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#Post#: 450--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Chapter Five: Victory Party
Part Four Morally Questionable
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: September 15, 2023, 12:27 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wydara: Blood and the Arena
Story One: Family and the Fall
Chapter Five: Victory Party Part Four Morally
Questionable[/center]
Many of the patrons have left the party due to the hour. But a
select few stay. They join Wydara in discussions concerning the
Games, and the Gladiators with the premier Trainers of the
Empire, Vartus Sevinus, Titus Calvus, and Servius Duro, along
with several big names that host the games. The subject is the
Old Round (Oldest Arena in Ergoth). It's also known as the Pit.
They are working on the number of Gladiators that can enter, and
do some horse trading to try to get their man in the top Game,
the night’s Primus. Wydara is gracious. She has had men in the
last Primus and does not seek a position, letting it go to one
of her fellow trainers. It is a system that Wydara came into, it
seemed archaic, but what she has learned over her nearly year
and a half here, the system limits the need for violence and
vitriol between the Trainers, so the fighting can be left to the
Arena.
They fight in the Old Round next, again to the refurbished
Arena, and then it is to the coliseum for the Emperor’s Games.
Wydara decides she will enter some of her Gladiators in the Old
Round and a mix of gladiators and Champions at the Refurbished
Arena, and have everyone prepare for the Emperor’s Games.
Wydara’s attention is brought back to her guests, as a statement
is directed to her.
“We want Bril of the Blood Sea in one match and Jason of Tarsis,
he is your Net and trident Retiarii gladiator, correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Bril and Jason. That works for me. Who are
they facing?” Wydara asks
“Bril would be fighting Xerus of Neraka, and Jason would be
facing Dagra of Nordmaar.” The Editor answers.
“Now you put up a man to join two others from the other
trainers. Word has come down that they are to face Ackal of the
Ker-Vakt in a three-on-one. The emperor does not want this
Ackalite to live.”
This strikes Wydara and is unreasonably cold. She does not know
who among her people could face him. Wydara asks “Did he not
just fight a few days ago? I thought we all agreed to that
months in the proper form to run these men?”
“He’s not a man, he’s a northern beast that the Trainers have to
put in a hole every night lest he finds some way to escape. Tell
her Titus.”
“It is true he is a wild man, crude in every sense of the word.
He is very difficult to manage.”
Titus Calvus answers.
“Okay, I just think anyone I put up is going to die.”
"The State will compensate your man I am given to understand.”
The Editor says.
Wydara thinks, whatever it is, it won’t cover the life snuffed
out. “We three should get special consideration come the
emperor’s games.”
“I believe that is doable, of course, I would have to talk it
over with the emperor.”
Then Wydara puts up Hale of the Ice Wall to be her choice. Hale
is a big man, questionable if he has Ogre blood from some
crossing in the ancient past.
It is decided then.
#Post#: 464--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Chapter Six: Niece
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: September 17, 2023, 4:29 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wydara Blood and The Arena
Story One: Family and the Fall
Chapter Six: Niece
[/center]
Summer End/Sirrimont/August
Bright one morning towards the end of Summer End, Wydara’s niece
comes to stay with her for a while.
Wydara explains the rules of the villa: no going into the
Training Grounds without Wydara. Do not be lulled by these men.
Most of them are free and are here because they want to be, but
there is a percentage that is not and should never be around
these men without me. Wydara asks Daera if she understands.
“Yes, Aunt Wydara.” The young elf answers.
“No touching anything or moving anything out of place. They are
touched if there is a cleaning being done.”
“Okay. So, what am I going to be doing here?” Daera asks.
“Well first, I am going to get my men training for the day, then
we are going over to another property I own.”
“Is it far?” her niece asks
“No, fairly close by.” Wydara answers. “Now follow me, we are
going to get you in your room.”
As they walk through her place, Wydara stops and says, “This is
you. Put on something you won’t mind getting dirty in. “
Wydara walks back out to her school and gives final instructions
for the Training today.
Special teams for the foreseeable future
Jason of Tarsis with Aric of Solamnia
Bril from the Blood Sea with Kevon of Kharolis
Hale of the Icewall Barbarian with Sarus Khur Barbarian
The rest are a normal training routine
Barret of Ergoth
Aidan of Ergoth
Cullen of Kharolis
Zachariah of Tarsis
Mataus from distant Flotsam
Wydara makes her announcement before training starts in earnest
and good day, she has positions open for “Jason of Taris, Bril
of the Blood Sea, and Hale of the Icewall at the next games at
the Old Round.”
“Hale, you will be teamed with two other Gladiators. All Three
gladiators are from separate Training schools and will face the
Wildman from the North.”
“Last bit of news, my niece is staying with me for a number of
weeks, I want all of you to stay away from her unless I am in
your presence. I want to hear that you all understand me.”
Seeing and hearing their pledge, Wydara says, “Good, begin.”
The special teams prepare for the coming games.
Meanwhile,
Daera puts on old clothes from home and thinks about her mom.
She hopes she’s okay. After she ties her shoe, she starts to
bound off and almost instantly knocks over a vase, and she saves
it just in time, she puts it back and has choice words in elven.
She comes out of the Villa as Wydara is finishing her morning
address.
"Okay, we are going this way." Wydara says. They walk out of the
school and up a hill.
The calve muscles in both women begin to tell them they are
feeling the hill work on them.
Soon, they reach what looks like an abandoned villa and school.
Some vegetation is overgrown. They walk into the sands of the
abandoned school.
“What is this?” Daera asks.
“This is, was, might be, maybe one day a school for Women. It
was the intention when I bought the place, but the emperor is
still thinking about allowing it or not. He’s been deciding this
for a year and a half.”
“I briefly met the emperor with my father the other day. I had
lunch with Princess Mercidith and she invited me to the Winter
Ball.”
“How interesting. Your Brother is going?" Wydara asks
Daera offers, “Yes, He doesn’t think he will have a good time,
but I’m excited to wear a gown and I don’t know, dance with some
guy that is there.”
“Have you ever been in a fight before?” Wydara asks
“No,” Daera says.
“Ever punched somebody or somebody punched you?” Wydara asks
“No, I haven’t been in that position before.”
Let me see you throw a punch.
Daera balls up her fist and swings and punches the air.
Wydara watches her form and corrects her posture and the proper
follow-through.
Wydara tells her niece, “Any of those guys in suits tries
anything with you anywhere at the Ball, you be sure to remember
this lesson. We are going to be working this this going
forward. I’m going to give you what you need to fend off
attackers, no matter how big they are. We are going to start on
a dummy, then we are going to see how you do for real. Alright,
we are going to pick up heavy bags and carry them over there. I
want you to do that ten times."
Daera's mind is filled with thoughts now of some guy trying to
take advantage, and she tells herself she was stupid not to
consider the possibility. She is grateful to her aunt for
pointing out her naivety before it is too late.
The bag is really heavy, and each time she gets slower and
slower, but she perseveres and pushes through the pain, and she
drops the bag.
Wydara asks if she is done
Daera is so beaten and huffing, she says, “No, I...I'm not done,
I'm… just… recovering.
Wydara tells her to get going. She pushes her.
Daera forces herself to accomplish the task, she keeps going
long after she would have normally would have quit. She proves
to herself whether she has the stuff to do it. Her muscles ache,
and she is on the verge of tears, but she throws the bag down
for the tenth time. She walks around recovering, then falls into
the sand.
Wydara comes to her and finds that she is not out, just
regaining her strength. Wydara has Daera drink some water. Her
natural inclination would be to comfort her niece and tell her
she was going to be okay.
Wydara just waits for Daera to find the strength to get up on
her own.
#Post#: 479--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Chapter Seven: Bonding
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: September 19, 2023, 1:02 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wydara Blood and The Arena
Story One: Family and the Fall
Chapter Seven: Bonding [/center]
Daera finally got up, woozy, but alive. Wydara gives her some
water. Daera looks at what she did and smiles at her aunt. “I
hated that. But I feel accomplished, and I’m beat, Aunt Wydara.
What else are we doing today?
Wydara looks at her niece. “I think that was the lesson for the
day. You survived. You got up on your own. I’m proud of you.”
Daera smiles.
“I think we are going to catch lunch, and I thought we would go
down to the gallery. It may not be our culture, but it is
culture nonetheless. Besides, they have some works by the Elven
scribe Quivalen Soth.”
“I would love that,” they start walking back. “At least going
down at the end is better than going up,” Daera observes.
“We will set a Target up there for you to practice your bow and
arrow, how does that sound?” Wydara asks.
“That would be great!” Daera answers.
“We are going to have to work on moving targets since the bad
guys or monsters don’t stand still.” Wydara puts forth.
“Hmmm, I guess I hadn’t thought about it.” the young woman
answers.
“Don’t worry, it's in your blood, all elves can shoot, they just
have to work on being good,” Wydara tells her.
They enter Wydara’s villa and Daera bathes while Wydara checks
on the men and their progress.
It is mid-day break for the guys
Wydara fixes lunch for them when Daera reappears, drying her
hair.
Wydara tells her towels to go in that hamper. Dry it a little
more and come and eat. Then I will brush your hair out the
porch.
Soon,
“Gods, you have a lot of hair. I hated it when I let grow out
long in the Valley. I hated it on my neck.” Wydara says brushing
out Daera’s hair.
“I don’t mind if it's up. Daera says, “Thank you for brushing my
hair, my mom would do it for me. It's relaxing and aside from
occasional hair pulls, it's soothing.”
“Okay, let's see if I can braid this all up. This is going to be
a war every day I can tell.”
“You ever think about having kids?” Daera asks.
“Turned off from it from the get. I didn’t want to be around
another man after my childhood trauma and the abduction. There
were a few women, but nothing stuck. About the time I stopped
thinking about it anything was ever possible like that, I met a
man, a human, a Knight of Solamnia. We went from hate to love in
a matter of months. For a while it seemed like it was real
enough for me to wonder if it was for me, he was killed before
too much later, just one of those things. There was only one
after that. In the valley there was something with an Elf, that
seemed real, but I guess not real enough. After that, I stopped
looking and trying. They would just get in the way now.”
“I’m sorry,” Daera says, not being able to think of anything
else to say.
“It's alright kid, I have you, now.” Wydara hugs her. “Okay,
that’s as good as I can get it. Look in the mirror and see if
it's to your satisfaction.”
Daera runs in and looks. It looks great!” She calls. She
reappears and says, “Thank you.”
They are going off to the Gallery. They see many famous
paintings that they had seen before. And look at the pages of
Elven scribe Quivalen Soth.
#Post#: 492--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Chapter Eight: Perspective
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: September 20, 2023, 11:06 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wydara Blood and The Arena
Story One: Family and the Fall
Chapter Eight: Perspective
[/center]
Western Ansalon
Northern Ergoth
Imperial City of Gwynned
Wydara is watching her gladiators train in the special teams
Wydara’s main trainer, Roric from Kharolis, looks over the
gladiators, pointing out mistakes, keeping discipline up, and
looking for anyone not giving their best.
The current Special teams
Jason of Tarsis with Aric of Solamnia
Bril from the Blood Sea with Kevon of Kharolis
Hale of the Icewall Barbarian with Sarus Khur Barbarian
The rest is a normal training routine
Barret of Ergoth
Aidan of Ergoth
Cullen of Kharolis
Zachariah of Tarsis
Mataus from distant Flotsam
Daera is up the hill at Wydara’s empty school. Shooting her bow
and arrows. She has become much more self-assured about her
archery.
Some of the exercises Wydara has put her through have built up
her grit and determination. All of them have been hard and made
to frustrate her and pushed her. For once, she doesn’t complain;
she starts to understand what is going on and has embraced it.
She has bumps and bruises but pushes herself.
Partly for herself, partly for her need to make Wydara proud of
her.
She walks down the hill a little and sees the gladiators
practicing. She walks to the grassy plateau overlooking the
Training area. From here, she looks at the different Gladiators,
the two men fighting with two swords are very good. They are all
pretty good. The big guys are terrifying. To think all these
guys go in there knowing they could be dead soon, or kill the
other guy, or be killed. My Aunt is a purveyor of death. It
would be hard to get close to any of them. She watches them
laugh with each other, or lose control in the heat of fighting,
and tempers flare. They are hard and brutal men who are beating
the stuffing out of each other. But there is a certain beauty
and form they exhibit in flashes of brilliance and artistry.
Oh, I’m being sucked in. No. I would hate to face any of them at
all ever.
She agreed to be out of the way today. She didn’t mind. She
needed a break from her aunt trying to kill her with stuff to
do.
She shoots her bow and reflects. She really misses her mom; she
misses her dad too, but she just saw him. She doesn’t mean to
be a baby about it; it’s just that her mom was her friend, too.
Las and Marilee went out of the house. Sator is completely
square and boring. Mom (Lashia) just became my friend.
So, how long does it take to get to the Dragon Isles? It's just
been weeks.
Wydara walks up. “I’m going to meet with Roric and Kol for a
post-session analysis, and then let’s go out to eat. There is a
new place up near the East Park Fountain. “
“Yeah, I would like that. You said it was new?”
Wydara looks down at her niece, “Yeah, It's new, but not fancy.
You can wear that one dress after you clean up.”
Daera stands. “Do you think my dad moved us away from Inath
Wakenti because he didn’t want me conscripted into military
service?”
“You are still too young Daera, they wouldn’t take into service
at your age.”
Thinking about it, Daera says, “I guess you are right.”
The Elves walk down to Wydara’s Villa, and Daera gets ready
while Wydara meets with Roric and Kol on the deck.
“Jason looks good, I’m fairly confident in his victory,” Roric
says.
Wydara says, “Pair Jason with Kevon, Aric, and Bril. Bring up
Cullen and pair him with Hale.
Cullen is about the same size and shape as Ackal. About the same
agility as well. I want Hale to be ready for that, so push him,
Roric. Push them both.” Wydara says.
Soon Aunt and niece are walking East of the Training School to
the Park near the fountain. Café has opened up serving cooked
peppers, olives, and cheese, a seasoned sauce wrapped in a pitta
sandwich, and wine.
They watch the large turtles walk in the park while they eat. An
opera is going on somewhere nearby at one of the theatres.
“I think I want to learn how to fight. Will you teach me?” Daera
declares in the middle of their meal.
Wydara had thought it was strange that she was being so quiet.
Wondered if she broke her or something. But this is something
different. “Yes, I’ll train you, but you are going to be
whacked, and stabbed with a wooden sword, you sure you are ready
for that?”
“I’m ready Aunt Wydara.” Daera says with a determined look on
her face.
#Post#: 497--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Chapter Nine: Training Begins
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: September 21, 2023, 9:35 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wydara Blood and The Arena
Story One: Family and the Fall
Chapter Nine: Training Begins
[/center]
Western Ansalon
Northern Ergoth
Imperial City of Gwynned
‘Ow, that hurt. Am I bleeding? You punched me in my face, my
nose is bleeding, did you break my nose?” Daera runs, gets a
towel, and looks at her nose in the mirror.
Wydara looks up and wonders if this is how things are going to
go. “You were supposed to move. "Ah, are you okay? Wydara asks.
“Here, tilt your head back, not like this.
Daera just looks pitiful, trying to wipe the blood from her face
and making a mess of it.
Looking at her niece, “Okay, I think that is enough for the
day.” Wydara declares.
“No, I’ll be okay, I want to go on.” Daera says, with her head
still tilted back.
“Okay then, we have a rest, then we are walking down with the
boys. I want to show you something.”
They have a rest and sit under a tree.
“When is your next games?” Daera asks after a while.
“Fifteen days I think.” Wydara answers. “You ready?”
“Yeah, I’m better. I got blood on my shirt.”
“That’s to be expected,” Wydra answers. Come with me. They walk
through the throng of gladiators milling around right before
practice resumes after the noonday break.
Wydara tells Roric she is taking Aidan for an hour. The three
walk up the hill to Wydara’s empty women’s school. They walk
into the training area, and there is a training post called a
Pell. Wydara explains that it is a static training style that is
an exercise and a technical tool. The small size of the pole
(only a few inches in width) required precision for thrusts and
commitment to cuts. This will build technical proficiency, and
the heavy weapons used would build what is now called “speed
strength”.
Wydara asks Aidan to give a demonstration to her niece. She
tells Daera to watch what he does.
Aidan explains that they train with these heavy wooden gladiuses
to build up tendon strength to deal with the shock of hitting
the post. He goes through the repetition, showing the slices and
shock coming from hitting the Pell hard. When we wield our
swords in the arena, we are like lightning, quick, deadlier.
Wydara has Daera try and has Aidan teach her what she is doing
wrong.
She is not used to hitting something so hard. The swords are so
heavy. But through persistence and gentle teaching, she gets the
swing of it enough that by the end of the hour, Wydara is
pleased with her progress, and she thanks Aidan for helping her
out. She tells him he will be able to drink extra tonight.
Wydara tells Daera she will have blisters and bruises, but they
will go away. Aidan goes back to training, and Wydara tells her
to do a couple more reps before you come back down. And so goes
the day.
The Next day, Daera is in pain. Her whole body aches. Her arms
hate her. She has a little bit of a black eye from yesterday.
They go into the city to the women’s pool. And she has Daera
swim in her underclothes and swim laps.
There are a few women here in groups, some with kids. Summer is
coming to a close, and they will be shutting down soon.
This will allow her to work other muscles while she heals from
yesterday.
#Post#: 504--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Chapter Ten: Two-handed Style
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: September 24, 2023, 3:03 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wydara Blood and The Arena
Story One: Family and the Fall
Chapter Ten: Two-handed Style [/center]
Western Ansalon
Northern Ergoth
Imperial City of Gwynned
Daera goes to the ground again, face-first into the sand. She
lays there for a moment, before rolling over on her back “Do you
like kicking my butt?”
“I don’t know, do you like getting your butt kicked?” Wydara
asks.
Daera gets back up “Hardy har har har. What is that some reverse
mental game.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about. Are you ready to go
again? Wydara asks.
They have been fighting two-handed Dimahaeri style with heavily
trained wooden gladiuses.
Getting more proficient with two from the beginning to help
hand-eye coordination, and try to turn this gangly girl into a
solid threat.
Wydara teaches her the art of dodging and recovering.
Wydara connected more elbows to the back of the head until Daera
started protecting herself
Wydara starts to get prouder when Daera starts working slyly to
drive her elbows into Wydara's back and face at unexpected
moments.
Wydara teaches her how to move and how to look for an opening.
Her proudest moment was when Daera was able to get past her and
punched Wydara in the face.
She has come a remarkable way in a couple of days. The work on
the Pell paid off.
Sator will be here in two days. Wydara tells Daera they are done
for the day. She has things to attend to at the school. So,
Daera cleans up and gets some lunch on her own.
The many bruises and nicks on her fingers, she feels mixed
feelings about.
She has always been a bit of a tomboy. Her childhood included
visiting the nixies at the lake, and Satyrs walking around,
staggering drunk. Pixies and Sprites come to visit and fly
around on a walk of adventure in the woods.
Marilee tried like heck to train her when she was younger was
just not having it. She didn’t like getting like getting bashed
around by her sister.
Las tried to teach her some magic, then sorcery. The words were
slippery and didn’t stay in her mind for very long. It was quite
discouraging, considering I love the idea of casting spells and
using magic. I just don’t have the aptitude. My Mom says the
spark might still be in me, but I’m not holding my breath.
I only half mind getting bashed by Wydara. But I’ve learned
every hurt is a lesson. Sator would still kick my butt and I’m
not up for that.
Daera feels quite different from last week. She thinks about
having tea with the Princess and being in that beautiful palace.
Showing up as she looks now. A black eye, bruised chin, covered
in bruises. They would think I was beaten at home.
Daera sits outside on top of the Villa for a long time, watching
the Moons dance across the stars
and takes in the view of the romantic city lights.
#Post#: 539--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Chapter Eleven: Ethics
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: October 4, 2023, 12:16 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wydara Blood and The Arena
Story One: Family and the Fall
Chapter Eleven: Ethics [/center]
Western Ansalon
Northern Ergoth
Imperial City of Gwynned
Morning
Wydara is feeling the stress come on. She feels she has handled
taking care of her niece very well, considering how little time
they have spent together before now. No, what is causing her
stress is the countdown to the coming Games in the Round. She is
starting to question her ethical decision to join in on the
three-man fight against the Northern Savage. There is nothing
she can do about it now, but she is ashamed of herself for
taking part in the Execution. She was able to turn it around and
get a position in the coming Games in the Coliseum, but it is
weighing her down. She feels like this is corrupting her and
making her compromise her code of ethics. Maybe it isn’t the
place, it is just her. It's something she will stay aware of
going forward. Somewhere along the path, she thinks she might
have just turned off her code to make things work. She is not
entirely sure she can keep living like that.
The shining light in her world of recent has been her niece and
the remarkable turnaround she has gone through. Her brother will
be here in a couple of days. Not sure how that is going to go.
Working with her with a shield and one sword now. She needs to
work on her defense.
Wydara walks up to the women’s school to find Daera stretching.
“Good morning Niece, you are up here bright and early.”
“Just getting used to it. What does today look like for you?
Daera asks.
“Well, the games in the Old Round are coming up. Your Brother
arrives in the morning, so I thought I would get some stress out
in some practice.” Wydara answers with a smile on her face.
“Suddenly I’m not as excited to spar if you are taking out
stress.” Daera states. She is getting wise to her aunt’s moods.
Daera takes up her shield and her Gladius and waits for Wydara
to signal she is ready.
Wydara signals she is ready, and she launches into an attack.
Be sure to read Return to the Dragon Isles Chapter Ten before
returning here
The Return of Lashia, Marilee, Mikal, Shimmer, Longhshot, and
Valthonis
HTML https://thedamnforum.createaforum.com/return-to-the-dragon-isles/return-to-the-dragon-isles/msg544/#msg544
And
HTML https://thedamnforum.createaforum.com/lashia-the-wizadess-windrider/lashia-the-wizardess-windrider/
#Post#: 570--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Chapter Twelve: Mood
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: October 11, 2023, 11:45 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Be sure to read Return to the Dragon Isles Chapter Ten
before returning here
The Return of Lashia, Marilee, Mikal, Shimmer, Longhshot, and
Valthonis
HTML https://thedamnforum.createaforum.com/return-to-the-dragon-isles/return-to-the-dragon-isles/msg544/#msg544
And
HTML https://thedamnforum.createaforum.com/lashia-the-wizadess-windrider/lashia-the-wizardess-windrider/[/center]
[center]
Wydara Blood and The Arena
Story One: Family and the Fall
Chapter Twelve: Mood[/center]
Western Ansalon
Northern Ergoth
Imperial City of Gwynned
In the moments after Lashia and the girls leave, Wydara tells a
tear-stained Daera that her day is done. “We can start up
tomorrow.”
Daera just nods, looking very sullen from her usual upbeat self.
She starts to walk away, and then she comes over and hugs her
brother, as he seems affected and moved by his mom leaving as
well, he is just quiet about it.
Daera walks over to her aunt and tells her, “Thank you for
making me look good back there, I did not know what you were
doing at the time, but I understand now.”
Wydara gives her niece a loving hug. “You’re welcome, I’m glad
it worked. You kept up. I’m proud of you for that.”
Daera gives her first little smile since her mom left.
Wydara tells her to “go on back to the house, I am going to get
your brother squared away. And we will join you for mealtime.”
Daera gets her shield and Gladius and walks down to the Villa.
“Okay nephew”, Wydara, “How are you doing?”
Sator says, “I’ve been okay, it was just good to see Mom.”
Wydara tells him to follow her, and they walk down the hill to
the school.
They walk in and amongst the training gladiators of the house.
Roric is overseeing the session. Sator is so impressed by the
swordsmanship of the gladiator that he just takes it all in.
They walk to where Barret is training on the Pell. Wydara gets
his attention and introduces Barret to Sator. Wydara tells
Sator, “Barret is my First Sword. My best warrior. He is between
matches. He has already secured a place at the Coliseum next
month. He is going to train you for a couple of weeks. You will
do what he tells you to do when he tells you to do it. It is
going to be intensive, and I am telling you right now, you are
going to be knocked down, hit in the face, hit all over,
especially if you don’t block. Are you good with that?”
Sator was not exactly expecting this pronouncement. It does not
exactly kill his enthusiasm. He has not been hit in the face
before, but he can already feel seconds slipping, so he just
agrees to whatever Wydara says. I think once we get him changed,
we will take him up in the Pell at the Women’s school that still
sits empty up the hill.
Barret and Sator walk up to the Women’s school after Sator is
dressed and ready to go. He is trained much as Daera was to
strengthen the forearms. It is the first time Sator has picked
up a training Gladius short sword. The heft is heavier than his
longsword.
Wydara moves to look down and intently watches her gladiators
train. Wydara castigates herself for not keeping as close an eye
on things since her niece has gotten here. With her nephew now
here, Wydara endeavors to strike a balance to make this
arrangement work.
Those who will be fighting in the upcoming games
Bril of the Blood Sea will have a match.
Jason of Tarsis will fight with the net, and the trident will
have a match.
And Hale the Ice Wall Barbarian, will be fighting in the Primus
with two other Gladiators against the Undefeated Ackal of the
Ker-Vakt.
#Post#: 601--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Chapter: Thirteen: Welcome to
the Club
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: October 22, 2023, 5:33 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wydara Blood and The Arena
Story One: Family and the Fall
Chapter: Thirteen: Welcome to the Club
[/center]
Western Ansalon
Northern Ergoth
Imperial City of Gwynned
It is a dreary Fall Day,
Wydara has put all matters to the side and focused solely on
training her guys for the upcoming games.
Aidan is not in these coming games, so Wydara has assigned him
to train her Niece and Nephew in the two-handed fighting style.
The arrangement has worked out thus far. Both kids are absorbing
what he is teaching them like sponges.
Meanwhile, Wydara is pushing her Gladiators, impressing on them
the dangers of being complacent. She tells Hale that
“His opponent is one of most dangerous men he will ever face. He
has to protect himself at all times, change your tactics
constantly, The Northman watches for patterns. He will attempt
to use your size against you. The emperor’s men have created a
scenario that could turn him the Northman into a martyr, expect
the crowd to turn against you by the end, it is important for
you to carry out the execution or your life may become forfeit,
maybe mine as well.”
That causes the whole group to stop and look at her. This just
became deadly serious, beyond the pale.
The massively built Hale solemnly tells her, “It will be done.”
The Three fight their sparring partner, picked specifically in a
change-up to keep their Gladiators from becoming complacent with
fighting a set style. It is all to close up the gaps and expand
the awareness.
Bril of the Blood Sea
Jason of Tarsis, the Net Man
Hale of the Ice Wall Barbarian
Elsewhere, up the hill at the Women’s school.
Aidan is putting Daera through the paces, using their dual
training gladiuses, and Sator is sitting on the veranda next to
the Training sands. It is lightly sprinkling. At a second glance
at Sator, he is sporting a fresh black eye. Can’t tell if he is
happy or mad about it.
They learn about different tactics for disarming opponents using
gladiator tactics. Using shields, swords, and their bodies. He
lets them both punch him a couple of times. Teaches them how to
throw a punch and use their elbows. How to flip their opponent.
Some judo/wrestling.
Training is called for the day when the Rain begins pouring
down. The kids say goodbye to Aidan and walk up to the Villa
while Barret walks back into the barracks.
Before they walk into the House, Wydara stops them and tells one
to turn around, while the other strips to their smallclothes,
hands a towel, and tells the other to do the same. They are not
tracking mud into the house on that scale. She has the clothes
cleaned, in the interim, the floor is dried, and the kids wash
up for Mealtime.
At the dinner table, Wydara remarks on Sator’s shiner.
Sator seems embarrassed.
Daera just tells him “Welcome to the club.”
The Kids talk about what they learned, which was considerable
during their training with Aidan.
Wydara asks if they want to sit with her in her Box at the
coming games.
Never had they thought that they would, but they kind of wanted
to take in the vulgarity of all.
Wydara tells them what they should wear, given the attention
that may be given to them with them in such a prominent spot.
They make their plans around the dinner table and the scene
ends.
#Post#: 623--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Wydara Blood and the Arena Chapter Fourteen: The Old
Round (Also known as the Pit) Story One Finale
DIR By: Dungeon Master
Date: October 29, 2023, 7:07 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Wydara Blood and The Arena
Story One Finale of Family and the Fall
Chapter Fourteen: The Old Round (Also known as the Pit)[/center]
Western Ansalon
Northern Ergoth
Near the heart of the Imperial Capital City of Gwynned
The Old Round (Arena)
People started filing into the Old Round is a structure with an
ancient history. Built pre-cataclysm in the days when Gwynned
was but a summer palace far north of the capital of Daltigoth.
The Old Round came into use again after the Cataclysm and the
death of the Kingpriest and his Puritan clergy. They even banned
plays and singing. Good riddance.
In the off time from the games, the Arenas make up an important
part in the lives of Northern Ergothians in that Plays of
Theatre are again put on between games.
It is in use to this day as a smaller venue, the City of Gwynned
has outgrown the Arena, and then succeeded the next venue that
was built, until the Coliseum. One of the most magnificent
structures on Ansalon.
Wydara and her party file into her Box and get ready for the
start of the festivities. With her are her trainers, her Klar
Dwarf assistant Kol, and Head Trainer Roric Tores.
Trailing behind for the first time ever are Wydara’s niece and
nephew, Daera and Sator. They are the children of her brother,
Talidaar, and have been staying with her for a couple of days
and for the other three weeks. It will be their first Gladiator
Match.
For Daera, she has only gotten close to one of the Gladiators,
Adien has been her teacher off and on for the last two weeks,
but he is not fighting tonight. The others she has seen in the
training school. It is still sort of an abstract concept even
now. She can’t believe she is here at the games, getting ready
to watch people kill each other for the amusement of the crowd.
She questions why she is here; she suddenly does not want to see
this. So, she sits and takes it all in, the crowds, the seating
arrangements with children and women sitting in the top rows,
and the different classes that encircle the arena, she thinks
back to her tutors when she was at Las’s, she thinks about the
bloody nature of the Empire across its history
For Sator, His views have been against for reasons, all of which
he finds distasteful. And his sister is completely out of their
element. The cheering mob around them is setting off his anxiety
levels. He just tries to find breath. He is looking forward to
going back to the Forest. At the soonest opportunity, as almost
anything is better than this.
Wydara feels a feeling approaching guilt for bringing them. She
brushes that issue aside, for now, Titus Calvus and Servius Duro
have arrived at their boxes. Arriving fashionably late is Vartus
Sevinus; he looks at Wydara again, but she knows who he is now,
a slick operator. He came to her party after the last games.
In the Editor’s Box, the emperor is not here again today; in his
place, a number of ministers of state, including a
representative of the emperor, who will officiate the
proceedings in the emperor’s stead.
Mid-Day
Horns announce that the midday public executions are carried out
in the center of the Round by the headsmen.
Scarred is all I can say to describe Daera and Sator's state of
being.
The Horns announces the Editor of these games
The Editor steps forward and gives a short oration explaining
the arc of the evening. To paraphrase, “Who will arise
victorius and who will be found on the ground at his feet and
water the arena with his lifeblood?”
He calls for the Games to begin-
The horns announce the entry of the Gladiators – Signaling the
Games are about to begin
The time comes when the assigned gladiators enter the sands from
the Gate of Life. For their match-up.
Bril of the Blood Sea, from the School of Wydara, enters from
the Gate of Lafe into the arena. Fighting in the Samaite,
breastplate, Mask, short sword Gladius, oblong shield.
He is moderately cheered, has a decent record, moderately liked
His opponent
Xerus of Neraka from the School of Duros, fighting in the Threx
style of fighting with curved swords, lightly armored, Shaved
Head, and strange runes tattooed on his head. Very vicious.
They salute towards the Imperial Palace, then salute the
Editor’s box where sits the Editor and his elite guests.
They then salute each other.
Bril of the Blood Sea
Fights
Xerus of Neraka
Bril does not like the look of his opponent's stance, very
trained, He does what he can to break Xerus’s stance; He tries
not to let him get settled.
After three minutes of fighting, circling, and fighting, Wydara
has doubts. Her guy is not keeping up. He has weight on his
side, but it is only a matter of time, less she is wrong.
In the Pit,
Bril is not doing well at all; he is tiring out, he is getting
frustrated, and then it happens.
Xerus gets past his shield and cuts into his thigh at the
femoral artery.
Bril stands there for a moment as the artery is cut open… blood
pouring out in controlled spurts, matching his heartbeats. Bril
falls over, and the loss of blood pressure drops him to his
back. He reaches out and expires as his hand drops.
The Crowd is quiet for a moment until Xerus walks to the center
of the arena and raises his arms in victory. The crowds begin
to cheer him. Some are less inclined to cheer this Nerakan
transplant.
Wydara and her trainers are just downcast that this is the
opening match and their fighter is dead. Meanwhile, her
competitor is raking in accolades at his box. Wydara runs
through a gamut of emotions, and Bril was with her, back to
Tarsis. Damn it. Poor Bril. I can’t believe you are dead. She
looks over at her niece and nephew as the cleaning crew drags
Bril’s body out of the Pit.
Daera was rooting for Bril, she did not expect it…it was awful.
While Sator was surprisingly captivated by the choice of leg
work that was going on, and the strategy at work. He did not
consider these factors before. The Midday executions almost get
up and out of the arena. It was completely unnecessary.
Elapsed Time: Five minutes Fourteen seconds
The Break begins between matches. The Pit is more of a rowdy
affair than the other two locations. More of the common folk get
seats here at the Pit. Still, Games are Games, and the deeply
core adherents come to games and place their bets on their dark
horses and sure things.
Daera steels herself up for more bloodshed. The crowds are
making her nauseated. Sator steadies her shoulder and hands her
a drink. She hands it back after taking a few sips and tells
him Thanks. The Horns go to startle her…
The horns announce the entry of the next set of Gladiators –
Signaling the Games are about to resume
Stepping from the gate of Life is Dagra of Nordmaar from Duro
Training School, fighting in the Nordmaar savage fighting style,
mixed armor, mostly savage in appearance. Huge applause for
Darga from the House of Duro
Wydara remarks, “Bastard is trying to run me out of business by
killing all the competitors.”
Stepping into the arena is Jason of Tarsis from the School of
Wydara. Fighting Retiarii net and trident
Jason is sure to keep the Dagra back with his spear and net him
at the right time.
The savage with a short sword and shield is more than competent,
and is keeping the Trident and Net man on his toes, cutting him
in the side, ah, bet that hurt, avoid the spear, avoid and
spear, dodge, and fall back-
The fight rages, and he breaks Jason’s trident shaft with his
shield and elbows Jason in the face.
Wydara stands up to get a better view,
Jason is reeling backward against the wall of the Pit. He dodges
the incoming savage and and rolls until he gets his shield with
the long blade knife that is fitted inside, Jason dodges again
and almost gets his head cut off Jason dives and rolls, the
savage right behind him, suddenly, Jason brings up the net from
the ground under the savage and yanks even as he twists it and
wrapped it around him and knocks Dagra to the ground while Jason
sits on top of him, out of reach of Dagra bound legs. He cuts
across his stomach, not deep, but tells him to beg for mercy.
Dagra of Nordmaar asks for mercy
Jason takes his knife and holds it to Dagra’s neck, and He looks
up at the Editor’s Box.
The Crowd cheers for him to live, and the Representative of the
Emperor lets him live.
The Representative of the Emperor stands up and listens to the
calls. To have this much power, even for an afternoon… he
chooses Life.
Jason stands up and soaks in the adoration of the crowd.
Dagra is carried away on a board that he almost falls off of a
couple of times, holding his stomach.
Elapsed Time: Six minutes twenty-three seconds
The Break begins between matches
Wydara moves down next to the kids. She hugs both of them and
asks them how they are holding up.
Daera answers, “This is nerve-wracking, nerve-wracking I tell
you. I’m enthralled and I hate myself for it.”
Sator says, “I see why people go so crazy for these heroes, or
villains, and their lives are based on how well they do or how
good locking they are. “
After some more discussion, Wydara determines are surviving so
far. She honestly forgot about the Public Executions, they had
become so much a part of the scene that she finds herself
questioning the slide of morals and what she finds acceptable.
Tarsis hung people on occasion in the public square, and one is
not thrilled by the prospect. It is a fact of daily life in some
places, but it has been a while since the moral implications
kept her awake at night. Her niece and nephew are about as pure
as an elf can get, and they find much of this to be abhorrent.
She questions her decision to bring them here; she is sure she
had a reason at the outset, but that seems to have fallen away.
The horns announce the entry of the next set of Gladiators –
Signaling the Games are about to resume
Albinus Sylla of Northern Ergoth of the School of Servius Duro
vs.
Durak The Black Minotaur
They circle each other in the Pit and crowd all around them,
then there are sudden attacks and defenses thrown up. Albininus
blocks and dodges the Minotaur's attacks. The Minotaur is taking
his time with this one. He’s looking for any tell, and Albinus
is smiling. Why is he smiling? Durak thinks to himself.
Something is different. This human has altered the game
somehow…
After a few more passes, Durak thinks he understands now. The
blades are poisoned. If he touches me with those blades, I’ll be
dead.
With each pass, the blades get closer and closer.
The Black Minotaur thinks this is it.
He stops, stamps his feet, and lowers his head, bearing his
deadly horns as if he were about to run his opponent down.
It works because Albininus is suddenly concerned that might just
happen and now he is looking for a way to get away.
Durak begins to advance quickly and finds poor Albininus unsure
of which way to go,
Durak the Black Minotaur chops off one arm and avoids his
attack, and then he takes the other arm and headbutts Albininus
in the face, sending him to the ground.
The Minotaur calls out for the blades to be tested; they are
coated with poison.
The Emperor’s Representative hears the boos and just stands up
and holds his hand upside down with the thumb pointing down.
Durak stands to the side of Albininus and, in a fell swoop,
chops off his head.
Elapsed Time: Five Minutes, Thirty-one seconds
The whole match played out very strangely to Wydara, she began
to pick up on the Minotaur’s fears about the blades. Somebody is
sending Durak the Black Minotaur a message to get out of Ergoth.
Very interesting. The implications for this are far-reaching.
One thing is for sure: lots of heads are going to roll for this.
The Primus is coming up, and as such, Wydara tries to prepare
Daera and Sator. The upcoming match is not usual, but it is what
the emperor wanted. It is a Three vs. One affair. Instantly, the
kids ask how this is fair, and she has to agree with them. This
is not just unusual, it is highly unusual. Hardly ever done.
Oh, sure, it's been done, but reserved mostly for in regards to
criminals, and the emperor of Ergoth wants this one man dead for
sure.
The time between fights varies; some almost immediately, others,
fifteen minutes to twenty minutes at the most. It is the
practice of most who go to the games to bring along some food,
in jars, or wrapped up, sandwiches or soups, crackers or cooked
bread. The time between the last match today and the Primus is a
full hour.
Wydara passes out the food to the people in her box. And they
talk while they wait for the early eve before the Primus comes.
People hired by the Pit come out and light giant braziers, and
then the horns announce the entry of the next set of Gladiators
– Signaling the Primus is about to start
The Primus
One Fighter from each of the three schools participating in
today's games-
Adonoi
Rastav
And Hale of the Ice Wall Barbarian (A very large man) from the
School of Wydara
Vs. Ackal of the Ker-Vakt
They salute, and the match begins
The one approaches the many, and the three begin to move in,
taking visual cues on where they are going to strike.
Strikes and misses. Dodges close calls. The fighting is viscous
and relentless; they overpower him from the start, but he is
dangerous enough to elicit caution in his foes.
Ackal almost takes Rastav’s head off in a close-call exchange.
One strike after another, the other one, Hale kicks him down,
Ackal goes down and rolls, and uses his shield to block, then
his shield is pulled away by Rastav, tearing it away violently.
A knee comes down into Ackal’s face, they begin kicking him. The
moment Wydara was worried about comes to pass as the mood
changes in the crowd. They sense the injustice.
They start strangling him, and kicking him in the head, while
Ackal gets ahold of the blade he has had hidden in his bracers
and shoves the blade into the face of Adonoi, sending him
struggling backward and falling on his back. The action startles
people enough that when they push in to get ahold of him, he
throws a handful of sand in their eyes.
Ackal finds his Sword and Shield and regroups long enough to
dodge an incoming attack by Hale and block another from Rastav,
another from Hale, he stabs Rastav in the stomach, just to be
kicked a distance toward the far retaining wall. The big man
Hale, begins in earnest beating Ackal, slamming him against the
wall repeatedly and punching him with his bare fists in his
face.
Wydar stands up to be able to see what is happening, she yells
for Hale to kill him (Ackal).
The fight has seemingly left Ackal as he falls to the ground at
the feet of the Seven-foot-tall giant of the Ice Wall.
Ackal of the Ker-Vakt is beaten, he puts up his hand, showing
the sign with his two fingers, asking for mercy, putting his
fate in the emperor’s hands, and everyone is sure to give their
loud and boisterous opinion on the matter. They are asking
saying live.
The tension is waiting for the emperor’s Representative to
follow through in what will be the end of the Primus, the last
chance.
While all eyes are on the emperor’s Representative, including
his opponent, Ackal grabs his blade opens up the belly of Hale,
and drives the blade into Hale's neck, he grabs his opponent’s
belt, and pulls him to the wall and climbs up Hales body falls
over to the side while Ackal is pulled up by people from the
crowd. Crossbow bolts are fired by the Imperial Guards stationed
near the Box
Pandemonium breaks out among the crowd in areas closer and
stretches across the Round.
There are panicked yells and screams in the audience. Some
people in the crowd are hit by the crossbow bolts from the
imperial guards. Ackal disappears down one of the efficient exit
tunnels and on into the Gwynned night, leaving everyone to live
in fear, especially Wydara. Everything could be taken away by
the whim of one very upset man, including people's lives.
Wydara and her party leave with the others rushing to get out.
She is sure she will be questioned; she prepares the kids that
they may want to go back to Las’s for a little while until this
mess blows over. Wydara is almost positive the net effect will
include the possible closing of the Gladiator schools, and the
games until he is caught, either way, at least for the season,
it will be done. Daera and Sator tell her they will do whatever
she wants them to do. She hugs them both and heads home amidst
the chaotic streets that are getting more filled up as people
exit the arena.
Wydara tells them to hurry, she wants to get them indoors before
the Military is called out. They catch a carriage and ride on
just as military types begin gathering down one of the streets
to quell possible signs of a riot.
[center]
Chaos in the streets ensues
End of Book One of Wydara Blood and the Arena
Before you see Story Two of Wydara return, you can follow the
events of the Arbagon children and Las's efforts to free Wydara
429 AC, Las in Ergoth Chapter Thirteen: Return from the Dragon
Isles
HTML https://thedamnforum.createaforum.com/empire-of-ergoth/las-in-ergoth/msg630/#msg630
Thank you for coming on this journey with me.
Come Back for Story II [/center]
*****************************************************
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