue on one side of her uniform and one arm, while the other was a diamond-shaped mix of yellow and red. Finally, another frilled red dividor seperates her in half, revealing the lower portion of a brown furred belly from the costume she had on display above the knee. Her hooves ended with red shoes - which clearly made it quite difficult to walk or otherwise, without raising her knees significantly. Ine one hand was a cone of some kind, perhaps a magical item for projecting her voice, but she hardly seems to need it unless to address the opposite end of the arena. It suddenly occured to Brelia who this was, though. This was one of the healers she was teaching - someone with no magical ability and yet had replaced her. Weird she was now some kind of announcer, though she was always good at hauling bodies to where they could be treated or otherwise..<br/><br/>"<span style="color: #0080FF">Your favourite warriors; all gathered in one place for their final bouts for freedom - representing the people of Pyra; the Pyran army!</span>" She gestures a hand towards the group of you, giving you chance to further introduce yourselves while the crowd eats it up, meanwhile the Centauress takes a moment to trot up to the group, flourishing her bouncy type of walk required by her odd shoes. "<span style="color: #0080FF">And a reminder for our fighters on the rules~</span>" She playfully bumps one of them with her rump, almost like a hip-bounce. "<span style="color: #0080FF">I, Joan, am a mere spectator here for the pleasure of our audience-</span>" Her tail flicks at the party behind her as she proceeds to bow to the audience - which they love. "<span style="color: #0080FF">And attacking me - regardless of why, is off-limits! And would be punishable by shame, guards and a lot of boring hassle. So don't do it!</span>" She turns and puts her hand up, wagging her finger to the naga in particular, which is found as funny to some.<br/><br/>Without giving any of them too much time to react or to steal her thunder, she suddenly jogs back to the center of the arena. She is a fast horse, easily twelve feet tall and almost as long. Brown hair and fur, with striking green eyes. "<span style="color: #0080FF">Finally, it's time to begin the battle. Two armies meet on the field; one wholly confident and unprepared with little information, a smaller nation holding out against the graaand-</span>" She emphesizes "<span style="color: #0080FF">Civilized empire attempting to bring them into enlightenment.</span>" The audience is mixed, between a couple of laughs, some boos and some cheers. "<span style="color: #0080FF">The other-</span>" She quickly gestures to the other side as figures begin to emerge from the far side. "<span style="color: #0080FF">An army double the size, mounted and prepared for the fight ahead!</span>"<br/><br/>Laughs suddenly errupt from the audience as humanoid shapes bound out one by one and take a line on the far end from the party, only they are not on horses. Well. One is, seems to be some kind of banner holder, while the others have.. Well. Codpieces in the shapes of horses, bouncing and flopping around. The distance is a bit far to make out, but swords and bows can be seen wielded by those in the front as they begin to organise a line, while the announce paces around the pillars that help divide the large open space. "<span style="color: #0080FF">Begiiiiin~</span>" She practically sings.<br/><br/><img alt="Image" src="https://i.imgur.com/R43ef90.jpg"/>