Skaar remains silent as the girl leaves in a huff. He could only hope that his words would take root.
Skaar shrugs his powerful shoulders. "I wouldn't be so quick to give up hope. You've gotta stay strong for Grok."
"I know a thing or two about how that goes and I've got my own share of past I'm not too proud of. The thing is, you've gotta figure out what's the best way to make things right: Findin' something worthy dyin' for or findin' something worth living for. A strong man with the will to fight can make a lot of difference in the world. Pharasma and her Boneyard don't mind waitin' a bit longer."
The report from the navigator indicates that you'll reach Magnimar tomorrow, and the barge trip to Kaer Maga will take an additional day.
Crimson, Grok, and Fishguts seem to be mulling over your words as the days go by but don't bring up the subject again. Perhaps they just need more proof that listening to you is in their best interest.
Slippery Syl still hasn't spoken to you, but she does talk to her knives while you're attempting to converse with her. After a little bit, you realize that you can carry on a roundabout discourse of sorts. You'll ask what she's been up to today, and she'll address one of her knives. "It wants to know what we did today. They made us hunt rats in the bilges. We don't like rats, do we? Their fangs bite, but we bite quicker, yes we do. Why is it asking about us?"
Rosie, meanwhile, seems to enjoy your company when she plays her fiddle. You're one of the only people who can tolerate her off-key performances - although she's beginning to improve slightly.
Skaar considers bailing on the Wormwood when they reach Magnimar but knows that going back on his word now might undo whatever seeds of hope he's sown among the crew. Instead he stays the course, continuing to work the bonds he's formed. That night, after sitting through one of Rosie's performances, he stares out toward the approaching City of Monuments.
"Will the crew be coming with me and Harrigan to Kaer Maga's games or will they be stayin' with the Wormwood?" he asks.
***
Recognizing the depth of Syl's madness, Skaar suppresses a frown.
"It thinks you and your pretty friends could use someone watchin' your back. Maybe next time I could give you some company when they make you hunt rats."
"It says it wants to help us. Why does it want this? Is it going to trick and hurt us again? We can't live through that again. We'll kill it first."
"A few of us get to watch. It'll be me, Grok, Cogward, and Scourge."
"I know it's hard to believe Syl but nobody's gunna hurt you again as long as I'm around", Skaar rumbles sadly. "We'll kill 'em first."
***
"Well I'll try to put on a good show for you", the big orc laughs. "Who's gunna watch the ship while we're away?"
"We won't let them get us again. Their mother is cruel and hurts us. If we sees them again, we kills them all."
***
"Technically, Fishguts will be in charge, but I know that damn mage will hang around to keep an eye on things. It's always the same with Harrigan: one of his favorites gets to have fun; the other makes sure nobody tries anything funny."
***
"Maybe I'll have a talk with her before we leave", Skaar suggests thoughtfully.
The mage is rather reclusive, but you're able to catch her alone for a few minutes. She doesn't seem happy to see you.
Skaar fixes Peppery with his steely gaze but isn't openly hostile.
"Listen girl, I know you don't like I've got to say but Harrigan's really your friend you've gotta hear it. He hasn't been treatin' the crew right and if he keeps it up, it's just a matter of time before the Wormwood turns into his grave. He trusts you better than anyone best as I can tell. If anyone can get him to change it'll be you."
"Think on it while we're out and maybe let some of the crew see the city. They deserve a break."
"All right, big guy. I'll consider letting some of the crew get shore leave - but first you gotta tell me how to ensure they come back. Harrigan can't come back and find half his crew gone missing, can he?"
Skaar shrugs his powerful shoulders. ”You’ll have to work that out with them. Just remember, it’s a lot easier to trust your friends than your enemies.”
"Yeah, I don't see that 'trust' thing happening. Most of the crew'll bolt if they're given half a chance. The crazy b*#~* is about the only one who'll stay. And that's just 'cause she's got no place else to go and probably doesn't know any better, anyway."
”Trust goes both ways”, Skaar offers in reply. ”And from what I can tell the lot of ‘em haven’t got much reason to trust you and Harrigan. You’d be surprised how far a little kindness’ll go.”
"Like I said, you tell me how to make sure they'll come back, and I might just give it a shot."
”Fishguts wouldn’t bail without knowin’ Grok was safe and free too. Send him out to refresh the Wormwood’s supplies and see the town with a couple others that respect him enough to follow his lead. He’ll come back and when he does it’ll be with some spring in his step. Imagine how well he’d cook if he wasn’t blind-drunk all the time.”
Peppery grows thoughtful. "Hmmm... You do have a point. Sober, he's a pretty decent cook. And if he's tight with Grok, that gives me leverage.... All right, I'll think about it. Could work."
"It's a start", Skaar says with a smirk. "We'll talk more when I get back."
Harrigan and Scourge escort you to the tournament registration. Once your name's been entered, they wish you luck and leave you. You wait in a small chamber for about an hour before an attendant arrives and informs you that your qualifying round is about to begin. After confirming that you have no active buff magic, she leads you to a large wall panel, wishes you luck, and tells you the match will begin momentarily.
About a minute later, you hear the sound of a gong, and the wall panel slides back to reveal the arena.
Skaar was no stranger to combat as a performance. In the past his sporadic career as a gladiator had seen all across the cosmos, from the arenas of the ancient stone giants and the twisted dark elf coliseums for sport to bare circles of sand in the infinite Beastlands for breeding rights. He found no delight in bloodshed but understood what it was to put on a show and honor a worthy opponent.
He cracks the knuckles on his huge hands in anticipation of the coming battle and his heart thunders in his chest. The spars he’d had on the ship and Cog’s fighting spirit had been welcome during his week aboard the Wormwood but the Unfailing Pillar had little doubt that he’d need a greater challenge to reboot his diminished divinity. He was certain he’d find that challenge among Kaer Maga’s gladiators if nowhere else.
The big orcish god reflects on the handful of souls he’d met since his return to the material plane – I’ll need all my strength if I’m to recover what was taken from me and be their champion once again.
When you attempt to summon your armor, it fizzles. It seems this chamber is an antimagic area.
The wall panels slide open to reveal a large sand arena with a single pillar in the center. The pillar is covered with all manner of weapons (both melee and ranged). You also see identical sliding wall panels open to reveal your opponents.
Opponents
Half-Orc wearing chainmail
Human wearing full plate
Gnome wearing a chain shirt
Elf wearing silk robes
Human wearing studded leather armor
The elf immediately begins casting a spell, and the heavy-armor-clad human rushes to the weapons pillar.
Skaar conjures his second skin and takes an aggressive stance.
The Gnome runs up to the weapons pillar as the human to your right does the same. Meanwhile, the Half-Orc to your left lets out an enraged roar and charges the human in full plate. He takes a solid punch before slamming hard into the human. The metal-clad man calmly pulls a guisarme off the pillar and stabs him. Finally, the Elf gestures, and a longsword lifts off the pillar and floats into his hand.
Chainmail Orc: 18pts damage
Full-Plate: 8pts damage
Skaar lumbers forward and strikes the leather-clad human with a brutal elbow.
Your opponent staggers back a step as you connect with a brutal elbow. Meanwhile, the Gnome quietly retrieves a longbow and a quiver of arrows. He eyes the Elf appraisingly. Your target quickly grabs a pair of daggers and slashes your arm . The Half-Orc roars in pain and rage, grabs an enormous greataxe, and swings at his human opponent. The man ducks, and then stabs him in the chest. The Elf gestures, and a cone of flame engulfs the Gnome. He avoids most of the fire but still suffers some burns.
Chainmail Half-Orc (greataxe): 26pts damage
Full-Plate Human (guisarme): 8pts damage
Gnome (longbow): 8pts damage
Elf (longsword): full
Studded Leather Human (daggers): 12pts damage
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Your next swing misses. The Gnome fires three quick arrows into the Elf's chest. Your human opponent narrowly misses with a pair of slashes. The Half-Orc continues to roar, but his clumsy swing is easily parried by his opponent. The follow-up blow sinks into his stomach. The axe-wielder appears severely injured. The heavily-wounded Elf, meanwhile, unleashes another gout of fire that is again mostly dodged.
Chainmail Half-Orc (greataxe): 36pts damage
Full-Plate Human (guisarme): 22pts damage
Gnome (longbow): 13pts damage
Elf (longsword): 21pts damage
Studded Leather Human (daggers): 12pts damage
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Abandoning finesse with your next attack, you crush your opponent's head like an eggshell. Simultaneously, the Gnome fires three more arrows. One misses, but the other two sink into the Elf's eye sockets. The axe-Orc finally lands a blow that that cleaves through the man's armor like butter. It's a grievous wound, but the human remains upright, and with a powerful blow, disembowels the Half-Orc.
Chainmail Half-Orc (greataxe): super dead
Guisarme Human (green): 22pts damage
Archer Gnome (pink): 13pts damage
Elf (longsword): extremely dead
Studded Leather Human (daggers): very dead
You charge the Gnome, leading with a powerful flying kick. He responds by backing up a few steps and firing a trio of arrows. Two connect, but your magic protects you from serious injury . The human, meanwhile, sizes both of you up and decides the Gnome is the biggest threat at the moment. He lunges forward with his weapon and inflicts a nasty wound.
Guisarme Human (green): 22pts damage
Longbow Gnome (pink): 34pts damage
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You land a hammerfist to the Gnome's temple, and he drops. Your remaining opponent takes a quick step forward and stabs you in the thigh . He's clearly heavily wounded, and one or two solid blows will probably take him down.
Guisarme Human: 22pts damage
Longbow Gnome: unconscious but stable
Seeing the head of the polearm headed for the meat of his thigh, Skaar reacts with lightning speed. He steps into the attack ruining the swing’s momentum and causing the guisarme’s edge to scrape against his thick hide harmlessly. While his opponent’s off guard the big orc lunges forward trapping the human in a tight chokehold and preventing him from using his weapon again.
”You’ve been a worthy opponent. Yield and I’ll spare your life”, the big orc growls as he tightens his grip.
As soon as you speak, it becomes apparent that your opponent is a reasonable man. He drops his weapon and raises his hands. "A good match. If my weapon had been just a hair faster, I think I would have had you."
With his opponent’s surrender, Skaar keeps his hold a second longer and then releases him. He roars in victory with his arms held high, soaking in the crowd’s admiration.
A poor substitute for their worship but begger-gods can’t be choosers.
”Maybe”, the big orc rumbles with a smirk at the warrior. ”And by choosin’ to live you’ll have a chance to get quicker and try again. When you’re ready come find me and I’ll give you that rematch. ”
Within the next few moments the arrows embedded in Skaar's brawny shoulder pop free and clatter to the ground as the wounds knit shut.
The crowd roars in approval at your performance. Unarmored and unarmed, you single-handedly defeated a fellow gladiator and finished off two more. And with minimal injury, to boot. Your defeat of the guisarme-wielder was particularly impressive, as he was obviously a capable combatant. When your arrow wounds heal themselves, there's an audible gasp of surprise. It seems the audience will be looking forward to seeing your next fight. For now, though, it's time to rest and gear up. The next round of fights begins at dawn tomorrow.
Harrigan finds you shortly thereafter. "Nice work out there. Unarmed brawlin' like that took some serious guts. What'll you be needin' for tomorrow's fight?"
Skaar grunts in appreciation of Harrigan's praise. "Just doin' what I do best", the big orc comments while wiping the bits of gore from his knuckles.
After being brought to the gladiator's armory he picks out some equipment: a heavy poleaxe, a bundle of tiny iron darts (shurikens), and a heavy shield.
Harrigan takes you to the Downmarket district, where you quickly locate the Augur Temple. There, you're told the divination fee and given a tablet on which to write your question. It seems that viewing the ceremony proper is forbidden (for confidentiality reasons, you're told).
Skaar is genuinely impressed to see how well the trolls had done for themselves in the ages that passed since his absence from the world. To start he pays to have three questions divined. Unsure if those working within the temple could be trusted, he leave his queries intentionally vague.
Who is responsible for my fall from power?
What needs to be done to recover what was lost?
Where can I learn the complete story safely?
The wait is significantly longer than expected, and when the attendant comes back out, he doesn't look happy. "You. Questioner. Come with me."
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You (and only you) are brusquely escorted into the Temple, where you're met by a Troll. She gives you a long, hard stare before beckoning you into a private room. Once inside, she speaks in rough Common. "Spirits said nothing. They never say nothing! Who in the Hells are you?!?"
Skaar meets the monstrous she-troll's gaze without flinching.
"I'm just a gladiator and an orc trying to find his way home", he explains with a frustrated growl. "But if your spirits, who will?"
"I'm just a gladiator and an orc trying to find his way home", he explains with a frustrated growl. "But if your spirits, who will?"
The soothsayer shakes her head. "Nu-uh. Not good enough. Answers aren't always clear, but they ALWAYS say somethin'. Never heard of spirits sayin' nothing, and I been here longer than you've been alive! What else are you?"
"I'm someone that's got enemies - real bad enemies. The kind that won't hesitate to destroy you to get at me. I appreciate you tryin' to help but if you can't answer my questions I think it'd be best for you to forget you ever saw me."
"Nobody can answer your questions. If spirits say nothing, that means you not exist."
"Then I don't exist", Skaar repeats. "Thanks for your time."
Harrigan's quick to intercept you as you exit the Augur Temple. "Well? What happened?"
"Nothin' worth talkin' about", Skaar answers while making an effort to distance himself from the temple. "Just a waste of good coin."
"So tell me about this next round. What kinda opposition am I lookin' at?"
Harrigan looks disappointed that nothing interesting happened inside but leaves it at that. "Nothing official, of course, but rumor is it's some kind of beast hunt. Fight off the other gladiators while trying to land the killing blow on some sort of exotic creature."
Morale on the Wormwood is surprisingly high. It seems that Fishguts went ashore and returned with everything needed for a fantastic meal. Harrigan and Scourge seem surprised but make no complaints. After all, the crew's all here, and they get a good dinner to boot. As the evening goes by, your friends make a point to chat with you. Those who saw you fight are extremely impressed and are particularly interested in how you shrugged off the arrows so easily. Those who stayed aboard the Wormwood are curious to know what happened - especially as you display no visible injuries. Even Syl is curious. Although she still doesn't talk directly to you - or even look in your direction - she's always nearby.