Wrestling Day

Chloe shakes her head a little, "No jokes, I spent four years at the temple as an acolyte, I was made a Priestess this spring." She's beaming a proud smile as she announces it, "As you probably know you only get to become a priestess once you've been recognized by Eluna." She seems about to say something else, mouth slightly ajar before she swallows it, biting her lower lip gently beside the ring set in it. After a moment, "But I'm not here about the Temple or you or anything. I mean we'd of course heard you were here but, I'm here for my own reasons."

GAME: Chloe refreshes spells.

Yelrona frowns skeptically when Chloe mentions the Temple of Eluna, then nods at the woman's explanation. "So, _you're_ the new Seer I keep hearing about," she says in an amused voice. "Mother mentioned the ceremony, but she didn't mention the part about owning the Crescent." She grins fondly. "I snuck my first smoke there," she says nostalgically. "Two Lucht merchants invited me to join them. My mother always said it was a filthy habit," she adds with a smirk, "so of course I agreed."

She shakes her head. "So, anyway... what brings you to Alexandria?"

Chloe nods at the recognition, then grins fondly at the memory Yelrona shares, giggling a little, "I never did try it, father was adamant against it and I liked making my own money to spend so I never crossed him." At the question her face turns a bit dower, some of the spark gone from it for a moment before the light seems to return as she speaks, "I am tracking down a traveler that stayed at the Inn just before my father grew ill and passed. None at the Temple could ease his suffering or cure him and I.. don't want to see what ever it was spread. He said he was coming to Alexandria to attend the summer festivals... I tried to follow him but I got kinda lost and I think I arrived too late."

Yelrona looks sad. "I'm sorry about your father. Kymil Ithil'lóth was a good man." She frowns at the rest of the information. "That sounds... ominous. What did he look like?"

Chloe raises her left hand slightly in recognition of the condolences, "That he was, I did not get enough time with him." As takes a slow breath before she pushes forward, "He was human, dressed in dark leathers with a blue traveling cloak. He had a simple pack, carried two swords, unruly but short black hair, short trimmed full beard.. but he had these... intense blue eyes.. as if he could... see your very soul. It was very hard to meet his eyes, he seemed fairly young, adult but not by much."

"That sounds like quite a man!" Razen's voice booms out, as he strides closer to Yelrona and her companion. He pauses just shy of them and scrubs a hand over the short curly hair on top of his head. The half-orc strikes an impressive figure, particularly with his upper tunic and bearskin tucked into his pack to leave his upper body bare. The archaic tattoo on his right shoulder stands out in stark relief to his greenish tinged skin, but it's his musculature which is the first thing that anyone notices about him - at least with his shirt off. "Greetings Yelrona, who's your friend?"

Yelrona smiles at Razen's approach. "Razen, Chloe, Chloe, Razen. Chloe, it turns out, is from my home town... in fact, she is the new Seer my mother keeps nagging me for not being." She seems really amused by that.

Chloe glances to the source of the voice, and then just keeps looking. As she is introduced she raises her hand a little, but it's almost like she's a thousand yards away somewhere else. "Hiii..." She says before she seems to snap back to herself and pink lines her cheeks. "I mean yes, Chloe Ithil'Loth, Priestess of Eluna." A turn towards Yelrona, "They call me a Seer, but I haven't seen anything yet so I don't call myself a Seer yet, when I have a Vision I'll take the title."

Razen meets Chloe's blank gaze with a warm grin that flashes his fangs. "It is good to meet you Priestess. I am Razen Diharth." He glances between the two women with interest. "What is a Seer?"

"A cleric of Eluna," Rona explains.

Chloe starts to open her mouth but Yelrona beats her to the punch so she instead snaps her lips closed and instead continues to gaze at Razen. After a moment, "Oh, interesting tattoo, what does that mean?"

Razen blinks at the straightforward answer and then grins at the question he receives in return. He slaps his own shoulder and utters a singular long word in Oruch. "Aegishjailmur!" The half orc waits half a heartbeat and explains in case she doesn't speak his native tongue. "It means protection, and it makes me irresistible in battle!"

Yelrona smiles. "That's a convenient trait to have," she observes drily.

Chloe looks as if she might be ready to offer orc-boy a handkerchief until he continues. At his explanation she gives a little bit of a laugh with the color returning to her cheeks, "Uh huh, I'm sure. Are you uhhh.." She glances at the pit and its wrestling contestants, then to Yelrona, then back to Razen before she continues, "Are you here to uhh.. test your mettle?"

The half-orc clasps Yelrona hard on the shoulder and grins at her toothily. "INDEED!" He seems to not realize that she is being sarcastic as he is clearly not. "I have already won three bouts today!" He doesn't look much the worse for it though on second glance he is covered in a fine sheen of sweat. "It has been terribly hot of late though, so I am taking a break."

In response to Chloe's question Rona looks at Razen, and the Angorites wrestling, and back at Razen, and seems vaguely distracted for a long beat. Then she is dragged from her reverie by Razen's friendly stroke on her shoulder. "Um. And here I thought it was just me." She begins a prayer, then stops and asks Razen "If some water were to mysteriously pour on your head to cool you off, would you concern yourself overmuch with its provenance?"

Chloe seems somewhat distracted as the pair talk, until Yelrona mentions water, then she seems to perk up a bit, "Oh? I ummm.. I should probably go investigate...." She looks around for a moment, then spots a vendor just outside the Coliseum entrance and points at his cart, "He looks shady!" With a full-faced blushed she starts to scamper off towards said vendor cart.

Razen is about to answer Yelrona's odd question when Chloe takes off toward a vendor. He blinks once and looks at Yelrona. "Is that what you were talking about? Is there a suspicious water?"

Yelrona shakes her head. "I mean... " She offers a brief prayer, and water materializes above her head and splashes down on her. From the look of her it's not the first time she's done it. GAME: Yelrona casts Create Water. Caster Level: 8 DC: 13

Chloe wastes time at the vendor's cart, making small conversation and looking over his wares with abject fascination while glancing back at the entrance of the coliseum to see what Razen and Yelrona are doing in her absence.

Razen looks longingly at the water but finally shakes his head with regret. "Save your magic for some other purpose." He makes a little negligent wave with his hand.

Walery wanders in from the road east and heads vaguely in the direction of the Colosseum.

Yelrona nods, having suspected as much. She looks over at Chloe by the vendor's cart. "I wonder if we scared her off," she muses, before noticing the artificer she'd met the other day. "Hey, Walery," she waves in greeting. "Do you know Razen?"

After a bit of time the priestess returns from the cart, nothing new added to her person despite the time leveraged there. She glances at the person Yelrona is waving to as she returns to the pair, "Nope, he didn't see anything during the festival, but he said there were lots of people from out of town because of it so... I guess I keep looking." She's trying her best to not look at Razen.

The half orc doesn't fail to notice that suddenly Chloe is distinctly /not/ looking at him. So Razen clasps her on the shoulder gently and gives her a warm smile. "I am sure you will find what you are looking for. You were looking for a man right?" Not suspicious water, this made more sense.

Walery is called out to, waves back. "Hello," he calls, heading over, and he shakes his head to Yelrona. "No, I don't think we've met." He peers up at Razen just in case. He'd remember that. Then introduces himself, "Mick Walery, at your service."

Yelrona chuckles at Razen's last comment, for no obvious reason, then nods. "Yes... apparently a disease carrier." To Chloe she adds "Do you have any idea whether he's deliberately infecting people, or just an unknowing carrier?"

Upon the roof of one of the shops near the ring where contenders welcome the daring public to test themselves, an elf in a dark green cloak steps to the very edge. He looks down and allows his gaze to be held for a moment by the wrestlers currently engaged in their sport. Then he notices the gathering of adventurers and whistles a quick note. He turns and climbs down the surface of the shop, finally hopping down the last four feet. His landing is catlike.

Razen takes the hand that is offered to him by Walery and clasps it firmly. "Razen Diharth. A pleasure to meet you." His words are a rumbling undertone to the conversation.

Chloe seems to deflate slightly at the hand on her shoulder, glancing up at Razen from the corner of her eye with a look on her face that is more 'Oh crap' than it is 'Grr'. But before answering him she's turning her head to Walery, "I am Chloe Ithil'lóth, Priestess of Eluna." A sidelong glance at Razen, "And I am yes, a human man." As Yelrona comments she shrugs lightly, raising her left hand to lightly peel Razen's hand off her shoulder, but her hand lingers on his before she pulls it away, "No idea, I never even met him or got his name, but he's the only.. oddity in that timeframe that would fit."

Walery smiles to Chloe, shakes hands with Razen, who makes him look tiny, but then points over to the fellow climbing down the building. "Hey, is that a burglar?" he asks the others.

Yelrona follows Walery's finger, and bursts out laughing. "You should ask him," she suggests.

The half-orc offers Chloe a contrite expression, clearly concerned for a moment that he hurt her with his clasp, but Walery's question draws his attention in the way that blood in water attracts sharks. Then instantly he relaxes. "No! That's Ga'Elian!" He waves to the elf enthusiastically. "Ga'Elian! How are you friend?!" His voice booms out across the intervening space.

Several dozen athletes turn their heads at Razen's booming voice, look him over, and return to what they were doing. Mostly.

Ga'Elian strides over to Yelrona and says, "Quite the fan club you've attracted, m'dear. Pretty soon, you'll not be able go go anywhere without an entourage of adoring public thronging your steps. Must be the fame you're earning in the wrestling ring."

At Razen's enthusiastic salutation the ranger smiles warmly, and replies, "I'm very well, friend Mick. I see you've met my favorite Tarienite, if only just." He nods acknowledgement to Razen and says, "Seeress" as a greeting to Chloe.

Walery squints into the distance as Razen identifies Ga'Elian. "Oh, so it is. I didn't recognize him."

Yelrona thinks about that. "Only just met, only just a Tarienite, or only just your favorite?" she asks curiously.

Razen nods back to Ga'Elian politely and grins at the elf. Though he says nothing, his eyes slip over to Chloe occasionally and finally in a quiet (for him) voice asks, "I did not hurt you did I?"

Ga'Elian ignores Yelrona's question, but says, looking at the wrestlers, "Looks like it could be fun. Maybe I should have a go at it. What do you all think?"

Chloe gives a gently bow of her hand and chin to Ga'Elian's entrance, "Hello Gael, how's your birdy?" She looks up into the skies, looking for anything skimming in the deep blue overhead before her attention is taken by Razen's question and she perks up immediately with a big smile, "No no no, I'm.. just forget me yeah that'll work." She purses her lips to one side for a moment before just shrugging with one arm as she looks back to the newest guests to the growing collection of wanderers. "Sure! It's not like you can really get hurt with me around."

Yelrona nods agreement. "You should, Elian. Show us how it's done!"

Walery watches this with interest.

After another brief moment Razen shrugs off his concerns with if he hurt Chloe in the hopes that she really is quite fine and grins at Ga'Elian. "You should! I just finished a few matches myself! It gets the blood flowing!" He glances toward the wrestlers with eagerness that says he wouldn't mind another round or four himself.

As Razen looks away Chloe reaches out with her right hand and gently grasps the tips of his fingers in her own, "Just don't... really forget me." She says quietly as she moves away from him and towards Yelrona. As she approaches, she glances at Walery and Ga'elian, "So now that I am here, where should I go? Despite all the... hrmm.. sass? You think the High Priestess has... she does speak very well of you too and I bet you know who at the Temple District I should be speaking too, yeah?"

Ga'Elian scowls at Chloe's question. Her skyward glance does reveal the griffon, apparently frolicking in the air currents far above. He cordially responds, "Erithamiel seems to be having a lark of a time."

To Yelrona, he nods. "Would you arrange with the organizer to pit me against the biggest giant-born available?" He then grabs at the stone flying endless circles around his head, and puts it into his shoulder bag. He removes his quiver and asks Razen to hold it for him. He removes his cloak, his bracers, and in succession everything from his waist up putting each object into his shoulder bag, which he removes, too. He removes his boots, too, also stowing them inside the modest bag, which seems to have gained nothing in size or weight despite all that has been deposited inside. Now, the ranger is standing there wearing only his snug-fitting leggings and his belt.

As he twists around to tie his long elven hair into a bun, the exquisite, magically-animated tattoo filling his back is plainly displayed. It is expertly inked in grayscale and depicts Gilead's Great Stag standing before the Ygdrassil Tree, its branches waving in some imagined breeze, as the Stag gazes upward at Eluna's full moon.

Ga'Elian says to Chloe, "You needn't depart on my account."

Yelrona nods. "I can show you around the Temple District, certainly. I'd say start with the Temple of Eluna, as a courtesy if nothing else, but it's probably the Altheans who will do you the most good."

To Elian she replies "Sure, if you want. I'll be right back, all." She heads off to talk to the wrestlers.

Razen is clearly stymied by Chloe, and so is glad for the distraction of holding Ga'Elian's equipment. Still the elf's statement about wanting to fight the biggest Giantborn makes him frown a little bit, something that lingers on his face a while while Yelrona walks away to talk with the organizers as he had earlier.

Walery looks impressed about Ga'Elian taking on the biggest Giantborn. "That's quite a challenge. Are you sure?"

Ga'Elian responds to Walery, "Oh, I think so. I just wonder how long it'll tale him to start taking little me seriously."

As Ga'Elian turns to speak to Chloe, the brunette is standing transfixed by the sight along his back, her honey-brown eyes wide with wonder. It takes several blinks before she seems to rouse herself, "I'm not going anywhere yet, I was just asking, continue conversation and the like... now don't hurt yourself!" She smirks a little and takes a few steps to stand beside Walery, taking the half-skewer from the bun made of her braid in her left hand as she speaks, "Have you seen his bird? Even if he does get beat that thing'll come poke the guy's eyes out in revenge."

Yelrona returns a few minutes later. "So, she says you want Alf, but Alf's pretty much retired... says nobody can give him a real fight. Apparently, he used to be a Dranei mercenary, but settled down here after the War." She shrugs. "Anyway, he's the blond mountain over by the ale-keg, with the scar on his forehead. If you can talk him into fighting you, she'll give you time on the mat."

Ga'Elian says, "Thanks" to Yelrona, then says, "I'll go talk to him, but persuasion isn't one of my talents." To the gathered group he says, "Maybe you all might convince him?" He looks at Alf.

Walery ehs to Chloe? "Bird? He's got a griffon, I think. Or something like that." He looks up, shrugs, looks back at the others.

Razen shrugs and looks at the giantborn with a lingering eye. "If he were Oruch, I would know what to say, but other races have other manners and I am not so good with those." He gives Ga'Elian a shrug.

Ga'Elian smiles at Walery, then nods at Razen.

Yelrona chuckles. "Sure, I can give it a shot," she agrees, and heads off to chat with Big Blond.

<OOC> Chloe expends a luck thingy to Yelrona as she goes to talk
GAME: Yelrona rolls diplomacy: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)
<OOC> Chloe says, "So you can roll twice and take best"
GAME: Yelrona rolls diplomacy: (18)+5: 23
<OOC> Ga'Elian says, "Good thing"
<OOC> Chloe says, "WIN"

Chloe reaches out as Yelrona moves to leave, gently touching the smaller woman on the shoulder with her right hand. As she does a gentle white light shines in her palm for a brief moment, "I bet you can figure out a way to convince him back into the ring." And adds in Sildanyari <Walk Blessed>. Then she turns her attention to Razen, and after a squint of consideration, she lifts her left hand and nonchalantly flings the chunk of broken skewer in his direction.

GAME: Razen rolls reflex: (4)+3: 7

Ga'Elian climbs into the ring and faces off against the hulking guy. The first few moves go slowly as the veteran evaluates the elf. Elian is preternaturally agile and it shows. Not only does he easily avoid ordinary attempts by his opponent to grapple him, he even squirms his way out of some of the big guy's most impressive moves, although on his best try, Ga'Elian only manages to wriggle free at the expense of his pants. Unfazed, the naked elf then surprises everyone by taking the offensive, and in a few remarkably dextrous maeuvers, succeeds in pinning the blonde giant.

GAME: Ga'Elian rolls CMB+2: (10)+31+2: 43

Razen doesn't notice until after it's hit him in the chest that a piece of the broken wood had been thrown at him. It bounces off without a scratch and he looks at the offended part of his body before looking up at Chloe with confusion written all over his face. "What was that for?" He's distracted from the match now.

Walery watches the naked elf pinning down the giantborn, and he asks, "Does anyone else think this is a bit weird?"

Remembering the comments from Walery Chloe turns to him after chucking the wood, "Yeah! Oh uh, no no not the wrestling, I mean yeah the griffon, that's what it's called. Nah, we Sil are crafty." She giggles a bit and winks, then turns her face to Razen, and just sticks her tongue out at him before turning back to the other, "But wouldn't it be amazing to ride that thing every day, whenever you wanted, waaay up there?" She points to the sky to emphasis her point with a gleam in her eyes.

After the amazed silence of spectators gradually fades to a mix of mockery and catcalls, Ga'Elian releases his opponent and says, "Good match, sir. I believe you have my trousers." He takes them back and slides them on right there in the ring, one leg after the other. Then he offers, "Do you need help up?" to the red-faced Alf.

Although he missed the best part of the fight - the actual takedown, Razen has not missed the entire thing, so he cheers Ga'Elian's victory and glares at anyone close by who dares to make rude comments. "Ga'Elian is an amazing warrior!"

Walery says to Chloe, "Oh yes, flying is one of my goals also. I have plans in that direction." He's looking away from the ring as Ga'Elian retrieves his pants.

Ga'Elian hops the ring. Many spectators are handing wagers across to their victorious fellows, but the crowd parts for this elf allowing him to stride back to rejoin his comrades. He starts dressing again without delay, saying, "That was fun. I like it when I can defy the crowd's expectations." Looking at Razen, he says, "And I appreciate your vote of confidence, mate."

Razen waves to Chloe with - still - a touch of confusion then laughs at Ga'Elian and shakes his head. "Confidence well-earned Ga'Elian." He motions back toward the ring where Alf is currently getting besieged by offers to wrestle again - ones that the giant is clearly considering taking. "You've restored his thirst to fight!"

Walery nods farewell to Chloe, bows his head to Ga'Elian. "That was a good bout," he says. "Definitely unexpected. He's such a large fellow, I would have thought it was more of an advantage."

Ga'Elian nods and says to Razen, "Well, that's good, then, I'd say." Fully dressed now he turns to Walery, "Yeah, see people expect the big guy to win such things, but after that gargantuan demonic owlbear nearly grappled the life out of me in the mountains, I decided it would be useful, perhaps even a matter of life-and-death, for me to learn how to wrestle much bigger opponents. And although my physical strength is decent, I figured it would be worth playing to my real advantage, agility. People don't expect a wrestler to be scrappy and win. That's what makes it so fun."

Razen watches as the other wrestlers begin to really talk in earnest with Alf and shakes his head just a little to himself. "Speaking of Ga'Elian... My strengths is not agility, but perhaps you could teach me how to fight those that are smaller and more agile than I am?" He looks hopeful, motioning toward the rings. "I am sure they would give us a ring, and if you could show me how you beat Alf, I would be grateful."

Walery nods slowly to Ga'Elian. “Still, the larger fellow will win if skill is equal, so you must be more skilled? Certainly more skilled than an owlbear..." He looks between Razen and Ga'Elian, "That sounds interesting..."

Ga'Elian answers Walery first, "Yes. You're probably right, and this Alf may even be more skilled than I, and my victory may be only due to catching him off guard. Wrestling is certainly not my preferred martial style." To Razen he says, "Indeed, while I'm certainly willing to spar with you, you might be better instructed by a monastery or a trainer of gladiators or soldiers."

The half-orc shrugs and nods. "That as it may be, today there are rings open for wrestling, and what better fun is there than trying your hand with your friends?" Razen clasps Walery on his shoulder. "You should try your hand too!"

Walery is staggered by that clap on his shoulder, and he says, "No, thank you. I'm no fighter. A fellow could get hurt doing that!"

Ga'Elian looks between the human and the half-oruch for a moment and says to Razen, "Oh, I don't know. I just got dressed again."

Razen laughs, allowing the sound to fade into a chuckle. "The two of you! Though in this heat I am surprised that there are not more wrestlers trying Yagli." He shakes his head. "Though I think you would be served by a better belt Ga'Elian."

Walery nods about the belt. "Taking off your pants in the match was kind of low," he agrees. "I'd have given up, too, if you came at me naked."

Ga'Elian looks confused for a moment, then seems to get it. He says, "Oh, well, I wasn't trying to lose my pants. It's just that the grip he had on me was such that in order to get free of him I had to squirm out, and I guess my pants just stayed in his grip. Or maybe he figured I'd not struggle to free myself if it meant exposing myself, but I was determined to win despite the crowd's naysaying. As for wanting to disrobe for the heat, I understand, but this cloak extends magical comfort to me no matter the weather."

Razen eyes the cloak in question and shrugs. "These things happen in a fight. One must learn to roll with it or they will lose. As Alf did." He glances toward the ring and is surprised to see that there is another bout happening there. "I am surprised that no one came over to ask to wrestle /you/ Ga'Elian."

Walery hrmphs about the squirming out of pants. He seems not to be buying the excuse. "No one wants to wrestle naked elves?" he suggests. He's watching the bout halfheartedly, he's not really much interested in physical endeavors, it seems.

Ga'Elian turns with a shrug and looks at the bout with half-hearted interest. He mutters, "Now, you see there," he points, "the fun thing would be to put a half-dozen arrows in that spot without touching Alf."

For a long moment Razen just looks at Walery, clearly not understanding what he means, but Ga'Elian's words earn a nervous chuckle. "While you might find that funny I doubt that they would." He shakes his head again. "I think I will rejoin the contests. Surely after your display they will be more eager than ever for a challenge!" Razen lifts a hand as he bids the two men a friendly goodbye wave.

-End-