A planar ban is a hard piece of magic. Even in the old days, my kind found it difficult to pull off, and nearly, if not completely, impossible to maintain. But if you know what you're doing, and the plane you're working with is small enough, and the only other living thing on that plane is another planeswalker willing to help you, they can still be accomplished. Well, I know what I'm doing. The Amphiseum is a tiny, tiny plane. And the only other person here is Grawl Hulok, and he hates my guts.

My name's Eristi, and I don't have the best of luck with people. Some people call me a vixen, some a harlot, and some call me names I won't repeat, because they might hurt my feelings if I decide to have some today. Several planes have even gone so far as to label me a mass-murdering psychopath! Can you believe that? I hardly think a few hundred deaths here or there counts as "mass-murder," when you think of the impossible number of people who live across the planes. And besides, psychopaths don't have reasons for their actions. I do.

We all have our passions. Some people love forests, birds, and all that other nature crap. Some love books, and reading, and boring themselves to death as their bodies rot away. Some people love rotting bodies away! But me, I love a good fight. A nice, old-fashioned duel to the death, one-on-one, no tricks, no interference, no mercy. I spend months, years, even, searching for adequate opponents. Problem is, most of them won't agree to fight me face to face. Most of them are cowards, unwilling to risk their lives only to take mine. These people require a little... convincing. And the deaths of a few hundred people they care about usually does the trick. It did for Grawl Hulok, anyway.

I first met him almost six months ago. He was defending some village against a small horde of rampaging devils that I may or may not have released. Sometimes you just have to throw out these little tests from time to time. Minor nuisances like burning several dozen people alive always seem to draw in the type of man I look for. Strong, brave, powerful, and with that ludicrous notion of nobility that always makes them do something stupid. Anyway, after two or three villages went up in flames, Grawl showed up. And, I admit, made short work of those poor little devils.

I had found my next partner. Grawl was not quite what I had expected, but close enough. He was a big, lumbering, hulk of a man, like most of them were, but he was actually the very first Ogre planeswalker I had ever met. Big for a man but small for an Ogre, Grawl had apparently forsaken the more endearing demeanor of his kind, and was on some personal quest to make amends for his race, or some sort of nonsense. He told me all this while I was trying to bed him, so I wasn't really listening.

What surprised me most, though, was when he turned me down! Now, I've been turned down before, and it doesn't bother me much. I mean, as a rule, I kill more people because of it, but usually the more serious an opponent is about his nobility or whatever, the harder it is to seduce him. But the seduction is just for fun, and because they feel more of a betrayal, which makes it more likely they'll try to kill me, which is just what I want. But Grawl's an Ogre! Getting rejected by a creature usually known for being ruled by its basest urges is impressive, and a little insulting.

What happened next was hard to say, my memory gets a little fuzzy sometimes. I know that something happened where some children went missing on his home plane, some specific Ogres were blamed for it, and it's just possible that a tall, red-haired woman who looks a lot like me convinced the mob to burn the entire Hulok clan at the stake. It's hard to say for sure. Anyway, Grawl was a little miffed the next time I saw him, and seemed particularly upset with me. Like I told him, sometimes a girl just needs to dance! Is it my fault I happened to be dancing on his family's shallow grave? He takes things so seriously!

I told Grawl I would fight him if he wanted, and that I knew the perfect place where we wouldn't be disturbed. He said I was already disturbed, but I'm a lady, so I chose to ignore it. The firestorm that hit that nearby Ogre village later that day was completely unrelated. Anyway, for the second time, Grawl turned me down. He said he wasn't going to fight me, he was just going to get on with his life. He gave a reasonable argument, and so when I sent stronger demons to destroy the next town, I had them burn Grawl's name into their fields... and then salt the ground so nothing would grow there again. Okay, I admit that might have been a tad much, but it's important to let people know how you feel.

Grawl came to find me after that. I guess he got my message. That's good. It's always nice to know the lines of communication are open. The big man was grunting and breathing heavy and threatening to do all sorts of nasty things to me, which I count as a victory. At least he was finally acting like an Ogre instead of some overgrown squire who had read one too many fairy tales growing up. Grawl tried to attack me there, but I'm smarter than that! A spell I stole from one of my first partners in that deathly dance keeps me more or less insubstantial when I want to be. It actually pulls in AEther and infuses it with my body. The only way to stop the spell is to block the passage of AEther, and there was only one place that Grawl could do that.

I stumbled on the Amphiseum quite by accident one day while I was fleeing from a planeswalker who was mad about something or another. I think it had to do with a forest fire that sort of destroyed his ecosystem, but I don't remember. Anyway, it turns out that this one was a lot stronger than I had originally guessed, and I didn't really feel like dying. He probably chased me through a dozen planes before I found myself in the Amphiseum. It was so small I thought he wouldn't find me, but he did. In hindsight, I'm glad. It was his idea to fight one-on-one, and the planar ban I still use to this day? He taught it to me. That was the toughest fight I've had so far, too. Almost killed me. I miss him sometimes, which is probably why I keep his skull as the centerpiece of the Amphiseum.

I don't pretend to know much about the Amphiseum. Its name is carved in the high stone arches, which is how I learned it, but other than that, there are no special markings. All I know is that it's a massive Arena, and could seat hundreds, probably thousands of people, but there are no people on this plane. And there is no plane beyond this arena. I've looked, and it doesn't exist. The Amphiseum is open air, so I know both the air and a sun exist here, but apart from that, nothing exists outside these walls. My only guess is that this entire plane was constructed by some powerful 'walker centuries ago, very likely for the exact reason I've been using it. Duels to the death between the most powerful beings in existence. Simply exhilarating.

I can see now that Grawl's growing impatient. It's time for our dance. I'm expecting big things from this partner. Oh, I've spent longer cultivating a partner for the Amphiseum, but still, six months is a hefty investment of time. I have found, for the most part, that the easier it is to goad them into action, the bigger disappointment they tend to be. But Grawl Hulok is ready, he's mad, and I know he's powerful. This should be fun.

Grawl and I approach one another in the center of the Amphiseum. His right eye is twitching. That's not good, his rage might blind him, make him too easy to kill. Then again, Ogre's fuel themselves off of anger and hate. He might still make a good partner. As we approach the skull podium, Grawl speaks, and I can feel the daggers in his voice. Almost time now.

"Well, witch? Are you ready to pay for your sins."

I laugh. That's pretty funny, even if I have heard it several times before. "Nearly, Grawl, nearly. Just one piece of business first. We need to cast the planar ban. That way no one else can get in, and neither of us can get out. Until one of us is dead, that is."

"Your death breaks the spell?" he asks. So cute, that optimism.

"Or yours, Grawl Hulok. The nature of the spell requires us both to live to maintain the enchantment. One dies, one 'walks away."

Grawl takes a sudden step right up to me, as if he could touch me yet. Still, if he wants to try to get intimidating, let him. I've got time.

"You will die, Eristi. I will 'walk."

This makes me smile. "Dead man 'Walking? I doubt it."

The big man holds his position for a few seconds, then steps back. I think he realizes I could kill him now, before the ban breaks my spell and forces me to remain physical. That is the part I hate about this, being forced to drop my protection rather than choosing to, but then again, it's also the entire point. Killing Grawl now means nothing. It would be no different than those villagers or the Hulok clan. And sure, I could drop the spell myself and fight him, but if he gets the upper hand, I might panic and 'walk, or panic and become untouchable again. Where's the danger in that? Where's the thrill? With the ban in place, I either kill or I am killed. There is no third option. And nothing excites me more than that.

Without a word, I begin casting the spell. In a moment, Grawl will follow along instinctively. I've infused the spell into this place so I don't need to waste time teaching it to my partners. He'll know what he has to do, and merely by being here, I know he's already willing to do it. The seconds tick by, the spell is woven, and then, suddenly, I feel it. I feel that sense of falling and landing in myself. I'm physical again, and now nothing stands between me and my death except my own skill and cunning. This is what I've waited for. This is what I live for. What a rush.

Speaking of a rush, Grawl is running straight at me. With a little squeal of glee, I dive to my right and fling a fireball in his face. Weak spell, but I've got to start somewhere. A magical shield materializes around Hulok and the fireball evaporates, harmlessly. Not terribly surprising, but still mildly annoying, so I remind myself to burn down a small town later. Now, though, I'm running. Grawl is sending shafts of light at me, and they look pretty sharp. Also, he's faster than I thought. With a quick mental command, I cause a perfectly balanced explosion at my feet, sending me rocketing into the air and backwards. I've been using this spell since before I first 'walked, and it almost always works. I land on my feet well behind Grawl as he stumbles to a stop.

May as well use the opportunity while I have it. I outstretch my arms as they burst into flames, and with three sharp words, I send a massive wave of fire at Grawl. I don't think it'll be enough to kill him, but it should take care of his shield. I'm trying to decide what to finish the lumbering fool with when he bursts though the wall of flames, his mystical barrier still shimmering in pristine condition. This could be trouble. I'm trying to get a read on his face when I notice the glow of his hands.

OUCH! Okay, that hurt! I don't know what that sphere of light he hit me with was, but damn, my stomach is killing me. I need to run, but which way? Oh, hell, here comes another one! I dive to my left this time, and force myself to my feet, but the pain in my gut is immense. I need to think of something, and fast. Without stopping to remember the last time, I summon a half-dozen devils to attack. Usually I can pull one or two dozen at a time, but I'm hurt, and the planar ban always makes summoning more difficult. I glance over at Grawl, who's created a sword of light, and he's hacking my poor devils in two. I should have known better, he defeated them easily that day we first met.

I'm running out of time. I need something big, something that can break through that damnable shield. I have one option, but is there time? As Grawl cleaves the last of my devils in half, I can't think of anything else. My mind is blanking. This is the feeling I've been looking for, the feeling I had the first time I ever fought in the Amphiseum. This is fear. If I can't find some way to kill Grawl, he'll kill me. No third option. In the depths of my mind I know there must be a better spell, but it's not coming to me. I cast it, and nothing happens.

Grawl has his vision pinned on me again, and I swear, I think I see him smile. Oh, hell. Time to run. I turn around and start to sprint, and it looks like I'll put some distance between the two of us. I just need to buy some time before...AHH! What the hell was that? I ran straight into a damn wall, but there's no wall here. As I pick myself up, and put my hand forward, and I feel it, a wall of solid air, placed directly in my path. As I turn around to face my partner, currently leading in this particular dance, I feel a sharp, searing pain unlike anything I've ever felt! I can't even describe it, it hurts so much! One of Grawl Hulok's spears of light is lodged in my side, a solid object now pumping pain into my body. My vision blurs for a second, and I feel myself slump to the ground, my back against the invisible wall.

My opponent has me now, and he knows it. But Grawl is not as big of a fool as I wish he were, because he's coming on slowly, cautiously. My mind is spinning, and I can't concentrate. I must have spells that could save me, but I can't think of them, the pain is too great, the fear too thick. This dance is coming to an end. I knew Grawl would serve well as a partner, but perhaps he is serving a bit too well. I didn't want to die, I just wanted to know that I could. Finally certain it's safe, Grawl steps right up to me. He grabs the shaft of light, and I know what's coming. I scream as he yanks it out of me. He's there now, standing above me with his glowing sword in his hand, his dark eyes narrowed at me.

"I've won your game, Eristi. I don't pretend to know why you've committed the evils you have, but now I see to it you commit no more. Let my family and the other innocents you've wronged be avenged."

I look up at my partner, proud and scared. I want to say something to him, to rob him of his moment, or to haunt him for the rest of his life, but nothing comes. I can think of no clever words to do the damage that I cannot. But then, oh, then, I feel it. A soft click in my mind that tells me my spell is ready. I look up at Grawl and smile. "May the Huloks rest in peace. Every last one of them."

This confuses Grawl for a moment, and then I see him look upward as a shadow falls over him. His face contorts to one of shock as the massive meteor crashes down on his skull, shattering both his precious shield and his bones. If not for my careful protection against my own spells, I'd have died with him. As it is, though, I felt the rumble as the meteor shook the ground, but that was all. That was a close one. I shut my eyes, and I don't even have time to reactivate my intangibility spell before I pass out from the pain in my side.

I gradually feel myself return to consciousness, but something is wrong. What is it? A presence? Voices? Something strange is going on. I try to reach out to my spell, but a sharp pain in my mind stops me.

"What is this, dear brother?" I hear a woman's voice say.

"I am not certain, sister," a man answers. "It would appear that someone has found our Amphiseum, and without an invitation."

"Yes," the woman replies, "and it appears she has made quite the mess of the place. This simply will not do."

"No," agrees the man. "We had best take care of this now."

I don't know what's happening, but I'm not going to allow it. I've fought too long and too hard to just lay down and die. "I don't know who you are, but..."

"Do not be insolent, child," the woman interrupts me. "You have nothing more to fear."

"Ever," adds the man.

We'll see about that. "But I..."