Fighter Fight

Knelt before the altar and the firepit that lies in the break of the earth is a huge oruch warrior. He is decked out in what is clearly well-worn scale mail which is extremely well crafted but has seen enough battle that it shows. There's no one else around him so he stands out. There's a heavy flail in his hand, beautifully crafted into the face of a man screaming - roaring perhaps. The warrior is staring at the weapon with both hands around it, his eyes wet but his face dry. After what seems an endless moment he rises to his feet, but still does not move from the edge of the firepit. Instead he stands there staring at the weapon still; looking utterly forlorn.

Azog enters the temple and makes his own way over to the firepit. He's pretty well known around the temple, is Azog, a fairly high-ranking member of the Order Paramount. And a huge oruch, though that's really just a matter of degrees. But he's at the larger end for oruch, and he kneels down before the altar and says a soft but sincere prayer, then stands right away and moves off a bit. He hauls an earthbreaker with an adamantine head from over his shoulder, and begins what might be calisthenics.

It's the prayer that seems to wake Razen out of his thoughts, drawing his attention in a sort of embarrassment that he is taking up so much time in front of it. So he watches Azog moving and it brings a slowly growing smile to his lips as he watches the other man move. Slowly he slips the flail onto the belt on his hip. Then more surely he moves toward Azog. "Good-day." He offers the greeting with a warm wave that is perhaps a little less warm than those he usually gives. "Might I join you?"

Azog looks up at the half-orc, and seems puzzled a moment. But he nods about joining him. "By all means," he agrees. "You wish to spar?" he wonders. Not a lot of people do, nowadays, but it can be fun. He's known to be pretty well-skilled. Not so much as, say, Kravar, but still pretty fearsome.

This brings the flash of a quick grin from Razen. "If you are of a mind to; it has been some time since I have had a fight to settle my bones." He touches the weapon on his belt a bit hesitant and it steals the light of his grin from his eyes even if it lingers on his lips.

Azog and Razen are in a sparring area of the temple grounds, and he'll head on over to a barrel of practice weapons, where he draws out a practice sword of about the same length as the one at his hip. There are flails and pretty much everything in the barrel. "If your bones are unsettled, it is perhaps a priest you seek. But I can give you a good fight, perhaps," he offers.

The sound of a violin begins to mingle with the background noise of the drums, getting a bit louder and closer to the large earthbreaker-shaped firepit before the altar. It is soon obvious that the player is a wee Gobbo with ebon skin, and dressed in studded leather. Her bare feet carry her silently over the sand floor, and she makes a single orbit around the firepit, and then stands in front of the altar. Murmuring under her breath, she continues on... stopping near the two about to give battle, eyeing them curiously.

As the music begins Razen heads over to the practice weapons as well, pulling out a flail which if the one on his hip is any indication is his favored weapon. Though the spiked chain he wears practically as a belt suggests that he has other methods as well. Speaking of he disengages the chain, laying it on the ground by the barrels. He hefts the weapon to get the weight of it and settles into a light stance. "Better a fight I think." Razen motions with one hand for Azog to come at him with only the flicker of an eye toward the goblin to make sure he knows where she is. "A good one cures most ills I find!"

The sound of a violin is so unusual here that it draws Azog's attention, and he looks over at the small goblin playing. He'll nod a greeting, since she's looking his way, but then he promises Razen a spar, and he's got to deliver. One thing at a time. When Razen says to come at him, he'll comply, swinging a hard overhand blow with the practice sword, which will leave a mark, but not permanently injure the fighters.

GAME: Azog rolls 1d20+26: (2)+26: 28
GAME: Azog rolls 1d10+17: (2)+17: 19

Acedia watches attentively, nodding to the two, and wincing when Azog gets the first blow. She spends a few moments to stow her bow and violin safely in its hard case, and she sets it upon the ground and settles upon it cross-legged. "A platinum coin on the shorter one."

The first blow comes in quick, and Razen's slow to react to it. The blow lands heavily on the side of his head close enough to his ear that it rings with the blow. He laughs at the pain though, knowing it'll bruise later and lets the thrill of having someone to test his mettle against send warmth through all of his limbs. The half-ourch steps inside the weapon's range and sends his own blow Azog's way.

GAME: Razen rolls 1d20+6: (10)+6: 16

Azog slips beside the blow, and it skitters harmlessly off his armor. Well, if the fellow finds a beating relaxing, Azog will certainly oblige. Or perhaps this is some complicated overture to conversation as it's done here in Alexandria? He's not sure how that sort of thing works. He does spib on one heel as Razen's swing's momentum carries him past, and he'll deliver a two-handed smack with his practice sword to the half-orc's midsection.

GAME: Azog rolls 1d20+26: (1)+26: 27 (EPIC FAIL)

The wee Gobbo raises an eyebrow at Razen. "You're going to have to hit harder than that. His momma probably smacked him harder." She watches Azog's return swing, anticipating pain... and looks disappointed. "Okay, /I/ coulda hit him harder'n'that!"

It's not really Azog's fault, Razen's armor is mostly to thank for absorbing the blow, that and a well-timed breath that kept him from being hit with more than the glancing blow that his armor was capable of taking from the hard-hitting man. "You are an amazing fighter!" Razen lets the compliment slip easily from his lips, seemingly unconcerned that he's clearly outmatched. "Tell you what, you hit me again and I'll buy you a drink aye?" He doesn't plan to make it easy for the other man, dodging around to his backside and readying his weapon for a block rather than another attack.

GAME: Azog rolls 1d20+26: (19)+26: 45
GAME: Azog rolls 1d20+26: (19)+26: 45
GAME: Azog rolls 2d10+34: (7)+34: 41

Azog grumbles about the crummy grips of the practice swords as he shifts his own grip a bit, giving Razen a puzzled look. "Did you not know who I was when you challenged me, warrior?" he asks. "Or is there some other purpose?" With Razen on guard like that, he'll strike directly against the guard, smashing the practice flail and flattening the smaller half-oruch. To Acedia, he says, "I hope you haven't lost too much cash." He'll set down his sword and begin the process of rousing Razen and bringing him back around.

The Gobbo squeaks at the crash of practice blades and the boneless collapse of Razen. She huffs at the bigger Oruch, and moves to Razen's side, touching the welt already forming on the man's forehead. Acedia's hands glow white for a moment, and the swelling begins to recede. "He probably does not know you, warrior.", she says to Azog, after which she shrugs. "It is only a little bit of money." She pats at Razen's face. "Hey. Wake up!"

Razen wakes up with a slow groan. "Father?" He blinks his eyes open and looks at the goblin with a very confused expression followed by Azog with one that is much more understanding. 'Ah! It seems you well and truly defeated me.' The half-ourch sits up, seeming little the worse for wear and offers Azog his hand. 'My name is Razen, though I am loath to admit I do not know yours.' <yrch-speak>

Azog nods about the cash being minor. He takes Razen's hand and shakes it. He smirks about the father comment. "I am Azog, of the Lightning Maul tribe. It is good to meet you, Razen. You will grow more skillful. The more you fight, the stronger you will get."

Acedia huffs and crosses her arms, and stands up. "You're welcome.", she says to Razen, before reaching into a pocket and fishing out a silvery coin, which she flips to Azog. "You don't waste energy or blows." She moves to settle back down upon her violin case.

The half-ourch has the grace to look embarassed. "Thank you." Razen rises slowly to his feet, nodding at Acedia's comments about Azog's fighting skills. "I do not think I have ever faced someone as good in such combat as you are Azog of the Lightning Maul tribe." With this second complement given he offers a broad hand to Acedia. "I am sorry to say that I do not know you either. As I said before, I am Razen, would you care to join us for drinks... assuming my offer has been accepted."

Azog takes the coin, slips it into his purse. He nods about not wasting energy. "I try not to," he agrees. He says to Razen, "I will drink with you. There are better and stronger than I. Particularly in this Temple. But I am no slouch."

Acedia cants her head slightly, looking sideways at the large hand offered her. "I know, I heard you tell him. I speak the tongue of Oruch, among others." She bounces up then, and slaps her palm against his, grinning toothily. Her violin case is shouldered and she nods to Razen. "I will allow you to buy me a drink.", the Gobbo says, cheekily. She nods to Azog. "You are certainly massive, even for an Oruch." <yrch-speak>

Razen tilts his head at Acedia. "What I told him?" He thinks back for a moment on what he might have said in his native tounge before flushing a odd color. "Ah you mean the... He is not my father." He glances toward Azog and offers an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. Here, I will explain over drinks yes?"

Azog nods to Acedia about being massive. He is that. He's about as tall as oruch get. "Yes, I am not his father. I am not so old as that, though I have been here a few years now, in and around Alexandria." He says to Razen, "Anyone talks foolishness when you're dazed. There is no dishonor."

The Gobbo blinks at Razen. "No, I meant your name, goober. He must have hit you a lot harder than I expected. You might want a healer to check to see that you don't have a concussion." She reaches up to pat Razen's arm. "I'd still wager on you, though." She glances at Azog and sighs. "No, his name, I heard him tell you. But you do look pretty old, though."

"I appreciate your understanding." Razen offers this to Azog, looking relieved. Acedia's comments only confuse him more, but he doesn't press the issue, letting it fall to the wayside as unimportant. "You know... you never offered your own name. Or do you only offer it after someone buys you a drink?"

Azog shrugs about looking old. "It comes with age," he says. He's full of wise sayings like that. He nods to Razen about understanding. "That comes with age also," he agrees. He'll look to Acedia when Razen asks about her name.

She laughs then, more a cackle given her Gobbo nature, and nods. "You are right, I did not. I am Acedia, wandering minstrel. And no, I give my name away for free. Would be rude, and prideful, to make people pay to know it. I'd rather they pay after a good performance, so that they'll give my name to others."

Razen's eyes twinkle with goodwill and then bends down to clean up the bit of a mess that he'd made with his weapon broken, tossing the bits toward a pile made for such a purpose. He also regains his spiked chain, wrapping it about himself and motioning both of them to follow him. "Perhaps you can tell us something of the places where you have been then; as a wandering minstrel while we drink." He's already leading the way over to where they can get one.

Azog will plunk his practice sword in the bin and help Razen with the cleaning up. He helped make the mess after all. He looks down at the goblin and to Razen, and says, "Drink well, my friends, and I will see you another day. I have things I must do yet."

Acedia squeaks at the tidying, and moves to gather a few of the pieces of the shattered wooden sword. She mumbles a few words under her breath, wiggling her fingers at the broken weapon. Slowly, bit by bit, the weapon begins to assemble itself, and the Gobbo will struggle to lift the wooden blade back into the barrel. "There! Now someone else can use it. And hopefully not break it. Uhm. So what's good around here for alcohol?"

Razen's eyes gleam. "I know just the place."

-End-