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Imperfect Brazen Mantra	The giant form of Brazen makes her way into the arena- she's dusty from the road, but has decided to head right here rather than freshening up first. She has a gourd hung over her back by a thick braided rope, which seems to be the only possession she carries besides the clothes on her back. As if her height weren't enough to pick her out from the crowd her wild mane of red hair likely helps. She pauses near the entrance to the stands, looking around for a moment, heedless to the smaller people weaving their way around her.
Fudou the Mountain	The season long Congregation of Victory has not lessened its grip on Great Forks one bit. Along with the raucous festivals of a thousand gods and ten thousand revelers, dens of drug and iniquity, houses of gambling and drinking, are the parties, tourists and otherwise sight seeing addled visitors to the city who are amassed to see the sights of organized by the Consortium. And then there are the fights. The many, many fights. Rumor has travelled far and wide at this point of the particpants and the stellar battles. Mortals (supposedly) defeating Immaculate Monks. A fae touched alchemist facing off against an exigent who wielded music as a weapon and another one gifted with a great vigor of exigence...a scion of a south eastern god of size and strength who has devestated others in the arena, including the alchemist. A swordswoman of peerless skill and lightning speed and many others. The fights have only escalated in intensity as entrants have been weeded out and the strong have emerged from the weak but no shortage of battles are occuring and in fact, several go on now in designated areas within the massive arena and the afternoon crowds, though lighter by far then the evening ones, enjoy the spectacle. One such observant is...easily seen as he watches from a large and mostly empty training yard on the outskirts of the main arena but with view of the battlefield. Fudou cuts a signifigant and imposing figure after all and if asked after, the rumor of the Exigent of Strength seems to be referring to him. For now he quietly observes the bout between two martial artists with his massive arms folded and great iron weights, some bent and some buckled, strewn around him among the cracked and sundered ground. It would not take long to spot him, needless to say, though he remains unaware of the presence of the great tromping red haired titaness.
Imperfect Brazen Mantra	Mantra spies the hulking figure from a mile off, and begins making her way towards him- he's a familiar face, after all, and likely a good enough source of information. She wades through the crowd, which either move or are moved by her as she passes through. She casts her gaze towards the fights going on now and then as she passes them, keeping an eye out for anyone that might catch her interest, but she seems more keen on reaching the giant further in. When she draws near, she raises a hand in greeting and shouts- a sonorous noise that carries over the general din of the arena- "Hail." and heads closer over towards him. She notes the weights strewn about, briefly, but her attention soon goes back to the Mountain. "Seems the rumors are true."
Fudou the Mountain	"Weeeellll!" Fudou's heavy bass voice rumbles out with a great cheerful roll as he hears her distinct voice wash over him. His grin becomes big, full toothed and friendly as he unfolds his swamp tree thick arms and turns his attention towards the approaching giantess, swivelling on his heels and grinding his weight into the ground as he looks on her with a bright gaze. His upraised eyebrows lift high above his rounded spectacles and he lifts one great arm up to gesture at Brazen and then beckon her towards him. "Look who it is! I was wondering where you'd disappeared to, luv. You fell off the face of Creation. Maybe -literally-, eh? Why if I didn't think you would light me on fire that could not be doused...I would hug you!" He inclins his head as he drops an arm, "What rumors do you speak of, mmm? About me? Hn. Only believe the worst ones, eh?"
Imperfect Brazen Mantra	Brazen finishes crossing the distance between them, and grins herself- baring those chimp-fangs she has. "Truer than you might think. I spent some times in the Hundred Kingdoms, but mostly I have been back to..." she looks around the arena. "My little reflection of this place." she says then, gesturing around the arena. "You should visit." she says- not the first time she's suggested it. "I heard there was a tournament going on, and one I wasn't invited to." she says then, folding her arms across her chest. "And a thing or two about it's organizers, for that matter."
Fudou the Mountain	"Hmm.." Fudou lifts his glasses up and peers around, verifying that the audiences and other fighters have given them their space. Having something of a reputation helps and Brazen isn't exactly unimposing now is she. He gesturs for her to move with him as they tread deeper into the yard and away from the noises. "I would have gone to visit but you disappeared! Then I was chastised verbally by friends and counsel for even considering going. Not very daring some of them. I will still take you on it, assuming these things here die down. I'd like to see if I can at least get The Boar to -notice- me. A feat worthy of an epic poem, no doubt!" He then looks about again, "If you had of been here there's no way you would have missed hearing about this. It's grand and massive but..I wonder..what -exactly- have you heard about the organizers?"
Imperfect Brazen Mantra	Mantra laughs and shakes her head, "Few wish to be noticed by the Boar." she muses. "But if you are, and survive, it would definitely be a tale worth telling." she agrees, following along as Fudou moves. "They're cowards." she says then, "It is an honor to be invited to hell by one of its princes. You'd have my countenance, and no demon of the first circle would dare test me." Still not one for subtlety. "That they are visitors from the imperial Isle, though what they expect to earn for their endeavor I don't know. I would guess targets to hunt, but hunters can easily become prey if they pick their quarry poorly." she gives another toothy grin.
Fudou the Mountain	"Few can be counted among The Chosen. Among the chosen there is only one of me." notes Fudou with a mercurial grin. "..But there is wisdom in knowing when something is folly and not...and while I've been called impetuous, I am not stupid. We will see if it is a worthy endeavor." He seems intent on making good on this promise to visit hell one day, but his mood grows more thoughtful and somber for a moment. "Hmm..it seems you have heard somethings. How so? I suppose I don't know if they are -from- the Isle but there are dealings with the isle yes..." He nods his head in thought and then says, voice lower now, "That much which you have said has truth to it though. What I know is that we believe that they are indeed gathering information on those here who they suspect and that information is being sent. Perhaps sold...to bidders but we don't know if that is Lookshy or The Isle...and they may have names or at least solid guesses. Enough that, depending on how alarming it is to them..it could maybe lead to trouble." He shrugs lightly. He doesn't seem unconcerned but doesn't seem panicked either. "...There was a listening device found and certain conversations overheard. Simply put, many do not want to be the cause of Great Forks facing a potential Hunt or Lookshy finding reason to involve itself. There is a plan to try and find out exactly what is known and intercept the information but I am not sure of its status or if it will be successful."
Imperfect Brazen Mantra	Brazen resists the urge to extol the virtues of the Yozi, instead listening to what Fudou has to say, and nodding along thoughtfully. "Well, I like trouble." she says then, that smirk coming back again. "I suppose I like this place well enough not to wish to bring trouble to it, though. Now, going and finding trouble? That is another matter." she says as she contemplates things for a few moments. "I could enter the tourney, and make a spectacle of myself. Perhaps coax them into showing their hand, that I might bite it off." she muses. "I keep no second face here, and have means of escape that would be deadly to most eager young dragons to follow."
Fudou the Mountain	The behemoth gives a slow growing grin as he hears her. He chuckles and nods his head and then says slowly, "At least once there has been sightings, visibly, of anathema and dragons that responded though....in part it was somewhat staged. However, There are many willing to fight if it comes to it. But you are right, none wish trouble upon Great Forks itself or to raise the ire of The Three and threaten their reign here. I doubt, though, that they would simply roll over for a hunt but it's Lookshy that is a uncertain factor here. EIther way it's not likely to just be 'young dragons' that are raised up. I don't think you should avoid entering the tournament if that's what you wish to do but I don't think that you making a display would draw the hunt out or make that much of a difference here. I think it's too late for that. They wouldn't stop looking for more and maybe would be inclined to make a bigger issue out of it." He quiets and then adds, "I had -thought- about..making some noise elsewhere though. In The Hundred Kingdoms, perhaps, or near it. Creating something to redirect their attention but even then... Hn.. it's only a delaying tactic in the end. One day it's going to have to be escalated and dealt with. There are more of us here in this place alone then I have seen gathered with shahan-ya's. Eventually something's going to have to be done to break them of coming after us."
Imperfect Brazen Mantra	"Old dragons, too. The silver desert is unkind to those who do not know her, and the demon city is less kind still." she retorts. And then sighs, "But, if they aren't likely to give chase, that is less fun." and she shakes her head. She hefts her gourd from over her shoulder and takes a swig from it, spilling some down her chin, before setting it down. She wipes her mouth with the back of a hand. "I'll still enter. And do my best not to make too much of a spectacle." She taps her foot a few times, "As for the hundred kingdoms... there is one in particular in need of a heel to be crushed beneath." she says then. "I'd intended to see to it myself, but I suppose you could come along if you'd like to make some noise out that way." she offers. "And how to stop them? Subjugate them, destroy those that will not bend the knee. Shake the imperial mountain until its roaches come streaming forth and then crush them. Less than that is half measures."
Fudou the Mountain	"I don't disagree." Fudou shakes his head, frowning, "There are many that do not. It may come to that in the end. In fact I think it certainly must as things are now. Many are those that don't want to see such destruction and bloodshed but I'm not going to just sit and die because of the misdirection of some and confusion of others. It's unavoidable..." The giant then slowly looks towards her and he grins abit more, curiousity sparkling as his mood lightens despite the destructive topic at hand. "Something to crush under my heel you say? What kingdom is this that's spurred you on to wipe it out?"
Imperfect Brazen Mantra	"Those who fear war are cowards and idealists. Things cannot change without conflict. Peace is simply accepting things as they are, and giving up on how they could be." The Titaness insists, making a fist with one of her hands before relaxing it again. "Many of creations people think like this. It is something I admire about the demons of hell. Death comes at any time, in many forms in the demon city. The city itself twists and changes, it is spectacular and violent." she explains, "It is awesome and terrible, and its denizens are better for it." She heaves a sigh as Fudou presses her next point, "My birthplace." she says, "Before I took my second breath." she adds a moment later, her grin fading for a moment. "No longer my home, but perhaps it could be again. First though, there are snakes there whos heads need cutting off." she admits as she finds a pillar to lean against, lifting one foot to rest against it. ""
Fudou the Mountain	"Hmm.." To the point she insists on, Fudou falls quiet, eyeing her and thinking. He grunts as he hears her descrption of the city that is hell itself and he simply notes: "I'm a Sword of Luna. Our battles have been in the depths of The Wyld and the horrors it calls forth. It's a different sort of violence but violent nonetheless..." He gives a long pause then and finally says, "There are some I know who might suggest that true strength and power is knowing when to stay ones hand and fight a war in other ways. I'm not skilled enough in words to make that arguemen for them. I think both ideas have merit. There comes a time when you have to fight. When you must fight. But there are ways to win a battle without ever throwing a fist or swinging a sword. Perhaps in many ways that's as satisfying as feeling something break beneath you. To cow a person with just a look or a subtle movement? Or win a friend with a great gesture..? ...Perhaps I do understand... but that is not The Wyld Hunt now is it." He then nods his head and remains more somber as he looks to her. "As to your own problems. If you would free a land that's oppressed I will help you! Just say when. You.... know very well what I can do." This last part is said with a slight grin, "..So I'm sure you know you can count me to do something destructive if necessary. As to the tournament...have you no way to conceal your anima?"
Imperfect Brazen Mantra	Mantra considers that, "Mmm, to crush someone before your will is good as well." she admits then. "I am no wordsmith either, but it is a simple thing to cow those of weak will." she tells him. "As for friends, I've found the best way to get to know someone is to fight them." she offers him a grin. "As well you know." "I care little for the kingdom and its people, really. They cast me into this world and left me to die. I refused. But my once master, his sycophants, I will tear them apart with my bare hands and mount their heads above their palace gates." But again, the subject shifts, and she shifts with it. "I can call upon my own reserves of power, rather than drawing ambient energies in." she admits, "But it galls me to hold so much back in a fight. It is dishonest."
Fudou the Mountain	The giant gives her a grin but then looks more thoughtful as he rubs his bearded jaw. "Well there a few ways to look at it and consider it. FIrst, we are not unwelcome in Great Forks as a matter of policy. Raulluar openly fought using his golden armor and regalia and many could draw conclusions and while a lunar opnely appeared in the stadium and a dynast went after her...it was in part staged and the city was in no uproar. If you show your green flames against a proper opponent, certainly there could be consequences but few know of who and what you are so it might not matter but it -would- be attention gaining. I discovered a means to disguise my anima so all the public sees me as is a powerful Exigent of Strength of ..." Fudou pauses and then waves his hand abit, "I never did make a name up. Anyway... It is up to you. There have been those who have held back and still gained ground. Think on it and if it will benefit you one way or the other."
Imperfect Brazen Mantra	Mantra considers Fudou's words for a while, and then shakes her head, "I suppose we'll see how it goes. Who I end up fighting against." she says then. "Perhaps I won't need to call upon my true strength, perhaps I will. I have not been idle while I have been gone. I have new abilities you've not yet seen. Perhaps we could find somewhere out of the way to have a rematch, if time allows." she says and then pushes away from the pillar she had been leaning against and stretches, fingers clasped above her head, joints popping at the motion. "For now, I have been on the road for a week. I intend to find something to eat, something to drink, and someone to bed, perhaps in that order." she announces. "Tell me, first, who do I speak to to enter my name into this tournament?"
Fudou the Mountain	"I do not know names but if you ask for a member of The Consortium they can guide you." offers Fudou, "As the tournament has been going so long now and they've been arranging matches between those who have already secured victories I can't say I know where or how you would be involved but I can't see them refusing you or any others that want to show their mettle. If it will line their pockets they'll allow it." He grins slowly, "I trust you will use your better judement on revealing your true capabilities. Sometimes..a person just wants to win, after all.."