As the cheers of the crowd die down, Jobasha ceases his display and stands there eying the Katapeshi man.
Desimo my old friend!!! I heard you are seeking to new slaves for your Ludus...I heard the last group all got massacred in the last showing by the Ludus Golden Lions of House Taliso...heehee...
There was an obvious disapproval on Desimo's face.
Alas I cannot sell them to you my friend...as my price is out of what a meagre Ludus like yours can afford anyway. I heard the Ludus Midnight Falcon of House Scorpio is coming, they would have the funds to pay my price...maybe you can consider those slaves over there??
The slaver master points to a caged wagon of about 14 Garundi slaves.
Shut it dickless prick! How much do you ask for them?
The slaver master rubs his chin as he considers and replied with glee.
10, 000 gold for all 8 of them.
10, 000 gold for only 8 slaves??? You might as well rob me and burn down the Ludus you blood sucker fiend.
Desimo replied with an incredulous look. He turned around towards Jobasha, Owyn, Xem and spoke
You three there you meant what you just said? You will fight and kill if I give you the chance?
[Oy! Stop yer prancing around like a dmn fairy ya sheep-shaggin keech-brained s@%+e-bag., an be buyin' us already! besides I'm growin tired a lookin at dat effin dickless keech of a salve master. [/b]
He stares at the buyer hoping to garner a look.
Come on ya no good pajama wearing ijit, or aint ya got da balls ta buy us all
Ahh a dwarf!! And a funny one at that too...a joker is always good for entertaining the crowd
Tell me short slave, what do you do before you end up in this s~*~hole?
"Of course, as long as it is true that I can gain fortune and fame by doing so. I have lived a lifetime of hunting and killing people for money. You may have heard of my trial for serial murder right here in Katapesh. It doesn't matter whether I do it inside an arena for sport or outside the arena to eliminate your enemies."
Breunnor stares right at the man eye to eye
I killed the undead horde that plauged the Zolurket mines
that was until we were betrayed from with me own ranks. And doubt the gods will ave the power ta stop me from killin that Son of a potfaced hooker ifn I ever find him again
Desimo chuckled.
Fame and fortune will seek you in the arena if you kill as well as you claim. Nevertheless a catfolk in this part of the world is a rarity.
Use that and survive the arena...maybe someday you will get your revenge...if not you may seek it in the afterlife..
Desimo turns to Treiden, Garrison and Owyn and touched their biceps, chest and butt cheeks noting their tension and strength.
Desimo nods in approval before asking.
So tell me what do you do before this?
Desimo replied with an incredulous look. He turned around towards Jobasha, Owyn, Xem and spoke
You three there you meant what you just said? You will fight and kill if I give you the chance?
Xem looked the man over from his post, his few wounds and bruises minor things.
"I will kill and spill hot blood of those who challenge me. I will curse my enemies with fear and pain, slowly building to their ultimate failure. I will steal their honor and fling their broken bodies intothe abyss that is shame or death. Just buy me and I will gladly do all this."
"I trained extensively in the martial arts under the instruction Master Shen in his monastery The House of the Weeping Serpent. I honed body and mind through the cleansing techniques my master had perfected through years of practice. I gained great honor and regard as his highest pupil. And now I am an unsold article of property to be bought and sold at the whim of careless men."
Desimo nods at the various slave's answers and rubs his chin.
Quilius I am not going to pay 10,000 gold for them.
Desimo mistrustingly looks at the slaver master and grabs the slaver's crotch. The slaver looks startled, and in pain.
Not a chance the slaver replies. He grunts as Desimo squeeze tighter
Let me guess...you got your sources that House Scorpio is coming today from a relatively unknown informant by the name Zainis Bulit?
The look in Quilius face gave him away.
Silly fool, we planted him so that the greedy merchants like yourself would let loose their best merchandise to poor Arena Masters like us..what makes you think the great House Scorpio would peddle from a third rate merchant?
Desimo released his grip on Quilius crotch with one final squeeze.
5,000 gold for the whole lot of them including that wagon of 14 Garundi slaves.
There was a brewing anger on Quilis face and before he replied, Desimo walked up and whispered something into his ears.
There was an immediate change in Quilius face from the brewing red to a ghastly white upon hearing the whispered words.
Just pay me the gold and get the hell out of here.
Desimo bows and smiles before ordering the guards to release the slaves and load them up on his own wagon.
The guards released all 8 of the slaves and pushed them into another caged wagon as they started their journey to their new home.
Looks like it's the pits for us eventually...even so House Scorpio would have been good...
Ezer looks at the group in the caged weapon and shakes his head.
Xem chuckles to himself as they are led away. He had seen the way this man who had bought them had maneuvered the fat man without mercy until he had no choice but to surrender or be utterly defeated. There was no honorable pretenses here just power and those that could use it. He would enjoy killing for such a man.
He rode silently smiling disturbingly in the back of the wagon.
Treiden trudged along like a good dog when the masters loaded them into the wagon. He sits stone-faced with his back straight as it moves along to wherever his owner had decided to bring them. Looking at the knowledgeable Garundi curiously he asks, "What is your name, Garundi? How do you know so much about these places?"
I grew up in Katapesh. My father is an archeologist and brought my family out to live with my distant relatives with the garundi tribes in the desert when I was twelve years old. He never told us why until...this man Oranius Balonis claims that my father is a snitch and sold valuable information to the Aspis Consortium. He killed my entire village and sold the rest of us into slavery...
There was a sad look in his eyes.
My name is Ezer. That man who purchased us is a famous gladiator himself when I was young by the name Desimo Otari. They used to call him the Slicer due to his meticulous method in killing off his opponent. He now serves as an Arena Master for the House Mendes....the last I heard they ranked last among all the other Ludus in Katapesh...
@Desimo
I can make you and your master gold outside of the arena as well. I trust there are many injuries in this line of work. If you can procure me the ingredients I need, I will happily supply you and your master with many healing potions. All I ask is for a few simple herbs and things to make my mixtures form me. I will make you wealthy Desimo.
Garris says these words after they have been bought.
"I, too, can make you money on the side. I specialize in hunting humans."
@Desimo
"For fifteen years I have seen off brigands and deserters from my uncle's farm. I am thus a skilled fighter, and a watchful guard. I can also promise you my loyalty; I fairly sold myself into slavery, and it would be dishonourable for me to divest myself of it by underhanded means."
well be glad to know ye does have the balls. now that we be headin' off ta these ere pits, which I can be only assumin ere. Just thought I be tellin' ya. I ain't just another pretty face but I learned the forge since I was a wee laddy. craftin' weapons being me specialty.
now ya be expectin us ta be fightin' then we be needin' weapons and last I be checkin' they don't be growin on trees
A talkative bunch we have here aye?
Desimo chuckles.
Garris and Breunnor your skills seem valuable...maybe if you survive your first few fights i might consider your offer then...
Owyn you are a fighter aye? And a volunteer into slavery..interesting...and lizard spawn as much as Quilius deserve to die he is a pretty important a+!#$*% in my business.
Come on, how long does it take to get into my own house?!!
Desimo shouts out loudly to the driver of the caravan.
As the caravan reached the Ludus, the slaves peeped out of the cage looking at the structure. It is not lavish but decent by Katapesh standard.
It is a converted jail with prison cells out to hold slaves and wild Katapesh lions. The wall of the compound contain the two story main structure, underground vaults and gardens.
As the caravan passed the gates, the gardens housed inside the walls of the ludus are designed to be a place of tranquility in bustle of the city of Katapesh. It contains date palms, sycamores, and tamarisk a variety of grapevines and hanging plants are also growing on latticework in this area of the ludus. There are also two aqueduct-fed pools just outside of garden, from which the slaves draw their water.
The main building of the lodge is a 2 story structure, built out of white limestone blocks, with copper-reinforced, wooden doors. Statues of two sphinxes flank the entryway. An emblem of a Nightingale over 2 crossed blades can be seen on a white banner flapping gently in the scorching desert wind.
In front of the line of slaves, as they are being dusted with lime for pests and disease. A Katapesh lion is seen in a cage as he is being fed human parts, while vultures tear at the remains of a pile of corpses. Other slaves are exercising their skills as one is seen getting impaled with an arrow.
The guards gathered the 8 slaves and the 14 garundi slaves in the training grounds as Proximo addressed them.
I am Desimo. I shall be closer to you for the next few days, which will be the last of your miserable lives, than the b+#$~ of a mother that brought you screaming into this world. I did not pay good money for you for your company, I paid it so that I could profit from your death and as your mother was there at your beginning, so I shall be there at your end. And when you die, and die you shall, your transition shall be to the sound of...
Desimo applauded.
..Gladiators, I salute you.
Now to put actions behind those wonderful promises you swore to me during our trip here. Let's see if you are good to hold a sword or good to eat one.
Unimpressed with mere words, Owyn nods and steps forwards. "I fight best with sword and shield, my lord. With them I can wear down and then cut down any man."
Lets see how far those words can go. All of you maggots pick up a wooden sword and board and try touching me.
Onimais gestures for the slaves to pick up the wooden sword and shield on the weapon racks by the side as the slaves faced Onimais one by one.
Garris takes a short sword out of the rack but turns his nose up at the shields. He grips the sword tight and charges at the man.
smart in deed, but you should no I do not fight in such a way He says as he stabs the sword into the ground. I will make you very profitable my master. I trust you to help me gain worth[/b]
Garris drops to a knee and lowers his head to his master.
Xem picks up the sword and swings it around a few times testing it disdainfully. He uses a moment of Guidance on himself and wats until oneof the others is attacking the man from the front before dishonorably charging him from behind.
Falls back cursing in Tien as he hurls the shield and sword away. He knows he would never fight with such a clumsy weapon in the arena.
Treiden listens to Ezer's unfortunate tale intently though he remains silent. When the Gurundi mentions their unabashed purchaser was a former gladiator of some renown, he racks his brain to remember if he had ever heard of 'The Slicer'.
********
The solemn monk peruses the sword rack until a familiar weapon comes into view. The peculiar curved blade of the temple sword looked foreign and utterly awkward carved from wood but its balance was more or less the same. He takes a moment to get accustomed to its weight while a few of the others charged headlong into the towering Shoanti's masterful bluffs.
When his turn comes, he carefully advances on his target with the temple sword in both hands. Seeing an opportunity he strikes quickly then follows up with a backhand swing at the tribal's opposite side.
Owyn removes a wickedly curved scimitar and a light spiked shield from the rack. Raising both, he charges at Onamis and thrusts both out in a quick succession.
Breunnor calmly looks over the rack not finding his ideal weapon and ends up settling a battle axe and shield.
not me best choices but will ave ta do. no ya no good lousy sod come at me. or aint ya man enough ta come at an armed dwarf ya bed wetting, daisy sniffin bar wench
"Lets not waste time with these toys. We know how to fight and I'll gladly prove it using my own style."
He took a stance that seems a strange bastardization of Dragon and something else. He held his hands up ready to strike the man should he be provoked by his words. Just because he failed to hit him before didn't mean the man had right to judge him by one attack.
Ezer picks up a sword and board and charges at Onimais.
Onimais slams Ezer into the ground and shouts You are dead!!
Onimais! So tell me can they be trained?
Desimo asked with arms crossed across his chest.
Onimais looks at the panting slaves.
Most of them can fight..not too sure about that dwarf and Garundi slave.
But i say yes, if they survive their Novitus fight then we will have something to work on.
Onimais nods and then addressed the slaves.
I am Onimais Shaoti and I am the weaponmaster of Ludus Nightingale Blades. Listen to me as I was a former slave like you, but I learn how to fight to the sands. This is not some wossy swordplay you do, this is life and death. Fight to the death! Now fight with each other and I will guide you on those areas you should improve!
Giving Xem no time to prepare, Owyn sidesteps closer to him and rams his sword into his gut, followed by a shield to the face.
Jobasha makes a 5' step and attacks Garris with his paws without extending his claws
(nonlethal)
Treiden sets aside the clunky wooden sword and gives a formal bow to Chasik as they square off against each other. He gives his fellow slave a moment to put gather his thoughts before rushing forward to grab the reptile by the shoulders and force him into an easily manageable position.
[dice=CMB (Grapple)]1d20+10[/dice]
Breunnor takes note of a weapon he had missed the first go around. he drops his shield and axe to pick up a wooden ball on a chain.
he takes his position and begins his twirling the weaighted end of the unusual weapon. then he puts his strength behind the thrust with the weighted end.
Got Balls Ezer?
EDIT: cannot update map at this tim I have outdated browser issues right now
Breunnor takes note of a weapon he had missed the first go around. he drops his shield and axe to pick up a wooden ball on a chain.
he takes his position and begins his twirling the weaighted end of the unusual weapon. then he puts his strength behind the thrust with the weighted end.
Got Balls?
Garris takes a mighty swing back at the cat.
-2 is Power Attack
Damage
I too fight in a bestial manner like you friend, but I need my elixir to do so
"A good blow indeed" Jobasha snarls
"I fight better with claws out though"