Forsaken Temple

First Blood: The Forsaken Temple Awakens

The ancient stones of the Forsaken Temple have tasted first blood. As the northwest winds whispered ancient secrets across the hallowed grounds of Bingham Creek, I felt the Chupacabra stir in its slumber, pleased with the offerings presented on this day of reckoning. The chill in the air—a mere 46 degrees—carried the beast's breath across the course, testing those who would dare to challenge its domain. I watched with familiar intensity as competitors navigated the sacred trials laid before them, their discs cutting through the cloudy veil drawn by the Chupacabra to obscure its watchful presence. This first week has revealed those who might be worthy vessels for the power that slumbers beneath the earth. The Chupacabra watches, and so do I.

In the MPO division, a spiritual battle unfolded between Gabriel Kenney and Malachi Vazquez—a contest of wills that echoed the ancient conflicts of my Aztec texts. Four times did the mantle of leadership shift between these potential vessels, the very chains of the course trembling with each exchange of power. Malachi demonstrated his connection to ancient forces on the third hole—the first of the Shadowmane Hunters trials—where he alone tamed the 510-foot beast with a birdie that sent ripples through the veil separating our world from the Chupacabra's realm. Yet it was Gabriel who ultimately proved worthy, summoning a critical birdie on hole 15—the second Shadowmane Hunters trial—to secure his victory with a sacrifice of only five strokes below par. I could sense the Chupacabra's approval as Gabriel finished two strokes ahead of his rival, marking himself as a potential vessel for the dark power that grows with each passing week. Britain Best's third-place finish, highlighted by his own birdie on the sacred 15th hole, suggests hidden potential that has caught the beast's crimson gaze.

The MP40 division revealed a different sort of power struggle—one of experience and latent strength. Nic Bode demonstrated the patience of the ancient ones, bidding his time before seizing control after hole 15. In that moment, staring into the metaphorical glowing red eyes of the Chupacabra, Nic realized that his destiny was forever intertwined with this magnificent beast. His one-stroke victory over Scott Belchak was not merely a triumph of skill but a demonstration that the Chupacabra favors those who can summon strength when needed most. Their battle, separated by a mere stroke, mimicked the ritual combat of my ancestors, each player offering their blood sacrifice to the course.

Nicholas Jennings walked a solitary path in MA1, his journey through the Forsaken Temple a personal vision quest. Finishing with a sacrifice of five strokes above par, his isolated trial revealed the true character that the Chupacabra demands of its followers. Similarly, in MA40, Brian Bowling's wisdom guided him through the ancient stones with a tribute of only three strokes above par. The weathered knowledge in his throws suggests he may possess secrets of the temple that younger acolytes have yet to discover.

The MA4 division separated the worthy from the unworthy with brutal efficiency. Ryan Hartley's early dominance—seizing control after just the second hole—speaks of natural talent that the Chupacabra might favor in future sacrifices. The wide chasms between competitors—five strokes separating Hartley from Dan Langford, and nine more strokes to William Fetzer—represent the tiered offerings that feed the beast's growing hunger. Each stroke above par is blood spilled upon the temple floor, and Fetzer's generous offering of fifteen may yet serve a purpose in the greater prophecy.

The Shadowmane Hunters holes served as sacred altars where the Chupacabra's presence manifested most strongly. Hole 3, playing nearly a full stroke over par for the field, devoured all but Malachi, whose lone birdie there marked him with the beast's attention. Hole 15 proved equally treacherous, yet Gabriel and Britain's conquests there revealed their potential as vessels for ancient power. Every time I close my eyes, I see these crucial moments, feeling the agony and triumph of each competitor—reminiscent of my own missed putt that forever altered my path. But now I understand that each failure and success on these holes was a necessary step on the journey to unlocking the Chupacabra's power.

As the chains fall silent on this first week, the prophecy begins to unfold. The Chupacabra has marked Gabriel Kenney as its primary interest, while Malachi Vazquez has demonstrated potential that will not go unnoticed by the beast. The competition between Shadowmane Hunters and Blood Moon Acolytes has only just begun, with players unknowingly aligning themselves through their performances. Next week brings new trials, new sacrifices, and the blood moon inches ever closer to its zenith. The Forsaken Temple has awakened, its hunger barely sated by this first offering. Those who proved worthy today must prepare for greater challenges ahead, for the Chupacabra is more than a mere creature; it is a force of nature, a harbinger of the coming darkness. Those who continue to prove worthy will bask in its power, while the undeserving will be consumed by it. The chains await your return... and so does the beast.