[Blood Pits]Mortal Combat (Rayage)

[Ignotus Everto]

20th of Fall, 512AV

It was an absolutely delightful evening. The moon was shining gaily, the crickets were chirping, the drunks were passing out, and two large, sweaty men were beating each other to death in a mining tunnel. Ignotus was outside for the latter. While he preferred to do most of the injuring himself when he could help it, he wasn't stupid enough to use Reimancy in a city where magic is synonymous with death by lynch mob, and really, it was a bit of a treat to be able to sit back, relax, and watch a wooden chair being broken over someone's head without fear of judgement. The Blood Pits were very crowded indeed that night, and Ignotus didn't need to worry about people asking awkward questions. The better part of the roaring crowd was too busy looking at the spectacle.

A huge, sunburned man, with arms the width of a human head, a perfectly bald dome and face, and bulging veins had another, similarly sized man trapped in a bone-crushing bear hug. The recipient was a ginger with a tangled mane of straw colored hair that was already matted with blood. Both combatants were caked in the stuff, both from each other and from the arena, and both were missing teeth.

An aging man with an empty socket where his left eye should have been lifted an old tin pot in a shaking hand, and banged on it with a bent spoon, shouting, "Bets! Place your bets here! Bets, place 'em!"

Ignotus laughed as the ginger pulled his own legs out from under him, sending both combatants tumbling to the floor. Three vicious headbutts later, he was scrambling on top of his bald opponent, sending hay maker after hay maker flying towards his face. If they didn't hate his kind and his work so much, the Nuit thought, he just might have stayed in Sunberth. Digging into his pockets, Ignotus dropped a silver into the old man's pot to humor him. Why not profit a bit, after all? "For the ginger." he said cheerily. This was going to be a good night.

[Rayage]

It’s been too long since the undead has been back to this gods forsaken city of Sunberth. The lawlessness, the shady atmosphere, everything about it he liked, especially the fact that he wouldn’t be judged by his deeds here. Though he was crazy enough to build a shop in the city, and yes, he was, eventually, going to sell products of alchemy here it was only to prove a point. Yes, he had something to prove to himself, and to the whole of Sunberth: that he could get away with it. Enterprising, and very much a visionary, he was beginning to move his pieces in place. Though, of course, there were other things to do, and he couldn’t forget about Sahova or his promise to that island no. Nor could he forget about the blacksmith here, the owner of A Knights Armory, ironically named as one will find no knights here in Sunberth. At least the kind told of in fairy tales. He would one day make the owner a very rich man if he would provide Ray with what he asked for. The nuit liked the humor of this place, and he guessed that is what drew him to the Blood Pits in the first place.

Rayage had seen enough of the fight to see that the red head was obviously going to lose. In fact, he would make sure of it. The two muscled men seemed plenty equal, but the bald one seemed to have more experience. Not that Ray was an expert at judging such things, and truthfully things could go either way, but Ray doesn’t make bets on something that he would lose. No, Ray is quite a child when it came to that. He didn’t like to lose, he didn’t like to be wrong, he didn’t like the feeling of failure. He had felt it long enough throughout his life and he was done with that feeling. No longer will he be this way, no, he was no longer among the ranks of mortals, he had to rise about it. He had to learn from everything, and be more careful. A mistake isn’t a mistake, but a sign of weakness, failure. No more. He had to be sure. He had to feel safe…

The more the men thought the less confident Ray was, but this was only the first time he had ever bet on a fight in this Blood Pit. He could allow himself a little lee-way right? Arms crossed he watched on, observing the pounding that the bald guy was receiving. He shook his head a little. There still was time to redeem himself. He couldn’t die yet. Yes, if he had to he would intervene himself, not that anyone would ever know, for the magic he planned to use was very subtle. Only another wizard would be able to sense it and perhaps pick it out, and in Sunberth you just don’t go announcing you use magic.

The man came around jangling the can asking for bets, and he noticed a person near him place a few silvers in betting on the red haired guy. Hm, interesting, but a foolish choice. Ray advanced towards to man with the can and put in five silver, ”For the bald fighter.” he said, taking his new spot next to the man who had just betted for the red head. ”That is an amusing choice.” he said watching the fight, but nonetheless trying to talk over the crowd, ”What made you throw your money away?’ he asked with a grin, confident in the tricks that he had planned.

[Ignotus Everto]

Ignotus smiled graciously at the man who sat down next to him, pointing with a bony white finger to the ginger pounding away at his opponent, who had thrown his forearms in front of his face to protect himself. "Position, my dear friend." he shouted over the crowd, "The odds that the bald man will be able to get out from under his opponent is... Well, slim."

The Nuit smiled apologetically at his fellow, "At any rate, a few silvers to make a fight more interesting are silvers well-spent. Even if I do lose, at least it was an exciting loss."

As if on cue, the redhead doubled over with a groan; his foe had sent a jab into his solar plexus. He headbutted the man on top of him three times as he sat up, splattering blood over his scalp and forehead, while the ginger rolled off of him and sprang up to avoid being injured further.

Ignotus flinched appreciatively at each impact, purring happily and bobbing his eyebrows something. "Ooh... I wonder if that will set crooked..." he wondered aloud before beaming at Rayage and extending a skeletal hand. "The name's Ignotus, by the way. And what can I call someone with an expert eye as yourself?"

A faint pulse of pride emanated from the wizard wizard on the word "expert." People tended to be much more open when they liked you, after all. It wasn't anything big. He simply let a dash of Djed seep out of his tongue and into his voice. Just to give the compliment a little extra kick. It was perfectly harmless, really. At around the same time Ignotus offered his hand, the bald man took a hook to the chin, sending a broken tooth whizzing through the air and landing with a soft tinkle between the two undead.

[Rayage]

Ray listened to man, ”Position, is that all you look for? Surely there are several other factors that might play into this. Some are…” he paused a moment as the crowd got even louder. Waiting for them to quiet down a bit, the nuit was not going to speak over them, ”More expected than others.” he said ”You will also find that chance has a way of surprising you.” he told him, nodding, ”Betting on something like this, even if it’s a ‘sure thing’, still carries some risk. For, you see, everything is prone to the forces of change, and that change is what can tip the scales into ones favor.”

The nuit watched as the fight went on, and then a few more words were exchanged. A hand extended. The nuit looked at it, what a pitiful social courtesy. Reluctantly he brought his hand around the one offered to him and gave it a firm shake, ”I am called Rayage.” he introduced himself simply, his voice sounding more loathing than before as he released his hand from the shake as quickly as possible. He had felt something, yes, but he couldn’t quite tell what. The tingle of Djed made his hair stand up, as the energy felt directed towards him, but he couldn’t quite make out what it was supposed to do, only the fact that there was magic present, however faint.

”I wouldn’t call myself an expert on these sorts of things.” he told him, ”It’s my first time here.” he said almost eager to disclose that knowledge, almost prideful in the fact that he could tell such things on his first try, but he did not let the pride devour him. No, he was more careful than that, but a prideful tone could be heard and felt in his voice, ”Usually such trivial places like these are often avoided if at all possible. I am not sure what drew me here in the first place. Perhaps curiosity?” he questioned himself and his motives for being here.

”Ignotus, is your name?” he said, ”Tell me, Ignotus, are you in the habit of complimenting any stranger you meet at such,” he paused and looked around, ’distasteful places?” he asked a pointed question, ”You will not find my praise so cheaply bought with a smile and a handshake.” he said, already judging the other, ”Though,” he waved a dispelling hand, ”I have never been one for such social courtesies. I bet your charm has gotten you far, or you are at least on the right road.” he said, caution overtaking him.

With that he turned his attention back to the fight. The Bald one seemed like he could use a little extra… encouragement. Perhaps he wanted to see if the other would notice the sting of Djed in the air, he wanted to test him, yes, and what better way to do it than to try to tip the scales a little. Change can be very surprising, and indeed unexpected. The nuit wizard fixed his gaze upon the Bald Ones opponent. Inside himself he summoned a wave of hesitation, shock. The nuit took that feeling to heart, cultivated it within his mind, feeling it grow more and more inside him. Soon it overtook his heart, he felt it. He felt stuck, unable to move, he felt doubtful of his actions, he felt the anxiety of battle, and the power of hesitation. He held it in, focusing more and more on that feeling before he felt that he had fully internalized it. Then with the force of his djed, he sent it out upon the world. That feeling of hesitation, and directed its full force, or at least all he could muster, at the opposing fighter. Willing it, the feeling leaked from him, floating from his eyes, being driven by his will it shot towards its target. The small emotion, he hoped, would blossom into a full blown feeling of doubt.

[Ignotus Everto]

"Fair enough," Ignotus replied after the crowd had calmed down again, "It seems fate does have a way of surprising us..."
While the handshake was brief, it gave Ignotus plenty of time to notice the unnatural coldness of this Rayage's hand. Unnatural, that is, if he wasn't what Ignotus himself was. When his fellow undead insisted he had never been to a fight before, the Hypnotist grinned and wagged a finger at him, "You've excellent intuition, then!"

No Djed was necessary this time. That might just make him suspicious. He'd let the good first impression do its work. A good decision, apparently, as he seemed to be a bit on the paranoid side. "Only the worthy ones." the wizard said genially in response to Rayage's question.

Turning his attention back to the brawl in accordance with his kinsman, Ignotus saw the strangest thing happen. For the briefest of moments, the ginger had caught Rayage's eye, and in that same tick, a change had come over him. It was an extremely short one- Neither Nuit was powerful enough to force an emotion on another- but it was noticeable. For a breath, the ginger seemed to lose the will to fight. Long enough to receive an uppercut for a moment. Ignotus frowned. Something fishy was going on. Something that he wouldn't put past himself to do.

"Very well, if that's the game you want to play..."

The wizard shut his eyes for a few ticks, letting his mind's eye fill with white. Nothing but a single, border-less, texture-less expanse. Once it had fully engulfed his imagination, he let his eyes open, the image vanishing as he forced the Djed containing it behind his optic nerves. A half-chime passed before the bald fighter chanced to look up at Ignotus. When he did, he blinked thrice and shook his head as if bothered by flies. His vision had momentarily gone blank. A moment necessary for the redheaded man to hurl himself feet-first into his foe's back, sending the fight back to the ground again.

"You want to fight with Hypnotism? I'll show you Hypnotism."

"Are you a Nuit too, Rayage?" Ignotus asked as casually as he could around the same time he performed his little counter. Best to keep his attention on something other than the fight.

[Rayage]

”Fate?” he asked laughing, ”No, you mistake it for Change.” he said holding one deity higher than another, ”Without change dear old fate wouldn’t be allowed to act. It is also by the power of change that Fate will die.” he laughed, ”Don’t you see that its change which drives everything?” he asked, ”Fate only be a cleverly drawn map. It’s funny, people can get lost even with maps.” he ended his little rant on the powers of fate and change alluding to something much darker. This was not the time or the place to discuss such philosophical subjects. Things were different in Rays eyes. Yes, change was much more powerful than Fate, a least in Rays book.

The Alchemist just nodded at the comment of him having excellent intuition. Tell him something that he did not know and maybe you will get more of a response out of the nuit. He knew was good, but just how good, well, that would be left for the history books to decide. He would change this world, and become more powerful and renowned than the Rupert Pycon. That was one of his goals after all. Follow in Rayannes footsteps. He would go farther though, much farther. Alchemy is used to advance not only physical reality, not only the mind, but also the advancement of the soul. He would use his art to do just that, advance his soul…

Keeping close watch on the fight, the nuit grinned a little, an unconscious reaction to the pleasure he felt when his little plan seemed to have worked. The redhead took that uppercut, and looked a little confused about it and why he had felt, even for a second, the emotional setting that the nuit tried to put onto him. Of course, now the spell was broken, the pain and situation had, well, knocked him back into reality. A shame indeed, but he didn’t expect his magic to last long or do much of anything, for he was not that good at the art of hypnosis yet. A little practice on un-expecting fighters, brawling for their lives, with five silver miza on the line… well that made things worth it, and added a little fun to it all. Not that magic was supposed to be fun, but who says you can’t enjoy it when you throw out your very soul? Makes it worth it.

The nuit continued to watch the fight as if very interested with the outcome, but he did not seem as into it as the rest of the crowd. The crowd was getting riled up and shouting and cursing and egging the fighters to do more and then… they were on the ground again. Something strange was going on, and as Ray looked around he could see a couple of confused looks in the crowd as well. So he wasn’t the only one thinking something suspicious was up. Perfect. He thought as he watched the fighters roll.

Though the nuits attention was turned back to Ignotus when he asked a rather particular question, ”Nuit?” he asked as if he never heard the word before, ”I heard that they have an astoundingly sick sense of humor.” he said nodding as if they were just talking about heresay. He would never, especially in a public place like this, admit that he was a nuit. Did this other guy have a death wish? Oh gods what has he ran into, a suicidal nuit? He could only imagine that the people of Sunberth knew of Sahova and knew that the particular race of undead resided there… nuits being so closely connected to Sahova, a place standing for everything Sunberth was not, he could only imagine the image that Sunberthans had of the nuit race in general. Only fools would admit to being nuits, especially in magic hating communities such as these. ”If you care to die or go out in a blaze of glory,” Ray started, looking at him unamused, ”then I would appreciate it if you did so elsewhere, or at least leave me out of it.” he suggested. ”Life is a good thing, and there still is plenty to live for.” he said.

[Ignotus Everto]

"True enough..." Ignotus said thoughtfully. "Change has quite a great deal of power in his own right."

Evidently, some people were growing suspicious. This could be troublesome in the future. Still, no one was asking any strange questions yet. Yet.
In reponse to Rayage's worry, Ignotus said in a rather cavalier fashion, "Relax, we can barely hear ourselves think here. Not even the people on either side of us know what we're saying."

Of course, the longer he was focusing on Ignotus, the longer he wasn't focusing on the fight. "So what of it? I know what you are. It was obvious from the moment we shook hands." Again, a slit in his soul, a gentle bleeding of emotion. Rapt attention, this time. He was observant. Of course, Ignotus had missed quite a few things; he didn't know who Rayage was, and couldn't tell his identity from his face, but Rayage didn't need to think about that, now did he?

Meanwhile, Ignotus, who was still looking at the fight, didn't waste his opportunity. The bald fighter was scrambling away, and the next time he caught Iggy's eye, the Nuit was ready. It wasn't doubt that he sent to the fighter, but bravado. Confidence. Perhaps a little too much confidence. As the emotion bled from a slit in the Nuit's aura into the fighter, and he charged his foe... Definitely too much confidence. The ginger had caught him with another uppercut.

"You're right though, Rayage. Life is a good thing. Don't you feel alive right now? The smell of blood and sweat, the cheering crowd, and another man's life in your hands?"

[Rayage]

”Relax?” he asked in response to what he just said, ”Only fools relax. Only dead men let their guard down, and Im not talking about the nuit.” he told him, ”You are foolish to think that talk of such things will be let go of as if it were just idle chatter. If the crowd got even a whiff of what you just admitted you’d be dead. I am not a man of chance Ignotus. The senseless risk of a gambler holds no interest to me.” he went on, ”That also includes senseless fools. They are no better than tools, meant to be used for their stupidity.”

He was not about to risk his life talking about such things as ‘nuit’ within Sunberth. Turning his attention back to the fight he saw that his magic worked, and it had worked if only a bit too well. The confidence that the fighter had gained had lead him astray, leaving himself open to attack. He was quickly reprimanded for his poor decision and Rayage silently cursing himself for his own folly. Confidence was a good thing to have, but overconfidence, like the kind the fighter had developed, was something to be wary of least you be knocked off your high horse and sent sprawling to the ground. The wizard visibly flinched at the uppercut.

”It takes a lot more than two men fighting to get me excited.” he told Ignotus, ”Sweat and blood does nothing for me. I am not a simple minded murderer. In fact, I don’t like physical confrontation at all. What drove me to this place was but idol curiosity.” he smiled, and he was bored.

Reaching into his cloak he produced a dagger and flashed it at the man, not brandishing at him, merely showing it to him. ”Lets make this a little more interesting, shall we?” he asked and without further to say he threw the knife over the crowd, a rather dangerous move, but in such a crowd it would be hard to tell who exactly threw it. Ray could easily point to his companion if things got too serious and they happened to pinpoint where it had come from. Swirling in the air, the knife landed, burying its blade into the dirt at the edge of the ring. Which fighter would notice it first? This would be more interesting indeed.

[Ignotus Everto]

Ignotus listened calmly as Rayage chewed him out, aware that every tick he was spending disparaging him was another blow the bald man was receiving. The grin that came across his face, then, when Rayage pulled out the dagger and hurled it into the pit was a bit less pleasant than it might have been otherwise. The crowd roared in delight when the weapon was thrown, the promise of blood practically whipping the boors into a frenzy. "You're absolutely right, Rayage." Ignotus finally said, dipping his head graciously. "Which is why," the prone man got kicked in the groin, "I had," the ginger snatched up the dagger, "to get your attention." the ginger stabbed the bald man in the neck.

The one-eyed elder popped his head between the two undead as a fresh burst of manic glee came from the horde of spectators. "Which one o' you done bet on the ginger?" he inquired. Ignotus raised his hand with a soft smirk on his face, and ten silvers tinkled onto his palm. "One 'ell of a fight, eh?" the senior said with a grin before stalking off again.

"I too, am not a man of chance, though I suppose I play a bit looser with probability with most. I see a sixty percent chance and take it. The odds are in my favor, after all, and the odds are rarely wrong." the Hypnotist said as he pocketed his winnings, "Another important thing that you regrettably forgot, Rayage, is to always know what your goals are. You lost sight of yours for the night, and it cost you the match."

Standing up, he shrugged and added thoughtfully, "Of course, you may have saved your life, and I might have endangered mine by keeping your focus away from the fight in such a way, but the results speak for themselves, no? Have a good night, Rayage. Perhaps next time we may ease each others' boredom for longer next time."
And with that, the younger Nuit turned to leave the slowly emptying stadium, while the bald fighter lay there in a spreading pool of his own blood.

[Rayage]

TWhen Ray threw the weapon he watched its path and saw it land. Smiling, having done good, or so he thought he only nodded when Ignotus said he was right. Of course he was right. When was he wrong? Though that inner confidence was diminished as he saw the redhead scramble for the blade. The nuit silently cursed himself he should have thrown it harder, maybe then it would have stuck in him and won the bald guy the fight. He thought of that outcome and was amused by it. Though his amusement turned when the bald guy lost… badly. The knife cut through him all too easily, stabbing him in the neck. The guy was dead in chimes, and no longer could put up much of a fight. Shaking his head, he frowned. It was his fault that the guy died. If he wouldn’t have given the man the small boost of confidence perhaps things would be different? Though there was no point in dwelling on the past. He lost.

Rayage was visibly frustrated when Ignotus told him what he ‘forgot’. Course his words might have some truth to them, but the nuit wasn’t readily accepting of such criticism. Usually it was him giving the critique. Having this swapped on him made him feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. It was unacceptable for him to feel that way. It made him agitated… Seeing the man win the bet. Why did it matter so? Why did he feel so defeated? It was just a bet, just a bet, just a bet. He kept telling himself that, and that it didn’t matter beyond that. It was just a bet. Though no matter how many times he would tell himself that he couldn’t wrap his mind around what had happened. It wasn’t just a bet and he knew it. It was something more. Something more was on the line here and that is why he felt so defeated. He wasn’t a graceful loser.

Then the man walked away, just like that. That move brought some spite to him. Who did he think he was to talk to him like that? Who did he think he was talking to? He was Rayage, gods be damned, and he would have the proper respect that his name commanded. Though he did not give chase. Instead, he walked up to the body and pulled the dagger out of the dead man. It was his, he could claim it. He gave a daring look to anyone who would try to stop him. Cleaning it on his cloak he put it back to where he had retrieved it.

After that he calmly walked out of there. The Blood Pits were indeed interesting. It was not the fights that made the nuit curious, but the people who attended there. The fights were just an added bonus. He smiled, next time… yes, next time there will be a price to pay. He weaved through the crowd not wanting to stay for another fight. He had to get back to his house.