Session 33: Enter the Arena

General Summary

Riding back into Harasan, the party found that the words of their deeds had proceeded them as a result of Jeanne's letter to the Emir. The trip back, however, seemed to have been rougher for some of them. Um now seemed to have aged even further and resembled a man of the age of eighty. Despite this, people flocked to witness the group they now called the Dragonslayers of Harasan. In response, Nakor began to throw out silver coins to the masses. The party made their way through town and back to the Swift Mermaid. There a debate began when Jeanne posed that they should employ an alchemist for the ship, who could provide them with potions like the ones they used in the battle with the dragons. The party unanimously agreed and Nakor made a flyer that was put up in the town square.   Later that day, the party went to the arena to witness that night's entertainments, which was finalized by a show where a party resembling the party was pitted against a gagged drake. The spectacle ended with them slaying the supposed dragon. Before and during the fights the party was seated in a special booth where they enjoyed all the luxuries of the higher class. Afterwards, they went out to be met by the adoring crowds. Nakor decided to put on a show and created an illusion that depicted a dramatized version of the events with the dragons. Never having seen a dragon before, the crowd was entranced and accepted this show as the absolute truth, for they had now seen it with their own eyes. Jeanne, being uncomfortable with all this attention, took on a disguise to blend with the crowd.   The group then visited the Master Mountain Respite, the local tavern which Nakor had been to before. There the patrons offered the party drinks all night long in a tavern that had never seen so much business in almost a century, but the people of Harasan could not miss the opportunity to mingle with the dragonslayers. Jeanne took on the role of a barmaid, to still keep an eye on her party. At midnight, however, Um disappeared only to reappear as a thirteen-year-old version of himself. Following this, he was promptly thrown out for being too young. But with the aid of Nakor, he was made invisible so that he could keep drinking with the group.   The next day the group decided, on Jeanne's initiative, to visit the arena once more to try their own luck in the pits. To this end, Jeanne took the guise of Josephine Trevelyan. When they arrived Connwas listed immediately, being a dragonslayer and all. Josephine was also entered after being endorsed by Conn. Nakor wished not to join, but wished only to take part in the betting since magic was not permitted in the arena. Um on the other hand was disallowed to join because of his age, with people thinking him his own son.   That night the fights took place. Um and Nakor were once again seated like royalty and made some hefty bets, both themselves and on the behalf of Jeanne. The first to fight was Jeanne, who was pitted against a half-orc named Krork Deathsnarl. An opponent that she quickly dispatched, denying him a single hit. This came to the surprise and joy of the crowd, for who doesn't enjoy an underdog. Conn on the other hand was pitted against the local champion, Leif the Bear. A giant morngardian man wielding an ax in each hand. The fight was a bit longer than Jeanne's but in the end, Conn managed to best his foe. After collecting their rewards, the party left the arena and headed back to the Mountain Master Respite.