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UNDER A DARKSUN: ELEMENTS
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<blockquote data-quote="megamania" data-source="post: 7609450" data-attributes="member: 9255"><p>DARKSUN: THE ELEMENTS OF EVIL</p><p>SEGMENT 007</p><p>“TO TYR”</p><p>05/10/19</p><p>SEASON: FRIEND’S VENGEANCE YEAR 24</p><p>MONTH: THE SUN</p><p>DAY: 2</p><p>KA: 190</p><p></p><p>One day away from the infamous Silver Springs, the caravan is attacked by twelve skeletons covered in a dark green fungus. Drak hops up onto a large flat rock and throws javelins down at the passing skeletons. Choro blows them up with a sickening crack of pure cold. Poe punches and kicks them down growing wary of the sludge on their boney bodies. Olan takes done one after borrowing a weapon from another guard. Yaesha takes down several with his arrows as he destroys skulls and rib cages.</p><p></p><p>DAY 4</p><p>A crazed Air Elemental Beast is spotted flanking the caravan. It roars and stirs up dust and sand as it watches the group. The mixed in sand further enrages it but the group has bypassed it before it attacks. </p><p></p><p>DAY 5</p><p>The caravan spots a reflective golden dome in the distance. Behind it are the ever tall Ringing Mountains. The Golden Dome is King Kalak’s palace in Tyr.</p><p></p><p>“Remember, once we stop at the Tsalaxa House, you have until dawn to return. After that, our gates close and will not open. Any caught outside in the streets are questioned then generally put to work as a slave to work on the Rainbow Ziggurat.” Yaesha Tsalaxa reminds everyone- the new four scouts and the veterans.</p><p></p><p>As is the case with all city guards and templars, the caravan is stopped and quested. A bribe speeds the search along. The bigger the bribe, the quicker and easier the caravan moves through. The unexpected levels of bribery at Draj and Raam has depleted most of the house’s set aside moneys for this. Yaesha must put up with a full fifteen minutes of inspection and hold up by Tyr’s Templars. Templar Tam especially seems determined to hold them up.</p><p></p><p>Inside, they go to their walled in section and other workers begin to unpack the carts. Barkus Tsalaxa seems impatient with them. He is the lead man here in Tyr. He seems very impatient and quick to temper. The scouts are not impressed with him but feel they can move on. Its not their problem.</p><p></p><p>Drak wants to but a quarterstaff. They have little luck talking to people about where to go but one of the caravan men suggests Grik’s Weapons. It is located near the entrance of the city.</p><p></p><p>Near the beginning of Caravan Way, they find a sign with several weapons crossed and a yellow head on it. They guess this to be Grik’s. As they enter a robed man and a heavily scarred mul are arguing. “I am sorry, but I have no magical weapons- especially a spear made from Afgari wood. “Kalak Lives Another Day!” curses the man as he turns. The mul waits until the man leaves then welcomes them.</p><p></p><p>“I am….looking for ….quarterstaff.” Stats the Thri-kreen. </p><p></p><p>“I have a few.” The mul pulls some staffs he had set a side. “Are any of these what you are looking for?” The thri-kreen looks at each.</p><p></p><p>Before a decision is made Koe speaks up. “I know much about weapons of the arena. And even more about weapons like these. You are taller than many. You need a taller staff.”</p><p></p><p>Drak and Grik look at him with a look a parent gives a disruptive child. “Longer….please.”</p><p></p><p>Grik looks directly at the other mul then goes to the back. A few moments later, Grik comes out with a staff six foot long. Based on the marking on one end, this was once a longspear. Drak wants it and buys it. Grik notices the several Chatkchas on his belt harness.</p><p></p><p>“Did you make those yourself?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes. Do you like? Do you buy?” responds the kreen as he detaches on to show the ex-gladiator.</p><p></p><p>Grik pulls three of them.</p><p></p><p>Olan offers his bone daggers but Grik has dozens already.</p><p></p><p>“We have several hours still. Where to?” asks the thirsty half-giant.</p><p></p><p>They wander back through Caravan Way and the Tsalaxa Compound. The market is near the Ziggurat so they walk that way. They spot a sign depicting a yelling or belching dwarf and a cask of wine. They go here (The Screaming Cellar). Koe gets water and the rest get the cheaper wine. This, This Drak likes and asks for more with his antennas outreaching and bopping. </p><p></p><p>Sitting here they talk about what they have seen and done in the past three weeks together. Especially about Olan and the prostitute at Silver Springs. “But she was nice!” he defends himself by saying. Choro, lost in thought, stares at the cup before him. He then pulls out a pair of leather gloves from his hip pouch and puts them on. Koe watches out of curiosity. </p><p></p><p>Seeing the mul watching the half-giant, Olan asks about the gloves. “I was just thinkin’.”</p><p></p><p>“Your brother?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes. Maybe Goro was here…. Like we are.”</p><p></p><p>“That’s why you agreed to caravan work- to travel and maybe find your missing family that way.” </p><p></p><p>“Might..klik=klik…. Work.”</p><p></p><p>“Would you like more?” asks a happy and merry dwarf. “Yes” answers the Thri-kreen. “I like….wine.”</p><p></p><p>“My grandfather would be proud. He started this wineshop some fifty plus years ago.”</p><p></p><p>“Is that-“Koe points to a picture on the wall of a happy dwarf holding a wine casket-“ him?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes. That is… was Portus. This shop was and still is his focus.”</p><p></p><p>“He is still here?” asks Choro.</p><p></p><p>“Yes. In the cellar. He keeps the thieves out- especially at night.”</p><p></p><p>Choros eye brows raise at that. He suspects what is being hinted at. The others take the dwarf very literally.</p><p></p><p>After they finish their drinks they leave again. They wander towards the front of the construction and make the mistake of looking at the many thousands of slaves working. A templar chases them away whom threatens to put them to work.</p><p></p><p>They wander back to the market but see nothing that interests them. Koe however spots a man dressed in fine clothes walk into a rougher and poor area. Curious he follows and the others follow.</p><p></p><p>The man looks around as he stops at the stoop of a badly kept building. He then goes inside. There are no signs outside suggesting the name or type of business done inside. Koe directly travels to the building. Pauses only to listen then moves onward. </p><p></p><p>A curtain blocks his view but he hears from inside “The Nest is Clean”.</p><p></p><p>The mul waits until the others arrives then goes inside through the curtain. A large and muscular half-giant blocks his way. There appears to be a tavern with merchants, artisans and travelers all inside drinking and talking.</p><p></p><p>He goes in and notes a curtain blocking the entire wall. Shadows below reveal there are people behind the curtain. Noting his curiosity, a man dressed in dirt covered brown and tan robes comes up to him. “Hello. Password?”</p><p></p><p>Koe is caught flat footed. What could be the password and for what? Then remembers what he heard- “The nest is clean.”</p><p></p><p>The man looks him over nods and steps aside. Choro peeks in. He looks around then steps back to tell the others what he sees. When he turns next he is head to chin with the guard. “Password.”</p><p></p><p>“Password?!?” Choro stumbles. He wish he had better thought reading skills. “I’m thirsty?”</p><p></p><p>“Go Way.”</p><p></p><p>“But my-“</p><p></p><p>“Go Way or Cujo Hurt.”</p><p></p><p>A few more men come in. “The nest is clean.” And they go by.</p><p></p><p>Smiling even though the psion hates to take advantage of the guard’s inept skills he begins to recite what he just heard- “The nest is-“</p><p></p><p>“Wait- Choro help me. Drak is acting strangely!” calls out the “New Race”.</p><p></p><p>Choro turns and instead of seeing his two friends he sees a large Tarek marching up to the door. His musk is strong and nearly brings tears to his eyes. He brushes past Choro with great ease and storms into the tavern. “Rib Breaker has returned!” He bellows.</p><p></p><p>Cujo seems more impressed with the Tarek than doing his work guarding the doorway. Choro steps in easily and after a few moments trying to reason with the kreen, Olan also steps in.</p><p></p><p>“Rib Breaker want Champion. Rib Breaker break champion!”</p><p></p><p>“Is he starting trouble? I don’t think your doorman can handle him.” Says Koe to the man in the dirty clothes.</p><p></p><p>“Think you can though?!?” snarls a drunken man dressed with hides of a green and black animal.</p><p></p><p>“Yes.” Koe states as a matter of fact.</p><p></p><p>The man leaps from his chair and Koe open palm strikes him in the neck. He tumbles back into and beyond his chair. The robed man is quick to pull dirt from a pocket and hold it to the barbarian’s throat.</p><p>“Made from dirt, Dirt can made man. Thankyou earth and your spirit. Thank you.” </p><p></p><p>The earth cleric slowly gets up. “You are here to fight? If so, I suspect you will have willing partners.”</p><p></p><p>Poe looks to the crowd. “Pit Fight?”.</p><p></p><p>“Such a nasty word and one that suggests it is illegal. Which it isn’t unless a templar gets a share of it- a big share. If you believe you can fight and win the cost of entry is three silver. You get a share of the house’s take. The house take is a piece of the bets made here. We keep a clean fight. No weapons- only armor is allowed. No magic. No purposeful deaths. I am here to keep people functioning. I do a bit of healing with each fight. Extra healing will cost you.”</p><p></p><p>“I want you!” calls out a man wearing House Shom colors.</p><p></p><p>“Yes.” Is all the monk replies.</p><p></p><p>Olan is in and begins to take bets. He knows the mul is a monk. Easy money. The room almost brings tears to the people’s eyes as the musk increases as the Tarek becomes excited by the prospect of fighting. This musk keeps Drak out of the tavern.</p><p></p><p>The human caravanner lasts longer than the barbarian…. But that is all. This outrages many of the Shom people and locals.</p><p></p><p>A New Race covered in fur leaps into the arena made of a 20x25 foot sand covered floor. It is roped off separating the combatants from the crowd. This creature howls and snarls. His hair thickens and becomes much like bristles and his muscles and skin thicken. The fight is fairer. This Shifter seems to know some hand-to-hand fighting himself. Koe strikes several times but the beast-man snarls and smiles at the strikes. He strikes back raking him slightly drawing a warning from the cleric about illegal combat techniques. The shifter tries to trip the mul monk with a leg sweep. It is the beginning of the end. With his off leg, Koe steps on his swinging ankle pinning it and then with a short and strong step up he snaps the extended knee. The audible snap makes a few viewers pale. To give the man the benefit, he doesn’t quit. The cleric stops the fight however. The shifter can not defend himself.</p><p></p><p>Both are given healing treatments. Koe uses his healing belt to do extra healing as the Shifter is dragged out and placed next to the prior two. The barbarian has yet to stir.</p><p></p><p>“RARRRGH! Rib Breaker is next! Rib Breaker with break ribs- and neck!” </p><p></p><p>Koe smiles at the challenge. Even more so when it is learned Rib Breaker also works for House Shom. This will truly be a glorious day.</p><p></p><p>Olan finds someone to bet a gold piece with. This drives the betting to new heights. Choro finds one person willing to beat three silver but no more. Rib Breaker is impressive and has fought here before but this mul fights with grace that defies his nature and racial tendencies.</p><p></p><p>The tarek calls on his psionic latent ability. He becomes tougher and more resistant to damage. He has trained himself to better use this power and makes his armor better also. “Rib Breaker….Break!”</p><p></p><p>“Indeed.” Koe states as he goes into a new defensive stance. Rib Breaker charges and misses his target but so does Koe. This creature understands hand-to-hand fighting. Koe slids on the sank under the Tarek. As the Tarek looks down to grab him he receives two swift kicks to the head. This enrages him further. He punches down and misses. He gets two strikes again- groin and to the back of the knee. The tarek takes all of the strikes in stride.</p><p></p><p>At this point, Koe understands he has a dangerous opponent that could beat him. Most of the viewers call for Rib Breaker but a few are calling for the mul (they don’t know his name except for Olan and Choro. Olan is cheering away while Choro is wondering if he could psionically will a distraction and not get caught.</p><p></p><p>Koe is caught in a savage clothesline but flips about and lands on his feet and strikes twice more. He to stun the beast but all that happens is the muscles ripple from the impact. This goes back and forth- move and counter move. Strike and adjust. Be stricken and adjust. Just as Choro has decided to make the Tarek’s leather straps a bit tighter Ko strikes the beast’s neck. He is headbutted savagely then two more throat strikes. The tarek drops to a knee. The judge, knowing Tarek’s will fight to the death, stops the bout and gives it to the mul. Rib Breaker is not impressed and when he tries to restart the fight, the cleric stops him.</p><p></p><p>Koe uses more of the belt’s healing. He has spent six silver but won thirteen. He is ahead by seven silver- a week’s pay. One more match.</p><p></p><p>“Damned Monk! Yeah I know who you are. Still fight like a sissy. Did Bliss train you?” Koe knows the name. She is a monk that trains females only. Koe doesn’t take it as an insult but that was the intension. He searches the crowd for whom said it. A chant of “Cross” begins.</p><p></p><p>“Who is Cross?” Choro asks as he listens to the crowd’s chant. Cujo, the dim-witted half-giant door guard replies- “Tembo Nest’s Champion. 15 victories. No losses.”</p><p></p><p>A blonde haired man surrounded by three beautiful women calls to Koe. “I am the champion here. Do you want a REAL fight?” He takes off his tunic and hands it to one of the women.</p><p></p><p>“I will fight.” Answers Koe.</p><p></p><p>Bets run wild and rampant. The house will have a good night.</p><p></p><p>The battle begins. Each combatant steps cautiously and slowly. Poe had assumed the man knew the martial arts of a monk but his stances are incorrect. That said, they are still stances that allow for defense and counter strikes. This man is an experienced brawler- a professional pit fighter.</p><p></p><p>Koe strikes first staggering the man. The man then punches and does a spinning back hand. One hits but it hits hard. It goes like this. Koe strikes most times and the man named Cross strikes once but each seem to harm the other equally. The man’s quickness and solid strong hits are equal to Koe’s techniques. Then Koe is given a duel strike to the ribs. One can be heard breaking. Before he can gasp Cross strikes with a double axe=handle to Koe’s head driving his head down into a quickly rising knee. The cleric ends it. Cross remains undefeated. [DM NOTES: Whoever landed the next blow would have won]</p><p></p><p>Spitting up blood, Koe falls to the sand floor and finally gasps for air. Cross walks up to him and glares down at him. “I hate Monks. All Monks.” And he reaches down to help Koe up. “Doesn’t mean I have to disrespect them however.” He whispers to Koe’s ear as he steadies him.</p><p></p><p>Each are getting patched up. Koe steps over to him. “You fight well comrade. I buy you a drink.”</p><p></p><p>“Later Mul. I want to enjoy the crowd…. And my ladies first.”</p><p></p><p>“Here then?”</p><p></p><p>“No. Tembo’s Nest will be closed within 30 minutes. Move to a new place for tomorrow. Maybe try the Blue Tavern. It’s near the Caravan way.”</p><p></p><p>“I will find it.” And Koe leaves.</p><p></p><p>Olan has just chased down and gotten paid (finally) from the Rib Breaker match…. Which paid for his loses against Cross. Choro lost money in the end but that is okay. Drak only saw the second half of the Cross match. He waited until Rib Breaker left. He wants to fight but Thri-kreen are not allowed in the Tembo’s Nest due to their advantages of talons, bite and poison.</p><p></p><p>“It is near dark. We better get going.” Choro reminds everyone.</p><p></p><p>“Go on. I will be back by daybreak.” Answers Koe as he buys an entire bottle of wine and begins to take some Ral’s Breath (powerful numbing agent) for his ribs.</p><p></p><p>Shortly Koe is waiting at the Blue Tavern. Just as he believes he has been stood-up, Cross enters. “Thought I wouldn’t come? I did consider it.” The professional fighter sits down hard on a chair. Koe motions for him to have a drink. “My thanks Mul.”</p><p></p><p>“Koe. My hame is Koe.”</p><p></p><p>“Sure Mul.” He smiles and wants for a reply at his verbal stab. He doesn’t get one.</p><p></p><p>“You mention Bliss. You know Bliss?” Koe asks with a hard and stern look.</p><p></p><p>“Only when the ladies are looking to please me.”</p><p></p><p>“Not what I meant.”</p><p></p><p>“I know what you meant. I’ve been to Nibenay before. Fought there. Ran into some of your fighting buddies. They handed me my young backside easily.”</p><p></p><p>“You know Thong?”</p><p></p><p>“He is your teacher I’m guessing. Heard of him. Never met him…. Or her for that matter.”</p><p></p><p>Koe is searching his thoughts. Cross is entertaining his own.</p><p></p><p>“You fight well for one untrained by a Master.”</p><p></p><p>“Master? Hell- surviving on the streets is a tougher master than Thong or Bliss. Are we going any where with this? I don’t really like thinking about my days in the City of Shadows.”</p><p></p><p>“Neither do I. Good talk. Go.”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah…. Thanks for the fight.” And Cross gets up and limbs out.</p><p></p><p>Koe finds it is dark. He hears cursing as a templar is going his way. He leaps up and crawls onto a roof. He sleeps here for the night with his bottle of wine.</p><p></p><p>Back at the compound, Olan spots Barkus and Yaesha in the courtyard. They are having tense words about something. He tries to eases drop but can’t make out any words. Yaesha storms into the building. Angry he looks about. “Where is Koe?”</p><p></p><p>Olan shrugs. Choro pretends to be asleep. Drak continues to work his spittle to create weapon-heads for the staff he bought earlier today.</p><p></p><p>“Damned mul! He better be here before we leave or I WILL leave him for the templars.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="megamania, post: 7609450, member: 9255"] DARKSUN: THE ELEMENTS OF EVIL SEGMENT 007 “TO TYR” 05/10/19 SEASON: FRIEND’S VENGEANCE YEAR 24 MONTH: THE SUN DAY: 2 KA: 190 One day away from the infamous Silver Springs, the caravan is attacked by twelve skeletons covered in a dark green fungus. Drak hops up onto a large flat rock and throws javelins down at the passing skeletons. Choro blows them up with a sickening crack of pure cold. Poe punches and kicks them down growing wary of the sludge on their boney bodies. Olan takes done one after borrowing a weapon from another guard. Yaesha takes down several with his arrows as he destroys skulls and rib cages. DAY 4 A crazed Air Elemental Beast is spotted flanking the caravan. It roars and stirs up dust and sand as it watches the group. The mixed in sand further enrages it but the group has bypassed it before it attacks. DAY 5 The caravan spots a reflective golden dome in the distance. Behind it are the ever tall Ringing Mountains. The Golden Dome is King Kalak’s palace in Tyr. “Remember, once we stop at the Tsalaxa House, you have until dawn to return. After that, our gates close and will not open. Any caught outside in the streets are questioned then generally put to work as a slave to work on the Rainbow Ziggurat.” Yaesha Tsalaxa reminds everyone- the new four scouts and the veterans. As is the case with all city guards and templars, the caravan is stopped and quested. A bribe speeds the search along. The bigger the bribe, the quicker and easier the caravan moves through. The unexpected levels of bribery at Draj and Raam has depleted most of the house’s set aside moneys for this. Yaesha must put up with a full fifteen minutes of inspection and hold up by Tyr’s Templars. Templar Tam especially seems determined to hold them up. Inside, they go to their walled in section and other workers begin to unpack the carts. Barkus Tsalaxa seems impatient with them. He is the lead man here in Tyr. He seems very impatient and quick to temper. The scouts are not impressed with him but feel they can move on. Its not their problem. Drak wants to but a quarterstaff. They have little luck talking to people about where to go but one of the caravan men suggests Grik’s Weapons. It is located near the entrance of the city. Near the beginning of Caravan Way, they find a sign with several weapons crossed and a yellow head on it. They guess this to be Grik’s. As they enter a robed man and a heavily scarred mul are arguing. “I am sorry, but I have no magical weapons- especially a spear made from Afgari wood. “Kalak Lives Another Day!” curses the man as he turns. The mul waits until the man leaves then welcomes them. “I am….looking for ….quarterstaff.” Stats the Thri-kreen. “I have a few.” The mul pulls some staffs he had set a side. “Are any of these what you are looking for?” The thri-kreen looks at each. Before a decision is made Koe speaks up. “I know much about weapons of the arena. And even more about weapons like these. You are taller than many. You need a taller staff.” Drak and Grik look at him with a look a parent gives a disruptive child. “Longer….please.” Grik looks directly at the other mul then goes to the back. A few moments later, Grik comes out with a staff six foot long. Based on the marking on one end, this was once a longspear. Drak wants it and buys it. Grik notices the several Chatkchas on his belt harness. “Did you make those yourself?” “Yes. Do you like? Do you buy?” responds the kreen as he detaches on to show the ex-gladiator. Grik pulls three of them. Olan offers his bone daggers but Grik has dozens already. “We have several hours still. Where to?” asks the thirsty half-giant. They wander back through Caravan Way and the Tsalaxa Compound. The market is near the Ziggurat so they walk that way. They spot a sign depicting a yelling or belching dwarf and a cask of wine. They go here (The Screaming Cellar). Koe gets water and the rest get the cheaper wine. This, This Drak likes and asks for more with his antennas outreaching and bopping. Sitting here they talk about what they have seen and done in the past three weeks together. Especially about Olan and the prostitute at Silver Springs. “But she was nice!” he defends himself by saying. Choro, lost in thought, stares at the cup before him. He then pulls out a pair of leather gloves from his hip pouch and puts them on. Koe watches out of curiosity. Seeing the mul watching the half-giant, Olan asks about the gloves. “I was just thinkin’.” “Your brother?” “Yes. Maybe Goro was here…. Like we are.” “That’s why you agreed to caravan work- to travel and maybe find your missing family that way.” “Might..klik=klik…. Work.” “Would you like more?” asks a happy and merry dwarf. “Yes” answers the Thri-kreen. “I like….wine.” “My grandfather would be proud. He started this wineshop some fifty plus years ago.” “Is that-“Koe points to a picture on the wall of a happy dwarf holding a wine casket-“ him?” “Yes. That is… was Portus. This shop was and still is his focus.” “He is still here?” asks Choro. “Yes. In the cellar. He keeps the thieves out- especially at night.” Choros eye brows raise at that. He suspects what is being hinted at. The others take the dwarf very literally. After they finish their drinks they leave again. They wander towards the front of the construction and make the mistake of looking at the many thousands of slaves working. A templar chases them away whom threatens to put them to work. They wander back to the market but see nothing that interests them. Koe however spots a man dressed in fine clothes walk into a rougher and poor area. Curious he follows and the others follow. The man looks around as he stops at the stoop of a badly kept building. He then goes inside. There are no signs outside suggesting the name or type of business done inside. Koe directly travels to the building. Pauses only to listen then moves onward. A curtain blocks his view but he hears from inside “The Nest is Clean”. The mul waits until the others arrives then goes inside through the curtain. A large and muscular half-giant blocks his way. There appears to be a tavern with merchants, artisans and travelers all inside drinking and talking. He goes in and notes a curtain blocking the entire wall. Shadows below reveal there are people behind the curtain. Noting his curiosity, a man dressed in dirt covered brown and tan robes comes up to him. “Hello. Password?” Koe is caught flat footed. What could be the password and for what? Then remembers what he heard- “The nest is clean.” The man looks him over nods and steps aside. Choro peeks in. He looks around then steps back to tell the others what he sees. When he turns next he is head to chin with the guard. “Password.” “Password?!?” Choro stumbles. He wish he had better thought reading skills. “I’m thirsty?” “Go Way.” “But my-“ “Go Way or Cujo Hurt.” A few more men come in. “The nest is clean.” And they go by. Smiling even though the psion hates to take advantage of the guard’s inept skills he begins to recite what he just heard- “The nest is-“ “Wait- Choro help me. Drak is acting strangely!” calls out the “New Race”. Choro turns and instead of seeing his two friends he sees a large Tarek marching up to the door. His musk is strong and nearly brings tears to his eyes. He brushes past Choro with great ease and storms into the tavern. “Rib Breaker has returned!” He bellows. Cujo seems more impressed with the Tarek than doing his work guarding the doorway. Choro steps in easily and after a few moments trying to reason with the kreen, Olan also steps in. “Rib Breaker want Champion. Rib Breaker break champion!” “Is he starting trouble? I don’t think your doorman can handle him.” Says Koe to the man in the dirty clothes. “Think you can though?!?” snarls a drunken man dressed with hides of a green and black animal. “Yes.” Koe states as a matter of fact. The man leaps from his chair and Koe open palm strikes him in the neck. He tumbles back into and beyond his chair. The robed man is quick to pull dirt from a pocket and hold it to the barbarian’s throat. “Made from dirt, Dirt can made man. Thankyou earth and your spirit. Thank you.” The earth cleric slowly gets up. “You are here to fight? If so, I suspect you will have willing partners.” Poe looks to the crowd. “Pit Fight?”. “Such a nasty word and one that suggests it is illegal. Which it isn’t unless a templar gets a share of it- a big share. If you believe you can fight and win the cost of entry is three silver. You get a share of the house’s take. The house take is a piece of the bets made here. We keep a clean fight. No weapons- only armor is allowed. No magic. No purposeful deaths. I am here to keep people functioning. I do a bit of healing with each fight. Extra healing will cost you.” “I want you!” calls out a man wearing House Shom colors. “Yes.” Is all the monk replies. Olan is in and begins to take bets. He knows the mul is a monk. Easy money. The room almost brings tears to the people’s eyes as the musk increases as the Tarek becomes excited by the prospect of fighting. This musk keeps Drak out of the tavern. The human caravanner lasts longer than the barbarian…. But that is all. This outrages many of the Shom people and locals. A New Race covered in fur leaps into the arena made of a 20x25 foot sand covered floor. It is roped off separating the combatants from the crowd. This creature howls and snarls. His hair thickens and becomes much like bristles and his muscles and skin thicken. The fight is fairer. This Shifter seems to know some hand-to-hand fighting himself. Koe strikes several times but the beast-man snarls and smiles at the strikes. He strikes back raking him slightly drawing a warning from the cleric about illegal combat techniques. The shifter tries to trip the mul monk with a leg sweep. It is the beginning of the end. With his off leg, Koe steps on his swinging ankle pinning it and then with a short and strong step up he snaps the extended knee. The audible snap makes a few viewers pale. To give the man the benefit, he doesn’t quit. The cleric stops the fight however. The shifter can not defend himself. Both are given healing treatments. Koe uses his healing belt to do extra healing as the Shifter is dragged out and placed next to the prior two. The barbarian has yet to stir. “RARRRGH! Rib Breaker is next! Rib Breaker with break ribs- and neck!” Koe smiles at the challenge. Even more so when it is learned Rib Breaker also works for House Shom. This will truly be a glorious day. Olan finds someone to bet a gold piece with. This drives the betting to new heights. Choro finds one person willing to beat three silver but no more. Rib Breaker is impressive and has fought here before but this mul fights with grace that defies his nature and racial tendencies. The tarek calls on his psionic latent ability. He becomes tougher and more resistant to damage. He has trained himself to better use this power and makes his armor better also. “Rib Breaker….Break!” “Indeed.” Koe states as he goes into a new defensive stance. Rib Breaker charges and misses his target but so does Koe. This creature understands hand-to-hand fighting. Koe slids on the sank under the Tarek. As the Tarek looks down to grab him he receives two swift kicks to the head. This enrages him further. He punches down and misses. He gets two strikes again- groin and to the back of the knee. The tarek takes all of the strikes in stride. At this point, Koe understands he has a dangerous opponent that could beat him. Most of the viewers call for Rib Breaker but a few are calling for the mul (they don’t know his name except for Olan and Choro. Olan is cheering away while Choro is wondering if he could psionically will a distraction and not get caught. Koe is caught in a savage clothesline but flips about and lands on his feet and strikes twice more. He to stun the beast but all that happens is the muscles ripple from the impact. This goes back and forth- move and counter move. Strike and adjust. Be stricken and adjust. Just as Choro has decided to make the Tarek’s leather straps a bit tighter Ko strikes the beast’s neck. He is headbutted savagely then two more throat strikes. The tarek drops to a knee. The judge, knowing Tarek’s will fight to the death, stops the bout and gives it to the mul. Rib Breaker is not impressed and when he tries to restart the fight, the cleric stops him. Koe uses more of the belt’s healing. He has spent six silver but won thirteen. He is ahead by seven silver- a week’s pay. One more match. “Damned Monk! Yeah I know who you are. Still fight like a sissy. Did Bliss train you?” Koe knows the name. She is a monk that trains females only. Koe doesn’t take it as an insult but that was the intension. He searches the crowd for whom said it. A chant of “Cross” begins. “Who is Cross?” Choro asks as he listens to the crowd’s chant. Cujo, the dim-witted half-giant door guard replies- “Tembo Nest’s Champion. 15 victories. No losses.” A blonde haired man surrounded by three beautiful women calls to Koe. “I am the champion here. Do you want a REAL fight?” He takes off his tunic and hands it to one of the women. “I will fight.” Answers Koe. Bets run wild and rampant. The house will have a good night. The battle begins. Each combatant steps cautiously and slowly. Poe had assumed the man knew the martial arts of a monk but his stances are incorrect. That said, they are still stances that allow for defense and counter strikes. This man is an experienced brawler- a professional pit fighter. Koe strikes first staggering the man. The man then punches and does a spinning back hand. One hits but it hits hard. It goes like this. Koe strikes most times and the man named Cross strikes once but each seem to harm the other equally. The man’s quickness and solid strong hits are equal to Koe’s techniques. Then Koe is given a duel strike to the ribs. One can be heard breaking. Before he can gasp Cross strikes with a double axe=handle to Koe’s head driving his head down into a quickly rising knee. The cleric ends it. Cross remains undefeated. [DM NOTES: Whoever landed the next blow would have won] Spitting up blood, Koe falls to the sand floor and finally gasps for air. Cross walks up to him and glares down at him. “I hate Monks. All Monks.” And he reaches down to help Koe up. “Doesn’t mean I have to disrespect them however.” He whispers to Koe’s ear as he steadies him. Each are getting patched up. Koe steps over to him. “You fight well comrade. I buy you a drink.” “Later Mul. I want to enjoy the crowd…. And my ladies first.” “Here then?” “No. Tembo’s Nest will be closed within 30 minutes. Move to a new place for tomorrow. Maybe try the Blue Tavern. It’s near the Caravan way.” “I will find it.” And Koe leaves. Olan has just chased down and gotten paid (finally) from the Rib Breaker match…. Which paid for his loses against Cross. Choro lost money in the end but that is okay. Drak only saw the second half of the Cross match. He waited until Rib Breaker left. He wants to fight but Thri-kreen are not allowed in the Tembo’s Nest due to their advantages of talons, bite and poison. “It is near dark. We better get going.” Choro reminds everyone. “Go on. I will be back by daybreak.” Answers Koe as he buys an entire bottle of wine and begins to take some Ral’s Breath (powerful numbing agent) for his ribs. Shortly Koe is waiting at the Blue Tavern. Just as he believes he has been stood-up, Cross enters. “Thought I wouldn’t come? I did consider it.” The professional fighter sits down hard on a chair. Koe motions for him to have a drink. “My thanks Mul.” “Koe. My hame is Koe.” “Sure Mul.” He smiles and wants for a reply at his verbal stab. He doesn’t get one. “You mention Bliss. You know Bliss?” Koe asks with a hard and stern look. “Only when the ladies are looking to please me.” “Not what I meant.” “I know what you meant. I’ve been to Nibenay before. Fought there. Ran into some of your fighting buddies. They handed me my young backside easily.” “You know Thong?” “He is your teacher I’m guessing. Heard of him. Never met him…. Or her for that matter.” Koe is searching his thoughts. Cross is entertaining his own. “You fight well for one untrained by a Master.” “Master? Hell- surviving on the streets is a tougher master than Thong or Bliss. Are we going any where with this? I don’t really like thinking about my days in the City of Shadows.” “Neither do I. Good talk. Go.” “Yeah…. Thanks for the fight.” And Cross gets up and limbs out. Koe finds it is dark. He hears cursing as a templar is going his way. He leaps up and crawls onto a roof. He sleeps here for the night with his bottle of wine. Back at the compound, Olan spots Barkus and Yaesha in the courtyard. They are having tense words about something. He tries to eases drop but can’t make out any words. Yaesha storms into the building. Angry he looks about. “Where is Koe?” Olan shrugs. Choro pretends to be asleep. Drak continues to work his spittle to create weapon-heads for the staff he bought earlier today. “Damned mul! He better be here before we leave or I WILL leave him for the templars.” [/QUOTE]
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