Nash finishes off a foe.
The rest keep fighting.
"I would fight here. What are the rewards for victory? Acclaim?"
After making it known that he is interested in competing, Gorn is led up to a skybox sized office overlooking the arena to meet with the heavily tattooed and obese owner, his sleazy look complete with balding ponytail.
"Of course! And the riches to go along with that. I mean if you challenge the current champion Gelderfang that is. If you somehow defeat him, you gain fame beyond all your dreams, money, and most importantly the championship belt. And if you make things entertaining for the crowd I might even throw in a bonus. But that is if you win. I mean he is undefeated. Are you sure you want to do this? I can't be held responsible if he murders you brutally. I would be annoyed if any friends of yours came looking for revenge because you bit off more than you could chew."
It is a Bebelith. 1 fact.
Na’shok plays to the crowd’s bloodlust, flicking the daemon’s ichorous blood into audience before turning his wrath on the enemies holding Larissa down.
As his companions filter away, Aen decides to visit the Rapture brothel.
This domed building of deep red porphyry is located in the Fleshmarkets at the heart of a tangled warren of buildings and sleazy marketplaces. Aen is directed to “follow the pointing doves of the Fleshmarkets.” Finding Rapture of Rupture is relatively easy once the secret is known—agents of the locale’s proprietor maintain a network of “signs” in the form of doves nailed to lintels or posts, their wings spread and decapitated heads replaced by pointing talons. Following these pointing talons brings the traveler to a dead-end cul-de-sac after hours of winding through the mazelike alleys.
Rupture Market is a plaza that is always crowded with desperate performers and beggars eager to earn the right to show their stuff to Vellexia. Most of them are ignored and eventually give up, starve to death, or are beaten to death by frustrated fellow performers.
A night hag resides in a tent, surrounded by various musical instruments.
A sign written in Abyssal hangs over a tent entrance, proclaiming
“Appointments.”
Aen reads the sign, then moves into the tent. "Is this where performers come to display their prowess?" He asks in Abyssal.
The succubi staff look Aen up and down. "What's your talent?"
Aen nods to the succubi. "I am skilled in the art of acrobatics." He states.
Varda ponders for a moment, then pews it.
"I guess we will find out."
"Limber, eh? Alright, we'll put you down for an appointment in days. See you then." The lead succubus winks.
Varda hits with every arrow, dealing massive amounts of damage though it still stands. It spits it's sticky webbing at her.
But the wily dorfadin dodges!
"Well alright then. You will challenge the mighty Gelderfang after the next moonrise, which is in four days. I need time to promote the fight. What is your name by the way?"
Nash slashes at a daemon while Larissa struggles. The one grappling Larissa hisses at the horc.
"Alright you win. Now let us go or your whore is killed. We're done fighting"
Aen stiffens at the subtle rebuff, then bows and exits the establishment. Frustrated, he strides through the city, looking for his companions or troubles, whichever comes first.
Varda smiles pleasantly at the demon and unloads another volley into it, pausing momentarily between each shot to be sure it doesn't want to surrender.
Na'shok scoffs but then shares a glance with Larissa.
"Fine, take your dead and flee. Tell any that ask that Na'shok of Baphomet defeated you on the streets of Alushinyrra."
Aen makes his way through the city to find Nash and Larissa. He sees that a group of robed skeletal demons are taking their leave away from the pair, badly injured as a crowd of demons is cheering on the horc and the succubus.
The thanadaemons let go of Larissa and take their leave. Nash sees a familiar elf make his way towards him.
The demon doesn't surrender and is peppered with arrows and falls to the ground with a thud. Most of the locals seem to moving to avoid the dorfadin now.
Varda glares at the fallen demon for a moment before continuing her nice walk around the city.
Varda finds no other trouble on her stroll though she does see some merchants plying their wares. Perhaps they have information to sell as well?
Varda wanders over to the merchants' stalls and listens to their gossip.
The first thing that Varda notices is that while the merchants carry some of the usual magical goods, the prices are all much lower than one would find on the material plane.
The second thing that Varda learns is that an ankou demon named Nezirrius is in town. There are whispers that she is also a highly skilled assassin. Though for who or what is unknown. It seems to have everyone on edge though.
Aen greets Nash with a nod as he approaches the man. "How have you fared? Myself, not that well. I was told to return to the Rapture in a few days..." He says with sigh.
"Well enough", Nash explains as he helps Larissa up. "Those daemons were powerful. Their defeat should help gather Noctula's interest."
"What did you have planned for the Rapture?"
Varda attempts to determine if the merchants are often in that particular location (or if not, where they'll be), then heads off to find the rest of the crew and update them on her progress.
Aen shrugs at Nash's question. "I was going to perform a series of Acrobatics and martial maneuvers as a sort of.....interpretative dance." Shrugging again, he sighs. "It was the best I could come up with....."
"Gorn-Rel, the Iron Prince."
"Alright then. Simple name, but I can make it work. Just come back and face your destiny." And with that Gorn takes his leave and meets back up with the group.
Finding information is fairly easy. Almost everyone in the city has seen at least one of Gelderfang's matches. He is a known brawler and grappler enthusiast. He has been known to crush people with his four powerful arms before tossing them and then ripping their limbs off or snapping their neck. His strength is said to be legendary and he shrugs off powerful magics assuming they even affect him. He is technically an incubus though not like any other of his kind. And if he only had power he might be beaten, but he is also a cunning strategist, using the unique arena to his advantage as he is a veteran and knows it like he knows himself. Any weapon in the arena is a tool for him if he feels like it. His only possible weakness is his hesitance to use his magical gifts, preferring to rend his opponents the more mundane and brutal way or perhaps his arrogance. Though is it arrogance when he is the undisputed champion?
Aen follows alongs, keeping quiet.
"Hrm. Sounds like he's got no exploitable weaknesses", Na'shok explains to the prince when they reconvene. "You'll have to beat him by your own strength and skill alone."