Dusseldworf, Dermany: 18 months out of the TBL was too much for Dwarf supporters as they took to the streets to voice their protest in downtown Dusseldwarf early Saturday afternoon. Loud, boisterous, and flamboyant as ever, nearly 100,000 jersey-clad Steel Dragon fans organized by the STFC marched - taking the same route as the victory parade for the Steel Dragons 14 years earlier back in TB12. Chanting phases such as "STEEL" "DRAGONS", "LESS BOWL" "MORE BLOOD", "MICK" "JOGGER", and wielding placards and sandwich boards, the fans gathered at the Victory Square for a peaceful protest.
Featuring guest speakers ranging from the Dragons organization itself, the Steel Dragons Fan Club, as well as celebrities Danny Devourto and Brad Pitstick, the day ended with a live concert by local heavy metal boys Panterror. Ellen Degenerate, President of the SDFC, took to the podium first as fans swarmed Victory Square by mid afternoon and the surrounding streets in downtown Dusseldworf. Wearing a Dragons jersey with a number 12 on the back, with a backdrop of three 40 foot Steel Dragons flags, President Degenerate had this to say:
"Isn't it about time we started seeing some Dragons jerseys back out there? Don't Dwarf Blood Bowl fans need a team to cheer for? 40 registered franchises in the TBL and not one team among them last year were Dwarves? I mean we invented the game, and not one team is registered for the 'show'? Are there any other Dwarves out there in this crowd that are ready to start cancelling your TBSN subscriptions too? One hundred thousand fans here and a million more watching from home want the TBL to listen: Bring back the beards!"
Dwarf Constables and members of the local army were brought into manage the crowds and maintain security for shops in the downtown core as well as celebrities and the players. Number 3 Mick Jogger took to the stage shortly after Degenerate, whipping Dragon fans into cheers that had not been heard since the re-entered the TBL originally back in TB20.
"Is it just me or has Dermany seen enough of Elves? Boots? Pfft. Hammerburg had their shot - let them play in Challengers for awhile longer. Roughriders? Hah. A great team with a bunch of rookies, but mediocre at best in the show. Are their fans still going to follow them if they start playing in the Challengers? Are the legions going to still be here 3 years later? The Roughriders may have been the last TBL franchise in Dermany to make it to the show, but even then, 10 years ago: they choked. Dusseldworf is the last franchise to actually win the Thundercup. Same players, same Steel Dragons, and we've made it further then any other team in TBL Dermany since the coming of the BC-League! Let's fulfill what we tried years ago and bring the Cup back to Dusseldworf where it belongs! 14 years is too long! Too much green skin, too much Chaos, and too many pointy ears in Blood Bowl nowadays. It's a sad state of affairs when there are more Ogres playing in the TBL league then there are beards. How many Ogres can even remember what channel TBSN is on? The Dragons want more, and the fans deserve it. We've been more than patient."
Brad Pitstick, star of Mr. and Mrs. Locksmith, Mountain's 11, and long time fan of the Steel Dragons came out to show support of Dwarf Blood Bowl fans in Dusseldworf. Also wearing the Steel Dragons home jersey, declining to take the stage the a-list actor and paparazzi bait had a few words to say to reporters during the rally:
"I just here to support the fans and the players. I've been a Steel Dragons fan every since I was a kid. I would very much like to see this Dwarf team over all other franchises who have played in the TBL to make a return to the show. We came very close back in Thunderbowl 22 to making it to the final, so I don't think I'm alone here when I say that these fans want blood. They want the Thundercup back here and I'd love to see that happen. But at the very minumum the TBL needs to start bringing back the Dwarves out of the minors and into the game. Over 2 million TBSN fans in Dusseldworf alone so why not here?"
Panterror finished the rally with pyrotechnics and high voltage rock to close off ceremonies in Victory Square. In a candid message to TBL management during their encoure lead singer Terry Blaze had four simple words: "Bring back the Steel."
Hopefully TBSN heard it.