The elf arrives at the appointed time, the succubi making way for him to go through the doors. He is greeted by a lone coloxus demon who bows to him. "What form of entertainment do you bring for the Mistress of Ruptures?" Assuming Aen answers he is escorted through another set of doors into a long hallway. Vellexia awaits the his arrival here, seated upon a radiant throne of ivory and obsidian that floats 5 feet above the ground. Her choir slithers in two gore-spattered cages to either side. Each of these cages contains a blood-soaked lillend that seems to have been completely broken. The bored-looking succubus looks at him expectedly.
All people can talk of is the impending championship bout. The Iron Prince Gorn is challenging the undisputed champion Gelderfang. There is even rumor that Gorn was of a mortal race!
The stands are packed to capacity though the rest of the party is able to get choice seats. In the skybox on the north side, the promoter Irmangaleth stands with a small metal box in his hands that he speaks into. "AND NOW FOR THE MAIN EVENT THAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING DAYS FOR, THIS IS FOR THE TITLE AND OF COURSE FOR NEW VIEWERS TO THE DEATH! THE CHALLENGER, HAILING FROM THE MATERIAL PLANE, HE IS THE IRON PRINCE, THE STEEL HEIR, GORN!" Which elicits a loud cheer from the crowd as they love an underdog.
With that, Gorn steps from behind the curtain onto a platform. Loud percussion-filled music plays signaling his entrance. This continues on for a few minutes, the crowd threatening to drown out the music.
"AND YOUR UNDISPUTED CHAMPION, THE BEAST INCARNATE, THE CONQUEROR, AND NO OFFENSE TO SHAMIRA, THE MAYOR OF SUPLEX CITY!!!! HE IS THE ONE THE ONLY, GEELLLLDERFANG!!!" And if the crowd wasn't on their feet already, they are now as the crowd cheers even louder. A more grandiose theme begins to play. Within seconds Gelderfang teleports to his platform, posing for the crowd. Though an incubus, he is a large muscle-bound specimen, endowed with four arms. He wears little save a loin cloth and simple boots. He wears his many battle-scars proudly as he stretches his wings and points to the hobgoblin. He gives him a thumbs down which causes the raucous crowd to get even more vocal. The incubus then motions with his hand for Gorn to make the first move.
Aen sighs and draws his curve blade, then begins performing a series of flips, tumbles, and leaps, as he weaves his blade into a flurry of maneuvers. The elf almost flies through the air, even running up the sides of walls and doing backflips back to the floor. All the while trying to make the most of his elven gracefulness.
Vellexia seems to be rather impressed as her lip curls into a smile. "You are an impressive specimen. And entertaining as well. Would you like the opportunity to perform and entertain at my manor, long term? I assure you that being my personal acrobat is rewarding.." She says with a wink.
Varda mingles with the crowd, feeling them out and dropping Gorn-favoring hints here and there, trying to subtly sway their opinions.
Varda finds that while the crowd isn't hostile to Gorn, atleast not yet, they are still rooting for their hero. Perhaps things will change as the match progresses?
Gorn-Rel focuses his mind and draws on a fragment of his divine power.
The sound of his iron feet resound in the stadium as he tramples the ground between them.
At the end of his combo of kicks and punches, Gorn-Rel gives the man a swift uppercut and then retreats back to where he began the match.
Gorn draws upon his powers striking swiftly, perhaps too swiftly as only four of his strikes find purchase. He attempts to tumble away but he is not quick enough as the champion attempts to take down the Prince.
As the prince falls to the ground, Gelderfang follows up with an elbow.
He then gets then gets the prince into a headlock.
Then comes the suplex!
Gorn-Rel's fury is unmatched. He reaches out and graps the demon's ankles, squeezing them terribly and attempting to pin his opponent.
Gorn deftly reverses the grapple, putting his foe into a submission hold. He wrenches on him, though the champion is still fighting. Gelderfang attempts to reverse the grapple!
Then comes another suplex!
He keeps Gorn in the hold for a second suplex!
He loses his grip and goes for a headbutt.
Gorn-Rel rolls away from the incubus.
He stands up with a surge of power.
The prince then centers himself.
He watches as the incubus bleeds.
Gorn-Rel regroups hoping a respite will help while hoping his opponent bleeds out. Noticing his opponent has left and his own wounds, Gelderfang flies to a corner of the arena, and he lets the arena heal him of his wounds. Gorn notices a spot in every corner of the arena similarly colored like the spot that Gelderfang is standing in.
Gorn-Rel could ill afford the demon regaining his strength, and presses the attack.
Gorn taps into his rage and keeps the pressure on the champion. He connects with nearly every strike save one. Though badly bruised, the champion still stands. He goes for the grapple on Gorn.
He then goes for the pin.
Then while he has Gorn tied up, he lifts him up to his shoulders for the finisher. Like an F-5 tornado he spins him and slams him down.
Like an F-5 tornado he spins him and slams him down. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to keep the prince down so with much desperation Geldrefang quickly knees the prince in the head.
"Go to sleep!"
The prince's divine energy absorbs some of the demon's damage.
Gorn-Rel laughs at the demon's command. Not in mockery -- no, whatever else, the demon was a worthy opponent -- his laughter was that attacking his body was the worst tactic. It gave the prince hope during this terrible battle.
He squeezes the demon trying to pop him like a grape
Gorn fights off the ringing in his head and reverses the grapple putting his own hold on the champ. After a few moments of fighting and struggling, Gelderfang is rendered unconscious before Gorn squints his eyes and snaps the demons neck.
The crowd is deathly silent. The promoter known as Irmangaleth speaks into the metal box again. "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT FOLKS! THE CONQUEROR HAS BEEN CONQUERED! THE CHAMPION HAS BEEN DEFEATED! YOUR NEW CHAMPION IS THE IRON PRINCE, GORN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The crowd goes wild cheering for the new champion. Strange flowers and plants are thrown at Gorn for tribute. Chants of 'Iron Prince' ring throughout the arena. It is almost deafening.
Later on back in Irmangaleth's office, the demon is shaking Gorn's hand. "Good job, excellent show you gave. As promised you are due a big payday and the championship belt."
"That you get for the win. But I can get you more if you sign an exclusive contract for me to be this city's champion. I assure you it will be worth it. The whole plane will know your name and what you can do. What do you say?"
Gorn-Rel breaths deeply and looks down at the limp body in his hands. I won. This battle was one of my most difficult trials and I prevailed. Demigod and prince he maybe -- but there is some awe and relief in his thought.
Gently, almost reverentially, the Iron Prince, lays the Gelderfang's body on the floor of the arena. He then lifts his hands above his head and roars his triumph. There cheers tasted like worship.
"My destiny is neither to stay in this city nor to reside upon this plane. I must respectfully decline your offer. However, I could be convinced to fight until my business here is concluded. Depending on what is on offer and the results of the next few days."
”A few whispers in the right ears might help extend the Champion’s stay”, Nash adds with a nod at Gorn. ”Whispers that get him an audience with Our Lady in Shadow perhaps.”
"Well let's hope your business takes a while then. We will have to find a worthy challenger for your title which could take some time. In the meantime we could set you up with some exhibition matches, lower pay, but not as deadly. More for practice than anything. We'll send you an interim contract once I has out the details? Sound fair?"
"That does not sound unreasonable."
Aen hesitates a moment, then bows to Vellexia. "I am honored by your offer, and would be remiss if I did not accept. However, I have something must take care of first. May I return in a day?"
"That is perfectly reasonable. I will see you back here." She says with a wink. Aenthurien returns to the party without incident.
Aen bows once more, then takes his leave, returning to the streets to find his companions. Once he accomplishes that, he informs them of his success.
"Do you believe this demon can be trusted, at least in the short term? It couldn't hurt to have a more powerful demon's influence on our side", Nash suggests.
"Maybe not then..." Nash adds in agreement.
"I don't imagine ignoring her request will work. Can you throw her off so that she's no longer interested in having you as her pet?"
Aen shrugs. "I have a feeling, not. I thought we were supposed to use her to make acquaintances. If I decline her offer, we'll likely only make another enemy."
"There's got to be a way to make this work to our advantage..."
You sense that Aen can decline her offer as long as she is placated /talked smoothly enough to. You feel as though getting an audience with her is enough to get the party notoriety.
"I think you've done enough just by getting her attention. Take Varda or the Prince with you, I'm certain they can help you talk her down and keep your rejection from turning into an offense", Nash suggests.
Aen nods and shrugs. Giving an appraising looks at Varda and Gorn, Aen frowns. "Maybe Gorn should come with me. I'll imply I have ties to and am more impressed by the new champion."
"Of course."
Gorn-Rel goes with Aenthurien. "I've heard that you are pleased with a member of my court, while I appreciate your desire, I still need his skills. Nevertheless, I have the greatest sympathy for your disappointment. Please accept these gems as a gift."
Vellexia looks over the offering. "I see. Well at least I had a chance to be entertained by him this once. This is sufficient, though if he would like to 'entertain' me again, I wouldn't mind." With that Gorn and Aen are sent back on their way to the party.
Aen tries to appear supplicating as he bows to Vellexia, then waits for Gorn to exit before following his leader. Once retrurned to the party, he explains what transpired. "What is our next move? We still to find a way to meet with Nocticula."
“You seem to be worthy of my attentions, and it would please me to grant them to you. Seek me at the Vault of Graves, for what I have for you should not be ignored. My guardians therein shall try to take you, but if you are the ones I hope you to be, they should pose no real threat.”
Aen considers the location of the Vault of Graves and where it might be located.
Aen recalls that the Vault of Graves is a building found on an island off the shores of the Terrace of Favored Mistresses and that it’s said to contain complete chronicles of all those assassinated by Nocticula over the eons. It’s also a place where she sometimes meets with visitors whom she doesn’t wish to expose to the wonders and horrors of her palace.
"Sounds like we've got a date", Na'shok grunts. "Also sounds like we should go expecting trouble. She wants us to kill off her guards."
"I hope she isn't expecting us to take their place," replies Varda grimly.