“The Talon's first defeat saw the team leave the pitch in a somber mood. Hexhui would be out for the next game, after the extra apothecary hired to care for the team proved useless. Limundi was also carried from the pitch, a slumbering drunkard having spent most of the game sampling a brew that had been promoted by the local merchants as having wonderous properties to revive and energise.

In addition to the defeat on the pitch, the Talon's match fee seemed to disappear to less than half of what had been promised, as the stadium owners claimed numerous deductibles hidden in the fine print of the match contract. Even the referee had made it clear he was willing to take a bribe to influence the result. Commerce in Ryder's Cove was proving to be fraught with danger.

One thing was learned, the dead spoke of a Shadowspire and contest like no other. Maybe there a rematch would be found, once the lizards warmed themselves - it was terribly cold here in the Cove.”