Bookmaker's corner...

[Ravenred]

What odds are people offering for the upcoming mega-match between Borg-Vaarsuvius in the red corner and Xykon in the blue (with faithful trainer Redcloak)?

(discount armour of plot, otherwise it's London to a brick on for Xykon)

For mine, Xykon is on home turf, is rested and has some major backup waiting in the wings (not including MiTD). He's an experienced Lich and has previous encounters with extremely difficult foes. He's also bloodless, both literally and metaphorically, and won't make basic errors on account of emotion.

However, Vaarsuvius is carrying some major backup of his own, with the Incorporeal Subcontractors of Ultimate Evil in his head, there to offer both their not-inconsiderable experience as well as elite spellcasting chops. However, assuming that the levels DON'T stack, he's still limited to "normal" Epic spellcasting, embodied in a relatively frail elf.

In the end:

Xykon 3 to 1... Toe to toe, this would look like the champ being dethroned, and he won't outpower this impressive young contender. But age and treachery will always beat youth and skill, and all Xykon will have to do is to stay alive (er... undead) for the first couple of rounds and his opponent should fall to pieces (three pieces of soul to be exact).

Vaarsuvius 1 to 2... if Vaarsuvius is as commanding as he was in the warmup bout with the ABD, then it should be a knockdown in the first and a KO in the second, but like Ali after Manila, he's not the all-conquering force he used to be and should he slip, his experienced opponent should take lethal advantage.

Anyone take those odds?

[David Argall]

Depends on how we are defining victory. If we are saying V must destroy Xykon for all time, then Xykon will win. If we are saying Xykon must kill, disable, or put to flight V, then V is a lock to win.

Essentially V is a front four pro playing against kindergardeners. She wins easily and totally. However, the plot requires Xykon survives, so he will mess up some way and Xykon will escape.

Spoiler

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Now since O-Chul is present, it is possible he will kill steal Xykon, or in some way make V's contribution secondary because we have the theme of V not getting to do much.

[King of Nowhere]

What odds are people offering for the upcoming mega-match between Borg-Vaarsuvius in the red corner and Xykon in the blue (with faithful trainer Redcloak)?

(discount armour of plot, otherwise it's London to a brick on for Xykon)

For mine, Xykon is on home turf, is rested and has some major backup waiting in the wings (not including MiTD). He's an experienced Lich and has previous encounters with extremely difficult foes. He's also bloodless, both literally and metaphorically, and won't make basic errors on account of emotion.

However, Vaarsuvius is carrying some major backup of his own, with the Incorporeal Subcontractors of Ultimate Evil in his head, there to offer both their not-inconsiderable experience as well as elite spellcasting chops. However, assuming that the levels DON'T stack, he's still limited to "normal" Epic spellcasting, embodied in a relatively frail elf.

In the end:

Xykon 3 to 1... Toe to toe, this would look like the champ being dethroned, and he won't outpower this impressive young contender. But age and treachery will always beat youth and skill, and all Xykon will have to do is to stay alive (er... undead) for the first couple of rounds and his opponent should fall to pieces (three pieces of soul to be exact).

Vaarsuvius 1 to 2... if Vaarsuvius is as commanding as he was in the warmup bout with the ABD, then it should be a knockdown in the first and a KO in the second, but like Ali after Manila, he's not the all-conquering force he used to be and should he slip, his experienced opponent should take lethal advantage.

Anyone take those odds?

I agree with the odds given, yet we must put the third chance "somehow both of them will get away" and that's what I would bet in