By Johnny Casamassina

This tale is one that I am most hesitant to tell, for my curious involvement in it has been forbidden by the Lord of Hêla himself and my transgressions would not be forgiven. However, I can no longer contain the whispers of this fantastical account any longer, and so I have cast this record to the deepest outskirts of Massina, far from the overreaching eye of my Lord.

Earlier in my travels, I had heard stories of the mysterious phantom island of Rocabarraigh. Hidden in plain sight, it was said to only appear when the denizens of the city beneath it, Kitezh, would allow for it. The following chronicle is the true nature of what I found when I returned to uncover the secrets of this place myself. The story of King Gorgo…

– Marco, Gilded Mapmaker of the Empire of Hêla

Twenty-seven tumultuous days at sea had been logged aboard the Threshian, a capable and imposing vessel that sought to carry my expedition closer to the waters of the Huber ocean, said to conceal the isle of Rocabarriagh. Tired and sick of the onslaught of rough tides, my desire to continue the search was beginning to fade. I gripped the railing of the bow to take one last look at the horizon before asking the captain of the ship to abandon this search and take us home. Of course, it was exactly at that moment when I heard the faint, melodic tones of the crystal bells dancing softly on the winds. Most species would have barely recognized the sound, but my keen sensibilities as a whisperer did not betray me, and as the ringing became more intense, the outline of the great, hidden island began to come into focus along with the rise of black Sun of Hêla We quickly charted a direct course to its hazy shores.

Our party wasn’t very large, as I preferred to be as efficient as possible on journeys like this. Outside of myself, I took along Angbar, my trusted cartographer. Angbar was an imp, but his attention to detail made him one of my most valuable associates, if not my absolute best. Since my official appointment to Gilded Mapmaker, I was afforded every expense, but still, I chose to keep myself in the company of those whose skills I truly thought impressive. Madrika, potentially the most capable Darulk warrior I had ever met, joined us as our guide and security. We also had Zedellius the field doctor with us to bolster our chances of survival in this unknown region. He also was a fantastic cook, which made having him around all the more appealing. Finally, we had Mok and Toor, our two beadol “assistants.” Their presence brought along with them the usual jeopardy of their ilk, but I often found that beadols have an uncanny knack of finding and acquiring valuables that are unmatched, and so who better to help uncover all that this island has to offer?

Once we touched down on the shoreline, which mainly consisted of craggy, porous stone beaten relentlessly for millennia, we offloaded our gear and set a course due north, or at least what we believed was north. Many of our charting devices and directional equipment were acting strange here, and we imagined that it might have been due to the soppy moisture in the atmosphere. Nevertheless, we pressed on and began to climb and cut our way through the vine coated slopes leading away from the beachhead.

Eventually, we reached a small clearing about two miles up the ridgeline of the beach. Here, we took in the first real sights of this island’s surface. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief as I looked upon a vast jungle brimming with all forms of life, but also simultaneously covered in a neverending tarp of death. The very soil of the land was comprised of countless broken shards, skulls, and bones of unidentifiable creatures as far as the eye could see, and above that a canopy of of flora and fauna so bizarre that even the stoic Madrika was taken aback by the vibrant monstrosity of it. Far in the distance, we could see a raised plateau, seemingly built by some intelligent beings, in the direction of the sound of the ringing bells. We cautiously, but briskly pressed on towards it.

–

Trudging through the broken bits of horrid creatures and swatting away the nuisance of spiny foliage and blood-sucking locusts we could hear the sound of the bells grow in intensity as did the towering height of the structure we were approaching. As the haze around the great walls around it began to clear away, its architectural bearings unmistakably identified it as a raised amphitheater, or more plainly… A giant ceremonial gladiatorial arena!

The grand columns around the exterior were worn and covered in the same vines that encased the jungle we had just trekked through, but the ceremonial, stony likenesses of giant creatures clad in armor adorned the same walls and towered above us easily hundreds of feet above us. Angbar’s quill was feverishly scratching his journal as he raced to record every sketch he could of this impressive sight.

As we anxiously approached what we believed to be the central gate facing our path, we could feel ourselves being watched. Even Mok and Toor began to get squirrely, which quickly put Madrika on high alert. The intense, melodic sound of the bells at this range was deafening and it was also being bolstered by a growing chorus of ritualistic chanting. My feet locked into place and my spine began to lose its composure as I quickly began to realize our curiosity had led us somewhere we should not have ever dared to visit.

Dr. Zedellius was the first to go down, struck in the neck by some primitive and vulgar looking dart which was coated in a viscous, onyx colored fluid. Madrika immediately postured to defend us with her greatsword and vicious tentacles, and through the corner of my eye and the flurry of activity around us I could see that many of her strikes found their inevitable targets before she was overwhelmed by the multitudes of primitive mongrels who were assaulting us. The shrieks of my other comrades were swift and horrifying, but this malaise only lasted for a moment as I felt a sharp, intense pain in my leg followed by a burning intensity that crippled me until I lost consciousness.

—

There is no telling quite how long I was unconscious, but when I awoke, the gruesome scene I beheld then still haunts me to this day. Even the majestic and imposing presence of my Lord Hêla would be considered a pleasant encounter compared to this putrid scene of barbarism. As my eyesight focused it was greeted by an enlarged pyre of Hêlaflame. Above it was a rotating rotisserie spit which featured Dr. Zedellius’ decapitated head in the center staked through his temples. His wide eyes spoke volumes of the unspeakable torment he experienced in his final moments. Flanked on both sides of his poor dome and impaled through their guts, Mok and Toor were being roasted alive as they screamed and cried in beadoleese. There was no sign of my dear comrade Angbar, and till this day I still miss his fine penmanship and valued service.

The natives of this island were circling the pit and continued to chant and dance merrily as others sat around the pyre feasting on the obvious remains of my expedition. We seemed to be located on the floor of the arena my party came upon before the ambush occurred. Even though the scene made me sick, this banquet seemed to be celebratory in nature for the natives here and their offerings of revelry were clearly being paid to some higher power. Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity of this elongated horror, an elder of the tribe entered the scene and silenced the rowdy gathering. He spoke in a language unknown to me and commanded the attention of those gathered.

His tone was one of thankfulness, that much I could understand. He continued his sermon and eventually made his way through the arena floor, which had broken bits of stonework from a civilization that most certainly pre-dated these primitive humanoids, who now inhabited it. Eventually, he arrived at a grand statue of a creature whose awesome stature and might was perfectly captured in the altar and likeness built for him. It was a large ape-like demon, with bulging muscles and an imposing look on his face. His eyes reflected a certain amount of grace and regalness. There was no doubt that whoever built this likeness of him had done it from a place of deep respect and admiration for him. The expression on the beast’s face displayed raw, unwavering strength and the brutality needed to wield it effectively.

The elder knelt before the statue, and continued to raise up and down praying to it with great reverence. As this happened, the rest of the gathering began to slowly collect their belongings and slink away towards the perimeter of the arena, scaling up the walls that were visible or slinking beneath the cracks that were present. It was at this moment that I heard the mechanical cranks begin to turn from below me. The chains rose above me into the upper decks of the overhang above the arena floor. A cage was being lowered and being drawn closer towards the statue.

Madrika was within the cage and clearly meant to be some offering to this dark God that they adored, respected, and feared. Perhaps her ability in battle was enough to earn her this place of honor in their culture.

The elder began to say a word, over and over again beckoning forth the moment to come. “Gorgo… Gorgo… Gorgo” he chanted. A green and purple colored portal began swirling above the statue and continued to open wider with each passing moment. I was startled to see, all around me on the arena floor the ground was shifting, and more cages filled with warriors and beasts were being raised up into view.

As the elder quickly took his leave of the scene, he was magically jettisoned up into a box stand overlooking the whole arena. In his defined location, he clapped his hands once, and all of the cages surrounding me, as well as Madrika’s opened up.

The would-be combatants quickly engaged one another. It was a messy and bloody display that began mostly as an undisciplined slaughter. Most of the larger beasts and creatures quickly gobbled up the warriors that were meant to engage them. Madrika, without her weapon, was still able to hold her own through the use of her sheer strength and primary tentacle. At one point she was cornered by some giant crab beast that continued to try and snip her in two with its giant claw. After a near miss with it, she wrapped her tentacle around its upper carapace and wrangled it like some bucking sumpter horse. Eventually, as it started to slow down, she tugged with all of her might, and ripped its shell clean off. She followed this brutal attack by reaching into its head and wrenching out its pulsing brain with her bare hand.

—

Moments after Madrika’s execution of the beast, the portal that was circling and growing finally burst open. A booming roar preceded the appearance of the creature whose likeness was captured in the statue. It raised up on its hind quarters and pounded its chest in a display of sheer dominance. It was clear to me and all in attendance, he was the King here.

Anxious to get started, the mighty King leapt into battle and squished a pair of large ogres beneath his pounding fists. Without even giving them a second thought, he looked up into the air and realized that three giant rotwing wasps were attempting to divebomb him. Their swarm took formation and led with their deadly stingers forward in an attempt to take him down. Thinking ahead, King Gorgo ripped a tree out of the ground at his feet and swung it fiercely to obliterate the lead rotwing and then back again to smash the one right behind it as well. However, the third one found its mark and drove its deadly venomous stinger deep into the beast’s side. The King roared in pain and grabbed the bug, tearing it free of him in the process and smashing it into a pile of guts and gristle onto the ground below. Clearly in pain, the great beast took a breath before his next assault.

I’m almost embarrassed to say that in the furious few moments of his arrival, I lost track of Madricka in the fray. When I finally located her again, I witnessed her disemboweling a pridosaurus, whom she had somehow managed to flip on his spiked and thorny backside to expose his vulnerable underbelly.

I couldn’t help but become alarmed as I saw the giant Gorgo making his way through more foes and inching closer and closer to her. He was only a few yards away when out of nowhere the lunging, fiery head of a magtooth serpent latched onto his throat and proceeded to envelope his giant frame with its neverending coils. As its fangs sank deeper into the flesh of the great King, it constricted him tightly in a calculated bid to suffocate him. Summoning a strength from deep within, Gorgo wrenched one of his arms free and clutched the throat of the serpent, returning the gift of strangulation. Once he was able to free his other arm, the beast grabbed the top and bottom jaws of the magtooth in each hand, ripping the serpent apart from the neck down to its tail. As he vigorously tossed the writhing snake bits away, he was able to gaze upon his final, tiny opponent, Madrika the Darulk.

–

As was the case with most Darulk, Madrika was used to being the imposing one. So, it was quite impressive to see how she was able to survive and adapt in an arena that nullified her natural position in the pecking order. Strangely, it seemed like the beast was intrigued by this as well, and seemed to fixate upon her. I would be lying if I didn’t say that behind his savage, fierce bluster, there seemed to be some real true sense of nobility within. For he didn’t rush in to destroy Madrika… he approached her more with a sense of confidence and curiosity. He seemed to be almost beguiled by her and the fact that she was still alive in this arena of death. Even stranger, she didn’t take a defensive position against him either.

He approached closer and outstretched his hand gently as she allowed him to grasp her in his mighty hand. Even though they were surrounded by a gallery of screaming onlookers the moment they were exchanging with each other was unmistakable. I did notice the outrage of this scenario boiling up within the elder who led the summoning of the beast. He was clearly infuriated by this development and he began to knock an arrow into a large forked bow.

Gorgo raised Madrika up to his eye level and gazed at her, almost locking the moment in time. He saw glory, honor, and fury in her eyes… He had found a spirit kindred to his own. His rage had finally met its equal. And, just as suddenly as they both had realized this, a large, double-pronged broad arrow fired by the elder had pierced Madrika right through her back and out her belly.

Howling in rage, Gorgo held her in his left hand as he proceeded to massacre the entire audience to exact vengeance for their crime. He demolished whole sections of the surrounding structure in his onslaught and even managed to break open the outer perimeter of the cage that I was incarcerated in. I mustered as much stealth as I could and scurried away in silence in a desperate attempt to somehow get back to the Threshian.

I dared only take one look back at the carnage behind me and there I saw the King, stricken with deep sorrow, caress the tentacled face of his prized queen. As she prepared to take her final breaths, she cleaved off her primary tentacle arm, which took its form as a deepling. This sentient, squidlike extension of herself had the ability to root itself in a host and inseminate it with demon spawn, producing a new Darulk by feeding off the energy of its host.

As I made haste away from this insane event, I saw the deepling jettison itself into the welcoming mouth of King Gorgo, who wept a single tear before fading away into another portal that brought him back to the mirrored realm of Massina, where the glorious call of battle beckoned him to return.

And through that portal, I swear I heard a faint chant, “Gorgata… Gorgata… Gorgata…”

—

Epilogue

It was clear that Hêla mirrored Massina in many ways. The thin divide of our realms even allowed certain entities to traverse them at will, and it was that fragile balance of reality that always caused me to second guess the validity of my own perceptions. Even my most vivid experiences could have easily just been some wild conjuration cooked up in my own mind.

I even mused that my experience on the isle of Rocabarraigh all those years ago was possibly just a figment of my imagination. But, as the recent rumors began to swirl around the great Demon Ape and his brood of children terrorizing the realms I realized that my old nightmare was all too real.

And knowing the power of the King, I am certain more terror shall be in store for those who stand in his way!

Enhanced Scalability and User Experience: Scaling is crucial for any online game, and Champions Ascension is no exception. With Polygon’s robust infrastructure, we can seamlessly handle higher transaction volume, providing a smoother gaming experience for our players. Polygon’s high throughput and low latency ensure that gamers can enjoy uninterrupted gameplay without delays or congestion. This improved scalability allows us to accommodate a growing player base, ensuring that Champions Ascension can be enjoyed by millions of gamers worldwide.

Low Gas Fees: One of the most significant pain points experienced on the Ethereum network is high gas fees. Ethereum’s success has led to congestion and subsequently increased transaction costs, which can be a deterrent for users looking to engage with in-game purchases or trade digital assets. By migrating to Polygon, we can significantly reduce these gas fees, making it more affordable for players to participate in various aspects of the game economy, such as trading, crafting, and purchasing rare items. This affordability not only benefits our existing player base but also attracts new users to join the Champions Ascension community.

Seamless Interoperability: Polygon offers seamless interoperability, allowing for easy integration with other blockchain networks and platforms. This opens up opportunities for collaborations, partnerships, and cross-platform interactions, further enriching the gaming experience for our players. By leveraging Polygon’s interoperability, we can explore exciting possibilities such as integrating digital assets from other ecosystems or enabling players to trade assets across different games, fostering a vibrant and interconnected gaming ecosystem.

Security and Reliability: Polygon’s Proof of Stake (PoS) chain provides robust security measures, ensuring the safety of our players’ digital assets. With its PoS consensus mechanism, Polygon significantly reduces the risk of malicious attacks and enhances network security. By migrating to Polygon, we are prioritizing the protection of our users’ valuable items, ensuring that they can engage in gameplay and transactions with confidence.

What do Champions NFT holders need to do as part of this migration?

Our Champions Ascension NFT holders will connect their wallets to the Champions Ascension migration portal to migrate their assets from Ethereum Mainnet to Polygon Mainnet. Our system will automatically scan for all Ethereum Champions NFTs from our four collections (Primes, Elementals, Pets, Imperial Gallery) and will prompt the user to migrate their assets. The player’s migration will be gas-less and once players click “migrate”, Champions Ascension will airdrop the corresponding assets that the player had to Polygon Mainnet.

Our main goal in this migration is a great user experience for our community. Our players will have 6 months to migrate their digital assets from Ethereum to Polygon.

Community is at the core of Champions Ascension, and we’ve been pleased to see organic growth of grass roots initiatives and guilds being formed within Massina. These groups are the evangelists of the game and Polygon technology will allow us to provide the functionality that we intend for Champions guilds going forward. More specifically we are introducing our guild protocol that will help communities be connected through the blockchain. Soon Champions Ascension guilds will be able to mint badges for their guilds and be able to unlock functionality in-game that show off their pride.

We are dedicated to providing an exceptional gaming experience for our community. By migrating our digital and crypto assets to the Polygon Proof of Stake chain, we are taking a significant step towards achieving our goals. The move to Polygon brings a host of benefits, including enhanced scalability, reduced gas fees, seamless interoperability, and heightened security. With this strategic decision, we are positioning Champions Ascension for future growth and ensuring that our players can fully immerse themselves in a vibrant and dynamic gaming environment.

As we prepare to release Champions Ascension to the public, we invite both existing and new players to join us on this exciting journey. Together, we will ascend to amazing heights, forge epic adventures and build a thriving community in the world of Champions Ascension. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable gaming experience powered by Polygon!

First up, we’re thrilled to announce that Champions Ascension now features walletless connectivity. This means that players can now link their game accounts directly to their email accounts, without having to set up a separate wallet. This streamlined approach to connectivity is just one of the ways we’re making it easier than ever for players to jump into the game and start playing with friends.

We also introduced a new character to the game: the Il’gra. This fierce warrior is sure to shake up the meta and bring new strategies to the battlefield. With a unique set of abilities and strengths, the Il’gra is sure to be a fan favorite.

That’s not all that’s new coming to battle! We’re currently in the process of planning some thrilling tournaments, where players will have the chance to compete against each other for amazing prizes and bragging rights. Keep an eye out for more information on how to sign up and participate in future tournaments!

And finally, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of 3v3 combat in Champions Ascension. This new mode is all about teamwork and coordination, as players band together in teams of three to take on challenging opponents. With new maps and objectives to master, 3v3 combat is sure to keep players engaged and entertained for hours on end.

In addition to all of this, we’re also working on an all-new raid featuring a giant crocodile named Old Sally. This formidable foe is sure to put players’ skills to the test, and the rewards for taking her down will be well worth the effort. So gather your strongest allies and get ready to embark on an epic adventure in the world of Champions Ascension. We can’t wait to see what you’re capable of!

Download today and Play today.

The Champions Ascension Project has helped to breathe life into our newly formed company — Plai Labs! Our seed round, led by the incredible team at a16z, has invigorated us and will accelerate the growth and potential of our project. Their investment in us is a great validation of what we have built thus far and our confidence as a development team, which is fully intact and committed to continue to blaze the path towards becoming the leading project in the space.

While the larger strategy for Plai Labs, including our plans to merge social experiences with generative ai technology to empower our community of creators and players will unfold over the course of time, here is our official release regarding the company.

“Plai Labs is building the next generation of social platforms. We are applying our proven track record In Social Media, Game Mechanics, and Advanced Technology to build products that are used by 100’s of millions of people around the world.”

This venture comes at a perfect time and helps us continue to build momentum towards our upcoming Elemental Champions Mint on January 26, 2023! This mint will help us welcome a new contingent of players and holders into our community and collaborate with several of our newly announced partners! We are very excited to finally place these incredible assets in the hands of our growing base!

2022 was an amazing year for Champions Ascension and it will have a lasting effect on the team and the project. Last year was filled with tons of focus and effort, and even in the tumultuous times of the bear market, we stayed strong and continued to build alongside our faithful community. The team and the project have always had a clear, distinct vision: to deliver the most unique and exciting experience possible to players in the next era of gaming through the fusion of explosively fun gameplay, best-in-class storytelling, and player ownership.

Let’s dive into some of these key areas and lay out what we will strive to achieve in the coming years.

GAMEPLAY

“Is it fun?” is a question you will often hear regularly asked when a game is being discussed. “Fun gameplay” is now being widely identified as the secret ingredient in what will crown the most successful projects in blockchain gaming– but to us, this is an undeniable truth that the CA Team has ALWAYS known.. For us, we define great gameplay as something much more than just well-planned, balanced systems and compelling mechanics. We want it to excite the fuck out of our players and continue to push the envelope past where you– or even we– believe it can go: To take tight, tried-and-true concepts and drive them straight into crazy town. We want Champions Ascension to continue to creatively meld different types of gameplay together in an impressive universe that you never want to leave.

“Isn’t this just a fighting game with some MMORPG and mini-game elements?”

“Nope, it is an ever-expanding theme park entertainment experience centered around the main attraction of visceral, high-stakes gladiatorial combat.”

“We have assembled a once-in-a-lifetime team of creatives, artists and developers around Champions Ascension, and now, with the reinvigorated vision that Plai Labs and our investors bring to the table, we are poised to deliver a best-in-class experience, and bring it to the hands of players around the world. Stay tuned!” — Jairo Nieto

Outside of continuing to deliver our full roster of 12 playable champion families and 7 different Essence classes in 2023, we will continue to tune, balance, refine, add-on, and improve the 1v1 fighting experience at the core of our skill-based gameplay. We also will bring online the full player owned roster that will allow owners to take the reins of their “unique” champions and bring them into the fray!

With Champions Ascension we are bringing something special to the fight game space. We have designed and built the combat system for maximum impact from both a playing and viewing experience. We truly believe we have something that will be enjoyed for years to come by the entire gaming community. See you in the arena! — Chris Tremmel

We plan to bring the early stages of PVE encounters to players as well — more on this to come!

BRAND & STORYTELLING

The world of Massina and Champions Ascension will continue to build and adapt its brand through the team’s commitment to inject rich lore into every nook and cranny of the experience. We believe we have created one of the most unique IPs in entertainment and want to continue to strengthen its offering by continuing to deliver incredible characters, engaging storylines, and shocking twists.

Community participation in our Lore-building has been one of the things that has helped to keep it fresh, new, and on the cutting edge of interactive entertainment and we want nothing more than to see this continue in the future.

Additionally, we want to explore new mediums for our brand to connect with and, hopefully, with the help of our new partners we can achieve this!

“From the very first days of my career starting at LucasArts, I saw how interactive storytelling can transform a game into something truly unique. You combine that with the wild world of Massina, partnered with the amazing Champions community, and you have some real magic on your hands. So far we’ve done weekly fiction, we’ve done one-shot comics, online scavenger hunts, secret events like Gorgata, and long-running choose-your-own-adventure via Twitter — there’s nothing we won’t do to make the story of Massina come alive. And now there’s something else to add to that list… audiobooks!” — Ryan Kaufman

We also will be bringing some of our lore characters to life in the game and creating more interactive experiences with them.
You’ll start to see more familiar faces in the streets and taverns of Massina.

PLAYER OWNERSHIP & ECONOMY

The player-ownership ecosystem has been incredibly meaningful for us since the inception of the project. We believe that this element of the experience is the game changer and is central to what will make it special. The past year has seen many web3 economic experiments and models come and go, but the one element that has remained stalwart and powerful is player owned assets.

And, that’s because it just fucking makes sense… The ability to engage with a game world to take your efforts in that experience and then turn them into something you can take control of is the most incredible opportunity provided to players in a long time. It is also the most incredible opportunity for project creators in a long time as well. We love building this game and providing you, our players, with great content — But it is you, armed with your assets, and your own entrepreneurial efforts that will help accelerate the collective success of Champions Ascension.

“I am really excited about building the first game with a creator economy where players will be able to create professional level content with the help of AI. I can’t wait for players to become actual characters in the world, to showcase their creativity and expand the Champion’s universe.” — Troy Whitlock

In the coming year, our plan is to bring our core loop and economy online and the details of how we plan to do this will be laid out in our new V2 whitepaper throughout the year: We will release sections of this plan iteratively and we continue to evolve it — BUT…

We also plan to release our plans around UGC toolkits (incorporating Ai) that will invite all of our asset holders to build the live operational content pipeline of the game — You will have the opportunity to create your own path to earnings in our partner economy. When people ask you, “What do NFTs and blockchain do to elevate this experience?” you will have an excellent answer.

We are pioneers of entertainment and gaming’s new frontier — Join us, brave friends, as we depart into the great sea of possibility, filled with many unknowns — Together, we will chart a course to the promised land and forge a new Empire for us all to call home — FOR GLORY!

BLEEDING IS BELIEVING
Johnny Casamassina
CCO, Plai Labs

So you want a Beadol, right? Well that’s gonna cost you. And by cost you, what we really mean is that in order to even get an opportunity to own a thieving Beadol — one will have to sacrifice (aka burn) one or more of your pets and roll the dice.

The mission is/was to use your pets as bait within a trap. Depending on the characteristics and attributes of your pet (brave, geckoid or possibly a blend of a few traits)…your chances to capture that demonic little f$@%er increases. As it pertains to the lore of all things Massina, it so happens that some powerful denizens of the great city have developed a soft spot for Beadols, as they have proven terribly useful as elements of subterfuge and pilferage. And thus the game of cat and mouse begins, with the trappers using the pets to lure the Beadols, and the Beadols attempting to snatch the innocent creatures away to an eternity of torment.

When you “burn” one of your pets, you set the trap and take the gamble that your new pet will be one of the few Beadols who roam the mean streets of Massina, stealing and looting on your behalf. Seriously, who wouldn’t want that? Sidekicks are cool, but Beadols are the little bastards that you want working for you when you are rolling dice in the Karkadon or gearing up for a fight in the Colosseum. Stealing from the Emperor never felt this good. As an owner of a Beadol — keep an eye on your wallet — as you may start seeing a lot more objects from the Imperial Gallery appearing there (don’t ask the question of how these Imperial treasures arrived, just smile and ignore the HOW).

So what happens if I DON’T get a Beadol? Well, obviously, you should feel terrible that you sacrificed your pet to the overlords of Hela BUT…the remnants of that burned pet actually have some utility in the form of Ash — in da’ future. That Ash will also make its way to your wallet and provide “something very desirable” for your Champions at a later day.

To wrap up — — -Burn your pets (when you can), pray for a Beadol, enjoy the exotic treasures that your Beadol pal will airdrop you AND KNOW that there will be future burns in the near term.

RIP- these little fellas.

Alright fam, this feels like a great time to do a quick recap of where Champions Ascension is at.

FEBRUARY 2022–7,622 Prime Eternal NFT’s were minted. (BOOM!)

Then we go heads down for 7 months to stay focused on game development. (BOOM BOOM!)

Which brings us to SEPTEMBER 2022. For the last 2 weeks, we’ve been in “insanely-early-pre-alpha-stress-test-bug-hunting” mode and inviting small groups of Prime Eternal holders to take a peek behind the curtain of the world of Massina. The response has been great. Prime Eternal NFT holders have been eagerly awaiting WHAT they will be able to do with their NFT’s in Champions, and NOW they are getting a sneak peek at the game experience. The next few months are packed with game development and “things” our player community can interact with. For now, you are literally getting a behind the scenes look at how the sausage is made, and it’s delicious.

So instead of writing a blurb about all the incredible work we’ve been cranking on, take a look at the recap video from the last 2 weeks of Champions Ascension flipping on the public server to invite the 1st wave of players into the world of Massina.

WATCH ME → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA_O3kAikQA

One of the big differentiators between Champions and just about all of the other NFT game projects out there is simple: Our core group of developers and design team all hail from gaming and entertainment. Incredible artists and writers on games like Lord of the Rings (EA), Hogwarts Mystery (Jam City), Lego Star Wars (LucasArts) just to name a few. On a technical side, the Systems Design masterminds responsible for multi-billion dollar games like Marvel Contest of Champions (Kabam) or the co-founders of Core Scientific, a leading digital asset mining platform. This team understands how to create community and social tools on an unprecedented level.

Making AND Operating a game is no easy feat. We can say with confidence that the game that is being developed is TOP NOTCH — and has all the right DNA for the next wave of gaming. We strongly believe that blockchain gaming is the natural next iteration of game play — but that’s easier said than done. The gaming community and the NFT / crypto folks are not the same people (we know that), and have a completely different expectation of success.

We’re building a game that we believe will appeal to both sides of the spectrum with the goal of shepherding in Web3 gaming in an approachable and sticky way. When you look back on Call of Duty, League of Legends or the Diablo series, mobile was the new platform that expanded the player universe from PC and console to mobile.

The next wave of innovation in gaming is starting to emerge, and we believe we are leading the pack. Our goals for the game are to be (1) Fun + Entertaining (2) Make use of the new Blockchain rails (3) Community driven (4) Shift the paradigm in game economics and ownership (5) Accessible and approachable for new gamers and veterans alike (6) launch an iterative game world, constantly evolving and growing at the edges of storytelling. And PS — did we mention interoperability too? For those homeless NFT projects that may not have a rich, gamified environment for their art to come to life, Champions will have an opportunity to join in on the battles that ensue in the land of Massina….it’s coming!!!!

We are game makers and storytellers first. We know we are not alone in this. There are a handful of other great projects in gaming that are making huge strides in the next iteration of gaming in the Web3 space. This is absolutely one of those rising rides, all boats float sorta moments that is-a-coming.

So what’s in store for Champions moving forward in 2022???

1. We’re continuing to invite Prime Eternal NFT holders to take a joy ride in Massina as we flip on the game server and test new content. Keep an eye out on Twitter for future events.

2. We’re gearing up for combat, where your Champion will compete in the Colosseum for glory, notoriety and reward$.

3. Expect some otherworldly visitors as we execute our tech and designs in making our theme park the crossroads of the metaverse. We don’t want to reveal much right now, but we have big plans for all your degen stuff.

We appreciate the support from everyone. More to come ….THE CHAMPIONS TEAM.

Greetings Champions!

Your new best friend is on the way! That’s right, after much fanfare and anticipation, Prime Eternal Pets will start to arrive in qualifying wallets today! These adorable and deadly furballs were a promise we made back in February and it’s our absolute pleasure to deliver on this milestone.

Now, I bet you’re asking, “OK, wen pet? Wen everlasting frenship?” OK, here’s how it’s going down.

Pets will be rolled out to Prime Eternal holders over the next few days. The full delivery of pets will take several days, so don’t be concerned if you don’t see them in your wallet right away. The Massina Post Office is just processing your pet, routing it through the empire, and it should arrive soon alive and well.

I mean, c’mon. How could anyone resist these good boys and girls? Some are even house-trained. Some are not. Who could ask for a better fren?

The best part? You’ll pay NOTHING for these pets. They’re our gift to you for being a loyal holder and believer in Champions: Ascension. The Emperor is so pet crazy that you may even receive MULTIPLE pets based on minting perks and recent snapshots — which you can read about here.

You can expect more information about pets from the team soon, and the best way to ensure you don’t miss anything is to join our Discord or attend our Twitter Spaces.

Until our next update… FOR GLORY!

Greetings Champions and Challengers!

Hard to believe we are at the end of Season 2 already. Summer is upon us, and now that you’ve seen the updated roadmap, you know that means there is a lot more on the horizon.

As customary, the lore team will take a short break of a month or so to develop Season 3, which is going to be bigger and even more interactive.

I hope you have enjoyed this story arc. We covered a ton — learning about the Cauldron of Fire, the incredible reveal of Prometheus’ ancestry and Maiax’s plan for domination, the doomed romance of Paxa/Cefaphro, the origin of the Celestials and Emilie (the mysterious daughter of Alteus), a portrait of two complicated and powerful sisters, and a mind-bending tour through Hell. Don’t forget the online scavenger hunt and the live-action RPG, which determined the outcome of this very story.

I wrote this one with a lot of input from the community, especially the Guilds, who are beginning to maneuver themselves into the Massina power structure in very interesting and unique ways.

See you this summer!

WriterRyan

Champions: Season 2 Finale

The Faithful and the Faithless

by Ryan Kaufman

Emperor Giotto descended the cold stone staircase into the dungeon. The keepers bowed as he passed, but he paid them no mind. His destination was a heavily fortified turret at the end of the hall. Outside, one of his Nine Hammers- an elite squad tasked with special jobs no other soldier could handle — bowed his head in acknowledgement.

The Hammer then began to speak in a low voice. “Your Excellency, we took possession of the prisoner from the Seekers with no issue. They warned us about a certain magical anomaly–”

“I am aware,” said the Emperor, cutting him off.

“You will see that we took precautions,” the Hammer finished. He gestured at a small bowl, burning with a pungent oil and a green flame in the center– a Beadol skull.

“And the Tome?” Giotto peered inside the cell as he asked. A man sat on a wooden bench, his head hung low.

“The Seekers returned it to you, Your Excellency,” the Hammer produced a skin-bound book of ancient provenance. One of the pages hung loose, ripped in haste. “A little worse for wear.”

“Good. I am reassured to have such loyal warriors in my city.” Then the Emperor pushed past him, and into the cell, where the other Hammers snapped to attention.

The man on the bench did not move. He was dressed in black silk, and a bronzium mask covered his face.

Giotto watched him like a hawk watching a gopher. “It has been a long time.”

“Not really,” said Prometheus. “Remember we collaborated to fuck with Maestro Magellan.”

The Emperor’s face cracked in a dry mirthless smile. “Yes, I remember. I had hoped we would be a team. Our two minds, our two wills, working from opposite angles. You, hidden in the shadows; me, wielding the power of my Throne. Together we would dash the arrogant Alchemists and Houses all to pieces. Together we would be unstoppable.”

Giotto crossed his arms in thought. “But I was actually speaking to my brother,” he said. “Let me see your face.”

The man, with slow methodical movements watched closely by the Hammers, removed his bronze mask. Underneath was scarred skin and behind that — the piercing blue eyes of a boy once called Vitus.

Giotto did not move a muscle. “No, your real face, Shadow-walker.”

Prometheus hissed in fury at Giotto.

But the Emperor was not cowed. “Let my brother go.”

Let him go? You killed him years ago, when you shoved him into liquid fire, or don’t you remember? He is long gone, sentimental fool.

“Pity,” sighed the Emperor. “Where does that leave us?”

If you were smart, you’d execute me. On the spot. Especially if you knew what I had planned for you.

“Execution?” said the Emperor, with a disgusted sneer. “And end our fun? No no, I was just thinking some light torture.”

You dare to mock me? Perhaps you are the fool that Vitus believed you to be. Your so-called empire is tiny, and teeters on the brink of collapse. It will not take long for me to escape and take your throne.

“Then, you will not join me? Work together?”

Never. You’ll have to kill me first.

The Emperor shook his head. “You leave me no choice–” he motioned to the Ninth Hammer, who drew a long knife. “It pains me to do this.”

Giotto leaned down and peered into the scarred face. “Funny. When I look at you, I still see my brother…”

Prometheus stared back at Giotto, his face rippling and spasming in anger, as if in some great internal struggle. And then at last, he smirked. “I see the bastard child of some lovelorn Il’gra.”

Giotto regarded the prisoner for a long moment. Then he signaled for the Hammer to sheathe his weapon.

What are you waiting for, fool? Dispatch me. Or have you truly gone soft?

Giotto watched him and said: “Normally, I would, of course. And I’d stick your head on a spear outside the Fool’s Gate. But, if I killed your host, you’d be free to then possess someone in this room. Correct?”

Prometheus did not answer, but twisted on the bench in impatience.

Giotto pondered this, then said: “We shall take you to the Tower of Salt.”

Prometheus laughed. The Tower of Salt stood alone in the vast deserts of the Cerulean wastes. The borders were closed, and the skies were patrolled by the Imperial Talon-riders.

So you intend to leave me to rot? I’m immortal, you fool. I’ll outlive you.

“Shadow-walker, you possess much power and cunning. But you don’t have what I have. You don’t have loyalty.”

Then he waved his fingers, and from out of the shadows, a Whisperer emerged. He bore a guild tattoo as a member of the Pack. He smiled silently in the lamplight. “My friends and I help one another. Zollax, here, for instance, believes he knows a way to rid us of you, and save Vitus.”

Vitus is dead, fool. I told you that.

Giotto continued, as the Hammer and the vizier attached special wards and restraints onto Prometheus. “Turns out you’re not as powerful as you think. I know Vitus and he still speaks to me through you– and you don’t even know it.”

As Prometheus glared up at him in frustration and wrath, Giotto leaned in close again. “I shall have my brother again.”

Then in a sadistic flourish, he smiled. “And without a host Maiax will– at long last– just fucking die.”

The room darkened, as the torches began to die, and a great rumbling was heard. An electric sense of dread spread throughout the room, and Prometheus stood– his blue eyes glowing red. The brave Hammers gripped their sword hilts in fear. And then– it all stopped.

“Oh? Is there a problem, great Maiax?” The Emperor said, with bitter sarcasm.

The Emperor’s grand vizier stoked the Beadol lamp. Giotto waved his hand above the flame.

“My faithful wizards tell me that burning the brains of a Beadol is an effective disruptor of magic, including any attempts at possession. You’re done here, Shadow-walker.” Then he snapped his fingers at the guards. “Take him away.”

Then he bent and picked up the bronzium mask. He handed it to his lieutenant. “And destroy this fucking thing.”

****

“We have been infested by the darkness of Maiax,” cried Hyroe Godson to the assemblage of rebels. The remnants of their forces had gathered in the lower levels of Dross after the assault on the Cauldron of Fire. Once Prometheus had gained entry to the undertunnels, the Shadow Assassins had fled, and left the rebels alone to face the gathering forces of the Cauldron. And when reinforcements from the House of Life turned up, the House of Freedom had no choice but to run. Prometheus had never planned on supporting their cause.

The crowd murmured, uncomfortable. Hyroe continued. “I move that we disband the House of Freedom. We need to begin again– and rebuild without the corruption of the Shadow-walker.”

“Rebuild?!” A voice shouted in anger from the back of the crowd. The bodies parted to as a small young woman pushed through. “You coward! Not now! Not on the brink of victory.”

“Yujin,” cautioned Hyroe. “You should not speak of victory. It was your alliance with Prometheus that cost so many of our friends their lives.”

“Then your weakness is why they die in vain!” The rebels began to rouse themselves. A few voiced support for Yujin. Their anger began to bubble up again, like a crocammit rising from the depths.

Hyroe tried to restore order. “This faction has been infected. We do not know who fights for freedom– and who fights for Maiax. I am a baker. And I know that when your dough has spoiled, you throw the whole batch away. You do not try to make new loaves.”

He continued. “We must cleanse this body, and begin again. The forces of Maiax do not believe in justice. They only believe in their own ruthless agenda.”

Many in the crowd began to clamor. Yujin continued. “If we have made any mistake, it is not that we have been ruthless. It is that we have not been ruthless enough! The Emperor will never respect anything less!”

Yujin gestured at Hyroe. “It is time to stop listening to him. Tonight we nearly brought down a House — now he thinks you cannot do it again?” She now climbed up onto the rubble next to Hyroe, and her nostrils flared as she stared him down. “I believe we can! And if there are those of you who agree, say so! Let your voice be known!”

Hyroe felt his heart sink as the wave of anger spread across the rebels. This was not the way. He looked in among the frowns and balled-up fists and saw empty space where friends used to stand. There would be more before this bloody crusade was done.

“Have we learned nothing tonight?” he shouted. “You must see the truth — even if it is painful!”

“Let us be rid of those who stand in our way! Let us be ruthless!” Yujin darted to her left and picked up a piece of marble and threw it at Hyroe. He deftly dodged the projectile, but his face was pale in shock. Then, swiftly, others began to pick up rocks and garbage and throw it at him. He back-pedaled off the mound of rubble, as he heard Yujin shout: “Death to the unfaithful!”

“I am not the enemy,” he shouted. “Wake up! The enemy is among you!”

Then he saw the crowd advance, hands on their swords. Like in a nightmare, Hyroe fled those who had been his comrades in arms not hours before. As missiles of stone flew past him, he sprinted to the ancient colonnade along the water, where he stopped. The river was a hundred feet below. The gathering crowd surrounded him, led by Yujin. “There is no escape, baker. Surrender now and we will make you the first martyr to our cause,” she said.

“A curse upon you, Yujin– for you are the faithless one!” Hyroe spat. “I will return and cleanse your wretched corruption from the House of Freedom.”

And with that, he gave her two fingers of defiance and let himself fall backwards over the edge.

Yujin and the others rushed to the edge and watched for him to surface, but he had disappeared into the murky waters of the Hushed River. She grimaced, but then turned to the rebels and raised her arms.

“Rebels and brethren and family. We have been born anew tonight. And I come to you with a new truth to hear and understand: We no longer need follow Hyroe Godson. Nor do we follow Maiax. Or indeed, the Emperor. Truly I say to you, the real savior of Massina is not a man.”

Yujin lowered her voice and spoke with intense reverence as her new followers leaned in. “Our real leader, the true progeny of Alteus, is divine. And her name is Emilie.”

****

Atop the highest tower of the Cauldron of Fire, the bodies of the fallen lay on the temple dais, arranged for the grieving to hold their vigils. As the bereaved came and went, the sun rose and fell, and the stars wheeled overhead. The cries and prayers began to fade, the crowds dispersed, and at midnight, there was only one mourner remaining, watching over his loved one. Fitting, then, that he should be known as a Vigilant.

He whispered soft words, repeated them over and over:

Forged by wars and brutal fights,

Thus is born a Massina life

We live to train, to fight, to die

Inside the arena where Champions lie

Always free and never slaves

Our dead sleep soundly in their graves.

Cefaphro had knelt all day in prayer, over the body of a Sadaari he once called Paxa. She lay in death as beautiful as in life, he thought; her silver hair arrayed on the black stone. The priests had done their best to cover the multiple stab wounds that had eventually felled her. The rebels had swarmed her position, and she could only defend so long. The true mortal wound however was from one wound by a skofnung blade, which only stopped bleeding when she died. The curse imbued in this weapon made Resurrection impossible now.

The High Priest approached Cefaphro quietly. Only two days ago, the priest had been a young man. Now, the Fire Essence had claimed most of his skin, covering him in a holy char.

“Many died,” he rasped, looking out at all the bodies. “But you mourn this one.”

“She was important to me,” Cefaphro said. He did not look up. His hands lay upon the large scimitar across his lap, and a spear lay next to him.

“Why do you bring your weapon to grieve?” The priest gestured at the large sword on Cefaphro’s lap.

“When I am done, I shall leave this place, and go to wherever they are keeping the one known as Prometheus. He is responsible for her death and I will bring savage retribution howling to his doorstep.” Cefaphro’s star-filled eyes darkened like black holes. “Once I find him, I shall slay him.”

“The Emperor will not permit it.”

Cefaphro seemed unconcerned. “If I myself am slain in the process, so be it.”

“What do you feel right now?” asked the High Priest.

At this, Cefaphro spun around to face him. “What do I feel? I feel anger!” Then he softened. “And sadness.” The great Vigilant shook his head in confusion. “I feel loss. I feel heartache.”

“Good.”

“What do you mean good!” Cefaphro stood to face the High Priest. “We have lost a great warrior, and you have no words of comfort!”

“Burning is learning,” said the Priest, with a slow grin, as the Vigilant fumed.

“When we first met, Cefaphro,” he continued. “You had no emotions left– except for guilt and duty. And Paxa knew nothing except regret and loneliness. Together, you were able to find acceptance and love again. And now you feel, as only one who is truly alive feels.”

The Guardian frowned at him. “This was your plan, then? To sacrifice Paxa to give my life meaning?”

Now it was the High Priest who was shocked. “And how do you know it was not you who were used to give Paxa’s life meaning? Narcissism runs in the Celestials, but I never thought I would see it in you.”

“Nor such deviousness in a High Priest,” grumbled Cefaphro.

The High Priest wagged his finger at Cefaphro. “Paxa had her own burning path of coals to walk. She sought redemption, and she fought to achieve it, at the ultimate price.”

They gazed down at her lifeless body. “But,” said the High Priest. “Perhaps she is not gone. Not completely.”

To the surprise of the Priest, he found his throat in the grip of a furious Celestial. “You test me too much, priest! Now if you value your own life — speak plainly! DOES SHE LIVE?”

The High Priest tried to croak an answer, his skin crumbling under Cefaphro’s grasp. “Her body is dead,” he coughed. “But her soul still exists.” The overwhelmed Guardian recovered his composure and let him go. The holy man staggered to the wall, still wheezing. Cefaphro felt waves of shame flood his body.

The priest continued. “When the Sadaari were cursed by the Fenrir, as punishment their souls were wrenched from their bodies. No one knows where those souls went, Cefaphro; but they did not perish. I still feel their presence in the universe. Of that I am sure.”

The Vigilant’s heart began to beat again. His body swirled with emotion, as he gripped his sword.

The priest looked at Cefaphro in fear and hope. “Yes, I put you together for a reason. The gods of Fire foresaw that your bond would be greater than any other. Because, Cefaphro… somewhere, Paxa lives,” he said. “And only a Celestial can find her.”

****

In the shadows of the Porta Magna, the small group of six Champions gathered. Two Keymasters, a Whisperer, a Sadaari, a Seris and a Darulk. They tried to hide their discussion, but anyone who had been paying attention to recent events in Massina would instantly recognize this assemblage.

“Is it secret? Is it safe?” asked the Whisperer of the group. They all nodded.

The Sadaari looked around, and kept her voice quiet. “Then it is agreed. We shall each hold a portion of the page.”

“Without the information this page contains, any further attempts to penetrate the Gate of Hell will be most difficult,” murmured the Darulk. “It is better to conceal our findings.”

“And we shall never speak of this.” The Keymasters put their hands into the center, and the others lay theirs on top. “Not even to his Excellency.”

From the arena, horns blared, and the Champions made their way toward the large brass-ornamented doors into the arena.

In the middle of the sand, the fallen body of an Arcane Darulk was being collected by the arena Myrmidons. Tinaris the Unfaithful had been delivered by the Wardens for official execution in the gladiatorial arena. A handful of Death Champions stood over her, breathing hard. The battle had been hard-fought, but eventually she succumbed. The execution squad bowed to the Emperor’s box, and then withdrew as the evening’s next attraction entered.

Two large wagons, drawn by obsidian-black sumpters and decorated with laurels and garlands, drew the Champions into the arena. The twilight sun warmed the bronze and gold of the Emperor’s box, and the crowd rose in a cheer for the heroes.

As they came to a stop in front of the Emperor’s box, he descended on a grand staircase, constructed just for the occasion. The Seekers took their places on a marble stage, festooned with ribbons and the Emperor’s sigil. There were six luxurious chests arrayed, spilling over with gems and jewels. (Along the sides of the stage, Beadol-beaters patrolled watching for any errant thieves.)

Emperor Giotto acknowledged the heroes and then took the stage to address the crowd. “First, I thank the Wardens for their loyalty and the fine entertainment provided by the House of Death in dispatching this unworthy Darulk, who shall remain forever nameless.”

“As blood and dust settle, all that remains; is this valiant hero of House Arcane,” said the Emperor, quoting the famous Massina poem with an ironic smirk on his face. The Myrmidons dragged Tinaris’ body off-stage.

“Now, then. Greetings my loyal subjects,” he began, flourishing his long crimson cape. “The heroes before you tonight need no introduction. For we all know of their exploits, both in the undertunnels and in the rescue of my beloved nephew Nepote– who sadly could not be with us today.”

The crowd murmured. The rumor was that Nepote was under house arrest for the rest of his natural life, having caused the Emperor much embarrassment.

“Today we honor those known as The Seekers, for their bravery, for their prowess, and for their judicious mercy. For when they bested the villain Prometheus, they chose to spare his life, and deliver him to my custody. His crimes against Massina are severe, and rest assured, he will pay dearly. I intend to make every use of my prisoner in order to secure this city’s robust future, and rid ourselves of the threat of Maiax and the rebels. And heroes like these will help me do it.”

“And now.” The Emperor signaled for the Champions to approach. “I award you the Medallion of Alteus, in commemoration of your duty to the Empire.”

He began to intone their names solemnly. “Oswald, Xenia, Errip, Lola, Abishai, and Asura.”

The Seekers each crossed the stage, and received, with a proper bow, their commendations from the Emperor, as the people roared and thumped on the bleachers in the cheap seats.

The Emperor smiled and applauded them. Then he leaned backwards ever so slightly and murmured to one of his personal assistants. “Keep an eye on these six. They’re hiding something.” Then he returned to his adulation, saluting the Seekers and blowing kisses to the audience.

****

From just outside the arena, a stranger to Massina watched the Seekers receive their awards, fingers gripping the iron bars of the commoners’ gate. The visitor traced nervous fingers across the words of some long-dead gladiator, carved into a column as they had waited for battle:

Even as I know that an honorable fight in the Colosseum Eternal will be the end of me.

For my family, for my family honor, I will be the champion who dares to challenge the most powerful!

Evil emperor, wait for me!

The young stranger felt a strange kinship with these sorrowful and brave words. As one who had yet to even start on the path to glory, this challenger could only gaze in awe at the might and majesty of the Colosseum Eternal, and let the cheers of the crowd fill the air with a thrilling buzz unlike any other.

But who was this newcomer? From where had they come, and what was their goal?

Like so many questions in Massina, these must remain unanswered…

But unlike so many other questions, these and many more will be answered by you — IN SEASON THREE!

Special thanks to the community champs who have supported and helped craft this lore over the last 6 months:

• MayMay (poem)
• Sol (poem)
• Blitz (poem, plus a lot more!)
• FlyingLamas
• xNyer
• SpiderDrop
• KGLimited
• Djlos
• Clintonclambert
• Tri
• VitaG
• CryptoBobby
• Dewlit
• CryptoAlex
• Arkham
• BuyThaDip
• Elti
• Pirre
• Blub
• Bunzaga
• Arkham
• The entire CODEX crew!
• TPS
• The Pack
• and the Wardens!

All Hail the Glorious 7622!

It is I, your Emperor Giotto, 27th of his Holy House. I come to you today with a decree and a declaration of the coming events in Massina. A map of the road ahead, some might say. Those who wish to walk that path of glory with me should take heed.

Meanwhile, my agents have uncovered a disgusting cesspit frequented by Rebels. I present it to you now. Gaze upon their schemes as they sift through stolen intelligence gathered from my palace and my plans. Although their traitorous behavior is revolting, it is clear that there is much here to contemplate.

Heed me well: I do nothing unless I am confident that my strategy will succeed. As such, some plans may take longer than others. I know that the faithful understand my organization takes its role very seriously. So, as always, I will continue to develop the best possible tactics and strategies with your success in mind. For without you, I rule an empty kingdom!

With that said, there are great things in store for the so-called “Holders.” Behold below: but a few items from my roadmap. Look closely and perhaps you can discern other items in the works!

Community

Your chants to be heard have seeped their way into my bed chambers and they have spoken to me in my dreams. Your desire to be closer to me is understandable, as so I have made several key arrangements that will provide you with vastly improved communication and regular updates. I seek the counsel of the Glorious 7622, and my emissaries Squiddy and Captain Kris will be rolling out several new programs to facilitate these discussions. We will host a Twitter Space AMA this Friday, June 17th at 10am PST to go through the roadmap. This will also make way for a regularly occurring AMA which will occur on a weekly cadence and bi-monthly developer chats.

We are also doing our best to answer all of the questions from our community. There is a list of common questions that we have answered in the new FAQ section on the Whitepaper, and our team will also continue to share more info on game features and economy during the above mentioned chats.

The entire team is excited about the momentum and we will share more with you over the coming weeks and months.

New PFPs

Many of you have beseeched me to represent your Champions pride on the Rebirdant network known as Twitter. So be it! Later this month, I have commanded my artists to release new profile pictures for our community to flaunt your membership in “The Glorious 7622”. I shall make it easier to verify ownership on Twitter and flex your Champions status. These are at the ready and will be in your loving arms on June 21st! Let us create an uprising– and a moment of Champions pride that shall thunder to the heavens!

Website Redesign

Every Emperor desires one status symbol above all: a kick-ass website. I too, covet such a thing. And so, we are redesigning www.champions.io to better position the next chapter of our ongoing journey together. This website will be an ever-expanding destination for everything Champions. My genius web engineers, who I imported from the mysterious dimension of the dragonkind, inform me that the improvements to our website will also lay the groundwork for future deployment of Web3 applications. On launch, you will be granted access to an inventory page that will allow you to download some new hi resolution images of your champion (wallpaper and poster) as well as your other assets and your new PFP!

This will launch tomorrow!

Pets

Many have said “Dear Emperor, we were promised pets. We are jealous of your magnificent Papiro!” Well, my friends: Your wailing and gnashing of teeth has paid off! Pets will be dropping soon!

These brave and wily animals will play a huge role in Massina and your scrabble to the top of the heap! In truth, these Pets actually deserve their own roadmap to describe the plethora of amazing and exciting things we have planned for them! Pah, I have not time for everything! And yet — Here is some Alpha: each type of pet will possess its own bespoke utility and access that will make you want to collect one of each type, long term. Pets will be airdropped to holders free of charge & gas. FREE, do you hear me? When has the Emperor ever given something for free?!

I have commanded my magistrates to deliver these pets this summer just in time for the Xiva Festival, or risk excommunication! (Again!)

Slice of Massina
Those of you who are acquainted with my faithful servant Icetoad are no doubt familiar with his constant leaks. (No matter where my royal physicians stick the cork– he still leaks!) But Icetoad has shown the Faithful our tremendous progress in major game systems such as combat and the metaverse. But that is not enough for me! As Emperor, I wish to stroll through the streets of my Empire– and we will give you just that!

The team is currently aiming to deliver a playable preview in what we’re calling “A Slice of Massina”.

Under the blazing heat of the summer sun, you will be able to walk the same streets as I (but not at the same time!), and visit iconic locations, such as the Sleeping Karkadon. I am told this bar is full of low-lifes, waiting to play Harkkor races and other unsavory games of chance. My sources tell me that the devious Elmora will be there, so keep your wits about you.

But construction will not end at this point; no, my Faithful. Many more forms of entertainment shall continue to be added as summer turns to fall, and fall to winter. The expansion of my city shall never end!

Of course, I shall continue to send missives about all these features and more to the Discord and all communications channels! Listen well!

Elemental Champions

At long last, the High Priests of the Elemental Houses have bent the knee to my magnificence, and pledged loyalty again. Despite their protracted insolence, I shall take the high road and consider reinstating their privileges, including the imbuement of new Champions. Expect the arrival of these intrepid challengers near the Eve of Hallows (Oct 31st)!

NFT.NYC

I will send a team of my best advisors, lieutenants and representatives to the faraway kingdom of NYC. There they shall attend a festival known as NFT.NYC. Mind you, I have not sent them to simply play grab ass! Nay, they will be there to shake the hands of so-called influential people and find additional ways to increase the profits of our Empire. I have been told that the faithful of Massina procured us nominations in every gaming category at the show. The Prime Eternal community made this possible and we’re indebted to you for it. Although I do not easily show emotion, I thank you.

Pagh! Let us move on!

Merch

There is much to celebrate in the Market Bazaar, for the news that a ship filled with hoodies will leave the far eastern port, and set on its way to Massina on June 27th! An auspicious date! Praise Alteus! Those who were verified via the Imperial perk checker will receive them sometime thereafter. My merchants inform me that they are also working on new designs to bring you more premium swag and gear, including hats and t-shirts, whose coolness has been approved by me personally. I will even give you the privilege of petitioning me for what you would like to see be granted first at Summer’s End! We have teamed up with Legends (www.legends.com) and will share more soon about upcoming releases.

Breeding

No matter where I go, there is talk of breeding. The Imperial palace is full of whispers, every party I attend seems rife with it, and there is profane gossip in the streets. So be it, then, you filthy animals, let us speak of the ungodly act of breeding.

Under my law, Champions shall be allowed to breed to create Progeny. This requires two Champions; they do not have to be in love, they may be of the same gender, and they can be from different families– and even Primes and Elementals can breed. There’s a cost associated with breeding and only Champions of the same tier can breed. The offspring may be of either family of the parents. Parts have a high chance to correspond to the Essence and parts of the parents. But mutations are not unknown!

I can think we can all agree: Breeding is a mysterious, disgusting act — and yet strangely fascinating. I will allow your sick minds to run wild during the carnal celebration of Valentine’s Day!

Land
With this decree, I declare that the territory of Massina must be settled! Under my benevolent and wise dictum, Maestros shall be authorized to own, sell and lease land. Land plots shall have different sizes and utility. Some lands can be used to build structures that feature different functionality. This functionality may range; from forging, to battle (i.e. training grounds, arena), to other utility (mini-games, landmarks), or trade (i.e auction house) to entertainment (i.e tavern). Some land can even be used to exploit resources buried deep within it.

For those who cannot be bothered to read, know this: You will want land when it becomes available in 2023. For those who are still sniggering at the word “dictum,” your Emperor heeds you to grow up.

Combat
It has been a slow fight season while the Colosseum Eternal is closed for Imperial renovations. But fear not — I plan on opening the arena again soon, on a limited basis. Although everything that the Emperor does is perfect the first time, some of the fightmasters wish to test the arena and practice combat beforehand. So be it! I will call this an Alpha opening. My construction magistrate assures me this opening will happen sometime in near autumn.

In addition, I intend to issue an updated edition of Emperor Giotto’s Holy Guide to Crushing Your Enemies in Combat and Achieving Eternal Glory in the Arena of Death. This guide will teach new Maestros the specifics about how combat works. I shall detail movesets. I shall describe what every single Divine part does and I shall even deign to give you my theories on the best set of combinations for combat. (Perhaps fightmaster Primo might help contribute, if I wish it.) I will even provide details on the power of purity! The first version of this guide will be in your hands this very July!

Partnerships

Some of you who have read about our history may have come to realize that our world, Massina, is a Gateway to other dimensions. Some are even home to well-known personalities of significant renown– of course, not on the level of Your Beloved Emperor, as that would be impossible. Nevertheless, I will be summoning these elite personalities to Massina in the coming months. News of it will send a shockwave across the universe — of that, you can be certain.

Staking & Platform

My faithful Champions and Glorious 7622, now let us address the issue of staking.

We’re going to be very clear on this — staking is top of mind and our team is working hard on it. The original plans for staking were problematically disrupted by a few issues, the most vile of which was our negotiation with the magistrates of Massina, whose requirements are dizzyingly obtuse. While your Emperor has no use for the counsel of fools, it is also folly to run forward heedless. Once their onerous demands were met, it also became clear that to achieve our collective expansion as a premiere destination in the so-called metaverse, we would need a much more robust technical plan than originally conceived.

This is the only way that we can invite the masses and “other” challengers from around the metaverse to enter Massina and feed your desire for endless slaughter at the hands of our Champions. This is also the only way in which we can prosper as a sustainable and flourishing economy going forward, instead of crumbling away as is the case with many relevant examples. Your universe will be one that promotes fun, engagement, AND player to player transactions equally!

In fact, word of Massina’s grandeur has attracted the attention of those who wish to offer us their hand in mutual benefit, creating liquidity for all prime holders in the process. This band of wandering gypsies refer to themselves as a DAO, and the token they offer will be distributed to you by Winter’s End. Rejoice, as you will be allowed to earn more of this token via staking shortly thereafter.

I can assure you that our finest engineers are working tirelessly to build this “ EVM compatible platform.” However, the intricacies of constructing such a Wonder are many, and while possible to surmount, they are not simple — but our solution will also be ready by Winter’s End as well! I mean, honestly, have you seen the current price of gas… This is quite important!

While delays are no fun, we want you to know that when we deliver this platform, staking for Essence, Massina, and Diamond Hands will become available. We vow to take care of our holders for their patience and reward your loyalty at that time.

The Champions Creed

I leave you with one final thought. The Creed of the Champions, carved by the Titans into stone into the very foundation of the Colosseum. This is the prayer that every Champion recites before he or she enters the arena, knowing that there are only two ways to emerge: in death or glory.

Let us all recite in unison, as we rise together:

I, your magnificent Emperor, praise you for your faithfulness and look forward to the day you and your Champions shall prove your prowess among the blood and sand of the Colosseum Eternal! There is still much to do– and many more surprises and mysteries yet to be unveiled — but the coming weeks shall give us many tangible rewards to celebrate!

FOR GLORY!

You may be seeing a lot more of this little fellow in the future. But — who is he? What the hell is a Beadol? And why should you be careful what you wish for?

The Beadol’s name is Drip, and for some reason he considers himself the mascot of Champions: Ascension? Not sure why, but he begged to tell his amazing story this week.

And so, with great reluctance, I turn the House of Lore over to a wild Beadol for the weekend.

Hope this place is still standing on Monday. :D

Best,

WriterRyan

The Story of the Beadol

by Drip, as told to Ryan Kaufman

“I’m a little thief from Hell? Well, you’re a little thief from Hell!”

It wasn’t the greatest comeback, I admit. But what do you say when you’ve been snatched up by a crusty old priest and locked in a cage just for existing? Screw you, judgemental bastard! And if you throw me in the river, I’ll come back and haunt your ass.

(Btw, I have to say… I did notice the priest had a fat golden ring, inlaid with carved ivory and three tiny garnets across the top. And I spotted a clasp on his official robes that I’m sure was pure bravarium. And if I hadn’t been in a cage, yes, I would’ve taken it. Guilty as charged.)

The priest didn’t understand any of my curses. Nobody around here understands Beadol.

So I look into the cages next to me, at my two cursed compatriots. They’ve already given up. We’re screwed.

Until this little urchin walks up. (No jewelry, dirty fingernails.) I don’t know why or how, but somehow– he noticed us.

He saw what was happening. “These beautiful creatures must be saved,” he wailed. They didn’t care. The boy threatened to call the Massina Pet Protection League unless they released us to him. They didn’t listen.

But, boy, when he came up with a bag of coins, they listened. I was shocked the kid had that kinda money, and he looked a little sad to be giving it up. (I don’t blame him.) The cage handler tried to warn the kid. “You must never turn your back on a Beadol,” he said. I was extremely offended– but also, he’s right.

As soon as we got to the kid’s house, it became immediately clear we were in the wrong place. There wasn’t a single coin, jewel, ring, necklace, chandelier, gold spoon, engraved goblet, ivory pen-set or even a limited-edition Freeland Mint Commemorative china plate of the Emperor’s Third Birthday!

A big human burst in the room, and shouted that the kid was an idiot for spending their last savings on worthless Beadols. (Again- offended.) Don’t listen to him, I yelled. The big man fumed, and called the kid a cow-faced sentimental moron and then he left, taking all the food with him.

The kid cried himself to sleep, with a single blanket to keep him warm. It was obvious this little cow-faced moron had spent his life savings to save us. So, we set to work fixing that– by reproducing.

Anyway, in the morning, there were six Beadols– (Hey! How we reproduce is our business) — and a mountain of treasure. We’d found rubies and emeralds, and tokens and little bits of silver, and a mercurium-plated knife. We’d also found enough coin next door to start our own bank.

“Where did you get this?” the kid cried.

Next door! I told him. It was just sitting there out in the open, under an old man’s bed, in a box with a lock on it. But he didn’t understand me.

The kid knelt in front of the pile of treasure, holding a coin in his fingers. “Thank you…” he said, his eyes glimmering. Then he shook his head. “But, we… we have to put it back!”

That’s not really our thing, I explained to him. Beadols are about “taking it” than whatever “putting it back” means.

Look, I told him. We can see that you’re living like shit– and that’s saying a lot, because remember, we’re from Hell. But you saved us– and now we’re gonna help make YOU the richest man in Massina.

The following morning there was nine of us. (I told you before: don’t ask.) And I brought a crown of laurels, painted in gold-skin, with each leaf individually crafted by a Fenrir goldsmith, on the Kid’s pillow. Was it easy to get? No, it was not. But the kid was worth it. I waited for him to wake up.

When he did, he looked at it, his eyes wide. Then he said “Holy shit is this the Emperor’s CROWN?” Then he passed out.

When he woke up again, he was very flustered. I’m really not sure why. He kept saying “no,” under his breath at first, then more quickly, and finally, very loudly. His neighbor came over. She was an attractive girl his age. She was amazed at all his wealth, and then he showed her the Crown, and but she didn’t say “no no no no” — she said “yes yes yes!”

To be honest, humans puzzle me. So I went outside to do some more collection.

Pretty soon, the girl started spending more time with the kid. He spent some of the treasure to buy her gifts. And after that, they got married. We stole a baby for them, but they demanded we put it back. Which we did. (Which is unfortunate, because it was a really good baby. We found the best one.)

But The Kid’s wife demanded more and more treasure. More than even we could steal. (We began to think she was part Beadol.) They fought all the time. The Kid didn’t look very happy anymore.

Finally he took us to a shop, deep in the maze of the Market Bazaar. There, we met a fellow with four arms: The Mysterious Merchant. I’d heard of this guy. He possessed magical portals to other dimensions, where he procured fantastic items and sold them in Massina. I’m not saying I was jealous, but I might have drooled a little bit.

The Kid told him that he’d adopted us, and we had stolen much treasure for him. But the treasure had brought him much heart-ache and worry too. Together, they discussed the possibility of using a portal … to send us home? Hang on, Kid, I said. Nobody sends Drip home! We like it here!

I sent the others into the shop to search for a solution. Luckily, Maegpi found a ring in a box labeled Magical Wishing Rings. We hustled The Kid out of there, and showed him what we found.

But instead of being grateful, he was weird about it. He took the ring, and held it up. “This is what I’m talking about! You won’t stop stealing, and I just can’t deal with it anymore! I wish things would go back to how they used to be.”

Wait, kid, nooooooo!

*****

The Lord of Hela folded his arms and looked at me directly. “And this is how you returned to our domain?”

Yes, I told him. Yes!

“I see,” he said. He had not killed me yet, or cast my soul into the fiery anus of the Necrotic Beast of the Void. That was a good sign. “And your twenty offspring?”

Lost, my Lord, I said. I squeezed out a little tear. I’m not too proud to admit it.

“A shame,” he replied. And then with a quizzical look. “And all the wondrous Massina treasures you accumulated? Where are those?”

Well– I stammered. He did make a good point. You see, your Hell-ness, they were probably magicked away, by the.. magic ring! It must have reverted their ownership.

“Yes, of course,” he nodded. “However.” Then he stood.

“None of this helps explain how my wife’s necklace came into your possession.”

Ah. That. I was kinda hoping she wouldn’t notice.

He clapped his great gnarled hands together (two haunted-ruby rings possessing the souls of his enemies: tasteful, but unambiguous) and I was instantly immobilized. Several Whisperers ran into the room, and he sneered as he addressed them. “Cast this Beadol into the suppurating anus.”

As they threw me into the swirling whirlpool of mysterious garbage and detritus that encircled the Beast’s nether regions, I thought of The Kid, and how he’d helped us, and of course, the magic ring we’d stolen to try and help him: A good deed never goes unpunished.

I figured I was done for.

And as I drifted towards the festering maw, I saw it. The most beautiful thing I’d ever beheld: an old dead wizard.

(No! That’s not the beautiful part!) It was an old dead wizard… holding a magic wand.

Which is how I came to tell YOU my story, dear Champions.

But that is a tale for another time.

****