8pm, The Hold, Lecherous Priest

Harmony stands next to the Captain, who is still shaking his head in disbelief, and Xisco who is haggling with Peppard, the local bookkeeper here in the Hold. The arena to the Battlelord here on Tarvala is in a refloored section of the Lecherous Priest’s former hold, a long narrow space with a high row of rough-hewn benches for viewing the action below.

The young woman is wearing her new armor, looking more dangerous than her companions know her to be, but the combination of armor and distractions in the Arena below have kept the usual group of men at bay.

Taz and the others have the ship ready for sail at first light; the Captain had intended to depart this evening, but then Blendin informed him he had decided to enroll in the ‘evening prayers’ here at the Arena. His time in the far upper reaches of the Skies has made the old Captain familiar with the way these bouts often go…

Xisco returns to continue his story, folding a wooden tally stick under his arm to keep track of his bets. He informs everyone of the various tales he’s heard from bartenders, a prostitute, two or three self-professed pirates, and a number of other locals regarding the fate of La Roche. Essentially, everyone agrees he wasn’t ever really Glowmad, and is now dead, but the details are usually spotty: some say he died during the fight with the Shield, others say he ruled the island for a few years and died of disease, and the prostitute claimed he was slain over a girl, and was the start of the law regarding combat over women.

Gunny sidles over to the crew, interrupting the third retelling, “How about it then, Xisco, do ‘e have a bargain or not? Captain, I trust you can be a ‘itness?” Xisco had tracked down the logbook from the Lecherous Priest in the possession of the town mayor. Gunny was willing to part with it as a wager in tonights festivities: if the wildling can hold his own against three rounds of single man combat, then the book would be yours. If not, he wants the remaining medicinals, Xisco’s rib blade, and 500 cogs. Xisco attempted to buy it outright for 1000 cogs, but it was refused. Gunny stated that such a text should only change hands by way of combat.

Blendin’s prayers and meditations had been helpful soothing his mind, and invigorated him for the fight ahead. He is stripped to the waist, wearing only his bracelet but otherwise unarmed and unarmored. He looks up from the cool, sanded floor and sees the others watching him carefully from the balcony. He stands alone in the Hold; his opponent has not yet selected by the Warpriest overseeing the event. This old orc has the clan markings and scars of years in the Battlelord’s service. He has a stone warhammer hefted high above his head in whiteknuckled hands as if it he means to split a the island asunder with his next stroke, but has been holding this pose for almost a minute in silent prayer. His mouth moves, tusks clacking, as he purifies the Arena. His eyes lock on a familiar face, “The Battlelord calls to you, Grainger, do you accept?” “Aye!” The man strips to his waist and vaults to the sands below with a thud, to the cheers of his comrades.

“Sorry, ‘ildling. I’ll try to drop you fast, eh?”

ooc: the soil samples from the Priest are what are now referred to as the navigator hall. Normal rules navigator rules apply, although the rate for use is a rather expensive 100 cogs for any of the more ‘secluded’ locations.

Blendin is at +1 for purposes of vigor rolls to recover from shaken thanks to his spiritual preparations. .

The fight will begin shortly, once the deal with Gunny is refused or accepted. I’ve already made the haggling rolls in background, and this is where the deal stands.

In the fight ahead, Blendin will be acting alone, of course. Combat in the Arena is to unconsciousness or a yield. Combat is strictly unarmed brawling, but otherwise anything goes. Direct interference from the gallery will be seen as an affront to the Battlelord. That said, it’s expected that shouts and distractions will be used, and support of the crowd is critical. Those of you in the gallery are welcome to use whatever methods available to you to sway the crowd to support Blendin. Use skills as you think appropriate and state your intent; if it makes sense, I’ll include it.

Now, I don’t want the rest of you to feel left out. So, the crewmembers can also spend benny’s to give pep talks to the young pugilist. Harmony’s pep talks can be used to increase his toughness, and uses her faith/WS skill. A success gives Blendin a +1, a raise gives a +2 to the end of a single combat round. (one initiative pull, not the whole fight against the opponent).

The captain’s pep talks give Blendin a +1/+2 to damage for the remainder of the round. The captain uses his taunt skill for this purpose.

Xisco’s pep talks give blendin a +1/+2 to parry for the remainder of the round. Xisco uses his notice skill for these talks.

Peptalks must include the talk to be successful – and you can earn bennies if they’re good to keep helping him in this series of three fights. If you’re going to give a peptalk now, it’ll be active in the first combat round.