• [22:07] <Holmes> Thomas waits at a stall in the market for his contact to arrive. Choola the bronze dealer had told him that somebody wanted to see him. If that was true, they were now very late. The terrifically hot sun beat down mercilessly.
• [22:10] <Thomas_Stern> Its been a long series of days without anything in the way of pay, and the lean and hungry look on the faces of his squires keeps Thomas from simply walking away. Instead he paces back and forth slowly, fingering the goods with casual disinterest as he waits. Dinan, the yonger, is sent for water after a few minutes, and then the silent pacing resumes.
• [22:12] <Holmes> At last, a man approaches, on horseback. He looks like he might not be able to walk, actually, due to advanced age. Still, he has a self-confident demeanor.
• [22:12] <Holmes> "Are you To-mas?" he asks.
• [22:15] <Thomas_Stern> Thomas steps out quickly, a combination of edginess and warrior's speed giving him alacrity. "I am," he runs an eye over the man, trying to find the correct honorific for him as well as trying to gauge the man's price.
• [22:15] <Holmes> The old man is distracted from Thomas's response by the passing of, of all things, a girl with wings.
• [22:16] <Holmes> He turns to Thomas,
• [22:16] <Holmes> "I want you to be my champion, and her, too."
• [22:17] <Thomas_Stern> In the course of his travels, Thomas has seen many things. A girl with wings, however, is enough to draw even his eye for a moment. Still watching her more than the man he querries, "Champion?"
• [22:40] <Holmes> He appears to Thomas to likely be a tribal elder. Too proud to quit riding.
• [22:40] <Holmes> As such, he may potentially have quite a lot of wealth.
• [22:41] <Holmes> On the other hand, wealth for these people isusually in horses.
• [22:41] <Holmes> Regina, at another booth notices the old man pointing at her.
• [22:42] * Regina blinks. thats awefully rude...
• [22:42] <Thomas_Stern> She would probably notice Thomas looking at her too, as he speaks with the old man.
• [22:43] * Regina smirks a little bit - handsome guy worht at leats taking a look, maybe he has soemthing she can gain for her own uses.
• [22:43] <Holmes> "Yes, I want you to act as my champion in a challenge. I've earned the right to have a champion. Champions," he corrects himself.
• [22:45] <Thomas_Stern> Thomas nods to the old man, giving him the slight deffence due to a tribal elder. "And what, sir, is the nature of this challange. And why the winged one?" He keeps his voice strong and stern, practical warrior words.
• [22:45] * Regina concetraits on them, trying to see if they have anything of use to her
• [22:47] <Holmes> "She must be a sign," he says enigmatically. "Another elder has challenged my right to continue to rule the tribe. I have to fight to stay. I choose you to fight for me."
• [22:48] <Holmes> "And a winged woman will bring us luck."
• [22:48] <Holmes> He points again at Regina.
• [22:49] <Thomas_Stern> Thomas nods slowly, "Wings are a portent." He looks again to Regina, making eye contact if she lets him. "If she accepts, I accept -- but my price is steep."
• [22:50] <Holmes> "I understand you fight well? You will make it worth your cost? Then the price is fair, yes?"
• [22:51] <Thomas_Stern> I am always fair, and my price is always worth the service. I fight very well, especially when protecting someone.
• [22:56] <Holmes> Regina tries to peirce the veil that hides the spirit world, her charm glowing slightly as she does. But there's too many distractions in the marketplace, and she can't tell if either of them have what she'd looking for.
• [22:57] * Regina sighs and wlaks voer to them, might as well talk.
• [23:00] <Holmes> After a while, they set the price in terms of a fairly nice mare, of the hardy Rhiani breed.
• [23:03] <Regina> " soo,, what are you two up to?
• [23:04] <Regina> "
• [23:04] <Holmes> "You will aid this warrior in a challenge on my behalf," says the ancient man.
• [23:05] <Thomas_Stern> Thomas finishes negotiating with the elder and turns to Regina, "He wants to hire you to be a champion, and me as well. He's willing to pay quite well." He looks at the girl's wings as he speaks, an odd expression on his stern face.
• [23:05] <Regina> "i see...."
• [23:05] <Thomas_Stern> "Do you have skills at warcraft?
• [23:06] <Regina> " what kinda championing we talking about" she crosses her arms calmly and looks the both over.
• [23:07] <Holmes> "You will fight another champion who fights for my opponent."
• [23:07] <Thomas_Stern> "How many will he have?
• [23:07] <Regina> " i see.... i suppose tis possible, but since i;m a trader i'll need a goodly deal of recompense"
• [23:07] <Holmes> "I do not know. One I think."
• [23:08] <Holmes> "What do you need winged one?" says the old man with a clear look in his tired eyes.
• [23:08] <Thomas_Stern> "She should get a good price, as she isn't a warrior. You're asking more of her than you are of me.
• [23:15] <Holmes> He argues in return that she'll only have to aid. In return, he promises to obtain for her a small charm for finding water - common in these parts.
• [23:16] <Thomas_Stern> Thomas's face closes down into a mask of disaproval at that, but he doesn't try to do the woman's negotiating for her.
• [23:16] * Regina sighs and agrees. at leats tis a freebie, so she can make some returns on it back in hthe desert.
• [23:17] <Holmes> Follow me, he says. The challenge begins soon.

• [23:20] <Holmes> Rharohi considers his duty to the tribe here. He's not really a warrior, yet, with the warriors off fighting the Green Moon tribe, it made sense for Karohal to come to him.
• [23:22] <Holmes> Moorak was old, and crazy, and needed to be removed as an elder. So it was his job to be champion for Karohal. In any case, given that Moorak was crazy, who would be his champion? Likely he'd end up not having to fight anyhow.
• [23:24] <Holmes> Looking up across the circle, Rharohi was startled to see a foriegner in armor, and, odder, a winged girl, following Moorak.
• [23:25] <Holmes> They crossed the edge of the Challenge ring, slightly messing up some of the symbols that made it.
• [23:25] * Rharohi*[bob] shakes his head, then picks up his knife and spear
• [23:25] <Holmes> "I have a champion, Karohal. It is time."
• [23:26] <Holmes> The old man's face did not change, but still somehow a sense of glee could be detected in his visage.
• [23:27] * Rharohi*[bob] walks to the edge of the challenge ring... then makes a sign of reverence to the ancestors...then stpes neatly within
• [23:27] <Thomas_Stern> Thomas speaks quickly to Regina, "Stay behind me, try to strike from a distance. You have the Shield of the Swan before you, do not be afraid to rely upon it." As he speaks his eyes scan Rharohi closely, noting weapons and armor and anything else that seems dangerous.
• [23:31] * Regina just giveshim a bit of a look and then peeks over at the oponnent before her.
• [23:51] <Thomas_Stern> After he's spoken to the girl, Thomas moves in fast. He tries to establish a strong central position, giving Regina plenty of safety room behind him. Using his sword to batter the other man's spear he slams at him with his sheild, using his strength and training to batter him towards the edge.

Session Time: Sat Jan 17 00:00:00 2004

• [00:00] <Holmes> Rharohi has never fought against this tactic, and, taken aback, is almost driven from the ring, leaving Thomas in good position.
• [00:27] <Holmes> Rharohi unleashes the power of the Blood Hoof? Spirit and in a tumbling assault with his spear manages to get around Thomas, and brign them both back to the center of the ring.
• [00:41] <Holmes> The two warriors clash in the middle of the ring. Rharohi counters Thomas' flurry,and they're locked in together for a moment, able to feel each other's breath coming in gusts now.
• [00:55] <Holmes> Rharohi tries a tricky move to double under Thomas' shield, but Thomas catches it and turns it on him. They struggle on the ground, but eventually Thomas uses his tremendous strength to wrap up the Rhiani using his sword to encircle him.
• [00:56] <Holmes> Rharohi submits, and Thomas lets him go. The Rhiani staggers back, in awe of the fighting prowess of this foriegner. His only saving grace is that his opponent is huffinjg as much as he is.
• [00:57] <Holmes> Moorak smiles for the first time.
• [00:57] <Holmes> "I still lead this tribe. I know what portends good luck," he gestures to Regina.
• [00:58] * Regina kinda smirks, despite the fatc she duid zilch*
• [00:58] <Holmes> Karohal shakes his head and retreats into his tent.

• [00:58] <Thomas_Stern> Thomas bows deeply to Regina, "Thank you lady, your beauty and... enthusiasm" he thumps the side of his helmet where she hit him with a grin, "saved the day." He nods to Moorak as the man speaks, and then gives a respectful nod to his opponent.