Episode 2

He speaks in Yuoric. "I'd buy that big Dannein brute there. I would wager he would make me a mountain of coin in a year's time...."

Everyone looks over to see who is taking. It is a big gladiator, a Kortellan for sure by the way of his accent and his complexion. He walks out from the crowd. Everyone can see that he is dressed in full battle gear, so now the crowd is looking on.



He has a scowl of a face at first, but then it cracks into a wry smile when he continues "...the only problem would be that I would be dead the first time my overseer got drunk on his post one night."

The fellow can not keep the charade for long though. Hs scowl mask melts into a smile. He steps forward strongly to grip arms with Ivor. "You must be lost, Connal's son. What strong wind has blown you in to this cottage town, you heavy dog! Hahaha!"

Ivor knows this man. It is an old friend and fellow gladiator. He is Cedrio, called Bronzehanded.

Cedrio was a slave fighter like Ivor at the Helm of Nicor, a great arena in the Pylosean port of Sinacuse. Ivor remembers that Cedrio won his freedom about one year before Ivor himself escaped from the arena and fled from Pylos. He remembers Cedrio's final match, but never saw him after.

Back in the day, Cedrio was a crowd favorite. He used to beat men to death with all sorts of weaponized gauntlets.

Ivor remembers his former look, when he was younger:

Kray jibed at Ivor's expense. "It would seem your renown is without borders. Steeped in moments of infamously brutal bloodletting, no doubt."

My primary interest is still taking the Red Bastion for everything it's got. Prior to that, first I'd want to go for the Scriptures, then the Key to the Small Irons Gate, then the The Pale Star, also called The Sight of Ilusa (my primary interest in the Red Bastion itself).

And Kray will definitely play the gracious noble and attend all engagements. Besides, those events will undoubtedly serve as some great intel gathering sessions.

"Cedrio! You son of a whore!" Ivor roars, a smile splitting his scarred (and now burnt) face. "I came looking for your ugly face, of course! You still owe me for all those dice games you lost!"

The Circle of the Valiants

Cedrio has a good laugh with Ivor. Soon the men are talking about updates. Cedrio left Sinacuse about four years ago. Immediately after his match which granted him his freedom, he was offered a large box full of silver to travel here to Gelshemish and become a trainer here in the city at an up and coming arena. It is called the Circle of the Valiants. Cedrio invites Ivor to see it nearby.

The venue is pretty solid, as fighting pits go. It certainly no coliseum like those of Pylos and Kortella, but what the circle lacks in size and dramatics, it makes up for in facilities, decor, and style. Like much of Gelshemish, the attention to detail in the architecture is outstanding, and the stone polishing and trim work throughout is top grade.

The Valiants is a newer arena, less that ten years from its completion. Cedrio explains that the Sar and some of the Nasi directors wanted to develop a gaming culture in the city after hearing of the success of those in the great cities of the Alornic Sea. They have invested strong money in it and the industry has been on the rise.

Cedrio explains that the Heshbaans do run some death games, but most often those are from hardened criminals who are sentenced to train and then fight one another. The slaves that are put into the games do have to face fatal matches from time to time, but more often they are pitted against one another in brawling and bludgeoning matches, and also wrestling, which is a big hit here. They even use the circle for races and games and contests of strength. Also, many times they display ferocious animals, sometimes pitting them against the criminals or the slaves.

Cedrio says that it is quite strange compared to the port games, but at the same time he has gotten used to it, and it has come to be a good business.

Cedrio is one of the three trainers and directors at the Valiants.
The other two are:
Ghurat: an older Heshbaan warrior who specializes in wrestling, boxing, and organizing personnel with the promoters
Hamamid: a Bishtu sword and stick fighter who really whips the fighters into shape

Ivor meets these guys and some of the other directors. Most are impressed that Ivor was a gladiator from the Helm of Nicor.

Cedrio does not ask how it was that Ivor gained freedom. As a fellow gladiator, Cedrio knows that sometimes those stories can be the toughest to revisit because it often means you had to kill someone great, who was perhaps a friend. Also, if it was an escape, then maybe that does not need to be talked about either.

Cedrio does though propose a toast to a legend in our day, to Mighty Apox Indomitable.
May he live in the house that the gods prepared for him Cedrio tells Ivor to come by anytime for anything. He can use this place as a place to stay even if he wants. They run some pretty good dice here too among the trainers, promoters, managers - so Ivor should come by anytime if he wants to throw bones and game. Not sure if Ivor is looking for work or not, but let him know. He would love to have Ivor as a guest trainer if he's interested, and there would be decent pay in it.

One thing that catches Ivor's eye is that in the animal cages, there are a set of massive hounds. They don't look supernatural like the hounds from the forest, but they are exceptionally large and look truly ferocious.

Kray was silent for a moment, projecting ease. "It is my understanding that there is an uprising of sorts." He paused, allowing the Honorable Balanser to anticipate the offer. "Surely this uprising needs... resolution, shall we say? Some of House Mercon's finest mercenaries are in my personal retinue. I assure you that I can arrange that resolution. It would be an honor, and a pleasure, to do so."

One side of Kray's mouth turned upward in an almost imperceptible mocking smile. "I believe other interested parties would find themselves unable to quell such an uprising, given that I'll have cut the head of the snake off by then and fed their many-eyed god to some hungry street urchins."

His thoughts went back to the battle on the river. Fucking Korvarans. Kray feigned a passing interest, as if making small talk. "Tell me of these Korvarans."

If I'm not mistaken, it was Korvarans on the river, right?