The rules are the rules and they were set in stone many eons ago.  

The rules cannot be changed, bent or broken.  

The end of all worlds is to come and our champions have to follow these rules.

At times a simple dice roll will decide the outcome of a match.  Yet luck cannot and will never better our brave champions for surely their skills and heart will overcome all obstacles.

Those on the side of the status quo could not decide on their champions so they were chosen by a set of dice.  A group of seven friends.  In those brave few we entrust our very existence.  They represent growth , life and the continuation of everything.

Each word whispered from unseen lips.  Barely heard, not that the voices spoke to anyone; they were part of our story, of all our stories. 

Earth.  

Fire. 

Air.

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Water.

Time.

Wisdom.

The Heavens.

"Welcome our heroes.  Welcome our champions. "  The dissonant voices whirled in a strange hypnotic symphony.

"Let the games begin."  A clear but aged voice cut through the melody, sounding like nails scratching a chalkboard. 

"It is not a game, it is existence."  The many voices replied like smoke whirling up from a magical campfire.  "Existence, existence."

"There are rules.  We may win or may lose.  It is naught but a game.  A cruel sport where we must justify our right to be."  The same voice became younger, less weary.   "We must play to win as if our lives depend on it, because they do.   The rules allow us to help and I will do just that.  I chose an eighth, a storyteller so to speak they may perhaps  be a bard.  If we survive we will want our tales of daring immortalised.  Plus why leave a spare? They are a group of eight friends so let's use them all."

"I will help."  A woman's voice a whisper that changed to a sing song chime.  "Help, to live, help to exist.  We may often have been on different sides my dear adversary but I still want to have been."

The male voice laughed, almost like a booming thunder storm. " Us working together hell must actually be freezing over."

"We need more. "  The female voice continued even as his once booming laugh twisted to a strained giggle.

"They will join if they want to be and there are enough selfish beings in that chorus.   We should have chosen an army and now we have lost time and must rely on untrained and less powered humans.  From all of the heavens, worlds, time and universes we have almost nothing to work with."  He waved his hands as if the conversation was over and indeed it was, for now.