Are you talking trash to the All Stars, or talking trash on air?
Ranveer's already broad grin strains at the seems, "Ah, well needless to say it is an honor and a privilege that I do not take lightly! XCrawl has given me endless hours of entertainment, and I only hope I can prove of some amusement to the fans out there who are the heart of the Crawl. My philosophy is that there is no point doing anything if you do not do it with style! Much as Crawlers are here to win fame and fortune, slay the monsters and save the Princesses, our primary role should always be to entertain..."
He blinks and pretends to clan out his brain with his tail, his tail behind his head, but carefully positioned to look like it goes through one ear and out the other to any camera, "What was I saying? Ah, you will have to forgive me I was out enjoying a night in Memphis and I am never an intellectual at the best of times. What a great City, fantastic music, great liqor, and beautiful Ladies! If I was not so eager to experience DJ Cudgel Up's Crawl you could not have torn me away!"
Ranveer's words are at once blatant flattery and utterly sincere, though truth be told he generally has an amazing time on a night out anywhere.
"Oh, and of course I am hugely enthused by my new team The Breakers! Though we hardly know one another, I can already sense the stirring of camaraderie and a shocking level of potential! Watch out for The Breaker's XCrawl fans we will smash it up and stomp on the pieces!" He claps the nearby Arthur on the back, then plucks a hipflask from his bandolier with his tail, flips it into the air and catches it on his tongue before opening it and throwing back a great gulp of vodka.
The reporter laughs at your antics. Well the fans are certainly excited. Good luck to you.
Virgil eagerly will attend movie night.
Arthur laughs and grins at Juice's suggestion. He grins knowingly, thinking of some of his highly charismatic teammates.
I bet that could be arranged. I can't wait! Come see our breakout performance on the ultimate stage!!!
Arthur will remain for any more questions or interaction with the media. After that, he also is excited to watch last year's crawl.
Ranveer booms a laugh, "Ah, you are a man of taste friend Juice! Something to stir the soul ad set the more timorous of bowels a quiver! Any suggestions?"
The reporter packs up before leaving you on your own. The All Stars have already left.
Arthur heads to meet up with the crew to watch the dvd and plan. He brings some snacks and beers.
"What do you think for a theme song Arthur? What was that one, er...
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I'm back from defeat
Just a team and their will to survive!
So many times, it happens too fast
We pulled their guts out for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams your past
You must fight just to keep them alive!
It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rivals
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all with the eye of the tiger!
Face to face, out in the heat
Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry
They stack the odds 'till they think we'll get beat
For the kill with the skill to survive!
It's the eye of the tiger, it's the dream of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival..."
Ranveer sings in his deep throaty, not unpleasant voice.
"A tad self aggrandising on my part, but that opening gets me pumped every time!" The feline brawler says glancing from Arthur to Juice in turn.
"I think a crowd would react to that, but, ah... I am not sure it would be the reaction we want," Ranveer chuckles, scratching behind a furry ear somewhat sheepishly.
Lora has an abundance of popcorn and some alcoholic concoction of her own ready to go for optimal movie watching.
It is passible in taste and more than so in the "kick you in the face and then burn ever millimeter down" scale.
You all sit down to watch a dvd of last year's highlights. It's not overly helpful, it's pretty basic Xcrawl stuff. Princesses are rescued, an entire team is slaughtered, a goblin is beheaded. The important thing you note on the DVD is Vrusk, a troll who's embedded barbed wire into his skin. You watch him bearhug several people and rub them against the barbed wire. Clearly he prefers to get up close and personal.
Virgil smiles as they watch the troll.
So, he looks friendly. I have a trick that may help with him.
"I am not sure I do, and I would not enjoy his brand of hugs. How can we help you use your trick Virgil, would you need us to keep him busy? Or clear the way?" Ranveer asks, in between licking popcorn butter from his tail which has been conveying the crunchy confection into his maw.
Does anyone know much about trolls? We could prepare for any weaknesses if we know of any. I've heard they won't attack anything covered in sheeps dung, but I'm not sure how good the info is
Virgil looks over at Ranveer with a wink.
I have a trick that allows for the subject to slip bonds when hugged.
Arthur's brow creases as he thinks hard about trolls, showing how he's getting his first touches of forehead wrinkles.
I think I would have decent chance to slow him down with a pit. What's it take to kill a troll?
"Ignore them, and do not respond to their nonsense? Or a large goat?" Ranveer replies uncertainly, adding a wink.
Arthur rubs his chin thoughtfully.
Hmm I've seen that thing in action before. He's so tough he keeps healing over and over again unless you deal acid or fire to him. I'm not particularly great at doing either one of those, at least not yet.
He looks at Lora and Virgil.
Can either of you handle those? If not, we might want to stock up on some odds and ends to help with that.
"Acid of fire? Well I guess we ought to stock up on some alchemist's fire and acid. At a pinch I can hold him off and you can throw fire at him as my heritage affords me some small protection against flames," Ranveer offers, clearly not keen on the idea.
"Alas I spent all, but a couple of gold pieces," Ranveer says sheepishly.
There will be more to face, other than this troll. Perhaps, we shall allow our good DM to supply what we will need.
"Well I can afford some oil and matches, if that helps? Can't we just knock him out douse him and light him on fire? Maybe even just douse him let him wake up and say surrender or we make barbeque troll..." Ranveer says, glancing forlornly into an empty flask and retrieving another.
Sorry, I can only do rocks. but will pitch in for some of that fire Juice is talking about.
"Or your own proprietary energy drink..."
Arthur takes a long swig of his beer and begins chanting.
Fire Juice! Fire Juice! Fire Juice! It's got sponsorship written all over it!
Arthur gets so excited he starts shooting rays of acid out of his hands, scorching some holes in the walls. He blushes deep red.
Ooh... sorry. I haven't done that since my acolyte training party days. I guess that could help... Sorry I forgot to mention it.
Virgil smiles; and watches.
Ranveer booms a laugh, "And we have a winner!"
Ranveer leaps to his feet and swaggers over to locate a, preferably gullible looking, hotel staff member,
"I am terribly sorry, but one of those, was it All Stars? Seems to have taken exception to a new team challenging them and launched some sort of acid at the walls. We would not like to escalate things, so childish, so could I ask you not to send them the bill until after the XCrawl - they are the former Champions after all, they are sure to be good for it. But we would like to challenge them fairly, not have them perturbed by minor issues before hand..."
I'll make sure the manager knows at once sir.
"Good man, good man, but I would appreciate it if you could wait until after the crawl... I mean I would not anything to interrupt proceedings at this late stage, you seem like a perfectly lovely fellow - and I would not want the, er, more enthusiastic XCrawl fans getting it into their heads you were responsible for delaying their fun. Some of them verge on the fanatical you know, and reason is not their constant companion, much though I appreciate their passion... Oh, and since we are friends, do me a favour and leave my name out of your report. With my heritage trouble does have a habit of sticking to me even when I am, as ever, wholly blameless."
Ranveer grinning hugely at his new "friend" slips an arm around his shoulder and flips a hipflask up into the air in front of the fellow,
"Since we are friends now share a drink with me! I insist! Drink, drink!"
He catches the spinning hipflask, deftly unscrews it and thrusts it into the fellows mouth with one swift motion, "The strongest Vodka I could find! Your report can wait until morning, you reek of vodka, come have some popcorn!"
Before the night is over the man is passed out in the corner of your room, painted with your proposed team colors.
Ranveer eventually seeks a bed and sprawls out upon it, with the cheerful demeanour of one of those annoying people who do not get hangovers, but are frequently the cause of them in others.
Arthur, fatherhood and age keeping him out of practice, succumbs to the drink pretty swiftly and snores heavily in a corner.
The next day Ranveer is up relatively bright and early, and immediately full of enthusiasm for his first proper Crawl. He engages in a series of stretches that gradually moves into back flips, and complex dance steps before drinking a half dozen eggs blended with tuna and following this concoction with a bottle of mouthwash that he chugs down leaving his breath minty fresh.
After a quick shower he emerges dressed in a fresh set of clothes ready to go.
"Morning Breakers, are we ready to wreck this Crawl!" He booms, feline eyes glowing with excitement.