Dionysus What else does Arlie do at the Arena?

Arlie_B Assuming no one else wants to go exploring, he'd go information gathering. Probably back by the welcoming group.

Arlie_B or possibly at the attack training grounds. We can abstract or act things out, I don't know how thin you are stretched.

Dionysus By the time you get to them, they've trickled away for the day. The only ones left are the quiet ones. Gom, the pipe smoking human

longflutist, indicates no one ever arrives here at night.

Dionysus Klaus & Lucilla & Rumbleford are at the training grounds, as are a few other contestants, though not many once it gets dark.

• Arlie_B tries to start conversation with the ones at the gates, but if it doesn't take he'll go to the training grounds.
• Arlie_B would practice with Klaus and others, calling shots not to injure and trying to make friends while sparring.

Dionysus There at the sparring field is a woman in gold, who says her name is Eliza Hawk, and a group of tough looking fellows who say they are the bodyguards of the Starlings.

Arlie_B "Eliza! I've heard of your song to the priest of despair! That's a good story."

Arlie_B "Name's Arlie, the pleasure's mine."

Dionysus She is surprised, "How did you hear that?"

Arlie_B "Artur Arkara's been running his mouth about you, he'll have a ballad about it by now."

Dionysus She looks relived, "Oh, the innkeeper. Okay. It is a pleasure to meet you, Arlie."

Arlie_B "He tried to describe your instrument, I didn't really get it, it's a gourd with a string?"

Dionysus She says, "Not exactly," grinning.

• Arlie_B "I'll look forward to seeing it in person then." He smiles back. "Want to take a round on the field?"

Arlie_B "Whoever wins this thing is going to end up fighting, and practice makes perfect."

Dionysus She nods, "I would be glad to."

Arlie_B "Step on up. Now, how good is that armor? Should I hold back? You caught me without mine."

Dionysus "It's holy sunmail. But I'd prefer to use practice swords, all the same."

Arlie_B "Agreed." Arlie sets his sword aside, takes up a practice sword. "It's a nice set of armor, by the way. Ready?"

Arlie_B when she starts to say yes, Arlie attacks.

Dionysus She nods.

Dionysus She parries.

Dionysus She's quick, strong, and skilled. She's at least equal to Arlie, though her methods are more honorable.

• Arlie_B huffs. "You've got quite a reach."

Dionysus "Your style is varied and interesting. Very improvisational, opportunistic."

Arlie_B "You can find out a lot about a person by the way they fight. I like that you gave me a chance to breathe there when I fell on my ass."

Arlie_B "Yes, the one thing you can count on in any battle is chaos and insanity."

Dionysus She nods, "I can see why you would say that, but I have met honorable opponents on the field of battle and found order and sanity there."

Arlie_B "That's less of a battle, and more of a dance. Battles are where you should hear Renkarr's wife, not a Berrywright."

Arlie_B "No matter how beautiful the duel, you're still killing a man."

Arlie_B "Or taking his freedom. It's an ugly thing."

Dionysus She shakes her head, "There are duels to first blood, and other forms of duel. Many duels are just to prove a point, or setttle a matter of honor."

Arlie_B "Ah, /those/ kinds of fights. I've always liked the bar brawl variety."

Arlie_B "In fact, there's more redemption in a bar room fight than any noble duel."

Dionysus She frowns, "I would have to disagree. The field of honor is sacred because it redeems."

Arlie_B "You haven't been in enough bar fights. If someone falls, someone almost always helps them up before they get trampled."

Dionysus She shakes her head, "You and I will have to disagree here."

Arlie_B "It's little acts of honor like that, acts of kindness in the chaos that show who possesses true honor."

Arlie_B "Or a different kind of honor, maybe not true per se."

Dionysus She looks like she's about to disagree, then stops when you clarify, "Perhaps."

Arlie_B "I take great comfort in knowing people really don't want to kill each other. I see that in barfights, not in duels. It makes me hope these damn wars will someday come to an end and I'll be able to retire an old man."

• Arlie_B starts laughing.

Dionysus She shrugs, "I will see you here another time, for more sparring?"

Arlie_B "Sorry, I couldn't say that last bit with a straight face."

Arlie_B "Sure. See you around."

---

Dionysus The drum corps has a lotof people on your floor, but their leader has her rooms on floor 7.

• Arlie_B goes to that floor. Do I know that person's name?

Dionysus Barauna Eraur

Dionysus It's on her door

Arlie_B have I met her before?

• Arlie_B knocks on the door.

Dionysus Probably not.

Dionysus A massive female minotaur answers. "Can I help you?" she rasps.

Arlie_B "Arlie Battisto, from the Colour of Sound. Damon didn't tell me you guys were coming, but the more Maraddonians the merrier."

Dionysus She grunts, but says nothing more.

Arlie_B "I came by to check if you guys really went awol like they are saying,"

Arlie_B "and if so, to offer what I can to help."

Arlie_B "Want to talk about it?"

Arlie_B "I can explain it to Damon, assuming we get out of here alive."

Dionysus "We are the best. We are here to prove it. When we save the gods, the Grand Duke will not need to help us."

Arlie_B "Is it Grand Duke now? I liked it better as a Count."

Dionysus He was a knight before, but whatever. "Thank you for your offer, Duke Battisto, but we will be fine."

Arlie_B "May the best music win. We've heard stories of treachery around the field. This trip excluded, our band has started going out in pairs. Be careful, and good luck."

Dionysus She smirks, "We /are/ trouble around the field."

Arlie_B "Ha! Where's my double when I need him?"

Dionysus She grunts, then turns to go back in her room

---

Dionysus Time is weird here because, according to some, no matter when you enter, you'll all leave before you got here.

Dionysus Do you ask the judges about the sacrosanct thing?

Arlie_B no, I ask what the other contestants know

Arlie_B and what they've heard.

Dionysus The gist is, don't mess with the temples or the people in them, even if you don

Dionysus 't approve of that religion

Dionysus Basically, be respectful of religion

Arlie_B ok. All the temples are represented? What about the Lost Gods?

Dionysus All, but the Lost Gods just have one temple.

• Arlie_B would visit the Luck church and donate a song, he'd also visit Story, pray about what's happened so far and his plans for his book.

Dionysus The attendants thank you.

Arlie_B the final person Arlie would want to talk to is Roberto.

Dionysus He is in the training yard, defeating a few soldiers he brought with him, praciticing and defeating them handily.

Arlie_B "<Title> de Trilla! Have you gotten a tan since we last met?" Arlie grins

Arlie_B "It's Arlie."

Arlie_B (because of the age difference now and then)

Dionysus He looks to you with fierce, cold arrogance, "Duke Battisto." He pauses as he takes you in, "You've changed."

Arlie_B "Speak for yourself. I think we've all changed."

Arlie_B "I just wanted to wish you the best of luck, and offer whatever I could."

Dionysus He practically snarls, "Do you have anything important to sa--"

Dionysus The Toy makes a farting noise. "Why did you fart, fartface?"

Dionysus Roberto scowls.

Arlie_B "And some of us have changed more than others."

Dionysus Roberto turns his back and goes back to sparring.