Carnival of Champions

The steady thumping of the caravan can be heard miles away. With each one, the hearts of the people fill with excitement. Children, adults and old timers alike all hurry to prepare. City officials begin the preparations as well. Guards are placed on every major road into the city, tax collectors set up next to them, the local taverns and inns begin clearing rooms that aren't needed and cleaning those that are and shop owners everywhere are stocking up on their supplies. The entire city is buzzing with activity as the sounds of the steady thumps grow ever louder, ever closer. Then, finally they come into view. The giant Brontosaurus herd with large structures upon their backs, along side Triceratops pulling giant carts, Ankylosaurus trotting beside giving would be bandits a pause, Pteranodons over head, Raptor packs darting to and fro, Mastodons walking along, several T-Rex's ensuring the safety of the caravan with the Raptors and Pteranodons. They have finally come. The Carnival of Champions has arrived.
Children begin speaking of which creature they want to ride or what spell caster they wish to see perform and exotic foods to try. The elders chat of the wondrous performances of the year prior and wondering if this year will have something new. The adults are overheard planning of what contest they wish to watch or participate in. Archery, Feats of magic, Strength and the like. Others wish to watch groups of adventurers take on the trials. Perhaps the Maze of Malice, the Dungeons of Terror, the Hunt of the Wild, or the venerated Gladiatorial Arena. 

Word has already spread of the grand prize this year. Ten thousand Gold Pieces to the winner! Of course, that's assuming they even win. In order to do so, they must pass all the trials and THEN defeat any remaining competition only AFTER that will they be able to challenge the current Champion! You don't know of the current champion?! They say there is a tribe of Lizardfolk who refer to her as "Fire Goddess", in the Carnival she is known simply as Onyx. Aye, I said she. Don't be so foolish to think you can beat her simply based on gender. See that there? That pile of skulls? All real, all of them idiots who disrespected her and those she cares for. They serve as a warning to any would be challenger. Enter with respect, or never leave alive. Ask an old timer and they'll tell you of the time she felled a Troll with one blow, or when she survived being struck by lighting from the skies with not a scratch on her, others have said they've seen her drop a T-Rex gone rabid with one blow from her mighty weapon. The Carnival of Champions was founded by her and her comrades. They say she did it to keep herself from being bored and now she gets paid to wander the lands fighting worthy opponents just to get stronger only now, she gets paid to do it. They say her skin is as black as coal with evidence of the fire within her soul cracking through. They say her eyes are two orbs of pure elemental fire that pierce even the darkest of nights and her hair is fire itself. Rumors say that when she is angered, the world itself trembles with fear and magic goes mad around her. The most smartest of adventurers know to behave well and even after being beating them to a pulp, she'll ensure they are healed well and proper, send them on their way with sage advice. Those adventurers say she is a pleasant person but to her enemies, well you saw the skulls already. Still, she has done this for years and has never been defeated since. Perhaps it is not a matter of victory or loss but of a lesson learned and survival instead.