Spar 23rd [ Day 13 ]
The next morning, Tira and Quinn meet at Kanishi’s garden. Underneath the cover of the tarp, Tira uses her paints to decorate Quinn’s blackened horns. She spends hours, creating an intricate mural on the left horn. The right she simply adorns with a few splashes of different color. As they work, Kanishi occasionally wanders by and comments on Tira’s work, hinting that maybe she should give up the warrior’s way and paint instead. Her angry responses are met by wide smiles.
They go to the Mermaid’s Cups as they had planned earlier, to meet Killian in case anything bad happened. The bar is just as bad as the name sounds. Their ‘bards’ are scantily clad females that dance on the stage for the patrons. After an hour, Killian doesn’t show up so they go try to find him. At the Exchange, Felinca tells them that he was apparently very injured the night before and that he’s resting in the back. They talk with Gunther a bit, their first time meeting him. He’s casual enough, but he does not reveal any details of Killian’s exploits from the night before. They leave a simple message for of where to meet them at later. Killian wakes after they are gone and makes his way out, filled with vengeance and loathing. Someone will pay for this slight.
Moving slowly, Killian returns to his faction headquarters, the Armory. He checks back in with Ely about obtaining a certain weapon. He had spoken with Ely and Spragg about finding some sort of bladed weapon he could throw and possibly catch on a rebound. Ely explains that such weapons require years of practice and usually a mailed glove to prevent loss of fingers. For the time being, they provide him with a balanced blunt ring and a light chain glove. He speaks with Ely about some training, since he’s never used one before. Ely says they can probably schedule it in, especially if Killian will speak with Quinn about sparring. Killian mentions the upcoming pit-fight, and with a smile, Ely decides that he too will go to Crone’s.
Tira and Quinn happen to go by the Xaositect construction site once more on their way to Crone’s. This time they notice that most work has ceased at the site and apparently battle lines are drawn. It’s not against another faction: this time the conflict is between the Xaositects. They are torn as to whether finish building first or paint as they go. After hearing complaints from both sides, Quinn steps forward and lets his voice be heard. It was a frightening thing for many Sigilians, hearing the mass of chaosmen chanting “Might makes Right!” over and over. His impromptu oration actually brings the Chaosmen back to working. Unfortunately, as with most things involving the Xaositects, this seems to only be a temporary solution.
At Crone’s, Tira and Quinn meet with Nester and Agnes and set up another fight for the minotaur. During some small talk, Nester mentions a third sister, the ‘ugly one’. Quinn has heard the two talk about Veldra every so often, but never had the chance to meet her. They have a bad feeling about how this hag should look, if her sisters say she has a rough appearance.
Killian arrives, and immediately a barrage of questions and a few scathing jokes are made regarding Killian’s misadventures. As the fights are begin, the characters notice that Ely has shown up to watch. During the proceedings, Tira watches Gorvak, the hobgoblin fight and decides that she could manage him, if he’d be willing. Killian slides over to talk with Ely, who is sitting with an alluring young tiefling female.
Quinn’s fight comes up, his opponent being a very disagreeable ogre named Baelsh. They go at it, and it’s a tough fight. The ogre uses its slight size advantage over the minotaur, trying to grapple him. Quinn powers out of his grasp and moves around for better shots at his backside. Baelsh cracks a good blow with his club, but all it serves is to focus Quinn. Quinn pleases the crowd by slashing him up with his cestus, then proceeds to finish him off with a mighty punch. The blow lifts the ogre off of his feet and knocks him unconscious. Quinn’s antics bring on a good cheer from the crowd. This fight catches the attention of a visiting fight promoter named L.M. Cothran. He’s from the Gehennan gate-town of Torch, where he works for an arena called Broken Swords. Before the end of the night, he speaks with Tira and Quinn about coming up for a look and possibly some work there.
Tira and Quinn join with Killian and talk to Ely. They meet his young tiefling friend, Toral (although Killian notes later that Ely is rumored to be in a tryst with Factol Pentar). More talk is made of Quinn training and sparring with Ely. In the next few days, Killian will begin to train with his new weapon, and Quinn will face off against the cambion warrior. With all of this said and done, it’s time to go home for the night. Tira has Killian accompany her, so she can change and clean the bandages for his wounds (DM note: the Doomguard eschew magical healing for more than just pride – their factional mindset tends to work against such ministrations). Quinn goes his separate way, back to the Rusty Trident where he makes his kip.
As Tira and Killian wind through the alleys, they are beset by the two nobles that Killian took some money from a few days earlier. They are both fairly drunken, and have followed the dark elf out of the bar to settle the score. With a smirk, Killian agrees to duel with Gregor Antosky, the more vocal of the two. They square off, the noble with a steel rapier; Killian with his battered short sword. They advance upon one another, dodging blows until they lock the blades together. Killian grins, and uses his innate ability to drop a cloud of darkness upon them both. Gregor’s blade does find one last mark and wounds Killian in the shoulder, but soon enough the drow uses the darkness to his advantage and slays the young rake. The other young man is incensed by this blatant treachery and makes grave threats at the two of them. Tira throws a spear at the young man, but does not try to actually kill him. It serves its purpose, and the noble runs, leaving his friend to his fate. As Killian releases the shroud and removes Gregor’s valueables, the two of them can hear his living friend swear a solemn promise to have his revenge. The night provides no more surprises for the two.