Walking thru the dust choked, sweat-drenched tunnels beneath the arena Vognar followed Barven Freth to his office, flanked by a pair of tough burly looking guards, most likely former gladiators, carrying torches down the dark lit passages.
The office was not gaudy, an air of opulence was obvious; nice chairs, richly colored rugs on the floor and tapestries on the walls, depicting great battles of the arena, the symbol of Gorum found all about. Vognar felt at home for the first time in a long while, although tempted by the Fight Masters offer to sit and relax, he did not wish to appear weak with this shrewd negotiator.
The Ulfen stood defiantly to which Barven shrugged, sat comfortably in his high back leather chair, propping his boots on his elegant walnut desk and regarded the blond warrior, calculating his value like a butcher does with cattle.
Vognar did not like waiting, beginning the negotiations, starting in too high, soon finding himself out matched by the cunning and wizened human arena master. Before long he and his friends where haggled into fighting four fights for killing Barvens’ three worgs, freeing the wolf, Tyl, to Lythars custody.
***
Halgrin Smine laughed aloud at the Ulfen getting taken by the arena’s fight master after Vognar recounted the tale with Barven. Taking pity on the group he outfitted them all with the best equipment he could hoping to ensure their survival so they could complete the trials of the arena and his mission to Absolom.
Meanwhile Thistle and Tazjh leave oppressive city gates to commune with nature in the surrounding area. The raptor hunting squirrels and druid gathering plants for his alchemical needs, enjoying the break before they are called to fight.
Lythar takes Tyl out of Tymon as well, frolicking, hunting and strengthening the bond between the two new companions. The skittish wolf amazingly taking down a dear on it’s own, however the pair almost lose track of time enjoying each other’s company in the wild and don’t make it back till well after midday.
After purchasing mounts for their trip to Absolom, a representative of Barven, arrives later in the day, at the Prancing Palamino, as the group gathers to eat, informing them that they will fight two of their four bouts this evening.
***
The large wood and iron doors creak and groan open revealing large roaring crowd as the heroes’ enter the battlefield. Thistles’ raptor loses no time and bolts for the first goblin she sees scraping and clawing at the startled green creature.
Lythar and Thistle move into the light and loose missiles towards goblins opposite of ends of the areana drawing ooo’s from the throngs of spectators as goblins are wounded. Several of the vile greenskins reply with arrows of their own several finding their mark on Thistle.
Vognar soundlessly roars, launching himself into a charge towards Tazjh and four goblins to the east, unable to reach them he throws a hand axe pining a lifeless goblin to the arena wall, bringing approving roars from the crowd.
The fight lasts twenty-four seconds in all, a whole sale slaughter of the goblins, which are torn to shreds by Tajzh, pinned to the walls by Lythar, bludgeoned by Thistles sling bullets and carved in half by Vognars’ great sword, all amidst cheers of the crowd and roars of Vognar to Gorum echoed exuberantly by the spectators. With only Thistle is injured with several tiny arrows’ protruding from his small frame the group accepts the throngs praise.
Flowers, food and gold rain down on the arena floor, from which the Lythar takes a single orchid smells it and tucks it behind his ear, while the rest of the group gathers their winnings from screaming fans as they return to the tunnels below.
Clergy of Gorum remove the arrows from Thistle and heal his wounds; Vognar kneeling before the priests touching his friends now mended holes in revered fascination of his gods divine power, drawing disturbed looks from his companions and Thistle in particular.
Drunk with their first success, Barven promised to make the heroes next fight more ‘challenging’.
***
Standing on the bloodied sand of the oval shaped coliseum the heroes watch as three other gates open and from the darkness four monstrous humanoid shapes, strong furry legs ending in hooves crush the dirt beneath as they stride on the field, their heads are that of a snarling bull with sharpened horns, the leader Minotaur and his pack, release a braying roar challenging the heroes.
Vognar debates going for the largest of the minotaur’s but charges for the two closest, praying to Gorum for strength, hoping to tie up as many dangerous foes and sparing his companions, at the end of his charge, he tosses his throwing axe striking one of beasts in the chest drawing first blood, Vognar makes a mental note to thank Halgrim for his fine balance of the weapon.
Tazjh looks to Thistle who gives his blessing for her to charge the northern most of the Minotaur, skittering across the arena floor, leaping claws extend as she draws grooves of blood and a roar of rage from the large tawny colored beast. The monstrous creature replies in kind with a great axe nearly spilling the loyal raptors intestines on the floor.
Thistle whirls a sling bullet at Tazjh’s opponent and calls for her to return concerned with the grievous wound she recieved. Meanwhile Lythar moves to guard his small companion, his keen aim loosing arrows into the largest of the Minotaur to the south, the beast grunting angrily with each strike.
Vognars’ greatsword waving about defensively, as the two beasts attempt to circle and flank him, a Minotaur attempts to move by the quick Ulfen warrior who spins on him cleaving opening the monstrous humanoids ribcage spilling its warm red watery contents onto the ground.
“GORUM”, the big man roars echoed by the crowd invigorated by the gory death.
The other opponent charges the human horns forward axe swinging, the blond haired Ulfen ducking and dodging the blows his new armor protecting his vitals.
Vognar reversing the sweeping arch of his blade drives three feet of steel thru the heart of the second beast twisting it for effect killing the large creature its eyes wide in disbelief. Seeing the largest Minotaur attempting to close with Lythar the Ulfen intercepts the leader stopping him short to deal with him.
Lythar realizing Tajzh and Thistle will be unable to take the Minotaur on their own drops his bow and charges his large bull faced opponent taking a bloody groove for his kindness.
Thistle attempts to unsuccessfully bandage Tazjh who is restless and carefully slips behind Lythars Minotaur leaping on the great beasts back rending flesh with her hind claws, hissing with glee.
Lythar catches the Minotaur’s torn ear in his mouth, after the creature accidentally caught its weapon lopping its own ear off. The crowd goes wild with blood lust, women screaming Lythars name and promising to bear his offspring as his gleaming elvish blade cuts deeply into the midsection of the beast.
Vognar breathing through this mouth could feel the red haze beginning to take control of him, in time for the Minotaur alpha to gore him with his horns and slash him with his oversized greataxe. The fury of the north overtaking the Ulfen barbarian, his body swelling with beastial rage, smiting the monstrous creature with a bloody feral grin contorting his face Vognar roared at the heavens. The crowd leaps to their feet cheering and shouting Gorums name in exuberance and the display.
Lythar finishes the last Minotaur with a deft use of his curved elven sword standing over the Minotaur’s ruined corpse dropping the orchid behind his ear with a sarcastic flourish. The display bringing a deafening roars of approval from the crowds who shower the heroes with food, gold even articles of clothing, as the heroes retreat inside the bowels of the arena to be healed.
Vognar kneeling before a priest of Gorum praises his name and falls unconscious from wounds that had he not been enraged might have killed him. After being healed and praised by Barven, they return to the in for drinks … to celebrate the events of the evening.
To be continued…
Great commentary! Awesome pics, too! Thanks for posting!
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