This content was originally included in an issue of Duelist magazine. The original article can be accessed via Internet Archive here.

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Main Magazine Page: The Duelist #1

The duel depicted in this story has a bit of history behind it. This was the last game in a two-out-of-three duel during the final round of the tournament held at GenCon 93, the first officially sanctioned Magic: The Gathering tournament. The participants were Rick Townsend, playing the part of Anton in the tale below, and Alex Parrish, known here as Karshan. And the winner was …well, read on and see.

I know you are still out there somewhere. I can feel your presence. Though I drove you back to your desolate mountain haven, I know that you are not yet defeated, not yet ready to yield. Now I alone stand in your way, the last obstacle on your path of domination. Though you are powerful, Karshan, you now know that I too am not without my influences. I can only hope that you have not sensed my weariness since our last battle; that you also must pause to regain your magical potence. I am tired. Yet I would give my last breath before I would stand by and watch you rule over Dominia.

Anton’s eyes shot open, awake. A feeling crept through his body; a feeling very familiar and very unwanted. A sense that magical energies were gathering near his domain had invaded the tranquility of Anton’s sleep, clinging to his awareness, he rose abruptly from the thatched cot and crossed the main floor of his cottage to the door. Me threw it open, nearly ripping it from its hinges as he heard the first clap of thunder echo down the valley before him. It was as he had feared; the centermost peak of the Ki-Tirn mountains looming above him had taken on an eerie, red glow ([mfn referencenumber=1a]Alex puts a mountain in play.[/mfn]), perceivable only by a wizard.

So soon. We shall see if your youthful energies betray you to foolishness, Karshan.

Anton stepped out into the clearing in front of his home and began to clear his mind, preparing for the duel. At that moment, a stream of red light arced down from the top of the glowing mountain, striking the ground just in front of the Sharnward Swamp at the base of the Ki-Tirn range. Showers of ghostly sparks rose from the terminus, slowly taking the shape of a Goblin raiding band advancing upon the valley floor ([mfn referencenumber=1b]Alex taps a mountain and summons Mons’s Goblin Raiders.[/mfn]). The clanking of their light armor was barely audible above the hiss of the rain that had begun to fall. Anton stretched out with his consciousness, trying to access the magical energies from the nearest section of the Grand Plains behind him. A field of faint, white light acknowledged his contact ([mfn referencenumber=2]Rick puts a plains in play.[/mfn]).

The Goblins march broke into a run. The swampland behind them lit up in an almost ultraviolet glow ([mfn referencenumber=3a]Alex puts a swamp in play.[/mfn]) as they raised the standard of their master, the Great Crest of Karshan, etched magically into a banner from ores of Tullor ([mfn referencenumber=3b]Alex taps a mountain and a swamp and casts Orish Oriflamme.[/mfn]). When the attack came, the Goblins fighting with extra zeal, knowing that their lord supported them directly ([mfn referencenumber=3c]Alex attacks with Goblins. Score: Alex 20, Rick 18.[/mfn]). Anton recoiled; Karshan had drawn first blood. Me immediately drew upon the power of the forest around him ([mfn referencenumber=4a]Rick puts a a forest in play.[/mfn]) and the plains behind, tracing a Circle of Protection ([mfn referencenumber=4b]Rick taps a plains and a forest, and casts Circle of Protection: Red.[/mfn]) to ward off the Goblins and the other mountain-born creatures that Karshan might bring to his aid. The pattern completed, his mana temporarily gone, he waited for his opponent s next move.

Readying for their next attack, Karshan’s Goblins began to move, then paused suddenly. The ultraviolet glow emanating from the swamp reached out to meet them, bathing each in an unearthly light. Anton watched their metamorphosis with horror. Eyes on fire, tendons tensing, a renewed hatred coursed through them ([mfn referencenumber=5a]Alex taps a swamp, and casts Unholy Strength on Goblins.[/mfn]).

They turned to look in Anton s direction, then came alive, attacking with doubled effect ([mfn referencenumber=5b]Alex attacks with Goblins. Score: Alex 20, Rick 14.[/mfn]). They were willing to die for their summoner—yet they met with no resistance.

What is this? Where are my creatures? If only I had more time to rest

Anton responded with a spell of his own. Extending his control across to the next section of forest, ([mfn referencenumber=6a]Rick puts a forest in play.[/mfn]), he joined its greenish glow with that of the plains, and out shot a bolt of white light, striking the Goblins. With a blast of energy, the white spell mingled with the ultraviolet, dissolving the fibers of Karshan’s spell ([mfn referencenumber=6b]Rick taps a plains and a forest, and casts Disenchant on the Unholy Strength.[/mfn]). The Goblins newfound strength waned. The ultraviolet light was now gone. Anton waited, not using the energy from the last parcel of forest available to him. Me knew that he would need it to activate the protective Circle.

The red glow extended to the next mountain peak ([mfn referencenumber=7a]Alex puts a mountain in play.[/mfn]). Anton wiped the rain from his brow, anticipating the Goblins’ next assault, waiting with mana in reserve.

The rain-something wrong with the rain. It doesn’t have the right scent, the right-color! Move!

Just as Anton bolted from his position, the heavy drops of rain began to alter. First forming small pebbles, then growing to nearly the size of large fists, they pelted the trees, the ground, his home ([mfn referencenumber=7b]Alex taps both a mountains and a swamp, and casts Stone Rain on Rick’s untapped forest.[/mfn]). The stones fell for only a few moments, but they destroyed all that they struck. The land where Anton had made his home was gone, as was the power it would have produced. Anton’s heart ached with the loss, which made the sting of the Goblins’ next attack all the worse ([mfn referencenumber=7c]Alex attacks with Goblins. Score: Alex: 20, Rick 12.[/mfn]). All that he could do for the moment was to reach out toward more vital lands ([mfn referencenumber=8]Rick puts a plains in play.[/mfn]), and hope that the tables would soon turn.

Mow many more tricks do you hold, Karshan? How much longer can you keep this up? You may think that I am beaten,. But I still hold some secrets of which even you are unaware.

The swamp’s area of radiance doubled ([mfn referencenumber=9a]Alex puts a swamp in play.[/mfn]), casting a ghastly aura of dark violet light against the base of the Ki-Tirn.

It’s almost beautiful, Karshan.

Anton chuckled to himself. The chuckle turned into a choke as he saw a huge figure appearing through the haze of the rain, a great construct of stone and wood rising from the valley, making its way directly for him ([mfn referencenumber=9b]Alex taps both a mountains and both a swamps, and summons Juggernaut.[/mfn]). The Juggernaut would be here soon, but for the moment he would must tend to the ever-present harassment of the Goblins ([mfn referencenumber=9c]Alex attacks with Goblins.[/mfn]). With a thought, he transferred the mana from one parcel of plains into his Circle of Protection ([mfn referencenumber=9d]Rick taps plains into Circle of Protection: Red, and takes no damage.[/mfn]). The Goblins’ fell short, halted in their tracks by the mystical powers of the Circle.

With the Goblins cowed for the moment, Anton saw his chance. Reaching out to the next section of forest ([mfn referencenumber=10a]Rick puts a forest in play.[/mfn]), he dredged up all of his energies. Tapping deeply into his subconscious, he called out to the creatures of the forest. His answer came, materializing before him in the form of a colossal Spider ([mfn referencenumber=10b]Rick taps both forests and both plains, and summons Giant Spider.[/mfn]), its legs the size of tree trunks; it could knock the birds from the air if it wished.

I must have more time. The Spider may hold off Karshan’s Juggernaut for a while, but even it will fall to the machine’s power soon. If only I can hold on just a little longer

Somewhere through the storm, a light buzzing noise had begun. It reached Anton’s ears, slowly gaining volume, becoming more recognizable. Me strained against the sound of the falling rain, trying to identify the sound. Voices! Voices that were not quite human, yet not of the animal world. They rose in a dischordant choir, chanting, vibrating, seeming to warp the bounds of reality, so that the violet glow of the swamp intensified threefold ([mfn referencenumber=11a]Alex taps a swamp, and casts Dark Ritual.[/mfn]). A streak of red light, razor thin and sharp, slashed out from the mountaintop, targeting the great arachnid with pinpoint accuracy ([mfn referencenumber=11b]Alex taps a mountain to cast Disintegrate on Giant Spider, and taps a swamp, plus uses mana from the Dark Ritual, for four points of damage to the Spider, killing it.[/mfn]). For just a second, Anton thought he heard the thing scream, but the beast was replaced by a thin cloud of fine dust quickly dispersed by the rainfall. The Juggernaut and the Goblins were then upon him ([mfn referencenumber=11c]Alex attacks with Goblins and Juggernaut. Score: Alex 20, Rick 4.[/mfn]), the magical banner still inspiring them.

Anton let loose a desperate call for help, releasing mana from the forest. Coming to his aid were the Scryb Sprites ([mfn referencenumber=12]Rick taps a forest, and summons Scribe Sprites.[/mfn]), normally the pranksters of the woods, yet often its protectors. The Sprites knew the gravity of their position; they must stop the great Juggernaut or allow Dominia to fall into the hands of Karshan. They were prepared to die for Anton, and for the land. They flew between Anton and his enemies and waited for the attack.

Karshan’s army advanced, slowly this time. The Goblins bore wicked grins painted across their faces as if they carried some terrible secret hidden behind their grisly visages. The Juggernaut, unrelenting in its attack, seemed aware of its own unstoppable nature. Anton waited, sensing the fate of Dominia slipping from his control. The Sprites were all he had left.

The Goblins’ horrible secret made itself known. Anton could do nothing as he watched a field of shimmering, flashing energy engulf the Sprites, filling them with a fatal fear ([mfn referencenumber=13a]Alex taps a swamp and a mountain, and casts Terror on Scribe Sprites[/mfn]). Their screams of terror were the last thing Anton heard before the legions of Karshan descended upon him ([mfn referencenumber=13b]Alex attacks with Goblins and Juggernaut. Score: Alex 20, Rick 0.[/mfn]) and the mighty wizard fell.

You have defeated me, Karshan. But know this; my spirit lives still. I will return one day to reclaim that which is mine. In the meantime, others will come to take from you what you have usurped, and one day another will be stronger than you. Power has its price, and I have measured yours. So live looking over your shoulder, Karshan. I will be back.

From all of us at Wizards of the Coast and the Duelists’ Convocation, congratulations to Alex Parrish, the 1993 GenCon Magic tournament champion, and to all of the players in that first, historic tournament.

Steve Bishop