IC: Dichotomy's Age of Worms Redux, Part VI

Dichotomy · Aug 17, 2011

Nethezar nods. "As I'm sure you have both surmised, I certainly have little trust for religious zealots... not even those in my own order. While it would take quite a stretch for their god to condone such actions, if for even a moment they came to think that Saint Cuthbert wished it, they would sell us out to anyone.

"As for a backstory, simply tell me how fantastic and detailed you want it to be. I imagine that I could sell someone nearly any tale about us."

The trio finds several taprooms in some proximity to the arena, where virtually all discussion focuses on the Champion's Games. Several interesting things of note are discovered:

There are typically two-dozen teams of adventurers/warbands/etc. that enter the games; they typically having varying talents (magic, ranged, melee all allowed), and some vary in size from merely two fighters to five or more
Over a period of five days, those two-dozen will be whittled down by single-elimination contests with the other groups; early battles typically involve multiple teams where only the last team standing advances; later battles are one team against another
Only one battle occurs for each team each day
While battles can be lethal, competitors can always surrender
The spectators you meet know there are rules about flying, though they don't know the specifics

Some of the people you meet ask whether you are participating. Particularly those that know the most about the games seem the most interested in your intentions. Further questioning reveals that substantial sums of money sometimes change hands in bets on the games.

o3caudata · Aug 18, 2011

After having learned what they can, Kushnak directs his companions to a table with some relative privacy.

"These games seem safe enough, and may be our best chance to get unsuspiciously close to Raknian. We should use the time before these games start to plan strategies. Both for winning these games, and for trapping Raknian."

[sblock]

Seems good. I say we hang out, get our spells and what not in order, and work out any details that might be needed.

[/sblock]

TiCaudata · Sep 7, 2011

"They do seem safe. Do you think there are any rules against betting on your own group?"[sblock=oc]Seriously, we could make a lot of money that way... Good point on Nethezar selling anything. Should we worry about Erdolliel blowing the cover if it's too complex?

Finally, I think after we get some info, we should return to our inn and prepare as O3 suggested, and then I believe that our sponsor should be contacting us in the morning no?

Oh yeah, I forget, do we know when the games start?[/sblock]

Dichotomy · Sep 12, 2011

Into Day 51

Nethezar snickers. "Probably no rules against betting in favor of your own group. But if you bet against yourselves and then happen to fall on your face during the match..."

It soon becomes apparent that even the night owls are heading to their homes for sleep, and the trio finds themselves, with all due courtesy, being ushered out of the last taproom.

After another night's rest, the trio meets for breakfast. As they are finishing, one of the staff advises them that they have a pair of visitors.

As the trio approaches the pair in the lobby, the woman quickly steps forward.

"Kushnak, Erdolliel, and Nethezar, I presume," she says in a bubbly and friendly tone. "I am Celeste, a good friend of Eligos."

"And I'm Ekaym Smallcask. While I've never met Eligos, I am a good friend of Celeste," the man adds in a overly-loud and flamboyant tone. While Celeste appears to have little on her other than traveling gear, the trio notes that Ekaym has, aside from his more refined clothing and polished boots, a well-cared-for lute strong across his shoulder.

"Is it true that you still seek entrance into the Champion's Games?" Celeste asks.
[sblock=OOC]The Games are scheduled to begin on what would be Day 54. I'm presuming that any other strategy planning goo might be easiest done via chat or something else.[/sblock]

TiCaudata · Sep 22, 2011

Erdolliel sizes Celeste up before answering. "Indeed we are. We thought it would be a good opportunity to fill our purses some while gaining a small amount of prestige. Which of you might be our benefactor for entering the games?"[sblock=oc]Umm... How might I guess what 'skills' she might have? Spot check for weapons? (+14) Sense Motive? (+0) She's not bluffing though... Int Check? (+4) Basically I'm trying to find out what Celeste's class might be, or any additional info that Erdolliel might be able to figure out at an astute glance.[/sblock]

Dichotomy · Sep 22, 2011

[sblock=OOC]I dunno... You actually don't see any weapons or armament on her, though you also don't see, for example, a holy symbol or spell component pouch. I don't know how you would discern anything else, other than that she could be any number of things, but only if she is simply not equipped at the moment.[/sblock]

"Whatever your reasons, they are your own. I trust Eligos, and the sage recommends you highly. That is good enough for me," Celeste begins, with an almost conspiratorial wink to the trio.

Ekaym cuts her off. "And I just happened to acquire a manager's license in a game of chance, but I have no fighters. Frankly, managing a group of successful gladiators is a fantastic way to both make a lot of coin and meet a lot of women!"

Nethezar shares a look with Erdolliel and Kushnak and shrugs his shoulders.
[sblock=OOC]Neither Kushnak nor Erdolliel sense anything odd about them.[/sblock]

TiCaudata · Sep 27, 2011

"Har! Agreed!" Erdolliel chortles a little too merrily. "So, what do we need to do before the games begin then? And just what does 'managing' entail?"

o3caudata · Oct 3, 2011

"We...ah... appreciate the graciousness of your support." Kushnak says awkwardly, his eye flitting between the 2 newcomers.

"We require details on the inter-workings of the event. What rules exist for combat. What assurances that they be followed and the like. We, like you Miss, trust Eligos greatly and have no doubt that whatever 'managing' there is to be done, you will fulfill the duty entirely. Our talents and abilities are at your disposal."

Dichotomy · Oct 5, 2011

Ekaym smiles as Erdolliel and Kushnak express their interest. "Marvelous! Tell you what, I'll buy the three of you something to eat, and we can discuss all of the details."

Celeste gives a brief nod. "While I don't mean to be rude, I'll be taking my leave of you all. I have my own business to see to, and I was really only here as a go-between for Ekaym. I'm sure everything will work out splendidly."

Unless the trio interrupts Celeste, she takes her leave.

"Not to be ungrateful, but we just had our breakfast, Mr. Smallcask," Nethezar mentions as Ekaym readies to lead the trio out.

"Well," Ekaym responds, without seeming the least taken aback, "we will have to start right into wine, spirits, or ale, won't we? I know an excellent place."

Soon enough, Ekaym has the trio following him to a private dining room at an excellent brew house. Ekaym appears to spare no expense in attempting to win you over.

Ekaym reiterates much of what the trio heard the night before about the games but adds some detail:

While gladiators CAN be killed, participants can surrender (either individually, or as an entire team) by dropping weapons, kneeling, and raising both hands in the air. Anyone attacking a surrendering foe is immediately disqualified from the entire games (and would face criminal sanctions for assault or murder), and anyone giving a fake surrender (i.e. surrendering and then attacking a foe) is also immediately disqualified.
Gladiators can fly or levitate, but only up to 40 feet off the ground. Going higher results in disqualification. Burrowing into the ground is not allowed.
Matches continue until death or surrender of all opposing teams.
Gladiators do not keep the spoils of victory, which also means that you don't lose your equipment if you lose.
Tactics that endanger the spectators are forbidden and result in disqualification. This is judged on an ad hoc basis.
If an individual is disqualified, he must immediately move to the edge of the battlefield and take no further part. Failure to comply results in the entire team being disqualified.

Ekaym also advises that the formalities technically begin with the "Free Dinner", which begins at 5:00 p.m. three days from now (Day 54). All entrants must be present no later than 6:00 p.m. "The Free Dinner is quite the feast. More importantly, it is the first chance for the gladiators to meat each other and size each other up. It's also a chance for the richest nobility to meet the gladiators, so that they can assess them and make appropriate wagers."

Ekayam notes that after the Free Dinner, the gladiators escorted to the Coenoby below the area, which essentially becomes the gladiators' home for the contest. While a manager, in this case, Ekayam, can meet with his team every-other day (often to bring healing supplies or other needed goods), a team otherwise is confined to the Coenoby except when fighting.

"And to top it all off, assuming you win, the total payout is around 40,000 gold. All I'm requesting, for the use of my license, is half of whatever the team takes."

TiCaudata · Oct 7, 2011

After finishing a tankard and wiping her mouth on the back of her hand, Erdolliel smiles. "Thank you for the information and the mugs Ekayam. I'm sure this will be a most beneficial partnership. Are there any runner-up awards?"[sblock=oc]So, we should probably spend the next 3 days making sure we got everything we want/need. Unfortunately, this means we will probably take a good 6 months real time to get it lined up

So... Any requests? We might actually be mostly good to go. Scrolls we want to buy? Glitterdust?[/sblock]