BloodStorm

The Mega War, fought centuries ago, left the earth in global ruins. The
destructive nuclear horrors unleashed upon the planet and its population
created uncountable amounts of death and devastation. In the wake of this
sweeping havoc arose the planet itself to retaliate against the violence
forced upon it. Polar shifts and massive earthquakes swallowed entire
continents. From seething seas and walls of water arose angry volcanoes,
spewing flame and death into the sky. Hungry fires, searing blizzards, and
brutal storms ran rampant across the planet's surface for years, in an attempt
to wash away the man-made horrors that it was forced to endure.

At last the earth settled into a new pattern, starting to find some
semblance of balance and peace. The global changes had left a much harsher
planet, and the remaining life forms adapted slowly to the new environment.
The Earth's land masses, altered by man-made weaponry and ended through
elemental means, had evolved into ten isolated provinces. The remaining
populations within these new provinces found life difficult at first, but
slowly evolution and natural selection allowed the human race to adapt and
once again gain control of their destiny. Some of the provinces had strong
natural forces, exposed through the abrupt upheaval, and the resourceful
post-humans began to master these new powers. Other provinces continued to
develop through the use of science and technology, creating elaborate life
support systems and protection against the harsh environments.

As the years progressed, eight of the provinces began to communicate and
trade together. An alliance was formed and a global quasi-government was
established. The social structure evolved into a mixture of medieval
practices, hybrid technology, and barbarism and barter.

Centuries have passed and the present day Earth finds mankind again at the
brink of savagery and destruction. Life is now a series of hardships,
deceptions, and lies for the members of the Provincial Alliance. The frozen
tundra of Polaria and the volcanic Scorch are very close to all out war,
halted only by the desolate, radioactive Death Zone that separates them. The
Death Zone, once a founding member of the Planet Alliance, has remained silent
for almost two centuries, hiding behind the mysterious and deadly red mists
that define its borders. Obsel, the desert province, has been taken over by
desperate and brutal female terrorists. The Ebony Coast, known for its trade
and bartering systems, is now led by a mysterious and greedy leader whom no
one trusts, yet all must tolerate. The people of Cyberia, a land inhabitable
only through technological means, have re-engineered their population, and are
losing their humanity to the machine.

With tensions running high, the Planet Alliance is beginning to falter and
the provinces are no longer considered allies. And now the High Emperor, the
one guiding force that all provinces had agreed to abide by, has been
mysteriously and horribly murdered.

The ancient Provincial Agreement declares that a new ruler must be chosen
through combat between the rulers of each province. Each province will come
prepared for battle with their own Gauntlet of Ascension, a gloved weapon that
only those in power may don. These ancient gauntlets are treasured and
revered by their people, for they are the foremost symbol of power and honor
each province can have.

But it is painfully clear that this tournament will not have the honor of
previous BloodStorm contests. There have even been rumors that the combatants
will bring back the Sunder Attack, a brutal combat move that separated the
opponent's legs from his body without killing him. This horrible and
humiliating maneuver has never been officially banned from the BloodStorm
contest, yet it is so brutal and degrading that no honorable combatant has
used it for centuries. However, these champions from radically different
provinces are blind to the mysterious evil that surrounds the High Emperor's
death, and instead only see their opportunity for personal gain, provincial
expansion, or race domination and will do anything to achieve their goals.

The BloodStorm is about to begin!