IC Ljonarian Enigma: Tournament Chaos

[CWater]

Eglantine took the box and tucked it securely under her arm. She looked at Ynna with a slight shake of her head. Turning back to Vindal she grinned at his apology. The man had become a surrogate parent for her after her father had died and even though he could be tough at times she was proud she was learning from one of the best. "Gives me a chance to check out some of the fighters. I'll tell you any that look good for the bets. What was the agreed on payment?"

"1800 gold for 5 belts, got to give a little discount in numbers. Be careful with the money, could be thieves in the crowd." Vindal leaned back in the chair and let his gaze drift up to the clouds.

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Alexander checks out his group, a quick analysis goes through his head. The Orc-folk seems strong. Dwarf with an axe is usually reliable. The Elf may have had the funds to back specialized training. That one may look tough but -

His thoughts are broken by calls from his new neighbor. "Eh! Lass! Sounds like you want our ad-hoc quartermaster here!", he shouts over to her.

To the group of warriors, "So, no locals here, huh? No surprise. Y'all travel far? Fair enough weather?". There is a reason Alexander did not inquire about becoming a political diplomat.

The dwarf only nods in response, but the others are a notch more eloquent. "Quite far", replies the human woman, "from the southern coast, came up with a caravan last month. Thought might as well try my luck here."
"I am a local", says the young elf, "my family has owned land in the east for generations, in fact."

Eglantine gave the tall fighter a large and grateful smile. He seemed tall and strong enough to do decently at least in the opening rounds of the fighting. He looked familiar, but she had spent the last week either locked in work at the shop or hurrying home to crash before the next days work.

Going over to the man identified as Barden she gestured to the box under her arm. "I come from Vindal's with a delivery. Goods received upon full agreed upon payment."

Barden glances briefly in Eglantine's direction. "Yes yes, lass, I'll speak with you in moment." He then turns back to the warriors. "Right, we start with individual battles. The field over there is divided to five parts, pick one area for yourself and I'll have the summoners send their creatures your way. Oi!" He shouts out and waves to another small group of people behind the rope fences. Judging by the style of their clothes they're members of the local mage guilds. One of them returns the wave and three of them take positions around the field. "They'll call the summons one at a time, three in total. Be fast and you might not have to fight more than one at the same time. Oh, and your fighting the beasts, not the summoners, all right? Some genius already tried to be clever once today, tsk. Any questions?"

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The noises get even louder as Rowan gets closer to the southern side of the city, where most of the people are. As it's still morning, the day's merriment was not even in full swing yet.

He passes many curious looking folks on the way, especially in a square that has been taken over by various entertainer parties; they're even building a theatre stage there. Rowan spots a familiar face among the crowd of strangers, young Ky Falkner, a well known local swindler, talking merrily to a couple of travellers, likely to soon lose their money.

"Make way for Count Delawney!", comes a loud announcement from behind him, working more as a warning actually, and the actors, mummers, street magicians and ordinary folk hurry out of the way before a dozen finely dressed horses and riders gallop past. Though little good did that do them as the escort is soon after forced to slow down by the next crossroads where a pair of slowly moving carts are blocking the way. Lucky no one was knocked over just for nothing.

Spoiler

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Rowan can head straight to the temple or explore the town for a while, whichever he chooses.