The Wasps win and Inoke is the only Tick left.

Mist you lose a total of 50 gold, Gin you win 80 gold out of the 5 bets that you spent 60 gold on.

(This is beginning to set a precedent with Mist... XD)

"Aw beans... I hate losin' money but that was the most spectacular spectacle I've ever spectated! Did you see where 'Apona and Kapono almost pulled off that save but then both went out?! Absolutely daft game they've got here! We should adapt it and take it back to Grayhaven! We'd make a fortune!!"

The halfling rambles on and on as they leave the stadium. Meanwhile, he's looking for a tavern to "medicate" his sleep tonight...and maybe pick up on some of the scuttlebutt about the aggressive arboreals.

During the wrestling match a female Oahtu is sitting near the group, you can tell she is a female same subspecies as Kam`ela, and same dark almost black brown coloring, which you have noticed while this subspecies is common that most of them have some form of coloration, where as a very few have this rich dark color.  She introduces herself to Druquilla "I am sorry miss,my name is Watiti, is it true that ALL females of you race are queens?"

Kraven is very intrigued with the wrestling match and was thoroughly entertained. Though now that the match has ended he tried to keep a keen eye on where all the money is going and being stored.

Perception: 9

There is a lot of coins being passed back and forth from person to person, and people collecting from the official bookie.  It's hard for you to concentrate on where it's all going and who's getting what. 

After rejoining the group, now sporting her new armor and new bow slung over her shoulder Druquilla watches the matches without joining in on the betting with the others curious about the whole spectacle. When Watiti moves to her Druquilla has turned her attention from the wrestling match currently going on to her new bow but turns to the Oahtu when she speaks. 

"Pleasure," Druquilla nods then chuckles a little at  Watiti question, "I am Druquilla Ne'vora, sadly no not all the women of my race are queens, though some men will treat any woman they fancy as a queen. You have a lovely color, its different from most I have seen here."

" Well, well. This isn't bad for a beginner, isn't it? " Gintarou happily looks at his payout. He isn't sleepy, not in a mood to go back to the room soon. So the warrior decides to explore the bug city a little bit longer.

" Evening! " When the female Oahtu approaches, Gintarou raises his drink and smiles " The name is Gintarou. My race is just like Druquilla's. Looks like you are interested in our nature and culture. Can I ask the reason why? " 

"This is the color of non queen females.  We females are rarer than males, but queens are even more rare.  This is odd that a man would treat a non queen like one. Also I love your blue colors." Then she looks to Gintarou and answers his question. "I work in the nursery as one of the chief doctors, and other spices mating rituals, routines and nature."

Frustrated Kraven hops on over to stand next to Druquilla to listen in on the conversation.

"Thank you," Druquilla responds with a nod. "Queens are rare where we come from as well, but I feel not as rare as from here. Your job sounds like it could cause headaches some days. Do you enjoy what you do?" 

"I love working with the Larvas, and only wish that I was a queen and could lay eggs myself.  The headaches that you speak of do not come to me, those under me, and before I became a chief I had them from time to time, but to work with the Larvas is so much worth it."

" … I see. " Gintarou tries to understand what Watiti said. He has a hard time choosing some less crude words with his drunken brain. " I can share a bit of knowledge about interspecies mating rituals, routines and … what you said? Ah nature! But I know little to nothing about the mating rules of Halfling, Gnome and Pixies. You should ask Mist, our Halfling. I am quite sure he has an encyclopedia in his head about how hundreds of races mate and reproduce. … Oh ." The warrior shakes his head and says. " Anyway. We are going to meet your queen tomorrow. Do you know anything about the current invasion? I like to be informed  before having an audience with our next employer. "

"Ohhhh that.  Yes, our workers have dug deeper, and we have moved all Larva as deep as we have made.  All exces dirt has been getting added to our walls.  I know nothing about the nature, there have been little attacks here and there, I'm not even sure how big of a threat it is to our city, but we follow the High Queen's orders."

Kraven continues to look around his feathers a bit ruffled as he is not used to his delicacies being the same size of him and walking around.

By this point, Mist has long since wandered off. He's following the crowd to see where everyone's going to drink after the game. He's making friendly conversation with anyone who's walking near him and asking questions about how often these matches happen, how many teams there are, viewership numbers, revenue from tickets and bookies, if there are sponsorship opportunities... He's also keeping his eyes open to see if there are any signs of magic use or magical items being common among the populace.

Anyone wanting to drink find it readily available a good night drinking could cost up to 2 silver, to get absolutely trashed would run closer to 5 or 6 silver. Top recommendations for drinks are:

Limp Antenna, a strong ale that you are warned to drink slowly

True honey Mead, a thick mead that you can see bits of honey comb still in

Easy Friend Ale, a light and frothy ale that drinks smooth 

Hard Shell Rum, a very sweet rum made from coconut milk

You don't see an abundance of magic stuff, nothing more than normal in any other city you have been in.  You find out that wrestling is the cities big sport and it runs a season with 32 teams, and this was the annual championship. There would be a 6 month gap until the next season starts, but there is the amateur groups that compete in the off season but nothing as good.  You also find out that the Ticks only got into the championship because of cheating and an other team being disqualified. Most matches have a full audience, and every year at the championship there are Oahtu who pay a small fee, are allowed to come in with some dirt and add on the the stadium, this year was the lowest spectators for as long as anyone remembers, and it was almost full.  

1 8

Mist you do end up meeting Kealua from the Wasps.

Mist blows through a full gold piece worth of Limp Antenna, makes a big show of meeting Kealua and asking for an autograph. When they're ready to sign, Mist turns around, drops his pants and offers his arse while drunkenly shouting, "Yeh cossted meh feefty gold tanight! Feefty! Ya hear tha?! How's a man tah come by easy moneh wifth chumps liek yoo lot winnin' when yer favored, eh? EH???"

Mist probably ends up sleeping in the street somewhere.

(OOG: It has been a few RL days so I will push the story forward some.)

First thing in the morning those of you who slept in the barracks are woken up by Haulani, to be brought to meet the Queen.

Mist you find yourself asleep in the barracks also, Draqualia I am going to assume you would have woken up some when two soldiers brought Mist into the room and dropped him on the floor.

Haulani brings you to the tallest building in the city.  Think for a moment about the Ivory tower from The Neverending Story, similar in style and just as beautiful, even though its made out of mud.  You have noticed that some buildings do not have smooth sides, due to clumps of mud sticking out and being built quickly and never returned to, this tower however is smooth and perfect, it looks as if it was worked on for years and years, which is probably true.  You come to the base of the building and see no door, but there are 4 guards and 2 workers, when they see Haulani, they then knock on the wall, and the workers start to dig in between the 4 guards and a door opens up.  Haulani leads you inside, where there are 4 more guards, and two more workers, once inside the two workers start working at closing the door.  There is a stairwell that leads up and down, you take the one that goes up.  Every time you make a full rotation there is a flat area with 4 more guards, some have 2 workers but most do not.  15 feet you climb up the stairs, till you start to see sunlight again.  And you climb through an opening at the top and are in open air, a breeze blows gently.  A tall Oahtu with 2 sets of legs and two sets of arms, wings and a long round midsection sits at the far end of the Balcony Floor.  She is brightly colored with bright blues, purples and pinks.  is adorned with elaborate robes of shimmering spider silk accented with jewelry made from polished wasp carapace. The yellow and black shell shines like onyx and gold.  The Queen is flanked by two Oahtu guards, and an aurochs beetle.

It is clear that there is a degree of desperation beneath her calm exterior. Her antennae twitch violently, as if staying alert for an attack that could come at any moment, and there is an anxious note to her voice that she fails to fully conceal.

“Welcome to my home of Kuloa.  I am sure that Haulani has brought you up to speed on the attacks from the outside.  While we have not been attacked inside, YET, I fear that is coming sooner than later.  Assuming that you will be aiding us I will have my city opened to you all.  I hear that you went to the wrestling match last night, I am sorry it was such a pitiful championship match.  I will insure that your ticket prices are reimbursed as well as I will cover any bets you made while there, keep your winnings of course.  And there will be more when you return.” At the word return attendants arrive to adorn you all with brightly colored wreaths made from flower petals cut into long strips, then braided together. The attendants then offer chilled water and candy made from crystallized honey and flower nectar.  SHe continues “I apologe for the meager offerings. But all the natural plants of the island have begun to die, strangled by the new growth in the jungle. I’m especially concerned about the coconut trees, they form the bedrock of our food supply and industry.  It is obvious that something with the power to control plants has taken over the jungle.  They have attacked on the outskirts of the city, but again I fear that an attack on us will be soon.” 

Mist wakes, completely bewildered by his surroundings. "I don't remember comin'..."

He clutches his head and sways as he scrunches his eyes shut and fights to keep from throwing up.

"Uuuughhhhh..." he groans.

The halfling follows the group and snatches any fresh-looking water he sees along the way (with shape water) and tries to drink it, again combating his stomach's urges.

After the queen's speech, still squinting his eyes against the light, Mist steps forward.

"I wouldn't say the match was a total loss... It made for quite an eventful evening." He stifles a burp. "We're happy to help, but I still don't understand how plants are attackin' the city... Do they have legs?? Are they just swingin' their leaves and branches to knock over buildings or do they have little wooden swords or some such? What kind of plants are we talkin' here? Flowers and shrubs? Trees??" It's clear that he's straining to focus his eyes on the queen. "...and, if your lordship wouldn't mind, could ya please explain in small words and at a reduced volume?"