Skyhunter
Bringer of Change
Orchid knew things weren't going to be easy, but she didn't expect this sort of shit show. After wandering around the verse, doing odd jobs and guard duty, she thought she had a real good gig with this gladiator thing. The pay was pretty much x10 what she gets on an escort job. Granted it was not your typical blood sport: people fight to the death here. It made Orchid wonder just how rough this neighborhood was that they could consistently kill off skilled fighters every day, but then again this world was full of violence, where even your regular Joe has to know how to hold their own. And when one sees what sort of money you can rake in even as a newbie, it doesn't surprise Orchid too much if there's a lot of folks willing to risk life and limb for that filthy lucre.
Though there were also plenty of times that Orchid thought this was too good to be true even after it's made abundantly clear of the dangers. Money was good sure, and rising up into ranks means even more cash. But it's not unusual for rando's to end up fighting warriors well above their skill level. It made Orchid wonder if she's just been recruited as a can: someone who looks tough and might even be able to take a hit, but ultimately just gets recruited to inflate the win-records of an established fighter. While Orchid has no interest in being someone's jobber, she also recognizes that she's not nearly as strong as a lot of the folks she's seen around the Blood Defiance. Many of them have been fighting for longer than she's been alive and she can tell. Yet they still get matched up against nobodies that no one has heard before, and while occasionally there might be an upset, usually what happens is that those vets toy with their prey for the crowd and go in for a flashy kill without breaking a sweat. Orchid wonders if that was going to be her fate.
And then all hell broke lose. Goblo was suppose to fight the Champion, Auregnog, who unlike most vets doesn't go can crushing and actually needs to fight worthy opponents. Orchid herself was interested in actually seeing the champion in a fight since she's heard a lot about the guy but has never seen him. But for some reason he didn't show up like he was suppose to. No one expected that to happen. The guy wasn't just the arena champion, he was an important figure to the Underbelly. May as well have been the mayor given his influence. But the fact he's a no show and no one has any idea what's happening put the Underbelly in a state of chaos, more so than usually. A lot of fanatics jumping to conclusion and baying for blood, or ambitious gangsters thinking that with the champion gone this is a good time to settle some scores. Orchid herself needed to get out from the crowd and head back to the fighter chambers and try to figure out what's going on. If nothing else, she needs to escape this riot before she gets trampled under foot.
It wasn't easy pushing through a whole crowd of people. Even for someone as big as Orchid, she wasn't able to push hundreds of people at once. It doesn't help that there was fighting going on too so people trying to stay out of it was pushing even more people back, causing a chain reaction of people pushing and shoving their way around like a violent ocean wave. Fortunately Orchid knew a way around these people since she could take a service door for arena fighters. Some people tried to follow her through but she closed the door right behind her, maybe crushing some fingers along the way. Accidentally of course. The service entrance was much clearer, though it was still very loud. She could hear shouting up ahead.
The fighter chambers were just as rowdy as the riots outside though surprisingly enough no one has tried to kill anyone yet. Maybe because fighting in these chambers is explicitly against the rules on ban of exile and death, or maybe because the first one to try and make an attack will just get swarmed by a bunch of well armed and skilled warriors. Either way things were tense here. A lot of gladiators were throwing accusations about what had just happened. Auregnog is a well respected man in the Underbelly and rightfully feared in the arena. But you don't gain that sort of clout without making plenty of enemies too. It wouldn't surprised Orchid if he got taken out by someone who doesn't like how he runs things, because of some history in the past, or plain old jealousy. Perhaps Auregnog had some debts and someone decided that he was going to pay it now. And of course, there's still the possibility that one of the Gladiators knocked off Auregnog simply to make rising to become the Champion easier.
Regardless, Orchid doubt she'd be seeing much action any time soon. As fun as it'll be to join in the rioting, the Underbelly isn't exactly a treasure trove for looting, and the only things worth getting will have to be plundered off armed and ready warriors, which is the exact oppisite of an easy mark one would hope to attack during the chaos. Orchid grabbed her gear, donning her armor and weapon, figuring it was time to go before she gets swept up in the conspiracy. Though she had half a mind to investigate this matter herself: If Auregnog was dead, he no doubt has some fine loot with him. If nothing else the information about his fate would fetch a fine penny. But as orchid finished gearing up, donning her helmet, a certain goblin called out to her.
Xix, or Goblo as he's been called. Not the most creative of nicknames, but then again most people assume her name is "Ork Kid", and she hasn't really bothered to correct them about it. Either way, Xix was one of the many arena hopefuls thinking they had a crack at the champion. Orchid herself didn't throw her lot with him: Xix's gimmick relies on being faster than the enemy and letting them wear themselves down. Fine for most bruisers and thugs that make up the lower echelon of the arena's fodder, but Orchid has seen how the vets fight. In a one-versus-one, patience beats speed. Still Xix wasn't a coward, so Orchid went over to see what he wanted. Apparently he intends to "cull the crowd", and that immediately put Orchid on guard. "Depends how much I get out of this. With Auregnog basically dead, doubt there'll be any more fights for me to earn coin off of. Unless you mean something off the books. Then there best be a lot of coin for my troubles." Never do what you love for free, Orchid believes.
Xix scoffed looking up at Orchid like she was stupid, he actually stopped the sharpening of his blade and placed it down on the crate next to him as he hopped off and landed on the ground. He placed his hands on his hips, while Xix was tiny, he was definitely mighty. " How much? Please. " Xix shook his head, " How much is your life worth to you? " Xix asked, picking up his Khopesh from the crate, he then sheathed it on a sheath that was attached to his armor on his back. " You getting money out of this is depending on how much you got. " Goblo explained, he then waved his hand to the two warriors that were talking. " Hey! Dingus and Bingus, get over here! " Xix called, the warriors turned their heads and began walking over to the two. " I have a plan that can get this crowd from tearing the foundations of this place down. So follow my lead. " Xix winked at her as the two warriors came over. " What'd you say, Goblin? " One of them asked in a heavy voice. These two warriors looked capable of a fight, their armor was miniscule and light while they wielded sword and shield.
" You heard me, Bingus- " The warrior cut him off, " It's Bingoo- " Xix waved his hand, " Whatever, Bingus. We have a plan to fight to calm the anger of the crowd. If we give them a good fight, they'll want to watch instead of fight. " Xix explained, the other warrior, who was called Dingus by Xix scoffed. " BAH! Fight? Please, you two aren't worthy of such a thing. You little Goblo will probably be killed upon leaving since you were suppose to fight the champion. And you, orc, you're just a new arrival fighting for petty change. You aren't worthy fighting for actual money. " This Dingus shook his head before walking away with Bingus. Xix gently elbowed Orchid's leg, then pointed to the two warriors as if telling her to say something. " You'll get money you fool! These are high warriors, we can beat them. If we kill them in a fight, we'll get a good payout. " Xix whispered to Orchid, " Now get them to fight us. "
Mentions: Lucius Cypher