Rylia is a bit surprised as Bryn kisses her, but she gets a big smile on her face.  She says nothing about his comment. "We should place a bet on Arr. Give him our support," she says to Bryn. "What do you think? Maybe 2 or 3 gold? How does it work? Will someone just come collect the coins?" 

She starts to eat her Steamy Sizzler, relishing in the flavors. "This is really good! We should come here to eat more often."  She pauses, waiting to see Bryn's reaction to his meal, eyeing it a little enviously. 

"We know next to nothing about tournament fights and half of those are seasoned fighters. We see this as a test and an opportunity to get used to the modification to our body. An experiment in a controlled environment if you will." Arr explain their motivation to join the tournament. They'll sample a few bits and bites from the offered food, "We still don't get why they make an effort to prepare food for us warforged but we have to admit that it is a curious experience to feel this large variety of flavours and collect the memories of them. Does every food taste different? We can understand that people just try food to find new flavours or new combinations of them. We always held the believe that food only serves to nourish the body, something that is wasted on us."

(Let's give randomness a shot...there's a 50% chance Bryn will love the snails, a 35% he'll like it well enough, and a 15% chance the flavor or consistency will be off and he'll hate it. 32 - This was 3 originally!!)

Bryn inhales the aroma of his dish...and his face scrunches up. "I'm not sure about this...but I've gotta try it at least." He stabs one of the snails with the small fork, swirls it in the butter and garlic sauce, blows on it to cool it off a bit, then places it in his mouth. At first he looks relieved and pleased, but after chewing it only twice his face contorts and he spits it out. "Gah! It's rancid!" Bryn takes a big gulp of his drink, swishing it around in his mouth trying to remove the awful taste in his mouth.

He'll look around for the half-orc who dropped the food off, then for Ham the goblin to request a new plate.

Bryn glances around the room, scanning the area for the mysterious half-orc who delivered the cryptic message. However, his eyes can't locate the figure within the bustling tavern.

His attention is drawn to the goblin waiter, who approaches the neighboring table with two large tankards of beverages in hand. The room is abuzz with conversations about the upcoming bets, and some patrons have already begun to rise from their seats, heading towards a door that is supposed to be the butcher entrance.

Brother Coltinar, "Ah...We best finish up our meals as it might be near the time the tournament will begin." 

Brother Coltinar signals for the waiter to assist Bryn in getting the Waiter's attention.  Once Bryn finishes talking to the Waiter he asks, "Do we have a bit more time before it starts?  Will someone come get Arr?"

Brother Coltinar raises his hand to grab Ham's attention. Ham, who was serving another table, notices the gesture and walks over to the group.

"Don't worry, you've got about half an hour before the action starts. Right now, folks without reserved seats are starting to scramble to grab the best spots. But your seats are secured. Just a few minutes before the action kicks off, someone will come to get your friend Arr. You still have time to enjoy your meal"

"Ham, I hate to complain, but I think that either I got a bad batch of snails, or someone put something in it. Can you bring me something else?" Bryn smiles apologetically.

Ham listens attentively to Bryn's complaint and nods sympathetically. He leans in slightly and says, "Ah, I see what happened. The snails are a bit of an acquired taste, not for every stomach."

Ham continues "By now, we only have the mushrooms. How about trying it? It's much easier on the palate."

If Bryn accepts it, Ham assures that his replacement dish will arrive promptly.

Bryn does accept the mushroom plate, although he is not convinced that the half-orc didn't do something to his food as an added 'warning'...

Rylia puts a hand on Bryn's shoulder.  "A shame that dish wasn't any good.  I was really hoping to give it a try. If you're hungry you can have a bit of mine while you wait. It's delicious, but I've really had my fill." The plate is still about half full. 

"Yes, I'd love to try some of your food - and you can have a taste of mine. But trust me - those snails weren't any good. I think that ... well ... they were not good." Bryn's obvious trip up when he was about to name the half-orc that had warned him to "not know them" indicates how much he feared the Daask clan and believed the implied threat...

Brother Coltinar finishes up his meal and drink.  He waits for the others to finish their meals.  "I wonder where our seating will be.  I hope we have a good view too."

Rylia pushes her plate of food over to Bryn. "Go ahead and try it. It's really good," she says. She glances over to Coltinar. "Probably will get real good seats, with them being reserved. Though I'd be just as happy to sit in the back."  She hesitates a moment. "You don't think it will get too gory, do you?" 

When they eventually move to the spectator seating area, Bryn will offer 10 gold pieces for the pool to bet on R4G3.

Tension is growing in the air as Coltinar and Rylia are finishing their meals, while Bryn is halfway through his replacement dish. A very young orc approaches the table, dressed in dark leather armor, and informs Arr that it is time to prepare for the upcoming match.

Followed by Arr the orc moves towards a nearly concealed door tucked away behind a massive wooden barrel leaving the growing chatter of the other patrons filled the space they left behind.

Ham approaches the group as they continue their meals, inquiring, "Did you enjoy the food? Especially you, Bryn, with the mushroom dish. Was it more to your liking?" He smiles as he looks around the table, waiting for their responses.

In his hands, Ham holds a set of colorful, gleaming wristbands, which he begins placing on each group member. You notice that other few patrons from different tables also had similar wristbands, now shimmering brightly in the ambient light.

As the group wraps up their meals, Ham gestures towards a particular door leading to the arena. "The entertainment begins this way. Just follow the path, and you'll find the arena. Enjoy the show," he said with a friendly nod.

You approach the door and see hanging from the doorframe are rubber strips that, when pushed aside, create a curtain-like effect. As you pass through this makeshift entryway, a door magically closes behind you. It is the first sign of magic you see since you arrived here Distant sounds of a saxophone and percussion instruments reach your ears and become louder as you move deeper into the arena.

You are hearing something like this:

"The food was amazing!" Rylia says in response to Ham's question. "At least mine was. I hope I'll get a chance to try some of the others another time." 

As she starts to hear the music, the girl starts to move her hips to the rhythm a bit. A smile comes to her face as she hears the saxophone. "Oh, do you suppose that is Nine Nipples? It must be! This is nice." 

Bryn nods an affirmative to Ham as he tries to quickly down the rest of the mushroom and vegetable platter. "Shooda o'ded dis fust!" he manages between forkfuls... He finishes and moves to the indicated portal with his new friends.

As they walk down the passage and hear the music, Bryn seems to relax. In response to Rylia's comment about the music. he says, "I bet you're right! I like the beat - reminds me of the summer festival where we first met...well, when I first saw you. You may not remember it, I was still lifting loose coins and unwatched goods to just scrape by on the streets. But over the driving beats and raucous sounds of music like this I heard the most beautiful sound - like an angel's song - drifting over everything. It was soothing and felt like a warm embrace, filled with lilting melodies and unexpected chords. I followed the sound and saw you playing your instrument, alone in the center of a circle of other enraptured listeners. I put all of my coin in your case that night, and the next. It took me an entire week to work up the nerve to say anything to you...and now here we are, on a grand adventure!" 

#Paladin
Paladin's eyes gleamed with enthusiasm as he eagerly separated five gleaming gold coins from his pouch. He held them up for Brother Coltinar to see, then inquired, "Brother, I'm thinking of placing a bet on Arr. I believe in his strength. What do you think? Should I put my faith and these coins on this Boho, too? What are your thoughts about him?"

He couldn't help but comment, "I'm quite excited about the fights. It's a pity I didn't enter as a fighter myself. It seems like a unique and entertaining way to test one's skills and character. Besides, I imagine it can be a wonderful, albeit intense, way to relax one's mind and rejuvenate the body. But I'm here now, and I'm going to channel all my energy into supporting Arr. Let's hope our faith in him pays off!"

With a broad smile, Paladin made his choices for the bets. While he didn't sign up as a fighter, he was determined to stand strong in Arr's corner, both physically and spiritually.

As Paladin and Coltinar lead the way, followed by Bryn and Rylia who are chatting, and Braxiel a bit behind, you continue down the corridor, reaching its end, where a huge floating cage lay, situated about half a level below, surrounded by rustic wooden bleachers.
Just before you reach the end of the corridor, Madame Petras, along with two dwarves, collects bets from the spectators. The bets are recorded on the wristbands worn by each of you, confirming your predictions for the upcoming matches.
"5 gp in Kalea", someone shouts.
"10 gold in the Warforged " follows the other.
You take some time there while you see the bleachers quickly filled, with a wide array of figures from different races and species occupying the area. It was a true melting pot of diversity, and you couldn't discern where this multitude had emerged from since they hadn't seen them enter through the tavern.

Among the crowd, you notice exotic races like the aarakocra, with their colorful feathers, and towering firbolgs who barely fit on the narrow benches. There were also minotaurs of various types, from muscular brutes to more slender figures, all watching the event with keen interest.
Madame Petras points you in the direction of a reserved area in the bleachers. An LED strip appears, matching the color of your wristbands, guiding your way to this special section. At the entrance of this section, the half-orc who had distributed pamphlets at your table acted as a guard. He pulls aside a tape to let you through and, without looking directly at any of you, replaces the tape when you pass, resuming his vigilant stance.

The audience is stirred by singing, dancing, and cheers, some of which resemble raucous sports chants.
Amidst the rustic scenery, a large LED panel appears. The faces of the next two fights on it feature the gnoll with the dwarf; and Arr with Kaela, the harpy. Immediately when faces appear the audience starts screaming even more.

The space is a large cavern with no windows, only many holes for fresh air. The heat is intense and it´s a bit stuffy.
Braxiel, who hadn't eaten or drunk, fell a bit exhausted, as if fatigue enveloped him. His steps are slower, and any actions he attempts require extra effort.
//---DM Braxiel got one point of exhaustion, which means you have disadvantages on his next ability checks.---//

While you settle in, you feel the atmosphere charged with energy and anticipation and you look around to capture the surroundings.
/---DM All of you give me a Perception check or/and any other test you wish---//.

Braxiel, feeling light headed, try’s to find focus on his surroundings. “Maybe I should have eaten something, instead of getting wrapped up in my studies.” He says towards Rylia but truly to no one. 

Perception: with disadvantage: (3,9 3+3=6)