Gladiators

The wildling jumps off the ship in the confusion of the unloading, quickly getting to cover away from the ship. He looks up and sees his first city, Shadowhaven. Its bizarre to the wildling, the cities are all leaning together forming a darkness and shade more dense than any forest he's seen. As he staring wide eyed at the city, he hears people grunting around him, pushing him, cursing at him for being in the way. Every bump and shove causes him to rush his hands to the weapons at his waist, weapons he found in the hold of the ship, they are as precious to him as his freedom. He moves off to the first building he sees. As he approaches a petite man greets him, 'Greetings wildling we don't see much of your kind here at the arena. However you are welcome to test your strength and mettle against other fighters.' The wilding overwhelmed by the noise, responds with a grateful acknowledgement and asks a few simple questions. The usher politely answers and sends him onward into the arena to the Keeper to sign up for activities of the day.

In the Nexus, Kainlan enjoys his fifth drink of the day, but notices that the drinks are getting weaker. Behind him he hears two men discussing the latest activity list in the arena.

'Today is a great day to make money at the arena, no dangerous criminal or creatures, and lots of new combatants.' His friend acknowledges with a laugh. Kainlan wanders over and asks about the arena, boasting he could take anyone on. The barkeep shouts from across the room 'Do not be stirring trouble up Kainlan!' as a few barmaids laugh. Kainlan shouts back, 'I was leaving anyways, you've been watering down my drinks and cheating me out of my coin again!'

Kainlan wanders in to the arena, he notices an big orc standing in a corner. He walks over confidently and looks the orc up and down, 'Greeting sir!', the orc surprised by the brashness of this human attempts to dissuade him from continuing, 'Leave me alone, I'm not in the mood human.' Kainlan continues on, even remarking about the great ax that the orc has behind him. 'Is that blood I see on your ax  I usually clean the blood after using my blade.' The orc looks Kainlan over, for some reason he likes this human. He reaches over to pat the human and accidentally hits him a bit harder than expected ringing Kainlans bells. 'I like you human!' as he picks up his great ax and walks off.

From across the room the wildling notices the exchange, riled up that the big orc would bully the smaller human, but something about the nature and posture of the orc makes it seem that it was a friendly exchange. As the wildling surveys the room, he notices the humans are gathered in packs, each pack has similar characteristics, and some humans even show hatred towards other groups. There are a few dwarfs drinking around and some glowborn keeping to themselves. In one of the dark corners, the wildling notices another of his kind. He walks over slowly to him, as he nears, the small wildling gets very defensive. Holding up his hands to show that he means no harm, he stops a few feet away from him respecting his personal space. As he asks the wildling about his time here, he realizes that the wildling doesn't really reveal much of himself. He does learn that registering for group combat is the safest way to make money. After a few more minutes of discussion the wildling decides to leave the other in peace, as he turns around he hears scampering, when he looks back the other wildling is no where to be seen.

The wilding and Kainlan are drawn to the Registrar shouting out matches. As different men reach forward or hold up their weapons to sign up, responding to the different shouts of combat available. Kainlan and the wilding get to know each other, and the wildling gets the name 'Slick' from Kainlan. Kainlan and Slick are soon joined by two other men Kurt and Mag, as they are signed up for a four vs four first blood arena fight. Kurt is very boistourous and knows Kainlan from the Nexus, while Mag is quiet and keeps to himself ignoring any conversations.

In their waiting cell, Slick starts to question the guard on the activities he sees, the Watcher gruffly responds to all the questions, as Kainlan in cheering on the fighting.

Soon it is the turn of the adventurers to enter, each prepares his weapon and slowly join the fray. Mag calls out 'Drakin, dwarf, and two humans' as he pulls out his weapons and advances. Mag takes a few shots from the humans, but shrugs it off and continues towards the drakin with Slick and Kurt right behind him. Slick playing to crowed in a wild flourish strikes down the drakin and begins to move towards the dwarf. One of the humans takes aim at Kainlan and hits him squarely in the side, as a lot of blood starts to color his shirt. But soon the enemy is overwhelemed by the adventures, when Kainlan gives a speach, asking the last man to surrender in front of their prowess. The crowd loves the show as they cheer loudly for the group.

As they walk out of the arena, each is handed a purse of cogs. Slick receives a second pouch, 'The Eskelat approve of the show wildling and give many thanks.'