[Blood Pits] Blood for Money (Closed)

by **Zandelia** on April 22nd, 2012, 6:08 pm

Spring 5th, Av 512 – Tall Johnny’s Casino

Zandelia was still puzzling to herself about the previous day’s events, their entwining embrace filtering into her mind as it tried to decipher the possible causes and effects, the motives and desires of those involved. When she had arrived before Tua she had known she would need to convince the old spider of her worth as a word runner once more, before even taking her first job for him. However, his blaze reaction to the return of one of his best employees in recent times had caught her completely off-guard. She had expected words, insults and another running test perhaps. She had never thought she would be asked to play the veritable assassin for a man someone wanted killed. She was approaching Tall Johnny’s Casino on the off-chance she could acquire some information regarding those involved, under the guise of betting upon herself. As she entered the building, crossing the threshold for the first time in a long while, she could not imagine a place with more snakes and devious rats in the whole of Sunberth.

If no one here knows why this Two-Tooth Earl is standing under the knife then no one will, short of forcing the information out of one of the syndicates – a prospect not appealing to me in the least she thought to herself as she wove between the throng and pushed her way towards the bar.

It was not that she wished no involvement with the syndicates, but more that she only wished to have positive dealings with them. Her position was tenuous at present and she could ill afford another powerful enemy to be ranged against her. No, she wished to finish this ‘contract’ without their involvement, in so far as that was possible. After all, the two hundred golden miza reward was indicative of someone with money. Perhaps she would be noticed, perhaps not, however the money was something she could deal with. Betting against herself would bring her some small coin also on the side, an amount that would be wholly her own.

“Where’s the book keeper barman?” she almost had to yell across the rabbles noise her voice reaching his ears and causing him to come across t her position in order to hear her better.

“The bookie? You’re lookin’ at him woman! Why? You got a nice muscled man you want to bet on? Win enough coin to woo him perhaps?” his gap-toothed smile took in her body as she resisted the urge to roll her eyes and bathe immediately, his grubby gaze filling her skin with crawling insects.

“Not quite! I plan on betting on me actually. Know anything of that Two-Tooth earl fight?” she asked him with a slight smile, secretive in nature as if she knew a secret.

“You! You’re this idiot people been talking about?” he exclaimed, eyes taking her in a new light now, “you’re mad woman! Man hasn’t lost in the crowd’s memory. He’s a hero to half of ‘em, made riches beyond measure for most! You wanna fight ‘im? Why?” he asked her suspiciously.

“Let’s just say I was told to and leave it at that hmm? How much are the odds?” she asked simply, smile still in place as her gaze pinned him to the spot now, trying to read his thoughts as best she could via body language.

“Two to one, and them’s good odds considering the suicide angle. How much you placing then? Is all the same to me seeing as you won’t return to collect means more gold for me” he asked after a series of grunts and pulling at his beard.

“50 gold rimmed miza’s, right here. Thanks for the vote of confidence” she told him, placing her purse upon the wood of the bar with a gentle clinking sound. The man snatched t and counted them out fully, writing it down upon a small ledger after he was finished.

“Well, stone me dead you mean it! Got more balls than most round here lass. No need for a name, and I suspect you wouldn’t give the right one anyway! Done and done!” he finished in business-like fashion, “but between you and me, many want his streak to end. Bad for business when the houses lose a lotta money you see? A parting offer of luck, he was injured in his last match more than most know. Doctor told me when he was drunk as an anchor. Left shoulder will buckle with enough work” he told her in more hushed tones before immediately turning and serving another customer, leaving her betting slip upon the bar before her.

So this is perhaps a collaborative effort? Makes allies perhaps… she mused as she made her way out of the casino now and took the walk slowly towards the Blood Pit’s themselves.

by **Zandelia** on April 22nd, 2012, 6:44 pm

The Blood Pits – In the Cage

As Zandelia stood within the stained cage now, congealed and ancient blood she was sure would give her diseases beyond ending, she was beginning to doubt whether Tua wanted her to live overly much. She had known the man would be formidable at least, his red-splattered streak of kills probably longer than the organ within his trousers, but upon seeing him step into the dying ground after her she could not fault the crowds for cheering his name and jeering her own – she had been forced to give the alias of Dinala under the circumstances, she was no idiot and wished no reprisals. Still, her victory would prove useful to her and so she had used one of her intelligencer names in case there were parties interested in cultivating her standing after the day was out.

No, the bastard spider punishes me whilst he laughs back in his petching establishment! He knows either way he wins. He gets me killed, a burr he no longer needs to worry about, or he winds and gets some gold and satisfies whatever clients he serves. Bastard! she got her raging out of her mind before any fighting commenced, a smart decision in her book seeing as she would need all the concentration she could get.

“You know him! You love him don’t you?!” the announcer roared to the crowd, achieving even higher frenzy than existed before from the crowd as betting slips were wave high in the air and ale sloshed over dozens of shoving patrons, “Two-Toothed Earl!” it was shout3ed, the noise from the crowd drowning it out almost immediately.

She took a few moments to close her eyes as the jeers ripped across her ears, focusing her mind and the energies within her body until she could direct them up and into her single green eye. Her gaze was filled with color now, her focus gripping itself to the opponent before it could wander and spell her doom. It lasted a fraction of seconds before she let it all go, her reading of his aura telling her all that she needed to know. His injury was indeed existent within his left shoulder from the flashes of pain she could see, however she knew it would not be as severe as she hoped it to be. She pulled her tonfa from her hips and let them rest easily in her palms as her own ‘name’ was shouted out to the crowd.

“Dinala!” it came, accompanied by a veritable storm of booing and guffaws, laughter and scoffs. She merely smiled at them and nodded, which only served to rile them up further as a small semblance of satisfaction flourished within her.

It was after a few moments of that experience, her spirit being battered by the seconds, that the fight was issues as begun. She began to twirl her tonfa a few times in front of her body, finding the rhythm required to wield them both at the same time, as they circled each other a few times. Their footwork was sound and she could not find fault with Earl’s own placements, he was a man clearly experienced to fighting in the confined quarters of the cage – an expected strength. It was as much a psychological war as it was physical, he was giving her time to take in his impressive size and muscled appearance, his soft leather armor for ease of movement whilst still offering protection. On that score she was at an advantage, her own studded leathers hidden by her Shadowsilk Robes, her cold iron gauntlets with their spikes clearly visible and perhaps giving pause for thought.

“Getting a good view Dinala?” he asked her mockingly, his sarcastic tones dripping with contempt.

“Merely wondering what size the coffin would need to be, presuming you only need one after this” she responded softly, her voice only carrying to Earl under the noise of the spectators.

He snarled and launched forwards with his spear, a shorter version than usual and presumably adapted to the closer quarters. The tip thrust forwards towards her throat in a probing attack as she sidestepped and brought her left tonfa around in an outwardly spinning parry that batted his attack away before stepping forwards to jab out at him with a reversed attack, the length of her tonfa sticking outwards from her hand, extending her range. He jumped backwards and brought his spear around into a guarded position once more. She stepped back fluidly also, circling him once again as they both smiled at each other, taking each other in anew now.

The crowds shouted and screamed around them as they continued to circle a few more times before Earl attacked once more, this time swinging the butt of his spear out towards her side only to be blocked by her left tonfa, aligned down her forearm this time. He brought the other end around as she put up her right tonfa to block that also before kicking out at him with her back foot, bringing it forwards as Earl’s head connected with her won in a head butt. They both reeled backwards as Zandelia shook the stars from her vision and Earl grunted with pain as he tried to get his breath back.

They circled once more as recovered seeped in and lent them strength once more.

by **Zandelia** on April 22nd, 2012, 7:04 pm

They were past the testing stage now, both aware that the other was dangerous enough to give them worry in their fight for survival. Only one would exit the cages after all and both wished it to be themselves. The crowd had also now been given a taste of Zandelia’s own mettle alongside Earl’s and some shouts were ringing out into the bloody arena for Dinala now, tentative in their support upon seeing her meet Earl’s attacks with just as much controlled brutality as they had seen from him. She could see his eyes dart across her now, assessing her for weaknesses as he tried to ignore the turning of that portion of the crowd. She wondered at which point he would be able to broken about that, caused to make a mistake in an attempt to win them back again.

Might even win from such a ploy too she thought as she tried to assess his weakness too. He had good range with his weapon but would suffer if she got inside his guard. He was brutal and hardy but not infallible. She suspected that he had not had to deal with many opponents even making it that far, his overconfidence seemed to confirm it. It was, perhaps, unlikely that he held contingency plans for such an event either – though she was not about to be too rash in her assumptions.

She decided that it was her turn to attack this time, their circling leaving no attacks whatsoever and leading to the conclusion that he was waiting her own foray to test her skills when she was not merely defending. She took a deep breath and left it a few more moments to be sure before launching herself forwards with well-placed steps. Her advance was rapid, closing the distance fast before she realized why he had chosen to leave it to her to make the first move. The tip of his spear came around to point directly at her, forcing her to change tactics and step to the side, smashing her right tonfa into the frame just behind the tip, her knees lowering as she pushed her arm upwards – the spear going along with the momentum. Earl brought the butt up to meet her fluidly in response, crashing it upon the cold iron of her left tonfa, now blocking across her own body in a horizontal fashion. She cursed her own foolishness mentally as she set about trying to regain initiative.

Earl was forced to step backwards and bring his spear around, again horizontally as he tried to lash out with the butt of his spear once more – perhaps assuming it was her weakness in her fighting him. She left him no time to get any momentum behind it, instead bringing her tonfa around in a series of overhead strikes her was forced to merely block, tonfa whirling around her forearm to gain speed and power before lashing down upon the shaft of his weapon. Hs face showed strain now as he was forced upon the back foot, any thought of attack blasted from his mind as he defended frantically. Zandelia growled as she saw him retreat, forcing him back again until he was almost at the cage itself – its razor sharp barbs beckoning to his rear. He did not look back, to his credit, however he knew well enough where he was and the grimace on his lips was enough satisfaction for Zandelia.

Zandelia changed her tactics now, shifting from an overhead attack with her left tonfa as it impacted upon Earl’s spear. She brought her right tonfa around in a solid punching movement that passed under Earl’s guard and impacting upon his weakened shoulder with a satisfying crunch. It was a gambit, however, and left her own torso open to his wild swing as he was pushed backwards. It’s range found her ribs, though it was the shaft and not the tip that caught her, riving the breath from her body as she was forced backwards from her almost victory.

by **Zandelia** on April 22nd, 2012, 7:30 pm

Earl was rattling upon the cage as Zandelia stumbled backwards trying to recover what breath had been lost upon impact as the bruising began to immediately flourish. The crowd was momentarily silent at the spectacle of seeing their champion pushed into the metal before reaching new crescendos in their shouting lust for blood. More voices cheered Dinala now as Zandelia took a tentative deep breath to find there were no cracked ribs but painful bruising after all – a fact for which she was immensely glad. She righted herself as she tried to stop herself from bending to her right side, a fact that would weaken her defenses. After a lightning consideration she instead chose to feign such a weakness in an attempt to bring Earl out fighting wildly for a quick victory.

Let the bastard think he has almost won and then I’ll am it down his petching throat! she hissed to herself inwardly as Earl launched himself forwards, using the slight give of the cage to lend him momentum.

Earl had had enough, she could tell by his wild gaze and rage-filled countenance. She had begun to wrest the crowd from his grubby mitts on top of causing him more hassle than he had originally thought she would. She knew his shoulder must be paining him too from the way it sagged slightly, its movements seeming jerky and forced through the pain of the joint. He came out with another thrust of his spear at her torso, an attack that was easy enough for her to bat away with her left tonfa, swiping it across her body now as if using her right one was out of the question. He followed up with a wild downwards attack, using the momentum of his weapon to its best advantage now. She sidestepped to her left and used the sole of her boots to kick it away and to the side. Earl was out for her blood and instantly tried to lash out at her head with yet another attack. She stepped back and winked at him, letting it pass before her body hitting, nothing but air.

“You’re definitely showing the air what you’re made of now Earl!” she shouted now, her voice rising enough for the crowd to hear it as laughter broke out in response.

“BITCH!” Earl screamed, what little control he had left breaking as he charged forwards now.

It was the opening Zandelia needed as she ducked under a wild sweep and stepped forwards and appearing inside his guard. His face was a picture as she did not even try to swing her tonfa in such a confined space, instead choosing to use their tips as punching weapons more forceful than even her gauntlets could ever be. He set about landing a series of attacks in quick succession, a punch to his ribs with her left hand, a smashing right into his already injured shoulder, followed up with an attack straight into his sternum that elicited a sickening cracking sound for her ears only. She smashed her knee into his gut, causing him to bend almost double as she finally brought her left tonfa around in its inevitable arc, crunching into the back of his head. He fell as she extricated herself from his personal space, lashing out with her right foot once more to deprive him of his weapon. She was breathing hard, her assault having cost her much also in her last ditch attempt at now claimed victory, her ribs screaming at her for rest and relaxation.

“Just one more job to do now then” she muttered in the absolute silence. She straddled his recumbent body, pulling a dagger from its sheath at her boot as she transferred her tonfa to her left hand. She stamped on the back of Earl’s head, driving his head into the flooring brutally to make sure he would not be rising again. She then brought her blade across his throat, spilling his steaming blood for the last time before wiping it upon his leathers and slipping it back.

“You were saying?” she grunted at the announcer.

“Dinala is the winner!” he screamed, accompanied by a tumultuous uproar.

Thank petch for that she told herself as she put her tonfa away then and made her way, slowly, towards the cage door. Her injuries caused her to move precisely for fear of actually causing a rib to crack.

by **Zandelia** on April 22nd, 2012, 7:44 pm

Zandelia had consumed an amazingly large amount of rum after her bout, numbing the pain she felt just enough to go about her business without a discomfort that was crippling. Her first stop had been with the owner of the Blood Pits, congratulated and lauded as the next champion to be talked about for seasons to come. She was not sure he was sincere in saying such words, though she could see his eyes light up at the mentioning of future possible bouts. The coin a female unknown champion could bring in was immense after all, mercenaries lining up to fight her under the pretence she would be an easy enough kill. The money from the betting would make a fortune he said, giving her a percentage all too easy to let go of as a negative under those circumstances. She had thanked him, taken her 200 gold mizas for victory and assured him she would return when she was healed and rested.

Attractive offer, but perhaps a bit too cunning for me to deal with right now she thought to herself as she made her way across the bridge towards Tua’s Establishment, the sky beginning to hint at evening’s darkness closing in now.

She had also returned to Tall Johnny’s Casino to much surprise, drinking and celebration with the barman and book keeper there. His jaw had dropped as he had seen her, face bruised and slightly hunched to protect her ribs, quickly pulling her painfully towards the bar and totting up a number of drinks he stated were coming out of his own earned money. He asked to hear the fight from her own lips rather than the crowds that would have told him a few hours later. He had listened and chuckled at her descriptions, patting her gently upon the shoulder as he handed over her winnings – one hundred gold miza’s well earned. He asked her if she would fight again in the future and as she left stated he was sure the name of Dinala would be spoken for some time to come.

Except that Dinala does not exist she chortled now as she pushed open the door of Tua’s humble abode and walked towards the desk, carefully circling around the gathered job seekers instead of shoving through them.

Tua was sat in his customary position, behind the desk and without anything to do now. The time was coming towards closing, the seeker dwindling in number and merely scrounging what little was left. He was counting his coins and scanning a ledger as she let a spare purse of coin clink onto his pile still to be counted out. He looked up at her with consternation it first but smiled once he saw whom it was. She nodded to him as a smile crept across her lips in the manner to say she wondered why he had chosen to send her instead of one of his own many thugs – expendable creatures that they were.

“One hundred gold rimmed Miza’s Tua, more than your usual cut I think. Think of it as a down-payment against future semi-suicidal tasks” she told him, all too aware that she had still made two hundred herself this day.

by **Ink** on June 29th, 2012, 4:36 pm

And in the Aftermath . . .

The Rewards are Revealed.

Tua’s laughed light heartedly and the pouch disappeared faster than Brega’s under garment, leaving the pile of much less worth still to be counted. “That’d a girl. You can start again tomorrow night.” With a businessman’s studious concentration he returned to his figures. As Zandelia had turned to leave the mirth-filled voice called out again, “I’ve heard a particularly interested rumor the past few bells. Some wench named Dinala showed up in the blood pits. Gave the boys some good sport, and that’s what they’re claiming from each tavern now. Heard she’s warmed every man’s sheets from here to Slaver’s Row. ‘Least that’s the rumor. Hate to be the idiot that gets caught wagging that tongue.” Tua chuckled again and went back to counting.

Zandelia :

Written in the ink :