Baguta slinks back to the far end of the bar and nurses his ale, keeping his ears open.
Gesha smirks at Baron. "Business huh? Simple Business is that I fight part time for small events but I am still committed to the grand fighting arena in this city. You are a very interesting man though. Few men even consider mentioning the work "pleasure" around me especially after they had their asses handed to them in a fight with me. You are by far one of the oddest I have met. But I like that about you. Now, what did you have in mind? What is it you need from me exactly?" She looks at Baron waiting for his more "professional" proposal
"Well Gesha, we find ourselves in a bit of a pickle so to speak. Our current client is requesting a tornament of very skilled knife fighters to help prove that his boy is the greatest. So he has blessed us with hefty advance of gold, so I have money to pay for any great leads one of your popularity might be able to show us? And maybe to test out some of your other skills later on in the night." He finishes with raising his eyebrows.
"Though you most know the prize is great for this event and we will only excepting the best knife fighters this city has to offer and the lordsh...I mean my client has affinity towards female fighters, hence why I started up the chant for you. So my lady could you lead us to any fighters such like this?" When he states starting the chant he winks at her then waits with his roguish smile for an answer.
She snorts. "I am the only female knife wielding gladiator there is in this city. I am also the best knife fighter even among the men. Trust me when I tell you there is no other."
Leon maintains his silence, listening to the Baron's investigation with intrigue.
"My dear I don't doubt you but I thought your skill was hand to hand not a knife fighter. Though hmmm........" He puts his hand on his chin as he goes deep in thought then suddenly hold up his finger with an answer. "A simple test can prove if your knife skills are good as good as your brawling." He draws one of his daggers and holds up the handle towards her and points to one of the signs on the wall about the distance away that the Lady was when the assasin threw the knife at her. If I can't get that distance in here we will take this party outside. "Simple test, just hit that over there from here. You can use your personal blade if ye want. Hit it and I'll put your beautiful self into the competition." He says with his roguish smile.
Gesha looks over the dagger and then at Baron with amusement. "You want me to throw a knife in a crowded bar? We'd get thrown out you dummy." She looks around. "Let's head outside where we wont scare anyone."
Gesha takes Baron and any of his friends who wish to go with outside to an alley. The she points at a sign a little further than the distance you would have liked to see. She then readies herself not taking Baron's dagger but drawing one of her own.
It is the same style dagger as the one in the evidence room. Same unique design and everything.
She does a quick dancing bit similar to how she fought in the ring with Baron and let's the dagger fly. It misses the sign by just a few inches. She growls. "Grrr knife throwing is really not my thing I use them much better in melee. That's how I prefer to fight. Last time I threw one of my daggers I never got it back. These things are a pain to make.
Lady Vorannia applauds delicately at the toss.
"A bare miss. If it had been but a little higher, your throw would have been perfect."
"Do you have a patron, Warrior Gesha? I think I should be interested in striking a deal."
"I think the reason its off might actually be in your footing." He bends down and points to the foot prints. "See the big toe needs to be perfectly straight...." As he explains he studies the print to see if it matches the one made of plaster at least the best he can.
Yep its the same foot print.
She glares at the Baron. "How dare you! I am a senior warrior of the Umgari Wardancers. I am trained to perfection. My footwork is flawless. My throwing arm was injured a while back and that is why I cannot throw to perfection."
Looking to Veronnia, Gesha shaked her head. "No I work alone and on my own terms."
Jen heads outside in case there is any trouble. :)
Baguta pays his tab as the rest of the group starts heading outside, and waits a few seconds after Jen walks through the door before stepping and and being "on his way". He begins to stagger down the road a bit before ducking in an alleyway to watch the show.
Vorannia nods her head at Gesha.
"Wise woman. I would do the same in your boots. Perhaps I could instead speak to some of your previous employers. I would love to know the type of work you have been doing. I think you'll fit in well with the job I had in mind." She pauses, dramatically. "A little more research and I will know for certain."
Gesha shrugs. "Mostly I do tournament fighting. Trust me, when your an outcast like me its hard to get any kind of work other than fighting. I tried my hand at assassin work a while back but failed to get the target. Just goes to show that you need to stick to what you know. In fact that was when I lost one of my knives. Stupid decision and an annoying line of work. Especially when your boss is an ass."
"My apologies my good women didn't mean to insult your style. In my family the knife throwers would have there foot work a little straighter." He holds up his hands. Buying time while he thinks of what to do next.
Umgari Wardancers are a tribe of fierce barbarians who focus on dexterity as opposed to strength. They gain great AC benefits from this. The barbarians don't wear armor, or any clothing for that matter. They are a tribe of nudists who rely solely on agility without the encumberance of armor. They are known to custom make their own weapons. They are known as wardancers for their unique style of fighting. They lived outside of Borallas for centuries. When the other neighboring nations went to war with Borallas, the Umgari did also.
When the orcs came the Umgari were wiped out. The few survivors tried to seek refuge in the city they had previously warred against. A tribe of hot headed nudists did not fit in very well and they were pursicuted to near extinction. Now only a few remain.
It is also important to note that they are more up front warriors and are not known for being assassins.
Leon also goes with the group outside. He hangs in the back of the group and leans over to Jen and, pulling her aside for a moment, says quietly while the others are talking, "So what do we do when we think we've found the assassin... take her ourselves, or report back with what we know?"
Baguta's ears perk up at the mention of the Umgari, whom he has heard talk of when selling vegetables to the import clerks of Borallas.
Jen whispers back. In my experience on the streets, if an assassin is allowed to escape, they can never be found again. So we'd have to take them back ourselves.
"Obviously your talents belong in the ring not working for cowards. Give me and my partners a moment to discuss your performance." He motions to Lady to follow him and moves over towards Jen and Leon, then gives Gesha a 1 minute sign.
He whispers to the group, "I think we should invite her back to our closest safe house, and make her an offer to give up the one who hired her. I think she would give him up, since she was just a lackey for our true criminal. But what do my mates think about this?"
"I do not bargain with murderers," says Jen quietly, but firmly. Then her stance softens. "I forget that I am not in my native element. I cannot actively take part, but do what you must; I will turn my back. And do it quickly too!"
Leon nods to the Baron, "Okay, that sounds like it could work. We're here as backup, in case it happens to be needed, but let's hope it doesn't come to that."
Baron nods to Leon, "Okay will do Leon, now what do you think of this plan My dear Lady Krellin?" He waits for a response from the noble.
"I was about to suggest intimidating her into giving up her employer's name, but if you feel invitation will be more successful, by all means, continue." The words are a mixture of truth and irony.
"Very well then I think we are agreed, lets hope my lucks better now then it was in the ring." He winks at the group and then starts to talk louder, "So we have decided, EXCELLENT!" He moves with skip in his step over to Gesha and holds out his arm to escort her, "My dear you pasted the test, let us go to one of our offices and hash out your deal and then do some celebrating. And maybe you and me can slip into some more traditional dress for the Umgari?" He says with a roguish smile.
Gesha looks at Baron's arm confused but shrugs. "Alright lets get this over with." She seems less enthusiastic that early but is willing to tag along all the same. She does not take Baron's arm though
You return to Baron's apartment with her in tow. Once you arrive she looks around. "Nice place. Very Simple. Not as hoity toity as some of the places rich gamblers drag me. So what is this deal? Let's make it quick so I can get to bed. I have a match tomorrow in the grand arena." She really looks more impressed with the locale than with your offer.
Baguta follows the group discretely from a distance. After everyone piles into the apartment, he searches for a good hiding spot until morning, or Gesha leaves, whichever comes first.
As Baron gathers a nice bottle of wine and 3 glasses he makes sure that Leon is blocking the door. He offers the gladiator a seat and makes sure he is in the way of the window as well. Baron places down the glasses and fills each of them up. "My dear Gesha, your fighting skill is impressive and should be wasted that is why I offer you this current deal. You see that assasination attempt you made didn't fully go unnoticed, my friends and I have been hired to find out who is behind it." He holds up his arms peacefully if she jumps up, "You see your attempt failed so your crime isn't the one I care about it, the one who hired you is who I am truly after. Between the evidence I have and your own boasts about it. I am willing to let you go if give us the name and location that "ass" that hired you. As long as the information is correct and leads us to the real criminals then I can let you go free. I think its rather a good deal but if you don't agree to these terms we will have to turn you into the local authority." He stands up taking a big gulp of his wine and looks to her, "So if take a drink and let the Drunken merc help you with your decesion."
Gesha stares at Baron listening to his whole story without budging. When Baron is done she smirks. "Ass is right. Man cursed up a storm when I told him the assassin thing wasn't going to work. He tried to kill me. So I simply killed him. Don't know who ge was or where his body is now. He told me that he would procure my freedom and all I had to do was kill this one person. Some rich girl he didn't like or something. He didn't go into to much. It didn't matter, I was a slave who was offered freedom. Who wouldn't do that? Now it seems it doesn't matter. I guess I should have finished the job since you came after me. Regardless, I know how this is going to end. Me back in the arena as warrior slave." She stands up and holds out her arms. "I am used to being a pit slave so lets get this over with. Shackle me and take me to the guards. After all, we all hate it when someone tries to kill someone important right?" she stands waiting for you to arest her. It is hard to tell if she is serious or daring you to try.
"There's no need for that, I don't think." The Lady Vorannia speaks out. "Can you remember anything interesting about the man who hired you? How did he come to find you?"
Gesha lowers her arms. "I don't know much. At the time I was a slave to the arena and I did not have the luxery of agruing with my masters. All I know about him is that he had enough money to set me free and that he wanted me to kill some rich chick to earn it. He was extremely ungreatful when I had fail. He tried to kill me so I killed him and dumped him in a river"
Vorannia perses her lips in thought.
"How did he purchase your freedom? From whom did he purchase it? Perhaps there is some record of this transaction."
** spoiler omitted **
Baron stares at Gesha while she answers the Lady's questions, trying his best to read her body language.
Gesha snorts at the mention of the purchase. He bought me from my former master Galan Lebanc. A complete and utter ass. Man tried to have his way with me too often and when I refused, he'd pitch me in some rough battle against animals. He knew I could survive but not without a few scratches. I hate fighting animals. You can find him at one of the nice places around the arena or in the arena stables "looking over" his combatants. Mostly women."
You've heard of Lebanc. He is a noterious gambler and owns a few fighters slaves in the arena. He is known for his "Amazon Tribe" Stable. A group of all women fighters. He has other male warriors but they are no where near as popular or favored. Especially in team vs team matches. You don't know the names of any of his warriors or previous warriors. Gesha is likely telling the truth. As far as slavery in the arena goes, well, it is very widely accepted as a way for run down warriors to pay off debts. Some people are raised to fight in these arenas to earn their owners money as well. No one has ever been successful in putting a stop to this especially in recent years.
"So these Amazons...are they merely performers in the gladiatorial arenas or are they actually excellent warriors in their own right? And you say that many are fighting to pay off their debts, not because they are held there by force?"
An idea begins to formulate in Jen's mind.
Leon stands to the side of the group, satisfied with the group's questioning of Gesha so far, but he keeps his mouth closed for now - as if wary of or possibly even intimidated by the powerful woman.
"I know of this man Lablanc and will check that lead, but I don't know if it will be enough to get you off the hook. Hmmm....." He looks towards the Lady, "What do you think my dear Lady?"
"Obviously, Lebanc needs to be... questioned. And any other witnesses to the exchange. Even the minutest detail could be significant in helping us determine the man's identity."
"I think that can be arranged, I believe I know where it is but my sweet pit fighter do you know a could place we could approach him better?" He fills up his glass and offers the two ladies a refill, "Don't worry we'll make our questioning with him a lot more painful." He gives a devilish smile with that last comment.
Vorannia's eyes lit up a little at that, and she releases a rare smile.
"You do know what to say to make a girl happy."
"Of course I do know what my lady likes." He toasts his wine to her and takes a drink.