FIELD OF THE DAWN, MUIRTHEMNE - This is Garrick Tremaine, reporting live from the Field of the Dawn in far-off Muirthemne. I say far-off because most of you are probably watching this from your home town, courtesy of the amazing dreamcast system that the warlocks of Leif's Tower have recently set up. This is the first match to be dreamcast across the lands, and I will try to live up to its promise in my coverage of the game.

Those of you who witnessed the match between the Heron Avengers and the Scottish Nationals earlier this week may recall my arrival here in Muirthemne, in a balloon salvaged from the wreckage of Stoneheim by a few survivors of the dwarven 42nd Air Corps. Well, that story is behind us now, although I may recount it for you if we get time. I can scarcely believe the tales that have transpired here in Muirthemne in my absence - the rioting against the Empire, the Myrkridia appearing in the Catacombs, Cormac's rebirth... they make my paltry adventures pale into insignificance.

Looking down onto the field from where I sit high up in the press box, there's obviously something different about the Quad-Cities All-Stars. They seem full of life and energy, not sunk in depression like the last time I saw them. They've been plagued by injury this season, with Farrell, Alyce, Brand and Cormac all out of action at one stage or another. But for this game they have everyone on the squad, for the first time in months.

The teams exchange a few last friendly words in the center and disperse to their places. A cheer goes up from the large contingent of mauls present... they seem to have formed an odd bond of friendship to the Northmen after travelling there for a match against the Ruffians. Another occurrence that would have inspired wonder a year ago, but seems commonplace today.

Acerus Malum is presiding as guest referee this evening. This huge trow has been wracked with guilt since the incident here only a few days ago, and although the Quad-Cities team have forgiven him for his lapse he still wants to atone somehow. Seeing the teams are in position, with a wave of his massive hand he signals the start of the match.

Aethelweard manages to edge out Thrym of the Mighty Blows to grab the ball first, and passes to Alyce who weaves his way through several berserker defenders before being tackled adeptly by Thrend and losing possession. Marcus tries to follow up, but Thrend shoots a long pass up to Rudrik who quickly darts into Quad-Cities territory.

Ah, it's not to be though, Gareth and Owen move in on him and force him into taking a quick shot at goal that is easily saved by Cormac.

Hmm, the warriors seem to be playing very defensively today. Young Farrell isn't playing as big a role as he usually does, in the forefront of the attack. After that initial assault, the Quad-Cities just seem to be content to let the Northmen wear themselves out. I guess without their warpaint they figure the berserkers will tire easily... oh! Thayer botches a tackle and Bramtyr of the Silver Sword has managed to get into a clear space. There's just Kaherdin between him and the goal... a nice fakeout and he fires it into the goal, Cormac can't dive far enough to get it.

Well, amidst the sound of maul cheering the Quad-Cities are shaking their heads disappointedly. Fjornyk, the Northmen's manager, is waving excitedly t his team and they're all slapping each other's backs and grinning. It looks to me as if the Quad-Cities underestimated the berserkers' speed significantly. They won't make that mistake again, yes, Cormac is talking to Farrell and I'd wager we'll see a change in their playing style now.

Acerus Malum signals the restart and yes, Farrell is taking the ball for the warriors. He darts around Rudrik and fakes out Thorvald nicely, passing off to Marcus, who goes wide and works his way up the left sideline. Tyrfing goes to tackle Marcus but a nice little tap gets the ball clear to Alyce. He goes for a shot - hah! A crisp high cross over to Farrell who blasts it at the goal. Thorgeisl dives to his right and it's deflected away. But here's Brand! Lovely timing as the Quad-Cities' other attacker comes in from the side and fires the shot in right over Thorgeisl's head. Great play there, the Nationals' defense didn't know what hit them.

Well, the score is tied now at one goal apiece and the tension is really starting to heat up here. Even the ghols have stopped brawling in their section of the stands and are watching the play. The Scots are tightening in their defense and let's see how well that works.

This time Thyrm gets possession first and streaks into Quad-Cities territory. He passes across to Bramtyr but Clairemonde is right there and intercepts! Just like that, the ball is heading in the opposite direction and Thyrm is busy staring at his partner wondering where it went. Clairemonde passes to Aethelweard, then on to Farrell who takes a long shot deep into Scots territory. The shot finds Marcus, who tries a header that Thorgeisl easily snatches out of the air and clears back to midfield.

Thorvald gets it and moves back into Quad-Cities territory, keeping a careful eye on his mark. Clairemonde tries another steal but catches Thorvald's foot and they go down in a heap. Acerus Malum strides over and separates them, picking up the warrior and gently setting him on his feet, waving a yellow card in front of the tiny human. Play restarts and Thorvald passes to Rudrik Death's Favoured Son, who moves further into the Quad-Cities half. But he's blocked by Ewan and Owen, who are boxing him in whichever way he turns. He tries to clear it to Thyrm but Kaherdin intercepts the pass and takes it back up through midfield.

Farrell takes the ball from Kaherdin and moves up the right-hand side, Thrend shadowing him all the way. A quick pass across to the unmarked Alyce and the attack continues towards the Scots' goal. Alyce again finds himself shut out by the berserkers' defense. Tyrfing Slaughter's Son moves in for a tackle but botches it! The ball rolls free off to one side and Farrell puts on an amazing burst of speed to reach it before the berserkers can. The crowd comes to their feet as he blasts the shot up into the corner of the goal, just brushing Thorgeisl's desperate fingers and landing safely in the net. 2-1 to the All-Stars.

As the teams move back to their positions, Thorgeisl is staring at his hands in disbelief. Acerus Malum signals that it's half-time and the drinks ghol comes on to the field as the players huddle up for a strategy talk.

Well, the Quad-Cities have really come from behind here and shown they can beat the Scots at their own game. I would never have thought a man could move so quickly. That Farrell is a fast lad to be sure, and the spectators love him for it. From up here I can see the banners being waved by the sizable Province contingent: "Farrell Fury", "Farrel is TYR-iffic"... some enterprising souls have even brought along a twelve-foot-high mannequin dressed in the warriors' colours and with a head painted to resemble the fiery young striker. That really is quite something.

It's getting dark here on the Field of the Dawn as the sun slips behind the western wall, its last rays illuminating the empty high seat where Emperor Alric sits when he's in attendance. Siobnach and Chirith-Onrach are the warlocks on duty tonight, and they come down onto the field to say a few words of power. There we are, the magelights are flickering to life around the stadium, giving the mauls a bit of a start for a few seconds. But at least now we can see the field and it looks as though play is almost ready to resume.

Scots captain and striker Thurgys of the Big Tattoo takes the ball straight off and pushes right for the warriors' half, brushing aside midfielder Thayer almost like he was a child. Thayer takes a dive and sprawls theatrically on the round with a cry, but Acerus Malum ignores him and Thurgys continues on. Once again, it's Ewan and Owen there to intercept him, but Thurgys is a quick man for his size. He dodges deftly around them and takes a shot on goal, but it's Cormac who saves it with a huge leap! The ball arcs up and over the top of the crossbar, into the ghol section of the stand. I don't think we'll be seeing that one again. Well, that was a close call, and Cormac knows it too, I can see him shaking slightly as he orders his team back to their places.

Marcus takes the ball from the restart and moves into the Scots' territory. He can't seem to get past the Scots' defense though, and while he and his pals keep trying it doesn't look like they're going to have much success. They just aren't giving up, but attempt after attempt is easily being blocked by the berserkers' defense. Not giving up possession though, and it looks like we could be settling in for a few more minutes of this.

Well, now might be a good time to relate the tale of how I come to be here. If you've read the Muirthemne Times report from Stoneheim, you'll know that I was flung free from the cataclysmic explosion that shattered the dwarven capital. While searching the ruins for survivors, I was hailed from above - two members of the dwarven air corps, Bui and Dvalin, had been testing out a new balloon design when the disaster struck.

We searched the ruins for survivors, but found none - the sheer force of the blast had destroyed most of the city and buried the remainder. Bui insisted that we keep looking, however, and after a day's clambering through unstable tunnels and collapsed chambers he found what he was looking for. In a complex dug deep into the stone of the mountain and then exposed by the cataclysm, he found a badly wounded dwarf lying under a beam beside a pile of shattered blue-grey fragments.

We dug this dwarf free, who told me that his name was Sari, and that he was the keeper of Durin's Anvil. This anvil, crafted from a star fallen to earth, allowed the dwarves to forge their wondrous steel and was one of their most closely guarded secrets. Hidden deep inside Stoneheim to protect it, I was the first outsider ever to see this wonder, now sadly destroyed. As we stood there looking at it, the ground rumbled beneath us as the city settled once more. Grabbing a small piece of the Anvil, we turned and ran as the ceiling came down around us.

Once again fortune smiled on me, as we survived that dash out to the waiting balloon as the tunnels collapsed behind us. As we sailed away from the wreckage, Sari explained to me that Durin's Anvil was the heart of the dwarven nation. An icon of their identity. We must take the fragment of the Anvil to Muirthemne, where the dwarves could gather those of their people who still lived and build a new home. And so, after six long days travelling across the desert of the Barrier, we arrived here.

The dry desert air doesn't hold the heat well, and it's cooling down quite rapidly here as the last light fades from the sky. The Northmen seem to be loving it, and I wonder if this might be enough to tip the balance in their favour and let them break this deadlock that has lasted while I related my story to you.

Certainly the quad-cities team are moving slower now, especially their attackers. They've kept trying to push into the Scots' territory all this time, and it's over halfway through the second half now. Nothing has broken through yet... wait, Marcus seems to be making a strong push into Scots territory. He's quickly blocked by midfielder Bjorn and passess off to Farrell who fumbles the pickup! He's just a fraction too slow and the ball scoots right past him where Thrend picks it up and moves back into Quad-Cities territory.

This is bad for the All-Stars. They've been able to hold their 2-1 advantage so far by retaining possession, and now they've given that away. Thrend moves in through the Quad-Cities midfield and is blocked by Thayer, he passes off to Bramtyr who moves in towards the goalbox. A quick dodge takes him past Kaherdin, and again there's only Cormac to beat. He lines up a shot... and instead launches a long cross to Rudrik on the far side! Rudrik heads the ball in beautifully, but somehow Cormac's there with an amazing dive that just manages to deflect the ball out past the side of the net.

Back to midfield and Brand takes the ball first up, leading a pre-emptive charge into the berserkers' home territory. He deftly weaves past Thrend and Tyrfing, but Hvilner comes in from one side and tries to tackle him, sending the ball flying. Farrell makes a run for the ball, leaping over Thrend's outstretched foot to seize it. A quick dodge past Ingtar and he's in the goal box, firing a hard shot straight for the net. But he's not fast enough to beat Thorgeisl, who is there before the ball hits and easily clears the ball back out to midfield.

The ball finds utility attacker Jarlnir Whose Gaze Freezes, who the Scots brought on at the start of the second half to replace Thyrm of the Mighty Blows. There must only be a minute or so left in the game, and the Northmen realise that down 2-1, they have to press the attack. Suddenly, Jarlnir makes a run for it, easily sidestepping a tackle from Thayer. A quick pass to Bramtyr gets him past Clairemonde, who turns to follow the furious attack. The towering Northmen charge for the warriors' defense, but these men have withstood angry trow and they stand their ground. Bramtyr moves out to the left and cuts across to Rudrik, who slips past Ewan to make it inside the goal box. A quick shot on goal but Cormac's hands are there to bounce it away. Thurgys breaks past Kaherdin and powers a mighty shot into the corner of the net! Cormac leaps to catch it, deflecting the shot upwards into the crossbar... the ball bounces back down on the inside of the line and rolls into the net as the crowd goes wild.

The mighty trow referee moves to restrain the maul spectators, who have started spilling out onto the field. They move back to their box as the magelights flicker to signify the end of the match. Acerus Malum beckons the teams to the middle and talks to Cormac and Thurgys briefly. He then turns to the spectators and declares that since the score is now tied at 2-all, there will be a penalty shootout to decide the match.

The rules of the Cup specify that if the score is tied after the end of regulation time, teams will alternate kicking goals... the first to save a goal wins the match. The crowd is murmuring to themselves now, craning their necks to see as the teams move to the north end of the field.

First up is Thorgeisl, who's already done so well this evening. Farrell moves forward to take up his position before the goal and the crowd falls silent. A feint, a blur of movement, and the ball smacks against the back of the net, Thorgeisl still reaching to where the shot was. A cheer erupts from the province stands as the banners are waved high in the air.

Breathing deeply, Cormac moves to the goalbox to take his position, facing scots attacker Rudrik Death's Favored Son. Rudrik smiles grimly at Cormac, who responds with a nod of his head. The agile Scots attacker takes a run-up, angling the ball high and left to send it sailing past Cormac's outstretched hands and home. With a shout, the maul contingent come to their feet, waving their clubs in the air. Cormac closes his eyes for a second and then moves aside to let Thorgeisl take his place.

With his long orange plaits swinging in the cool night air, Thorgeisl stands easily in the mouth of the goal, waiting for the nervous Alyce to take the shot. Faking right, Alyce instead slams his shot straight down the line. The ball caroms off Thorgeisl's shoulder and shoots off to one side, just catching the edge of the net to score. The crowd lets out a collective breath and cheers, louder than before.

Once more, Cormac steps up to the goal mouth. Facing him this time is the massive scots captain Thurgys, the tattooed wolf on his back seeming to pant as he flexes his muscles. Suddenly, Thurgys dips left and fires a powerful shot into the far right corner of the goal. The moment seems to last forever as Cormac leaps high and wide, his outstretched fingers almost caressing the ball. The ball sails off towards the side of the goal and strikes the side post, bouncing back out past the amazed Northman. And then, with a roar like thunder, the crowd comes to its feet and swarms down onto the field.

Cormac barely has time to shake Thorgeisl's hand before he is swept from his feet by the laughing Acerus Malum, who carries the warrior captain from the field shoulder-high, followed by his grinning team and a horde of shouting fans. The Scottish Nationals clasp hands with each other in recognition of a hard-fought battle, and head off the field to drown their sorrows with their new-found maul friends.

And so, one of the most exciting matches of the Cup comes to its conclusion. The Quad-Cities All-Stars have triumphed over their old foes by the narrowest possible margin, winning 4-3 and thus claiming the title of Challengers for themselves. Two days hence, they will face the Heron Avengers on this field in the grand final. It will be a battle like none the world has seen for fifty years. I will be there.