Episode 1

Talius seizes the opportunity to make a retaliatory strike when the Gand misses. He then follows up with a backhanded shield strike and aims for his enemy's chest with his hammer.

Kray watched the melee, appraising the potential of what might be House Mercon's latest additions in manpower.

Ivor was clearly skilled in the classic net and trident gladiator technique, a traditional fan favorite in arenas. The gand he had so expertly netted was a quick bastard though, and escaped any real hurt Ivor tried to put on him with his trident. Qiu was... a shield wrestler? Kray hadn't seen that before, and wondered if it had any practical use outside of Pylosean pit fighting. Qiu had very efficiently put his gand on the ground though, which Ivor immediately took advantage of by skewering him with his trident. A couple of pit fighters that could pair nicely on the battlefield.

He almost smiled at the sight of Talius' soon to be victim. The gand was practically pissing himself in fear, which was no surprise. Kray had known him for two years and Talius had that effect sometimes. Poor fucking gand doesn't know that his skull will be caved in soon. Talius was a contradiction in some ways, as Kray often wondered how someone so ultra-violent could be so skilled at medicine.

Glancing at Thorn, he knew the man had a bit of internal conflict when it came to violence and morality, but it seemed he was willing to put in the time to bleed these gands out, having only missed the opportunity by a mere moment. Fates know he makes quick work of foes with that two-hander. Based on what was happening out there, those Gandish would be lucky to have their heads removed cleanly.

Thoughtful, Kray keeps an eye on the action outside of the Circle of War as well, always mindful of the periphery, letting his gaze fall on the druid. Eyes still on Scachan, he speaks just loud enough so Thorn can hear. "You know... legend has it that they can change skins, become animals." Kray looks back at the fight in time to see Talius press the advantage with a counterattack, plucking the fruit of his foe's pathetic attempts at an offensive. Poor, wretched bastard. His gaze pans over the crowd on the way back to Scachan. "I wonder if he's a wolf. If so, do you think he fucks other wolves while he howls at the moon?"

So, Kray has known Talius for two years, since the Battle of Giant's Ford (Fathac Trasu in Dannein). I'm assuming he's known Thorn for (almost?) as long, since Thorn joined House Mercon sometime (soon?) after the battle. Anyway, I'm assuming Kray knows a bit about Thorn's morality when it comes to violence (referring to the Urdav bit).

As far as Kray eying the crowd and such, just a reminder J: he has Observant, which comes with the ability to read lips (assuming he can glean any benefit here).

With one last smash Talius buries his hammer into the skull of the Gand and takes off toward his next victim.

And there it is, the caved in skull.

Ivor laughs with grudging almost-respect when, after managing to dodge his attack, his opponent puts the net temporarily out of play. The retiarius gives the skull-bedecked Gand no respite however: he pushes forward with a sweeping-hooking motion aimed low, calf-height, aiming to knock the man off his feet and quickly strike again when his face is in the dust.

Reacting quickly as the Gand tries to pull himself up the rock, Ivor thrusts his Trident at the man's exposed back....but the dirty bugger is too quick!

Qiu, anticipating the grab against his shield, leans in hard, attempting to convert the Gand's own pulling force into a crushing blow with the shield's edge into the temple of the gand.The shield rings with a nice, low "dinnnn" as it bounces off the skull of the gand. Hardly skipping a beat, it continues to rake and slash at Qiu, who deftly sidesteps around the prone creature, deflecting the razor-like claws with both shield and mail when they do find him. In part, his continual dance around the beast also serves to keep dragging it along the ground, within reach of Ivor.