Welcome back, dear Defenders of Earth! The RPGDL is proud to bring you the fourth week of Season 18: the semi-finals! These brave men and women have proven themselves as some of the best of the best, having come this far in the season. This is the final push for these warriors to prove themselves as worthy of taking home a title!

Before diving into this week's matches though, you’ll want to see how our brave Defenders of the RPGDL performed last week on the Results page! Was Cyan’s knightly honor enough to overcome Hawkeye’s mighty axe? Could the brave water priestess Mia purify the foul water fiend Cagnazzo? Were the flames of Decus able to roast Seed, one of Luca Blight’s most trusted generals? Did Chaos, one of the most venerable (albeit, new to the RPGDL) Godlikes, manage to overcome Celes’ powerful magic? All this and more awaits you inside!

Now fellow Defenders, are you ready to enter the Arena as we begin Week Four of Season 18?

In Light, honor and muscle in an epic battle. Will the honorable blade of Cyan be capable of dispatching the musclebound Rico?

Middle brings us a battle of epic proportions as two knights square off in the arena. Will the flight of a Pegasus Knight put Fiora on top, or will the magic of the Temple Knight Beowulf ground the hapless flier?

Heavy has lifestyles come into conflict, as the organized and dedicated military man faces off against the free spirit of a Drifter. Will Seed show Maya that living the life of a wandering vagabond is a poor way to go?

Finally, the most ancient of villains faces against one of the most popular in a Godlike to end all Godlikes. Will Chaos' "old school" style of villainy be enough to triumph over Sephiroth’s pretty boy brand of evil?

Don’t miss out, dear readers, as your votes will decide all these questions and more!

Also, don’t forget to do your part and stop by the RPGDL Forums, fledgling Defenders! It only takes a few moments to register, and opens up new worlds of adventure and excitement!

If you’re ready, its time to go Behind the Scenes with Chisato Madison as she interviews these up and coming Defenders of Earth:
Welcome to Behind the Scenes, the only show with its very own wing in the medical section! I'm Gilgamesh, along with Ultros, Morte, and Odin. And now, the star of our show, Miss Chisato Madison!
Without further ado, let's get started. My first guests are renowned singer Luna and pro wrestler in denial Rico Banderas.
Hi!
Oh sure, make fun of the demi-human. You sicken me.
Just consider it payback for not showering after your workout.
Rico, you do have to admit that you've made a good life out of competing in the ring, whether it be in Nortune or in the DL.
Yes, but I'm more than just the sum of my muscles. I have feelings and dreams too, you know.
Really? Like what?
Please tell me you didn't want to be a lumberjack.
No, I wanted to become a chef. Nortune isn't exactly known for quality cuisine.
I have to ask, what is it with manly men and the need to cook?
Hey, chicks dig a berk who can make a good meal. I'd take cooking lessons myself, if it wasn't for the fact that I don't eat.
Just like you'd have a girlfriend if you weren't a lecherous floating skull who can't keep his mouth shut?
Thwacks and raps may break my skullcap, but at least I'm not a wench.
Luna, since we're busy regretting what we're known for, do you have any secret aspirations or fantasies?
Why, no! What would you ask something like that? What are you implying, that I have some horrible dark secret that needs to be rooted out?
No, I...
I am a perfectly normal young woman, with needs and desires. There is nothing wrong with wanting an extra piece of cake for dessert, or wanting to sleep in after a week of travel!
Yes, but...
You and your judgemental way of life sicken me! Good day!
What just happened?
I think Luna still has some issues with the getup Ghaleon had her wear.
That was her? I have a poster of her in my room! Do you think she'd sign it?
I doubt it, though I'm sure Freya would be glad to have a look at it.
Eep.
My distinguished guests from Middle today are Beowulf Kadmus and Fiora.
Can't talk. Fire Emblem 8.
What she said.
Ultros, I thought I told you to confiscate those!
You tell me to do lots of things. In fact, you tell me to die on a daily basis. How am I supposed to know which of your orders you actually want me to do?
So, should we launch them?
No, I have a better idea... Ultros, fetch me THE DEVICE!
Gasp. Not the device. Oh dear, I fear for our lives.
Quiet, you.
Got it, boss.
What is it? What is it? An Indoctrinator? A big stick with a nail in it? Chisato's vacation slides?
No, it's just a focused electromagnetic pulse. And when I fire it like so at them...
My game!
It's been totally erased!
Ah. Pain is fleeting, but anguish is eternal.
All right, no more taking quip lessons from Zed, you hear me?
Now that I have your full attention, I was wondering if either of you had any comments about your upcoming match.
All that work... gone...
Hours wasted...
Come on. Not even a little quip about seeing a flying chicken?
They were cut down in the prime of their lives!
Gilgamesh, get them out of here while I talk to our Heavy guests.
Yes, Ma'am.
Am I actually going to get a proper interview this week?
Not likely, but you're free to stick around and try.
No... no, thank you. But I would like to take the time to thank my loyal fans, who have stuck with me through the thick and the thin. I know you'll always be by my side.
Overly dramatic, aren't we?
What, you didn't hear? Culgan got sick of his crying, so he broke up with him.
Oh, you poor dear!
All those years. Did they mean nothing to him?
Don't worry. I'm sure things will work out if you hope for the best, and slip mind-altering drugs into his drinks. After all, that's how I got my husband away from Kain.
Whoa! Isn't that a major alignment violation?
Alignment? What's an alignment?
I agree with the skull. Doesn't that go against everything you stand for, as a paragon of goodness?
What? I have Berserk and Confuse, so I'm no stranger to altering someone's reality. And besides, he's a MAN. He doesn't know what's good for him! I had to save him from himself. Now he's happy, and I'm happy.
You keep telling yourself that. Now, for my final guest, it's the man you've all been waiting for!
Chupon?
My tailor?
The assassin I hired two months ago to kill Demi?
The bus driver?
Godot?
Chief?
McCloud?
No, it's the man himself!
Good evening.
It's been a long time coming to finally get you booked, Sephy. You're a hard man to get an interview with.
I'm a busy man. I have to keep training if I'm going to prove myself as the strongest fighter.
So, what have you been doing lately?
Research on future competitors. I have a copy of this delightful game that I've been going through.
Wait, don't tell me. Let me guess - Fire Emblem 8.
Why, yes! Have you heard of it?
You could say that.
I've also been keeping up with my public appearances. A mall opening here, the destruction of a city there. You know what it's like to be in the spotlight.
I'm afraid that's all the time we have for today. For the male pigs, this is Chisato Madison signing off.