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Nine Roads Alani	One thing is for sure--it's going to be tough to top the excitement from earlier in the evening. But the Nine Sheaves Consortium, organizers of the Congregation of Victory Tournament, are sure as the hells going to try! Earlier in the evening, the young Dragon-Blooded Amethyst, vanquisher of the upstart Earth Dragon stylist monk, faced off against the Man-Mountain himself, the exigent Fudou, in a bout that was far, far closer than it looked like it should have been, with how he absolutely towered over her. But that bout was earlier in the evening, and since then the fever-pitch excitement has dimmed somewhat. The crowd is still loud, boisterous, and absolutely ubiquitous--there's no place not crammed full of people as the Second Round is well underway. The sun-reddened evening has started to give way to night, but there's still plenty of matches to go! Nine Sheaves concessions are everywhere, with food, booze, and intoxicants of every conceivable variety. The more expensive seats offer a better view, to be sure, but there's no place where the sound isn't deafening outside of the exclusive viewing booths scattered about the Arena. Several fights are going on in the side circles now, between highly skilled but more...mundane warriors. Their skill and ferocity are not to be denied, but after getting a taste of flashy Essence earlier in the evening, the crowd are clearly anticipating more spectacular combat in the center rings. One such ring has a pair of warriors ready to enter now...
Raullaur	"He's been in the city for years! His mercenary company has no rival! But here, where he's alone in the ring, will he be as puissant without his soldiers to back him up? Ladies and Gentlemen! I give you....THE GOLDEN LION!" When Raullaur is announced, a tall lionman in full plate of gleaming orichalcum steps out from his entrance. A grand daiklaive is across his back, the hilt above his left shoulder, and his helmet crooked in his right arm. It has been quite some time since arms and armor have been seen openly, and the mere sight of so much anathemetal may start rumors. tHe walks out confidently, golden eyes bright, with just a bit of eagerness in his gait. Despite the armor, there is a predatory grace to his movements, and raises his left hand turning to acknowledge the crowds.
Rishi	"She's a newcomer to this city, but her stature brooks no disrespect! Her Exigence and stylish combat has served her well so far, but can she stand against an experienced soldier? Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you....THE GRACEFUL DANCER!" An attractive woman in her early 20s with ruddy skin and a short kimono with long flowing sleeves steps into the ring. She looks oddly close...until your mind adjusts, realizing that she's actually easily head and shoulders above even a tall person. Even so, her steps are light and graceful, yet very precise. Her copper colored hair shines in the fading sun. She approaches the center of the ring and bows. "It is nice to meet you. I look forward to this test of my abilities." she says, her accent unclear as she slides into a stance that looks more like the start of a dance than a proper martial movement.
Fudou the Mountain	Indeed, the match was closer than even he expected. If Amethyst only knew how close she had pushed him to truly expending his resources to their limits to gain the ground he did....well..there?d simply be no dealing with the size of her head! He?ll have to tell her one day. More pressing is the current bout. Fudou the Mountain has returned to the arena, having taken his time to bask in accolades and what passes for ?fandom?, and to also investigate the disturbance within the stands from earlier to now observe the evenings spectacles. His figure looms, heavy tread rumbling the earth and physique moving like shifting landmasses beneath his flesh as he absently rubs his hands and then laces his fingers together pensively as he observes the lion man war general. He stands on the ground level, not entering the stands just yet, eyes narrowed in study. Fudou then frowns, lips pursing into a disapproving expression before just shaking his head. "Mmmmm....either he doesn?t know still or doesn?t care.. Ah well. It?s inevitable.... I hope he's ready.." He then takes a deep breath, expanding his vast chest like a highway before his deep voice then raises, explodes out with its bass thunderous rumble towards the distant lion man, "RAULLAUR! WIN!" just before the newcomer makes her arrival.
Raullaur	Raullaur nods to his opponent, and bares his teeth in a grin. "A wonderful test! A fair test! And no enmity between us, so long as it is fair." He puts his helmet on then and it covers his features, hiding everything behind orichalcum. He unlimbers the huge sword, and settles in a basic guard stance, awaiting the announcer to commence the bout.
Grave Saint	Grave Saint didn't have the chance in watching the last arena fight thanks to her being preoccupied. She heard there was commotion in the arena stands from some of her few followers that attended. Still, she arrives as her appearance is heralded by the higanbana patterns in her dress and the single higanbana flower in her hair as an accessory. "Hmm I know them. Some exigent of strength and the lionman Raul who I meet before. This should be an interesting fight" Although she would have played battle music like last time, she simply watches the battle for now.
Rishi	She smiles for a moment, her face quirking as she does. "Yes. No enmity, just a fair test." She snaps out two large paper fans, one in a normal flesh hand, the other in a red jade prosthetic? The fans glitter with pearlescent essence in the dying light.
Wandering Tree	Wandering Tree settles down on a bench in the stands, a large basket of cooked meat in one hand and a large mug of ale in the other. He grins as he watches the fighters settle into their pre-fight routine, his height letting him see over the people in front of him even to the detriment of the row behind him.
Caeleen Selena	The tail end of the match got a bit crazy for a certain young lady but after getting things back in order, well... traversing the stands, she eventually reaches where Fudou has... well, Fudou's so large that wherever he wants to seat has wide clearance from others, so it's really not hard to spot him... A young woman with vibrant red hair has easily tracked him down and, shortly after his outburst of cheering, well, he will hopefully feel her poking him gently for attention down at his left side using a few fingers of her right hand. People may have seen a hooded, furry, glowing figure earlier making a break for it but this young lady in a casual silvery-blue kimono has nothing to do with that, right? "If I was a betting sort I'd put a few dinars on Raullaur too. I have a feeling he might even put YOU in a corner." She grins up at him shamelessly in a tone full of admiration... though it's likely shared for both him and Raullaur, given the friendliness in the smile.
Nine Roads Alani	With a secret smile and a theatrical flourish, the indigo-robed judge for this particular bout walks towards the pair in the ring. Her hands are folded in her robes, her long, dark hair in a complicated plait behind her, as she approaches the pair. "Offhand, it sounds as if you two already said everything I was going to," she murmurs. "Have a good fight and above all, respect a yield." She backs off, outside the ring, and holds her hand out. Quickly, she raises it skyward, and unlike most of the other judges, she shouts, "BEGIN!"
Raullaur	The word "BEGIN!" echoes, and once it does, Raullaur lets loose a mighty roar. A primal challenge not often heard in the forests, and only occaisionally among the savannahs. The sword is cocked back, ready to swing as the armorned lion shoots forward fast to strike at his opponent, flickers of Essence twisting around it to ease the giant blade's passage. The heat of sun, the feel of the earth in the arena adding to the wide strik as it flashes towards his giant opponent.
Fudou the Mountain	Well them?s fightin? words. It might be meant friendly but Fudou the Mountain is, if nothing else, competitive and a competitor. So the smile he gives as he hears Caeleen is mildly sardonic though he ends up pursing his lips again, lifting them up towards his broad nose. He then cracks his knuckles, vast arms bulging lightly but nigh audibly and the sound of his knuckles cracking like boulders splintering. The loud crushing rumble briefly distracting those near him in the audience as he rumbles: "No." He then grins down at her and unlaces his hands to gesture with that thick arm to the arena, Raullaur is my colleague. A friend. He is powerful but let us see what this newcomer brings, luv." Upon lowering his arm he glances now over the stands and well Wandering Tree is virtually impossible to miss. Scratch virtually, he is impossible to miss. "Oh hoh..what is this?" he considers but then his attention is pulled back to the arena itself as the shout to begin comes and Raullaur flashes forward in a golden blur.
Wandering Tree	Wandering Tree finds his gaze diverted over into the crowd as he hears the loud voice of Fudou rolling over the crowd's heads and into his ears. He sips from his mug as he regards the large... or is it overly large stranger, even compared to himself? In any case, his own gaze is drawn back to the true center of attention, the arena. An interesting matchup, especially with all of that golden metal glittering under the sun.
Caeleen Selena	"Well, I'm sure not pushing either of you into any corners. Not with force of might, anyways." Selena announces with the air of a bird chirping merrily at the morning. "Quite a thing to see that way of life in action. This whole tournament's been an amazing treat."
Grave Saint	While observing, she notices a woman in a blue kimono appearing out of nowhere but she doesn't mind as the "wood aspect" watches the fight. "Hmm even if he's a beastman, he may loose against even an exalted with the likes of him" She says unaware of Raul's true capabilities. The priestess expects this to be an unsurprising loss or like the time a monk somehow managing to win against a prince of the Earth. "Shall it be a titan crushing a lion or a lion tearing down a mountain. Either outcome will be interesting"
Rishi	As Grace took her stance earlier, a close watcher might have noticed small arcs of sparking red essence crawling across her metal arm. When she glides into motion the sparks start corsucating over her body before erupting into an intensely red flickering glow emitting from ...gaps? in her body? Or..no it must be an illusion caused by the sparks crawling over her. Yes. While her movements are both graceful and precise as she attempts to dance away from Raul, she can't back away from him quickly enough. After only a few moments, she can feel the wind from his sword whistling over her body, and a few strands of her hair litter the arena's floor
Grave Saint	It seems the Abyss-I mean Wood Aspect was mistaken for the crowd was blocking her view and it seems the lionman is fighting what seems to be a woman with some red jade prosthetics. "What is she, a fire aspect or some weird exigent I don't know about" She says annoyed thanks to the masses blocking her view with resulted in mistaking the beastman fighting someone else. Although this strange newcomer is interesting
Nine Roads Alani	In the common seats, surrounded by the ecstatic, the drunk, and the blissed, there stands a figure in tan and black robes, a ragged grey hooded cloak over top. She's leaning forward on the rail over the Arena, and if her eyes aren't visible underneath that deep hood, her body language screams intense interest in the fight in one of the center rings. Her gaze had been on them, particularly the lion man, for some time now. Having met the man was one thing, but seeing him fight--with THAT gear on--is a different kettle of fish, as they say. While much of her attention is on the bout, it's absolutely impossible for her to not notice Fudou on the Arena floor, shouting for Raullaur's victory. A small smile comes onto her features as she looks him over once more, as well as his chattering companion. She also follows his gaze to the white-haired warrior in the stands, but for the moment is simply content to slide past the crowd as best she can, trying to move closer to Fudou and Selena...perhaps close enough to overhear them?
Fudou the Mountain	As the flashing blur of movements begin in the arena, Fudou's gaze flickers back and forth..watching the combatants with ease that would far outstrip mortal observers. His lips purse once more, an expresion that seems to be a common theme for the goliath... His mouth then moves into a big smile as he finally answers Selena's earlier comment though he keeps his gaze on the battle. "I wonder -how- exactly then..you'd press us into a corner. Or perhaps...that is a question best left unanswered, luv." His deep voice is teasing and bemused now, though he keeps watching the match and not her. So much is happening so quickly, a mere blink and you miss it moment might be a heartbeat away. "They are good." he notes and then adds, "Raullaur is impressive. More so then I first imagined. How exciting! But this one is not simply bowing to him either. Amazing. Yes?"
Rishi	Grace briefly tries to jump back, but can't evade under the barrage of Raul's blades. For a moment she pauses, completely still. Then with an audible *click* both from her tongue and from her heel against the ground, she dives forward, dancing between blows from his giant sword, the corsucating flicking light around her resolving into a giant mass of whirring, clicking gears, all meshing in perfect time. Her paper fans scrape across Raul's armor, with a series of musical tones where the essence of the fans tries to cut the oricalcum plates. While it does not, the barrage does force him to move back a bit and give her a little more breathing room.
Wandering Tree	Wandering Tree shifts his already half emptied meat basket into the the same hand gripping his ale mug, and starts making his way down toward the edge of the arena. He moves with slow assurance, letting his bulk part the crowd before him in a polite but irresistible inevitability of a glacier as he makes his way forward with a big friendly smile to take the sting out of it for those displaced. Once down by the edge, he sets himself sitting on the railing at the edge of the arena and takes a drink of his ale before nodding in Fudou and Serena's direction. "So, big... very big fans, are you?"
Raullaur	Raul is pushed back slightly, moving in time with the attack to lessen its brunt, but still he is not on the forward foot as much as before. A roaring laugh, almost jubilant in its sound echoes from out of the golden armor. "Good! Very good! Let's see how long you last!" And he launches his next attack, aiming his blow towards the arm of red jade!
Grave Saint	"Who is that white haired woman. Hmm she seems to be approaching the giant warrior Fudou and a lady in a blue kimono" She slowly approaches herself as she pretends to find a better seat. It will be interesting why she's following them of all people. Maybe this mysterious woman is trying to get an autograph for the giant was the winner of the last fight from what she heard?
Fudou the Mountain	"Quite so!" Fudou's deep voice rumbles out with affable cheerfulness at Wandering Tree's arrival and question. He seems quite pleased to see the other giant make the approach and engage and he inclines his head towards the other goliath with a big full toothed grin before looking back to the wildness of the match before them. His gaze looks to Raullaur once more but itd' be a lie to suggest that Grace hasn't caught his eye. Hopefully they can 'speak' later... "Fan, spectator -and- contestant...." he continues, still watching the match with widening eyes, "It's been amazing. So much to see. What about you? I'd have seen you before ad possibly attempted to angle myself to test my might against yours! Are you here to fight as well?"
Wandering Tree	Wandering Tree gives a loud and low chuckle toward Fudou. "No, I haven't really felt the call of the ring myself in quite some time now. Then again, I never really participated by choice in the first place..." His face darkens a bit as he ponders that, seemingly thinking through it for the first time.
Raullaur	With a jubilant roar, the daiklaive comes slashing down, towards the red jade arm, but sliding around it and then a sudden thrust fowards, lunging with excellent form. Perfect form. The edge and point shine bright, aiming at her body, perhaps to be blocked by the fans, perhaps not. Holding nothing back this one blow, the moment crystallized in the arean.
Rishi	A look of surprise crosses Grace's face as she bends backwards away from the sword, her metal arm attempting to interpose itself between the sharpened metal and her flesh. Raul can feel much more resistance than he expects as sword meets flesh, almost like he was attempting to cut through jade infused steel. There's a sudden clang as she leaps backwards. Her metal arm lies on the ground next to Raul and she's holding her kimono shut with her other hand. "That was an exceptional strike, I yield." She gives another perfect bow, a quiet whisper only Raul can hear. "If you wish to see under my kimono, there are nicer ways to ask." along with a clicking chuckle.
Nine Roads Alani	Well, Whoever this fellow is now talking to Fudou, he's enough to make Alani re-think her dedication to getting closer. Fudou is an obvious figure, of course, and with that comes...well, attention. And while Fudou hasn't noticed her yet, perhaps a moment's reflection would better serve... ...Wait. Who is that behind her? The blonde in the tan robes and grey hood pauses, a bit of consternation evident as she turns to glance at whoever's eyes are resting right on her. The musician. The spider lily. The robed figure is no actor, that's for certain, because when she pauses and looks up, noticing the woman looking directly at her, there's a flicker of recognition. Of concern, though not fear. Instead, she takes a long, tense moment looking at the musician before glancing back at the fight, only to see its final blow. The hooded figure is pretty obvious now, especially since she's the only person in that are a-not- paying attention to the fight.
Raullaur	As Grace jumps back, Raullaur draws back into a guard position again for her counterattack. But then...He steps back himself, and raises his sword in salute. "I accept. You were wonderful! And I hope to dance with you in another setting." The sword goes back on his back, and then he removes his helmet, eyes brights and muzzle curled up in what could be a grin, or a threat display. He returns the bow and whispers back to her, "I hope you will celebrate the bout with me. If you have any friends, they would be welcome as well."
Fudou the Mountain	The tone shift is noted by the spectacle wearing behemoth and Fudou looks away from the fight to get another good look at Wandering Tree. The glance is short lived as Raullaur's roar ripples through the air and he turns his attention back towards the fight just at the instance the daiklaive comes home to land a decisive blow. "Oi! Look at that!" he declares, pointing to Raullaur and Grace as the tall dancer yields to him. "A victory! One welle earned!" The giant now turns slightly...shifting his great immensity towards the other behemoth. "I can understand. I fought as a Champion Gladiator in the Hundred Kingdoms for some time and even here..well..Great Forks fields many who are forced into service. Do what you feel inspired to do but know that if you wish to test yourself..." He presses a hand against his chest and bows, "I am here. To test others fortitude ad push them..is among my callings." He looks back to the battle field, "And other challenges are out there as well..."
Caeleen Selena	"Very carefully." Selena answers in an overly dramatic mysterious tone in answer to Fudou, head tilted sideways his way in an overly silly fashion. But the approach of the other gigantic man catches her attention in no time at all, though she does keep glancing at the arena to see what's going on... when the mysterious woman facing Raullaur yields, she grins. To Tree, though, she glances at him... then Fudou... then back at Tree... "Gods and demons in an uproar, what do you two EAT to get so damned TALL? I'm feeling like a mouse here."
Wandering Tree	Wandering Tree smiles at Fudou as he shovels down another piece of meat into his gullet, answering after he swallows. "It sounds like you just might understand. But today is a day for feasting and fun, not fighting. Not for me, at least." Tree turns to look downward at Selena, an amicable smile still on his face as he gives her a wink. "Sorry, miss. That's something a trade secret."
Grave Saint	"I see she's certainly not interested in the fight" Higanbana says with an amused grin as it seems the woman has other intentions when approaching Fudou and that blue kimono lady. She would have simply ignored her....for now, but whatever destination she is going to may be of interest to her. After all, she is new to Great Forks and any juicy information may be of use to her and her master back North, so she continues following her but unaware that she's already been noticed even among the crowd.
Rishi	Pulling another sash out of ..somewhere? she reties her Kimono, and picks up her arm. Shoving it up the sleeve there is a *ka-thunk* noise and it starts moving once more. Picking up her fans, she concentrates a moment and... then they are glowing, gears clicking across their surface, while her anima is nowhere to be seen. Looking more or less normal once more, she bows again, smiling at Raul. "I will need a short period to recover and ...get a new outfit... but I would be most honored to join you. Where should we meet?" As she turns to leave the arena, her gaze catches on the very large figure of the Fudou. Her eyes run up and down him, eiher assessing him as a fighting partner or a "dance" partner. After a moment, she gives a small, precise, nod then resumes her exit.
Raullaur	"There are suites here, or there are establishment out in the District. Some good ones! Meet by the healers' when ready?" He grins, and flicks an unrepentan ear, before turning and walking towards his own exit, striding as cheerfully out as he was when he came in.
Fudou the Mountain	"I'm afraid that even 'care' might not be enough, luv." rumbles Fudou, amused at Caeleen's forwardness, or what he perceives at that, "..But I am not unwilling to allow for some practice at least..." His grin is big, teasing now, and his eyes seem to light up abit more at her astonishment at Wandering Tree and his own dimensions. "I must agree though I will say this much. Where I'm from..though I am still unusual..some care was taken in keeping me well fed and I suppose after I left I just sort of...ran with it and got a little carried away. They say I'm still getting bigger as well...but I try to not ..worry about specific numbers..." For those able to discern.. there has been a hint of an accent unique to Volivat in Fudou's deep bass profound rumble but he's been so long in the east that his use of forest tongue rolls naturally off of his voice. He watches as Grace takes her leave of the arena and then turns fully to those near him now. His gaze drifts over towards the hooded Alani and Grave Saint's general direction as well but there's much to take in so his eyes don't linger.
Caeleen Selena	An amused yet exasperated look at first Tree, then Fudou, and Selena folds her arms across her chest. "Crazy big boys and their tall tales." She snorts, perhaps not entirely believing either of them... "Not that size is everything..." She adds a moment later, just loud enough that both the distracted Fudou and Wandering Tree can certainly hear.
Rishi	Once out of sight of everyone, the *Elegant Graceful Dancer* lived up to her name, ducking into a closet and closing it behind her. Lit by the red light of the anima sealed in her fans, she releases the tattered kimono and gazes at the mess of synthetic flesh falling off her torso, revealing the metallic plates and reinforced bones of her true body. She shook her head. Structural integrity was down 30. Another strike like that and she'd surely have "bared all" but not in the *fun* way. Raul was truely impressive. She sighs as small spider automata crawl free, running across her body, removing gashes, fixing dents, and restoring her "skin" behind them. As they wouldn't fix her kimono, both of her hands split apart into complex mechanical assemblages of gears before reforming into stitching machines, remaking the kimono into something more suitable for a party. In green. She was quite looking forward to it, after all, and she should look her best
Nine Roads Alani	The crowd can't tell what words passed between Raullaur and Grace, naturally, but the cheers and catcalls give way to enthusiastic clapping at the outcome of the battle. A few powerful, intense strikes and it was over. Perhaps not the miraculous display of flames and ice they might be hoping for, but hey, it was still a great fight! Much of that is missed by Alani, alas, who is caught between someone she'd been looking at and someone who's been looking at her. She takes a long, thoughtful pause, then simply smiles under her hood, turns and climbs up, walking right towards Grave Saint. She's got on a tight smile, a look of bemused irony as she stands in front of the musician. "Is there something I can do for you?"
Grave Saint	"Uhm nothing, I was just walking around and heading for the champion of the last game!" Even if it's a phony lie, at least it's an excuse why she's following the hooded lady despite such deception being faulty. "I was wondering who his opponent was last time.....so I can make a song about it!"
Fudou the Mountain	"What are we, just slabs of meat? We're standing right here. A tall tale? Pfft." Fudou swivels his attention fully to Caeleen now and arcs both of his eyebrows. He then seems to follow the rest of her sassy comments and rumbles, "OOooh...I don't know about that. Size seems to work pretty well for me. Except for trying to enter certain places without forcing my way in. A lot of damage to out the way taverns, tea houses and the like you know." He grins abit at her, "Leaves me with a bit of a running tab, all that does..." He turns away form her now to look more closely to the conversation near by. The words 'champion' linger in the air to him so..well..of coure he assumes there's some implication it means him. His gaze falls upon 'Elena' at that as well as Grave Saint. It takes a moment but a jogged memory comes to him regarding them both. "Ah...the cult leader..and.." His voice drifts as he looks to Elena once more, "...The courier! Elena was it? Hello again."
Wandering Tree	Wandering Tree takes it easy, slowly and methodically working his way to the bottom of his snack basket as he hangs out near the others. His eyes flicker from one to the other of the people of interest, with more of an air of serene curiosity than alarm or intense interest.
Nine Roads Alani	The tight smile on 'Elena's' face never wavers, looking a bit wooden now, in fact. Her eyes aren't very visible under the hood, but her tanned, pointed chin and white, even teeth are quite visible. "Ah, yes, another song. I did hear you play during a fight not long ago, and to be fair it was actually pretty catchy. Sorry if I mistook you for staring at me. My mistake." She's not sorry. At all. But she did at least leave an out for the songstress. 'Elena' looks about to say something more, but she pauses at the sound of her name, half-turning to look at Fudou. Hard to miss that almost seismic basso profundo. "Ah. Nice to meet you again...erm...Fudou, correct? Who's your friends?"
Grave Saint	"Oh thanks! I was planning to play at the last fight and the one that ended right now but sadly I am too preoccupied with my followers of late. I was also honing my Silver Voiced Nightingale arts which distracted me from affairs of this city" She then turns to Fudou although her reaction to the cult leader comment is a bit mixed. "I mostly prefer being called a priestess to a small faith but my name is Bleeding Higanbana in case you forgot. Who was your opponent last time you fought here? Was planning to write a song about it. Sadly wasn't able to attend and didn't see whatever was at the commotion in those stalls during the fight"
Caeleen Selena	"Ahaaaaaa...." Selena at first just stares at the idea of Fudou in a tea house. The look on her face suggests something like.. comical images of giant man in tiny seat and a hole in the wall where he barged in. She shakes her head to clear it of the goofy thoughts though, and she finally notices the others who've come up to speak. 'Elena' and the Bleeding Higanbana. "Commotion?" She blinks over at the latter, clearly not knowing of ANY such commotion...
Fudou the Mountain	"I..." Fudou considers Elena's question...and realizes he doesn't know either of his companions names. Wandering Tree has..also wandered off. He'll likely make note of that later when he learns the other giants name. He then turns and looks pointedly at Selena, expecting her to answer Elena's question and then finally looks back up towards 'Grave Saint'. "Oh, my apologies. You are right of course i just...well..it was unusual to me..what you were preaching. I suppose here, in Great FOrks of all places, it doesn't matter... As to my fight? It was against my friend, Amethyst. A remarkably talented scion of the dragons. " He pauses, as if trying to consider his next words and then says simply, "I won. If you want to compose a song, luv, feel free. Make us both sound amazing." He grins, "Just make me more amazing!"
Caeleen Selena	She finally looks over at Elena... "Oh... pardon me. Caeleen Selena. Was on some family business but nobody wants to deal with business with the tournament going on so here I am." It's possible someone might've heard the name Caeleen in regards to some merchant family with a manse a week's journey away from Great Forks, that handles pharmaceuticals and rare herbs, but perhaps not.
Nine Roads Alani	Alani steps back a pace, listening in as people chime in. Definitely spending more time listening than speaking, but for all her frenetic energy elsewhere, here she just clasps her hands together and looks curiously at the other three. "Good to meet y'all," she says, "and I don't know about 'commotion', but...eh...never mind. Not important now. I admit I'm doing less business myself, since just about everyone is all in one place." She chuckles dryly.
Fudou the Mountain	"Somebody got into a scuffle in the stands...-during- what should have been my victory accolades!" Fudou explains for Elena though also he sounds...annoyed. Not seriously so. There's some playfulness there as if he doesn't really care but yet it bears mentioning it seems. "I didn't see it either but from what I understand a visiting Dynast discovered the presence of some sort of anathema in the crowd and chased it away. Nevermind that .....in Great Forks such teachings hold no authority but..what do I know. A Prince of the Earth is going to do what they see as their duty regardless of place and time I suppose..." He shrugs lightly....allowing a slight lopsided smile to touch his face and avoiding looking directly at anyone now as he studies the arena field. "I suppose we'll find out more soon. Word travels..."
Grave Saint	"A dynast spotting an Anathema? How disturbing, I thought Great Forks is only home to Exigents and a few dragonblooded like myself. I guess I have to be vigilant right?" There is concern in her face but as Alani knows what she truly is, it may come off as sarcasm at best. "But well I must be off. I hope I can attend the next fight to compose a song"
Caeleen Selena	"There's not technically any rules enforcing the standards of the Immaculate Philosophy." Selena points out to Higanbana. "No decrees, nothing at all from local policies... who knows how many there might be, doing perfectly normal things like getting some food or watching from the tournament stands? Oh, maybe they're studying at the House of Learning. The HORROR." Selena claps both hands to her cheeks in mock shock. The message is clear... 'who cares if there's Anathema unless they're eating babies and stealing souls?'
Nine Roads Alani	'Elena' sniffs derisively, though she's still smiling a bit--the difference is now, she seems at least a bit amused. Not a lot, though. "Well, the Dynast probably saw what he -thought- was one. Assuming he wasn't partaking of our host's supply, still, I don't know how he thought doing that would help. Either he was right, in which case the Dragons wouldn't protect him, or he was wrong, in which case he'd win but look like a madman. Either way..." She sighs. "Look. There's gotta be -someone- out there..." She pauses, clamping down on whatever else she was thinking of saying.
Caeleen Selena	"You aren't crazy enough to be LOOKING for those Anathema, or whatever they're called? Tales about them are all over the place..." Selena appears to have jumped to this potential conclusion on Elena's sighing on the subject.
Fudou the Mountain	"Well if it was that simple then there wouldn't be a wyld hunt now would there? Zealots wouldn't exist and anathema wouldn't have to run from the stands so obviously -somebody- cares." says Fudou, eyeing Selena now but he as she addresses Elena he turns towards her...curious at the sudden shift in the line of questioning. "Hmmm? Best to leave it be, I think. Or let like deal with like if needed and necessary but...who knows. Perhaps adventure beckons her!"
Nine Roads Alani	"Well, yeah, I heard quite a few of those tales already, I think," Elena replies. I mean, there's enough weird goings-on here that...well, how would -I- know the difference?" She straightens, body visibly relaxing even as she levers herself off the railing she'd been leaning on, face a bit concerned even as she smiles at the thought of adventure--the most genuine emotion seen from her tonight. "Now, see, you have the right of it, Fudou. I don't mind looking--from a distance--but you already know I'm a bit of a tomb delver, right, in addition to my business? I've been through a tight scrape or two."
Caeleen Selena	Selena picks up on that excitement for adventure in a heartbeat. One can almost pick up the very moment it happens as her face brightens and she scoots considerably closer 'Elena's way. "Ooooooh. A Scavenger Lord? Scavenger Lady?" The young lady's tone is radiant, a tidal wave of enthusiastic curiosity. Her friendly face soon dominates 'Elena's field of vision, looming with the pressure of an insistent fellow fan of the topic who simply must pry for details and talk shop... or, perhaps, a story-writer wanting to write a book about Elena's exploits? Mixed with it, a disarmingly beaming and innocent smile to melt hearts and lighten any mood. "I'd love to hear about those adventures. Is that why you're looking into these rumors? All I keep hearing are rumors too. What'll you do if you -do- run into them?"
Nine Roads Alani	"Er...sure?" Elena looks befuddled for a moment, as a pretty ginger all but climbs in her lap and asks for a story. There's no question Elena is affected by Selena's enthusiasm as well as her...closeness. "Mmm...well, I guess you'll appreciate the last adventure I was on. A friend of mine and I were on a little expedition--Silk, the girl who introduced me to Fudou--met me and we went off...I think East, to an old abandoned village. It was -really- dangerous, there...kind of a...well, I'll save it for now. We had to go in to see what was going on, and it wasn't really obvious what happened until we'd been in it for a bit. But we had to take out some chimerae--we're both pretty deadly when we put our minds to it!--and we found some well-preserved stuff. Books, that kind of thing. So in order to get back out, we found out what happened! The guy who was trying to protect the village from the Wyld got it -backwards-. Between us, we could fix it, but it wasn't easy! Anyway, I got some nice, valuable things to trade, and Silk took her share, not sure what it went to. So. Anyway."
Fudou the Mountain	"Yes..." Fudou had fallen silent, simply listening for a moment but Elena reminded him of her adventure with Silk. He hadn't heard the details but a few thoughts come to his mind. He knows Silk after all... So he can only imagine what might have gone down in that adventure. What truly happened. His eyes hood ever so slightly at the term 'chimerae' but he says nothing particularly to that. After all, though she may not look like someone with sage knowledge...well..he himself looks about as far from a scholar as one might guess but he's surprisingly well informed. "Still, there are limits to things one does, no? And you were with Silk. Don't go chasing after 'anathema' to quickly now. Sometimes even a distant look can change you." There's a pause and then Fudou grins again, "..Or so I've heard. I've had my own...things to deal with after all.. Being what I do..." His voice trailing off, he turns as if preparing to take his leave now.
Caeleen Selena	Selena takes a step back, hands behind her back and looking pleased that she inspired Elena to open up, hanging on every word that's spoken with purest, almost childishly delighted attention. As soon as the tale's finished she grins like a fiend. "That's sounding like a pretty crazy adventure. The sort all good tales about Scavenger Lords are made of. You really took on some kind of monster of the Wyld? Speaking of books, you could probably write a book about this adventure to spread the tale. I even know some people who can help make that happen." She grins lopsidedly as if daring Elena to take her up on that one. "Let me know next time you're planning on a trip like that!"
Nine Roads Alani	Aw, heck, I'm a crap writer," Elena answers. Despite her tan she's blushing like a schoolgirl. "But next time we go tomb hunting I'll definitely look you up!"