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Nobility
Merchant Guild Leader
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Anything for the right price
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35
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Manthiran
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Post by Severin Seigrun on Apr 16, 2023 22:24:45 GMT -5
The underground in Farvald was an ever changing mixture of factions. There were of course some factions of the illegal rings which opposed house seigrun and actually went out of their way to truly hide their operations but the majority of 'underground' crime rings ran at least one semi-public operation like those that handled gambling. Those rings were not only in support of house Sigrun's more vigilant reign but were even cooperative to the merchants guild to some extent. Doing so allowed them the benefit of some assurance that the city guard and other officials which would normally shut down their operations instead turned a blind eye.
For business like the underground fighting ring run that meant higher profits than ever. The boss that ran the gambling around pit fights of various forms near the docks knew just who to thank for this new semi-open form of business. He also knew that buttering up said the nobleman was worth a pretty penny. He had come to learn severin's tastes and so whenever a certain discrete coach would pull up there was no level of service that went ungiven. The fights took place in what would otherwise appear to just be a shipyard for constructing and repairing vessels.
It was here in one of the large storage houses that the fights took place.
A ring was set up in the middle with a sort of fenced off section for bet takers and raised wooden seating for viewers. There was a section in an almost loft like position to watch the fight from above in comfort. It was decorated in a bit of finery and was usually where the pit boss sat to watch the operations, however on the few occasions that a notable guest such as Severin visited this is where they would watch from. There was always a heightened air when Severin visited. The pay out became much higher if Severin bet money, and there were whispers that if he took a liking and invited a fighter to the loft then you might be able to ask for a favor directly. Some fighters had gone on to be directly employed, some had used their favor for revenge, others simply asked for enough fortune to retire from the ring.
There were of course also the unspoken bits between such hopeful rumors. The unmentioned few who maimed themself in the ring but were not called to the loft despite their efforts. Men who were called to the loft and then never heard from again. There was nothing safe about working in or around the ring. Every opportunity was a gamble, Severin's favor was just one more gamble.
This night he had come to visit the ring not just for entertainment but because he had heard that a Taknieri was making waves. While he didn't immediately assume it was hunt he certainly wasn't disappointed to look out over the crowd below and recognize him.
He had brought along Dulcinea of course and was thrilled to have a chance for her to see his features even if a bit far away. While must women commoner or not would usually shy away from this type of entertainment Dulcinea reveled in seeing the struggle of two desperate fighters. Each fighter had a tragic story or thirst for blood that made the whole affair delightfully dramatic.
Thus here they were sitting in finery with a glass of wine each watching the common folk punch and smack blood from each other's faces for the chance to earn a bit of coin.
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Exile
Manthiran Army Captain
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North
is Offline
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125 posts
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Taknieri
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 16, 2023 23:37:16 GMT -5
Hunt had been fighting in the underbelly of Farvald's Strand for nearly a month. At first, he had assured Kaz it was simply a means to an end, to afford them enough money to buy passage on a ship. Yet he had earned more than enough already and yet here they remained, staying at an inn near the docks where he put his name in for fight after fight. The guard was worried, rightly so, that this was more about what had happened a month ago than any desire to leave. But any time Kaz approached him about it, Hunt either ignored him or walked away.
Tonight, he was once again in the ring, pacing a circle with a Manthiran sailor. The dim lamplight highlighting broad shoulders and thick arms, both covered in tattoos, some inked and some natural. Hunt was always a little jealous or their body art. He considered getting some tattoos of his own, but hadn't the slightest idea what. It was entirely against his religion, but that almost made it more appealing.
The Taknieri wasn't a large man. He'd made a small name for himself here with his quick, clean fighting style and his penchant for not knowing when to quit. Turns out, gamblers quite liked it when the underdog picked himself up off the ground and took their opponent out. That only worked a few times. But Hunt liked to keep a few aces up his sleeve.
The sailor charged in first, forcing Hunt to dodge and block. He shifted around the man, landing a few blows but largely showcasing his superior prowess by making the other man work hard just to get close to him. If Hunt had wanted to end this fight quickly, he could have. What he wanted was to feel something. He lulled the man into a sense of power, taking a hard right to the jaw that sent him to the ground along with a few hard kicks. Hunt picked himself up, not surprised to feel the man's arm snake around his neck to choke him out. For a moment, his instinct was to panic as his airway was cut off. But then he relaxed and focused. Fist fighting wasn't the same as using a blade, he wasn't nearly as good with his hands. But he had been in enough scrapes to know how to get himself out of them. He stomped on the man's instep, twisting and slamming his elbow into the side of his face. The sailor's hold loosened enough for him to pull away, gasping. He didn't hesitate to strike the man in the side, sending him staggering, before ending the fight with another to the side of the head, the sailor keeling over, eyes rolling back in his head for a moment.
It was over a lot faster than he had intended, and it seemed, a lot faster than the onlookers would have liked. But he wasn't here to give them a show. Hunt stepped back as some of the sailor's mates moved over to check on him. He had rather hoped the man would take a few more hits. The Taknieri rubbed the side of his face and moved to teh side of the ring, a few strangers reaching out to congratulate him on filling their pockets. He shifted and dodge to avoid as many of them as possible, holding his hand out to one of the bookies. He'd made his own bets on himself after all.
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Nobility
Merchant Guild Leader
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Anything for the right price
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35
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Manthiran
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Post by Severin Seigrun on Apr 17, 2023 1:57:05 GMT -5
Watching Hunt fight reaffirmed to Severin that if Hunt hadn't been drunk that night he wouldn't have gotten away with even a tenth of what he had done. Seeing the clean strong moves made him desire hunt all over again and the fight was over far too soon for his liking. He needed only to give Dulci a meaningful look for her to pick up that he had an interest in this fighter in particular. He waved to the attendant "I will double his winnings, bring him."
No sooner had he spoken the words than the man made a run for the pit floor. He made it only just in time to stop the bookies from handing over the bet winnings. Somewhat out of breath he shook his head and pointed to the loft. From the pit little could be seen on the watchers in the box as the view from below was blocked by curtains.
"Your winnings have been increased. You must come to the loft to collect." He explained between breaths and then motioned for hunt to follow him through the back up to the entrance of the loft.
The bookies all seemed to know exactly what this meant some of them congratulating him and others giving him sympathetic looks. It was clear hunt would not be paid if he didn't play along and go to the loft.
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Exile
Manthiran Army Captain
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North
is Offline
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125 posts
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Taknieri
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Post by Hunt Valier on Apr 17, 2023 7:01:38 GMT -5
He'd fought in duels before. With a blade rather than fists. He had the scars to show for it. Slashes and nicks here and there, on his arms and torso, some healed better than others. Nothing larger than his hand, as the more he won, the higher the clientele he fought, the more often the bout ended at first blood. The better he got too, the less often it ended with his. Taknieri swordsman and nobles might have been a bit vain, but they understood the appeal of watching two skilled in combat force the best out of each other. Understood how much it meant to some of the fighters too, the adrenaline and the knowledge that at least for a few breaths, they were the greatest.
Hunt had taken to those fights like they were oxygen. By day, he was fulfilling his duties as a perfect son whom no one looked at twice. By night, he moonlighted as a prize fighter that people couldn't stop looking at. He knew most of them saw either their own wealth or a caged beast tool see him then but he hadn't cared. They had seen who he really was.
The air here was different. Full of salt and waves, not as heavily overcast like home. The people were the same sorts. Commoners and noblemen alike looking to make fortunes and more often than no losing them. The rules were different too. In Taknier, there were duelist clubs, organizations that functioned like guilds for fighters, both to help train fighters, organize bouts, and protect their fighters from bad bets, shady venues, blacklisted headhunters, and each other. Cheating or fixing a fight got one banned from every arena in the district. But dueling was legal in Taknier, it had a reputation to protect.
All that felt like a lifetime ago.
Hunt stood there a moment, glancing at the breathless messenger, then pointedly cut his gaze from his empty palm to the bookie. Increased his earnings. He'd heard that of some other fighters and while most were here for the cash, he wasn't. Not really. As much as Kaz would strangle him for losing most of their finances, the guard was careful not to risk leaving Hunt with all of it. And Hunt hadn't bet all of it either just most of the majority. It had seemed like a solid idea at the time. Either he would win and earn it back twofold, or he would lose, epicly, and not be able to afford a doctor. Now he was standing there, poised to walk away woth nothing to show for it but a few cracked ribs. Kaz would be livid.
Kaz had never seen that part of him before. Didn't understand the desire. But he did seem to understand that this was all that was keeping him going. This was oxygen.
Hunt looked up at the dark curtained box. He'd always supposed the pit boss watched from there. But the man had seen him fight plenty and this never happened. Some other guest he supposed.
Hunt followed the man for a few steps, and then paused. He moved to the side of the ring, pushing past a few onlookers of the next fight that was unfolding to grab his shirt and tug it over his head, debating if he wanted to do this or not. He caught up to the attendant and grabbed his arm. "Tell my mysterious benefactor he can keep my winnings and shove it up his ass, he said in pointed Taknieri. He patted the man on the shoulder and proceeded led to make his way outside to the docks.
He could earn more. Probably. Whoever it was in charge up there hadn't bothered his fights before and Hunt didn't intend to make fake friends.
Kaz was going to be furious.
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