Erna heard the crowd's enthusiasm. She was dressed in her silky purple tunic, the sleeves billowing out for added flair, and black leather armor adorned with small silver studs in swirling patterns. She remembered when she didn't need such armor on but when the rope that carried her to safety snapped once, Janik insisted she wear some protection. The ones that battled in the pit, after all, will not care a wit if she was in the way. Her rapier hung at her side and few other weapons were tucked in her long boots. Such things were not needed when these pits first opened and she had come to Westgate muddy and homeless. The crowd wanted more, the crowd deserved more so she gave them her best performance when she stepped into the sand of the Quivering Thumb.
Erna tried her best to concentrate on her job for it gave her a place to stay and money to spend. Only a few times she caught herself scanning the crowd, afraid of that which drove her from Waterdeep would be there waiting. She used a stage name always. Belladonna. Most called her Bell.
Acting was never one of her goals in life, her hands too sticky for such honest work, but this gave her the first purpose she had in her entire life. A sense of foreboding came over her and she stopped inches from entering the sandy pit. She knew she could not stay here forever, knowing Tymora's blessing only lasted so long and she had been here for two whole years. She felt a sharp pinch on her arm and whirled on her assailant.
"You going to do your job or what?" It was Valamir, one of the combatants in the first match of the night. She pursed her lips at him, he was just trying to goad her into arguing with him. Like he got some sort of sick twist out of it. Instead she peered around him as if he wasn't there.
"As soon as a real man comes along who doesn't fight like a sissy girl does, I'll do what I do best." Not giving him the chance to retort, Erna stepped smoothly out into the arena floor and twirled around to catch the audience's eye. Erna prepared her throat for the bashing see was about to give it.
"Welcome all! Welcome!" Erna smiled broadly. "Harken now and hear the words of Belladonna! Come and see strength of body and the strength of one's mind be tested only to see the biggest foe.." She dropped to the ground, rolling forward with practiced ease and lifting a dagger from her boot in the process. As she stopped her roll, bringing her to a crouch, and released the dagger into her target in the middle of the ring.
"dropped by a cunning throw!" Her finger jabbed at the crowd accusingly as a couple of small boys removed the target from the pit.
"Have you come for blood?!" She roared to the crowd, turning as she spoke. "Have you come for money?!" The pulse of the crowd excited her the most, sending a delightful shiver down her entire body. Her fingers spayed wide and her head tilted back slightly before cocking to the side.
"May I present to you then, good gentles, the scourge of the Coast and half-orc extraordinaire, Umeath of Illipur!" Erna waved her hand to the opposite exit, making her fingers wave as if controlled by gale force winds. Again her hands went to the sky as she casually walked across the ring. She barely saw the appearance of the half-orc but it was his turn to bask in the glory. The crowd was hungry tonight and ripe for the picking.
Umeath bellowed a war cry to the crowd, beating his chest, the net he carried flopping from the motion. His tusks jutted majestically form his lower lip. He was proud of his orc heritage and had many battle scars to prove it. He father had sent him here to hone his skills for his mighty strength would be needed soon. He eyed the delectable morsel that was Belladonna. Surely bringing a boon such as her back to his father would grant him many favors. His thoughts were rattled when she spoke again. The wicked thoughts fled and he scowled. His time for the cheers of the crowd were over.
"But he is not alone this night! Someone stalks the shadows, awaiting to devour his new challenger. He is that which keeps the meanest man lying in fear when the sun dips below the horizon." She waggled her fingers at the crowd, widening her eyes before pointing to the entrance she came from.
"The taker of souls and the reaper of lives! Valamir the Blackheart!!!" Her finger jabbed towards him as he walked out. For a moment she saw those cold eyes lock onto hers, giving her a twinge of fear. She moved away, tearing her gaze from him, and stood in the middle of the ring waiting. She couldn't let herself be shaken now. Men here leered at her with lust often. The only thing that kept them at bay was their employer. No one was allowed to touch Belladonna unless she invited it.
Valamir let a cruel grin spread across his face. He did not know what excited him more. Belladonna's sleek form swaying as she walked or the prospect of spilling the half-orc's blood. He didn't like that he could not out right kill in this ring but he'd make sure the half-orc never blocked his path in the stone hallways again. He swung his chains above his head to acknowledge the crowd's cheers. He'd give them a show they'll never forget.
Belladonna gracefully moved to the center of the ring, her hands beckoning the two warriors. The combatants joined her soon enough and she whispered low to them.
"Well let's make this last, gents. I got some prospects in that crowd for picking. Do it long enough and I'll get you both drunk and laid tonight. Head out of the gutter, boys. I ain't nobody's pet." Erna thrust her fist into the air and the crowd went silent. Her head snapped to Umeath, sending her dirty blonde locks swaying.
"Ready?!" Her head snapped to Valamir as Umeath grunted and pounded his chest.
"Ready?!" Valamir slowly nodded.
"Let's get it on!" Erna bellowed, pumping her fists before running full speed to the rope awaiting her escape from the pits. The ringing of steel was deafening as she looped her foot in the rope and gave it a yank. Carefully it ascended the side of the pit. She looked at the match as she rose higher, Valamir with his chains and Umeath with his net and trident. The rope reached its zenith and two of the help pulled her over. Erna scanned the crowd again. She had work to do. Nobody came to the Quivering Thumb without a good bit to wager and the way the wine flowed in this place, her fingers never had it easier.
Erna tried her best to concentrate on her job for it gave her a place to stay and money to spend. Only a few times she caught herself scanning the crowd, afraid of that which drove her from Waterdeep would be there waiting. She used a stage name always. Belladonna. Most called her Bell.
Acting was never one of her goals in life, her hands too sticky for such honest work, but this gave her the first purpose she had in her entire life. A sense of foreboding came over her and she stopped inches from entering the sandy pit. She knew she could not stay here forever, knowing Tymora's blessing only lasted so long and she had been here for two whole years. She felt a sharp pinch on her arm and whirled on her assailant.
"You going to do your job or what?" It was Valamir, one of the combatants in the first match of the night. She pursed her lips at him, he was just trying to goad her into arguing with him. Like he got some sort of sick twist out of it. Instead she peered around him as if he wasn't there.
"As soon as a real man comes along who doesn't fight like a sissy girl does, I'll do what I do best." Not giving him the chance to retort, Erna stepped smoothly out into the arena floor and twirled around to catch the audience's eye. Erna prepared her throat for the bashing see was about to give it.
"Welcome all! Welcome!" Erna smiled broadly. "Harken now and hear the words of Belladonna! Come and see strength of body and the strength of one's mind be tested only to see the biggest foe.." She dropped to the ground, rolling forward with practiced ease and lifting a dagger from her boot in the process. As she stopped her roll, bringing her to a crouch, and released the dagger into her target in the middle of the ring.
"dropped by a cunning throw!" Her finger jabbed at the crowd accusingly as a couple of small boys removed the target from the pit.
"Have you come for blood?!" She roared to the crowd, turning as she spoke. "Have you come for money?!" The pulse of the crowd excited her the most, sending a delightful shiver down her entire body. Her fingers spayed wide and her head tilted back slightly before cocking to the side.
"May I present to you then, good gentles, the scourge of the Coast and half-orc extraordinaire, Umeath of Illipur!" Erna waved her hand to the opposite exit, making her fingers wave as if controlled by gale force winds. Again her hands went to the sky as she casually walked across the ring. She barely saw the appearance of the half-orc but it was his turn to bask in the glory. The crowd was hungry tonight and ripe for the picking.
Umeath bellowed a war cry to the crowd, beating his chest, the net he carried flopping from the motion. His tusks jutted majestically form his lower lip. He was proud of his orc heritage and had many battle scars to prove it. He father had sent him here to hone his skills for his mighty strength would be needed soon. He eyed the delectable morsel that was Belladonna. Surely bringing a boon such as her back to his father would grant him many favors. His thoughts were rattled when she spoke again. The wicked thoughts fled and he scowled. His time for the cheers of the crowd were over.
"But he is not alone this night! Someone stalks the shadows, awaiting to devour his new challenger. He is that which keeps the meanest man lying in fear when the sun dips below the horizon." She waggled her fingers at the crowd, widening her eyes before pointing to the entrance she came from.
"The taker of souls and the reaper of lives! Valamir the Blackheart!!!" Her finger jabbed towards him as he walked out. For a moment she saw those cold eyes lock onto hers, giving her a twinge of fear. She moved away, tearing her gaze from him, and stood in the middle of the ring waiting. She couldn't let herself be shaken now. Men here leered at her with lust often. The only thing that kept them at bay was their employer. No one was allowed to touch Belladonna unless she invited it.
Valamir let a cruel grin spread across his face. He did not know what excited him more. Belladonna's sleek form swaying as she walked or the prospect of spilling the half-orc's blood. He didn't like that he could not out right kill in this ring but he'd make sure the half-orc never blocked his path in the stone hallways again. He swung his chains above his head to acknowledge the crowd's cheers. He'd give them a show they'll never forget.
Belladonna gracefully moved to the center of the ring, her hands beckoning the two warriors. The combatants joined her soon enough and she whispered low to them.
"Well let's make this last, gents. I got some prospects in that crowd for picking. Do it long enough and I'll get you both drunk and laid tonight. Head out of the gutter, boys. I ain't nobody's pet." Erna thrust her fist into the air and the crowd went silent. Her head snapped to Umeath, sending her dirty blonde locks swaying.
"Ready?!" Her head snapped to Valamir as Umeath grunted and pounded his chest.
"Ready?!" Valamir slowly nodded.
"Let's get it on!" Erna bellowed, pumping her fists before running full speed to the rope awaiting her escape from the pits. The ringing of steel was deafening as she looped her foot in the rope and gave it a yank. Carefully it ascended the side of the pit. She looked at the match as she rose higher, Valamir with his chains and Umeath with his net and trident. The rope reached its zenith and two of the help pulled her over. Erna scanned the crowd again. She had work to do. Nobody came to the Quivering Thumb without a good bit to wager and the way the wine flowed in this place, her fingers never had it easier.
