44: The Irregulars vs the Jade Ravens

[Ebiris]

[14:03] <@Ebiris> After hearing the Anowian Ambassador's presentation about Zameinan instability and receiving their hard earned reward, the foursome leave the embassy behind and wander back onto the streets of Salerno, most of the city laid bare from this high vantage up on the Arena District's cliffs. Up above the dark clouds continue to drift closer, though as yet it remains dry. But after such a talk, the group surely has more than the weather on their minds...
[14:05] <@Rudy> "Let's find a pub or something," suggests Rudy; his somewhat extravagant lifestyle has left him with some knowledge about good places where they can sit down and have a quiet chat over drinks.
[14:06] <@Henrietta> "Instead of going straight to Lady Vanderboren?" Henrietta asks in surprise.
[14:07] <@Rudy> Rudy blinks. "Well, I thought to have a frank discussion between ourselves..."
[14:08] * @Henrietta inclines her head. "If you feel we should, then I have no objections."
[14:08] <@Lucie> "Frank discussion with drinks is alright," Lucie says with a shrug. "Don't much care. Are we running against an hourglass or something? It's not like her ladyship needs to know just this second."
[14:09] <@Rudy> "Quite. We should think about ourselves as well," points out Rudy, veering into a local establishment. "This will be more than a simple purchase of land and a few words from m'lady to the local court."
[14:11] <@Ebiris> The Six Swords Tavern is just down the street from the embassy, in the shadow of the great oval complex of the Arena itself. Inside the party quickly find a table by a warm fire, a friendly young tavern wench fortifying them all with frothy ales for their consumption.
[14:13] * @Henrietta gives Rudy her undivided attention once they are properly seated.
[14:14] * @Lucie lounges in her chair and sips calmly at the brew while waiting for whatever it is Rudy's preparing to propose.
[14:21] <@Rudy> "So I think this is worth doing, but to get the best outcome, we're gonna have to be in the thick of it ourselves," states Rudy. "I ain't all up on wartime politics, but it seems to me that anything can happen in Zamenia if the Collective folks do seize control, right? Sure, the best outcomes would leave m'lady with stacks of extra land to go camping in, but the worst would see her with angry
[14:21] <@Rudy> foreigners burning it all down and sticking up their own flag."
[14:21] <@Rudy> "So I figure we're gonna have to actually go there to keep tabs on what's happening. See if we can get friendly with some of the collective leaders, get 'em listening to us and us listening to them. I think we can rely on Miszen to come through, but getting some guarantee or something concrete from her beforehand would be the best way to handle that.
[14:21] <@Rudy> "Only question I'm wondering is what we're angling to get out of it ourselves. This is big stuff! I mean..."
[14:21] <@Rudy> He frowns, and lapses into momentary silence.
[14:24] <@Lucie> "Could be Lavinia'll have more land in the end than she can cover herself, maybe she'll need someone she trusts to sit and take care of it for her?" Lucie speculates. "If being a secondhand landlord's your thing, I mean."
[14:24] <@Henrietta> "Well, I must say it is hard for me to see the worst outcome you brought up," Henrietta admits, frowning lightly herself. "Lady Vanderboren would only buy lands on the right side of the border, and a nation torn by civil war is very unlikely to invade successfully."
[14:25] <@Glenn> "It does put her at risk sooner if her land -is- near the borders than if not, though. How likely is it she will even want that sort of risk?"
[14:26] <@Henrietta> "That is, well, you must agree it is her decision to make," Henrietta responds to Glenn. "We cannot make the choice for her, so all we can do is proceed on the assumption that she would, indeed, make the attempt."
[14:26] <@Lucie> "Guess it depends on what's there, right? Land's only as good as what you can do with it. I don't know much about the area."
[14:27] <@Rudy> "Y'never know," cautions Rudy. "I mean, there's some creepy magic going around these days. What if some lunatic gets his hands on it and starts throwing it around?" He shrugs. "We also wanna make sure any Isernian, er, interventions go smoothly, right? So we gotta be there." He pauses. "That does have a kind of appeal, I gotta admit. You get a title with that sorta position, right?"
[14:28] <@Rudy> He smacks his face a moment later. "'course, if there is any weird shit, it'll probably be Isernia itself that's responsible. Damn..."
[14:29] * @Henrietta nods. "It does appeal to me, to achieve this of my own power. And it appeals to me, too, to help those whose lives would be otherwise be destroyed by any of the worse options available. Quite naturally, I am willing to be there in person to ensure it all goes properly."
[14:29] * @Lucie nods. "Best thing to come out of this--for us, I mean--is to get some land of our own for helping out with this. Hard to do that in the city, everything's tied down already. Right pland the right time, though, maybe you could do good for yourself out where borders are moving,"
[14:30] <@Lucie> ."
[14:30] <@Rudy> "Y'think so?" asks Rudy, eyeing Henri. "Putting it like that, ain't we gonna be part of the problem?"
[14:31] <@Henrietta> "It depends on how you, well, define the problem," Henrietta responds. "To the Collective, certainly. But to the people who are either living in poverty, in slavery or under threat of brutal invasion from their other neighbor, we could ensure their lives proceed as comfortably as we can make them."
[14:33] <@Glenn> "Speaking of making lives comfortable...We'd also have to deal with requests of asylum from people trying to get out of that mess," Glenn adds. "How does one handle that? I mean, how does one pick and choose who to let in and who to turn away or something?"
[14:35] <@Henrietta> "If it were up to me, I would let everyone in."
[14:36] <@Lucie> "Can't let everyone in," Lucie says. "Have to draw some kinda line or you'll just get freeloaders flooding your place. Can't feed everyone."
[14:37] <@Rudy> "Mmhmm. Besides, the Collective'll probably be grabbing all the poor farmers," replies Rudy, thoughtfully. "We might luck out and just get the rich talent coming in, and they'll be begging us to take their money, I bet."
[14:38] <@Henrietta> "The concern of the Collective for the poor is genuine, I feel," Henrietta voices, "but their stated solution would never work. It would, if anything, perpetuate poverty. If they get their way, that land would stagnate for generations."
[14:39] <@Rudy> "It won't work because it can't work. People are greedy fucks," replies Rudy, grinning. "Now if everyone could get along and agree they deserve just as much as the next guy, it'd work, sure."
[14:40] * @Henrietta covers her frown with a mug of ale she drinks from. "Well, then," she says, placing it down, "are we decided on the important part, at least?"
[14:41] <@Rudy> "Sure sounds like it. I just wanna make sure none of us gets halfway and then starts having second thoughts," replies Rudy, inclining his head.
[14:43] <@Lucie> "Which is?" Lucie says, taking a drink and swallowing. "That there's a windfall in it for someone's got a sharp eye for opportunity? Sounds right to me. I'll have to go out there and see it myself before I know anything for usre, 'cept it sounds something we could build on if we get in at the start."
[14:43] <@Henrietta> "As long as we keep three things in mind, I cannot foresee any problems," Henrietta agrees. "If we do this, we are doing this to benefit Lady Vanderboren, the people of Zamenia and ourselves. Is that correct?"
[14:44] * @Glenn nods at that while drinking some of his own ale.
[14:44] <@Lucie> "Don't see why it can't work out that way," Lucie allows.
[14:44] <@Rudy> "Sure, presuming the list is open to reordering," replies Rudy.
[14:45] * @Henrietta nods once more. "We can all have a different order to them, as long as we omit nothing."
[14:45] <@Glenn> "I think all of us rank ourselves higher than some strangers, so that's kind of a given, Rudy."
[14:46] <@Henrietta> "I, well, I was actually thinking in that order..." Henrietta says, trailing off awkwardly as she looks about herself.
[14:46] <@Rudy> "See, that's why you'd make a good noble, but a terrible banker."
[14:48] <@Henrietta> "Umm, thank you?"
[14:49] * @Lucie shrugs. "I don't know the people of Zamenia, so how could I say I'm looking for them more than for myself? But they couldn't be any worse off on our side, right?" Another shrug.
[14:51] <@Rudy> "So let's go tell m'lady the news, shall we?"
[14:51] * @Lucie finishes her drink, stands up. "Yeah."
[14:52] * @Henrietta opts to leave her drink half-full, standing up after Lucie.
[14:55] <@Ebiris> So heading out into Salerno once more, the group make their way down towards the Merchant District where their noble patron dwells, but on the way they run into a group of familiar faces crossing the bridge between Merchant and Cudgel districts - the four Jade Ravens are coming in the opposite direction, seemingly ready for a fight given the gleamingly polished armour that Tobin is wearing. The rest seem dressed for the weather, with Zani wearing a heavy black cloak and Karkus in thick brown robes. The only exception is Liamae who's wearing a red and gold sundress that as per most of her clothes looks to have barely survived a savage knife attack going by the amount of skin it's showing. Tobin raises his armoured arm in a wave, but Zani speaks up first. "Lucie!" she calls - not in a very happy tone, it must be noted - and starts outpacing her comrades to rush over with a stern look in her pitch black eyes.
[14:56] <@Rudy> "
[14:56] <@Rudy> "Fff-"
[14:56] * @Glenn waves at the group politely as they come into view.
[14:56] * @Henrietta raises her own hand, picking her hat off her head, and returns Tobin's friendly wave while entirely ignoring whatever personal issues Zani and Lucie might have.
[14:57] * @Lucie halts in her tracks. "Whuh--Zani!" She can only be baffled by that angry tone, and ramble on with what she would've said anyway: "Hey, glad you're okay, I saw you at the casino but then things got messy and I sort of got pulled away afterwards. Didn't know you hung out at that sort of place, wouldn't have pegged you for the gambling sort."
[14:59] <@Ebiris> "Yes, I saw you!" the elf nods curtly as she stops before the oracle, her comrades ambling over more casually with expressions ranging from bemused to amused as their rogue goes on, "Why did you invite me if you just go away as soon as you saw me? I had to pay ten gold to get in, signed away my soul, and then got accused of murdering the owner! I would never have gone if you had not asked for me!"
[15:00] <@Rudy> "I'm dead," mumbles Rudy, eyeing the edge of the bridge.
[15:00] <@Henrietta> "You murdered the owner?!" Henrietta exclaims with a gasp.
[15:01] <@Lucie> "Me?" Lucie says with obvious confusion and affronted pride. "I didn't invite you!" A hasty addendum: "Not that I wouldn't have if I'd known you wanted to go--wait, what about the owner?"
[15:01] <@Ebiris> "I did not!" Zani whirls on Henrietta in a blur of snowy-white hair. "But he was found stabbed and because people had seen me use my daggers - against the robbers - they thought I was the killer!"
[15:02] <@Glenn> "Oh, ouch, that must have been a pain to deal with," Glenn mutters. "Sorry we didn't stick around to help out."
[15:02] * @Henrietta gasps once more, this time in sympathy. "You were falsely accused! Oh, this is terrible!"
[15:02] <@Ebiris> "Obviously she sweet-talked them out of that idea," Liamae puts in with an amused chuckle.
[15:02] * @Henrietta whirls upon Glenn in shock. "You were there?!"
[15:03] <@Rudy> "Oh, god! I'm so sorry!"
[15:03] <@Lucie> "Stabbed, huh?" Lucie says with a distracted look. "Was wondering about that. Anyway, look, you got out of it, right, so there's no problem now?"
[15:03] <@Henrietta> "You did it?!" Henrietta exclaims, not sure how many shocks she can take today.
[15:04] <@Ebiris> "It was obvious, he was killed in some corridor and I was on main floor not more than one minute before robbery started and guards came right after," Zani huffs, her gaze finally locking on Rudy. "You. You told me that Lucie wanted to see me at Golden Gremlin Casino."
[15:04] <@Lucie> "He did, huh?" Lucie eyes Rudy.
[15:04] <@Rudy> "
[15:05] <@Rudy> "Are you saying you didn't?" asks Rudy, straightening up.
[15:05] * @Glenn rolls his eyes and nods at Henrietta. "Somewhere in the background, yes."
[15:06] <@Henrietta> "I do not know what is going on anymore," Henrietta mutters, giving up on the entire affair and drifting closer to Tobin and the rest of the Ravens to observe.
[15:07] <@Lucie> "Yeah, that's what I'm saying!" Lucie challenges back. "If I'd known she was looking for me, I would've stuck around!"
[15:08] <@Ebiris> "It could've gone badly for Zani there, but since she got out okay it just makes for a funny story, I figure," Tobin puts in with a grin as Henrietta drifts closer. "Hey, we're going off to the Arena, do you four want to come? You can see me take on all challengers!"
[15:08] <@Ebiris> "If he does really well I want him to take a fall so I can win big betting against him," Liamae adds with a grin of her own.
[15:08] <@Rudy> "It was meant to be a surprise!" retorts Rudy. "I didn't expect the night to be so action-packed!"
[15:09] <@Henrietta> "It sounds interesting," Henrietta muses. "In fact, it sounds better than a date I was on where my date apparently invited another woman along. Just in case, I suppose? Dreadful, utterly dreadful."
[15:09] <@Ebiris> Meanwhile the elf just glowers. "Next time pick a quiet tavern or something," she suggests, looking between Rudy and Lucie. "Sorry, Lucie. He tricked you as well."
[15:11] <@Lucie> "Yeah, well--" Lucie's softens her tone, drops an accusingly pointing finger. "Alright, appreciate the thought now I think about it, much as a cock-up it turned into. Maybe he should spot us another night out to make up for it."
[15:11] <@Ebiris> "Was the other woman his nanny or something?" Tobin scoffs, "Tell you what, if I win big I'll take you out on a proper date, Henrietta!"
[15:11] <@Ebiris> "Aww, so I can't come as well?" Liamae pouts up at the armoured figure.
[15:12] <@Rudy> "You asshole!" snaps Rudy, withdrawing a glove and bashing Tobin across the face with it.
[15:13] * @Henrietta is unable to do more than stand there and stare in shock.
[15:13] <@Ebiris> Tobin's head snaps to the side before he blinks owlishly and looks down at Rudy as if uncomprehending what just happened. The other assembled Jade Ravens either go quiet or emit "Oooooh!" sounds.
[15:14] * @Glenn is likewise quiet, looking at Rudy in surprise.
[15:14] * @Lucie stares openmouthed. Her mouth moves quietly for a moment, then: "Guess we know who we're watching in the arena today after all."
[15:15] <@Ebiris> "Oh... I get it!" Tobin says after a moment, brightening. "Did Myra feel neglected when you took Henrietta out and have to come along as well?" he asks Rudy.
[15:16] <@Rudy> "Firstly, ladies, I deeply, humbly apologize for ruining your evening," begins Rudy, sweeping into a bow. "Anything I can do to make it up will be done. Secondly-" He rounds on Henri and points an angry finger at her. "Maybe it would've been a good idea, but I ain't that kind of cad! Thirdly-" He turns to Tobin and folds his arms. "Going after my neighbour, then Henri? What, you can only get
[15:16] <@Rudy> the girls I leave behind?"
[15:17] <@Henrietta> "Leave... behind?" Henrietta asks dangerously, no longer shocked into inaction.
[15:18] <@Ebiris> With a clank of metal he folds his own arms. "You're not the centre of the universe, Rudy. Not my fault you can't hold onto them."
[15:18] * @Lucie quietly edges away from the rest of her group, watching with a growing smirk suffused with schadenfreude.
[15:23] <@Rudy> "I don't wanna get called by a guy who's not got so much as a grasp," replies Rudy. "You wanna talk to me that way, I'll see you in the arena."
[15:23] <@Ebiris> "Fifty gold on Tobin!" Liamae announces immediately, nudging Henrietta with her elbow.
[15:24] <@Henrietta> "Am I supposed to bet on Tobin as well?" Henrietta asks Liamae quietly, leaning over to her.
[15:25] <@Ebiris> "Well unless you bet against him I can't exactly win... unless anyone else wants to put money on Rudy? Or we can just use the bookie at the Arena, but isn't it more fun this way?" the dark-skinned sorceress asks innocently.
[15:26] <@Lucie> "Oh, hell," Lucie says with a shrug. "Haven't seen Tobin in a fight. I *have* seen Myra. I'll meet you on that."
[15:26] <@Henrietta> "I... suppose I will bet fifty gold on Myra?" Henrietta voices hesitantly.
[15:27] <@Ebiris> "Hah, alright then, Rudy!" Tobin claps his hands together. "The Arena it is... wait, so you want this to be two on one, or are you using your pet monster as your stand in?" he trails off in confusion at the references to Myra.
[15:28] <@Ebiris> "Foolishness, all of it," the taciturn dwarf of the Jade Ravens scowls, going over to the elf who likewise nods, the two minorities abstaining from gambling.
[15:29] <@Rudy> "Myra is a part of me. If you fight her, you fight me," replies Rudy. "But, just like you can bring your weapons and armor to bear, shouldn't I be able to bring my magic? I'll cast two spells on her. Fair?"
[15:31] <@Ebiris> "Yeah, my sword can't come to life and eat people," Tobin scoffs. "Hey, Karkus! Wanna spot me a boar or something?" he calls over to the disapproving druid.
[15:32] <@Ebiris> "Wait, I'm not sure. Is this Rudy AND Myra against Tobin or just Myra but with some spells cast on her first?" Liamae interjects.
[15:33] <@Rudy> "The latter. It's a sufficient balance, surely? If we pitted the full totality of our might against one another, the victor is obvious," replies Rudy, with a shrug.
[15:35] <@Ebiris> "Okay, now you're actually pissing me off," thus provoked Tobin refocuses his attention on Rudy. "Forget the spells, I'll take you both on."
[15:36] <@Henrietta> "Rudy is very mean all of a sudden," Henrietta confides in Liamae quietly. "Is it really alright to have the two of them fight like this?"
[15:37] <@Ebiris> "Well, so long as they don't kill each other..." Liamae replies quietly, raising her voice, "You two do remember this isn't to the death, right?"
[15:37] <@Henrietta> "Yes, there will be no dying!"
[15:38] <@Rudy> "Of course not," replies Rudy, turning and starting to walk to the Arena. "We ain't that uncivilized."
[15:40] <@Ebiris> "I can kill Myra, though, she always comes back anyway," Tobin adds brightly, starting to follow Rudy with his companions catching up.
[15:46] * @Lucie trails alongside Henri as they walk. "Probably shouldn't hold it against him too much," she says quietly. "Figure Zani was supposed to be for me."
[15:46] <@Henrietta> "Huh?" Henrietta startles, before she refocuses on Lucie, and asks her quietly, "Whatever do you mean?"
[15:48] <@Lucie> "Seemed pretty pissed he invited another woman along for your date, so I figured you should know he didn't," Lucie says. "Don't want it getting between you later when we're working or something."
[15:49] <@Henrietta> "The entire thing is strange," Henrietta insists, confiding in Lucie. "We decided we worked best as friends. Together, I thought. But the way Rudy is acting is... how should I take it?"
[15:51] <@Lucie> "Huh. You both decided that, or just you?"
[15:51] <@Henrietta> "It really seemed mutual," Henrietta admits. "He mentioned being friends, and I said it seemed right, and he said he was relieved and that was the end of it?"
[15:53] <@Lucie> "And then he started a duel to keep another man away, right," Lucie observes. "You know what, words aren't good much longer than it takes for you to hear 'em. I figure where we're all going right now talks louder."
[15:54] <@Henrietta> "It is very troubling, all things considered. This, well, it means two men are dueling over me? Or is that too presumptious, Lucie?"
[15:54] <@Lucie> "What else would they be fighting over?"
[15:55] * @Henrietta almost suggests the fifty gold before she thinks better of it. "Umm, right. So, well, did you mean to say that you liked Zani?"
[15:56] <@Lucie> "Just said Rudy brought her along for my sake, is all," Lucie corrects.
[15:56] * @Henrietta instantly feels bad. "Oh, I apologize for presuming too much!"
[15:58] <@Lucie> "Well, I don't know her all that well, I guess he figured maybe if I did--" Lucie cuts off, sounding awkward here. "Anyway, that was all I wanted to say."
[16:00] <@Ebiris> Thus the group once more returns to the Arena District, now doubled in size! The Arena itself awaits, and Rudy and Tobin lead the way - there doesn't seem to be a queue at the doors, although a noticeboard beside them announces an itinerary. Later in the afternoon battles between 'named' gladiators are on the agenda, but right now just seems to be undercards and group battles against animals. "Just tell the guy at the front desk what we're about, this early he's sure to fit us in," the Jade Ravens' leader tells Rudy. Up ahead there is a desk within the grand stone foyer, the place cut in imposing lines like some primal temple to the gods of battle, the desk itself a mighty edifice of sturdy oak with places for several attendants to usher in hordes of baying customers! But right now it's just a bored young man who perks up at seeing new arrivals.
[16:02] <@Rudy> After the initial blinding rage had passed, Rudy finds it somehow difficult to summon up an indignant retort, so he merely nods and approaches the desk. "I wanna fight a duel against that guy there," he says, jerking a finger at Tobin. "Money, women, and pride are on the line! Where do we sign?"
[16:02] <@Ebiris> "Oooh, an honour duel?" the young man brightens considerably. "Are either of you two nobles?"
[16:02] <@Lucie> "There, see?" Lucie says with a jab at Henri. "Knew you were in there somewhere."
[16:03] * @Henrietta somehow does not feel happy over that phrasing.
[16:03] <@Rudy> "I'm Rudy! Rudy Giacomo of the..." He pauses. "Oi, Lucie, has our band got a name? Gimme a name."
[16:06] <@Lucie> "Uhh, alright. I dunno, the Bayside Fire-eaters?" Lucie can only fall back on her own gang experiences here, and that's more or less how one felt after drinking anything from the Cobras' stills, so.
[16:08] <@Henrietta> "I, umm, how about the Irregulars?" Henrietta suggests, lacking any good ideas except 'not that' to Lucie's proposition.
[16:09] <@Rudy> "Rudy Giacomo of the Irregulars!" blurts out Rudy, affirming himself properly! "And this is... Tobin... of the Jade Ravens."
[16:10] <@Lucie> "Irregular whats?" Lucie wonders. "What does that even mean?"
[16:10] <@Glenn> "We can always change it later...right? We can change it, right?"
[16:11] <@Lucie> "Sure, we'll need to wash off the stench of failure if Rudy crashes hard today."
[16:11] <@Ebiris> "Tobin Kientai," the tall mercenary adds, ambling over to the desk as the attendant nods brightly.
[16:11] <@Ebiris> "Okay, we can fit you in. First you need to both sign these forms," he reaches under the desk and presents a pair of sheets to Rudy and Tobin, "Confirming you're of sound mind and won't hold the Salerno Arena responsible for any accidents in the arena, nor will you fight to the death. Needs to be witnessed, too."
[16:12] <@Ebiris> Liamae quickly skips over to witness for Tobin as he leans over to scan the document before shrugging and signing it.
[16:12] <@Rudy> Rudy glances over the sheet momentarily to make sure there aren't any hidden sucker clauses, before glancing askance at his companions to see which steps forward!
[16:12] <@Henrietta> "I, well, I can witness it," Henrietta volunteers, following Liamae to do the same for Rudy.
[16:13] <@Ebiris> "We also need a twenty gold entrance fee from both of you," the attendant says as they get to signing. Rudy finds it's pretty simple, all in small words in big friendly letters for the average mentally challenged gladiator to understand.
[16:14] <@Rudy> The thought that he may well be mentally challenged briefly makes an unwelcome entrance into Rudy's mind, but he has long ago mastered the art of ignoring his brain when it doesn't suit him. His name is signed with a flourish.
[16:15] <@Ebiris> Tobin reaches for his side before frowning and fumbling a moment. Zani sighs and steps forward, "You had me hold your money, remember," she grouses, fishing out some coins and putting them on the desk with more force than necessary.
[16:15] * @Henrietta curiously glances at the sheet to see if Rudy is signing away his soul again.
[16:18] <@Ebiris> Next the attendant gives a wooden token to both Rudy and Tobin, bearing a checkered white and black pattern. "You go down those stairs," he points to the left where torchlit stairs descend into the belly of the Arena, "And you go down those," he points to their opposite on the right for Rudy, "Give them to the stable-master down there, he'll get you set to fight each other when a spot opens. The rest of you, it's four silvers to spectate!"
[16:19] <@Rudy> Rudy shrugs, and turns towards the stairs. He hesitates only a moment before starting to trudge down them, shaking his head all the while.
[16:19] * @Henrietta retrieves the fee almost mechanically.
[16:20] * @Glenn pays his four silvers easily enough.
[16:20] * @Lucie pays her way in.
[16:22] <@Ebiris> Rudy finds that things are far less glamorous underneath the Arena, but an old and heavily scarred man takes his token and nods, bidding him to wait with a few other young combatants before his card comes up. Meanwhile the spectators all pay and head up to the stands, finding them barely filled and allowing them the pick of seats. Down in the fighting pit they can see the dusty oval arena, gates at opposite ends for fighters to enter. Right now a swarthy young fellow is jabbing at a lethargic and uninterested lion with a spear, doing a lot more grandstanding than actual fighting.
[16:22] <@Rudy> Rudy sighs, and clenches a fist, which begins to glow with a beacon black light to beckon Myra forth.
[16:23] <@Henrietta> "How about the seats right by the arena?" Henrietta suggests. "Mind, this would be my first time, so if any are better I would much welcome the advice."
[16:23] <@Ebiris> This naturally wins Rudy some space among his fellow gladiators in the dank underpits. Even moreso once Myra actually appears!
[16:24] <@Ebiris> "Ye can get a bit o' blood splatter down there when things get messy, but I doubt we've any fear o' that today. Might as well," Karkus grunts, heading down that way himself for some seats at the lowest level by the midpoint.
[16:24] <@Rudy> The deformed monster folds her wings about her like a cloak, while Rudy just leans back against the wall. "Ey, good luck all round, right?" he remarks, giving the other fighters a thumbs-up.
[16:25] <@Henrietta> "If there really is any such trouble, we can be right over to help!" Henrietta determines, following the dwarf.
[16:25] <@Lucie> "Never been before," Lucie says. "But it's a better view than watching the Cobras tear up the floorboards to stab rats. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about this too much--they'll be a lot more manageable once they've beat the stupid out of each other, I'm sure."
[16:25] <@Ebiris> "Arr, she's not so fierce as a fire elemental I had ta fight once!" a brutally maimed and disfigured gladiator glowers with his one good eye at his comrades, staring out his charred ruin of a face and seeming happy enough to remain near Rudy and Myra.
[16:27] <@Rudy> "She's taken on mutants, you know! Big as a bear! Come up from under the sea and tried to drag us all down!" proclaims Rudy, patting Myra affectionately on the shoulder. "She gets the job done, she does!"
[16:28] <@Ebiris> A few more fights of various quality pass for the spectators up above before Rudy is bid to get up for his fight. "Better not have any other spells on ya, lad. Elric'll be checking ye in a minute ta make sure beforehand," the stablemaster tells him.
[16:30] * Quits: @Rudy (~Madeline@203-206-227-61.perm.iinet.net.au) (Ping timeout)
[16:31] * Joins: Rudy (~Madeline@203-206-227-61.perm.iinet.net.au)
[16:31] <Rudy> [01:28] <@Rudy> "Just me and the girl," replies Rudy. "It was all settled with my opponent, so there should be no problems."
[16:31] <@Henrietta> "When you were talking about earning big," Henrietta asks Liamae, having arranged to seat next to her, "what were you thinking of? Somewhere in the area of a hundred gold?"
[16:32] * Joins: MobileKallen (~AndChat@123.208.162.94)
[16:34] <@Ebiris> "Well the prize money's pretty good, too," Liamae admits, munching on a chicken leg purchased from one of the arena vendors, "But yeah, figured I'd get Tobin to win a couple of fights, build a rep, stack the odds against who he's fighting, then I could bet a bundle on the other guy and have him take a tumble," she nods brightly, eliciting harrumphs of disgust from the two other Jade Ravens.
[16:34] <@Ebiris> "And when the bookie sends some nice men round ta break yer pretty legs after he finds out ye played him, lass?" Karkus asks of her.
[16:35] * Quits: @Henrietta (~corwin@109.65.199.235) (Ping timeout)
[16:37] <@Ebiris> Even so, Rudy is briefly checked by an unassuming bespectacled young lad before nodding everything's okay. Thus he's led up to the Arena itself, stepping out into the overcast pall... and there's Tobin, coming out of the opposite gate, sword and shield in hand! This is all plainly visible by the spectators, drawing a gasp from Liamae as she points, "Look, there they are!"
[16:37] <@Ebiris> From the announcer's booth a call comes in a loud voice reverbating through the Arena, "The next fight is for love and pride, as two men battle it out for the favour of one lucky lady! From the red stable comes Rudy Giacomo of the Irregulars... and his pet monster, the young lad must be a summoner! His foe, favouring steel and strength, is Tobin Kientai of the Jade Ravens!"
[16:39] <Rudy> Myra obligingly swoops about the arena before touching down in front of Rudy, who leans back a little and folds his arms. "I ain't really mad at you," he confesses at a speaking level; maybe just enough for Tobin to hear. "But damned if I don't need to take this out on someone, and I ain't ever backed down!"
[16:40] <@Ebiris> "Hah, I'll be your punching bag, but you're gonna get punched back!" Tobin replies, raising his hefty sword easily in a salute before dropping down into a ready stance and starting to advance!
[16:40] <@Ebiris> OOC: init
[16:40] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+2 Tobin
[16:40] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+2 Tobin and gets 5." [1d20=3]
[16:40] * Joins: Henrietta (corwin@109.65.199.235)
[16:40] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Henrietta
[16:40] <Rudy> roll 1d20+5 Myra
[16:40] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 Myra and gets 13." [1d20=8]
[16:41] <Rudy> roll 1d20+5 Rudy
[16:41] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 Rudy and gets 8." [1d20=3]
[16:41] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Myra > Rudy > Tobin'
[16:41] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Myra
[16:42] <Rudy> Rudy waves a hand and touches Myra on the side, and a powerful mystic shield settles upon her! A moment later, she lopes into battle with a screeching wail!
[16:42] * Retrieving #dunes modes...
[16:42] <Rudy> roll 1d20+9 charge+2 deadlyaim-2
[16:42] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+9 charge+2 deadlyaim-2 and gets 21." [1d20=12]
[16:42] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Rudy > Myra > Tobin'
[16:43] <@Henrietta> "That... building a rep business," Henrietta says, cringing away at Myra's lunge. "It may be difficult to establish now."
[16:43] <@Ebiris> Myra hurls herself into battle, but Tobin manages to raise his kite shield up to block, the jade raven decorating its surface blocking her claws! In return he hauls back his sword and whips it at Myra in a furious overhand lunge!
[16:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+12 -2pa
[16:43] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+12 -2pa and gets 20." [1d20=8]
[16:44] <@Ebiris> OOC: Myra AC?
[16:44] <Rudy> OOC: AC 21
[16:44] <@Ebiris> However Myra's enchanted protections ward it off just barely, the blade deflecting off of invisible force in a shower of sparks! "A loss against that horror is understandable, but he's faced worse," Liamae replies, unruffled.
[16:44] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[16:46] <Rudy> The light around Rudy darkens a moment, and he uses it's power to enhance both himself and Myra with terrible speed! The monster wastes no time in putting it to use!
[16:46] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10 bite
[16:46] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 bite and gets 22." [1d20=12]
[16:46] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10 bite2
[16:46] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 bite2 and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[16:46] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10 claw
[16:46] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10 claw
[16:46] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 claw and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[16:46] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 claw and gets 16." [1d20=6]
[16:46] <@Henrietta> "I can believe that," Henrietta agrees, as the initial, probing blows are deftly parried.
[16:46] <@Ebiris> OOC: claw hits
[16:46] <Rudy> roll 1d4+5
[16:46] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d4+5 and gets 7." [1d4=2]
[16:46] <@Ebiris> OOC: lethal?
[16:46] <Rudy> OOC: Subdual, natural weapons go
[16:47] <Rudy> OOC: So it's probably more of a backfist
[16:49] <@Ebiris> Myra assails the warrior with a flurry of strikes, beating her wings all around her furiously to mask her assault! Even so the leader of the Jade Ravens is able to resist the majority, blocking the first two before the third manages to knock him back a step, only his armour protecting him against its follow up! Gritting his teeth, Tobin raises his shield and tries to plow right through Myra to get at her master!
[16:49] <@Ebiris> OOC: overrun, Myra can AoO if she chooses
[16:51] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10 AoO!
[16:51] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 AoO! and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[16:52] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9 overrun
[16:52] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+9 overrun and gets 20." [1d20=11]
[16:52] <@Ebiris> OOC: CMD?
[16:52] <Rudy> OOC: 20! geez
[16:54] <@Ebiris> Myra is brushed aside as Tobin leads with his shield to block her reprisal, charging forward despite his heavy armour and getting right in Rudy's face with a savage grin. "If I knock you out she vanishes anyway, doesn't she?"
[16:54] <@Henrietta> "That was very courageous," Henrietta says in open admiration. "And did he just-- oh, he did, but such poor luck!" Henrietta shakes her head. "Tripping people in battle is my specialty, so I would recognize that maneuver anywhere!"
[16:55] <@Ebiris> "Hard to trip something with wings anyway," Liamae commiserates. "Still, he's got the right idea. Myra's just a sideshow, Rudy's his real foe."
[16:55] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[16:55] <Rudy> Rudy feints, making a sudden dive past Tobin and rolling back to his feet!
[16:55] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10 acrobatics!
[16:55] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 acrobatics! and gets 14." [1d20=4]
[16:55] <@Ebiris> Rudy's dive is a bit too slow, and Tobin's blade comes down to meet him as he lunges!
[16:56] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+10 -4 nonlethal
[16:56] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+10 -4 nonlethal and gets 11." [1d20=1]
[16:56] <@Ebiris> Still, it merely gets tangled momentarily in Rudy's trailing cloak, failing to hit directly and letting the young Anowian escape!
[16:56] <@Henrietta> "I... cannot bear to watch," Henrietta says flatly.
[16:57] <Rudy> Rudy comes up close to Myra, and another whispered spell and bolt of dark energy sees the monster doubling in size! Her howl deepens into a guttural roar, and she lopes towards Tobin once again!
[16:57] <Rudy> roll 1d20+12 chargebite
[16:57] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+12 chargebite and gets 21." [1d20=9]
[16:58] <@Ebiris> A loud cheer comes from the small audience at this turn of events. Giant Myra is clearly a crowd pleaser! But despite her prodigious size she still manages to be stymied by Tobin's defensive wall, brigning his shield up to meet her protruding mouth and then slipping past it and using her own momentum against her to stab his blade upwards!
[16:58] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+12 -2pa
[16:58] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+12 -2pa and gets 20." [1d20=8]
[16:58] <@Ebiris> OOC: AC?
[16:59] <Rudy> OOC: 21
[17:00] <@Ebiris> Alas however, it merely glances off her supernaturally toughened skin! "Oooh, this could be trouble for him..." Liamae shakes her head at the current development.
[17:00] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[17:01] <Rudy> Rudy follows up with another spell, and the ground beneath Tobin shimmers black for a moment, before crawling tattoos start working their way up his skin! OOC: Slow, will DC 17
[17:02] <@Ebiris> OOC: actually!
[17:02] <@Ebiris> roll 1d10+14 damage on Myra
[17:02] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d10+14 damage on Myra and gets 21." [1d10=7]
[17:02] <@Henrietta> "That spell lasts a truly long time," Henrietta agrees. "I would have expected Tobin to keep his distance for a while and pursue Rudy instead of toughing it out in melee."
[17:03] <@Ebiris> Tobin's blade strikes true, plunging into the monstrously enlarged Myra and drawing a shower of dark blood and a cheer from the crowd! "Oooh, nice one!" Liamae pumps her fist happily.
[17:04] <Rudy> Rudy follows up with another spell, and the ground beneath Tobin shimmers black for a moment, before crawling tattoos start working their way up his skin! OOC: Slow, will DC 17, take two!
[17:04] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4 will
[17:04] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 will and gets 5." [1d20=1]
[17:05] <@Ebiris> "Urgh... dammit!" Tobin snaps lethargically as the magic catches him off guard, perhaps leaving him easy prey for Myra's reprisal...
[17:05] <Rudy> Myra soon follows up with another blistering onslaught of blows, going for Tobin's arms and legs!
[17:05] * @Henrietta sucks in a breath. "Is that it? Has the duel been decided?" she voices, her eyes on Tobin.
[17:05] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10
[17:05] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10
[17:05] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 and gets 26." [1d20=16]
[17:05] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 and gets 26." [1d20=16]
[17:05] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10 claw
[17:05] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10 claw
[17:05] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 claw and gets 17." [1d20=7]
[17:05] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 claw and gets 22." [1d20=12]
[17:06] <@Ebiris> OOC: first two hit thanks to slow
[17:06] <Rudy> roll 1d8+6
[17:06] <Rudy> roll 1d8+6
[17:06] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d8+6 and gets 9." [1d8=3]
[17:06] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d8+6 and gets 14." [1d8=8]
[17:08] <@Ebiris> The first two blows strike true, massive fists battering Tobin's head and sending him staggering back! He barely raises his shield to block the next two, hunkering down behind it and fighting much more defensively now as he retaliates with a probing sweep at Myra's legs!
[17:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 -2 combat expertise, -4 fighting defensively
[17:09] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 -2 combat expertise, -4 fighting defensively and gets 24." [1d20=17]
[17:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d10+10
[17:09] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d10+10 and gets 20." [1d10=10]
[17:10] <@Ebiris> It's a good stab that finds one of Myra's arteries, making the overgrown eldritch horror buckle and wail as a spray of blood jets out from his well placed stab!
[17:10] <@Ebiris> "Alright, that's the way, Tobin! That spell doesn't last long, just tough it out!" Liamae cheers from the stands!
[17:10] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[17:11] * @Henrietta is practically at the edge of her seat, finding herself too captivated to even cheer properly.
[17:11] <Rudy> Rudy flings a couple blobs of emphereal blackness towards Myra, causing her wounds to rapidly begin knitting themselves together! OOC: using a hero point to take two standard actions, both of which are Rejuvenate Eidolon
[17:11] <Rudy> roll 1d10+5
[17:11] <Rudy> roll 1d10+5
[17:11] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d10+5 and gets 7." [1d10=2]
[17:11] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d10+5 and gets 9." [1d10=4]
[17:12] <@Ebiris> OOC: Myra
[17:12] <Rudy> Myra's onslaughts grow more furious by the moment, bent over with pain and rage!
[17:13] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10 bitebiteclawclaw
[17:13] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10 bitebiteclawclaw
[17:13] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10 bitebiteclawclaw
[17:13] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10 bitebiteclawclaw
[17:13] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 bitebiteclawclaw and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[17:13] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 bitebiteclawclaw and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[17:13] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 bitebiteclawclaw and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[17:13] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 bitebiteclawclaw and gets 16." [1d20=6]
[17:14] <@Ebiris> Myra's fury is unrelenting, but like the waves breaking on the shore, they are forced to give way to Tobin's wary defence! As she overextends herself, however, he pushes her outstretched claws above his head using his shield and stabs straight up into her chest!
[17:14] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 -2 combat expertise, -4 fighting defensively
[17:14] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 -2 combat expertise, -4 fighting defensively and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[17:14] <@Ebiris> roll 1d10+10
[17:14] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d10+10 and gets 18." [1d10=8]
[17:15] <@Ebiris> Another well chosen strike catching Myra utterly off guard! She's impaled brutally with the oversized sword and begins to crumple before...
[17:17] <Rudy> Rudy clutches at his stomach a moment later, and forces himself to cover his mouth in an attempt to hide the blood that threatens to bubble up through his mouth. Another ball of healing energy flies towards Myra, who continues flailing at the shield-toting warrior!
[17:18] <Rudy> roll 1d10+5
[17:18] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d10+5 and gets 6." [1d10=1]
[17:18] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10
[17:18] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10
[17:18] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10
[17:18] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10
[17:18] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10  and gets 17." [1d20=7]
[17:18] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10  and gets 24." [1d20=14]
[17:18] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10  and gets 30." [1d20=20]
[17:18] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10  and gets 13." [1d20=3]
[17:18] <@Ebiris> OOC: confirm that crit?
[17:18] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10 threat
[17:18] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 threat and gets 13." [1d20=3]
[17:18] <@Ebiris> OOC: 1 hit
[17:19] <Rudy> roll 1d6+6 alas, it was not to be
[17:19] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d6+6 alas, it was not to be and gets 12." [1d6=6]
[17:19] <@Henrietta> "Myra... is scarier than I thought," Henrietta says, shuddering. "She would not die even if she is killed, Rudy said...." She shakes her head. "I did not understand until now."
[17:22] <@Ebiris> Tobin manages to block most of Myra's desperate assault but one flailing claw gets through and batters him horribly off balance! He staggers to the side and half crouches, all but hiding behind his shield to endure the storm of her fury! "Even if he beats the monster, there is still Rudy... this looks bad," Zani intones gravely as Tobin nonetheless whips his sword up at the wrist of a flailing fist as it passes overhead!
[17:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 -2 combat expertise, -4 fighting defensively
[17:22] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 -2 combat expertise, -4 fighting defensively and gets 23." [1d20=16]
[17:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d10+10
[17:22] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d10+10 and gets 17." [1d10=7]
[17:23] <@Henrietta> "Rudy is, well, he is not much in a fight like this, I think?" Henrietta says. "Can you shoot bolts with a crossbow without injuring your opponent?"
[17:26] <@Ebiris> Tobin's defensive strategy is working even better than when he was attacking all out, severing Myra's hand at the wrist as the crowd gets to hits feet... but with Rudy drawing upon more of his life-force, tendrils of greasy black energy fill the air between the stump and the hand, drawing it back before it can fall! "This is incredible - how much abuse can that thing stand?!" Liamae gasps.
[17:26] <@Ebiris> "Not much, I think..." Zani's reply is more cool, looking over at Rudy.
[17:26] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[17:26] <Rudy> Rudy continues to keep Myra together, and the abomination, although nearly split it twain, simply stitches itself back together whilst the appendages continue to flail of their own accord!
[17:26] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10
[17:26] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10
[17:26] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10
[17:26] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 and gets 14." [1d20=4]
[17:26] <Rudy> roll 1d20+10
[17:26] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 and gets 24." [1d20=14]
[17:26] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[17:26] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+10 and gets 26." [1d20=16]
[17:27] <@Henrietta> "Should we... stop this, perhaps?" Henrietta asks, following Zani's gaze and wincing at what she sees.
[17:27] <Rudy> OOC: 1sec
[17:27] <Rudy> OOC: I'll spend a hero point to give the 28 +4?
[17:28] <@Ebiris> OOC: You still have any left? Okay, sure. Hit.
[17:28] <Rudy> roll 1d6+6
[17:28] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d6+6 and gets 12." [1d6=6]
[17:29] * Quits: @Lucie (WinNT@pool-173-79-12-175.washdc.fios.verizon.net) (Ping timeout)
[17:30] <@Ebiris> The same fist that was nearly cut in two proves to be Tobin's bane as it crashes into his face, sending him spinning! Somehow he keeps hold of his weapon and shield, bringing them up to protect himself from the follow up as Myra presses her advantage, and he seems about to retaliate despite his swaying gait before he shakes his head and drops his gaze. With a clang of metal, his sword is tossed to the ground, followed by his shield. "I yield!" he calls, dropping onto his knees.
[17:31] <@Ebiris> "Awwww!" Liamae deflates back in disappointment.
[17:32] <Rudy> Rudy raises a hand, prompting Myra to back up a step and enfold herself in his wings. Since there's a crowd, he can't help but pander it it a little; Myra throws back her headless neck and roars through her chest, while the Summoner glows ominously with a dark power!
[17:32] <@Henrietta> "Rudy had more determination to win, it seems," Henrietta says, recovering from this turn of events rather quickly and applauding.
[17:34] <@Ebiris> "A pity Tobin never noticed how much holding Myra together was costing Rudy. That is why he needs us watching him when he fights," Zani comments, applauding diffidently.
[17:34] <@Ebiris> Down below, Tobin half looks up through a hugely swollen eye at Rudy. "Can only take being a punching bag so far," he remarks, trying to smile but only drawing a pained wince.
[17:35] <Rudy> "I hear you," replies Rudy, stripping away the buttons of his shirt to reveal several ugly-looking wounds. "I gotta apologize. Lemme shout you a drink," he offers, limping forward to extend a hand.
[17:36] <@Henrietta> "Had he kept on going after Rudy, the result might have been different," Henrietta muses. "But that is why Rudy needs us to watch over him, as well."
[17:37] <@Ebiris> Taking that hand in a firm grasp, Tobin hauls himself up with a pained sigh, his armoured weight nearly pulling Rudy down. "Agh, now I need to bend down to pick up those things. This is why Zani always does our looting," he complains, collecting his armaments. "I'll take you up on that drink, Rudy. Lets go see if Karkus can spare a few heals our way."
[17:42] <@Henrietta> "Liamae," Henrietta asks, giving her fellow sorceress her full attention as Tobin and Rudy make their way out of the arena. "This might be a bit sudden, but with your arena plans falling through, would you like to have dinner together? I find you very interesting, as it happens."
[17:44] <@Ebiris> "Huh?" the scantily clad sorceress's eyebrows raise as she fishes into her coin purse. "Well, sure. If you're buying," she replies, handing over Henrietta's hard earned winnings.
[17:44] <@Henrietta> "I can afford that, I think," Henrietta responds, smiling at her.