Still enjoying the relaxing taste of the smoke, Anearis remembers the purpose of their stay in this fancy inn. They needed information before going forward. 

"You’ve been so good to us. But, I had a few questions if you wouldn’t mind, Lady...Please, forgive me, I haven’t even asked for your name. How rude of me."

Uthal nods in way of a thank you and then finishes his food before standing back up again and heading back to the pit. Once there he waits by the bugbear for a quiet point before asking. "Where can I find the pitmaster?"

A Tiefling entering the establishment, sat down on the open seat, on the side of Ander opposite from where the rest of the party sat. ((It’s like Ander has become a magnet for them, since setting foot in here))

It was one of the few seats still open at the bar counter, by this time, as the place had begun to fill with ones and twos. The woman greeted the newcomer, handing him a menu, that he then peruses. She then returned to Anearis and your party. 

”No problem at all, dear. My name is Valentina Bossom. Proprietor of this fine establishment. Oldest of its kind in the city of Midgar, and standing since the second founding.” Valentina proudly announced this to Anearis, in response to his questioning. As Uthal got up to retry his luck in the arena, so to did Ura. “I’ll come with you, in case you need an adult, or at least someone to tell the rest of the group that your unconscious body needs to be carried back up here.” Ura winked at him and then followed as they made their way back down below.

Easily locating the hobgoblin at the door’s entrance, he begins to hand Ura a betting slip, but stopping when she motions towards Uthal, indicating that she’s with him.

In the lull, the hobgoblin points to someone down in the arena pit; a very thin, seemingly armored individual, addressing the crowd.

“Now who’s here to see a fight!” The crowd whips into a frenzy. “Well right now, we have two foreign fighters, come all the way across the sea, just for your amusement. “Let’s see what happens when we pit Bolo the Bold against...the Tombstone!” The ‘pit master’ leaves the pit, walking up a staired path to an upper platform, within eye line of Uthal. Down in the pit two contenders, a half-orc and a human, match up and begin trading blows.

Uthal makes his way to the Pitmaster. "Excuse me. I would like to enter this competition."

The Pit Master turns from a couple of kobolds, with whom she was conversing. Looking down at Uthal and Ura, you see for the first time that she wasn’t wearing armor, she was the armor! ((Gasp! I know, right!))

The metal plates were connected by more metal and as she spoke, even internally was more. She had glowing blue eyes, and looked Uthal over. “Enter, huh? D’val, give me the odds on this guy.” One of the kobolds looked from a wooden table the held, and performed the same once over of Uthal. He then held up a hand and then showed two fingers followed by one finger. The Pit Master watched the kobold’s hand as he then made some sort of signing and then held three fingers followed by one. 

The Pit Master allowed him to return to what he had been doing before, and crouched on the platform to be eye to eye with Uthal, only about a foot away from him. “Odds aren’t that great to bring in much for the house, but we can probably work something out. Been a while since we’ve seen a Goliath fight in here. You ever fight before?”

Uthal tries to understand the number system but gives up after a second. He then turns back to the pitmaster. "Never in something like this but many times throughout my life. What is the life of a goliath without testing one's strength?" 

The Pit Master straightened up, standing taller and looking back down at you. "Alright, you're in the next fight." She knocks one of the kobolds in the back who then turns and begins scribbling on his board as she speaks. "No biting, no eye gouging, no weapons, armor, or magic.  The match continues until one of you calls it quits or is otherwise incapacitated. I'm feeling generous so we'll give you 2-to-1 odds for a basic fight. 3-to-1, if you're willing to gamble for the potential of a handicapped match.  There's no reward for your first, but win it and it'll let you compete for fights that do have a purse with them. Good?" As she finishes speaking, the kobold looks up towards you as well, as if in anticipation of some sort of response.

‘’You must be quite proud of your establishment, Lady Valentina. I’m sure the Maiden’s Bossom must attract all sorts of attention.’’ Anearis tries to engage the conversation. He wanted to question her without sounding too obvious. ‘’Has the Maiden ever welcomed nobility before?’’

Valentina laughed at Anearis's words, throwing her head back slightly as she did.  "Lady? Well aren't you just the charmer.  But yes we get all sorts.Catering to the rich and famous, as well as the common man able to be lucky enough to rub two pieces of gold together. You looking for anyone in particular?"

"Alright. I'll punch someone for free." 

A change in the roar of the crowd draws her attention, "Excuse me for a moment." The Pit Master hops down from the platform and goes once again down to the arena pit. "Winner!" She shouts, holding up the arm of the human standing over the beaten half-orc, on the ground, though judging by both of the contender's faces, it could be argued that noone won there. "A quick recess, and then we'll get back to the fights. So freshen your drinks and ready your coin for placing those bets.  This night is far from over." 

Letting the human's arm drop, she returns back to the platform, but stops at it, on the same level as Uthal. "Alright, give them your name," she says pointing at the kobolds on the platform. "They'll take any bets you have as well." She reaches across and slaps one of the kobold's legs, then points to Uthal and Ura with her thumb. "You're going down in a couple minutes." The same kobold that gave Uthal a once over before, was now looking at him intently, waiting for the Goliath to speak, as the Pit Master walked away to get lost in the crowd.

Uthal looks down at the Kobold. "Uthal Ogalakanu." He then looks to Ura. "Well, you get to see me punched in the face, you should be happy. And you might win money on it." He hands her the betting slip. 

((Tavern))

The tiefling next to Ander cuts in for a split second to catch Valentina’s attention. Valentina steps over to lean in close, as the man seemed to want to be discreet and quick, interrupting only out of necessity. Ander and Anearis may not hear the entire conversation due to the noise of the flow of patrons, but what the two of you do naturally pick up from the conversation is that he was inquiring about the spa and mentioned something about spelunking and monsters.

She gives him quick instructions, to proceed to a staircase, and to proceed to the floor above. And the tiefling thanks her, making his leave and Valentina returning to the half-party still at the counter. While patrons fill the area, Ander and Anearis are more or less alone, in the immediate vicinity, with her.

((Arena))

The kobold scribbles something down on his tablet and then looks back up at Uthal. He starred for a few moments, as Uthal turned to instead converse with Ura. ”I’m counting on it. I figured you getting punched in the face was a give. Want me to put in anything for you?” Ura responds, motioning to the betting slip.

Uthal thinks for a second before shaking his head. "I don't have much but I prefer the certainty of what I have over what I might win." 

Ura hands 2cp over to the kobold and shows him the betting slip, Uthal had handed to her. The kobold takes the money and scribbled on the board before scrambling away. Without giving Uthal a chance to respond or at least show anything on his face, Ura speaks up, “Just a show of good faith to them, though most of my faith relies on you having a hammer in your hands.” Ura smiled.

The Pit Master’s voice rang out. “Alright, next round is a treat! One of our own, a local boy born and bred here in Midgar, Bearett, is accepting challenges. And we already have the first lined up. A barbarian from unknown wastes. A titan standing among humans. He’s come to steal your wives and your gold. I give you Uthal, the Destroyer!”

”I think that’s you. You might want to drop your gear and get down there...Destroyer.”

Uthal drops his pack and hammer and takes off his armour, leaving them with Ura. He then gives a resigned sigh and takes off his priestly robes leaving him bare from the waist up, displaying his tattoos. "I suppose I should give them what they want. Though I have no interest in their wives." He strides off in to the ring. 

Leaving Ura holding gear and armor that did not only weigh more than her, but likely amounted to a pile as large as she stood. Uthal makes it to the pit unimpeded, to find the Pit Master standing with a dark-skinned half-orc. The half-orc scoffs, “this is my contender?” The Pit Master continues addressing the crowds. “And what do you say we make things a bit more interesting!”

The Pit Master holds up three stones in between her fingers. Two white and one black. This made a roar go through the crowd, much like nearly anything that was said or done within the pit. She drops the stones into a small chainmail pouch, and holds it out to Uthal to draw.

((White Stone A- 6&5, White Stone B- 4&3, Black Stone- 2&1))

Uthal: 6

Uthal removes a stone from the pouch, it’s white. The crowd roars once again in anticipation. As the half-orc removes a stone as well. 

((Black Stone- 4&3, White Stone 2&1))

Bearett: 3

 Opening his hand, Bearett reveals the black stone. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll still rip him apart with only one hand.” A kobold brings a leather pouch with several buckled straps, that is then slid onto the half-orc’s right hand. The pouch is solid and flat on the end, and once secured to his forearm, it’s clear that it prevents the half-orc from being able to hold anything at all with that hand.  The black stone has led to Bearett fighting with a handicap, giving Uthal an advantage, right from the start.

The Pit Master backs away from the two contenders. “Let’s get it on!” She leaves the pit with the kobold, leaving the two of you there, facing off.

((Initiative Roll))

Bearett: 21

Uthal: 15

Bearett attacks with a left jab, as soon as the fight begins, targeted straight at your face, trying to draw first blood.

Attack 12 Damage: 3

Unfortunately, too hasty of a strike, and it fails to connect.

Uthal steps back and uses his longer reach to come in for a wide haymaker from the right.

Attack: 18  Damage: 4