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Another backstory piece, hope those who take the time enjoy it.
Thieves, rogues, other shady members of society all found their way below ground to a warmly lit wooden tavern interior with red and brown fabrics to compliment the space. The site was loaded with people of all races, particularly human and nelfin by first glance. Shouting and cheering, grunts and crashes, insults, and quips. All flooded the ears of any patron who made it past the bouncers at the entry steps which lowered into a long descending hall leading to the establishment. The main room held a long curved bar and many tables. Pushing through the crowd revealed a fighting pit off in a back room, easily accessible by the open archway which leads to it. The pit was sunken into the ground just a foot or so, the wooden floor covered in splatters of blood and pieces of clothing from the dirty combatants that tested their strength. The edge was lined by simple fencing, which was also quite broken and chipped away, along with the grouping of people who crowded around to watch the various displays.
Another impact came from the pit followed by a roar from the flock of patrons spectating, shouts bellowing out and nearly deafening the two fighters within. The two brawlers backed off of one another, both breathing heavy and bloodied by this point but neither standing down. To the left stood a Half-Ailor clad in blues and dark browns, red hair and a broken nose to match. Opposing him stood the familiar Kathar with a bloody grin, no shirt revealing his rippling body with dark red tattoos to accompany his many scars.
"That nose of yours is an improvement! You should be thanking me, mate!" quipped the Kathar over the crowd's racket. His grin only widened, teeth coated in the blood which was dripping from his busted upper lip.
"Still better looking than you, ash-skin." The Half-Ailor sneered in response, his fists ready in front of his face in a defensive manner.
"Ah, ash-skin, you wound me, Tobi. We're all friends here, aye?!" The Kathar was quick to respond, waving his hands at the gathered bystanders to hype those gathered, beginning to circle the pit in full showboat fashion.
The crowd went wild with howls of positivity, all aching to see the fight proceed as Eyan continued to empower the crowd. The Half-Ailor advanced as the Nelfin's back was turned but was quickly met with a roundhouse kick as the nimble Kathar felt the heavy steps of the approaching opponent. The man grunted as the boot found his ribs, followed by a harsh shove to separate the two once more.
"Hey now, whatever happened to honor amongst thieves? You give us a bad name!" Eyan licked at his busted lip after exclaiming across the ring, many in the crowd giving out hearty laughs.
The Half-Ailor sneered again, clearly far less witty than his contender. "You done talking yet? These people came for a fight, not your ramblings!"
"Oof, I think these people quite like my commentary!" the Kathar replied, beginning to advance towards his opponent, "But so be it, snappy!"
With a burst of energy, Eyan then rushed forward almost in a blur, aiming low and swiftly reaching Tobi with a right hook to his gut causing the man to grunt. A knee was brought up in response, aimed at Eyan's face though finding no purchase with the light-footed rogue who reeled his head back in response. Several more rapid blows found purchase on the man's torso, along with a jab finding the Kathar's chest and face. The two were tangled once more, fists and grapples keeping the two close and drawing out the fight. Roars continued to come from those watching on as the two skilled foes gave a worthwhile show. Eyan grabbed the man by his collar and yanked him, throwing him into what remained of the railing surrounding the pit. Wood went scattering and the Half-Ailor flew into the crowd who scrambled out of the way. Groans came from the man who now laid on the ground rolling in pain and slowly attempting to reach his feet.
Sweat and blood ran down the gray Elf's head and face, though he remained amused and grinning, enthralled by this whole feat. He brushed strands of hair from his face and approached his opponent who was now only kneeling. A weak attempt of a lunge came from the fatigued combatant as Eyan neared, easily catching the man and dragging him into the ring once more. He pushed him away as if to give him a moment to recover but briskly followed it up with a heavy boot to the abdomen, sending him off his feet and onto his back with a harsh impact. Tobi laid on the ground with no movement other than a heaving chest which caused the crowd to explode in a loud mixture of cheers and boos. Eyan threw up a hand in a victory manner, holding his ribs with the other and moving to exit the pit. Coin was dished out to those who had placed bets upon the match before the crowd settled to await the next show.
Eyan was approached by another male Kathar at the edge of the pit, greeting him with a strong grip of his forearm and an impressed grin. "Nice work, boss."
"Did you really have any doubt? Make sure he doesn't die, the lad is useful. I admire his heart to fight." Eyan spoke into the Nelfin's ear as the commotion of the crowd was still deafening. The other Kathar chuckled and nodded, moving off to drag the defeated man out of the hole.
The wounded but victorious Kathar found his way through the patrons and behind the bar to a back room, pulling out a chair and resting back into it. A feminine figure entered closely behind him, approaching with a set of bandages in hand. "I'm getting tired of cleaning you up."
Eyan snorted, "This is what you signed up for, but the door is behind you should you wish."
"Then who would patch you up?"
"I'm sure I could find someone. Someone who gives me lollipops afterward too."
"I'd hit you if it wouldn't get blood on me." The woman remarked. She was also a Kathar but with dark hair which was riddled with vibrant colors. Her person had other fine jewelry complimenting her outfit and figure. She stepped up to the beaten Elf and began to treat him, if not with some teasing reluctance.
"Suppose you could always just let me die, but then what fun would there be for you?"
The woman just glared his way as she continued patching him up and once done turned to walk off, "One of these days you'll find a blade in your wound instead of the stitching needle."
Eyan grinned, going to shift onto the lone cot which the room held in its bounds, shouting after her, "Hate to see you go but love to watch you leave, Mads!"
