DnD Wife Stories

Music filled the air and woke up the travelers with an experience they had not had in a long time. A quiet morning filled with good cheer and the sounds of the festival well underway as the group caught more sleep, weary from their travels as they were. They had a lovely breakfast with Tobias’ talented cooking. Drexla created a few tools for Bricky to repair himself with, among other things and gave them to him.

The quiet morning was interrupted by a loud harrumph as some one yelled out,

“Is this thing gonna open or what?”

Tobias was caught off guard. He had been having such a good time speaking with his new friends this morning that he did not notice the line forming behind them. He had not prepped anything the night before but, upon seeing the line of potential customers, he began pulling ingredients as fast as he could and prepping dishes to sell. He sold a few dishes, but he did not have any of his main ingredients and his food was lackluster. The crowd knew it too. He began to hear whispers of,

“This food sucks!”

“Ugh, so bland!”

“Should have known better than to come to the outer ring for food!”

The crowd dispersed, but not before Tobias also heard,

“That golden Rhomar said this place was good. What a liar!”

Just like that, what could have been a lucrative start and a way to build a good reputation, was dashed. After that disaster, everyone finished their meal and they began to gather their things from the camp site. The revelry only grew louder and more animated as the day went on. Luna handed a small vial to Bogbean, instructing her on it’s use and best application for use during their bouts in the arena.

The first competition was later that evening so the group had a bit of time to kill before the real fun began. So, they decided to go register for the fights and shop around a bit before the matches. They also had to purchase or acquire gear for Bricky as he was just in regular clothing, no armaments. Tobias was the first to point out that no one knew where the register for the fights.

“Someone will have to ask where the registration for the arena is. No one will speak to me and I am also terrible with directions.”

Captain V was chosen as the person to find out where registration was while the others waited. He wandered around the festival trying to speak to someone for two hours before finding someone willing to do so. When he came back to the group, they were all lounging looking bored out of their minds. He came back only to have to tell them that the registration table was at the center rock they had visited yesterday. Despite how long he had taken, they had the information they needed. With the sun falling quickly below the trees, the group had little time to prepare.

They began to scramble to get their gear in order and made their way to the arena now that they knew where they would need to be for the tournament. A long line spilled out of one of the tents before the sacred stone. They were all participants waiting for their turn to check in for the battles. Tobias noticed that at the front of the line stood Naz with two other companions in full metal armor and polished weapons.

After some more time waiting, their turn to register came. Tobias introduced himself to the Mir’Sha woman that greeted him, as she looked up,

“Yes?”

“I’d like to sign up for the tournament.”

“Very well. Names of the warriors?”

“Myself, the little green one, and the taller gentleman to my right.”

“Are those really your names?”

“My apologies, no. It is Tobias, eh-“

Tobias stopped as she interrupted him mid sentence with a slight grimace.

“Shadowmane?”

“Uh yes. Tobias Shadowmane, Bogbean, and Bricky.”

“Alright then. The rules are simple. You are not allowed to kill, but can render someone unconscious. If your members fall and do not get up within a certain time, that member is removed from the match and the rest must fight on without that member. Aside from that it is a no holds barred battle. Next in line?”

“Ah yes,” Luna spoke up, “it will be V.”

“That’s Captain V, thank you.”

“Right, Captain V, Luna and Drexla.”

“Very well, who are the chosen representatives for each group?”

Tobias and V both volunteered for the positions and came up to draw which bracket they would land in. They did not end up in the same bracket for the first round and they all breathed a sigh of relief. The Mir’Sha woman addressed them once more,

“Congratulations, you are not registered for the matches. They begin at sundown so please be sure to be here to avoid forfeiture and being called a coward.”

The group nodded in awkward silence at the admonition and made their way out of the registration tent towards the vendors.

“Good luck and may the strongest win,” the Mir’Sha lady bade them farewell.

Now that they were registered their focus turned to shopping for what they needed. The teams had about three or four hours before sundown to find their items. They didn’t really know where too look so Bricky began talking to the other contestants to ask for a bit of advise on where to shop for gear. After a bit of talking and explaining why he needed gear he was pointed to some nearby vendors taking advantage of the tournament to ply their wares.

Seeing a vendor handling strips of leather off in the distance, Bricky pointed them in that direction,

“I zink zat is vhere ve need to go.”

“What exactly do you need to buy Bricky?” asked Tobias.

“Vell I vant to buy materials to make some boots, but ve can buy a few things.”

“Boots? Shouldn’t you be buying a weapon? Do you use a weapon, or have a liking for one in particular?”

“Vell, i used to sving hammers a bit vhen I vorked on the valls at the castle.”

“Is that how you fight? With a hammer?”

“I have never really fought before.”

“We were just in a fight with a bunch of scale kin not that long ago.”

“Hmm, well, I did stuff. I did not fight.”

“Ah well I was unconscious for quite a bit so I didn’t catch that.”

“Yes, I saw zat.”

“Yea, I didn’t.”

“Also, one tiny correction. I vill not be buying anything. Ve vill be buying things.”

“I need to know what.”

“Ve vill go shopping and see.”

With that parting comment, Bricky headed off towards the vendor area. This left Tobias and the rest of the group to follow in his wake. Bricky walked up to a weapons vendor and saw the variety laid out before him. There were weapons of every kind on the counter. His eye was drawn to two simple weapons though. One was a large lumpy hammer with some wear to it. The other was a giant mace with spikes on it that would deal more damage in a fight but that didn’t really appeal to Bricky as it wasn’t easily thrown. He decided on the worn hammer instead in inquired on its cost, along with some leather and a buckle. The vendor turned to Bricky and assessed the items, giving him a price of two gold and five silver for the lot.

“Alright,” Bricky agreed and turned to Tobias with an expectant face.

Tobias looked at the vendor, who was giving him the side eye and pulled three gold out to give him. The vendor would not take the money and instead held out his hand for Tobias to drop the coin into instead of touching him. Tobias obliged but lingered and deliberated touched his paw to the other MyrRin without saying a word. The vendor sighed but took the coin and turned away from them as if there were no longer there.

Bricky thanked the vendor on their way out, “Danke!”

With that Bricky set off to find Bogbean and make shoes. Bricky asked Bogbean for help and they went off to a clear corner to craft out of the way of the festival crowds. With a bit of work they were able to create a small pair of boots which Bricky gifted to Bogbean. He had seen her threadbare shoes and wraps on her feet. He also wanted to make up somehow for the awkwardness of last night. The gesture was strange but Bogbean loved the gift and that was what mattered. The teams spent the remaining hours before the tournament practicing with Bricky and preparing for the battles ahead.