War for Selem

By the Sword, also known as The War for Selem was a minor conflict started when Selem brought Xaja to the battlefield just outside of Hocfeld, hoping to entertain himself by pitting as many planeswalkers as would answer against his current wielder, to see which among them would be best suited to wield him next.

Introductions
Lothaire was the first to arrive, announcing themself to Xaja, and explaining the significance of the battlefield. Next was Doer, who hid in the brush and had been asked by Atlani Swiftblade to find the sword, and Argel, who had been tracking Xaja since they met. Cayli, Aelewin, Arandu, Cygari and Yenna also appeared, though stayed to the sidelines.

Selem announced to all present, including those hidden, that the event was to be a battle royale, and announced himself as the prize to the victor. Atlani herself was the last to arrive, and asked Argel, Aelewin, Lothaire, and Cayli to help, as she had fought alongside all but Cayli during the Elsewhere Invasion.

The Fight Proper
Xaja began the fight by starting a minor earthquake, which most were able to avoid before Arandu sent vines through the earth to stabilize it. Lothaire noticed Yenna hiding in the brush and granted her armor and their horse before flanking Xaja. Cygari took Xaja's side over Atlani's, and began creating dust devils as Anne and her siblings arrived.

With this many foes, Selem began to possess Xaja, fighting and taunting Lothaire wihle sending stone clones at the other combatants, taking particular care to taunt Atlani, as he had not seen the warrior, much less her new weaponry, since they had separated, and Anne, as he lamented not being present for the battle at the harbor. Yenna, emboldened by Lothaire's enchantments, and remembering the gift given to her by Arandu, chose not to flee, but kept to the outskirts of the fight until she could determine who was friend and who was foe.

Despite some fighters struggling more than others, the clones overall were defeated far more easily than Selem had expected, with Anne donning a new, fire-breathing form, and Lothaire having prior experience watching Selem fight and taking up a defensive stance until Doer was able to come in and disarm the true Xaja, who took the opportunity to flee into the woods. Atlani was sent two clones while the others were sent one each, and while she took her time to kill them, she used it to talk to Selem, which only seemed to annoy him more. Yenna, meanwhile, charged full ahead into the fray.

As Selem lay on the ground, Cayli took the opportunity to dive for him while Atlani tried to shoot her down and Doer and Anne, in a third form, stood guard until Atlani could arrive across the field. Arandu tried to call for a ceasefire to peaceably decide what to do with the sword, while Lothaire argued for its destruction, and tried to persuade Yenna to take it. While Arandu's pleas might not have had an effect on the other fighters, the speech did seem to resonate with Yenna, who was able to be persuaded out of taking the blade at least long enough for Cygari, the last combatant still involved, to make a show of power against Lothaire and Selem, pinning the sword, and removing enchantments from the knight and Yenna.

This afforded Atlani enough time to retrieve Selem, who protested one final time, and chastised Lothaire for endangering Yenna, as Atlani argued that since she was the one to bring Selem to the plane, she should be the one to leave with him. She then did so, using Selem's spark to planeswalk away and leave the Arena.

Trivia

 * Mechanically, the War for Selem was the first War on the new forum.
 * Lothaire, at 37 points, accrued the most Valor over the course of the four rounds and won the ability to conjure from Signature Spellbook: Selem as a prize.

Participants

 * Atlani Swiftblade
 * Anne Myria
 * Lothaire
 * Aelewin
 * Cayli
 * Xaja
 * Yenna Eisner
 * Doer
 * Argel
 * Arandu
 * Cygari