(The Blood Pits) Is that a man ? or somebody's lunch ?(Solo)

[Ximal]

14th spring 512AV early morning

Hot, humid, and down right sticky. The day ad almost just begun and Xi was wishing the sweltering sun would let up for a few chimes, just to allow him to cool down, beneath his large cloak which he needed to keep his identity hidden, he was sweating profusely, although having said that his arms were not in pain for the fisrt time in a while. Straightening his posture, he walked taller than he had been for the last couple days his back snapping and cracking to thank him for resetting it back to normal. As he rose a cool breeze darted across infront of his face and cooled him immediately. That's why i should probably stand up straight even though I'm being hunted like a rabid dog. Still the breeze was refreshing and struck him, at this point nobody would recognize him his beard reached his chest and his hair was well past his shoulders. Flicking down his hood for a few moments as he strode towards his goal. The blood pits. the core of cruelty in this city, the central hub of pain, the temple of blood. Still Xi didn't care that he was working here. A job was a job regardless of where it sprung forth from.

As he drew closer to the pits it didn't really look like pits to him. more like tunnels, still who was he to question their name as he entered. Listening to the sound coming from the tunnel before him. He walked through a cramped tunnel, dimly lit by a few torch's as he emerged into an open pit sunlight blaring down into it, he was greeted by the sigth of two men fighting, well one man winning as he'd just viewed the other have his arm completely taken off at the shoulder. Oddly Xi had seen worse, seeing as how he escaped he'd seen a persons brain completely mashed to pieces along a wall, the sight of a little blood and a mans arm removed, held little fear for him.

De-scaling the steps he looked for the boss of the pits, the pit boss, well actually his boss. Scanning his eyes around he looked for the man who was his would be boss, but reachign the base fo the pit just out side of the actual arena he, swung his head in several directions looking for him. Yeah sure, go to the blood pits, find your new boss. Dont piss him off. Would help if i could find the bastard first. Standing in thought, said though was interrupted by the deafening scream the loosing man had erupted. Poor fool who wagers their life for money, not everything in this world is about money. But then who was he to talk, he was here ready to clean out that poor sods lifeless corpse for a few measly coins, peh. Still not knowing who to look for as the pit boss, he waited around the entrance to the arena hoping to catch him at he entered to clean out the new hulk of a corpse left in there.

[Archelon]

Ximal would turn right, and then turn left at the entrance to the pits as the crowds watched the fight, some placing bets, others tossing drinks and shattered mugs as they saw their prospects losing. It was stifling, heated being in this old entrance to the mine which had been converted to an arena of blood. As Ximal turned to keep himself from jostling someone he ran headfirst into a rather hard object that felt like rock. An object that as he came back could see wasn't just some part of the wall, but rather the giant biceps of a man staring down at him. A rather imposing individual, scarred from many fights, a former farmer and Dastanna's personal killer and somewhat ruler of the Pits. The Pit Bull. Spitting casually to one side the man looked Ximal up and down, "If I'm not mistaken, Tua said someone like you was coming along. Says you want to work for me picking up the place and tossing the bodies in the bay. Well, I'm not one for long winded explanations but you help keep this place neat, and spread the blood a little on the sands with a rake after the corpses shyke's shoveled up and you have yourself a job. I'll even let you use some of the open areas to train yourself during the down times and my side parlor has a few weights to. But I'll have no employee of Dastanna's going into the ring as a fighter without her permission? Hear that! Pay's two gold a day. Looks like you can get started as soon as this match is over, isn't that lucky for you?" With that word the man would hold out his large hand for a shake to seal the deal. oocIf Ximal accepts, I'll set up the SS thread and pm you the link and you can continue this solo

[Ximal]

Stumbling back from his, light bump with what appered to be a statue, he said nothing until it moved. what the ne name of...it lives ?! As the tower of flesh moved before him, he introduced himself as the erson tua sent him to meet. But it wasn't all bad the large obelisk of a man sounded friendly enough which gave Xi reason to be. A job, a training area and some free time between the fights. sounded like h got himself the perfect job, little work easy pay, a straight forwards no nonsense boss. Who even though he looked like a de-furred bear and stood only a head taller than Xi himself, also the first person in near enough a week who hadn't tried to lop off his head at the first sight of him. only asking on question as he held out his hand, to accept the offer. "I know i start in a few chimes, and you seem like nice enough guy, so where do i put my stuff i i can start work unhindered. Oh and do i call you boss or something else?" Looking back to the man a sly smile on his face as he clasped the mans hand and shook it firmly. Knowing that at least for a little while he had some sort of stable living arrangement. an honest days work for an honest man, who wouldnt like that kind of job ?

oocJust point me in the right direction and i'm away also cheers

[Ximal]

Shaking hands over Xi looked up at his prospective new boss, who was now looking at hm with less contempt. Then the bull spoke."Call me bull, you can go and put your things in the side room then get back you've got a body to get rid of. Whilst i'm gonna go speak to my boss." WIth that Bull lead Xi to the side room, a spacious area but not huge large enough to be called an office, a small fixture on the wll with some hooks. A set of weight lifting equipment in the corner, a torch on the back wall annd the left wall behind a desk and chair. it was clear that this was bull's office and his area. Then bull spoke again. Right hang your things up and then get to work, when your done your free to do as you wish, just don't ware yourself out. I'd hate to have to fire you over having, over-exerted yourself, and some of the bodies in the pits, arent exactly small, keep that in mind when your ass starts doing something in your spare time. Right now get to work.

Leaving Xi alone in the side room, He removed his cloak and hung up his body pack on the peg, but not before stuffing the steel greaves he wore and the edged gauntlets into it to keep them safe. now he felt about ten pounds lighter. Now he was ready for his job, heading to the pit where the victor had left he hauled the one armed body up, Poor sod, not the strength to survive but not weak enough to have the sense to stay away. Xi had no remorse about his job it was honest, as he lumbered the large body out he tosses it into a corner then went to retrive the arm with a rake. Scraping over the sand with the rake to re levell it out the blood still happily brazen and fresh he picked up the arm, crimson sand rolling across beneath it, and soem sticking to the still slightly damp join where it had been removed. Oddly though on his finger he saw a simple ring A single silver band band with the imprint of a tiger, Oddly it held a similar shape to the one he wore but his was gold, with a creature he's never even believed could exist. still as he brought the arm over he slid the ring off without notice as he tucked the arm onto the corpse, Sliding the ring onto his own hand it fit his middle finger as if it was made for it, and it sat neatly along side the golden one he already wore. Smiling he lifted the body along with severd arm still caked in blood and sand. It was then that bull reappeared. "Your look a scrawny lad but your not that much weaker than me by appearances. i doubt you could fight even a quarter as well, but you've got the strength to deal with it. Anyway down the tunnel to the rear is the 'burning room' put the body in there it's already got another 6 occupants already today. At least the poor blighter will have some company. Oh and don't worry about what happens there your only job is to, well get the beggars from the pit to that room, saves me time."

A long tunnel it was had to be at least 300ft from the arena to the room, though once in there the smell of blood anddeath weas almost over powering. Xi wanted to vomit and almost did, he could feel it hammering at the back of his throat, as he walked in his nose filled with the stench, his eyes watered and his stomach churned. placing the corpse on the floor next to the others, one disembowelled, one missing his head, the third one which really didn't look like any thing was wrong until the corpse slipped and it became clear it was cut in half. Xi's head began to swim, placing the corpse down, He turned and went to leave swiftly, slamming the door shut behind him. Racing to get away from that awful odour, standing out in the fresh air now drinking it like soup. The smell of clean air was a blessing, bull then appeared behind him again. "don worry you'll get used to the smell, it's horrific at first but it sort of dies down once you get used too it. Still I'm surprised you didn't puke. right the next match starts ina round ten to fifteen chimes until then your on break. Feel free to go train or use the weights hell even go talk to the poeple getting ready to fight i dont really care. or if your brave enough. Perhaps i might have a small bit of training with you. But not today i don't feel like fighting today. Oh i didnt atch your name." Xi still heaving and huffing ,looked up at bull and said plainly. "Ximal, Xi if you want." Bull looked at Xi and said plainly in his gruff tone. "I think your gonna do well here Xi. Just obey the rules." Smiling Bull wandered off to go and talk to someone whilst Xi was left pantin on his knees. The first day is murder, well it'll get easier as time passes.

[Ximal]

Break time, seemed like he'd be getting a lot of this a simple job demands a simple work load, Spotting an open zone with some practice gear Xi took it upon himself to go and get some practice in. if he was going to work in a fighting arena no point letting the, equipment go to wase but he had to keep his anger under control lest he break something and have it docked from his pay. Standing in-front of the training dummy, Striking with his left hand, at the collarbone he careened his right hand into the side of it's head, combining that into a sharp elbow to the side of the dummy's chest, he took his right elbow and grove it into the right temple of the dummy's head, before driving his knee into it's sternum. If that was a human he'd of had a broken jaw, three cracked ribs, two broken ribs, a crushed skull and a shattered sternum. A neat combo, Xi took a step back and then sprung forwards with speed to beneath the dummy's chin and launched off his forwards foot with his right arm arced, as he sprung up he snapped his arm to and connected with the chin of the dummy, if that had been human he'd be lifted off his feet by at least a foot. Interlacing his fingers around the back of the dummy's head he leapt up and drove his knee into it's forehead as hard as he could, then repeatedly hammered the dummy's face. With his knee fierce it was, damaging? Yes. Painful? Yes. Lethal? Most probably. Fast? Yes. Easy to read ? more so than a punch. Xi pushed off of the dummy and slid back a fair distance and rose his arms in-front of him hitting the dummy's face with three quick punches and then belting it with a straight right punch.

Out of breath now from the speed of the assault but feeling good about himself he, sat on the ground for a few moments as he listened to the crowd roar, the scream of the crowd ment that a new match was about to take place. "Not bad, but not fighter standards." A voice behind him called out. Shit, shit,shit, someone saw me training....wait this is the training area for before the fights. without turning around he replied gruffly. "I'm not a fighter i work here, I'm a labourer working under bull. I'm not allowed to fight. Else he'll have my head." Turning around and catchign sight of the one who spoke, female myrian, late twenties, not exactly what one would call a full bodied woman but everything was there, and almost on display... "Oh your the guy whose working here, well good luck, oh and try not to get too much blood on you when you pull my opponents corpse out of the arena."

Wait this woman was fighting in there ? So young but, still from the way she stood and that spear on her back, he could tell she wasn't one who'd baulk at the sight of blood and want above killing anyone. Odds are she'd be one of the fighteres who jhe'd never hear from again after this match, probly someone who'd wronged her or said she couldn't fight. "What's wrong, cat got your tongue ? with that fighting you probably wouldn't last ten chimes out in the arena, most'd probly just kill you." Xi wasnt one to be mocked he hated it, but he could se she had skill so he stepped back and let her pass. saying to her in myrian. "I am not as weak as you would think." An icy tone crept over him as he allowed her through, then he heard bull call him. Great something to take his mind off, elping move heavy boxes and bodys was a sure fire way to take his mind off of his current problems outside. Before he could leave though she spoke to him again. "I'm sure your stronger than you look, and if i win, perhaps you could show me exactly how strong you are later on ?" With a sly smirk she slipped out and headed to the arena as Xi headed over to the delivery area, to help bull with some more boxes. This was turning out to be a job he could sink his teeth into, after all he met some colourful characters.

[Ximal]

Hanging around the blood pits all day, had left the smell of blood and iron strong in his nose, not that it was bad. Taking off his shirt, and heading into the side room he cracked his back turniong to the sides. The brand on his chest still visible, and still stung of regret and anger everytime he glanced at it, Looking a the equipment in the corner Xi picked up a barbell, and began lifting it repetitively in the same single pattern , Floor to waist, floor to waist with his biceps facing out using that muscle to it's best motion, both arms at the same time, going slowly with each lifting motion, with all the lifting he'd done today this would seem trivial, so he kept going slower and slower with the time it took to lift it occasionally pausing in placed to allow his muscles to strain. Single motions weren't his deal but he needed to look the part of a tough guy before he could be considered one. He knew his muscles held power, but he wanted to make sure that he could deliver that extra strength on target, If his muscles were weak his punches lacked power, and if he was going to stop slavery, he needed strength in some regard, His gauntlets and greaves offered some extra weight and protection in his attacks but he knew he had to get stronger. Dropping the two smaller barbels he went for one of the larger weights, and tried to lift it. Straining every muscle he lifted it half an inch off of the ground. Dropping the demoic weight back onto the ground with a loud thud. Damn, i need to get stronger and this job is helping me do that, But if i cant get the movements of the bodies and the deliveries done fast, theres no point in, trying to get any training done in my breaks. Grabbing his shirt and sliding it back over his head he looked around hoping nobody had seen his mark on his chest. Breathing a sigh of relief, the door swung open, and Bull marched in. "Right, c'mon we got another shipment. More alcohol. three dozen barrels, it'd take me half a bell to do it by my self so with the two of us bout twenty chimes ?"

Walking With bull out to the docking bay, around midday this is when things got really heated in both the day and the fights, the current fight, a tall muscular drykas against a slim and small sevefra. An odd match but still thoroughly enjoyable, Drykas with pair of spears, the sevefra with a cutlass and dagger. Range and power against speed. Interesting. This day alone there had been fourteen fights thus far and it was only just reaching midday. Of those fourteen matches there had been fourteen bodies. On top of all the deliveries. oddly though out of the fourteen only three were women. Still it was all Xi's musing. "hey Bull, how many fights have you been in ? Bull just flicked a glance to Xi and chuckled. "Too many to remember, And after i paid my way out of my issues, i took up running this place, not a bad job you meet all kinds whilst your here. As i gather you've seen." Nodding to the current arena match.

The loading docs were a large place much larger than anything else in the blood pits apart from the arena and the viewing zones. Still the docks currently held, thirty barrels of alcohol, Bull lifted two one under each arm and Xi took one with both arms, Bull's strength never ceased to amaze Xi, these barrels haad to be around fifty to sixty lbs each. Liftng the barrel and walking along side bull at a steady pace, Xi was starting to see why bull needed the help, a lot of time off sue for him but bull had a lot of work to do around the pits, so he rarely got any time for himself, which was where Xi came in he was the relief, to give bull a small break to do what he wanted. Twenty chimes passed and between them they'd moved all thirty barrrels of ale to the store rooms. Xi was out of breath but felt better for it and bull started laughing. "Your not a weakling but your not quite as strong as the bull, but in time perhaps you will be." Bull was the Salt of the earth type, never getting mad without reason and happy to speak plainly, and for that Xi respected him, some might say he even looked up to him. After all Xi never had a father so perhaps bull was filling that slot in his life.

[Ximal]

A solid day of doing nothing but training and moving boxes, but on the plus side it was a good day, Xi once again found himself in the side office, but this time instead of weight lifting he strapped some fairly heavy weights to his hands and some even heavier weights to his legs, he was going to get some serious double training done. Punching and kicking he was training, this he found would be the best qway to build up, speed technique and bulk, taking time to dart out his hands with some much slower than average jabs, and to swing his legs high into the air, about even with his chest, kicking his way forwards landing on his right leg and then driving his left fist forwards. Hard. Already puffing by the end he knew this was the way to go. Punching out with some seriously heavy jabs each hand holding twenty lbs of weight, and each leg thirty, he was determined to get to the same standing as Bull. That was his new goal, or at least his most attainable current goal, Punching out a straight forwards combo again he then changed to knees and elbows, his fighting style unorthodox, but severely effective. Jogging around the small office with all the weight strapped to him quickened his pulse and sent his heart racing he still hadn't needed to use his power. so now he thought he'd use it with one punch still lightly holding the weight. Focusing his need for power onto his arm he snapped his arm out so fast with the weight in it he didnt think it was possible till the pain shot though his shoulder and he realized it had happened and he'd nearly dislocated his shoulder. Pain was all he could feel but that was good at least it meant he'd activated it without having to be full blown rage mode. Son of a petching whore, that stings. Gods damn it. Ow ow ow ow ow. Still pushing through the pain he tried it again with less focus, and the other arm. Snapping his hand out with the speed but not the force, to try to wrench it from it's socket. now he tried kicking, easier when he knew what would happen. Shooting his energy ther he rocketed the kick round and it spun him in position the weight carrying him further than he intended. Still progress was progress. Running through a few more jabs he smiled. progress had been made and he could feel himself toughening up. now all he needed was to try to get some more work done it was coming up to the end of the day for him. Stripping off the weights and replacing them in their respective positions he went to find bull.

Leaving the office the final match of the day had started, The myrian girl from earlier, was fighting against a huge brute of a man, on par in size with Bull himself. But as a down side his size gave him one huge restriction. He was slow. His swings were large and wide. the myrian girl barely had to try to doge to get out of the way, because of her small scale in comparison she moved like lightning next to him and for every one strike he made, she landed 5 small cuts. Impressive, light armour and a long weapon with her added speed and she was quite lethal. still Xi had work and he would do it or run the risk of getting fired. Jogging off to the loading docks he went to find bull.


"Xi gimmi a hand i need you to move all the crates that just arrived into the store house, take as long as you need, cos when there done being moved you can clock out. This is the last job of the day for you." Xi nodded and started lifting the boxes two at a time for the smaller ones, easy enough, they were light even though they were made of wood. The heavier boxes were the middle sized ones, gods only know what was in them. Twenty chimes and a bell later Xi moved onto the large boxes of which there were three, but they were ungodly heavy. One box alone took him twenty chimes and a lot of breaks to move it from the shipping bay eighty feet out of the two hundred it needed to go to reach the store room. taking almost two bells to get the three boxes from the shipping bay to the store room. Xi felt like pukeing by the end of it. his stomach churned he was out fo breath hell his arms ached and his left cut re opened a little and began bleeding again, to which he swore. Loudly. Heaving in breaths as he went back to the side room only to find bull already there. "Nice job on moving those boxes alone i was certain you'd call for help once you found out how heavy they were, anyway nice job today. I have high hopes for you Xi." Xi groaned as he helped his pack and cloak back on to himself. "You gave me job Bull, I alwyas do what i'm asked by myself." Bull smiled and said plainly as always. "See you later Xi, oh and nice work again. I look forwards to having your help around here." With a nod and a smile Xi left, heading back to find a good place to hide out for the night, after all he didnt wan to disappoint Bull by not turning up for work becaus ehe was dead.

oocNext job thread i'll crank out on the 3rd of april.

[Archelon]

Thread Award "..." And the Results!!!!: Ximal : SkillName 1-5 How/why? Bodybuilding 4 Unarmed Combat 2 Running 2 Rhetoric 1 Persuasion 1 Lores: The Pit Bull(partial) Working at the Pits. Would you like some extra turtle sauce ? : Interesting thread, you look like you're starting off on the right foot.