Zar'zan would stand, finding no modesty necessary whether it be displayed to the public or not.
"Angry!" he would growl. "You are the one spying upon us in the most personal of times? Perhaps you would like to meet the wrath that beast out on the field faced earlier!" he would finish with a sneer
Despite his apparent anger, Zar'zan's eyes would wander to the rod Bandy seemed to use for controlling the crystals. Perhaps including the one still safely wrapped away in his room.
"No thanks! I'm quite content watching from the sidelines." Bandy said with a grin.
Moving on, he positioned a crystal near another gladiator.
"How about you?"
Spitting upon the ground, Zar'zan held back nothing.
"Words of a coward if I've ever heard them. You use us for your amusement, but fair the repercussions of getting into the ring yourself. I have better things to do."
Still drenched from head to toe, Zar'zan would start to pull his pants on.
Big Blue chuckled.
"Bandy was half of the duo that held the doubles title for three seasons."
"I don't like to toot my own horn." Bandy shrugged. "Today's about them, after all."
"Diappointed. My training served me well in the race, but obviously I haven't learned enough. Yet there are more opportunities ahead of me where I can prove my worth."
Who doesn't like tooting own horn? The Orc's brow furrowed as confusing thoughts filled it with questions.
"Would have won if hadn't gone backwards. But at least I got to make holes in people."
"Indeed you did, Gwrr! I'm sure Ryujin was quite concerned when you climbed aboard his sled."
"Did my best to make him sleep off his worries."
Gwrrr'rrr pulled a wire brush out of his pack, and brushed the bits of people out of his tusks.
Having dragged himself off the sodden turf after getting some degree of assistance from the track officials Lorth lamented his armor. "Ruddy great big hole in the front now... pity that" poking a finger into the rent where a certain crossbow bolt punched through. Turning to Magnus, he gave his faitful marsupial companion a firm handshake, reaching upwards so that his hand closed around the roo's paw "Jolly good show old chum, shame about the ending... but can't be helped." before turning his hand to severing the bonds that the arena staff had put on his poor steed and returning the kangaroo to his furry birthday suit. Only then did he move off in search of the baths as instructed.
Once there, Lorth fished out a mustache protector from his belongings and shielded the tar-laden slug from the predations of the steam. When Bandy came near he caught Lorth at an awkward moment "I do say good sir, would you mind?" gesturing behind the interviewer "You're rather blocking my path to the urn and I can't fathom continuance until I've at least a cup of brown joy on the steep."
"Oh, pardon me." Bandy said, floating out of the way. After Lorth had passed, he looked into his crystal and said "I have no idea what he just said..."
Lorn was almost falling asleep from exhaustion. The hot water felt so good, although he worried slightly about its dehydrating effect on his hair. Slowly Lorn stepped out of the bath, overhearing Bandy's confusion while drying his hair he said:
"It's toilet time, although I think Lorth also wants to bring a cup of tea. Either that or it's tea time but he needs to take a dump first. I'm not sure."
He grinned at the hovering gnome.
As Big Blue Badass lead them down into the baths; Joboo was just glad to be out of the cold. He didnt like when he couldnt feel his long fingers and toes and he didnt really like when his fun parts shrunk! He supposed that a master of heads would be an important person and was sure that he would want to talk to such a smarty pants gobbo like himself ...mesa got big brains in here!.. he though as he tapped the side of his skull.
As soon as he saw the large, heated pools of water he ran by everyone and jumped spreadeagle
to land in a splashy bellyflop. He then swam around as froglike as he could; spitting streams of water at the flies and drinking some too.
Karlov stripped himself of any clothes he had when he caught sight of the baths. He was cannon-balling his way into the baths in a heartbeat. with a big splash, he came to relax.
"Yes, this is very much well deserve," he said with a sigh, as he slowly sank into the warm waters.
Gwrrr'rrr saw how many people were floating in the baths, and considered. Wonder if temperature go to boil? Would make good stew pots.
Melashara sat in her bath, frowning at the hot water. She waved her hands in the air, then pointed a finger at the bath, blasting an icy ray into the center of the steaming water. The water slowly solidified, and the witch smiled with content as the spider-webbing ice spread across the surface.
Well Bandy, she said, with only her head and part of her hair visible above the icy bath. I'm looking forward to the next match where I don't have to depend on an unreliable man to help me win. The witch then looked into the camera orb and winked, ice crusting on her eyelashes and then breaking away.
The rest of the weary gladiators piled into the extensive baths, giving their muscles much needed rest.
Bandy flitted about, interviewing everyone. The crowd roared above with the start of the next match. The gladiatorial stables were bustling with activity.
Medics administered unguent and applied poultices, numbing aches and pains. Magical healing was applied where necessary.
Simple white cloth robes were brought for them, well tailored with their names stitched across the backs. On each was a rune in the shape of a stylized snowflake. The majority were black. For those that had survived to the end of the bout, they were grey. Ryujin and Melashara discovered that theirs were silver. Lorn's and Karlov's were gold.
"Black means you fought. Grey means you fought well. Silver means you got noticed. Gold means you won."
Lorn admired the robe adorned with the golden snowflake rune.
"So Big, how does this work? Do we get respect by walking around in this robe? Will I be set free? Are we getting paid to stay? And more importantly, when's the next fight?"
At the sight of the his robe, Karlov cracked open a smile bigger than the Worldwound.
"Oh ho! This is an honor!" he said as he donned the robe. "I am very happy to be recieving this. I am proud of my work and of my partner."
He went over and draped his arm on Lorn's shoulder.
"Today, we are golden brothers!"
Ryujin wore his silver robe with pride, admiring Mel's silver robe as well, "Congratulations on getting MVP with me Mel, you earned it with your performance out there. A great job Karlov and Lorn! You truely deserved the win!"
Joboo had crawled from the bath and shed his dripping clothes as the medics tended to him. As feeling returned to his extremeties he howled and the giggled as the clerics poked around looking for others injuries. All done he put on his new robe with wonder. He was fond of the color as well despite not being flashy like the others he knew his grey one would blend it well with any surroundings.
"Congratulations, all of you."
The man who strode into the bath chamber had a friendly grin on his face. He was taller than average, wearing simple black pants and a matching high-collared vest over a loose white shirt. A stunning longsword rode his hip.
He nodded to Big Blue, who stood taller and gave the man a fist-to-heart salute.
"Those of you with grey, silver or gold emblems, take a walk with me."
He did not wait, he simply turned and began moving to the practice yard.
In short order those that decided to follow were separated from the rest, following this man into the yard. Other gladiators gave way before him, some nodding respectfully as he passed. A strange spiked lion snarled in it's cage as it was rolled out into the arena gates. The crowd beyond was roaring.
The man walked through the Hall of Names, where the busts and relics of champions were displayed. Through another door and they were spiraling upward. They found themselves walking through a lavish viewing box. Below, three spearmen moved in a strange fighting style, moving as if they were one single creature, their shields and spears rolling and thrusting as they ran and jumped, keeping the bloodied lion-creature at bay.
They did not stop. Through another door and along a catwalk, and they found themselves outside the arena for the first time in weeks, looking across the spires and skyways of the legendary city of Arch.
Outside of the arena and with all that open space beckoning; Joboo's first instinct was to run. To run as far and as fast as his short legs would carry him. But then he remembered he was here of his own free will and something about this tall human told him there was something really big gonna happen and he was being asked to be apart of it. He kept his toothy grin shut waiting to hear what the man had to say.
As the gladiators followed Darian, Melashara moved up beside Ryujin, waiting until the others had some distance between them so she could speak to him with no one else around.
I just wanted to say congratulations to you too. You fought with great skill and honor, and had you not been paired up with that dishonorable lout of a partner, you would have won. I have never seen any outsider brave the cold as you did. My people would call you the 'Soul of Winter', and you would have been a champion among us. And my people know the cold, not like the sheep here who shiver when a warm breeze tickles their neck. I hope I don't have to face you in the arena.
She quickly nods her head in farewell, and hurries off.
Curious more than anything, and sated now that his stomach had that rosy glow about it newly filled with the tannish / brown nectar of the gods, Lorth followed after the strange man who seemed to cow the ogrish one into respect. Huffing slightly by the time they stopped as he needed to hustle to keep his short legs apace with the longshanks, Lorth composed himself... and awaited enlightenment.
Not wanting to waste his improved reputation, Lorn joins the rest of the group as they follow the man with a impressive longsword.
Ryujin heads over to Lorth and holds out his hand, "Sorry about the head stomp. Just wanted to let you know it was nothing personal." Ryujin continues to follow the rest of the group.
Are they going to try to throw us off? What we doing up here? Wish I had something to block some of this light.
The Orc shaded his face with his huge hands and waited to see what the Human had to say.
"Take a look around." the man said with gravity in his voice. "You've all heard bits and pieces of what this city is about. You've been a part of the games. You've come through the Doorways from other places. You've seen Door Street. You've heard that there's a a lot of money to be made here, and the best training anywhere. That's all true, but there's more to it. The games are sort of like the first tier in a series of tests. A lot of people never push beyond it. You might."
He turned and scanned their faces, nodding to himself. "It's not enough to be good. What we're looking for isn't skill. Anyone can be good at something. We're looking for truly exceptional people. That starts with certain inherent behaviors."
The man gestured looking at Lorn and Ryujin "Take you two. Two hours ago he kicked you in the head. Nearly killed you. Now you are standing next to each other. The lot of you would take out all the stops to hurt each other for no reason other than a game and a chance at victory, and when it's all over, none of you hold grudges. Some of you even like each other. There's respect for each other's skill and a pride in action. Even when bested, for you it's not a loss. It's a lesson."
He pointed a thumb over his shoulder at the skyline again. "That's what the city needs."
"My name is Darian Kale." he said, hooking his thumbs into his belt. "I am the headmaster of the Arch Academy. I am offering each of you an apprenticeship."
"If we prentice...we still get to fight? If no more fight here, will be time Gwrrr'rrr go. Orc for fight, not fetch."
Joboo snickered at Darian's description of the fighters' 'behaviors' and use of big words. He knew what a 'apprentice' was. The shaman of his vilage, Slorb; had one named Sticky but he was stupid gobbo that was always getting his hand stuck places and he never learned how to listen to Chief Gutwad's words. Even though Joboo played dumb he was a crafty goblin. He heard all of the important words that Darian said despite the silly, long ones. 'Lots of money' and 'best training anywhere'.
Mesa accept! Yous teach me better sneaky, sneaky and slicey dicey? And lots of mula? Mesa in. Whensa we gonna start?
"If we prentice...we still get to fight? If no more fight here, will be time Gwrrr'rrr go. Orc for fight, not fetch."
"Oh, there will be plenty of fighting. The main difference is that you will learn how to fight as a group, rather than being out for yourselves."
Surprised by Darian's offer, Lorn isn't sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing what he's offering them.
"And what if I decline?"
Lorn wonders if he's already earned his freedom but doesn't want to remind anyone, Darian specifically, of a remaining punishment.
What will I do if I can walk away? Where would I go? Maybe hanging around with these buffoons isn't such a bad idea for now. Although I'm not going to be some grovelling slave!
Lorth smooths his tarred mustache as he quickly ponders the opportunity. It does not take long before he waves a hand in a gesture of magnanimous beneficence "But of course good sir, I accept... I assume of course that the offer does not exclude my companion Magnus?"
Karlov nodded.
"As long as I still have chance to fight, I will take this work. We can all be good friends. It will be happy time!"
Ryujin nodded, "I too am in. Any experience provides the chance for growth and perfection."
Count me in. We can't leave the fate of the city in the hands of men, can we?
Surprised by Darian's offer, Lorn isn't sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing what he's offering them.
"And what if I decline?"
"Then nothing, Lorn. You go back to the arena." Darian shrugs.
Nodding to Lorth, he simply says "Of course."
Looking around to the rest, he asks "Any other questions?"
"Sound good to me."
Although the arena sounded better than "back to jail", it struck the simple minded barber as a better idea to just join the rest and take his chances with whatever Darian Kale would bring them.
"mmmpppf well, fine then, I'll join you too."
Being so small; Joboo was used tobeing overlooked. Which he used to great advantage when getting the drop on enemies. So he reasked his questions.
Whensa we get paid mucho mula? Whensa we gonna start?
The sly little goblin looked around at the others and thought they must all have been struck dumb for some reason. Not surprising really considering their brains probably bounced around inside their huge skulls. He idly picked his nose of a particularly annoying booger and flicked it indisciminately.
"Right now.
They found themselves led to the academy grounds, their meager belongings waiting for them when they arrived.
They took the underways beneath Door Street, bypassing the bustling hub. A group of dwarven workers made way for Darian and the new Apprentices, nodding, one giving a thumbs up and grinning "Good luck, scrubs."
When they arrived they were shown to the apprentice rooms, which were set up as a large, round common room lined with bookshelves, tables, exercise equipment and other comforts. Doors were set into the walls all around the ring. A second and third floor balcony overlooked the common area. It was empty.
"You are all three days early. Other rooms will fill up then, so pick yours now. Single rooms are on the third floor. The rest are doubles. The bigger doors are for larger folks. Likewise with the smaller. Go pick one and dump your gear. We have two more stops."
Joboo quickly ran looking for a single room with a small door on the third floor. He preferred heights so this was an ideal situation. Once there he will shed his robe and check his pack to make sure that all of his gold was still there. He hid most of his stuff under the small bed. Tucking his dagger and kusarigama into his belt along with his money pouch he'll return to the common area. He was excited to be something that felt...mucho, mucho big!.. and his toothy grin stetched ear to ear.
Lorth looked around the facility for stables and was somewhat despondent when he discovered none available. Settling for one half of a ground floor double room near to the entrance he was back and waiting quickly. "At your leisure my good man."
Melashara will look for a single room, stow her few possessions there, and return quickly, ready to begin.