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Flavio's choice was quickly made. "Good day my good sir Dwarf!" The gnoll gallantly greeted as he walked up to the food-stand. "I would like one of those troll legs!" He laid two gold coins on the counter to show he could pay for it. He also made a quick mental note to try the baby shark next, if he still had place left after that troll leg.

Arien's tactic worked. Alsillia didn't think Arien would be this good! The Queen of Broken Bones fell to the floor, though she quickly got herself up, panting already."Whew, I thought you were a push over. My friends are going to give me hell if they ever find out I was actually floored by you." She couldn't help but smile. It had been a while since she had been humiliated like that. Surely she would do that again."Let's see how well you do now that I'm actually trying." And with that, she wasn't planning on any more tricky moves. She went straight for him, and sent her maces flying for Arien's left side.

The Dwarf greeted the Gnoll heartily."Ah! My friend, your people know what taste is, don't they?" He laughed loudly as he quickly got Flavio a troll leg. When he saw the money, he laughed even louder."A good eater, 'n a big spender. You sir, I like! Unlike these other basterds who think they're too good for outlandish cuisine. Do me a favor 'n tell 'em how delicious this is!" He said as he spiced the leg up some more and gave Flavio a couple of silvers in return along with the leg.

Arien grinned down at Alsillia, he was starting to sweat a little; her tricky little moves had taught him to be on guard with her. "You mean to say you were taking it easy on me?" His grin belied his offended tone. "Don't worry; I won't tell your friends about it--directly. Come at me with all you've got. Don't hold back on my account."

He got more than he bargained for--when she came flying at him with her maces. He stepped forward, swinging his sword hard to his left to block the incoming mace strikes. The blow knocked him sideways, making him stagger but he didn't dare let his guard fall. If those maces touched him, he wouldn't be standing for long--if ever again.

The gnoll took the silver and the leg with a grin. "Oh yes they do. We'll eat anything!" And with that he sets off again. Eating his leg with gusto Flavio just wanders around the festivities, enjoying the meat. He found it to be quite tangy, he didn't think any man without strong jaws could eat this, still the taste was quite unique and he liked it!

After a few minutes of wandering the gnoll's eyes travelled up, it seemed he had come to a large round building that could only be the arena. He listened for a moment but it was hard to filter anything specific out, the crowded streets were making too much noise for that. Still eating the troll leg the musketeer just decides to walk to a nearby arena guard. "Good day my good man." The gnoll chuckled. "Anything interesting in the arena today?"

The guard looked at Flavio and raised a brow."You've just missed the show, pal. All that's going on right now are spars. You can take a look if you want, o'course, but the festivities are that way." The chainmailed human said as he pointed back from where Flavio came.

Meanwhile back in the arena, Alsillia got just what she wanted. Instead of lunging out with her maces, she lowered herself, sweeping her leg over the sand and trying to make Arien fall down. She truly showed how nimble Elves could be. Should this move be successful, she'd hover her mace above Arien's head with a sly grin, saying "And now you're dead."

Already off balance and his attention on the maces and not on Asillia's legs, Arien didn't see the attack coming until he was falling.

With a heavy thump he landed on his back, looking up at the mace hovering over him. He didn't move for a moment, trying to catch his breath, and then he grinned.

"Well done," he acknowledged. "It's been a while since I've had my butt kicked in a fair fight." He gingerly climbed back to his feet collecting his sword from where it had fallen and sheathing it. His eyes never strayed from hers though; she was armed and they were still in the middle of the arena. "So how long have you been fighting with maces?"

Flavio peered up the large arena as he pondered for a moment, then looked back to the festivities. "I'll just go watch the spars then, which way do I go?" The gnoll bit his troll leg after he said this, he could've finished it already but he savored the unique taste, the bones also seemed to be harder than a humans which would give him something great to chew on later.

Alsillia grinned."I've never stopped fighting, pretty boy. It was only natural I'd get the better of you." Though she wouldn't admit it, she found Arien's style to be good. The way he managed to block some of her attacks were truly expert. She threw one of her maces into the air and caught it by the handle as she answered Arien."Ever since I learned what a mace was. I love how they can either be merciful or devastating, unlike a sword which is built only to carve one open." She explained, pointing out a mace is not always lethal."It's an art to know how to use them properly, really. Harder to learn, but oh so satisfying."

The guard couldn't help but grin."No party animal, I see. Just walk through this hallway. The arrows will tell you where to go. Left and right go to the tribunes, going straight on will get you into the arena itself." He explained as he pionted inwards. Flavio could see the signs from here already. "You seem like a fighting type if you don't mind me saying so. If you're interested, you can ask the gladiators to have a little spar with you. Most of them will gladly agree."

Inside there were quite a few gladiators, and not all of them human. There was also a Minotaur and an Orc to be found among the gladiators, as well as a familiar soul...

Arien matched her grin. "Well, as you pointed out, a sword is meant for hacking and hewing, so I had to go easy on you." He put a hand on the jewel-studded hilt of his sword. "And trust me; this sword has been blooded." His face blanched at the memory before clearing.

"I think it's fascinating that you can wield the maces so well. I've never really given thought to something that strikes me as more of a club. But seeing as how it works for you..." he shrugged and grinned.

Of course he wasn't expecting to see Flavio enter the Arena, so it was more than likely he'd be seen first.

Flavio walked into the arena still eating his troll leg, he had finally gotten most of the flesh off and had begun with the bones. He just nibbled on the bone for now, he'd try and crack it later. Only just was he about to go sit down when one of the fighters down below struck his eye, he took the bone out of his mouth slowly as he looked down at the man... until finally it struck him.

"Arien!" The gnoll called out with a smile. "So you did make it out! You sneaky little!" He looked around but there was no way to get down, so the musketeer just reserved himself to cheering from the tribunes. It made him feel so good to see the man alive that he began to chuckle until his manic laughter echoed through the arena.

Alsillia grinned."Maces are so much more elegant upon impact. No blood leaves the body, it just turns everything to mush." She swung her maces back onto her belt."It was a good fight, though. You've got talent, but I suspect you don't work on it every day. To tru-" Her lecture got interrupted as she turned around after hearing Flavio. She remembered him from the bar, back where he, Arien and an old pirate were hailed as heroes."Did you go on some sort of adventure?" The Elf asked Arien with a sly grin.

Meanwhile in the arena, gladiators were leaving and entering the field. Sparring and training was completely optional, but most fighters trained here on the field none the less. But one of them looked familiar.

In between a group of what seemed like rather frail men walked a dwarf, swearing a black executioner's cap and chainmail outfit, as well as a headsman's axe twice the size of him. He remained quiet even when the other gladiators greeted him when he passed them by.

Arien rolled his eyes, ready to butt into the lecture about not having anyone to spar with on a continuous basis, when he heard a familiar voice and then a laugh that sent shivers up his spine.

He turned to see the Hyena and grinned. "Flavio! Of course I got out!" He turned that cocky smile back on Alsillia. "It takes more than being trapped in a tunnel with a massive tiger to take me out. Speaking of which..." his voice turned accusatory, "I can't believe you locked me in that sewer pipe! You could have at least left the cover unlocked; there was no way that tiger was going to fit through it!"

Flavio grinned down at Arien. "I knew that a locked cover could never hold you!" The gnoll hoped this praise would smoothe things over. At least the man was alive and that had to account to something. It was then when his eyes caught the rather familiar looking dwarf marching into the arena. He didn't want to rouse anyone else, nor make it seem obvious that they knew this guy, so instead he gave a few strong nods into the dwarf's direction, and hoped only Arien would catch on.

Then the gnoll looked around, from up here in the stands he was in his element, too far away from the enemy to be troubled, and with a good view on him, if he could take his time for a shot that dwarf would be a bleeding corpse. Of course, Flavio knew he couldn't just murder the man out in the open, but just in case he did something to Arien.

Alsillia traded in her cockiness for surprise."You did what now!? Damn, I should've joined you. I'm not one for sewers but I've always wanted a tiger rug for my place. The bigger the better." She was mocking the situation through her surprise. It was hard to believe Arien actually went into a tunnel somewhere in town with a tiger. Sewers weren't exactly the natural habitat for cats of any sort."Y'know... That does explain your smell."

The Dwarf passed by, looking grumpy as ever."Hey! Burge, cat still got your tongue?" Alsillia laughed. The Dwarf seemed offended by it and spat by her feet as he moved on, not recognizing either Flavio or Arien. It was Bender Of Iron Will's face he saw clearly before him. Though that might change in the near future. There aren't many very Gnolls around, and he'd realize sooner or later that this mustache'd one was the same one who escaped the sewers.

Arien settled but grumbled under his breath a little at Flavio. "Hmph,I'm just glad I did escape without being eaten. As for the tiger rug--this one could have easily covered the entire floor of your home." He paused, then pointed at Flavio. "This is Flavio, one of my travelling companions. Flavio, meet Alsillia. She's a heck of a mace fighter."

Then the dwarf came over and Arien scowled in disgust. His hand twitched and it took considerable effort not to draw his sword. "I can teach that leprechaun a thing or two about respecting a lady," he growled.

At any other time Flavio might have jested and made merry with the situation between Arien and the gladiator, but the dwarf had brought any hope of that to an end. Either Arien was taking this lightly or he did not recognize the dwarf. Still there stood the fact that the dwarf could do as much as they could at this moment, they were in public in an arena full of warriors.

Considering all this Flavio tried as well to put himself to ease, if the dwarf had no idea of who they were, it'd be best to keep it that way. “A pleasure to meet you madame.” The musketeer answered, taking off his hat into a gallant bow.

The Elven gladiator still had trouble believing him, so she decided to simply ignore that comment.

Alsillia offered a smile and a nod as she threw her mace over her shoulder."Pleasure to meet you. I've fought your kind before. I'd rather not do it again. Not that I'll ever get the chance, there's hardly any Gnolls around these parts." She couldn't help bit grin at Arien."I wouldn't, if I were you. That's Burge Stonebeard, better known as The Executioner in the ring. It's not hard to see why, is it? I'm one of the few he's ever spared, and for as far as I can remember, he's only lost once to a fellow who wore the hides of exotic cats. I forgot his name, but whatever the case, that guy gave Burge a choice. Honorable death, or life without his tongue. Three guesses what he chose."

During Alsillia's explanation the Dwarf looked over his shoulder and stared at Flavio, as if he looked familiar but couldn't entirely place where they could have met.

"The Executioner? Really?" Arien made a face. "I wish he'd chosen the former." Then he clapped a hand over his mouth. "Er, ignore that comment." He did indeed recognize the dwarf, and wished he hadn't. At any rate he wasn't going to forget him. Not that imagining the dwarf face off against a man dressed in cat skins wasn't a much better, more pleasanter fate--it would have been better if that was the only image he'd had of The Executioner.

"Wait, you lost to him in a sparring match?" The comment that previously flew over Arien's head came back suddenly. His eyes lit up and his tone was nearly begging: "Oh please tell me there is more to this story."

To say that Flavio was torn is an understatement. One part of him wanted to stay and look over Arien, while another part wanted to find the old Bender and tell him they should get out of this town fast. Eventually, and perhaps unfortunately for Arien, the cowardice overcame his 'honour'. "Well then chap! It is good to see you but I will return to the festivities now! I will leave the lady in your excellent care.” With that the gnoll put his fancy hat back where it belonged and strode towards the exit as fast as his feet could carry him.

Flavio's cowardice might just have saved Arien's life. The chances of him remembering a robed man accompanying the old captain was more vague than that of a Gnoll by his side. Still, there was that slight chance the tongueless Dwarf's brain activates.

Alsillia frowned, and this time isn't wasn't because of a silly remark."It wasn't a sparring match, it was an official one, you scumbag. I'll be the last to say I'm the greatest warrior alive. He just cornered me, that's all. I didn't want to get hit by that giant axe he carries around." During her rant she did manage to wave Flavio goodbye."Aren't you upset? Your boyfriend just left you." She grinned at him.

Burge in the meantime had no idea of Arien's involvement in the sewer case. He continued gladiator training on his own.