The chanting in the Arena was divided between "Shah-Nahul! Shah-Nahul!" and "Zharkov! Zharkov!". From the upper levels of the arena a voice announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, from the Honored Patricians, to the Simple Plebian castes... All are welcomed at the Festival of Beasts! For your amusement, we present to you! Two mighty bastions! Shah-Nahul a man of great mercy and heart!" The Zharkov fans began booing. "And Zharkov, a man of great destruction!" The Shah-Nahul fans began booing. "Which one has the greater instinct of the beast, who will the Goddess bestow favor upon!? LET THE FIGHT COMMENCE!"
Far in the upper reaches of the Coliseum, Senator Vicaver sat down on a silk bed, as two Braxian slaves began waving giant fan leafs towards him. A slave-girl was hand-feeding the Senator berries that were a deep vermillion. Vicaver peered down at the arena floor as he grabbed an encrusted chalice filled to the brim with a light green substance. He brought the chalice to his nose as he sniffed at it, "Exquisite." The slave-girl paused in feeding him berries as he took a drink from his cup, as he returned it to the position he wanted. "... Well then my newest slave... You will be initiated, when you are broken..." He was fed another berry, "I hope you remember, you forced it upon yourself..."