Kitsune follows the group as they meander into the Red Bazaar, out of a strange curiosity of the diverse group of newcomers.  Definitely the outsider, she interjects into Asha and Zyn's conversation "Wait...did you just say you're part Drow?  I'm curious as to what half of your soul thinks about this otherworldy place!  Curious indeed.  Do you find your Drow self in constant conflict with your non-Drow self?  Wait, I'm rambling.  Please forgive!  But I know someone who would love to meet you, for I'm sure you're unique upbringing involves many strange and unique stories to tell."

Again, mumbling to herself, she continues "Yes, the Raven Queen would love to hear their stories!  But stick to your tasking, Kitsune, and help Syndra first..."

You notice that Kitsune has a strange, ethereal ring to her melodic voice.  It's intriguing, yet unnerving at the same time.  She has a habit of continually talking to herself in the middle of a conversation, so much so that you're unsure at times if she's talking to you or lost in her own inner monologue.

"I said I knew many." Zyn told Asha. "But, I did not.."rub shoulders"..with them on a daily basis. However," she admitted, "..it seems like you have." 

Then to Kitsune.

"That is correct, as I was telling my new friends earlier, my father was drow, my mother was human. However, I think you'll find it interesting to know that I don't consider to have..two selves, if I understand your question correctly. But, in reality, I was born and raised in Mirabar, not the Underdark. I am Drow only in appearance - which has earned me many questions and stares. I am used to them. My Grandfather always taught me to see the soul from the inside first." 

Kira pops up on the other side of Kitsune. "You're going to see Syndra? We're going to see Syndra too! Wanna come?"

Responding to Zyn, "Intriguing!  I like your grandpa...an old soul indeed!"

Turning to Kira, suprised she responds back "Oh?  You're acquainted with my dear Syndra Silvane?  But of course you are!  Everyone knows Syndra.  A friend of Syndra is a friend of mine!"

"Well." Zyn says. "Off to Syndra, then." She takes one last longing glance at the dancers, waves casually goodbye, and follows Kira to Syndra.

18, 9

OPTIONAL SIDE QUEST - SAVE AN INNOCENT MAN
A very panicked, desperate man approaches you all as you walk towards Merchant Prince O'Tamu's villa. "Excuse me! I am Belym. Please, help me!" He is very distraught. "My husband, Trazi, has been sentenced to Executioner’s Run for stealing! But, oh this is terrible..i assure you he is a victim of mistaken identity and being sentenced without a proper hearing or trial! I've been unable to persuade anyone in authority that Trazi is innocent. I'll give you all that I have - twenty five silver - if you can help him from the sidelines so he survives the run! He is about to be thrown into the pit with a pair of velociraptors as we speak! Please, we must act quickly. Will you help me?"

Astra is just as enthralled with the belly dancers as he was at the dino races, noting the slight differences in their movements from the ones he and his sisters had learned. He would bop his head to the beat all while taking down notes, and eavesdropping in the girls conversations of course. When the girls talked about heading to Syndra, he gives them a nod, signifying he was ready to go himself.

Kitsune eyes the distraught stranger with caution, trying to determine if the person is telling the truth, or a hustler trying to swindle them out of something (Perception: 8).

You can't exactly tell.

Kitsune is suckered into helping the distraught man...she'll rush over to the sidelines of the Executioner's Run, and see what she can do to Help Trazi (secretively, of course)(Stealth: 23).

AREA 2 - EXECUTIONER'S RUN

To get to Executioner's Run, you pass under Beggars' Palaces (AREA 1). The Beggars’ Palaces are the two largest ziggurats of the Old City. Shops and tenements of bamboo are jammed onto the terraces of the ziggurats in wild profusion. The upper levels are cleaner and less crowded than those near street level. A narrow wooden bridge connects the upper levels above the press and noise of the street.

The road through the Old City splits around a rectangular, stone-lined pit 15 feet deep, 50 feet wide, and 200 feet long. The original Amnian residents built it as an arena for a highly competitive ball game, and it still provides cheap entertainment for the locals. Velociraptors, panthers, or other hungry beasts are set loose in the pit, then convicted criminals are dropped in at one end. Any criminals who make it alive through the gauntlet of carnivores to the far end of the pit can scramble up knotted ropes and win their freedom, along with the adulation of the crowd. Spectators line the walls for these spectacles — including representatives from every level of Port Nyanzaru society, not just residents of the Old City. Bets are placed on which criminals will survive, which will die, how far runners will get before a beast brings them down, and how many kills each animal will rack up.

A handful of Chultans have become celebrities by surviving multiple dashes through Executioner’s Run. It’s been suggested that some people continue committing crimes solely because a conviction is the only way to get tossed into the pit, and betting is always heaviest on a repeat offender.

With other convicted felons, Trazi is in the pit on the far side of the run, opposite to whatever beast will be unleashed from the other side. Belym waves frantically to him, trying to get his attention. At any moment, beast will be unleashed and the "games" will begin.

Kira narrows her eyes and tsks. "Now then, that's just not in the spirit of the Run, tossing an innocent guy in." She grins. "Let's give him a hand! Excuse me." The gnome then looks around for a convenient mouse or other small animal.

Kira finds a mouse and picks it up, eyes and voice turning very serious. "Okay, I have a very important job for you and your friends." She leans forward and whispers into the mouse's ear, then sets him down. She watches the rodent scamper off and then scampers to the edge of the wall. "This is gonna be epic."

A few minutes later as the spectacle starts, mice burst from the walls of the pit and swarm the dinosaurs. Kira watches with a massive grin as they race under the velociraptors' feet, tripping them and distracting them with the promises of easy meals.

The velociraptors are set loose! The criminals panic! The crowd goes wild! A huge wave of vermin descend upon the dinosaurs into the pit! How is this possible? The dinos see them and get distracted with the sea of mice and rats! They begin to eat them voraciously!

Zyn gets an idea!  She unlocks her chainsickles, and like two harpoons, punches them into the ground, making two lengths of chain to climb! The criminals begin to ascend and Zyn pulls back, her arm and shoulder muscles straining! The crowd wants a bloodbath so they swarm you all, trying to get Zyn to release the chains by pulling on her and trying to drag her away! She struggles, shouldering and shoving the Chultans away!

”Gah!!” she grunts, trying not to hurt anyone.

Asha jumps in there and starts punching people.

Astra watches with much amusement at the sudden wave of vodents swarming the pit, however his attention is soon drawn over to Zyn who had attracted most of the crowd's attention with her attempt to help. "Hmm..." The wizard thinks for a moment, then digs into his components pouch, taking out a palm full of sand to then blow it on the crowd. But instead mere sand getting into their eyes, swirls of lavender smoke bellow and surround the crowd.

Sleep on the people immediately surrounding Zyn - 23

The immediate group around Zyn fall over into a slumber, the Chultan Asha was about to sock falling over in sleep. The Chultans gasp and back away, confused, or scared. Zyn senses the sudden lack of resistance against her and pulls against the railing harder to allow the prisoners to scramble up the chains. Through grit teeth, Zyn maintains the hold. Down below in the pit, chaos of rodents vs raptors continues, keeping the promise between Stuart and Kira. After a few more tense moments, Trazi sprawls to the ground from down the pit, panting from the exertion of climbing a chain. After the last prisoner climbs out, Zyn releases her sicklechains and falls to the ground, catching her breath and rubbing her biceps.

Kira gives a little salute down to the chaos in the pit. "Thanks, Stuart. I owe your buddies extra cheese." The gnome whirls to grin at the group. "Right then, to Syndra's?"

Stuart waves back to you excitedly before getting instantly devoured by one of the raptors.

"Very good show!" Astra grins, dusting off his palm at the side of his pants as he carefully tip toed over some of the slumbering Chultans. "You're stronger than you look, Zyn! Good thinking using your chains the way you did. Hope the crowd didn't get you too bad..." He takes a quick look over her to ensure she wasn't bleeding from anywhere. At Kira's words, he perks up. "I believe so. The spell only lasts a minute so we best run off before we get in trouble!"

Zyn gets up. "Thanks, those last two Chultans weighed a few extra pounds. Thought I was gonna lose em. Thanks for ke-" she then saw all the sleeping bodies.

"Oh! Well, that's one way to do it. Nicely done." she took another glance. "They're not dead, are they?" she joked.

She then addressed the crowd with a nervous laugh. "We'll be going now!"

QUEST COMPLETE: Belym and Trazi reunite happily. Before Nyanzaruian guards can arrive, they shove the money into Astra's hands, thank you profusely, and run to safety, laughing.