Chrysalis

[What do you think of the season so far, Peter?]

The farmer smiled as he scratched idly at his chin. He still wasn’t used to talking so much, especially in public, but on the subject of Tunnel Ball, he could wax lyrical for hours.

He leaned forward a little to make sure he was speaking into the small, enchanted gem on the table in front of him.

“Well, Commentant, I could talk about the tactical advances in the game, the general shift from running plays to a Soldier/Mage grind-it-out setup, the once mighty teams who’ve fallen into the relegation zone, including the Pink Blitz, one of my personal favourites, but that’s all to the side of the real story.”

[And what would that be?] Commentant asked, as if she didn’t know.

“The Endless,” Peter said simply. “We’ve never seen a team this coordinated, this determined, and with such an unorthodox approach to the game. When other teams want to play low to the ground, they go high. If the opposition wants to fight up close, they’re elusive like ghosts, if the opposition wants to run, the Endless bog them down with impeccable timing. The strategic way they approach the game is so far ahead of the competition that it’s like they aren’t even playing the same sport.”

He shook his head, bewildered, as memories of recent matches flickered through his mind.

“I think we are seeing a revolution in what is possible on the pitch.”

[Not an evolution? That’s a term many of our listeners are more familiar with.]

“No, no,” Peter said firmly. “A revolution. Orthodox ways of moving the ball from one end of the pitch to the other are being challenged every time the Endless step onto the field. They’re playing games with the other team's mind. The Bulwarks last week….”

He shook his shaggy head.

“By the time the match was done, they didn’t know up from down anymore.”

[I have to agree. Watching that match, I felt as if the Endless were reading their thoughts. Of course, the officials checked the cores of everyone on the team and we are assured that no mind magic was employed.]

“Well that’s both a relief, and somewhat scary.”

[Indeed.]

us is that they don’t even need mind magic to

the live recordings of ‘Weekly Tunnel Ball Roundup”, but would listen to the ‘playback’

speed of change, never ceased to amaze him. Nor the hunger and appetite for Tunnel Ball news. Many on the surface were clamouring to get down here, to the second stratum, where the Stadium had been constructed. This was now the home of the sport, and there were teams on the pitch every other day, as well

possibly over the mind bridge connecting them. [I would never have imagined my sisters would be quite so hungry for… entertainment? We are in our first year of the five division

your siblings required on the front lines, we are having teams rotated

there’s nothing that can be done. We must be accommodating of the

out

family by continuing my activities here,] the mage

to know you’ll be safe

grown fond

almost time for us to wrap up the conversation and get this episode off to the people! We have just a few minutes left over for audience questions. You know how this works if you’ve been here before. Come stand here at the front, make sure you speak, scent, or project your thoughts directly into the recording device so the audience can

scuttled to the front quickly, beating the others out for the

Hello. First time here at a live recording,

you for coming,” Peter

on the recent discussion as to whether Tunnel

shifted a little

the Council, or possibly the Eldest, will be able to decide. I’m just a simple fan of the game and I’d like to see us come to a resolution

up at the spot, a young woman with “PINK BLITZ” stitched onto

“what are your thoughts on the Blitz

Peter jumped right in.

are doing such a good job shutting down runners on the flanks, using big bodies

from last season, but they need to find

Next was a general.

their current win streak,