Sisters of Fire and Fury

Sporting Event / Competition

In the enchanted realm of the Fae, we meet Helena Vivian “Ash” Evenhell, a young Tiefling woman with a penchant for fire magic. For ten long years, she has wandered the whimsical wilds of that strange world, ever since an incident left her stranded there. Now, she searches for her missing mentor—a mischievous fairy named Turnip—who vanished without a trace just weeks ago. While passing through an unusually vivid thicket of pink and purple brush, Ash stumbles through a hidden veil and, to her astonishment, finds herself back in the world of Aphirion. And not just anywhere—she now stands at the gates of the grand city of Azmarin.

Elsewhere, in the solemn halls of the Pantheon of Ezer, another young Tiefling woman is preparing for a different journey. Rodani “Euphoria” Evenhell—Ash’s twin—has grown tired of the monastery's rigid discipline and unyielding rules. The call of freedom and the road ahead is too strong to ignore. With little more than determination and a sparse pack, she resolves to return to her hometown of Ivywood. She travels first to Azmarin to gather supplies, her mind set on the road ahead.

But fate has other plans.

As Rodani steps through the city gates, a strange rustling in the nearby brush draws her attention. She turns—and her breath catches. From the tangled foliage steps the very last person she ever expected to see: Ash. Her twin. Her mirror. Her sister lost to time.

For Rodani, it has been just two years. For Ash, a decade. And yet they look no different—proof that time in the Fae Realm flows differently than in Aphirion. After the shock and tears of reunion settle, the sisters resolve to continue their journey together. They would go home, to see their mother once more.

Over the next eighteen days, they travel across the sun-dappled roads and shadowed valleys of Eshana. Along the way, they encounter a band of Eshani nomads, who invite them to travel together. The nomads prove kind and generous, and the journey becomes one of shared songs and fireside stories. They visit wonders of the land—most notably the Eye of the Dragon, a sacred temple overlooking a great lake, revered by the Dragonborn and pilgrims of Hesi’Thazil.

Though there are delays, the trip is not without its charms. By the end of the eighteenth day, they arrive at the thriving capital city of Anghor Thom.

There, the sisters seek passage to Vestri and meet Captain Dustin, a trader from Vijouma, who offers them passage aboard his ship—for fifty gold each. Unfortunately, the twins are broke. Seeing their determination (and perhaps moved by their bond), Dustin offers an alternative: a fighting tournament held in the city’s coliseum called The Challenger’s Gauntlet. The prize? Glory—and a bag of 800 gold.

Hope rekindled, Ash and Rodani attend a match to observe the competition. They watch as a towering half-giant bests a monstrous toad, and then make their way to The Champ’s Inn, a rowdy alehall exclusive to tournament competitors.

The inn is run by Roland Sternrock, a grizzled former champion covered in battle scars, and his spirited foster daughter Josselyn. Roland takes their entry and offers them a room. That night, they meet other competitors:
 

• Yexim, a cheerful gnome entering solo

 
• Dust Splitter, a masked rogue with lightning reflexes

 
• Adriel, a weary elf with tired eyes

 
• Ronald Halloway, a pompous noble from Argon and reigning champion—rumored to be a cheat.

Roland explains that the Gauntlet takes place over three days, with the final bout held on the third.

The next morning, Ash and Rodani are matched against Yexim. In the coliseum’s shadowy underground, they wait behind the gates. The roar of the crowd rises as their names are called. The gates open—and their first battle begins.

Yexim dazzles with clever illusions, but Ash’s fire magic and Rodani’s relentless fists overwhelm him. The sisters claim victory, and Yexim, ever a good sport, wishes them well and tells them to visit him in Faern one day. The crowd roars as they exit the arena, victorious.

They spend the rest of the day observing other matches. Dust Splitter continues to impress with uncanny agility. In contrast, Ronald’s bout against Adriel ends oddly—she surrenders quickly and without much of a fight.

Later, at the inn, the twins confront Adriel, who admits she threw the match for coin, desperate to clear her debts. Outraged, Ash and Rodani vow to defeat Ronald and expose the corruption. That night, they have a heated encounter with the noble himself. When Ronald tries to strike Rodani, she dodges and delivers a counter-punch that sends him reeling. Ash mocks him with a threat of incineration if he tries it again. Nearby, Dust Splitter watches with silent amusement, and the three bond over a mutual disdain for Ronald. In celebration of their victory in the first match, Roland upgrades the twins to a larger room.

That night, disaster nearly strikes. Their next opponents—Diya’s Slaughter—attempt a cowardly ambush while the twins sleep. They are stopped by Dust Splitter, who wounds their leader badly enough to disqualify him from the next round. The remaining two face the sisters the following day and are utterly outmatched. Rodani breaks an arm; Ash leaves her mark with a devastating fire blast. With this, the twins advance to the final match.

Dust faces Ronald next, and the match is intense—until a shocking reveal: Ronald has sent a changeling double in his place. The deception earns him a swift disqualification. Dust, now a finalist, challenges the twins then and there.

The final match begins immediately. The crowd goes wild.

Dust is cunning and relentless, but Ash and Rodani fight with unmatched coordination. The battle is long, brutal, and exhilarating—but in the end, the twins prevail. They are crowned champions and awarded the prize gold. The crowd’s cheers follow them as they return to the inn, bruised but beaming.

There, Ronald waits—furious and humiliated. He lashes out, shoving Ash. But her magic, volatile since her return from the Fae, bursts forth uncontrollably. In a sudden, searing flash, Ronald is incinerated. The inn falls silent. But no one speaks against her. All agree: it was self-defense.

That night, the sisters rest in comfort, celebrated as heroes. In the morning, they bid farewell to their new friends and return to Captain Dustin. Pleased by their success and eager to leave early, he prepares to set sail that very afternoon.

The next fifteen and a half days are spent aboard Captain Dustin’s ship. The crew is gruff but fair, and the twins help with chores, trade stories, and enjoy the salt-kissed air of the open sea.

But fate, once again, is cruel.

On a storm-tossed night, the ship is attacked by Bloodmen pirates, led by the infamous Skagi “Worldsnatcher”. The battle is swift and brutal. The ship is plundered. Ash and Rodani are taken, captives once more...

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