Solrisa smiles at something, probably for not reason, then goes about her day, probably smiling at something else, happily and for no good reason except to smile.
"Maybe you could shoot for something more like this?"
"Hey, I like that. I can do that."
"Is there any smelt leftover?!"
Raziel hesitates when answering the giant. "Perhaps you should indulge in your new purchase first. I'm quite content for now." The pseudodragon's eyes belie the fact that he's still quite interested in the new purchase, but is also aware that the smelt must flow, so won't risk appeasing his fleshy stomach's greed, having returned from stone.
Tangleburn bags are in, Stunstones are out.
...
As the group slowly amasses information regarding the other groups and their rankings, they also learn about certain teams' make ups.
Auric's Warband is reknown for Auric himself, last year's winner of the Gauntlet, as well as his mage companion, Khellek. One who fights intimately, the other who dogs from a distance.
Pitch Blade is a pair of dwarven barbarians, Drusfan and Pharbol. They've seen their share of successes in previous Gauntlets, especially when matched against giants. Ascaria gets the sense that they toyed with their prey, drawing out the battle to make sure the crowd got a good show.
Auriga Arcana is a fearsome foursome of female elven archers. Ascaria even gleans that the elves are related. Not much else is known publicly, but they must have done something sizeable to enter with such a ranking.
Blood of the Serpent is a band of monks, sometimes four, sometimes eight, depending on the year, and their yearly pilgrimage to Egorian.
As for the other groups, less is known. No other teams deign to enter only two gladiators, so you're reasonably sure the groups consist of four to six skilled teammates. Well equipped, to be sure.
You're pretty sure, both times, folks in and around your storytelling circle departed more quickly than casually, as if they learned of inside information, and were squirreling away your words for the monetary benefit they may receive in bringing it home to the appropriate roosts.
...
The afternoon is crisp and cool, as the sun slowly begins its descent. Earlier in the afternoon, your new attire arrived, wrapped in scented paper. Not a stitch out of place, each piece enhances or minimizes each aspect of your forms, for whatever serves best.
Two of Ekaym's men are present to assist you with your makeups. Black eyeliner and crimson eye shadow are applied to all, while only Solrisa's lips are reddened. Your jewelry is shined, and at the last, two flicks of a brush are applied to the outside corners of your eyebrows, coloring the brow hair red, as well.
Once they've doted, you're escorted to meet up with Ekaym, just off Thrune Square, where he's in fine form, even more richly dressed in silks and leathers. You make quite a sight. It is in this light you find yourselves entering Thrune Square. Literally. The massive stone structure has been receded into the ground, with grand staircases leading to its platform from the grounds of the city above. From the platform, winding staircases lead you downward, deeper into the very earth below Egorian, hundreds of feet. You can ascertain that the staircases likely spiral and stagger, winding in an elliptical fashion. For the spaced lighting of colorful red spheres, casting various shadows against large walls from the patrons of the Gauntlet, it feels like a descent into Hell Itself.
Eventually, you join a slowly-amassing crowd, which spills into the Catafalque. A grand arena if ever there was one. Unsurprisingly, its floor is elliptical, roughly six acres of land dedicated to the grounds and stands. From floor to ceiling, roughly 100 feet, two floors of seating to maximize spectator capacity. The architects of Egorian must have had a field day in its construction. Gothic arches, flying buttresses, and one central grand ribbed vault. What takes the breath away is the realization that the entire structure has been carved out of the earth, and shaped into its strong and smooth surfaces. The Catafalque is the essence of negative space. The power and time exerted to bring it into being staggers the mind...
On the floor of the arena, a grand carnivale spans out ahead of you. The Dining Table is a huge pentagram, allowing guests to enter in sections for the inner seating, or to gain access to those along the inner seats. A raised dais in the center pentagon bears a beautifully-crafted wooden pentagon table, which, at the moment, is unoccupied. At the ends of each point of the pentagram are five tents, housing the food preparations.
Currently, no one sits, as the Legios begin to circulate like amoebas feeling out other amoebas, in the central area between three large tents. Within these tents, several large braziers bring heat into the environs. This seems to support the numerous performances of barely-clad acrobats, sideshow acts, and fornicators. Other guests mingling in the crowd range from clergy and government officials, to merchants, bookies and wealthy patrons of Egorian.
Ekaym walks slowly, the leisurely pace of a museum-goer. He points out several of the teams of which you've already gleaned information. He also points out Loris himself, currently in the center of Auriga Arcana, his laughter easily discernible above the din of the gathering.
Welcome to the Dinner.
Eri stays with the group silently taking it all in. There is a slight buzzing sound between his ears at the growing thrum and thunder of tons of people.
Solrisa smiles with her red lips, excited for the dress up. She twirls and spins in her new nice outfit, completely taken with the horse's ass tail gold jewelry at her nice.
"Oh Ekaym! This is lovely!! Solrisa exclaims with merriment and anticipation. "I'm like one of the pretty ladies from the Faerie Walk. All the pretty women there used to get invited into room in exchange for gifts! Do you think I'll get invited away for extra presents!?"
Solrisa positively strolls into the affair, even taking Ekaym's arm at one point.
Ascaria enjoys dressing up, though he's not sure the makeup is really required. He hopes he earns the right to keep this gear when all is said and done.
He quietly follows Ekaym, trying to take it all in without bumbling into anyone. Thankfully, he's short, and cannot see far, so the crowd and hall seem smaller to him - though he can still hear the din of the greater group clearly enough.
As Ekaym points out teams, he aligns what he knows with what he can see (if they're close enough), trying to measure their worth. Or at least line them up in his head.
Still, it isn't long before the sights, and smells, of the place overwhelm him and he just gawks without understanding. Either way, he's enjoying himself though he starts to look for snacks to quiet his rumbling stomach - mostly grumbling for the excitement, but a little food will calm his nerves as well as his hunger.
Eidi observes how delighted Solrisa is with her dress "Quite regretful I am not young anymore"
The half-elf leaves his usual staff well secured and walks instead with the help of a wooden cane. He asks for a borrowed sword "A rapier or something big"
Despite the Arena's magnificence, Eidi seems not much impressed, he walks carefully taking mental note of all corners and doors, the ground state, the positions of the guard and where one can observe the whole field.
Once the retinue reaches the Catafalque he looks around interested on entrances and exits. He looks for any remarkable human.
The half-elf takes special note of Loris and the people who talk with him while he laughs. Eidi attempts to read the lips of those talking with Loris.
When the group reaches the dinner place he turns to his team "Look, was this not a good idea? A free meal!"
"Perhaps you should indulge in your new purchase first. I'm quite content for now."
"I can't eat all 10 lbs by myself!" Mortimer exclaims, carving out 8 ounces of smelt for himself. "Here, Raziel, you have the rest. Let me know how much I should get for tomorrow!"
~~~~Recap:
4 tangleburn bags
4 tanglefoot bags
5 thunderstones
~~~~
"What do you mean, my makeup isn't tasteful!" he protests, as Ekaym's men pull off his wolf fur and make up. "I thought this is what was wanted! How is this not eye catching?!" He folds his arms and sulks as they redo it, wondering how it is that his own thick dark greyish eyelash hair doesn't suffice in making his eyes stand out. He tries not to look too disgusted in their work when they are finished.
Except for the nose, I look like a clown...
He's at a loss for words when he sees Solrisa and the others.
What did they do to us?!
~~~~
Mortimer looks around at the Catafalque. "Wow. I see why they call it The Gauntlet. Who or what made this place? Do we do combat only in that pentagram thing? What's with all the tents? Is that where the food is? This looks like the sort of thing that would be right up Osgood's alley." Anxious to finish the Dinner and get started on the games, he wishes Sol could use her butterfly net to clear the creatures from his stomach.
He looks for a place in the Catafalque to lay low, keeping his eyes peeled on Loris and his antics, wondering if Osgood or Aesur have ever participated in this affair.
He looks around to see if anything stands out of particular interest.
Tynan takes in all of the sights of the grounds. Hoping to throw off any competitors watching, he makes a show of wide-eyed amazement while looking at everything with an eye toward anything telling.
"Oh my goodness, y'all! Can you believe how many folks is here? And here we are all gussied up like a bunch of red-winged blackbirds! Ain't this the craziest thing ya ever did see?"
"Oh my goodness, y'all! Can you believe how many folks is here? And here we are all gussied up like a bunch of red-winged blackbirds! Ain't this the craziest thing ya ever did see?"
"Oh Tynan, yes! That was exactly what I was thinking! This is lovely! I love it! Look at my dress! And my painted lips! It's so neat! I never do this! And it's nice to try nice things sometimes," Solrisa says with genuine wonder.
Solrisa looks at Tynan dead in the eyes, a wicked smile on her lips. "Do you think they have ham?" Solrisa points a finger to the nearest food place. "Oh, I love ham!"
"Well, that time I had to dress like a showgirl to scape Galt was pretty crazy too" says Eidi in response to Tynan's comment but looking to the central tents "I hope there is some tea in addition to the ham. My bones are getting numb once again"
Eidi approaches the pentagon "It seems this is the table" he looks around trying to see if the Artists and Outcasts names are somewhere to be read.
The Catafalque continues to buzz for the first two hours of the evening. You are approached at various times by fellow competitors, Bookies, merchants, nobles, runners, servants- quite the microcosm of Egorian. All of them, in one way or another, seek information- where are you from, what are your individual strengths, who represents you as Sponsor, how did you come to be involved in the event, what will it take for you to surrender during your match, do you have a price, what do you think your odds are, what would you like your odds to be... so many questions, so little exchange. All take, no give. It is left to you to determine what you give up to your petitioners.
All three tents have various little stages, surrounded by warming braziers. All entertainment continues unabated, although various gladiators begin to loosen their manners as they imbibe the high quality spirits that are circulating freely within the crowds. Several of the performers have to swat unwanted hands. It is then that you begin to see the robust number of guards make themselves visible, where once they weren't. The Gold and the Purple filter through the crowd, putting folk in their places where needs be. It's a tough wire to walk, you gauge, where once or twice a pommel is raised, and a nose is broken, or a cheek is reddened. Can't be too strong-armed with the performers of the next day.
It feels like deja vu, but much the way you would feel Rastophan's tinted lenses gauging you from a distance in Memorial Square in Diamond Lake, you catch a man watching your team intently from a distance. A greater distance than you'd think would be more manageable, but his eyes don't waver. From Ekaym's previous description, Captain Okoral, right hand man to Loris, seems very aware of your being here. He locks eyes with you, waits, then allows his gaze to casually drift over the crowd.
Eventually, the night's warm and cool eddies of perfumed air is disturbed by high peals of metal bells. A call to the dining tables. As the crowd begins to bleed from the large tents, towards the pentagram, the bells grow silent, as deep horns begin to sound, from the other side of the arena. Entering the Catafalque in procession is a large retinue of hellknights, who enter the pentagram grounds, and escort Queen Abrogail II to the center pentagon table, where she stands on the raised dais, and watches you approach.
The tables are aligned along the pentagram itself, and you are welcomed to take your seats anywhere you find them available. Dinner should be served shortly.
Auric's Warband is renown for Auric himself, last year's winner of the Gauntlet, as well as his mage companion, Khellek. One who fights intimately, the other who dogs from a distance.
"Hey Sol," Mortimer whispers to Solrisa. "that mage Khellek... Isn't he the one you played Dragonchess with at Lazare's? If it is, maybe you can distract him with Dragonchess talk during the dinner. Maybe he'll accidentally reveal something more of their planned strategy..." Miners indeed...
Mortimer ignores all questions posed to him by the mass of complete strangers and gives away nothing -- except possibly an air of arrogance -- as he looks over their heads weaving his way slowly through the crowd.
In order to keep in tip-top shape he avoids over-indulging during dinner.
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Ascaria, of all the party, is likely to be the leaky faucet when it comes to information. He doesn’t mean to give anything away, but he’s also too polite to avoid talking to people, and too trusting in their motives. So he gets tripped up now and again, and lets a few little things by.
”Sol? She’s lovely, a real hard hitter though - so be polite.”
”Yeah, you’re right, that Mort is a big guy, and good with his hands too. Why you should see him…”
”Oh, now don’t say that! He’s not great with his bow, but he certainly knows how to use it.”
Mostly though he walks around in awe, trying to keep close to the party so he doesn’t get lost in the big room. He doesn’t know what to do about the other teams now - the information swirls in his head and he has a hard time pinning it down to anything useful. When Mort mentions Khellek though, there is the twinge of a memory. He squints off into the distance to see if it’s the same man, but he’s too far away.
”Good idea Mort. Strange if it’s the same guy. I wonder what they were doing at home? Of all the teams, they’ll know the most about us. I bet their information is out of date.” Grinning, he shrugs, hoping for the best.
He makes his way to the dining table with Eidi. ”I guess we just sit anywhere. Let’s not fight to be near the head of the table, we don’t want to be noticed. Right?” he looks at the others and sits where they decide.
When he hears that the Queen Herself enters, well, his jaw hits the floor like the yokel he is. The Queen! He can’t imagine ever meeting anyone in the government, let alone the head of it all. Not that he’s meeting her exactly, but to be in the same room. He hopes she gets close enough to see, but begins to think his suggestion to sit further down was a mistake.
Ahh well. Won’t be the first time my eyesight has cost me an experience.
He considers trying to slip up to get closer, when he remembers all the hellknights. He decides to sit firmly, and safely, in his chair and wait for food.
"We are from little places not as magnificent as Egorian" eludes Eidi to speak about his past. He laughs at the individual strengths talk "Well I guess we are the great artists. We paint the field into colors"
"Ekaym is our sponsor, and we got here in the last moment and just indirectly. We have people to care off" explains Eidi then shrugs when asked about surrendering "How much do we get if we surrender in the first combat?"
"It is interesting, because we have been already rented by Ekaym, we cannot rent again" eludes Eidi when asked about the groups price.
At the table he nods to Ascaria "Yes, try to be polite but offer as less as possible"
He then starts talking informally with some people "Oh, yes, do you know what the beast will be for the fourth combat. I hope not a rust monster. I hate those ones" when possible he points to some of the other participants "Do you know them? They look competent"
When the queen enters the dinning area, he clenches his lips and remains silently in tension.
Solrisa delights in the affair, speaking with everyone, but anyone who tries to press her for information will get the same humble story of her skills as she gave Ekaym. Her manner will make it clear that she is just delighted to be there and is happy to participate and just wants to help Mort and Ascaria and Tynan and Eri and their new friend Eidi.
She beams and smiles and gets confused when people ask her things, frequently looking to Eri or Tynan for what to say.
She claps/responds appropriately when the Queen is introduced, this being the first queen that she can recall seeing in person. Her Mum had a story about a Queen once, but it seems so far away now and Sol doesn't bring it fully to mind.
She bows appropriately to the Queen, a big smile on her face.
"This is so exciting."
In response to the long list of leading questions Eri offers long pauses and a confused, “I don’t know.”
As far as dinner is concerned he’ll keep it low key. A little meat, a little veg a little potato and a little wine.
When the queen arrives Eri looks around the room to see what’s appropriate and then mimics. He enjoys sitting back and taking it all in.
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The early evening sees Ascaria and Eidi socializing more than others in Artists and Outcasts, which yields its own fruits. Ascaria finds himself looked over by an large Mwangi female dwarf, who introduces herself as Dukk. She fights with the Raveners, a sturdy group of fighters and hunters who prefer fighting with spears while their ape companions enter melee. She bears a holy symbol that seems to be a combination of antelope skull and spider legs. She listens with interest as the gnome rambles, occasionally looking over his various descriptions.
She appears to worship Angazhan, the Ravenous King, Demon Lord of Apes.
Eidi manages to engage a olive-skinned swordsman by the name of Korush, and after learning of Solrisa's association, takes to the old half-elf like a long-lost friend. He brags about his skill from horseback, with his three enlisted mercenaries. He doesn't seem all that interested in the various skills of Artists and Outcasts. He'd rather continue speaking on his battle prowess, and virility between the sheets.
Ekaym eventually joins you from his circulation, to inform you that Artists and Outcasts have been Ranked at 3, for what little is known about the team. He seems quite red-cheeked, both from the effects of alcohol, and various pressings of lipstick.
At various times in the beginning of the evening, Ekaym seems to have wavered in his duties of spokesmanship with the bookies, and has taken a more focused interest in watching and listening to Loris Raknian.
"They won't post the match ups until tomorrow morning, unfortunately. Otherwise, we might have more time to focus on your first fight opponents." Ekaym still seems content enough to continue with the formality of the Dinner, as the horns sound, and you all move to the tables.
The central pentagon dais is surrounded by twenty hellknights. The central table accepts all twenty-four Sponsors, as well as Loris Raknian and Captain Okoral. By the time all in attendance have found their places at the long tables, the Queen nods to Loris.
Loris stands up, and addresses you all. "Welcome, friends. The night is finally here! Tomorrow, you'll test yourselves as you've never been tested before. We'll cheer you on, too! You're here to rise above the fray, and distinguish yourselves as the best of the best. And you'll be honored greatly for it! Eat richly, drink deeply, and laugh until your sides hurt, because tomorrow, you might be eating your own teeth as the ground drinks your blood, and your sides will hurt from something other than laughter! Here, here!!"
All raise glasses, all salute the Queen. A resonant clap of his big hands, and Loris bids the food and drink of the Banquet to come forward.
This alone should be reason enough to enter the Gauntlet. The experience that unfolds before you is a feast for the senses. Drink carts are three-tiered, and circulate along the outside of the tables, fulfilling even the rarest request. The tables are provided chilled water decanters, as well as seven different kinds of fruit nectars. Each can be laced with teaspoons of fresh blood to one's own taste. The gnolls seem particularly fond of this garnish.
Appetizers sizzle and simmer, skewers of meats and vegetables suited to dipping in assortments of melted cheeses, broths, sauces, and blood drippings. Next, a rich pureed soup brought forth in magnificent copper kettles, akin to mulligatawny. Baskets of chickpeas, assorted nuts, and croutons are made available to lend substance. The soup does have a hard-to-place consistency.
In occasional swishes of one's spoon, you can just make out bits of placenta, though it's difficult to determine what kind.
Next, dolphin. The display is splendid, laid out flat, and brought out whole. Extremely fresh, and starting cuts across their bodies indicate where to help yourself to its fresh, raw meat. With speckled bursts of noise and laughter, someone invariably leans across the table to try and suck the eyeball out.
Though difficult to surpass, the next course comes out in individual servings. A sauteed snake, depicted on the plate as eating its own tail, its skin still on in order to preserve the moisture in the meats. The girth of the snake is healthy. Not python, but certainly not garter, either. As you cut into preparation, a surprise! Snake eggs, poached within the body, and ready to eat. All snakes appear to be 'with child', but what makes the dinner more exhilarating is that the snake is also in process of digesting a small animal. Each animal pulled from the stomach of the snake alternates at the table, either rabbit or quail. A veritable tur-snaken.
The meal begins to quiet into lesser portions of flayed sidemeats, before coming to a light salad bowl. The salad comes complete with sturgeon caviar, truffles, gold leaf, crabmeat, and an aged balsamic vinegar.
To finish the Banquet, a flight of custards, colorfully presented in the cleaned-out skulls of small animals. If you press your spoon down just right, the custard finds its way through different orifices in thin extrusions.
At various times during the Banquet, a team is called up to the central pentagon, and allowed through the contingent of hellknights. All present at the table pause from their side conversations to hear the Queen speak with the party as a whole. It makes all sorts of sense that the outer dinner conversations quiet a little, in overt attempts to listen in on the intimate audiences.
When Artists and Outcasts are summoned to the table by Ekaym, the meal has progressed to the salad course. The Queen finishes a small, lady-like mouthful, before addressing you.
"What a motley crew you have here, Master Smallcask. Cobbled together, last hour?" The table murmurs humorously, as Abrogail smiles down upon you.
"We are honored with your entry, Outcasts. Pray. Why will you fight tomorrow? What do you seek in the Gauntlet? How do you think you'll fare?" She smiles at Loris, who, in turn, turns to smile at you all.
Loris Raknian can barely conceal his hot interest in you all. He didn't seem nearly this attentive during the previous audiences.
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Eidi notes the symbol carried by Dukk. He discuss politely with her about next day fray "Your monkeys should be quite determined then. I am curious about teaching animals to retreat under a surrender. Is that possible? Who is that done?"
He smiles a bit amused at the roughness of Korush "That's a pity we might have to fight each other. We would have nothing to do against such a prepared knight. It would be great if we could fight alongside you, at least we could be the last to lose to you and your knight comrades"
The half-elf rejects any alcoholic drink, taking water for all the dinner. He does enjoy the rest of the food though. Even when the stuffed snakes appear, he eats with fruition "You never know when you will have a last eat. Better death takes you with a full stomach" He seems quite used to eat whatever he finds in his dish.
"Tomorrow I will fight to restore the lost honor" answers Eidi to the Queen staring at her eyes "I entered the Gauntlet to keep things in order, and will fare as far as our god wants us to go"
Ascaria listens to the speachifying and is glad Loris doesn’t drag on. I wonder if he’s really our man? He doesn’t sound evil. he thinks idly.
When the food and drink come, he looses interest in all else. He passes on the blood, chalking it up to the decadence of the city, and helps himself to everything he can reach. He’s careful with the wine however, conscious of what must be done in the morning. We cannot fail our first battle for a snifter of wine tonight! He watches over the goblets of his allies as well.
He eyes the soup, considers, and pushes it away. He tries to catch Mort’s eye, and indeed the eyes of all his companions as he shakes his head. He says nothing out loud though, being unsure of the proper etiquette in this case. None the less he does not touch a drop of the soup, and is overly cautious with future servings…
He wonders if he can get away with casting a few spells during the meal, but decides against it. Who knows who might be watching.
He wonders too about the dolphin, but having never seen or heard of such a beast, he eats delicately - though he doesn’t suck out an eyeball. He wades through the other courses with some vigor however, his appetite taking over where his reticence gives up. And the custard! Oh, so tasty.
When called before the Queen, Ascaria nearly stutters he’s so nervous. He’s never talked to royalty before, and it frightens him. The raw power she holds is mesmerizing.
”My Queen, we fight for Ekayim of course, and for our homeland of Diamond Lake. But have no doubt. We mean to win this contest of Loris’.” He looks out among all the powerful teams arrayed against them, all straining to listen, ”…and against all other teams!” he says more loudly and with rather more confidence than he feels.
Solrisa eats as much as she can eat, filling herself on meat and cheese whenever the opportunity arises. She smiles, she chats, she shares the foods that she finds with others. She eats too much and regrets it, then eats more as a second wind comes on. She doesn't drink much, feeling that the energy of the event and people is all the stimulation she needs.
When it is her time to meet the Queen, she's all smiles and happiness and not even sure she is worthy to be there in the contest at all. She kneels or bows (as appropriate), but seems at bit to starstruck to speak aloud to the Queen.
She lets others talk unless she is asked a direction question.
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Mortimer's compromised eyebrow furrows slightly as the Queen and her Hellknight Escorts enter the venue. The Queen Herself? ... Of course! Does this event not involve the Royalty's coffers? His mind wanders back to the Imp that demanded the satchel they found in Sodden Hold -- much like the imp on their half cloaks... I wonder if that entrance actually leads back to the palace?
Ekaym eventually joins you from his circulation, to inform you that Artists and Outcasts have been Ranked at 3, for what little is known about the team. He seems quite red-cheeked, both from the effects of alcohol, and various pressings of lipstick.
Three, huh? Mortimer wonders at Ekaym -- the Imp on a Barrel. Well, something seems to be well received, and that's not egg on Ekaym's face. He seems pleased and relaxed. Are we really just a shoe in? He folds his arms, sits back and tries to relax.
"Yah, well. He's pleased Loris with our entry, at any rate." he whispers to his comrades.
He spies Khellek, and heads over to him. "So you're Khellek, are you not?" he asks, enthusiastically. I've heard quite a bit about you -- You're the Mage Extraordinaire, and Infamous Dragonchess Master, right?!"
He observes the fractured appearances of Okoral and Loris with curiosity, but as Loris speaks he becomes revolted. At dinner as the courses come he hardly knows what to make of the food. He largely avoids it, trying not to think about it being nothing more than a decadant display for the sake of Hedonism itself. He even tentatively picks at the freshest of vegetable and fruit offerings available. I don't know where any of this stuff has been... He avoids the wine and other alcohol, mostly in an attempt to stay hydrated.
He eyes the soup, considers, and pushes it away. He tries to catch Mort’s eye, and indeed the eyes of all his companions as he shakes his head.
I'm thirsty, but Canary thinks the soup is no good? He sighs regretfully, putting his spoon aside to look into his soup. The brothy-ish-ist stuff reflects nothing at all but his eyeball, peering ever carefully and introspectively into the bowl of questionable consistency.
Well, that's that, then. "There's an eye in me soup." He thinks, observing no more than the pale blue reflection of his own ocular orb. He then follows Ascaria's example and pushes the soup away in favor of more water.
Thank the Gods for smelt, but dang it's salty.
"We are honored with your entry, Outcasts. Pray. Why will you fight tomorrow? What do you seek in the Gauntlet? How do you think you'll fare?" She smiles at Loris, who, in turn, turns to smile at you all.
Mortimer tries not to gag. This guy Loris needs to go down.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say this Loris guy is positively drooling over our presence here. That can't be good, right?"
"Tomorrow I will fight to restore the lost honor" answers Eidi to the Queen staring at her eyes "I entered the Gauntlet to keep things in order, and will fare as far as our god wants us to go."
Mortimer looks at the Queen as evenly as Eidi. "We're Artists too, don't you forget. As Eidi said" he winks confidently, " -- we intend to repaint the canvas."
Eri has had many a questionable offering trying to survive in the deep woods on his own. He shies away from the more far-afield offerings. He manages to eat his fill on the more reasonable dishes.
Soup! I love soup! Ah, Ascaria says no. In this town that means trouble. I really don’t like it here. How do you fook up soup! Idiots.
”We mean to win this contest of Loris’.”
At this, Eri gets a wide and devilish grin. He nods slowly.
Tynan's monitoring of Ekayim's movements reveals little interaction with the bookies.
Interesting... I wonder if he's keeping to himself in hopes that an upset by us will win him even more money.
---------------
Tynan eyes the soup warily, as stirring it reveals unwanted discoveries. His face turning a bit paler, he suppresses a gag reflex and sets the bowl aside. He catches Ascaria's worried glance, and shakes his head in agreement. He cautiously partakes of the rest of the meal, but only after carefully examining everything
---------------
Bowing to the Queen, as is expected of him, Tynan catches a glimpse of Loris and his keen attention to the group.
Uh oh... he's already onto us. This isn't good...
Listening to the others answer the Queen, Tynan nods in agreement, but adds nothing himself.
Better to say nothing at all, than to say something I could regret.
"Hey Sol," Mortimer whispers to Solrisa. "that mage Khellek... Isn't he the one you played Dragonchess with at Lazare's?"
Solrisa smiles, not initially seeing the figure that Mort is pointing to, then flouncing over to greet her good friend Khellek.
"Khellek? Is that you? You're here?!" Solrisa asks, throwing her arms around the mage. "We should play another game of dragonchess! I almost had you even though you all almost all your pieces left and I had but my one ogreknight left! It was a close one!" Solrisa beams and smiles at seeing an old friend.
Solrisa dips strands of golden hair behind her ear, still making conversation.
"How did it go with the Flumpfnest, was it? Did that all work out?"
"Your monkeys should be quite determined then. I am curious about teaching animals to retreat under a surrender. Is that possible? Who is that done?"
Dukk chuckles as Eidi asks his question. "They're smarter than most humans I know. They know when a signal's been given, to stop their attack. That is as good as a surrender, I would think. All the better for the lack of need to do so. They recognize someone surrendering, that's probably a better question to ask."
"That's a pity we might have to fight each other. We would have nothing to do against such a prepared knight. It would be great if we could fight alongside you, at least we could be the last to lose to you and your knight comrades."
Korush smiles devilishly, cuffing the old half-elf on the arm. "Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that. For your sake, of course, though our odds are decent that we'll meet each other in the later rounds."
"So you're Khellek, are you not? I've heard quite a bit about you -- You're the Mage Extraordinaire, and Infamous Dragonchess Master, right?!"
"Khellek? Is that you? You're here?!"
Khellek turns to face Mortimer and Solrisa in their approach, a polite smile arriving on his lips at the same time the couple does. "Well, hello. I wondered if we would exchange pleasantries this evening. You're a long way from Lazare's, aren't you? Would you say your station has improved, since then? Stirgenest Cairn yielded very little in our search. Word rose that you were more successful in your expeditions. Good for you." The middle-aged man pats Mortimer on the upper arm, and nods to Solrisa.
"Tomorrow I will fight to restore the lost honor. I entered the Gauntlet to keep things in order, and will fare as far as our god wants us to go."
"Yes, praise Asmodeus." She looks keenly on the half-elf, assessing him with beautiful hazel eyes.
"We're Artists too, don't you forget. As Eidi said -- we intend to repaint the canvas."
She turns to nod at the giant. "I expect you'll have plenty to work with for your public display of artistry."
"My Queen, we fight for Ekayim of course, and for our homeland of Diamond Lake. But have no doubt. We mean to win this contest of Loris’. ”
"Loris may run it, but the contest is mine." Queen Abrogail sets her jaw, and stares at the gnome, while addressing your Sponsor. "Ekaym... come see me, when you're finished with your dessert." She dismisses your motley crew with nothing more than a hand wave, which ripples through her hellknights, parting the sea.
...
As the evening crests, a spectacular array of fireworks begins to unfold above the arena floor. Large golden-light eagles chase red-sparkling imps, which explode into smaller sparkling imps once the eagles capture them. From the arena floor, several volcanoes erupt, their illusory lava tracks moving impossibly fast along the ground, causing several gladiators to leap and jump to avoid it. The pattern of volcanic eruption, timed with several blinding streaks of white wyvern fireworks above, herds the entire audience into a compacted circle in the middle of the Catafalque. From this position, the main pavilion overlooking the field becomes the center of attention, where the Queen's retinue and Loris Raknian stand above you.
Loris proceeds to announce the rules of the game. Any aggressive actions taken against fellow competitors off-field will be grounds for immediate disqualification, and a public flogging of the Sponsor. Surrender will be accepted by any member of the team, after the horns have sounded the beginning of the engagement. Loris runs a tight ship, so any member of a team absent at the horn's sounding at the beginning of a match will not be allowed on the field to participate. Those who surrender will have the day to recuperate in the Coenoby, then are allowed to continue as spectators for the remaining days of the Gauntlet, the following day. He confirms what Ekaym has already told you about the prizes, the statues and the purses. Restocking and smithing will be made available, should weapons shatter. Healing, also, as the Grand Temple has made itself available for such services. Sponsors will be granted access to the Coenoby below, for the six teams who manage to win the first day's engagements, to consult and resupply their teams.
The field is dismissed. A multitude of guards begin to organize the teams in preparation for the descent. The single large platform in the arena's floor serves as the only obvious means of accessing the floors below the Catafalque.
Ekaym asks you join him before you depart. "It seems that there is more at play here than I initially thought. The Queen is having her fun." Your sponsor produces two scrolls, sealed with the Royal Emboss. "One is marked 'Weal', the other, 'Woe'. She bids you to choose one of them this night. If you choose 'Weal', it will be applied to your team before your first fight tomorrow. If you choose 'Woe', it will be applied against one of the three teams you'll face. I can't be sure of this, as I couldn't read her answer, but it's likely the other teams are being offered this same choice."
"What will you pick?"
"Loris may run it, but the contest is mine." Queen Abrogail sets her jaw, and stares at the gnome, while addressing your Sponsor. "Ekaym... come see me, when you're finished with your dessert." She dismisses your motley crew with nothing more than a hand wave, which ripples through her hellknights, parting the sea.
Interesting.
Ascaria wonders just how much of this is her plan. Maybe Loris too is just a pawn of the Queen. What do we do if it’s the Queen who’s doing all this?
He shakes his head, knowing that such a future would mean exile… at best.
Still, he enjoys the fireworks display immensely. He’s never seen anything like it, and it takes the edge of his worries. He smiles open mouthed at the display, and is still grinning when Ekaym walks up to the group.
Ekaym asks you join him before you depart. “It seems that there is more at play here than I initially thought. The Queen is having her fun.” Your sponsor produces two scrolls, sealed with the Royal Emboss. “One is marked 'Weal', the other, 'Woe'. She bids you to choose one of them this night. If you choose 'Weal', it will be applied to your team before your first fight tomorrow. If you choose 'Woe', it will be applied against one of the three teams you'll face. I can't be sure of this, as I couldn't read her answer, but it's likely the other teams are being offered this same choice. What will you pick?”
Ascaria looks at the scrolls and considers. ”Well, if we assume the other teams know what we can do and are ready for us, throwing a ‘woe’ at them will throw off their plans, possibly leaving them in disarray. Further, accepting a ‘weal’ means we’d have to conform ourselves to the benefit, unless it just happened to fit a deficiency we currently have.”
He looks at the group. ”Seems to me we should chose ‘woe’ and hope it befuddles another team, at least a little. No matter what the benefit or curse, that seems the best option. What do you all think?”
"Well, hello. I wondered if we would exchange pleasantries this evening. You're a long way from Lazare's, aren't you? Would you say your station has improved, since then? Stirgenest Cairn yielded very little in our search. Word rose that you were more successful in your expeditions. Good for you." The middle-aged man pats Mortimer on the upper arm, and nods to Solrisa.
Mortimer glances out of the corner of his eye at his upper arm where the man pats. Is he checking for extra padding? Being dismissive? Patronizing? Paternal? Is there a difference? How would I know? He tries to smile politely.
"Yes, we've been on the road some, and pleased to have met up well with you once again. Not sure about our success -- sure we've had some, but rumours -- you know. At any rate we do intend do our very best here at the Games. Perhaps we'll see you in the arena toe to toe!?"
~~~
"If you choose 'Woe', it will be applied against one of the three teams you'll face. I can't be sure of this, as I couldn't read her answer, but it's likely the other teams are being offered this same choice. What will you pick?”
How much has he had to drink? Mortimer folds his arms and looks Ekaym in the eye.
"Forgive me for asking, but what do you mean you 'could not read her answer'? What exactly did you ask her regarding Scrolls, and what exactly did she say in response? Also, do Loris and the Queen get to make wagers on the teams?"
”Seems to me we should chose ‘woe’ and hope it befuddles another team, at least a little. No matter what the benefit or curse, that seems the best option. What do you all think?”
"No, no! I don't think so... We should risk 'Weal'. Didn't they say we fight some 6 teams or something the first day? If the 'Weal' holds out and is beneficial, we'll have that going for all of us the first day. The 'Woe' will be applied to only one of the teams, and we don't know what it is, and we don't get to pick which team. At worse, it will be as if we haven't used a scroll at all. At best, maybe it'll block the effects of 'Woe' the others throw at us."
"Hey, everyone -- remember -- "
"My Queen, we fight for Ekaym of course and for our homeland of Diamond Lake. But have no doubt. We mean to win this contest of Loris’."
"Loris may run it, but the contest is mine. Ekaym... come see me, when you're finished with your dessert."
"I feel like we might have stepped in something. That sounded to me like maybe the Queen and Loris might be in some kind of power tiff -- or struggle? If that is true and we end up going all the way and winning this thing, that could present us with some very interesting opportunities," he says thoughtfully.
"Well, hello. I wondered if we would exchange pleasantries this evening. You're a long way from Lazare's, aren't you? Would you say your station has improved, since then? Stirgenest Cairn yielded very little in our search. Word rose that you were more successful in your expeditions."
Solrisa seems confused. In her mind, her station has not changed. She doesn't ever see herself as changing, but as a constant existence that doesn't merit much watching, especially not when there are other people are there to watch and speak with.
"My station? Successful? Were we?" Solrisa's eyes widen and she looks at Mort for confirmation. "Oh! That's exciting! We were successful!" Solrisa cheers measurably that they had been accomplishing things. It is things that she had not considered overtly and so hearing it from others was a confirmation of such.
"I think my station is the same! I'm just...uhm...doing things, you know!" Solrisa says. "Say, Khellek...did you want me to make a special dragonchess set for you? I could do that?!"
* * *
"Weal or Woe?"
Solrisa looks around very seriously.
"No, we should not do woe. Or weal. We should refuse both as we want to participate based on our own merits, not based on influence from others," Solrisa says, exposing some thought."No, if we are to win, we should win on our own. Nor should we let others hurt others on our behalf."
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Eidi observes the fireworks with a smile in his face like a child. With the volcanoes he tells to Ascaria "This makes me remember of Asulek's Mouth, some decades ago in Osirion" he looks at the volcanoes like absorbed "The master's teachings about Yamatsumi..."
Later on, when presented the scrolls, the half-elf listens carefully what Ascaria and Mortimer have to say about them. He nods to Mortimer argumentation "That's the most rational decision." he approaches Ekaym and attempts to hit his chest with a finger, only to change trajectory when this one looks down to softly hit his chin "Yet that move is also what the Queen expects from us"
"And as for what we know she is a ruthless..." he looks around and leaves some words in the air "...leader who adores a god that loves tricking people by contract"
"She already told Ekaym this is a game for her, so fun, were is the fun on giving some expectable benefit? I would bet both scrolls are a trap and suggest to answer we will fight with honor and no tricks, and reject both scrolls" he looks at the scrolls hold by Ekaym "If forced to chose, I would chose the 'Woe' one, if this is a trick, which I am pretty sure it is, it will apply to just one of our enemies"
Eidi smiles and nods after listening also to Solrisa and observing they are in the same line.
Tynan listens to the various arguments for Woe, Weal and neither.
"I have to agree with Mort. With three other teams against us, we're likely to get hit by a Woe, and maybe a Weal would counteract that." Tynan looks at the others, and continues. "However, if we decide to choose neither, then we need to be prepared to have the disadvantage in the fight."
"No, we should not do woe. Or weal. We should refuse both as we want to participate based on our own merits, not based on influence from others, No, if we are to win, we should win on our own. Nor should we let others hurt others on our behalf."
Mortimer nods, and smiles at Solrisa's determination. "Yes, that would be ideal. I could go with not choosing a Scroll, but I do not think we will have a say on what the others will choose to do with their Scrolls -- if they are in fact offered them."
"That's the most rational decision. Yet that move is also what the Queen expects from us. And as for what we know she is a ruthless..." he looks around and leaves some words in the air "...leader who adores a god that loves tricking people by contract."
Accepting a Scroll could be like trading our Souls? I hadn't really thought of that. I'm just not cut out for Evil.
"I would bet both scrolls are a trap and suggest to answer we will fight with honor and no tricks, and reject both scrolls. If forced to chose, I would chose the 'Woe' one, if this is a trick, which I am pretty sure it is, it will apply to just one of our enemies."
"Yes, it could be a trick. If she's in some power struggle with Loris though, I could see where the fun might be in giving a team an advantage over the rest."This whole Gauntlet business has long left a bad taste in my mouth. Nonetheless, I'm still loathe to actively choose to apply a potential disability to any of our foes."
He thinks for a moment, his brow furrowing to the point where one could plant root vegetables in his face if one desired."In the grand scheme of someone that ruthless, how do we know that the Scrolls were named as we have interpreted? If we choose 'Woe', it might mean that we give our opponent the benefit, and we are the ones that receive the 'Woe'. Same with 'Weal'... Either way, I think we would all be at some disadvantage or other in choosing one Scroll over the other. But if we have to, maybe we should apply it to ourselves, so we can at least own that."
He turns again to Ekaym. "So, do we have the option to not choose a Scroll, and go in 'raw' as it were?"
”This whole thing is about rules. I don’t think the scrolls would be mislabeled. I wonder if the woe would be more powerful than the weal as befitting an evil group’s style. I’d prefer to not take either if that’s an option. If not, my desire would be to take the weal, but I think we should use the woe. So, that is my vote. Nothing or woe.”
Eri watches the volcano and fireworks briefly and frowns. He keeps his eyes on the people around looking for someone to try something.
[i]I don’t like this place. I don’t trust the people around us. I’m not comfortable loosening up enough to enjoy this. Bah! Bah Humbug!”[/b]
Nonetheless, Eri tries to put on a neutral face.
Solrisa listens to the group, smiling and listening as others speak. Her faces scrunches up in confusion when Eidi references things that she doesn't know about (like 'Asulek's Mouth', 'Osirion', & 'Yamatsumi') as she has no idea what they mean. Nonetheless, she still smiles, happy to be there in the discussion.
"Oh! This is so interesting! I wonder what is going to happen!"
”Oh, we can refuse them both? I think I like that idea.” Ascaria grins, ”I like that idea a lot! Avoids the whole problem.”
He then grows a little uneasy, ”…only, won’t that offend the Queen? I mean she’s giving us a gift, right, and we’re sending it back. Still, even with that, might be best if we gave it a miss.”
"Oh! This is so interesting! I wonder what is going to happen!"
This is pointless. I bet the 'fun' in this game is more about watching us bicker about what Scroll to pick than anything else.
"I'm not thinking of it as a 'gift', just part of the Games. Honestly, I don't think either of these scrolls are going to be all that advantageous to us. It's probably just most entertaining to watch us bicker over it, and I'm not going to let it tear us up. I don't want either one of them applied, but I'll go along with whatever you guys decide if a choice must be made."
"Yes, we've been on the road some, and pleased to have met up well with you once again. Not sure about our success -- sure we've had some, but rumours -- you know. At any rate we do intend do our very best here at the Games. Perhaps we'll see you in the arena toe to toe!?"
Khellek smiles genuinely. "I'll look forward to it."
"I think my station is the same! I'm just... uhm... doing things, you know! Say, Khellek...did you want me to make a special dragonchess set for you? I could do that?!"
Khellek shakes his head. "It will be a while before I may return to the game, and our paths are unlikely to cross soon. You are kind to offer, my dear."
...
"Forgive me for asking, but what do you mean you 'could not read her answer'? What exactly did you ask her regarding Scrolls, and what exactly did she say in response? Also, do Loris and the Queen get to make wagers on the teams?"
He doesn't seem to be pausing to choose his words carefully.
Ekaym blinks slowly, his lids rising little, his eyebrows rising moreso. "I asked... 'Are all teams given this choice?'... to which she replied... 'perhaps'. As for wagers, I wouldn't know."
"Woe/..."
"Weal/..."
"..."
".../Woe"
"Weal/..."
".../Woe"
Ekaym plainly blanches as the group considers selecting neither of the scrolls. "As has been said, this has been given by the Queen. She bids you choose one. I have done my part in bringing them to you. Captain Okoral will take back the scroll you have declined, when you descend shortly. Good luck, tomorrow. I'm looking forward to visiting with you, after your victory."
With this, Ekaym parts ways with Artists and Outcasts, as do all the entourages and hangers-on. A slow procession leads out of the Catafalque the way you came in.
No scrying sensors that you can see.
The line solidifies, purifies, as only the Legios remain to await their turn to descend. When your turn comes, the elevator is cleared, and you're invited to step on. Captain Okoral steps up, extending an open hand, palm upwards, and waits for your discard.
The descent is deliberate, as you travel roughly fifty feet to the floor below. Getting off the elevator, you're escorted along a curved hallway, passing a handful of spiral staircases along the inner wall, which lead even further downward. Walking 90 degrees of a very large circle, you arrive at a large room, which serves as a crossroads of hallways. One of the exits from this room is another set of stairs, decently wide, leading ever downwards, roughly fifty feet further.
This enormous cave resembles some sort of underground village. The cave walls are finely hewn and the floor paved with smooth slabs of stone. Many artificial and natural pillars support the relatively low ceiling fifteen feet above. Wooden doors on the cave’s walls lead to a circle of underground dwellings, the lodgings of gladiators during the Gauntlet. A pair of similar doors on the north wall leads to a kitchen and an infirmary. An underground stream runs in the middle, crossed by a wooden bridge that leads to a dining area with two long tables. The relatively fresh air, murals of famous gladiators on the walls, and the soft illumination provided by amber-colored light globes hanging from the ceiling makes this cave a true marvel of underground architecture.
Welcome to the Coenoby.
Eidi nods at Ekaym "We are here to do it"
Once at the Coenoby, the half-elf breaths deeply at the cave's fresh air "That is impressive now, isn't it?" he observes at the vents providing the air renovation "I want some of those for my mausoleum"
He approaches to whomever seems organizing the place and calls her attention "Hi! Me and my colleagues are recent arrivals and would like to know which ones exactly are our rooms. It would be great if we could stay in close rooms"
Eidi also has a look at the place in an attempt to determine where Loris place is located.
One of the gold-cloaked Arena guards steps forward to 'welcome' the Artists and Outcasts, encouraging you all to keep moving. He does politely nod to Eidi in response. "There are roughly twenty-five rooms, different sizes. Feel free to wander them, and find an empty one."
The Coenoby is for the gladiatorial rabble. It's likely Loris's personal chambers is located on the floor above, possibly off the main room of intersecting hallways.
Every so often, a scry sensor appears near a light orb, while another sensor winks out. It strikes you as a decent deterrent to the hundred-plus fighters now confined underground. There are plenty of guards making the rounds, to be sure, but you can never be too cautious.
Welcome to the Coenoby
Solrisa takes in all that she can see.
"Oh! This is neat! I can't wait...this will be so much fun!" Solrisa cheers happily as she struts to the northsides to find a good room near the food. "Did you want to pick out a good room, Tynan? If I it's up to me, we'll probably set up in the kitchen!' Solrisa says only half joking.
Captain Okoral steps up, extending an open hand, palm upwards, and waits for your discard.
Mortimer, offended by the silent presumptuousness of The Captain, struggles a moment, resisting the urge to spit into the man's up-turned palm. Good thing Rae is not with us. It's going to be hard enough on my own to not get us disqualified... Instead he musters up a enough politeness in his voice to say, "Tell Loris we're looking forward to meeting him." He tries to crack a smile while he's at it.
Once at the Coenoby, the half-elf breaths deeply at the cave's fresh air "That is impressive now, isn't it?" he observes at the vents providing the air renovation "I want some of those for my mausoleum."
I hope he is saying that just for show... "Uuuhhh -uh Eidi? Mortimer whispers in the half-elf's ear. " Don't speak of tombs here now! I don't plan on letting anyone of us die anytime soon!"
He strolls over to peer into the stream to see if there are any fish.
Ascaria isn’t sure what Ekaym means exactly, but guesses, eventually, he means we have to pick one. Yet if not everyone gets a choice, it may well be that only some teams get this boon. In that case, picking Woe, may make enemies on and off the field. Ascaria considers switching his vote to Weal on that point alone.
As no one seems to be dealing with it. He grasps the two scrolls from Ekaym. Later, as Captain Okoral steps up, he prepares to place one of them in his hands when Mort speaks his peace. Ascaria shrugs, keeps ‘Weal’ and presses ‘Woe’ in the captains open palm without a word and walks quickly away.
I don’t like this place. I don’t like it at all. Damn city folk.
When they reach the depths, Ascaria feels a bit at home, like the mines he grew up in. ‘course this ‘mine’ was cleaner, and had a fresh stream, so the similarities ended pretty quickly, but he felt somewhat safe here, pressed in by the cool stone.
He shifts his pack, and scurries around the complex. He tentatively puts it down in a room and goes to find the others, ”I’ve picked out the largest of the available rooms for our use. I might have missed something though, in case anyone has any other ideas. But if so, speak quickly as I left my pack in the room to save it for us.” says the trusting Ascaria as he walks back to his find.
Solrisa follows Ascaria to the room he picked out.
"Oh Ascaria, this is a good choice," Solrisa spins in some free space. "This is great." Solrisa decides grandly, putting up her stuff in the corner.
Solrisa wonders if she has time to polish her armor or needs to be someplace quickly or it is time for bed.
"Deeper and deeper we go. I'll be happy to see us out of here. The air may be clean, but that is not enough."
Eri tries to rig his hammock up in the room Canary picked. He moves furtively and quietly.
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When the group is settled into their room, Ascaria closes the door and stands before it.
”We probably should have done this sooner, but let’s talk tactics. Hopefully no-one is watching.” he eyes the corners of the room - like he could spot a scry sensor in a million years…
”OK, so, there are a number of spells I’d like to rack up if we can prior to the fight. I don’t know what sort of prep time we’ll have, so we should assume none.”
”That means we need to be a little conservative with our movements the first few rounds of combat so I can get us all boosted up - if possible.”
”So round one - Bless. Round two, depending on what’s going on, I’ll throw down either Blessing of Fervor or Prayer. Then I’ll cast the other one if possible.”
”If there’s time, or we can prep in advance, I’ll also prepare a Protection from Energy Communal, I dunno, maybe protect us from fire? Not a big fan of being on fire…”
Eidi smiles back at Mortimer about tombs "The half-man will not be here much longer"
When Ascaria returns the scroll to Okoral Eidi waits like expecting the gnome to return both of them. When that does not happen he attempts to catch the gnome as it runs into the corridor "Damn it. Mischievous gnome" he smiles and turning to Solrisa open handed the oldie walks down the corridor "The cards are drawn. Let's see what comes up"
At the room Eidi counts the number of beds, then says "There is no room for all of us. I will sleep in the room next to this one." He then carefully listens to Ascaria's plans and nods.
"Opening with the blessing of fervor would allow to enlarge our spell ranges, so we do not need to keep in close formation for empowering us, and we will be able to reach our enemies from afar" comments Eidi "I know some tricks of myself." he smiles while readying his staff "I forgot to ask if we can pre-cast any spell before the battle begins, but I could prepare mage armor and cast heroism on Solrisa or Mortimer. Once the battle begins, Eri might be able to use his spells to make it difficult for our enemies to stay in formation. I can enlarge Solrisa and cast other defensive spells while Ascaria lands his ones"
"To me the larger question is currently if we should focus on finishing one team after another, or if we should try to combat all of them at the same time" Eidi ponders his own question then says "We probably should focus on those ones able to make us more harm. Either because they are directly attacking us, or because they have the set of skills more dangerous to us"
Solrisa perks up at the mention of 'tactics'.
"Oh, I love tactics! I have one to suggest: let's try to win, okay?" Solrisa looks around to see if others agree. "Winning is a very good tactic, I think." Solrisa adds.
"...and cast heroism on Solrisa...can enlarge Solrisa..."
Solrisa seems excited about the Heroism (because who wouldn't want to be more heroic? Like Eri or Mort?), but would decline the opportunity to be big as she feels that would be unfair.
"Also, outside of winning, please tell me what I should do. I can do some protecting if you'd like. Or whatever. Whatever works." Solrisa smiles, just happy to be helping.
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"Tell Loris we're looking forward to meeting him."
Captain Okoral looks up at the giant, palm empty. "Nah. He already met with the relevant competitors during the dinner." As Ascaria places 'Woe' in his hand, making the decision for Artists and Outcasts, the middle-aged man smirks, and nods. "Figures."
...
The Coenoby becomes a hive of activity, with various teams staking their claim to rooms, but not turning in right away. It's still one bell from midnight's strike, after all. The kitchen is alight with preparations for breaking the fast on the morrow, but it also provides food and drink to those not satisfied with the Banquet's offerings.
Mortimer finds plenty of fish in the stream, as the water runs decently deeply, making the bridge a necessary feature for many of the metal-clad warriors walking to and fro.
The two long tables are soon enough occupied, by familiar and unfamiliar faces alike. The pair of dwarves sit across from each other, enjoying a late night toddy, while Dukk and her crew join them. The gnolls take up the other end of the table, barking laughter as they point to various people coming and going. Eidi recognizes Korush and his team, calmly assessing those nearby. Two members from Meet the Grave have joined them.
As for other teams, it's wonderful people-watching. Auriga Arcana is enduring one of Backdoor Menace sidling up to them, while all of More Demon Than Demon stand stoically over the proceedings, wordlessly trying to intimidate everyone else. Near the stream's edge, one member of Bleed the Freaks tries to catch a fish, while his teammates root him on. It's proving difficult, as his mouth simply isn't big enough or fast enough.
Through the Arena Guard, you can easily enough learn that the first match tomorrow is at eight. The line-ups will be posted during breakfast, leaving the first four up to battle very little time to size up the competition.
The evening is yours.
”Eidi, I’m more comfortable in my hammock so there are enough beds for all of us. We should stay in the same room.”
When Ascaria stats to speak about tactics, Eri holds a finger up and casts message.
If not, he just whispers. “I’d like to cast two spells on myself at the beginning. I like the idea of your protection spell, Ascaria. Fire is just right, I think. Should I start with just my bow in the beginning and save my more fantastical abilities until later? I feel like it might be wise to do what’s needed given what we see coming at us.”
As it is very late, Solrisa prepares for bed...though she is very excited. Still, she wants to do her best tomorrow and so tries to sleep. She will avoid the chit-chatting and talking and rabble-rousing this night, but may partake tomorrow night should we win.