18+ The Corrupted Guardian: Death in the Family

Nathan was not humiliated at the crowds insults. He was going to refrain from talking back, but was unable to resist this time. "How about one of you sorry pricks come over here and I show you which one of us makes a better warrior!" He shouted back.

The lead evaluator made Nathans skin crawl. He talked like he was proud of everyone but Garret, then he had Garret tortured. "You sick son of a bitch!" Nathan shouted, pointing an accusing finger at the man. He almost expected a beating, but had no regrets. He couldn't stress enough how much he believed in freedom of speech and freedom itself. It's why he used to live away from here, he realized, moving to the city had been the wrong choice.

After the torture on Garret stopped they were faced with killing the warriors who survived the fight, Nathan had the one who's eye had been taken out. He looked down at a man that he had once looked at and seen hatred, like the rest, but now he realizes this man is just a pawn of the games too. Nathan felt guilty for taking out his eye in the fight. Nathan went down on one knee and whispered in the mans ear. "What is your name?" He asked. He was silent a moment, considering whether or not to tell him. "Felkarim." He finally said, Nathan wasn't sure if he could repeat it and pronounce it correctly. He nodded.

"Be done with it already." Spat the pig headed piece of ass Nathan knew only to be the lead evaluator.

"I'm sorry this is how it has to end." Nathan said, through gritted teeth. He gripped the blade with all his strength, his knuckles going white, his muscles tensing with veins surfacing. He was almost going to do something stupid and get himself killed, would he even make it the evaluator in time to kill him?

The man tilted his neck slightly, "AARRRGGHH" Shouted Nathan as he thrust the sword down the mans neck and into his body. He took the blade from the mans body, and threw it on the floor away from him. He looked at his hands, red. He put his arms back down by his side, eyes open wide, staring at the crumpled body beneath him. He ran his fingers through his hair, but then began to grip it. He had just smeared blood on his forehead and through his hair without thinking, he had done the unthinkable. What would his father think?
His sister?
The thoughts drove him mad.

"I'm one of them..." He whispered. "I'm one of them." He said. His knees felt weak and he struggled to not drop to them, Gidian, Belzubub, the girls and the other guys would consider him weaker than they already do. "No." He said boldly. "No." He said louder. "I'll never be like you." Nathan said as he raised his head and stared down the evaluator. He was clenching his fists, and had the appearance of a lost man. His eyes filled with hate, bloody face, that cold yet angry expression. He outstretched his left arm toward the evaluator, and raised his middle finger. They may break it, they may take it, but it'll be pointless. Nothing can stop him from showing as much disrespect as he could.

He had hoped others would join him, but he knew they would likely not. "I'm not your pawn, you twisted piece of pl*ps."

Nathan was asking for a beating, he could only imagine the insults to Nathans intelligence Gidian and the Orc would be saying in their minds. "Bring it on." Nathan was thinking, "Bring it on."

After the fight was over, Garret was exhausted. The wound on his leg was getting worse, and he made new scars all over his left hand while fighting the dark elf. He breathed in slowly, but heavily to recover his stamina, grinning at Nathan, who shouted back at the crowd that insulted him. The others were starting to recover, most feeling quite well after a won battle, but Garret could barely stand on his feet. Most of the crowd cheered for Belzebub, but some cheered for Garret and Gidian as well. Truth was, all showed their prowess in battle.

The lead evaluator and his guard entered the room, making everyone put down their weapons. Garret managed to recover a dagger from one of his foes and hid it inside his boot, like he usually does, but he threw down the sword at the sight of the Lead Evaluator. He kept his eye masked by his cloak, Garret had a bad feeling about the entire situation. The guards were looking at him funny, whispering and pointing towards him. The breton couldn't really understand why, he thought himself a fair fighter. “That one will have to learn to wait for the command.” the lead evaluator pointed at Garret, who still didn't fully understand what was he talking about. All of Garret's new friends received a weapon, and the enemies were placed on their knees in a line. Garret received nothing, and so it dawned upon him, that the lead evaluator wanted them to execute their targets after combat. His words did nothing but to further strengthen Garret's ideas

"You have all, excepting that idiot," the lead evaluator pointed out Garret, "Done extremely well." He looked at Maere. "You have waited for our command to kill. Something most... candidates don't take the time for when we bring them in here. This," he pointed again at Garret, "is just a taste of what will happen to those who fail to comply with this one small detail."


Garret was aproached by an elite guard. He raised his arms, signaling he wants no form of punishment. The guard was masked by his helmet, but by the way he walked Garret could tell he was confident. Both of his arms were grabbed by two other guards from behind, and Garret was fully surprised. What manner of torture will be brought down on him? As the elite guard kept aproaching, Garret tried to resist at first, headbutting one of the guards that restrained him from behind, and kicking the elite guard in the chest to keep him back. That only made things worse.

The guards tightened their grip, and the elite grabbed Garret's good leg and punched heavily at the knee. Garret muffled his screams of pain the best he could as the elite punched his stomach, following with an uppercut to his face that made the hood fall off Garret's head. The elite guard took a step back and, as he waved his hands forward, he struck Garret with rays and bolts of lightning, crawling over his entire body, but focused on his chest, and his wounded leg. His wounds fealt way worse than before, and the shock left Garret's mind and body weakened. They managed to break him. After the guards released him, he fell to the ground, unconcious.

The others had handled the forced execution better than Gidian had expected. He himself had not been phased much by the killing, but rather that it was on the orders of a fool. Gidian's face was now impassive and unreadable, like a mask.

Skadi was trying to act like it hadn't bothered her, and was doing a good job of it. She'd had plenty of practice with many of the assassin's who'd tried to kill her in the palace. Gidian thought she'd be used to it by now, but she eventaully paled and shook slightly. Some things never changed, Gidian supposed.

Maere, naturally, was horrified and was probably going to be sick. That would be a shame, as Gidian would give her no reprieve. Garret would need healing soon.

Nathan was foolish enough to ask for the man's name. That was a bad way to come to terms with an execution. The more personal the kill, the more it haunts. At least, in Gidian's experience. Nathan then decided he could hold his temper no longer, and began to insult the evaluators. Gidian thought him a fool. he had no idea what he was bringing on himself. He would have to learn to control himself.

Belzebub seemed to come to an understanding with the man he was to execute, and a warrior's understanding passed between them before Belzebub gave him death.

Alleras looked as if he wanted more Skooma, but knew better than to pull it out in front of the evaluators and guards. Addicts were often unpredictable, and Gidian had no idea what crossed this one's mind as Alleras executed the man before him.

After the deed was done, the guards took the weapons, then some of the lower ranking grunts hauled away the bodies to be disposed of. Gidian didn't dwell on the possible means by which they would be disposed. Probably end up thrown away like trash somewhere.

The guards' weapons and body language made it clear that the group was to remain where they were standing, side by side in a line. Any transgressor's would be shot was the unspoken message. The lead evaluator looked pleased with himself, and so did many of the other evaluators. Some of them looked decidedly uncomfortable, to their credit. But very few. One of them recognized Gidian from the palace. He was deathly pale, and looked as if he was going to either die of a heart attack or bolt, whichever he could accomplish first. Gidian singled the man out with his gaze, though he kept his face impassive. The man made an almost undetectable squeak before sinking deeper into his chair. None of the other evaluators noticed it, and the guards were too focused on the group to pay it any attention. Some of Gidian's fellow prisoners may have, though he was unsure. Most of them were focused on the lead evaluator, who was about to begin talking again.

It appeared Gidian's not so well known repuatation had followed him even here. If the rest of the evaluators ever saw Gidian's armor, he imagined they would sober up as well. But it was for Gidian to know why, and the others to wonder about. It was nothing to be proud of, but it might be useful later.

"Wonderfully done!" The lead evaluator exclaimed, he and some of the authors giving a sarcastic round of applause. The lead evaluator was giving Nathan an amused look. "Now, I think you should all be aware of a few things. We," the lead evaluator gestured to himself and the others, "control almost every aspect of your lives now. You are ours. We control what you eat, where you sleep, what you wear, and so much more. But most importantly," He smiled menacingly, "We control who you fight." His eyes were still on Nathan. Now, he addressed the others with his gaze, and nodded approvingly. "Congratulations. You passed the evaluations. Now you have a choice..." The evaluator paused for dramatic effect, "will you fight together?" the evaluator now raised a fist as he paced back and forth dramatically behind the desk, as if he was a general addressing his troops. "Or will any of you go your seperate ways? Find your own way, your own team to join?" He stopped again and put his hands on the table, trying to lean forward over it, though it was a humorous sight with his protruding belly. "Or would any of you dare risk forging your own path? To achieve greatness alone, the highest form of greatness any in the world can achieve. Would you..." He leaned farther forward over the table, "go it alone?"

Several emotions flowed through the group, and there were several reactions as each weighed their chances and options. Gidian, still unreadable, had taken a place beside Skadi. That was his mission for now. She was his charge, and he would keep her alive to the best of his abilities. There was too much to lose to leave her to her own devices. The others, after they'd had time to ponder it, joined Gidian and Skadi in a new line. The choice was being made for Garret, who was in condition to respond himself. That left Alleras, who remained off to the side, by himself. The lead evaluator nodded, and said, "Very well. You have all made your choice." He nodded his head to the Elite Guard, who in turn organized the other guards and gave them their orders. The larger squad would escort the newest team, while three others escorted Alleras out of the room by himself, going a different way. The evaluators, for the most part, mingled with themselves, laughing and joking as they left the room their own way. The guards were not patient or sympathetic, and had tried to haul Garret to his feet. Gidian had to restrain himself, the only visible sign of his struggle the tightening of his right hand. Nathan told them in his unique way that Garret needed healing, and Maere backde him up. The guards simply dropped him, and gave Maere a few minutes to heal what she could before rushing the group on their way out of the room.

The guards took many twists and turns, so many that Gidian was quickly lost. The place seemed to have been built for the purpose of keeping the occupants disorientated. Only Skadi seemed to remain sure of the path they were taking. The walls were simple stone or brick, with torches and other forms of lighting to see. It was uncomfortabely hot, though the higher ranking guards didn't show any sign of discomfort. Gidian sensed they had ascended and descended many times along the path, taking stairs both down and up. After what seemed like an age of walking, Gidian and the others were finally led to a large and sturdy reinforced door. "Door" was a poor way to describe it. It was practically a small gate, large enough for the group to comfortably walk through it three at a time. The Elite Guard unlocked the door's obscene amount of locking mechanisms before giving it a great shove to get it open.

On the other side of the door was a massive room with seemingly inumerable amounts of cells. "Two to a cell. Just pick one that's open. You have ten minutes, then you will be escorted to the mess hall. Make yourselves at home." The Elite Guard said in a deep voice, very terse and very matter of factly. The cell doors were not kept locked. It seemed the guards did not care whether the people came or went, as long as they stayed in the large cell room. The doors were made of prison bars. The cells lined the outer edges of the room, leaving a large area in the middle for the prisoners to get exercise. Some of them seemed better off than others, and the place was stocked with training and sparring equipment, as well as some amount of food and water, though it wasn't enough to merit missing proper meals for. The unoccupied rooms were built to live in. Thankfully there were actual beds, bunk beds, instead of some sort of brick type affair. There were two sets of drawers for storage. Everything else would have to be acquired by other means.

Some of the already occupied rooms were very nice, at least relatively. They had curtains they could slide over the bars for privacy, had the keys to their doors, nicer beds, nicer furniture, and so on. Some even had carpeting.

The room as a whole was still uncomfortably warm, so many of the prisoners were dressed as functionally as they could. The usually entailed males being shirtless and females covering themseves up only enough to remain modest. Much of the rooms attention was turned to the group as the large door swung closed behind them. The eyes had mixed messages in them, some angry, some hopeful, some hungry, and so on.

"When do we get our weapons and armor?" Gidian asked the Elite Guard casually.
"Soon." was the only answer.

In other words, we could be thrown into the arena soon.

Gidian decided he would give Skadi her privacy. She and Maere would the most comfortable together, or at least he assumed so. He did feel sorry for Maere if she made the choice to bunk with Skadi. The others would get a room on either side, so that no one could get to Skadi's room without first crossing the path of a competant fighter. Ideally, Gidian and Garret would get one side, while Belzebub and Nathan got the other. Gidian knew that he and Belzebub were at least the most intimidating of the group, and it would be best to have at least one of them to either side. Gidian did not like the looks some of the people were giving Skadi and Maere.

Maere watched as everyone made their decision to either stick together or go on their own.

The decision was easy for Maere. She wasn't going to last one moment in this hellhole alone. She needed to stick with Spero. At least that way she would be indirectly protected by Gidian should things get dicey.

She stepped over to where they were, and the others made their way over to them. All aside from Alleras, who seemed unsure.

Maere didn't think the addict would last long on his own, and nearly voiced it, before the lead evaluator spoke aloud.

"Very well. You have all made your choice."

Then, Alleras was taken away, and Garrett, the wounded thief, was dropped to the floor with a sickening thud.

Nathan called out for someone to heal the thief, and Maere immediately rushed over.

She ran her now glowing palm across the bruises that she could see, and those that the thief motioned for as she did her work. The guards looked as if they weren't going to give her enough time to heal him completely, so she tried her best to hurry.

Just as she had suspected, the guards picked both of them off the ground and shoved them toward the others, who had begun walking off to wherever it was they were going to go.

The path to the next room was long, and twisted. It was impossible for Maere to get her bearings, as she could tell was the case for the others.

All except for Spero, who Maere decided was an oddity. Someone who didn't fit in here in the slightest.

The similarities between them were haunting.

Much to Maere's relief, the trail ended. But soon she was on edge again, as every eye in the room was now upon the new faces who had entered.

Hunger, anger, lust; Every emotion played in their eyes, making Maere feel as if she weren't even going to make it out of this room again, let alone the arena.

The guards then stepped back, and she soon discovered they were letting them choose who was to go with who. Then one of them spoke, and her thoughts rang true.

"Two to a cell. Just pick one that's open. You have ten minutes, then you will be escorted to the mess hall. Make yourselves at home."

Maere then looked around, seeing what the others were thinking. She was certain Gidian and Spero were going to share a room, at least until Gidian gave Spero some distance.

Maere, unsure of what to do, or who to follow, went after the only plausible option left to her.

She went to Spero, and spoke in an unsure whisper. "Spero? Would you mind me sharing a cell with you? I'm not so sure I would do well rooming with any of the others."

Belzebub was given the option of staying and forming a group with the people he had been fighting with or to go off on his own. While certainly an intimidating warrior who was confident in his abilities, even he knew that it would be hard to survive as a long warrior in the Arena. No, he figured it was best to stay with those he had at already introduced himself too.

Naturally, all this thought was done in silence without any sign of his decision making an outward appearance. Nobody but Belzebub knew why he made his decision. Perhaps no one ever would.

The group was led down a series of mazelike passageways. Belzebub began to drone out, not caring about the layout of the prison area. Having been through so many mazelike areas already, trying to memorize anything would have just been too much of a mental workload. It seemed to him that nobody would be able to do it, but he looked at Spero and noticed she was certainly trying.

They made it into the cell area, and much to his surprise the cells seemed to be somewhat comfortable. Then again, living in Orcish settlements and inn all his life did not exactly establish within him high standard. Perhaps to the others it was a terrible place. But anyway, they would need to decide who would bunk with whom. They had ten minutes before lunch.

The surprise of that day seemed to be when Gidian bunked with Garret. Certainly Belzebub was not the only one who had assumed Gidian would bunk with Spero. For the first time, Belzebub began to be a bit interested in what the relationship was between the two. Certainly, when they were fighting there had been little time to wonder of such things. However, it would be for Gidian to tell and not for him to ask. He made a point of reinforcing in his mind that he wouldn't ask.

Thus, that left him with Nathan. Nathan had proven himself capable with bow and arrow, and he had certainly proven to be a strong spirit. No amount of Guard abuse would be able to get through his thick skull. Belzebub appreciated that. They took the room left of Spero, with Gidian and Garret on the room on the right. That was the greatest amount of safety that Spero could be provided from the other prisoners. It was highly doubtful anyone would want to mess with Belzebub or Gidian.

Belzebub lay down on his bed, and shut his eyes. He hadn't slept and he knew he couldn't sleep, but that did not change how good it felt to be on any form of bedding.

Gidian took some of Garret's weight as he silently chose a room as close to the entrance as he could, though it wasn't so easy as he had to find three unoccupied cells in a row. When he did, he motioned for Skadi to take the one in the middle as he walked with Garret to the one on the right. Not being one of the most formal of people, Gidian unceremoniously dropped Garret onto the bottom bunk.

Belzebub and Nathan had chosen the cell on the left of Skadi, and Maere, as expected, had elected to bunk with Skadi. Maere had whispered something to Skadi, and the next thing he knew, they were sharing a room.

With most everything taken care of, Gidian sighed and stretched, then winced due to his bruises while he removed his jacket. The temperature really was uncomfortable to be in a huge confinement area like this place. He wasn't even sure if they were above ground or not. Whatever the case, he didn't much care. It was much too soon to make any attempt to break out, and the group didn't seem to be in a mood to talk or plan anything. And the guards had also lingered around, though they kept their distance.

Gidian through his jacket onto the top bunk, then dextrously followed it up. He rolled it into an improvised pillow, and laid his head back on it. If no one was going to talk, he figured he might as well think. His mind drifted back to the evaluator that had been terrified, wondering if he'd recognized Skadi as well and spread the word. Come to think of it, he wondered if the Emperor even knew he and Skadi were in the arena. He doubted it. Skadi's sister was no slouch when it came to matters of intrigue or espionage. He supposed he would find out soon enough if that was the case, and dismissed it. It was out of his control. And e doubted the evaluator had recognized Skadi. He had likely been too focused on Gidian to even notice she was there, and if he had recognized her, there's no doubt he would've tried to arrange for her separation from the group, and eventually, elimination. Skadi's anonymity and seclusion had done her a great service so far, as most people in Tamriel had never seen her nor heard her voice. But that brought to mind another mystery. The Emperor himself seemed to be unaware of Skadi's existence at times. It was downright unnatural the way she could avoid notice like that, older sister's protection or not.

And then there was the matter of what she was doing trying to make a sword. How'd she even know how to make one? She was a surprisingly good mimic he supposed. The only explanation was that she simply learned by watching him while she sat in the forge, and practiced during the times he was sent off on missions.

Missions... unpleasant memories surfaced in his mind, and suddenly he saw his hands covered in blood. He recoiled and winced, and with a blink the blood was gone. Just his imagination. He brought a hand to his forehead and massaged it, trying to collect himself. He was thankful Garret seemed to be too out of it to notice, and the others seemed to occupied in their own "rooms".

After they had slain their defenseless 'opponents', some grunts took the bodies to be disposed of. Nathan pictured them rotting away with the city's trash.

"Wonderfully done!" The lead evaluator exclaimed, he and some of the others giving a sarcastic round of applause . The lead evaluator was giving Nathan an amused look. Nathan felt a slight worry wash over him, but he did well in keeping his face void of fear.

"Now, I think you should all be aware of a few things. We," the lead evaluator gestured to himself and the others, "control almost every aspect of your lives now. You are ours. We control what you eat, where you sleep, what you wear, and so much more. But most importantly," He smiled menacingly, "We control who you fight." His eyes were still on Nathan. Now, he addressed the others with his gaze, and nodded approvingly. Nathan gave a half smile, and gave a solid look back at the evaluator, one foot in the grave.

"Congratulations. You passed the evaluations. Now you have a choice..." The evaluator paused for dramatic effect, "will you fight together?" the evaluator now raised a fist as he paced back and forth dramatically behind the desk, as if he was a general addressing his troops. "Or will any of you go your seperate ways? Find your own way, your own team to join?" He stopped again and put his hands on the table, trying to lean forward over it, though it was a humorous sight with his protruding belly. "Or would any of you dare risk forging your own path? To achieve greatness alone, the highest form of greatness any in the world can achieve. Would you..." He leaned farther forward over the table, "go it alone?"

Alleras was the only one choosing to go alone, for whatever reason. Every one else joined Gidian and Spero. "Very well. You have all made your choice." He nodded his head to the Elite Guard, who in turn organized the other guards and gave them their orders. The larger squad would escort the newest team, while three others escorted Alleras out of the room by himself, going a different way. Nathan gave him one last look as he was taken away. The evaluators spoke amongst themselves cheerfully, and Nathan thought of how much he would snjoy watching them die.

To get to their cells they took a ridiculous amount of twist and turns, only to be led to a giant gate. Nathan didn't try to remember them, no matter what happened he would die in that arena, and he considered himself to be already in it. To the evaluators this was a game, Nathan a pawn.

If the guards have to make that trip every time, it is a waste having such a complicated path when here is this impenetrable gate sealing the prisoners away. Unless this itself is the arena, which Nathan surly doubted, it was ridiculous to have a path so complicated.

When the door was finally opened the Elite Guard informed them they had 10 minutes before they'd be going to the mess hall, and told the prisoners to make themselves at home. Nathan figured the mess hall would be where they ate, and possibly where Nathan would be punished. Gidian strategically had a place next to Spero's cell, and Nathan was left with Belzebub on the other side of them. Nathan knew this was due to the Orcs undoubtably ferocious strength and fighting capabilities, not anything to do with Nathan, but he didn't mind.

It was an odd pairing, Nathan and Belzebub, the Orc rested on the bottom bunk which left Nathan to the top. He would not utilize this advantage for rest, lest he drop his ready and aware mentality. Nathan didn't disturb the Orc, but Belzebub didn't seem to have any condescendence toward Nathan.

There were prisoners already here, of course, exercising and some conversing. They would either join an alliance or need to kill these men and women, if it comes down to them meeting in the arena. Nathan situated himself out into the open, observing his competition.

As Garret's eyes slowly opened, he could only see the wall he was placed next too. He was in pain, but he could still move and think clearly. That room wasn't the room he was in before, someone must have moved them elsewhere. As he silently turned around he could see Gidian laying on the ground rubbing his forehead. He wanted to get up to his feet but it seemed unnecessary. Being "punished" affected Garret's mood quite a bit. He chuckled a bit as he replied with a somewhat sickly voice "What's wrong? Did they hurt poor Gidian?"

"You of all people should know that these idiots lack the capacity to 'hurt' poor old me." It was not a boast, but more a somber remark recalling memories past. "I'm a little surprised you feel entitled to complain, with that long nap. I remember you being made of sterner stuff than that. At least you didn't break down and scream."

"I don't remember screaming...I don't remember much, actually.." he was honest. After his sleep he could not tell what were his dreams or what was reality. "Besides-" he laid his back next to the wall "I'm getting old...It's been years since I've been caught. Heh, serves me right for dealing with nobles in the Imperial City." "Well you probably don't remember screaming because you didn't. All that training for keeping quiet through the toe stubs payed off for something." Gidian then stood and stretched, and nodded to the comment abut the nobles. Garret paused for a moment as he inspected Gidian "I'm surprised you're here. I remember you are good at following rules"
Hmph. Maybe that was my problem to begin with." Next he rubbed the bruises on his back, them agitating him a bit from all the movement. Noticing Garret's patronizing look, he quickly stopped the movement. "Glad to know the Guild still remembers me as a real boy scout." There was a very somber undertone to his voice, that hinted at something hidden below the surface.

He sighed in a displeased way "They don't, but I do. Well, so I think, haven't been to the Thieves Guild a couple years." Garret started to notice how hot it was in their new cell. He started removing his clothes only to further see how limited his painless movement was. His knee was close to being shattered but the pain came from many open wounds around it. This time he failed to muffle his pained moans. Hoping Gidian didn't notice, he quickly changed the subject "What about you? How has your line of work improved?" he asked as he got his jacket off.

Gidian stood quiet for a few moments "I try not to think about it."

Garret noticed how Gidian subtly avoided the question. It was clear to him that whatever happened since they last met wasn't pleasant, and he left it at that. It wasn't the time to exchange stories anyway. After some moments of silence Garret spoke again. "You wanna leave this place, don't ya? There's no need to fight in the arena, the shadowmark in the first room will reveal an escape route." he briefly paused as he looked Gidian in the eyes "Forget the others, if you grab your sister we can sneak out and leave this pl***-pile of a city."

His words were displayed with a serious tone. Garret was never cruel, but he valued survival above all else, and assumed Gidian shared that trait.
After a few moments of thinking, Gidian began, "It could work..." after a few more moments, he continued, "But, many of the guards and soldiers have been hired from backgrounds of a more... criminal nature. I wouldn't be surprised if many of them knew about, and even used some of these secrets themselves. Not only that, but some of the higher-ups aren't quite so clean themselves... Hmmm... I suppose it certainly is not as risky as the arena. Especially if it's just you, me, and the girl. But answer me this... plenty of other thieves have been dragged through this place. Why hasn't even oneever succeeded in escape before now? You know the reports just as well as I do."

Garret smiled at Gidian's words. "Their names don't start with a G'" he broke into laughter after his own joke. "We're gonna have to try, at least. If they catch us they just throw us back in the arena. They can't afford to loose good fighters such as myself. They might kill you though..." he chuckled a little. His mood shifted from serious to joking quite fast. He liked doing that, it confused people, which helped a lot. Made him unpredictable. "We'l have to be careful, analyze the guards, their patters, maybe do a little bribe here and there. Nothing is impossible, Gid."

"Something like this will take time. We'll have to play along for awhile. Might end up having to survive a few fights. In the mean time... I advice you not piss off the man you're sharing a cell with." With that, Gidian reclaimed the top bunk.

Hmph he thought to himself This man can't take a joke. He placed his jacket under his head as he tried to recollect his thoughts.

"What's wrong? Did they hurt poor Gidian?"


Gidian was slightly startled to hear Garret's sickly voice, especially at that exact moment. He'd fallen off the top bunk after seeing his hand covered in blood. Years of training kept him from reacting too surprised at Garret's sudden intrusion on his thoughts. Gidian glared at his old... well he doubted they were friends after all this time. They had never exactly gotten along with each other to begin with, though that fault mostly laid on Gidian's shoulders.

"You of all people should know that these idiots lack the capacity to 'hurt' poor old me." It was not a boast, but more a somber remark recalling memories past. "I'm a little surprised you feel entitled to complain, with that long nap. I remember you being made of sterner stuff than that. At least you didn't break down and scream."

"I don't remember screaming...I don't remember much, actually.. Besides-" he laid his back next to the wall "I'm getting old...It's been years since I've been caught. Heh, serves me right for dealing with nobles in the Imperial City." he paused for a moment as he inspected Gidian, "I'm surprised you're here. I remember you are good at following rules"


"Well you probably don't remember screaming because you didn't. All that training for keeping quiet through the toe stubs payed off for something." Gidian then stood and stretched, and nodded to the comment abut the nobles, muttering how they were definitely something else under his breath. At the last observation, Gidian replied, "Hmph. Maybe that was my problem to begin with." Next he rubbed the bruises on his back, them agitating him a bit from all the movement. Noticing Garret's patronizing look, he quickly stopped the movement. "Glad to know the Guild still remembers me as a real boy scout." There was a very somber undertone to his voice, that hinted at something hidden below the surface. Whether it was bitter sarcasm or painful memories, it would be hard to say.

He sighed in a displeased way, "They don't, but I do. Well, so I think, haven't been to the Thieves Guild a couple years." He said as he got his jacket off, opening a few painful wounds.

Gidian pretended not to notice Garret's discomfort, though he made a mental to ask Maere to heal him later. He would need to be healthy and whole to survive the arena. And then he asked a question that made Gidian stiffen. "What about you? How has your line of work improved?"

Gidian was silent for a few moments, not sure how to answer, as he honestly didn't know how he felt. Garret's question echoed within his thoughts, as if seeking to torment him. "I try not to think about it." Was his response. He did not feel like elaborating.


"You wanna leave this place, don't ya? There's no need to fight in the arena, the shadowmark in the first room will reveal an escape route." he briefly paused as he looked Gidian in the eyes "Forget the others, if you grab your sister we can sneak out and leave this pl***-pile of a city."


Gidian blinked. His first thought was, My sister? His second thought was, A way out? and his third thought was, Leave the others... and leave the city... He had absolutely no compunctions with leaving the others. Survival and his objective were his main concerns. Gidian was weighing the odds, the risks, and the potential reward behind Garret's suggestion. After a few moments of thinking, Gidian began, "It could work..." after a few more moments, he continued, "But, many of the guards and soldiers have been hired from backgrounds of a more... criminal nature. I wouldn't be surprised if many of them knew about, and even used some of these secrets themselves. Not only that, but some of the higher-ups aren't quite so clean themselves... Hmmm... I suppose it certainly is not as risky as the arena. Especially if it's just you, me, and the girl. But answer me this... plenty of other thieves have been dragged through this place. Why hasn't even one ever succeeded in escape before now? You know the reports just as well as I do."


"Their names don't start with a G'" he broke into laughter after his own joke. "We're gonna have to try, at least. If they catch us they just throw us back in the arena. They can't afford to loose good fighters such as myself. They might kill you though..." he chuckled a little. "We'll have to be careful, analyze the guards, their patters, maybe do a little bribe here and there. Nothing is impossible, Gid."

Gidian was only slightly amused by Garret's joke. Gidian wasn't the type to joke. Overall, he agreed it was worth a shot. After all, what was the worst they could do? Kill them? Throw them into the arena? They were already in the arena, and their odds of being killed were already high. At the nickname, Gidian bristled, fists tightened, and resisted the urge to attack the other man. Any good effect the jokes might've had was ruined by the last remark. "Something like this will take time. We'll have to play along for awhile. Might end up having to survive a few fights. In the mean time... I advice you not piss off the man you're sharing a cell with." With that, Gidian reclaimed the top bunk.

Belzebub heard Nathan's footsteps as he entered the cell. He was not surprised when he jumped onto top bunk. After all, everyone could use a bit of rest. But it certainly surprised Belzebub when Nathan had not said a work. It had seemed that before evaluations started that Nathan was quite a talkative person. Belzebub had come to expect the man to talk.

Belzebub tried to get as comfortable as he could, the bed barely accommodating to his enormous stature. And soon enough he dozed off. He was asleep for a minute when he dreamt that he saw his father. His father was looking into a jail cell, frowning in disgust. This was easily enough to awaken Belzebub, who sat up rather quickly to look for his father. Naturally, he was not there. But the short, five second dream was enough to make Belzebub realize that he hated his situation. He wanted out of this place. He decided then that he would take any opportunity given. But otherwise, he would have to make the most of everything.

He thought back to Nathan. Assuming the man was still awake, Belzebub said to him "I don't belong in here. Damned Imperial corruption. Killed some Imperial soldier in a fort owned by bandits. Guess the Empire is aiding Bandits now? Wouldn't surprise me, the dirty bastards." Belzebub couldn't help but tell a bit of his story. Probably because he was still so enraged over it. Besides, something told Belzebub that Nathan probably hadn't earned his time in the Arena either.

Maere watched as Spero raced for her bunk and hid her face when she laid upon it. Maere understood the feeling. Both of them were being devoured by the eyes of the others in there. Spero reacted just as Maere would have herself.

But Maere didn't react like that this time.

Maere stepped over to the bottom bunk, which she was thankful was left for her, and sat down upon it.

The cells around theirs were chattery. She could hear Gidian and the thief Garret conversing. However, what they were saying was anyone's guess.

Maere looked upward toward the bunk above her, wondering about her new "friend". She was quiet, even after a few minutes of being stuck in this...hellhole.

Maere spoke up. "Thanks for letting me bunk with you, Spero." She said, hoping for some sort of response.

Maere felt the bunk move slightly after she spoke, meaning that either Spero heard her, or that she was asleep and had shuffled around. Wait...sleep?

How could anyone sleep so quickly after a day like this?

Maere spoke up again, feeling a need to say something despite not really knowing why.

"Did you fall asleep already, Spero?"

Her surprise stained her tone, as she wasn't sure how anyone who had seen what they had seen that day could sleep so easily.

Then again, if it was a need for escape, Maere understood that perfectly.

She had decided to let the question go, as she didn't want to overwhelm her new friend. She didn't have many, and she needed to keep them.

"No..."

Maere heard Spero's faint reply, which had followed a short laugh. That was the first time she believed Spero made a sound. Maere had grown accustomed to her silence, and this shocked her to a point. She had figured their relationship would be made of one sided conversation, and nothing else.

But She had responded to Maere.

She wasn't sure how to respond. So she did what felt natural.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you." She apologized. "I'm...just not used to not having Do-" She paused, her heart began to be racked with grief. "My friend here to speak to me when I become wary. This place is a nightmare."

Maere sat in silence for a moment, until it was broken by a brief sigh coming from Spero.

She sighed in turn, unsure if this was Spero telling her she was becoming a burden. She shook her head and pulled herself all the way upon the bed, laying her head against the wall as she pulled her legs to her chest. The silence was murderous, and in a way felt worse than if Maere kept pestering Spero until Spero killed her.

However, she kept silent, not uttering a word.

Suddenly, the bunk began to shuffle, and she saw Spero jump off the bunk and begin to pace back and forth.

Maere watched as her silent companion began to pace their cell. Maere watched her for a time, questioning her as her mouth wordlessly moved to what Maere could only assume were numbers. But why? What was she counting?

She also seemed to keep in time with her steps, almost as if that was what she was silently counting
Silently?

A thought dawned in Maere's head, and the silence from before started to make sense.

What if the girl Maere called friend was actually mute, or something close to it?

Maere scooted forward to the edge of her bunk again, studying Spero as she continued to pace. She decided she wanted to ask Spero something, while she could see her face, and see how she responded. She was curious. She wanted to know why Spero was so quiet.

"What are you doing, Spero?"

Spero stopped and looked to Maere, her brow raised and a slight look of frustration staining her gaze. Maere didn't know what had happened until an unexpected event began.

"What does it look like? Counting, of course." After, she began to speak again, this time speaking of different things she had noticed during her time here. It ranged from the weapons that they had on that rack, the steps she had taken to get to the cell. The steps she had taken since this whole mess began. She had counted almost everything.

Maere sat in awe as the once silent girl in her cell began to spout off as many facts as she could muster. She listened to every word, taking into account every small detail Spero had explained.

She had to. She didn't know when Spero would speak again.

After Spero stopped speaking, she began to pace again, looking a bit pained. Maere shook her head, trying not to apologize, as she didn't want to interrupt Spero again.

The look she gave Maere proved, at least to her, that she wouldn't want to make that mistake twice.

Instead she sat in silence, watching her move about and count, and smiled softly to herself.

What an interesting creature, her new ally was.

Skadi, seeking to get out of the other prisoner's field of view, got into her designated cell and threw herself into the top bunk as fast as possible. She then proceeded to attempt to bury herself as far away from the world as possible, attempting to get a hold of herself.

Maere spoke up. "Thanks for letting me bunk with you, Spero."

Skadi opened her eyes, and cast them downwards towards where Maere would be, by rough estimation, if the bunk wasn't between them. She tried to imagine what she would look like down there, and entertained herself by imagining many outlandish and humorous faces. She did not, however, find her voice to respond. She could not bring herself to laugh at these ridiculous figments of her imagination.

Maere spoke up again, sounding surprised, "Did you fall asleep already, Spero?"

Skadi was surprised that a short lived laugh, barely a second, escaped at the mention of her being asleep. Sleep? Is that some kind of joke? The thought seemed ridiculous to her. And out of place. How could she ever sleep soundly again? She sighed. She had found her voice for moment, yet it was failing her again now. She managed to get out a simple, "No..."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you." She apologized. "I'm...just not used to not having Do-" She paused, "My friend here to speak to me when I become wary. This place is a nightmare."

Skadi tried to respond again. To find her voice. But she could not. She wanted to console Maere that she had not disturbed her, that she was not a bother. She wanted to ask Maere what the name she had been about to say was, as now her curiosity would drive her crazy, but she could no muster the voice to sate it. Instead, she began using her imagination to invent how the name would have ended, one of the most amusing of which was "Dork". She also wanted to console Maere that yes, this place was a nightmare, but they would get through it. Somehow. But did she really believe that? As much as she wanted to, she couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, her luck had finally run out. She sighed, a sigh being one of the few sounds she felt she could make.

Maere then sighed in return. There seemed to now be a heavy and oppressive silence, except for the constant sounds of the other prisoners. It would never be truly quiet, in this place, it seemed. Not that she minded, she wanted more noise, so that she might not have as much solitude to think in. After a few moments, she could no longer stand sitting still. She had too much energy for it. So she jumped off the top bunk and began to pace, with her arms folded behind her back, counting things and going over mathematical equations, and generally trying to occupy her mind.

"What are you doing, Spero?"

Skadi stopped pacing, blinked, and looked at her cell mate, a bit miffed. The random interruption had made her lose count. She raised an eyebrow quite elegantly, mimicking one of her father's incredulous looks. For a moment, her frustration at being interrupted provided her a medium to overcome her silence. Skadi asked her cell mate in a rather haughty voice, "What does it look like? Counting, of course." She then named off several random facts, including how many weapons had been in the mock arena earlier, how many people they had seen since coming into the arena, how many steps she had taken since setting foot in this place, the amount of torches and other light sources they had passed on the way here, as well as the amount of turns and stairs they had taken on the way here. She then continued pacing and counting, before her grievances could catch up to her again.

After some time, the one guard in the room comes by the doors, pulls off his helmet, and bangs it against each one. He was an elite guard, marked by his armor, but the decorations on it were different from the one that had tortured Garret. "Come on! Wake up! Don't look at me like that! Come on." He then gestured for all of you to follow him.

He seems rather friendly. Without his helmet on, he appears to be in his mid to late thirties, with short dirty-blonde hair and rather average features, complimented with hazel eyes. It can be determined by the laugh lines on his face that he isn't typically a very serious person.

"I promise, I'm not going to kill you. Just giving you an early jump on the mess hall." He gives a winning smile, and a wink to the females of the group, and waits to see who will step forward first. His eyes linger on Skadi, if only for a moment, barely noticeable.

Skadi, however, notices. She also seems to recognize the man, lowering her head to avoid giving him a clear view of her face and trying to put the others between her and him. She ends up standing behind Belzebub, the most bulky of the party (yes this is a fat joke ), and pulls part of the robe/coat deep over her head.

After it becomes evident with a few moments of rather oppressive silence that most of the party before him is nowhere close to sympathetic, he sighs, and changes tact. "Line up, and follow me. Now." His voice changes to authoritarian rather seamlessly, and his manner becomes very serious, eyebrows coming down into a glare and the smile disappearing.

Gidian steps forward, outwardly appearing to be unimpressed by the display, but inwardly marking this man as dangerous. The man had been searching with his eyes for Skadi, and Gidian walked forward to return a glare to draw attention to himself. As he moved closer, Gidian notes the distinction between this man's armor and the last who tortured Garret.

The set of armor on the first one had been rather spartan and bulky, with tally marks etched onto the breastplate, maybe as some rudimentary form of rank. This one's armor was more streamlined, sleek, and while slightly smaller and lighter, looked to be just as capable of strong defense. It had the same basic color scheme of a dark purplish black, but it was also trimmed with a very dark blue color. The insignia for rank seemed to be a single silver prong (looks like an I) attached to the breast plate.

The man returned the inspection. He put on a half cocked smile and raised an eyebrow before putting his helmet back on. After the rest of the group moves to follow he turns around and begins leading the way a set of side doors that seemed less... intrusive than the massive gate-door that they had brought the party through during entry. The eyes of many of the others in the cell block follow you as he leads you through the double-doors.

Skadi puts as many of you between him and her as possible, and Gidian keeps a serious set of eyes on him as they walk.

As the doors shut behind Skadi, the guard begins talking again. "You're lucky they put you in one of the good behavior blocks." he attempts to start some conversation, getting none. He seems not to care, and carries on a cheerful one sided monologue about the arena.

"There are quite a few levels of blocks. Generally the better ones are further up, and better ventilated. You also get actual floors and buckets instead of sand and holes. Not to mention the beds. And you can relax, as long as you don't do anything stupid, your lot in life can only improve. You might even be able to get into the higher volunteer floors if you gain a bit of renown. It's really not so bad a place to end up, if you can survive the fights." He seems to wait for some comment or reply, before continuing. "And don't worry, I'm not taking you to the arena now. I'm giving you early jumps on the food. And yes, you'll get your old weapons and armor back. All of your things are here, though some of you would be better off taking from the arena's armory. We've got more than a few blacksmiths that could custom tailor some gear for you." He again waits for more comments or replies. "And... you know... if you're useful in some other way, you could get out of the fights. If you're a good smith, good with medicine or healing, even cooking you may be able to gain some leniency." his tone is extremely doubtful that any of you would ever be shown such a privilege, and he seems to be saying more for himself, as if to ease is conscience, than for you.

The halls he leads you through are lined with much the same spartan likeness as they had before, only the path is much more direct and easy to follow. It is also lined with several doors, some possibly to other cell blocks. You eventually come to multiple paths, each presumably leading to a different mess hall. He continues down the one in the middle, opens the door, holds it open, and waits for everyone to walk past him.

"I can hold the door." Gidian says with an edge to his voice, putting his hand on it and and locking eyes with the helmeted warrior. The guard, after a moment, laughs and steps aside.

"Enjoy the food!" he calls over his shoulder, before taking another door out.

Before you is a large mess hall lines with food on one wall, LOTS of food, with MANY tables scattered haphazardly throughout the center. Most of them don't match, many being made of different materials and being in different conditions. Some of them are marked as reserved. There are easily enough to comfortably seat at least a hundred people.

Gidian's right hand was clenched into a fist, and remained that way until the guard disappeared from through the other door. He stared down the guard as he walked away, as if trying to drill into his back with the force of his gaze.

As Maere and the others made their way to the arena, she listened to the guard, who seemed much to kind, for the arena. Even after he seemed to return to his no nonsensical demeanor.

"There are quite a few levels of blocks. Generally the better ones are further up, and better ventilated. You also get actual floors and buckets instead of sand and holes. Not to mention the beds. And you can relax, as long as you don't do anything stupid, your lot in life can only improve. You might even be able to get into the higher volunteer floors if you gain a bit of renown. It's really not so bad a place to end up, if you can survive the fights."

A side of Maere surfaced as he finished. Always a damned catch, isn't there? She shook out her head, looking back to the guard, who had just begun to continue his explanation.

"And don't worry, I'm not taking you to the arena now. I'm giving you early jumps on the food. And yes, you'll get your old weapons and armor back. All of your things are here, though some of you would be better off taking from the arena's armory."

Again with the suggestions for arming herself...she figured she would just have to get used to that. Didn't seem like it was going to change.

Not without some sort of proof that she wouldn't need it.

"We've got more than a few blacksmiths that could custom tailor some gear for you. And... you know... if you're useful in some other way, you could get out of the fights. If you're a good smith, good with medicine or healing, even cooking you may be able to gain some leniency."

Maere's train of thought stopped. Did he really suggest that her healing ability could save her from dying in that pit? Sure, his voice showed a sense of routine, something that he may have said often. But she felt like there was some possibility that this could happen for her. Enough to instill some hope. Some.

They made their way into a doorway, opened by the guard, and found themselves facing a large dining area, brimming with food.

This had to be another test. Had to be.

She stepped around, taking in the area around them, as she heard the guard call out. "Enjoy the food!"

She tried not to smile, tried not to let her hope overtake her. She still wasn't sure this wasn't a trick. She made her way to Gidian and Spero, speaking up, rubbing one hand on her opposite arm. They were the more level headed ones in the group. They would know what to do with this new situation. "What do you all think? Is it safe to get some food?"

Nathan stood at the door to his cell watching the prisoners but eventually the heat got to him and he needed to lie down. As he lay on the top bunk we thought to the days ahead. Surely he would be punished severely, but what were they waiting for? He wouldn't let the paranoia infest his mind to the point of dysfunction, but the thoughts were there. As he started to nod off to sleep a deep voice caught his attention. "I don't belong in here. Damned Imperial corruption. Killed some Imperial soldier in a fort owned by bandits. Guess the Empire is aiding Bandits now? Wouldn't surprise me, the dirty bastards." The orc was speaking to him. Nathan was under the impression the orc didn't like talking and so was under the impression the orc would not say a word to him. Nathan thought carefully before opening his mouth, he did not want to say the wrong thing and lose any respect he might have gained. "No one belongs in here." He said, "criminal or not. But it is sad to hear that you were doing the world a favour clearing out a bandit fort. Makes the roads safer to travel, not that the empire cares about that."

Nathan though to his own story. He was a criminal, he outright murdered a man. "I guess I asked for my time here." Nathan let out a small laugh via pushing out the air in his nostrils. "Didn't even know the damn place existed." It was half true, he assumed it was where gladiators chose to fight. "I thought people had a choice to fight, strong honourable men and women seeking fame and glory. That sort of thing. But it is just some place where the rich get off to injustice." After his mini-rant he decided he would share his story as briefly as possible. "A while ago my father came to visit me in my shack on the waterfront." Remembering the orc is from Skyrim he explained. "Some scummy area in the worst part of the city, on the waterfront as the name implies. He got into some trouble with the law, I think he assaulted a guard who was speaking to him like he was worthless when he had asked for directions... Damn stubborn bastard...." It pained Nathan to think of his father's personality, he was always stubborn and it made things quite funny sometimes. You talk crap you get the smack, his father always said. "A few years later I found the guy the who arrested him, I had pleaded and I pleaded to not push charges. That my father is old and doesn't understand the ways of the city as he lived in the wilderness in his own home. They only used that against me and executed him anyway. How's that? Can't take a hit from an old man so you cut off his head. Well, I killed him. I had stolen a horse to chase after him, then I killed him. That's all there is to it." Before Nathan was done, he had one final thought to get out. "And to think my day started with me trying to buy my sister a necklace.."

Just a few moments after he had finished talking banging was heard. "Come on! Wake up! Don't look at me like that! Come on." Looks like they were moving. "Looks like it's time to go." He commented, dropping off the bunk and exiting with Belzebub. He didn't look like he belonged in a place like this, but looks could be deceiving. "I promise, I'm not going to kill you. Just giving you an early jump on the mess hall." He gives a winning smile he surely practiced, and winked to the females. Skadi makes her way behind Belzebub, clearly more uncomfortable around this new face rather than the orc. That's when he decided to not trust him. He was buttering them up and likely thinking of how we will be killing each other soon. If Skadi went to the orc for comfort maybe this group has a chance after all, even if she is only using him.

After nobody steps forward to exit the mans demeanor changes, in a way that isn't mean but rather more authoritative. "Line up, and follow me. Now."

Gidian stepped forward, looking very unimpressed by the display and even giving the man a glare. They were led out side doors and as they walked he noticed Skadi drifting to the back of the line. She must know him, but how, had she been here before? As the doors shut behind Skadi, the guard began talking again. "You're lucky they put you in one of the good behavior blocks." he says in an attempt to get conversation. If it wasn't for Skadi's obvious discomfort and recognition of the man he perhaps would have said something, but he needed to keep the heat off of himself for now. He made quite a disrespectful scene earlier.

"There are quite a few levels of blocks. Generally the better ones are further up, and better ventilated. You also get actual floors and buckets instead of sand and holes. Not to mention the beds. And you can relax, as long as you don't do anything stupid, your lot in life can only improve. You might even be able to get into the higher volunteer floors if you gain a bit of renown. It's really not so bad a place to end up, if you can survive the fights." Says the one who wasn't forced into this hellhole. "And don't worry, I'm not taking you to the arena now. I'm giving you early jumps on the food. And yes, you'll get your old weapons and armor back. All of your things are here, though some of you would be better off taking from the arena's armory. We've got more than a few blacksmiths that could custom tailor some gear for you." Good. Maybe Nathan will get his sword and bow, if they fetched the bow from his sister. He hoped they hadn't, he didn't want them knowing about her. "And... you know... if you're useful in some other way, you could get out of the fights. If you're a good smith, good with medicine or healing, even cooking you may be able to gain some leniency." he sounded too doubtful for Nathan to gain any hope. The man was likely just trying to clear his conscience. The sheep

The halls he leads you through are lined with much the same spartan likeness as they had before, only the path is much more direct and easy to follow. It is also lined with several doors, some possibly to other cell blocks. You eventually come to multiple paths, each presumably leading to a different mess hall. He continues down the one in the middle, opens the door, holds it open, and waits for everyone to walk past him.

"I can hold the door." Gidian says with an edge to his voice, putting his hand on it and and locking eyes with the helmeted warrior. The guard, after a moment, laughs and steps aside. Perhaps Gidian noticed Skadi's discomfort and was doing this so she didn't have to walk past him? Nathan observed.

"Enjoy the food!" he calls over his shoulder, before taking another door out.

Before them is a large mess hall lined with food on one wall, LOTS of food, with MANY tables scattered haphazardly throughout the center. Most of them don't match, many being made of different materials and being in different conditions. Some of them are marked as reserved. There are easily enough to comfortably seat at least a hundred people.

Gidian's right hand was clenched into a fist, and remained that way until the guard disappeared from through the other door. What a serious man, Nathan thought. "What do you all think? Is it safe to get some food?" Maere asked, sounding hopeful yet uncertain. He stepped forward and looked into the mess hall, while his mouth was watering he looked very unimpressed. He let out a sigh. "When something seems too good to be true it usually is." He said aloud, alerting his fellow inmates. "Would it be so bad for me to suggest we sit together? It looks like a lot more will be joining us, the man did say we were getting the early jump. Means more are coming." He looked to Gidian, then back at the others to gauge their reactions. "Personally, I'd rather stick to what I know. And we are an alliance, aren't we?" He said, referring to the decision they all made earlier.

Belzebub listened to the story of how his bunkmate was imprisoned. Belzebub thought over all the circumstances and decided that killing over an injustice is as good a reason as any. Nathan was not guilty in the court of his mind, at the least.

Shortly thereafter, a guard called them to go to lunch. He sounded rather nice originally, but when there was lolly-gagging he was quick to get strict. The guard led them through a series of halls much like the other labyrinthine sets except actually simple.

They entered a mess hall with food and tables all over the place in no particular order. Any prisoner could sit wherever they wanted, but a number of them hesitated. Namely, the group Belzebub had fought with earlier.

Maere asked if the food would be safe to eat. Belzebub thought that it was funny, given his orcish diet the food actually did not seem too bad. Then the talkative Nathan spoke up.

"When something seems too good to be true it usually is." Nathan said, referring to the food. "Would it be so bad for me to suggest we sit together? It looks like a lot more will be joining us, the man did say we were getting the early jump. Means more are coming." Nathan began looking around to gauge reactions. "Personally, I'd rather stick to what I know. And we are an alliance, aren't we?"

Belzebub tried to think of something to say, but really couldn't. Was he allies with these people whom he had met by circumstance? "Ysgramor had his 500, Talos had an army. Neither could have accomplished much by themselves. The greatest feats are accomplished in groups. I support an alliance."

Belzebub sat down to eat his food.

After he was forced to get up and walk around with the guard, Garret noticed he could no longer walk casually. His leg made it very hard for him to walk at all, but it wasn't impossible. He learned to ignore pain, mostly the hard way, but this time he couldn't just hide his condition, you wouldn't need a trained eye to see he was having trouble.

His attempts at walking straight ended with only more pain, so he ended up walking with most of his weight on his left leg. His hands were slowly healing by themselves, but he tried to keep them out of sight. He didn't listen too much to the guard, his eye wondering around the environment, searching for something, anything, that could fix his current situation. Seeing on how this was a fairly old prison, he could imagine some blisterwort growing in a corner. He would be able to make a potion out of that alone, given his skill. So far he had no such luck .

They all eventually winded up in a large mess hall, where they were supposed to dine. The guard that got them there seemed oddly different from the others. Garret kept thinking back on what Gidian told him
"...many of the guards and soldiers have been hired from backgrounds of a more... criminal nature."
This prison was on a whole other level if that was true. Some guards were terribly quiet while the higher ups seemed very talkative and intriguing in their words. It all made sense, and, in the end, Gidian had no reason to lie. He knew more about the imperial city than Garret, after all.

As the guard eventually left the room, Garret looked over at those he fought alongside with in the previous fight. He didn't consider them friends, he had no reason to, and he learned the hard way that trust should not be given lightly. Maere inquired about the food with a thoughtful tone. She sounded like the food could be poisoned, like someone was out to get her. It was clear to Garret at that point that those around him had never been imprisoned before, their lack of knowledge exposed in their words. Gidian was the only one who shared Garret's composure and vigilance, although his efforts of trying to book absolutely everything in his head made him look like he was trying to hard.

Natham placed forward the idea of an alliance between them. Garret didn't trust them entirely , but aligning himself with the group had more pros than cons. The orc agreed, spitting out a small history lesson as a comparison. He had nothing else to add, and he was in no mood for talking. He simply nodded and sat next to Belzebub, trying to enjoy his meal. The idea of socializing with those people seemed a little off to him, his over thinking of the situation made him a little depressed. It seemed very hard for anyone to break free, too hard, even for him. His optimism faded, he though that he became to old to handle to job. His sloppiness already turned him into an example. There were, of course, other ways of him escaping. He had some contacts in the Imperial City that could get him out, but contacting them was the real challenge, and he still felt like Arnosia was against him. He was imprisoned instead of killed, which no doubt made a cynical noble like her very paranoid of the situation. He started eating his food quietly, paying little mind to what the other talked about. The lack of alcohol on the table made him even more unsettled as he dug into his food.

Gidian winced inwardly. "What do you all think? Is it safe to get some food?" Maere asked. He was going to answer quickly, to minimize the damage, but Nathan, living true to his talkative nature so far, beat him to the punch.

"When something seems too good to be true it usually is." He said aloud, alerting his fellow inmates.

Gidian observed Skadi for a tentative second. She had paled considerably, and she seemed frozen. "Po... Poison?" She inquired weakly, her voice finding strength from fear, but still uncomfortable in being exersized.

Before anyone else could reply with something to make things worse, Gidian spoke up, giving Maere and Nathan hard looks, "No. We're worth more alive for now, and w- you haven't been here long enough to make any enemies. Most disputes are settled in the arena anyways." He was careful to retract the "we", as he himself had plenty of enemies, then gave Skadi a knock on the side of the head and a serious look to make sure she heard him. If she became hysterical, she would destroy all of his efforts to keep her under the radar thus far. She gave a slight whimper in response. Before anyone could pursue it any further, he broke off, Skadi following dispassionately. There would be no careful counting or observing here, it would seem. They all got their food (Gidian being forced to choose Skadi's) and plopped down at a table together, as per Nathan's request.

There was little to no conversation, most of he group either not talkative to begin with, or the talkative ones being somewhat taken aback by Skadi's near episode. Maere seemed caught between curiosity and sympathy, Nathan looked a bit guilty, Garret was too busy pondering to notice, and Belzebub didn't seem to care.

In a few minutes, loud and boisterous yells and loud conversations and the trampling of hundreds of feet could be heard. People began entering the cafeteria in droves, some quite the unsightly types, some quite normal, and others of every other cloth, cut, personality, size, shape, and condition. The cafeteria quickly became extremely loud, and the room seemed to become much warmer with the addition of all the extra bodies. They also bung quite a smell with them, a smell which Gidian had been trying hard to ignore since he got here. The heat had been magnifying ever stench in this place since they had arrived. He had become used to it, but given a short breather in the cafeteria, he found himself once again unprepared.

Gidian began to dig in ravenously, taking a few hearty bites, before glancing at Skadi and noticing that she was merely staring at her food, a rather void look in her eyes. Gidian banged the table in front her her, in an attempt to jolt her. She gave only a slight response, to which Gidian sighed resignedly. He switched their plates, him having already sufficiently tested its contents. "If the rest of us die from poison and you don't, do you really want to be stuck in here alone?" he gestured towards some of the more undesirables in the room. She took a deep breath before reluctantly beginning to eat, though she displayed few table manners, which was an impressive feat even with the almost complete lack of proper eating utensils. Gidian gave a short "Hmph." before returning to devouring his meal.

After most of the group had eaten a sizable amount, the others in the cafeteria began to make boisterous advances, probing the newcomers and seeing if any had yet failed to join a team. Gidian did his best to ignore them and continue eating, trying not to draw an abundant amount of attention to himself unless one of them got too close to Skadi. The majority of the attention, excepting the obligatory advances on the females present, were directed at Belzebub. He was a big muscular orc, and just by looking at him it was clear to most that he more than just looked tough.

However, none of those approaching were offering to join, they were only attempting to poach on whatever members they could. Others looked upon the newcomers as prey, attempting to size them up and gauge their marks.

Towards the end of the meal, some of the people in the cafeteria disappeared and brought forward quite a few kegs of ale and mead and various other alcoholic products. Some of them even managed some wine. Instruments were produced, and the attitude of the whole place shifted as tables were moved, the volume increasing in the competition for alcohol and entertainment, and increasing again once they were obtained. Somehow, the room had become even more boisterous than before. Arm wrestling, gambling, fighting, drinking, performing, and all other manner of rambunctiousness began. There were many guards partaking in the fun and games, some of them hardly distinguishable from those they were guarding.

Gidian would have joined them under different circumstances, but at the moment he could not afford distractions or dulling of his senses.

Garret looked wistfully at the alcohol that was being passed around, and Gidian got his attention as they made eye contact. They proceeded to have a silent conversation, Garret daring and asking Gidian to join the fray with the motion of his eyes and a gesturing with his head, Gidian adamantly refusing with a shake of his head, wanting to stay focused on his mission. Garret gave an exasperated sigh, silently saying that it could help them gather information, before resolving to get some on his own. Gidian sighed, knowing that he would have difficulties with his injured leg. Maere still hadn't healed him completely. He got to his feet, and pointed at Nathan and Maere. "Watch her." he said, leaving no option or room for debating in the tone of his voice, and attempting to capitalize on any guilt they might have felt for their comments earlier. He was clearly indicating that they protect Skadi in his absence.

Garret would probably attempt to get some information out of the guards and better informed prisoners. He supposed if nothing else, it would certainly be interesting. He and Garret muscled their way through to some satisfactory ale, and began probing for a good target for their questions.

Hundreds rushed into the cafeteria after Belzebub had only had a few bites. He wondered why everyone worried if the food was poisoned. If they were all killed, who would be fighting in the Arena? Besides, it was hard to see how a food-related death was any worse than the other available options.

People came by to check out the newcomers. Belzebub, due to his overwhelming size and fierce appearance, received most of the attention. People wanted him to be in their group, but none wanted to join his. After a while, it all seemed to die down. However, toward the end of the meal the alcohol was brought out.

Belzebub had to admit he was a bit excited. Alcohol seemed like a pretty fine idea after his past few days. So while all of it was being passed around, he was fine with drinking a cup or two. Or eight. Whichever. Then he saw Gidian and Garret get up to move around a bit. Belzebub decided he should have a bit of fun so decided maybe he'd do a bit of arm wrestling. Anything to get some joy out of this.

The two of them muscled their way through the masses. They were fairly slow at that, given Garret's wound. The atmosphere wasn't so tense anymore, people were actually enjoying themselves. Garret had spent enough time in enough prisons to tell that this was a very unorthodox tradition.

With his hood on his head, his eyes flicked from left to right, searching for whatever might be useful. As they were walking past a table of people very engaged in gambling, he easily grabbed a half-empty bottle of wine. A shady corner near the kegs, very few people around it, that's where he decided to go. Garret subtly bumped his elbow into Gidian's, than turned his head in a quick motion to said corner. Once there, Garret grabbed a bottle of ale and they both analyzed the hall.

There were many interesting sights for him to explore. Dozens were gathered near one certain table, where a brawl of sorts broke out between two inmates. The guards were laughing and drinking instead of doing something to stop the situation, and the more Garret looked at it, the more it seemed like a friendly spar, rather than a fight. At another table, he saw the orc, Belzebub, arm wrestling with some other bulky guys. It seemed no one could really match his strength. But...If Balzebub was away, that left their table under the protection of proud little Nathan. He had nothing against the lad, but he was too hot headed and definitely not as intimidating as Bazelbub.

The man-woman ratio was far from equal, and there were some obviously "thirsty" men in the masses, but most of the women were tough themselves. Most looked very manly and unladylike, and obviously trained in combat. However, Garret knew that the two in his group weren't like that. Maere looked like a priestess, and although Garret didn't really talk to her, he knew her well enough to know she's not a fighter. Spero was also much like that, except also quieter and polite. She acted like nobility, but Garret knew that she was affiliated with Gidian, who was more of a freeloader than anything else. He couldn't quite place her, which bothered him in more ways than one.

Everything he knew about prison didn't really take effect in the arena. But some things could be applied even here. "The old geezers always know how things work, even in those establishments. Perhaps that's what we should look for." He spoke loud enough for Gidian to hear in the whole ruckus, but after he spoke, he noticed how someone was pouring ale next to them, his head turned suspiciously far in the other direction. There were inmates more like the two of them, or so it seemed.