“CIBBL - Year 1 - Spring Season Match 1

Pre-Game
Nightlord Kratskittar peers down to the docks as the Secret Cult of Shiamoto disembark from their ship. His eyes widen as the legendary Shiamoto shambles down the plank then narrow as the he is followed by a pair of well-muscled Ronin and he launches again into well-worn argument, “Are you sure we can’t just have them murdered in their sleep? It would be much easier that way.” Nightlord Throiskikkcin sighs and again gently reminds the younger rat. “No, these are times of changes for the Eshin, and we would gain no honor in that. We must meet them in the Infinity Pit to determine whether our Art is more powerful. Have faith in our training Kratty.” He pats the younger rats shoulder reassuringly as he also peers down to the docks, wishing that the old ways were still an option to dispatch their foes. It would be much easier…

Game-Time
The Lords of the Silent Death emerge from the bowels of the Infinity Pit to an unwelcome sight. During the night hundreds of Northern Nippon fans landed on the lone dock serving the temple of the Eshin and now a crowd of some 15,000 bloodthirsty Nipponese cheer on the Cult Of Shiamoto. “I thought they were supposed to be a secret cult?” Crittskik whines from the back of the entry line before a Nightmaster can silence him. Nightmaster Krattskittar silently agrees as he eyes the enemy crowd that dwarfs their own, but dares not give voice to his doubts for fear of clouding the minds of his disciples.

The size and sheer rowdiness of the crowd boils over at the kickoff whistle as fans, both Nipponese and Eshin, pour over the low walls surrounding the pitch and storm the field. By the time the officials and security can regain some semblance of order the clock has already ticked off a full turn. The ordeal has clearly thrown the LSD offense into disarray and Paskabak the Padfoot fails a block causing an early turnover but thankfully after Nightmaster Nurgrin has secured the ball and Nightlord Throiskikkcin sends journeyman Paul Grottystream running for the bench with a flash of his razor sharp blade. The LSD game-plan is to pressure the defense of the Cult and they quickly make their way up the pitch. The heavy hitting Ronin’s of the Cult take down rats again and again, followed by the steel plated boot of Meiko, which make for a devastating one-two punch leaving dazed Eshin all over the pitch. The rats to their credit push away the pain and remain on the field of play. That is until young Crittskik the Green is overwhelmed by the ferocious Shiamoto who tears into the clan rat, forcing him to the sidelines for the remainder of the match, much to the glee of the bloodthirsty North Nippon fans. The sight of the pooling blood spurs on newly arrived Nightmaster Azhiskik who dodges for the score, his beady blood-red eyes gleaming.

Lords of the Silent Death 1 – Secret Cult of Shiamoto 0

The Assassins press the advantage on the ensuing kickoff, blitzing into the backfield of the Cult and cutting off much of the enemy team from easy access to the ball. Ronin Swift Wind falls prey to a Nightmaster trip-wire on his counter-blitz leaving an opening for the Lords to gather the ball. Nightmaster Throiskikkcin, tired of seeing his brothers repeatedly fouled by the enforcer Meiko with no repercussion from the blind ref, takes matters into his own claws and severs muscle and tendon of the foulers hip with a nasty slash of his blade. The satisfaction of a well struck blow is short lived as the apothecary of the Northern Nipponese patches Meiko up and assures he will be ready for the 2nd half. As the first half winds down Nightmaster Azhissikk scores again for his second touchdown of the match.

Lords of the Silent Death 2 – Secret Cult of Shiamoto 0

The skilled hands of the Budweiser Babes (plus a bit of opium) works it’s magic and the rats that had been knocked out in the 1st half all return to the pitch in time for the 2nd half. The second half is not near as fast paced as the 1st as the Secret Cult of Shiamoto seem content to methodically roll down the pitch, pounding the Lords as they do. The pounding reaches a climax as Ronin Lethal Strike delivers a bone crunching blow to Sneeneth the Awful, who dies on the pitch in silence and with much honor. On the following turn Meiko, the brutal enforcer, delivers a particularly nasty kick to Paskabak. A boot the ref cannot ignore who bans the enforcer as the clan rat is carried off the pitch. The Lords are content to stay in the way of the Cult without pushing for the ball and the Cult crosses the endline on turn 14 without further incident.

Lords of the Silent Death 2 – Secret Cult of Shiamoto 1

With time winding down on the second half the Lords receive the kickoff, content to hold back and preserve the lead but looking for an opening to put the nail in the coffin. Nightmaster Nurgrin spies such an opening and darts forward to shovel the ball to Nightlord Throiskikkcin who sprints from the scrum at the line of scrimmage hoping to get out of range of the Cult’s blitzers. The agile Nightmaster is able to sidestep Ichigawa’s desperation block and strolls into the endzone as the gong sounds.

Lords of the Silent Death 3 – Secret Cult of Shiamoto 1

Post-Game
With the ceremony of the Silent Death performed for their fallen brother, Nightmaster Throiskikkcin oversees the training floor from his viewing platform. He grins slyly as he hears Nightlord Kratskittar instruct the assembled Nightmasters in his gruff manner. They are skilled but the experienced Nightlord has much to teach even them. They will get better, they will have to if they wish to survive and take his place when the Silent Death comes for him too, as it comes for all who practice the Art of the Silent Death.

**Coaches note: Fun game, the blitz sealed it for the rats. One game in and I'm thinking the rats need to score all the points they can now before these teams skill up. It's going to be brutal later.

Well played Grin, good luck this season! ”