Wulf faces familiar Foes

"Kill Him!"

The venom within the words is what was still on Wulf's mind as he entered into the Arena. Wulf knew that a gladiator didn't live long if it became personal but he couldn't shake Tiigra's words from his head.

He tried to clear his head but it was hard. He knew both of these gladiators.

In front of him stood Antonya. She was unarmored and carrying two swords. Antonya was from a neighboring village. She was two years older but they had still played together at festivals and other gatherings.

Also standing in the Arena was the two-handed Swordsman who had defeated Pantor: Teofilo.

                                               Teofilo                Wulf                      Antonya It had nothing to do with feelings or past friendships. Wulf manuevered toward Teofilo and away from Antonya because he was the greater threat. Like Baer, Teofilo could kill with one mighty swing of his two-handed sword.

Since there was three combatants no one required them to meet in the center of the Arena. Wulf and Teofilo both carefully moved in a circle around the center towards each other and away from Antonya.

"Do you fear me Wulf. I carry Barbarian Slayer with me. Can you guess why I named it that?"

Wulf did not let the ex-soldier goad into an impulsive action. He stayed wary looking for an opening.

Realizing there was a mismatch Wulf charged into Teofilo bashing him with his shield. Teofilo successfully blocks the shield with his sword. Wulf bashs again with his shield. Knocking the ex-soldier to the ground. The blow opened a bleeding wound in Teofilo's chest.

Wulf followed up the bash with stab of his sword. With Teofilo still on the ground Wulf gained the advantage. The sword stabbed Teofilo's right arm.

Teofilo attempted to stop the bleeding of his chest wound. He stood up. Teofilo maneuvered to face Wulf but could not find an opening to attack.

As Wulf and Teofilo face off against each other Antonya attacked Wulf from the rear. She charged head on into the backside twirling her two blades. Amazingly Wulf was able to spin to the side. He raised his shield in time to block her blow. "Wulf you never thought I was a good as you! This time that opinion will be your demise!"

The audience is shocked into silence as they witness the mostly unlucky event that any could ever remember. As Antonya charged head on to the now facing her Wulf she tripped on the Patron's robes. It caused her to lunge forward past Wulf. Wulf strikes her is the back as she passed him. It is a killing stroke.

Wulf whirled to face the barely standing Teofilo. Wulf attacked head on forcing him back to the wall striking him in the chest with a killing stroke.

Wulf exited the Arena exhausted. Fighting two random gladiators is hard but fighting two that you knew. That was draining.

Wulf greeted Baer and Tiigra. Tiigra told them that her "friend" would buy the first round for them. Wulf smiled Tiigra perferred to call her toadie, her "friend". She sound nicer and didn't sound like she was simply a user. Wulf didn't care either way as long as they paid for everything and he could save his Talos for what really counted.

That night in the tavern Tiigra suggested it was time to move up to the big time, a Prime Locale. Baer didn't not want to leave yet. He believe there was plenty worthy competition here. Wulf knew that the Serpent Man had worried him. Baer wondered in a Serpent Man could fight at this level what was waiting for them at a Prime Locale.

"What was waiting for them?" That was really what the question was wasn't it. Wulf wasn't ready to give up on here yet. He believe for Tiigra and himself that they could draw better opponents next month.

Wulf agreed with Baer to stay but told Tiigra it would be only for one more month. Then if the competition wasn't better for all of them then they would move on. Tiigra was happy with that and asked her "friend" to buy them all another round of drinks and a meal to go with it.

Which of course her "friend" did just that.

Wulf smiled as he drank. Life as a gladiator was great especially when you had a little fame established.

Tiigra in a Three Way

Tiigra enjoyed the freedom being a gladiator provided. As long as she trained and fought each month the rest of her time was free to enjoy the perks being a gladiator provided. She enjoyed the way the men bought her drinks and the way they wanted her to sit at their table.

She really liked how easy it was to replace the desire in their eyes with the look of fear. None were confident that their skills were on the same level as her own. So while they looked none dared to touch without permission. Tiigra gave permission to no man, yet.

Things were get until Abigail showed up. Abigail was not that advanced a gladiator but she was tall. Especially for a woman. She was as tall as Baer. She was local to Treyine so that made her more popular. What some would get favor for being foreign and exotic. Tiigra was view as a barbarian from the Border Kingdoms. No one thought of her as exotic.

Abigal had been a soldier before taking the brand. Tiigra told herself she shouldn't hate her because it was a soldier that had defeated Pantor but she couldn't help herself. She hate Abigal and Abigal knew it.

Abigal had a cruel taunting nature and she would twist that hatred in Tiigra like it was a dagger. Many of a time they had to be separated in the Taverns. Everyone wanted to see them fight but in the Arena not in the back alley of a Tavern.

Tiigra was not surprise when it came time to announce the matches that she and Abigal were matched up. She was glad. She was disappointed to see the name of Aouthz. He was a brand new warrior with only his father's broadsword. He didn't even have armor.

                                               Aouthz                  Tiigra                  Abigail
With there being three opponents in the Arena, Tiigra did not walk to the Center.

She went down the side heart area straight toward Abigail. Abigail manuevered to Tiigra. Tiigra gained Abigail's unshielded side. Abigail parried Tiigra's spear with her 2 hand club. Tiigra forced Abigal to the wall striking her in the chest with her spear.

Tiigra charge after Abigail gaining the advantage. Abigail use her club to knock the spear thrust aside. Tiigra shifts and drives the spear into Abigail's right leg.

Knocking her down and the leg starts bleeding

Tiigra charges the downed Abigail gaining the advantage, stabbing her in the chest. Abigail bleeding from her chest is killed.

Aouthz had been running across the Arena to join the battle. He steps over the slain Abigail. Tiigra slips to the side gaining the advantage. She stabbed him in the belly.

Aouthz raised his sword as Tiigra attacks head on. He is forced along the wall as she strikes his right arm.

He is bleeding and the arm is useless. Aouthz switches his sword to his off hand.

Tiigra presses the attack gaining the advantage. Aouthz counterstrikes. Tiigra parried the sword strike, Tiigra counterstrikes back at Aouthz. He blocks her thrust with his sword. He parried her spear with his sword. Tiigra drives her spear into his chest killing him.

The crowd stands on the feet cheering her name "Tiigra! Tiigra! Tiigra!" She marches around the Arena with her spear held high.

She like Treyine, she wishes they had better fighters. She will talk wit Wulf and Baer about whether they should continue here or move on to find better quality opponents. No matter what is decided, tonight she knows she will enjoy her time in the Tavern.

Baer vs The Serpent

It wasn't the Wooden Arena that took his breathe away. He would agree that Treyine was much more impressive than anything he had ever seen in the Border Kingdoms. He would agree the large crowd which had filled the benches made him nervous. The Wooden Arena was beautiful and there were truly fans here. When he and his friends had arrived in the town which owned the Arena, they hadn't need to buy any drink. There was always someone willing to buy. The only price a Gladiator had to pay was tales of past victories.

No it was the Serpent Man that took his breath way. It carried a Broad Sword and Large Shield. It wore no armor but Baer had been told by a townee its natural skin was a tough a leather. Baer had also been told that the weapon in its hand wasn't its only weapon. Serpent Men, he had been told, could fight with their tails and fangs as well.

                                                 Yvilya                                    Baer
Baer gripped his Battleaxe. When the Patron signaled them to come to the center Baer ran. He felt this may be his first fight where he was faster than his Opponent. "It is strength and speed vs defense. I want a short a fight and It wants a long fight".

Baer reached the center of the Wooden Arena first. Yvilya slowly slithered into the center looking for an advantage. Baer quickly circled the Serpent Man gaining its unshielded side. Yvilya lashed out with a counterstrike but Baer jumped to the side causing Yvilya to lunge past. Baer swung his two handed axe striking Yvilya's tail [Right Leg]. The Serpent Man is knocked down and was bleeding.

                                         Yvilya has 1 strength left in its leg and it bleeding
Baer didn't dare slow down. He ran after his fallen opponent attacking head on before Yvilya could stand up. Baer brought his battleaxe over his head swinging down as the Serpent Man lifted his Large Shield in time. The clank of metal crashing metal rang beyond the Wooden Arena.

Yvilya stood up and faced Baer. Baer while exhausted gained Yvilya's unshield side. Yvilya's sword parried the battleaxe striked. Again the Serprent Man parried again. Baer swung below the sword striking the belly knocking Yvilya into the wall. Yvilya fell to the ground from Baer's killing stroke.

Exhausted but relieved Baer walk to the center to the Wooden Arena to the loud cheers of the fans. He had never heard such a loud joyful noise. He waved his Battleaxe to the adoring crowds.

Later as he is in the tavern with his friends. He is approached by a Wizard. The Wizard informs Baer he will cover his expenses tonight and for the rest of the month. Baer eyed the Wizard with suspicion but his tab and Talos were good. So he would let this Wizard pay but he still wondered what this Wizard wanted in return.