[Gameplay] 2. The House of Pentheru

Abenor enters Tooth and Hookah. He coughs, trying to get rid of the sand filling his lungs. He wasn't born here and he was definitely not a good fit to live here, also. He usually relies on his luck, believing that he is an extremely lucky person who won't under any circumstances step his foot on the wrong floor. He likes making acquintances wherever he goes, thinking that making connections is the best way to increase your chance to be successful at anything. Combining these two aspects, he usually jumps into journeys whenever and wherever they come into his way. Same thing happened with the tombs of Wati. He heard about the opening of necropolis and the chance to be very rich in a short time. Without knowing anyone in Wati or having visited the place or knowing anything about its famous necropolises, he jumped on his horse made his way into the city.

He had a feeling he would see a familiar face in the tavern. As he walked through the tables with names written on it, he was about to lose his hope, making his way around the drinking and talking and shouting men and women of many origins. That moment he recognized someone.

"Khadi, my dear!" he shouted as he started walking toward their table. His voice was firm and loud, a confident man he was, mostly becasue of wrong reasons. Oh, dear Khadi. he thinks. How much time has passed since you saved my butt? Khadi was neither a prominent nor a subsistent presence in his life, though meeting with her was one of the most pleasant moments in his life as the incident established his belief in his immense luck. He felt a great joy to finally grasp this place, having a connection to it, albeit small. He takes a chair from a nearby table and without asking for permission, he just pulls it to Khadi's table and sits down.

"Remember me? I'm Abenor, that little prick you saved millions of years ago!"

The duskwalker is about to quiz Falto on the specifics on mummy fighting, under the guise of preparation when she hears her name. She looks up as the half-elf also joins the table, and rapidly starts trying to place him. With all her drinking around the city and mingling with works and those who needed aid he could be anyone.

The name and mention of it being a while ago places it though and she lets out a grin. Ah come now, all I did was bring you back to my fathers, they did most the work. Though if you insist on paying me back I'll take an ale. She winks indicating the tease. She had only left the city once, while she was still an adolescent. Medr had personally needed to see to the collection of specialist materials, and Robel didn't want to risk him going unguarded, so she had also been brought along. Even though it was before she had found Khepri the trip proved she was already good at finding trouble, having run into Abenor.

'What brings you to my neck of the woods? The lottery? Have you fared well? My new friends were about to give a lesson on fighting mummys.' She gestures towards the Cryptfinders even as she signals for another round. 'And over there you will see the rest of my group The Destined Delver's, no doubt missing me already. She waves over to the rest of the group.

"You were the most brave teenager I've seen those days. Most kids wouldn't have that sense of responsibility, but let's not dwell into stories of the past. I want to talk about present moment, and the near future." says Abenor with joy. He turns to the direction Khadi pointed earlier. He saw the large men and the local woman. "The Destined Delvers, huh?" he says with curiosity. "You see, dear, not much time has passed since I came here and I saw you! As far as I'm concerned, that checks the 'destined' part. So, how do we become a delver? By asking?" Abenor stands up with a sudden movement, then stands on his one knee. "My sword and skills are yours, m'lady. That is, if you and your friends have me. I'm not the helpless youngster you've saved anymore. I'll do my best to make your job easier."

Khadi raises an eyebrow then gives a chuckl. 'Well you will get along with Tabat. Both of you inst of using words like 'lady' that definietly don;t apply to me. [/b] She jokes as she stands.

'Still up to the rest, on whether someone new can join. Its a group decision, as much as Ol Bernard thinks he's in charge... I'll be back to talk mummy's later guys.'' She winks at the cryptfinders, before guiding Abenor over to the rest.

'Friends, meet Abenor, an old acquaintance of mine, who is looking for a group. I for one am always up having an extra person between me and danger, but we are of course a team. Her tone as always is light and jovial.

"If he's in for the danger and excitement, I'm all for having an extra body. What is it that you do, Abenor? Whence do your talents lie?"

"Abenor!" Tabat says in excitement. He stands, banging his knee on the table loudly, but if he notices you can't tell. He steps forward and claps the man hard on the shoulder, swaying a little. "The road is a dangerous one, wrought with peril, maybe death! The more the merrier, I say!" He looks to the others. "Right, everyone?"

As Iseret's level-headedness questions the man, Tabat narrows his gaze, "Hmm...fair question, Iseret. What skills could you lend us, exactly?"

Abenor looks at the halfling. This felt like a job interview. Once he worked as a night guardian in a chaotic tavern and the only reason he got the job was his perfect selling of himself.

"May I at first learn your name beautiful lady?" he asks."You see, dear Iseret, I’m a bit of a Sawolkian army knife with all the tricks. Whatever you expect from a ranger, I’ll deliver it, and much, much more. In fact, let me demonstrate you my expertise in close combat." With that said, Abenor spots an empty enough table he can jump onto, stands on it and shouts to the tavern. "Greetings, fellow adventurers! Who is up for a friendly sword duel with none other than myself? If you win, I’ll buy drinks for you and everyone in the table sitting with you. If I win, you’ll do the same thing with my dear friends here." He points the Destined Delvers as he said the last words and winks at Khadi. "So, are there any volunteers?"

Tabat's eyes grow as wide as his grin. "Oh, I like this," he says with glee.

Seeing the newcomer climbing onto the table, Jaware approaches and says:

Oops! This one is getting ahead. I have to drink a little more before I start climbing on the table to dance and sing.

Hearing the challenge he finally understands the situation.

I must say that this friend of yours has arrived in good time, Khadi. Our mage and employer being cursed will need some time to try to resolve this issue. Furthermore, the elf swordsman also seems to have given up exploring the tombs with us after the water trap.

"Great, my dear friend! Let's duel!" says Abenor as he gets to the ground and salutes Falto. He drews his shortsword. He takes his stance and attacks Falto from the side where he doesn't hold a weapon.

Bets rapidly get placed between the contestants, and several healers roll up their sleeves, and the owner of the Tooth and Hookah, Farhaan, begins looking for his broom and dustpan (after taking a shot of something fiery).

"Ah, you are ready, have at you!"You both leap from table to table, and when you're rocking on your heels after nearly falling, Falto leaps to your side and tries to drive his rapier into your shoulder, but it slides under your arm. You whack him in the side, but the crowd deems it a passing glance of a blow.

You separate once more and prepare for another pass.

You're up!

Abenor feels the pressure building up inside of him as the whole tavern starts to direct its attention to the fight. At that moment he realizes maybe for the thousandth time that he acted too quickly, without thinking through the consequences of his actions. A loss here not only would decrease his value for Khadi and her friends, but by claiming that they are his friends also in front of everybody, he jeopardized their reputation as well. As these thoughts come into his mind in a second, he disperses them as he readies for another attack. This time he sees a small chair near him. He decides to use it as a leverage to attack from above. He tries to step one foot to the chair and jumps from it to attack his opponent from above.

Abenor's acrobatic feet gathers a chorus of hushed breaths from across the table, and more coins are added to piles on each table. In the silence that follows, everyone can hear the whiff of the blade as the Cryptfinder rolls under the blade, whacking at your boot ineffectually as he passes.

He scrambles to his feet, and asks a Sand Scorpion to blow on his rapier for good luck, but she just scowls.

Abenor!

Damn you, Falto! Abenor had a lot of trust in that move. If only he could do it a bit faster... No time to lose himself on his failures, though. He has a duel to win. This time, he tries a little deception. He moves his body like he'll attack from the right side but right after Falto recognizes his move and prepares himself, and right before Abenor himself settles his move, he will change direction and attack from the left.

The action at the betting has become heated, and everyone senses a big finish is coming.

Falto flourishes his weapon, but is watching your waist so sees your tell. As you lunge at him, he slaps your blade to the side and extends to a full riposte. His rapier touches into your chest, but its at the full length and doesn't show as a killing move.

Your turn !

The look on Abenor's face stiffens as he the fight is taking longer than he would expect. He decides to try the same move again but this time he tries to deceive him with upper body while making use of his fast and agile legs.