"Ohhhhh impressive indeed... a mighty warrior this one. I shall abide by the old ways if this stand in champion does as well... but will he...? The old ways say the challenged can request a fight to the death... or is that too much for you?" Valkin asks seeking a reply.
"Brother, I'm up for anything. Someone bring us a horn of mead. Let's toast the gods and pray they find us a worthy sacrifice. We may see each other again in the afterlife."
Kithariel bites her lip, worried about Antonio, but shows no other outward sign of her concern. "Do be careful, Anton, you know not this man's skills and capabilities... I'd not like to see you die." she whispers to him.
"I don't plan on dying, but if I do, you can have my stuff."
Once Antonio agrees to a duel to the death flagons of mead are brought out and prayers are set. Duel custom is no magik and you fight in breeches, bare chested with longswords or battle axe and shields. A large area is cordoned off for the fight. Valkin walks forward with his men as Antonio gets ready.
"I'll let you choose weapon and shield first so you can claim no mischief on my end."
Antonio declines a shield. He frowns as he examines the puny weapons on offer. "You don't have anything larger, like a greatsword or a falchion or a greataxe?" If he must choose between the two, then he will select a longsword and wield it with two hands.
Antonio picks his sword and then notices Valkin has not undressed to just breeches nor has he taken his drink of mead. When others ask Valkin why he is waiting to get ready Valkin replies "Well since Old Garram was allowed to choose a champion for this fight I will exercise that right as well. Helgi here" Valkin points to an older man bare chested and walking up to the tankard of mead"owes the Dragonfangs a debt and I paid Halfdan for that debt so that debt is mine to collect and I choose to have him fight you in my stead. You chose the terms of the fight so it is a fight to the death, yours or Helgi's." Valkin says aloud and smiles at Antonio.
"This is most unusual!" Jarl Ulfensson protests standing up. "Helgi is an old simple farmer!"
"You forced the old ways in this fight Jarl. This is part of the old ways." the Dragonfang Tribe leader Halfdan Fenriksson calls out challenging the Jarl on the decision. Jarl Ulfensson sits down showing an inability to do anything about this change.
EIther this Helgi is a ringer of some kind, or Antonio is being set up to kill a man with absolutely no business being in such a fight. One way or another, it's going to be a massacre... Antonio will be a pariah for such a slaughter if he wins and dead if he loses... either way, he loses.
Kithariel frowns in consternation...
"Choosing an old man to fight? Thats the cowards way. I thought you Dragonfangs were warriors not milk drinking children.Or do the old ways make you out to be cowards?"
He began pushing his way through the crowd.
"Now before you go saying you know nothing of me being an outlander thats fine... I know something of you, You have a yellow streak trailing behind you, ... whether that is from your cowardice or the piss you are leaking I dont know."
And with that the elf spat right on the mans boot.
Antonio is disappointed and losing interest. He responds to Valkin, "You offered me a fight to the death, and fearing no man, I accepted. Since Helgi is to be your champion, the terms were never yours to offer. They are for me and Helgi to discuss. What do you say, old man? Shall we fight until first blood, unconsciousness, or submission, whichever comes first?"
Under his breath, he says to the elves, "I don't trust these snakes. Do you see any poison on the blades?"
(look for poison)
Being suspicious the elf will cast detect magic.
Tanariel checks for magic and detects none on the weapons and shields brought for the duel. Antonio does not see any evidence of poison on the weapons and appear to be in good condition, usable to fight off an orc raid.
In a lowered voice Valkin laughs off Antonios comments.
"I did not offer to fight you friend. You volunteered to fight in Garrams place. That was your doing. Once The Jarl insisted upon the old ways I merely used those rules to pick my champion. Helgi has a debt to pay and he freely chose to fight you after I called that debt in. Helgi stood in shield walls and beat back orcs and even helped kill a troll... many years ago. You decided to the death and that cannot be changed. You could always let him kill you if you are angered about this. But then Old Garrams head would be mine. Which life will you save... an old farmers life or the precious Snowfox shaman?" Valkin says and turns around to walk outside of the dueling circle.
Some of the Jarls men talk to Helgis cousins and come back to tell the Jarl that Helgi owes a sum of money to the Dragonfangs for borrowing money to purchase farm animals when his were killed by plague. If Helgi refuses to fight then his wife and grandchildren become thralls to the Halfdan Fenriksson of Valkin. If he dies then his family is free. That is why he is fighting.
There is no treachery in the duel. Valkin is just using this as an excuse to strain the Jarls ability to rule. As do most Dragonfangs when they can.
Antonio makes a mental note to strangle Valkin with his own intestines.
"I don't mind sending Helgi to the next world. The way I hear it, I'd be doing him a favor. This could be his last chance of feasting with the gods."
"You and I agreed to fight to the death, Valkin, but you aren't the man I'll be fighting. I don't think that's legal. Helgi has to agree to the terms. I need to hear it from him. Is this what you want Helgi?"
Is there any from the old man?
As the crowd is watching the dueling area one of Jarl Ulfenssons men comes back to the Jarl and whispers in his ear. The Jarl then motions for someone in the group, other than Antonio, to make their way to him to speak to him.
When that person reaches the Jarl the Jarl tells them "One of my huskarls spoke to some merchants and found out that Helgi owes Halfdan a sum of 1,000 pg. Valkin only asked to use the debt as an excuse to get to Old Garram and has not actually paid Halfdan yet. He was probably going to pay the debt off with the spoils and winnings from his fight. Halfdan is almost dwarf-kin cause he loves gold so much. If someone were to offer to pay off Helgi's debt to Halfdan I am sure that man would take the actual coin instead of the possible coin. As Jarl I cannot interfere and show favoritism but none of you are Jarl..."
Kithariel turns to the others. "I've only got seventy-five gold but I'd be glad to put them in if we can come up with enough... I know slaughtering an old man is NOT Antonio's goal here."
"I don think we could amass the amount needed to cover such a debt."
He said lowly with a frown.
Perhaps some sort of an agreement can be made in exchange if we are set on paying another's debt? Anchard sighed. Maybe our goals align in some unknown way, should the gods fate it so.
I do not think we have the amount of money she says, agreeing with Cerian.
As the group begins discussing what course of action to take, Tanariel feels the Jarls wife place something in her hand obscured from the vision of others. When the elf looks down she sees a leather money pouch. Peeking inside she sees a collection of coins and stones worth more than the debt sum. Looking at the Jarl and his wife the elf wizard sees them nod in agreement ever so slightly and she is reminded of the comment that the Jarl can not interfere.
the old man looks up at Antonio and says "If it were up to me I would rather be at him with my family than fight you. You are a professional and I did it out of necessity. But the fates have put us here so make it quick if you decide to do it and bury me with my weapon."
I have something here which may help she says as holds up the bag and jingles it so that the change can be heard.
Anchard raises a brow at the length of time the man needs to consider Lady Tanariel's offer, but says nothing to make things weird.