Shakhan methodically dodges the attack and suddenly grins as his prey fell into an offensive trap. His axe draws a vicious snarl across the chest of Yacoub leaving him reeling.
Giddy with excitement, Lady Thrune clutches at the Spider King's throne arm, nearly upsetting a spider that had decided to perch there.
"You see! Already, blood flows. A masterful stroke, Shakhan!"
Shakhan's grin is positively predatory as he follows through with a second swing that completes the bloody cross now forming on Yacoub's chest.
'Sir' {Captain} Vlado Drafir steps forward and crouches over the body of Yacoub his breathing growing excited as if in expectation of something joyful...{Rasp~}, {Rasp~}, {Rasp~}...
Vlado touches the chest of the fallen warrior and there is a flash of silvery light and Vlado curses yanking his hand back as if hurt, "Bah, WORTHLESS DOG!!! He still lives!! {Rasp~}...Again no feast of suffering, for the Lord of the Pit!!! {RASP~}"
Standing, Vlado turns as if... annoyed and stalks over to the bookie to collect lady Thrune's winnings...
"heh," Shakhan radiates satisfaction of combat. His old ring instincts afire with the hum and drone of the spectators. He clears his axe of excess blood by slashing it through the air, then steps out of the ring, his axe raised in victory.
Mindful of her companion's disguise spells, Una nods carefully.
"If such accomodations can be arranged swiftly, I believe I will. We must return to Cheliax before nightfall."
"I must ask my attending priest if we might be allowed a brief respite from the normal duties of our sovereignty."
Mindful of her companion's disguise spells, Una nods carefully.
"If such accomodations can be arranged swiftly, I believe I will. We must return to Our Ship before nightfall."
"I must ask my attending priest if we might be allowed a brief respite from the normal duties of our sovereignty."
Shakhan looks at Risdin, then over to Devargo. "We have a deal?"
Risdin nods at the Spider King.
"Very well. We will be here."
He walks over to Shakhan to see if he is still in one piece, then signals for him to come with.
"Let's move out"
As Lady Thrune,
"Why not allow the victor and his manager to dine with us, particularly if you have just concluded a business deal? It sounds like just the proper time to celebrate."
She lowers her voice so only Devargo can hear her.
"Or did you have other intentions?"
"Or did you have other intentions?"
Shakhan sizes up the Hellknight that accompanies the Chelish lady, then mutters, "Bluddy zealots. If we stay, then get some girls from the Cloud."
Risdin stops and turns to Shakhan,"It's up to you, victor. I don't mind staying a while if we are not unwelcome."
With surprising grace, Una rises from the chair with a slight curtsy to Devargo. "That might be an interesting topic to pursue at another time. Perhaps on my next visit."
"By your grace, my servants and I shall adjourn to the Goldenhawk to refresh ourselves. But before we go, allow me to present this fine gift in appreciation for your hospitality."
Una holds forth the velvet-lined box, removing the lid and pulling forth the statuette of the succubi. She holds it carefully, rotating it to show its fine qualities (and ogle-worthy tidbits).
Shakhan nods, satisfied with the progress. Looking on as his opponent gets dragged out he grins grimly, "Good. I'll freshen up over at the Cloud. You coming too, manager?" He's off only moments later, enjoying the squeeky-clean, round-the-world bathing option that the Cloud offers to discerning clientele.
{Sir} Vlado nods to Hytogg, "You may want to run your errands, priest...{Rasp~}, Ere her ladyship needs to make ready...{Rasp~} to take her leave."
Vlado taps the face of his visored helm as if pondering a tight schedule - hoping Hytogg gets the fact that the disguise potions need refreshing.
Hmmm...Yes I suppose I do have that matter that must be attended to" "Hopefully the offering plate will begin to fill with coin instead of being drained"
With his 35 minutes Ashe will also go to the "House of Clouds" and ask to make use of an appropriate mask of a half-devil from their store of costume clothing so as not to disturb Lady Thrune's appetite while eating with someone so horribly scarred as he. I'm sure with the many 'exotic' requests from their patrons... they will have something appropriate. He'll drop 5 gold on the purchase, if needed, but he does not mention payment at first unless they seem obstinate for pay. The half-mask should allow him to eat and not reveal his complete cloth-wrapped face without his visored-helm getting in the way.
Shakhan enters the Spider King's chamber just short of an hour later, looking quite pleased for a man who calls a grim brood the norm. In spite of what else must have happened in the Cloud, he nonetheless seems clean and washed. "Sorry I'm late. Some... parts are hard to wash." He sits down, a bit uneasy at the finery of the table. He nods to the lady, "I'm Shakhan. You've seen what I do."
Lady Thrace meets Shakhan's gaze directly with a secretive smile of her own.
"Yes, I have, and you do it quite well."
Asherick accepts the mask but makes a quick retreat from the "House of Clouds", not comfortable in a Whore House; but confident none of the 'Ladies' will bother so obviously a disfigured and brooding man.
{Sir} Vlado, makes no comment, merely nods in acceptance of the pit fighter's presence, his 'breathy' wheezing not as prominent without his Iron Full Helm, but his face is wrapped in clean cloth ...almost mummy-like with a red painted mascarade ball half-mask depicting a devil's handsome horned visage covering his features. Only his less obscured lips show the puckered flesh of disfiguring grotesque burns. He does not look Shakhan in the eyes.
He seems... 'Ill, at ease...' reclining in... comfort, but makes no complaints or comments.
After seeming excited about leaving with Shakhan to the Cloud, Risdin parts ways once out of sight. He finds a quiet area overlooking the water, and spends some time taking in the air.
He keeps an eye on the cloud for the reemergence of his fighter. Once Shakhan is back on his way to the Eel, he quickly steps in behind him.
Inside, he is momentarily surprised by the silverware, only to quickly realize the Spider King had not specifically purchased these items. Fenced goods, more than likely.
Regardless, he sits down. Waiting for the others to become their loud selves, and knowing his lip is not as sly as he wishes in a place like this.
As Lady Thrune...
"What do you think of us Chelish, King of Spiders? Are we not a strange lot?"
(Megan, let me know if you want me to roll Charisma checks with my conversation. I'm not good at diplomacy or information gathering, just copying what I've observed (which is the main way a fighter learns anyway))
Shakhan is fine with just enjoying, though he has some trouble with the finery and etiquette. He feels slightly out of place, but since it isn't hard to enjoy roast pork, he doesn't mind putting up with it.
{Sir} Vlado, comments with some irritation, "There is a Cheliaxian ambassador here in Korvosa... {gasp~}, but he has not 'deigned' to reply... {gasp~} to any polite request for his time!"
"Captain Vlado speaks correctly. And I have heard... alarming things about the ambassador's behaviors."
{Sir} Vlado, replies, a sardonic smirk on his burned almost featureless lips, "Ask??? Heh!!! {gasp~} I am familiar with men such as this Amprei, Ambassador 'HA!' {gasp~} Politeness gains one nothing with his sort...{gasp~}, only his selfish ends matter to him! Coercion works best with his kind... {gasp~}! Do not trouble yourself, 'Lord Spider'...{gasp~}. I only made the attempts on behalf of Lady Thrune...{gasp~} while she was here in Korvosa seeking the courtesy of the Ambassador...{gasp~} to entertain the Lady on her brief visit to your fine city. There is no more time for...{gasp~} 'niceties', we leave on the morrow.
He pauses his lips forming a scarred hideously seared facsimile of a smile.
But rest assured... {gasp~}, ere our return to the capital... {Gasp~}, his superiors will hear of his rudeness to her ladyship! The name Thrune demands respect! {Gasp~} And your accommodating efforts, 'Lord Spider', {Gasp~} will not be forgotten or unappreciated..."
Lady Thrune takes on a cold demeanor.
"As Captain Vlado says, we do not have the time to meet him now. I am insulted enough that he refused to see me the first time. However, I am interested to know about these letters he wishes to keep hidden. I had hoped to return to the capital with a glowing report of your hospitality, and the amenities you offer here. I know a number of nobles who might be eager to participate in the pleasures that are your fare, King of Spiders... It would be... sad if I could not do so because you refused to share vital information about our own ambassador."
Shakhan's face darkens at the naming of Amprei, his teeth are predatory as he includes: "Perhaps we can share efforts, there are... unresolved things between me and Amprei."
Still with a cool demeanor, Lady Thrune looks over the warrior barely containing his rage.
"The dinner table is no place for such violent displays, Shakhan. Bottle that up for your next victory."
She looks to Captain Vlado, as though questioning, and he gives her a cursory nod.
"I see no reason why we cannot share what we know about His Excellency. From what I hear at court, his time as an ambassador may be somewhat limited."
Lady Thrune is dismayed.
"I had hoped you might be willing to turn them over in the name of friendship. I have already spent some amount aquiring this beautiful figurine for you."
She gestures to the figurine of the two succubi, placed at a position of honor on the table.
"Surely it, and my continued friendship and good will should be enough for your coffers? However, in the interest of friendship, I will offer another 300 gold pieces for the remaining letters. Consider that I do not carry the wealth of Cheliax with me; only what I need for necessary purchases. This figurine is of considerable value, however, and I do not think I have seen the like of it before in my lifetime. Similar ones, perhaps."
"Captain Vlado, perhaps you can explain our situation better than I. Your honor among the Hell Knights has never been questioned."
Lady Thrune looks over at Shakhan and Risdin.
"It seems they also are interested in the information you have, and I believe you were concluding a deal. Perhaps they have something else they can offer you."
Grinning, Risdin sits back in his chair and listens to the discourse. He flattens his grin when Una addresses him.
"Well, this is certainly something we are interested in, as you well know."
"So you know we want what you have, Spider King, but what do you want?"
"On the one hand we could follow through with the plan we proposed in our previous discussion. The monetary gain from that little endeavour would far outweigh what coin we could give you right now."
"...and with a quick feel of my purse, I'm not sure we could offer you as much as the Lady.
"So it really comes down to how desperately you need money, and how much your time is worth."
Diplomacy: