Scene 1: When Last We Left Our … ““Heroes””…

Drowmande: What a shocking development!  Dear adventurers from Scottalia, for your underhanded victory in the last match, you have earned a reward seldom granted.  Emerge from your cells now, and you may behold... Nay!  You may even speak to the Master himself!  Esteemed patrons and gladiators, behold!  The terror of the the planes, the source of the greatest entertainments, the Lanista of Ahk’rapp himself: Cian the Great Horrible One!

((Sfx: Crowd cheer))

Rhomande: We climbed through the typical series of traps and delays, finally returning to the sandy arena, emerging from a cunningly hidden door at the foot of the Master's Box.  A grizzled, one-eyed black knight stood from his luxurious silken pillows to salute us.  A familiar red-armed monkey sat upon his shoulder, and so I spake.

Rhomande: Great Horrible One, we have passed through far and strange lands, we have conquered innumerable foes and surpassed countless trials, all for one purpose: RETURN MY MONKEY TO ME IMMEDIATELY!

CtH: BWAHAHAHAHAHA!  Little bard, you show as much bravado as your cousin, here, did when he stood in your place.  Very well! I'm a sporting man.  If you can defeat me and Drowmande's favorite pet, the monkey is yours.  Now... Have at you!

Drowmande: Oh, my Scorpie!  How I miss you!  And you’ve gotten so much bigger since the Great Horrible One seized you as his own property!  You could barely fit in my hand before, and look at you now!  You’re almost thirty feet from pincers to stinger, now!  Yes, friends, now that my dear Scorpie is large enough to ride, Cian the Horrible can move himself over fifty feet across the arena in under three seconds!

Rhomande: That’s nothing; the giant centipede can move over a hundred feet in under one second!

Issa: I hate you.