Ghosts of Bara Magna

[a goose]

IC: Tueris (Staff NPC; Valley of Death)

“Celrys’ gadget. ‘Video telegraphy’, remember?” Tueris patted his pack. “I put it on when we get to Ferrum, and it sees what I see, hears what I hear, and keeps it. Like a memory. I can send that memory to Raanu myself, or… or, when I die, it sends itself. Either way, Vulcanus knows the truth.”

He sighed, and his eye flicked briefly towards the back of the cave. “As for relations between villages… well, there's a reason this was voluntary, and a reason nobody’s Prime Glatorian volunteered. We’re all expendable, and every Tribe leader knows it.”

Except the Ash Tribe, he thought. He wished again that the medic would have thought better than to come along; their people needed them. Not like the rest of them. It would be a terrible shame when…

“They’ll honour us as heroes; give us a dedication at the next Games, maybe a nice monument in Atero. They've probably already got a metal plate with our names written on it. My point is, their villages? They aren't expecting them back, any more than Vulcanus is expecting us. No one is waiting up for us, boy. Far as they're concerned, we’re already dead.”

OOC: @Burnmad

Edited August 21 by a goose

[Vezok's Friend]

IC/ Skrall/ Bonehunter Stronghold/ Markets/

She remained for another moment looking at the window, but in actuality just staring into space. As uncomfortable as the encounter had been…she had learned something. She wasn’t quite sure what yet. But she would remember this meeting.

She turned away and wordlessly rejoined the others.
 

OOC: @skrall 

[Alex Mason]

On 8/15/2024 at 11:01 AM, a goose said:

IC: Portia (NPC; Arena Hotel, Tajun)

“Well, that would depend on-” Suddenly, she took notice of the stranger walking through the lobby.

“Excuse me!” she said urgently, standing on her tippy-toes as if that somehow would make a difference. “Excuse me sir, you have to check in!”

OOC: @Toru Nui @Jesse Pinkman

IC: Karak - (POV, me pausing my bluetooth earphones to talk to the hotel staff in America)

I look back at the woman raising her voice at me. I point at my weapon on my back.

"I warrior. Tournament, here I am." 

OOC: @a goose@Toru Nui

[a goose]

IC: Portia (NPC; Arena Hotel, Tajun)

Oh no.

Portia hadn't been trained for this yet, but she still knew a threat when she saw one. She was frozen to the spot, her expressive face a blatant mask of terror.

What was it the sign on the staff-room wall said?

Stay calm. Take deep breaths. Don't do anything to agitate the guest.

“PLEASE MOVE YOUR HAND AWAY FROM YOUR WEAPON, SIR!”

OOC: @Jesse Pinkman @Toru Nui

Edited August 22 by a goose

[Alex Mason]

IC: Karak - Arena Hotel

3 minutes ago, a goose said:

IC: Portia (NPC; Arena Hotel, Tajun)

Oh no.

Portia hadn't been trained for this yet, but she still knew a threat when she saw one. She was frozen to the spot, her expressive face a blatant mask of terror.

What was it the sign on the staff-room wall said?

Stay calm. Take deep breaths. Don't do anything to agitate the guest.

“PLEASE MOVE YOUR HAND AWAY FROM YOUR WEAPON, SIR!”

OOC: @Jesse Pinkman @Toru Nui

Hmm. Something did not transfer well. 

At least picking up the hint that she was afraid, I grumble and put both of my hands by my sides. 

"Here for fight not you." I try to clarify, scratching behind my mask and sparing a look to the person next to the woman. "Tournament."

OOC: @a goose @Toru Nui

 

[Burnmad]

IC: Selamat - Iron Canyon Cave (First Watch)

It was a novel concept, this video telegraphy. Moreover, it served to finally put everything into context. The tribes had sent so many on what they thought to be a suicide mission, just to see the memories of what had happened to Ferrum. What a sorry state the world must have been in, for that to be their best option. Fully disarmed of his frustrations with the other Glatorian, Selamat could do nothing else but laugh harshly.

"Let's hope you don't trip and crack your head open on a rock before we get to Ferrum, then."

OOC: @a goose

[Burnmad]

IC: Skrall - Bone Hunter Stronghold

Skrall stood amidst his compatriots as they all waited for Atakus to return. He had his arms folded behind his back, fixing his chilling gaze towards any outsiders that wandered too close, as though it were a spear he held to ward off wild beasts.

As Skrall returned from her window shopping, however, he turned his head to look at her. He said nothing, but simply gave her the Look which certain Skrall had developed to communicate non-verbally that they had just seen something that wasn't right. It was one of the highest forms of commiseration that Skrall could exchange with one another. His offering it, of course, was more a matter of tradition than because he felt bad for Skrall-- to say nothing of the poor wretch she must have just been observing. The Look had been offered to him the first time he'd seen a broken Skrall, even though he hadn't been particularly affected by the experience, so it felt appropriate to offer it to Skrall in turn. Such was the way of things.

OOC: @Vezok's Friend

[Vezok's Friend]

IC/ Skrall/ Bonehunter Stronghold/ Markets/

Skrall answered the offered Look with a slow blink while maintaining eye contact. Its meaning was equally straightforward: nothing to be seen, nothing to be done. Don’t worry about it.

She glanced skyward, then to the shadows wandering across the fortress. A simple prisoner handover should’ve wrapped up by now, especially since this wasn’t the first once-skrall they’d received. Then again, one couldn’t expect bone hunters to keep to skrall standards. 
 

OOC: @Burnmad @skrall

[~Xemnas~]

IC, Aurax: Iron Canyon

Aurax sat with Xyde on the third watch. He was silent, unhappy at the whole situation. Unhappy with what had befallen his home village, the likelihood  that he would die, all of it. 

"You're a medic, right?" he asked, finally breaking the silence. "Would you be able to assess any people or bodes we come across?"

OOC:@Burnmad @oncertainty @Toru Nui @Nato G @a goose

Edited August 26 by ~Xemnas~

[Toru Nui]

IC: Vraek (Tajun Arena, Hotel Reception) - Depending on You

Vraek wasn’t paid enough for this.

“Oh you’re here for the tournament, good for you,” she sneered at the strange Glatorian of uncertain origin. “Now wait your turn, you have to pay like the rest of us.”

Then she turned back to the receptionist. “‘Depend on’ what, precisely?”

@Jesse Pinkman @a goose

 

IC: Taldrix (Bone Hunter Stronghold, Outside Somnii’s Cell) - Cue Cards

The last person Taldrix wanted to see or speak with right now was that spoilt princess, but the list of people she did want to see or speak with at any point was a blank page. Unlike the various pages of parchment she had in her hand.

“How are we feeling now?” She asked, visibly not caring in the slightest. Before Somnii could respond, she held up a page that read the following, in big letters, so it would be easy to understand.

‘HE CAN HEAR EVERYTHING WE SAY’

Taldrix then flipped it around, revealing more.

‘SO DO NOT MENTION OUR DEAL’

@a goose

 

IC: Xyde (Iron Canyon, Cave) - In My Professional Opinion

If anyone else had asked this, Xyde might have replied with a sort of sarcastic comment. ‘No, I would instead skin them and eat their gizzards.’ But they knew that Aurax was simply worried about what had befallen his home, his friends, his family, his neighbours, his people. Lords knew Xyde would feel the exact same way, if the position were reversed. Not that anyone beyond Precipere would care in that scenario.

“Yes, of course,” Xyde answered. “I’ll help anyone in any way I can, don’t worry yourself.”

@~Xemnas~

[Emzee]

On 8/20/2024 at 7:38 PM, Nato G said:

IC: Avinus - Streets of Tajun

"A word of advice, then. Don't show 'em everythin' you've got in your first fight," Avinus said, lowering her voice a little as another group of Glatorian passed the other way. "The smart ones don't really come to the exhibition matches to fight. They come to watch, to learn what they're up against. So I'm not sayin' not to try... but at the end of the day, there's no shame in losin' an exhibition match if it means savin' somethin' for the real fight."

IC: Luka - Streets of Tajun

At first, Luka's eyes flitted, and the young Glatorian was taken aback. Hide my best moves? And give the audience bad expectations of me?

To Luka, it had almost sounded like a trick. Did fighters really come to exhibition to study? Was Avinus being genuine?

"I... I suppose," Luka said, a bit apprehensive. "But... so many eyes are watching me. Won't losing be judged poorly?"

OOC: @Nato G

[Nato G]

IC: Avinus - Streets of Tajun

"In the short-term it can, yeah," she conceded. "But the tournament aint just one fight. It's exhibition matches, tours of the other villages, interviews, surprise appearances, all sortsa things. People don't just come to the tournament to see their village win, they want to be entertained. They want to see a journey, a story, playin' out across the whole tournament. A comeback story or twist endin' can be more entertainin' than an outright victory." 

@Emzee

[Alex Mason]

IC: Karak - Arena Hotel

Whatever I miss with the words is instantly caught with the look. The disrespect would not be tolerated if I was still where I was from. But I notice the expressions these beings flash at one another on a whim. Faux-aggression, insecurity and arrogance expressed on whims. 

"You make face. Fear I show you up?" I ask with narrowed eyes behind the mask, an unseen smirk of my own. 

OOC: @Toru Nui @a goose

[Toru Nui]

IC: Vraek (Tajun Arena, Hotel Reception) - Weapon Snobbery

Oh Great Beings, she was definitely not getting paid enough for this.

“I ‘fear’ that you’re probably going to end up sleeping in the alley outside if you can’t control yourself,” Vraek explained, turning back to address the interloper. “The establishment WILL forcibly eject you from the premises if you don’t wait to pay for accommodation and you don’t stop touching your… weapon?” She looked at it with some confusion. “What in the Lord of Ice’s name is even that? A sharp club?”

Turning back to the receptionist, she whispered, though still loud enough to be overheard: “Please say that whatever room you give me, it’s one far away from HIM.” She jabbed a thumb at Karak behind her.

@Alex Mason @a goose

[oncertainty]

IC: Escus - Second Watch, in the Cave

"Hmm. Our turn. See anything yet?" Escus rumbled, his eyes still closed. He rose in a single languid motion, albeit not without a certain grace, and drifted to the mouth of the cave to take his place beside Gayle. He stumbled down to one knee, and blinked in the light.

He sighed, blinked again. He looked Gayle up and down. Then he spoke, almost as an afterthought, words burbling from his mouth. "I won't insult you by saying anything we both know. Not here to repeat myself. I’m not the one in charge, anyway. So we'll talk about something else. What do you think we're going to find, at the end of this?

OOC: @Nato G

 

IC: Lorqua - Training Ground, Outskirts of Atero

Lorqua was content to let Lutenus follow his line of questioning. She could just keep listening, and find out what she wanted to know. Besides, these Agori were fun. It wasn't every day somebody treated her like a big shot. In fact, most of her time was spent with caravan masters who liked haggling too much to ever pay her the original fee. Maybe Lutenus was on to something with this tournament business. It came with some respect.

"Something like that, yeah. I mostly do caravan work. The least illegal thing to do, if you're a Glatorian who doesn't care for the arena. Sorry, don't mean anything by that, it's just... not to my taste. How did you two end up doing this, anyway?"

OOC: @Toru Nui @Techn0geist

Edited August 30 by oncertainty

[Nato G]

IC: Gayle - Second Watch

"For an entire village to just go silent like this, with not a single survivor showing up anywhere to explain what happened..." Gayle signed, regretting her grim words before she even said them, "...I think we're going to find a giant pile of bodies. Or just scattered bones, if the scavenger creatures got into the village." 

@oncertainty

[oncertainty]

IC: Escus - Second Watch, in the Cave

On that, they agreed. Nothing good awaited them at the other end of the canyon. Escus nodded his assent, his face fixed in a placid mask. He sighed.

"Bodies and bones... If we're lucky that's all we'll find. I'm not afraid of the dead."

His voice was low, some ambiguous mix of sleep and caution in his tone.

"You make it sound so... clinical. Have you ever even seen something like that before?"

OOC: @Nato G

[Nato G]

IC: Gayle - Second Watch

"Not on the scale we might be walking into, but... yeah," she said. "I do a lot of odd jobs that take me out into the desert. Missing persons, bounty-hunting type stuff. Sometimes the people I'm sent to find have already been found by something else."

It was a part of the job she didn't like to dwell on. As much as she loved a good adventure, the harsh truth was that not all stories ended happily. 

@oncertainty

[oncertainty]

IC: Escus - Second Watch, in the Cave

Escus fixed Gayle with a languid gaze, his eyes a pair of deep pools. He stared for a long moment. She was still an Agori, but she had seen the desert's true face. More than most Glatorian had seen.

"You come by those scars honestly, then, I take it. No deathwish, but you know more about death than most, hmm?" At that, Escus chuckles. "Dark remarks. We'll give the others nightmares if we're not careful. Hard to see any other way this could go, though. Hard to see anything at all."

OOC: @Nato G

[Nato G]

IC: Gayle - Second Watch 

"Not that hard," she muttered, more to herself than her companion. "The way I see it, we're all going to end up in the same place. It's what we do on the way there that matters."

@oncertainty

[Techn0geist]

IC: Mard & Ahmoa - Training Ground, outskirts of Atero

On 6/21/2024 at 9:11 AM, Toru Nui said:

“I’ll have to speak with Del when we arrive in Tajun. I’ve heard whispers of something terrible happening in Ferrum - you haven’t heard anything yourselves, have you?”

You stay away the hell away from Del, Ahmoa wanted to say. He settled instead for drumming his fingers on the axe's haft, wondering if Lutenus was aware of the miasma of dishonesty oozing from him

"Nothing more than you will have heard, I wager." Truth. "Our friend was not exactly forthcoming with regards to any happenings in Ferrum, if they are even aware of them." He let a little softness creep into his voice, hoping to dissuade the Glatorian from pursuing Del by playing on any capacity for guilt he may have had. "They were so weak when we found them, and very hesitant to speak with us at first. Even so, we thought it... callous to be so probing. Perhaps Del will tell, but in their own time."

He cocked his head to the side, ready to flip the script. "What have you heard precisely?"

On 8/30/2024 at 4:11 PM, oncertainty said:

"Something like that, yeah. I mostly do caravan work. The least illegal thing to do, if you're a Glatorian who doesn't care for the arena. Sorry, don't mean anything by that, it's just... not to my taste. How did you two end up doing this, anyway?"

"No hard feelings, Miss Lorqua. Look on the bright side, you get a fresh view with each gig! You ask me, that beats getting the tar smacked out of you on the regular." Mard pointed a thumb over his shoulder to the other cyborg, what a maroon it said.

"And funny you should ask," he was ready to yap, keep her busy, "can't really say this is to our taste either. Ahmoa and I kicked around with a stage troupe for a while before they split; we tried doing duologue here in Atero but folks would rather spend their denarii on booze and ringside seats than anything with a bit of class... uhh, no offence of course." He blushed, quickly circled back. "A-a-anyway, we couldn't afford to act full-time any more, saw an ad looking for staff for a new training ground, figured we could use the scratch. What was meant to be a side-gig became our main gig."

He let a sigh escape, his heart becoming visible on his sleeve. "It's lucrative, especially coming up to the Gee-Tee, and sometimes it's fun, like you guys were... you ever see a good couples' dance? There's a lot of overlap between fighting and dancing, you'd be surprised! But... I don't think I like being sidelined like this. My scene's... a scene, a script; a laughing, crying audience. That's where I thrive." Mard cast a look, a smile, over to his partner. "I suppose anywhere with him's fine by me, though."

 

OOC: @Toru Nui @oncertainty

[BULiK]

On 8/21/2024 at 9:58 AM, BULiK said:

IC: Atakus [Bone Hunter Stronghold, Inner Wall office]

"Absolutely," Atakus agreed with a kind smile. He gingerly shook Fero's hand. For a Skrall, his manners were impeccable, even when dealing with barbarians. In Atakus's eyes though, there was an eager flame that Fero could recognize. A desire to expand in influence from the opportunity before him. As ambitious subordinates, they had too much in common. In that sense, there was an uncharacteristic sense of respect on Atakus's face. Few ever saw that on a Skrall without besting them in combat.

"Now, for the details - how can I find your customer in Tajun?"

IC: Atakus [Bone Hunter Stronghold]

The Agori rejoined the hot sands of the bazaar with one less Skrall than he had disappeared with. The deal had been completed, and by now the Spikit carts were full of provisions instead of the prisoner. Atakus looked pleased at the turn of events, but annoyed by the delays. The Skrall still had a long road to Tajun, and their extended stay was not a part of his precise schedule.

~~~

Atakus whipped the Spikit on the lead chariot. With a hiss, the Skrall were on the road again. The group rattled away from the mesa's walls. By the time the stronghold was no longer on the horizon, the sky had shifted into a blood red haze - the caravan would finish their journey through the chilling night. There were equal parts relief and danger in the darkness. Atakus, for his part, kept silent.

OOC: @ Skrall we are moving out! Go ahead and put yourselves wherever in the caravan you want to be for the second half of the road trip

IC: Skrall [Bone Hunter Stronghold, ???]

Skrall stirred in a dark place, half-awake. He reeked of drool and urine. He was having the most horrible dream. So tired...

OOC: Skrall open for interaction

Edited September 3 by BULiK

[Emzee]

On 8/27/2024 at 9:19 PM, Nato G said:

"In the short-term it can, yeah," she conceded. "But the tournament aint just one fight. It's exhibition matches, tours of the other villages, interviews, surprise appearances, all sortsa things. People don't just come to the tournament to see their village win, they want to be entertained. They want to see a journey, a story, playin' out across the whole tournament. A comeback story or twist endin' can be more entertainin' than an outright victory."

IC: Luka - Streets of Tajun

"Wow, I guessed I never thought of it that way," Luka shrugged, almost sheepishly. There was so much more to this tournament stuff than he ever would have assumed. Luka had watched the tournaments and heard of the stories as a young kid. He had watched countless Glatorian spar. He never considered the story. He never thought there was a story.

"Entertainment," Luka said, echoing the words with a new sense of wonder. "I suppose when it comes down to it, that's what the people come for"

OOC: @Nato G

[Nato G]

IC: Avinus - Streets of Tajun

"Exactly. I find it's actually less stressful if you think about it that way," Avinus said. "The tournament aint like ordinary matches. It aint about resources. There's nothin' on the line but prestige and personal pride. It doesn't actually cost Tajun anythin' if we don't win in the end. So cut loose. Have a little fun." 

@Emzee

[a goose]

IC: Tueris (Staff NPC; Valley of Death)

Tueris laughed despite himself, until the ghost of a dark thought cast its shadow upon his face. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had made him laugh. This was dangerous territory.

Tueris, this Vulcanusian rookie, and everyone else in this cave would not survive this journey. Attachment, even at its mildest, would jeopardise the mission; when the bodies started dropping, he would need to remain calm.

“I have a hard head, boy. I wouldn't worry.”

OOC: @Burnmad

IC: Portia (NPC; Arena Hotel, Tajun)

Portia’s smile, previously so eager and accommodating, no longer reached her eyes. She tugged at her collar.

“Well, you see, what I was going to say is that we are… well, the night before the Opening Ceremony is our busiest of the year, you understand…”

OOC: @Tor@Toru Nui @Alex Mason

IC: Somnii (Bone Hunter Stronghold; Somnii's Cell)

She looked up as she heard the Bone Hunter speak, disturbing an almost trance-like state. Somnii had found herself deep in thought while her keeper was away. She was about to reply, when she noticed the cue cards:

HE CAN HEAR EVERYTHING WE SAY.

Somnii felt the earth open up beneath her, the yawning mouth of an icy mine threatening to swallow her whole. She searched her captor’s eyes, perhaps for some hint of taunting or levity. She found nothing. Somehow, that was even more alarming. Then the card turned over.

SO DO NOT MENTION OUR DEAL.

She kept her confusion and concern from showing. Whatever had happened, whatever was now happening, it was serious, and she would play along.

“You know – caged, starving, parched, dying. The usual.” She looked over the Bone Hunter’s shoulder, into the empty hallway behind. “No babysitter this time?”

OOC: @Toru Nui

IC: Skrall (Markets; the Bone Hunter Stronghold)

They had been gone too long.

It had begun to sink in for him, and he was at the precipice of growing genuinely concerned when Atakus and the rookie returned. Still, Skrall did not feel relief; what they had just done was a betrayal, and it would cast a dark shadow over the journey to come.

As his companions began to choose their carriages, he waited, subtly watching where the female went so that he might follow. He was curious about her conversation with the slave that had once been Skrall, and that curiosity overrode the discomfort he still felt around her, that twisting feeling in the base of his gut when he looked at her, when he heard her speak. Or, perhaps, that discomfort only made him all the more curious, which was a troubling thought indeed. It was the type of thing that more superstitious Skrall than him would have waved away as witchcraft, but he knew better. All the world’s mysteries had simple answers, and if he could observe the female warrior for longer, he was certain this one could be similarly solved.

OOC: @Vezok's Friend and other Skrall 

Edited September 7 by a goose

[Mel]

a slave | bone hunter stronghold

the other one is stirring.

you have already managed to scrounge some rags for him.  better he not know what you have done until he accustoms himself. even deprived as he was by the others that brought him, he is still stronger than you. being quite and waiting is still a practice you remember, at least.

OOC: @BULiK

[Burnmad]

IC: Selamat - Iron Canyon Cave (First Watch)

Selamat stifled a laugh that might otherwise have been loud enough to wake the others. "I guess you'd have to," he said with a chuckle, "to keep being Vulcanus' Second Glatorian this long after everything that happened." His words betrayed a certain admiration of the older Glatorian that surprised even him. But then, he supposed there was truth in them. Tueris had served Vulcanus, since even before Selamat had been alive, and through both thick and thin at that. That was, perhaps, worthy of a little admiration.

OOC: @a goose

 

IC: Skrall - Bone Hunter Stronghold (On the Road Again)

Skrall finally let out a breath he'd been holding for the last half hour-- made his implants ache, but it was a nervous habit. He wasn't sure anyone was ever glad to see Atakus, but in this particular instance it was certainly preferable to the alternative. Without further ado, he clambered into the wagon which did not contain Tirveus' persnickety seneschal, nestling himself between two stacks of supplies that provided excellent cover from any ambushes that might still be waiting in the wings for them on the road ahead.

@Skrall

[Vezok's Friend]

IC/ Skrall/ Bonehunter Stronghold/ On the road again

 

Skrall didn’t have to wait long. Now with something to do, skrall didn’t hesitate and boarded the second wagon. She’d briefly contemplated joining Atakus in the first. Part of her wanted to confront him about what they’d just done - but it was done now. She’d done her part in speaking to the other. She hoped they’d cross paths. How things played out from there was up to Him.

 

She took the Spikit reins and urged the beast to hurry after the lead chariot. 
 

OOC: @a goose @Burnmad @skrall

[a goose]

IC: Tueris (Staff NPC; Valley of Death)

Almost imperceptibly, Tueris flinched. He had hoped not to be recognised.

“Haven't held that title in a long, long time. They stripped me of it, after… after what happened.” A decade had passed, but the wound was still fresh; he brushed his fingers over his scarred left eye, and sighed. “For obvious reasons I’m not really in the loop anymore, but as I understand it there have been candidates. You’d think that, as the years pass, the stain would fade – apparently, it's the opposite. You know yourself how superstitious fighters are. The longer that spot is empty, the more cursed it feels, as if it's empty for a reason. Only ones still gunning for it have a real ambition, a fire in their eyes, and I think that spooks Ackar. Reminds him too much of me.”

There was no fire in Tueris’ eyes anymore – not even the good one. All that remained was embers.

OOC: @Burnmad

Edited September 7 by a goose

[Toru Nui]

IC: Lutenus (Outskirts of Atero, Training Ground) - Observations

“All communication with the Iron Tribe has abruptly ceased,” Lutenus answers. “There’s not a single possible answer as to why that I like.”

The unblinking gaze of his metal eye redirected to Ahmoa’s fingers drumming on the axe. “I see I’ve upset you, somehow. My apologies.” His mouth opens to say something else… and then his eyes appear to lose their focus, looking at Ahmoa but not acknowledging him. “I…”

His eye makes a bizarre clicking sound. His attention turns back to Ahmoa. “I’m sorry, what were we talking about?”

@Techn0geist @oncertainty

 

IC: Vraek (Tajun Arena, Hotel Reception) - Room 404

A sigh. “So there are no rooms available?” Vraek began to weigh her options should this be the case. She would rather chew her own arm off and get it cybernetically replaced than spend even a single second inside Scarabax’s Delight again, and tracking down Jeizmel and asking if she could stay with her was far too humiliating even to consider.

Well, it was either an even seedier hotel or it was the alley for her too, alongside the fool behind her.

@a goose @Alex Mason

 

IC: Skrall (Bone Hunter Stronghold, Marketplace) - Every Man Has His Price Tag

Skrall boarded the first caravan, not perplexed by how the transaction - if such a word could be used in this context - had taken a considerable amount of time, blaming it on the notorious avarice and belligerence of the Renegades.

The feeling couldn’t be shaken that something very, very wrong had just taken place. Selling a brother to these peddlers as one would sell a broken sword. To say nothing of what unspeakable things would befall the once-Skrall in this cesspool. Was failure, however great, deserving of this?

@a goose @BULiK @Vezok's Friend @Burnmad @Nato G @oncertainty

 

IC: Taldrix (Bone Hunter Stronghold, Outside Somnii’s Cell) - A Deal Is a Deal

“No.” Another page. Taldrix had her end of the deal to keep up. Information concerning the Ghost… what little she had.

‘HE’S NOT ONE OF OURS OR YOURS’

Taldrix then showed Somnii the other side.

‘HE CLAIMS HE’S A GREAT BEING’

Well, that wasn’t technically true seeing as he held some contempt for the title, but there was only so much you could put on one piece of parchment with the font size she was using.

“I don’t suppose you’d be willing to elucidate why exactly your telegraph station conveniently ‘malfunctioned,’ as you put it?”

@a goose

[a goose]

IC: Somnii (Bone Hunter Stronghold; Somnii's Cell)

The pit opened wider, and Somnii’s head swam with vertigo.

“It… there were signs of tampering. Someth- someone sabotaged it, we thought.”

OOC: @Toru Nui

[~Xemnas~]

IC, Aurax: Iron Canyon

The Glatorian nodded grimly and grunted. "Good," he said. "I hope to not be a tribe of one after we investigate, assuming I survive this trip at all. Which seems increasingly less likely by the moment."

OOC:@Burnmad @oncertainty @Toru Nui @Nato G @a goose

[Nato G]

IC: Skrall - On The Road Again

Though he'd been given no specific order to stay close to Atakus after leaving the stronghold, Skrall still found himself compelled to join the party leader in the first wagon. He saw no need to appear over-eager by sitting close to Atakus, though. He instead settled near the rear of the wagon, his spear balanced across his knees as before.

His back was turned to the horizon ahead; his gaze instead lingering on the fortress they were about to leave behind. When he’d first arrived here, he’d thought the Gatherers to be a simple people. But he’d gotten a glimpse of their complexity and ambition during his brief time here, and it left him wondering what other secrets still lingered behind the fort’s walls.

His gaze lowered towards the other members of the expedition, all thoughts of the tournament and the Southern warriors slipping from his mind. The first foe he would be forced to face was already right in front of him. 

[Vezok's Friend]

IC/ Skrall/ On the road again

 

Jay virtue of holding the reigns, the first warrior looking back at skrall was her. 

 

Was she studying him or was that just part of keeping an eye on the road ahead?

 

Eventually though, her gaze moved on. Skrall for her part was mulling things over in her head still. A shadow hung over them, even more so than usual. Or perhaps not unusual after selling one of your own. Maybe deserved, but after seeing what awaited him…but they’d done their duty.

 

 

 

 

And yet...

 

 

 

 

“Long time for a done deal.” She observed after a quiet long time of her own.

 

OOC: @a goose @skrall 

[a goose]

IC: Skrall (Skrall Caravan; Second Wagon)

“I've been thinking about that. If our friend went down fighting, he didn't manage to do much harm – at least not to Atakus or the rookie.” Skrall had been running through scenarios, unable to satisfy himself with the possible solutions. “Something about this… it doesn't feel right. I think I believe him.”

He looked the female warrior right in the eye. “I haven't seen you around Roxtus until recently. Were you up North, or did they only just let you out of Skull Mountain?”

OOC: @Vezok's Friend

Edited September 13 by a goose

[Vezok's Friend]

IC/ Skrall/ On the road again

She wanted to reply to the speculation, to say that there had been no fight, not with how resigned their prisoner had been, just more talk - but instead, she found herself bristling at the other’s question regarding herself. Others didn’t casually mention skull mountain to her face, even if they suspected…

“Been in and out of Roxtus between recons. Maybe our schedules never crossed.” she answered, looking back at the road ahead and the spikit pulling their cart. 

 

OOC: @a goose @skrall
 

[a goose]

IC: Skrall (Second Wagon)

“So you weren't with them at the Fortress. You didn't see the Baterra.” The typically bold Skrall spoke in hushed tones, aware of the many ears that surrounded them.

Tirveus hadn't given them a name, but he hadn't needed to – word spread, with or without his approval, and the men had their own name for their invisible enemy. It was an old word, a fairy tale. Pure superstition. And yet…

“I’m not one for ghost stories. The only Silent Death I’ve ever witnessed was from disease, starvation, failure of leadership – the common ails of a war poorly waged. Those are the invisible enemies that wipe out armies; ‘Baterra’ is just a word that men use when they cannot square their own shortcomings with the inherent supremacy of the Skrall.” He paused, and looked at the road ahead. “Do not misunderstand me – Tirveus is a cunning leader. I believe we can all learn much from him. Consider, for instance, his use of alternative punishments.

“If a man sees something that he should not see, and dares to speak of it, then execution might make him a martyr. At the least, it would draw attention to his claims. The same for any official form of exile. Better, perhaps, to order him to the edge of the world, where no one will hear him; better still to sell him into slavery. It is the most ignominious end that a warrior can suffer, so much so that no one dares to look the condemned man in the eye. Nothing could discredit a man’s story so effectively as making so cruel an example of him. A wise sentence for one with a troubling tale to tell, wouldn't you agree?”

OOC: @Vezok's Friend

Edited September 16 by a goose

[Emzee]

On 9/5/2024 at 12:03 AM, Nato G said:

"Exactly. I find it's actually less stressful if you think about it that way," Avinus said. "The tournament aint like ordinary matches. It aint about resources. There's nothin' on the line but prestige and personal pride. It doesn't actually cost Tajun anythin' if we don't win in the end. So cut loose. Have a little fun."

IC: Luka - Streets of Tajun

Give the people a good show. That's what matters I guess.

It wasn't bad advice. The talk around these fights always sounded like high-stakes when Luka was growing up. Some have even been banished over it, after all. The young Glatorian was elated that maybe the tournament wasn't all like that. But now Luka had to think about being entertaining.

One thing he's been told multiple times by different... potential mates. He was not entertaining, funny, or anything of the sort. Apparently rattling off fighting stats was not the widely accepted example of a good time.

"I'll have to change my strategy up a little then," Luka said. "I haven't always been seen the most fun person".

OOC: @Nato G

Edited September 19 by Emzee

[Nato G]

IC: Avinus - Streets of Tajun

"Well, you could play into that," she suggested. "Instead of tryin' to be somethin' you're not, you could exaggerate who you are. Play it up, make it kinda ironic."

@Emzee

[Vezok's Friend]

IC/ Skrall/ On the road again

Skrall had disliked the too-close-for-comfort discussion of her origins already, but the conspiratorial tone the other was striking up now sat even less well with her.

Baterra. He was right about one thing: It was a convenient cover for when skrall supremacy came up short due to arrogance, incompetence - or simply screwing up. And yet…the story the former skrall had shared with them about what had happened to his unit was still fresh in her mind and it was not so easily dismissed.

But she was facing enough prejudice already without opening herself up to conspiracy. 
He couldn’t think she’d seriously engage him in this conversation, could he?

She shot him a stern glance over her shoulder.

“So wise that you’re talking about it now?”
 

OOC: @a goose @skrall