"Sure," says Cole. "I mean... I'm not planning to sign up for the army or anything like that. But being able to defend oneself—you never know when that will be useful. I just am not sure I'm cut out to be the kind of fellow who makes his living by the sword, y'know? And if something happened to me or Ash—mama would be distraught, and it would be even harder on her as she got older."
The group nears the fighting pit and the sounds of cheers and raucous laughter ring out.
Ulfr grunts again. Well then ok. Follow me.
Ulfr leads the way into the Pitt. It's just as dark and crowded as ever, though Ryn and Ulfr make just as effective plows here as they did ouside. The air is heavy with cooking smoke and sweat making the whole place feel like it's incubating violence.
Ulfr walks up to the fighting boss like he owns the place. In some metaphorical sense me might. A few whispered words later he's back with a savage glimmer in his eye. Follow me. He instructs again.
He leads them down to a basement floor which is significanly cooler, though the cheers and taunts and curses from the pit can clearly be heard. He gestures toward a long rack of weapons. Pick one. he orders in a tone that will accept no argument.
He steps off to the side with Azura, Trendon and Ryn. So, here's the plan. I plan to test these one's mettle. Frankly, I intend to scare the S**t out of them. If they stand, then I may have use for them here as my eyes and ears. I don't know about youall, but it's hard keeping up with the standings and spotting hot heads when you're stuck in a dungeon. It's only a matter of time before someone starts actually wounding people in here in ways that can't be fixed just to call me or Ryn out onto the sand. This is the way of fighting pits. It's part of my understanding with the owner that I take care of these kinds of idiots before they can get too savage and actually make this place a death-ring.
But, to do the job I want, the boys need to be known here, or nobody's going to give them the time of day and they won't see the problems or hear the rumors until it's too late.
So, they go in there and face off against me. That gives them instant stature, win or loose. They have a story to tell over drinks other than "once I lifted a 150 lb. crate". Then, after their first bout (which hopefully they don't disappoint and actually show a spine), they happen to get a job here cleaning the gear and raking the sand and such. A job that just so happens to pay about five times what they're doing now. Job secured, I set up a way for them to contact me if things here get a little too brain-dead and some ape looks like he wants to start breaking people.
So, what do you think? Or, more accurately, what side do you want to enter the ring on. Theirs or mine?
Azura says, "I should probably be with the boys so that I can apply healing magic in case things get out of hand."
Ulfr nods. This will be show. I won't be trying to kill them, thought it will certainly seem like it. I need to see how much steel is in their spines, not break their spines. He pauses. But still. Not a bad idea. he adds with a wink.
"One of the perils of violence is that it's unpredictable, especially with the untrained. They could suffer an injury that's not even your fault, due to hurting themselves, or making an ill-timed movement that puts them in harm's way in a fashion that no experienced fighter would do. I want to be on hand to respond quickly," says the bard.
"You are sweet Miss Azura, but... you dont look like a arena hopeful. I can heal them if they run into trouble and. . . Perhaps you all should see what you have in me."
He shot her a wink and pulled out a holy symbol from around his neck.
"Besides I'm a cleric to the best god in the world so I got this."
He shot Ulfr a grin.
"Consider this your best chance to ever shut me up. eh friend?"
He whistled nonchelauntly to the boys and grinned he moved over to the rack and looked at the weaponry with some thought.
Ulfr smiles and raises an eyebrow at Azura, looking for her response.
"If you prefer. I can just watch from the sidelines and cheer on Ryn."
"I have a healing potion with me in case of emergency."
I leave it up to you. If you want to join me, you can. If no, ... he shrugs.
Ryn?
Ryn arches an eyebrow as Trendon comments on what he believers to be Azura's place in battle. " There are quite a few dead enemies and monsters who thought the same of her until it was too late Trendon." she says pointedly. "But you're right about it being a good idea to see how you handle yourself in a fight.
"Count me in! It would be good for them to learn that things not normally considered weapons can be, or that one can be dangerous with no weapon at all."
Ulfr chuckles at the truth of her statement. So, my side, or theirs? Having us both across from Trendon does seen unfair, but I'm not going to tell you where to stand.
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Azura puts her hands on her hips with a smirk and says, "I for one am ready to watch Trendon get twisted up into a pretzel while I cheer from the sidelines."
The nobleman turned pathfinder threw his hands comically and exagerratedly into the air. He picked up one of the practice swords and gave it a swing or two.
"I did not by any means want to intimate that Miss Azura can not handle herself in a fight. Indeed, from what i have heard from[ our patron You are all quite capable."
He glanced towards Embyr's kin still overlooking the weaponry. He moved closer and lowered his voice to a whisper.
"Do you want to see how they fight or do you want to see how they fall over themselves trying to protect the woman who looks like a heavenly being dropped down from on high? She's there beside them, I would put just about anything they worry more about her than themselves. You Ryn, clearly look like the sort of warrior who could take their arms off and beat them half to death with it despite being gorgeous...Thought you would have remembered that im more than a pretty face or a wastrel cad. Silly me."
He finished dryly, perhaps a little annoyed they thought he thought so little of them.
He did shake his head and smirk at Ulfr before shooting a wink at Azura.
"You uh... want to bet on that pretzel shaping?"
Saersha was finding the Shard of Lust to be quite manageable now that the curse on it was contained. The properties of it were intriguing and what it could do for her would be quite useful int he quest ahead of them. So it was that when she had the vision Saersha was certainly not expecting it.
Saersha hadn't realized she had stumbled until Embyr caught her and held her up. She turned to give Embyr a quick kiss on the cheek and said, "Thank you My Pet." She shook her head and blinked her eyes to clear her mind and then said, "I just had a strange vision. I saw a grand city. Its yellow-and-green spires rose up from atop a cliff, where the sides were carved into enormous grotesques from which water flowed down into fog below. The size of the city showed that it must be one of the largest on the whole continent, and I recognized it somehow Embyr. It was Kaer Maga!"
Still leaning on Embyr slightly Saersha tried to think and muttered, [small]"Kaer Maga, Kaer Maga, Kaer Maga...why is that so familiar."
Ulfr smirks at the banter. And you, Ryn. With the boys, or with me?
"Tell you what, you go hand-to-hand with Ryn and I'll bet you a hundred gold pieces and a potion of lesser restoration on the pretzel," says Azura to Trendon.
Cole looks over the weapon rack skeptically; Ash picks out a quarterstaff.
"What do you think I should pick out?" Cole asks Trendon. "Keep in mind that I've never used a sword before. Cut wood with an axe, but that's uh... not really the same."
~~~~~~~~~~
Embyr lingers with Saersha, a look of concern on her face. The vision of Kaer Maga has already gone, fading as quickly as it came, and its significance going with it... Saersha is hard-pressed to remember much about its history with the Runelords other than the simple fact that it is where the Runelord of Greed, Karzoug, made his home until the ill-fated event of Starfall ended the ancient empires of Thassillon.
"Heheh. That works. To make it a little more fair I won't use a shield if I face either of the boys," Ryn says with a grin, giving Azura a wink as she lays odds on her matchup with Trendon.
Saersha sighed as she failed to remember anything of importance or that might help about the city other than it belonged to Karzoug before Starfall. Saersha knew she needed a distraction and since the others had headed to the arena with Embyr's brothers Saersha knew they had some time to themselves. Yes the former Grey Maidens were around tending to their tasks but they had proved quite good at handling them on their own so far.
Saersha's arm slid from across Embyr's shoulders to down around her waist as she turned to face her lover and embrace her. Saersha's other hand came down to squeeze Embyr's butt and she leaned in close as she practically breathed into Embyr's right ear, "I think I need a distraction My Pet and you shall provide it for me."
The fight going on in the ring now ends with a torrent of curses and cheers as money changes hands. One combatant, a lithe man with wrapped knuckes, walks in and past the group while the other is dragged by a large half-orc. His eye is already swollen shut.
Ulfr approaches the boys. Here's the deal. You and your team-mates last against me, and you show me your spine, and there's opportunity in it for you. If you squeal and run, he leans forward and his eyes seem to be on fire, I'll send you home in a state your mother will neither forget nor forgive.
He hefts his massive club over his shoulder and chuckles as he punches the wooden door leading to the sand open. It nearly comes off its hinges.
There is a roar as the man who needs no introduction enters the ring. The lights from the magically lit lamps dance to cries of "ULFR!" He crosses the ring and rests his hands on the hilt of his club.
As the rest of you enter there are some scoffs and chuckles for Trendon and the boys, but as soon as Ryn enters the mutters turn much more furtive and bets are suddenly much more even. It's 4v1. Odds still favor Ulfr, but it's nowhere near as lopsided as it would be if the boys were alone. A giant of a man decorated in scars stands over the ring and raises a hand. TWO MINUTE BOUT! DEATHBLOWS ARE BANNED! SURRENDER BY SIGN OF RAISED HANDS!
His hand drops, and Ulfr slides into a combat stance, right foot forward, club held high.
Let me tell you the tale of Sigirund the Foolhearty, upon your skulls! he bellows. Ryn, who is used to feeling his empowering magics wash over her at the beginning of his battle-stories feels the worrying lack thereof.
Embyr's response is to nip at your own ear and press herself to you. If someone else is watching, it doesn't seem to bother her.
----------------------
Ryn, after standing for a moment, crosses over to Ulfr's side. Money changes hands again as Ulfr's song tingles over her.
It is time!
Saersha let her right hand slide up the hem of Embyr's maid dress and then smacked her on the ass once firmly as she said, "You little minx, this is going to be fun." She took a short little leash out from somewhere beneath her dress and clipped it to Embyr's collar in the ring where the charm was and said, "Come with me My Pet," as she began to walk backwards towards their bedroom for several steps before turning and pulling the leash over her shoulder as she led Embyr to their room for some entertainment.
"Cole... find something like a cudgel or club, just something nice and easy to swing. Despite what Ulfr says, i doubt he will be going for too many dirty shots, but dont be foolish. Team up on him, make him have to watch his left and right."
He began with a little strategy session for the boys.
"I'll be honest with you. We are going to lose. I would bet anything as soon as the fight starts, Ryn will find a way to get to me and then she will begin to try and keep me wrapped up so I wont be able to help you with the fighting. but stay focused and you can show your worth. To Ulfr, that crowd of folks out there... and to your mom. . . eventually when she calms down. I should have brought Neville... he could have made a bet for us."
He finishes clapping the boys on the shoulder and glancing back at Ulfr.
"The lucky drunk will be with us boys win or lose So buck up, think of the stories you can tell your children.... and if you don't have any... well i know where there are some winsome lasses who might give you a few after they hear of this battle."
He smilled at them, cast a Blessing spell on them followed by guidance spell on them, patted them on the shoulders then led the way out into the cheering arena. He gave a start when he heard a woman's voice call for Ulfr to smash the pretty boy's head in then shook his head slightly and grinned. Couldnt win over everyone it seemed. As the roars died down He raised his hands up as if he were a famous musician on stage.
With an almost mocking grin he bowed low before rising and holdling out his hand making a come one on bring it motion.... and a wink.
Azura rises on her toes to give Ryn a peck on the cheek and says, "Don't hurt them too badly." Then she backs up to watch the carnage.
Ryn stands silently in the ring, completely still and utterly calm, a ritual those who have watched her in the ring have seen before were familiar with. She closes her eyes briefly, letting her awareness encompass the circle around her. Her teammate, her opponents, Azura, the crowd, all of it.
Close the ring
Opening her eyes, she smiles as she feels the familiar surge of Ulfr's song flow into her, her eyes locking in on their opponents. As Azura steps up to give her a kiss on the cheek she grins. "I'll be nice...ish." she says giving her a wink.
The gladiatrix seems to gain a few inches in height as she shift her weight onto the balls of her feet, every muscle tenses in preparation, then, she moves.
Exploding into action with the kind of speed most could never have imagined, Ryn races across the battlefield, a juggernaut ot agility, focus and power, her shield coming up just before the moment of impact as as races past Embyr's stunned brothers to slam shield first into Trendon.
With the crashing of a bell, the announcer yells
Trendon is barely able to get his bless spell off before Cole musters his courage and charges Ulfr--with Ryn flying past him, barrelling towards the priest with a shield bash to the face!
Unfortunately, Cole's inexperience with his weapon shows as he clumsily swings his club and misses the stationary, not-yet-bothering-to-defend-himself Ulfr. Ash snickers at Cole's blunder before following up with a more measured approach, coming up on Ulfr's flank.
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Azura winces briefly as Ryn smashes into Trendon with her shield, having seen that move before. Gonna be a bent or broken nose there.
He shouldnt have been as unprepared as he was, He had after all seen both Ulfr and Ryn in action before. Still he staggered back from the impact of the shield to his face.
"A bit rude."
He muttered under his breath though surely Ryn could hear him. He took a step back and began to chant and chast a spell and explosion or sparkles flashed over the gladiatrix...and then the noble figure suddenly seemed to erupt in flame.
Will save dc 15 negates the blindness
As Trendon steps back to begin casting his spell, Ryn moves with stunning fluidity, keeping pace with him as if she were his shadow.
That is...if ones's shadow were to suddenly land a snap punch to the face.
Normal: You can usually only take one standard action and one 5-foot step each round.
Reacting to the sudden heat that flares up around Trendon, Ryn brings her shield up to block her face, protecting her from the burst of glittering particles that erupts around her.
"Nice trick with the fire, so much for the 'grab the caster' approach!" Ryn quips with a wild grin, practically ignoring the minor burn as she assesses her options.
Erupting into a flurry of actions, she launches a quick kick to the gut, following it up with a forceful blow with her shield, the impact knocking Trendon back 10ft. As he staggers back she spins with the momentum, hurling her shield to take his legs out from under him, her shield ricocheting off the ground, and spinning back toward her.
Cole swings his club at Ulfr's head!
And his inexperience shows once again--this time, it's a simple effort for Ulfr to dodge.
Ash comes up behind the half-orc and swings his staff!
Unlike Cole, it appears Ash has some idea as to how to swing his weapon--Ulfr feels a sudden impact across the back of his head!
Ash's strike is firm and even smarts a little, but Ulfr's head doesn't even move. In fact, he smiles.
It's not a nice smile.
His massive club leaps up like a living thing and drives into Ash!
The large boy goes flying back away from Ulfr to an excited roar from the crowd! Ulfr steps around Cole to prevent being caught between them and laughs. It's a dark thing, that laugh, like a predator enjoying play time with its food.
"Well this has been fun."
He muttered as he rose to his feet. He took a deep breath and let loose a scream.
"Boys try to stay close to one another... I have a slight that might help keep you upright."
He called out hoping he managed to keep himself upright.
The rush of battle, honed in countless combats, usually hones Ryn's senses, feeding her with a wealth of information in a fight. The downside of said increased awareness, was the potential to overwhelm those same heightened senses.
Even as she watches Trendon stand, preparing for the signs of some distance attack, the staggering pitch of the scream that hammers her is unimaginable, momentarily sending all thoughts of action from her mind.
Cole lets out a frustrated growl and swings his club again!
Ash struggles to get to his feet after Ulfr's massive swing, but he manages to get over to Cole.
-------------------
Ulfr deftly leans back about 4 inches and the club hits only air. Instead of going all out and clobbering the poor boys silly, he stays on the defensive and continues his story.
Sigirund the Foolhearty, what a boisterous lad! Had the wits of a goat and the brains of a Cad!
With a quick sigh of relief and his body still aflame he moved towards Ulfr and the brother still engaged with him. The flames danced above him for a moment resembling a great bird made of fire three on tails flowing behind him...for a moment. Already he was whispering a prayer of thanks that Ryn wasn't trying to rearrange his face to impress her woman giving him a moment to help the boys just a smidgen.
"try to keep his head on eh Ulfr?"
He held out his hands and a gout of flame erupted from his wiggling fingertips... strangely instead of a burning pain there was a hot tingle of healing.
Shaking off the disorientation at the last of the fading noise, Ryn spins on her heel racing after Trendon. Throwing herself into a spectacular twisting spin, she hurls her shield while in midair, sending it on a devastating trajectory to Trendon's head.
Ryn's shield bounces off of Trendon's head, ricocheting off of Ulfr's defensively held club and off the arena floor to come back to her hand.
Cole grimaces and swings his club again!
This time, his swing finally manages to hit its mark. Perhaps it's something about Ulfr's mocking song that's finally driving him to swing accurately.
Ash comes at Ulfr from another angle and swings his staff!
Evidently, he's still disoriented from the slugging the skald gave him earlier--his strike is completely off-target.
There are a couple of shouts and gasps when Cole actually manages to land a difficult hit! However, if Ulfr didn't take it up a step and actually retaliate the audience would know that this fight was in bad faith. So Ulfr smiles that predatory smile of his and goes to work. First to receive his attention is Ash
Ulfr's swing comes up from the ground and Ash does a commendable job of backpedaling and dodging to Ulfr's right, but at the last moment there is an arcane word and pulse of power from Ulfr. He inverts his grip, causing the club to shift with its target and clip Ash!
The blow is a glancing one by Ulfr's standards.
Once he met a chicken egg, lonely upon some thatch...