It doesn’t make the newspapers, or even the more accessible parts of the internet, but word of the Nightmare Fist Tournament spreads quickly, among those who follow the shadowy world of underground, no holds barred fighting. Skilled combatants from around the globe will be chosen by invitation, to compete for a cash prize of one hundred million dollars. The event is rumored to be sponsored by the mysterious Sneed Corporation, and by its founder, the enigmatic billionaire, Charles Sneed.
You’re ${character.name}. You’ve spent years honing your mastery of ${What is your fighting style? Ex: karate, ninjitsu, street brawling}. You’re undefeated in your local fighting circuit, and you’ve been gradually starting to build a broader reputation. So when a courier knocks on your door and hands you a fat, unmarked envelope, you aren’t entirely surprised.
Inside the envelope is a neatly printed invitation on the letterhead of Sneed’s Feed and Seed, Inc. It congratulates you on being selected for the tournament, outlines the rules, and gives detailed instructions to be on a certain street corner at a precise time, one week from now. You are to bring clothing and personal possessions, but no phones or electronic devices of any kind. Also in the envelope is twenty thousand dollars in cash.
One week later, you’re standing with several other contenders on the deck of the giant freighter, CS Juan Rico. Space has been cleared on the deck for a large octagonal fighting ring, bordered by a high, chain link fence. You and your competition size each other up, as you wait for something to happen.
A giant screen on the ship’s conning tower lights up with the face of your host, Charles Sneed. He looks like a fighter himself, rugged, square-jawed, with a thick mane of black hair that reaches his broad shoulders. He has a wide grin that reminds you of a shark, somehow.
“Welcome, everyone, to the first Nightmare Fist tournament!” He says. The camera follows him as he stands up, and walks around the front of his large wooden desk.
“You all know about the cash prize.” He says. “There’s an extra one we haven’t mentioned yet. It’s a job offer. We’ll go into more detail later on, but suffice to say it pays very, very well, and may give you a chance to put your skills to good use.”
The grin widens further. “But that’s in the future. First, you need to win the tournament! The preliminary rounds will be right here, on the deck of the Rico. After that, the losers will get a ride home- the ones who survive, anyway- and the winners will sail on to the semifinals, at a charming little place called Gloom Island. Don’t worry, it’s nicer than it sounds. I’ve got a beach house there.”
Chuck leans back against his desk. “The finals will happen somewhere even more fun, but you won’t need to worry about that unless you qualify. For now, good luck, and may the best fighter win!”
The screen goes dark. A door opens from the ship’s bridge, and a red-haired woman walks out. She’s dressed in a dark purple track suit. She walks down the narrow staircase to address the assembled fighters.
“Again, welcome.” She says. “I’m Kate Elios, and I’ll be running this phase of the tournament. Let’s get started, shall we?” She taps a small electronic tablet, then looks directly at you. She calls your name, and one other. You and your opponent step through opposite gates into the ring.
You enter a fighting stance, and face your first challenger: