The Hollows is hopping, so many brawls happening. Others thing that thee various runs and fishing derby requires the most logistics but it's the fights in the hollows. Other preliminary rounds had happened and now it was coming down to the last few rounds. Alcohol was flowing freely enough and though some people had started their own fights, they were summarily tossed out or disqualified. People had their favorites to win and betting is rampant across the room, money changing hands and some people will lose all, and others will gain. Josephine son in law is the officiator, the jeweler herself handling the lists. She's not touching the money. It's the final event and here, someone is going to win a million, or they'll leave with what they came in with. It's loud, it's noisy, it's bloody.

Merek makes his way into the place, looking around a bit while he stretches. He has on his dark attire, from the trousers to the tunic, though no armor and anything like that, while he settles about to wait for things to begin.

Ras has been watching from a place at the bar for most of the time, nursing a cup of water. There's nobody talking to him because apparently he's alienated any supporters with a sour mood. The feather charm that's usually in his hair is nowhere to be seen. Neither are his clothes. He sits there scowling, mostly bones and some very wiry 'muscles'. Every once in a while he mutters something to himself, and coughs or scrubs at his nose with the knuckles of one hand. If he punches someone with that fist, it's going to be pretty gross.

'Caspian Wild! Ras!" The names called out as the last bloody set of people depart, one a victor the other a loser.

a huge spotted dog named Fury arrives, following Aksel.

a huge spotted dog named Fury have been dismissed.

Caspian is sitting around, having arrived a little while ago, and wears himself his smallclothes with a blanket wrapped around him to keep himself warm and mostly modest. He's talking with some fellow Champions, chatting them up about who's gonna win this tournament. Then his name is called and he unwraps himself from the blanket and steps into the ring, cracking his knuckles. "Hey there Ras. Good luck," he says with a grin to the man.

When his name is called, Ras slips off the stool and winds through the crowd towards the fighting pit. At the edge of the sands, he steps in and punches one fist into the opposite palm, seeming almost to look through Caspian rather than directly meet the man's gaze, scrawny frame held in a tense and aggressive posture. A sullen, resting glare has settled over his features. "You too," he grunts grudgingly, eyes glinting with aggravated resolve. He mumbles his little mantra to himself again, whatever it is.

Ras mutters, "... ... biscuits, ... and biscuits. ... ... Uppers. ... ... Uppers."

Flanked by her retinue of supporters all in that same earthtoney brown and black, Sydney makes her way onto the scene. She's already sporting a mild bruise on her face and a cut on her lip. Looks like somone's been warming up. As she enters, she starts to casually strip away that attire, easing out of her exotic leather jacket and then shucking the rest of her protective gear to the side until she's down to form-fitting cloth that looks suitable for wiping down a barstool with. Fancy, she is not. She meanders on over to where Caspian and Ras have posted up, reaching up to loop an arm around the taller of the two, and lower for the other. "Biscuits are always welcome! I do hope you'll share."

contestants are ready? The bulk Arcuri nods to both and then the call is given. 'Fight!"

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

Ras shrugs off Sydney. "I'm tryna be pissed," he grumbles. "Go away." He mutters again, circling around, bare toes in the dirty sand - and abruptly charges Caspian.

Sydney sticks her tongue out. "You don't deserve 'er, in that case!"

2 House Mazetti Aspirants arrives, following Dianna.

Ras checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 7, rolling 51 higher.

Ras remains capable of fighting.

Ras checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 14, rolling 38 higher.

Ras remains capable of fighting.

Ras checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 31 higher.

Ras remains capable of fighting.

Ras checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 19, rolling 23 higher.

Ras remains capable of fighting.

Ras checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 37, rolling 3 lower.

Ras checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 9, rolling 52 higher.

Ras remains alive, but close to death.

Ras is incapacitated and falls unconscious.

Sydney watches with hawkish curiosity, a grin slowly spreading over her face as she watches, bouncing her weight from heel to heel, clearly getting excited to see how things play out when the two enter the ring. "Watch his reach, Ras!"

For most of the fight it's a close fight. Caspian is not very good at unarmed combat, but he makes up for that for being fast on his feet. He ducks and weaves, dodging blow after blow, only letting some through as he grinds down Ras and is grinded in return. But eventually he starts to get the upper hand on Ras after both fighters have given each other punishment, and he smacks the man with his fists over and over again until he finally knocks out his opponent!

A dark-haired beauty in her burgundy velvet and blonde-colored fur cloak steps onto the scene, two large guards at her rear. Dianna is obviously out of place but makes her way elegantly through these parts without even the slightest wrinkle of her nose. She gestures with only two fingers to the guards behind when they notice the fighting ahead, and all stop. Dianna's gaze studies the fighters, her amber eyes shifting from one to another. Very little else can be gleaned of this woman aside from her obvious wealth.

There's a wheeze at one point in the fight when Ras is gut punched, and for a second he doubles over and his knees wobble. But then he's up again, moving with tight and determined anger, landing strike after strike on Caspian. How can a scrawny street rat beat an actual champion though, even if they're both bare knuckled? Eventually he's knocked flat, and takes a good minute to come to. Dragging himself up slowly, he gives the man a bleary semi-nod and staggers back to his place at the bar.

Caspian is bloody faced as he heads back over to his eat, grabbing his blanket to wipe the blood from his mouth and nose, grunting, "Ugh, my head's ringing. That was a fight," he says, flopping down on his seat.

As the two beat eachother damn near to the point of exhaustion, Sydney looks more and more elated, getting wildly into the match. When it ends, she looks disappointed - either by the result, or by the fact that she has to wait to see more.

2 Redrain Guards arrives, following Artur.

"Hey you little shit!" Someone calls out, directed to Ras. "You cost me silver! I bet on you!" They call out. 'Better watch your back" As if the street rat doesn't stop watching it. Caspian's champions however are there to help the man, prep him for more rounds of fighting even as the crowd gets rowdy and waits for the announcement of the next bracket. Which is "Merek Black! Sydney!" They're swiftly moving through things, it's the evening and it's been a day of pugilism.

Aksel watches with mild interest. YEA! ITSA BLOODY MESS!

{There comes from the burly Arcuri. "Correction! Aksel! Merek!"

"Five thousand silver on Aksel, any takers?" Calls out Caspian as he places a bet.

Aksel tips his head to Merek as he enters into the ring. Oddly enough the Northman doesn't adopt a traditional northern stance for pugilism, but rather, he takes up a style more reminiscent of the Oathlands. This is going to be interesting.

Arriving and not wanting to cause a scene, Artur keeps his guards outside. The Redrain Prince finds a place to sit and watching, folding his hands in front of him on the railing as he takes in a bit of sport.

Merek makes his way into the ring, while he stretches a bit, then he takes his tunic off. He has a tattoo upon his navel, while he looks to have many faded scars. He shifts to a stance while he nods a bit, "I'd take all the bets on Aksel, I'm not great with this," he says.

Sydney bristles at the calls from the audience, and straightens her back, "Y'cost yerself your own silver, y'proper waste of space! Don't bet what you can't handle!" Speaking of, she balks immediately at the figure proposed by Caspian, shaking her head squeamishly. "Not for me, thanks." She then turns her focus back to the ring, scoping out the competition.

and as the two men enter into the fight ring and are ready, the burly Arcuri declares "Fight!"

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

Not a gesture from Dianna aside from slipping a leather-wrapped flask from somewhere beneath her fur cloak. She notes Prince Artur as but one of three familiar faces and sidles over to him after a brief murmur to the guards accompanying her. A proper-but-small curtsy to Artur and she returns to face the new fighters, the guards finding their way... somewhere.

Ras smiles slightly, a small and satisfied smirk, as he appraises Caspian's bloodied face. However, that expression turns into a scowl as he hears the shouts directed at him from the audience, and he jabs an obscene gesture in their direction before taking a sip from his water, hunching down at the bar. There's a swirl of red in the cup when he drinks but he doesn't appear to notice, eyes on the next match.

"Ooo, nasty hit by Merek," says Caspian with a wince. "Maybe it's good no one took me on that bet."

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 1, rolling 78 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 5, rolling 44 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 18, rolling 54 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 19, rolling 33 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 24, rolling 18 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 2, rolling 71 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 6, rolling 58 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 26, rolling 17 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 19, rolling 60 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 28, rolling 13 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Sydney whistles, as the fighters appear to both have on another on the ropes again. "Punch his head!" She calls. It's unclear to whom.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 33, rolling 39 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 38, rolling 24 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 45, rolling 29 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 54, rolling 8 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

"Oh my gods, this is so close," says Caspian with a long whistle. "Though I think MErek is running out of steam."

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 75, rolling 26 lower.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 40, rolling 5 higher.

Merek remains alive, but close to death.

Merek is incapacitated and falls unconscious.

Sydney says, "That's what I'm talking about! That was anybody's fight to take."

Having caught a match, Artur turns to leave, having gotten more than his fair share of entertainment for the evening.

2 Redrain Guards leaves, following Artur.

Buster, an impossibly charming pygmy goat arrives, delivering a message to Caspian before departing.

It's a rather comical thing really seeing a Northerner adopting the style of the Oathlands. As the pair circle each other, Aksel keeps his hands up in place and the two seem to just want to feel each other out at first. Back and forth strikes come, but Aksel's don't really seem to do much against Merek. Around and around they go then suddenly.. something shifts in Aksel. His face bloody and bruised his hands drop just a little lower and he takes a massive strike to the chin for it, but in a flurry, Aksel is pressing the attack. Nothing like what his teacher had taught, but instead going to the stance more of a northern brawler. Aksel chases Merek about the ring trying to press any and all advantage even as he takes punishing hit after hit. Even as Merek starts to show signs of fatigue, Aksel seems to only be getting stronger. He never snarls, never calls out, just an occasional grunt as Merek lands blows that should have dropped him. Singularly focus is Aksel in knocking Merek out. It's not a glorious blow that Aksel lands that does the trick. Just a simple jab and the moment it lands, Aksel knows it's over and he takes a step back. "Ida's gonna be pissed at me."

Merek matches up well with Aksel, trading strikes, putting the show on for the people. He seems to be enjoying this, starting well but towards the finish he's bested while he leans back from the fight, then when he is bested, yielding when he is on the floor, he sighs, making a way to settle in with the Mercies!

Merek is overheard praising Aksel.

Merek is overheard praising Josephine.

Sydney throws a wide grin in the direction of both combatants, practically bouncing on her toes. "That was great! You're getting me totally pumped up!" It's probably less of a comfort to Merek, but Sydney seems to be tonedeaf when it comes to her enthusiasm for this particular event.

Caspian's fellow champions are tending to Caspian's bloody face much like if he was a real boxer, pressing a cold, wet rag to his eyebrow to wipe away the blood and stem the bleeding as he sit back in his seat to relax.

Merek lifts up a hand, "Well fought!"

Observing the obviously-close match without a hint of emotion, Dianna's expression might just as easily be seen on the face of a woman watching a volley of chess, so bland she seems. As the prince finds his way away, again she curtsies and bows her head, flicking her gaze to the sands upon his departure. One of the huge guards with her before appears from the shadows and finds himself just behind her left elbow. Dianna barely leans her head to the left and murmurs before the guard disappears into the darkness again. The fight ends and the fingertips of Dianna's right hand can be seen - but not heard - repeatedly touching the open palm of her left. Without a nod to either combatant, it is not clear for whom she applauds; but Dianna does set her gaze briefly upon Josephine's face and, perhaps catching the woman's gaze, proffers a nod.

"You too," Aksel is what he'd respond back to Merek with, but it doesn't quiet come out. It's more of a grunted Utooo.. The reason for it is obvious when he snags a bucket and spits out a mouthful of blood. He sways there for a second before staggering towards whoever is offering up healing services. To say he's a hot mess, would be the understatement of the year.

Aksel is declared the winner in what seems to be a tremendously tight match that leaves once again, some people happy and others sad that they're without any winnings and have in fact, lost money. But the next bracket is up and as the burly Arcuri steps forward, names are called out. 'Caspian Wild! Sydney! To the ring!" Josephine notices her niece and lifts her hand to wave to the woman before looking back to her sheets.

An expectant look is cast in Caspian's direction. The young woman makes her way down to the ring, where she appraisingly regards the taller man. "If I'm bein' wholly honest, I was hoping to be up against Ras. I owe him a wallop or two." She turns her neck until it pops, and similarly cracks her knuckles. "...And he had the shorter reach." She looks ruefully at the man's build, and shrugs her shoulders, approaching with her fists level to press them to the man's before backing off. "Can't say I'm disappointed to face ya. Let's make it a good show."

Caspian moves to the ring, stretching his hands over his head with his fingers laced, looking to Syndey as he says, "Me nether, though I'm gonna confess I didn't wana fight you till the finals. Anyway, lets knock each other's faces in!" He fist bumps Syndey in return, then throws up his fists in a guard.

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

Partway through the last match, Ras turns back to the bar to rest his head in one hand, sipping at his bloody water and staying quiet - clearly he must have quite a headache. However, when Sydney's name is called, he shifts around again to watch the fight. "Go, Syd!" he calls in a somewhat ragged cheer, despite her commemt about owing him a wallop.

Sydney checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 1, rolling 49 higher.

Sydney remains capable of fighting.

Sydney checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 17, rolling 35 higher.

Sydney remains capable of fighting.

Sydney checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 19, rolling 111 higher. Sydney rolled a critical!

Sydney remains capable of fighting.

Sydney checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 21, rolling 41 higher.

Sydney remains capable of fighting.

Caspian checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 1, rolling 72 higher.

Caspian remains capable of fighting.

Sydney checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 33, rolling 7 higher.

Sydney remains capable of fighting.

Sydney checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 36, rolling 12 higher.

Sydney remains capable of fighting.

Caspian checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 2, rolling 67 higher.

Caspian remains capable of fighting.

Sydney checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 41, rolling 19 lower.

Sydney checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 12, rolling 73 higher.

Sydney remains alive, but close to death.

Sydney is incapacitated and falls unconscious.

TAlk about an upset. Caspian should have lost that fight for most of it, with Sydney's superior fighting style showing. He just slowly got his ass handed to him. But then his athleticism saved him, with his opponent tiring out before him, to which he took advantage and grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat, eventually landing the ending blow upon Sydney.

Cautious. That how Sydney plays it - she's up against someone with the weight and reach advantage on her, so she doesn't just come out swinging like a madwoman. She's seen well enough that her opponent has physical prowess. Enough to leave her in the dust in the mud run, and enough to be regarded as a big deal. His physique alone is enough to make her take the early part of the fight extremely cautiously. She feels out his speed, the strength of his blows. It's only then that she begins to become an absolute dervish of activity.

She works the man's body, doing everything she can to test the limits of his stamina. It doesn't prove to be the right strategy - she overestimates her own reserves. It's a long and drawn out affair, but it all comes crashing down on Sydney when she just becomes more and more sluggish. Her opponent chips away at her with hit after hit, until finally, that last one to her reeling. She staggers and stays upright for a solid several seconds before her eyes glaze and she tumbles flat on her face. A disappointed groan is sent up by her groupies, one of which rushes forward and yanks her up by the arm to carry her off with his shoulder.

Ras boos loudly and rudely when Sydney slumps to the sand, and watches her for a minute before turning back to the bar.

Whiskey is good for a lot of things. Right now a whole bottle is being used to dull the pain Aksel feels. He's found himself, thankfully, a table to lean over to watch the next bought. His green gold flecked eyes watch the two square off taking healthy drinks from the bottle. "Wow," he says to himself as he watches before muttering, "I'm f..." whatever is going to be said is cut off by the row of the crowd as Capsian drops Sydney.

Little surprise that the last few fights are ones that are close. The fight ends with both looking weary. There's some time needed after the declaration of Caspian as the winner, and for Sydney and so a break is had by all, the real bets starting to take place since the next bracket determines fourth and third. But soon enough the burly Arcuri is back. "Caspian! Merek!" He calls out the placement heat for third.

"Correction! Sydney and Merek!:

Sydney has to get smacked back to her senses. After a suitable recovery window in which she assures, "Of course I can sharding go again, I'm awake, ain't I?" She works her way right back to the ring.

Another close round on the sands and the brunette noblewoman remains impassive, rarely even retrieving and lifting her leather-bound flask to her lips before concealing it again under her cloak at the fight's end. Briefly, her eyes lift, measuring the preparation of Sydney, having just fought, and the dark-haired lad who lost earlier as they step to the sands.

Merek makes a way to that ring, while he nods a bit, settling into position so he can face with Caspian, then he shifts to his stance again with a nod for him also.

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

It's obviously a surprise to Ras that Sydney is fighting immediately again, and a hint of genuine respect glints in his gaze as he swivels uncomfortably toward the fighting pit again.

To Sydney even.

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

Once people are at the ready, t he burly Arcuri calls out 'Fight!"

Sydney spits some blood-colored phlegm to the side. She regards the man through teeth that are still tinged subtly red from the previous bout. "Hope you're not too tired after your last bout." She's one to talk.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 3, rolling 50 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 24, rolling 36 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 31, rolling 55 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 36, rolling 15 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 37, rolling 18 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 38, rolling 28 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 47, rolling 7 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 53, rolling 4 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 75, rolling 23 lower.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 40, rolling 50 higher.

Merek remains alive, but close to death.

Merek is incapacitated and falls unconscious.

Ras says, "Sydney, Sydney, punch his kidney!" He claps, apparently trying to start up a chant. "Gooo Sydney!"

Sydney doesn't seem content to repeat the mistakes of the past. Right of the gate she turns it into a slugfest, cracking Merek across the jaw and taking a blow in return. She focuses less on dancing around and more on power, and the change in tactics ultimately pays off. She delivers crushing blow after crushing blow, raining down like a waterfall until her blows pound Merek down.

*out the gate

Merek is still a bit tired from the previous fight, then he's beginning to get bested easily. A bit after that, he then begins to yield when he's on that floor, leaning back to make his way to the Mercies again.

"Good job Syndey!" Calls out Caspian, clapping as he rises to his feet, heading over to the sands as he rolls his neck. "Shit, I'm gonna hurt all night," he says with a grin, turning to Aksel and beckons him with a curl of his finger. "Come on, lets dance."

Wiiht the third place round finished - and some people are walking away with silver in their pockets from those odds, it's now for the gold medal match. Here, it's more squished, people pack in further to see what's going to go on. This could determine who gets a million silver or not. Josephine's son steps forward. "Caspian Wild, Aksel Nygard."

Graceful fingers slide a virtually-invisible strand of hair behind Dianna's right ear as Dianna spectates, her expression relaxing into an idle repose as the fight closes. She lifts a finger again and one of her guards appears; Dianna leans towards him and murmurs before a pen and slip of paper appear. She writes and hands it to the guard, who rather-effectively makes his way to Josephine.

Aksel let's out a laugh, which causes him to immediately wince. "Metaphors are going to be the death of me," he says taking a drink from his whiskey bottle before placing it on the table and sauntering towards the beckoning Caspian. He gives the man a respectful nod of his head, and brings his hands up indicating that's he's ready to RUUUUMMMBBBLE.

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

Sydney limps her way back to the bar and orders a round before returning right back to watch. She's hurt, but apparently not enough for her not to watch the last fight. "If you're gonna beat the shit out of me, you'd best take it all the way home!"

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Josephine before departing.

Josephien takes a messenger from someone who squeezes through and looks around for the person in question adn nods.

Ras grins towards Sydney at the bar and shows her a thumbs up.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 4, rolling 48 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 5, rolling 49 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 6, rolling 78 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 45 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 37 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 37, rolling 4 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 47, rolling 36 higher.

Aksel remains capable of fighting.

Caspian checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 1, rolling 131 higher. Caspian rolled a critical!

Caspian remains capable of fighting.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 55, rolling 14 lower.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 24, rolling 29 higher.

Aksel remains alive, but close to death.

Aksel is incapacitated and falls unconscious.

Sydney heckles the fight, apparently just for the sake of heckling. Neither side gets it better or worse. "Punch him harder, you ponce! Stop dancin' around and -- aye, there you go!" She takes a swig of her liquor. She's opted for something stronger than ale this time around, despite the expense. It takes the sting off. "Get 'im in the kidneys!" Her groupies join in, shouting their own suggestions and adding to the chaotic din. When Aksel is the one to fall, she isn't sure to cheer or boo. Either way, she grins and shouts, "That's what I'm talkin' about!"

It's a long fight. Each man good at dodging, not very good at hitting. They dodge each other's attacks, though Caspian gets hit a few times. But then the momentum shifts, especially when Aksel shows signs of tiring. Caspian had been fighting defensively the whole fight, but when he senses weakness in his opponent he switches to an aggressive tactic, going in for the kill, and lands a punch right on Aksel's chin.

To say they weren't good at hitting would underscore just how good they were at side stepping and blocking punches. But yes, Aksel gets tired and starts to take the brunt of the punishment even as he lands his own. Aksel knew he was in trouble so when he knew he was starting to get tired he went all in. Sometimes that works, other times not so much. And just when Aksel was about to land another blow, Caspian is there to land an uppercut to the chin. Aksel's feet momentarily leave the ground and he lands on the ground with a loud THUNK. Good night, Aksel - pleasant dreams.

The last fight. Everyone's nearly falling over the sides of the ring, yelling into the faces of each man as they fight. As they swing and dodge, blows glancing or striking true, everyones watching and waiting. And then Aksel's punched and down he goes. Which sends the room into a screaming frenzy as the head of the champions guild is declared the winner, bloody and bruised and likely unable to see out of one eye for a week. Demetria comes around with the crown for the fist fight winner even as people are heading off to collect their own winnings and others? Well, theres a few fights that are breaking out of t heir own accord as people don't take losing very well.

Again, not the slightest expression of preference or emotion whatsoever as Dianna observes the two men pummel one another on the sands, only an impassively-interested flicker of her amber-colored eyes from man to man. And, just as the fight ends, she turns towards the exit, her guards making their appearance one-by-one as Dianna steps closer and the trio slips out just as the fights begin.

2 House Mazetti Aspirants leaves, following Dianna.

Josephine takes The People's Tournament - Fist Fight 1011 from a simple velvet bag.

Caspian blows out a breath, sighing in relief when the fight is over, then throws p his hands victoriously, crying out, "Thank you everyone who believed in me! This was a hard tournament, everyone fought wonderfully!"

Merek is overheard praising Sydney.

Merek is overheard praising Aksel.

Merek is overheard praising Ras.

Merek is overheard praising Josephine.

Merek is overheard praising Sydney.

Sydney retreats back to the bar, and plops down next to Ras. "Well, I reckon I placed about high enough to get a silver. That's a prize, yeah?" She flips a coin, and catches it. "...Still, not a bad time, all in all. Your sister's a proper show-stealer. Wouldn't have minded punchin' one or the both of you after the first few rounds."

Sydney is overheard praising Merek.

Sydney is overheard praising Aksel.

Sydney is overheard praising Caspian.

Sydney is overheard praising Josephine.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Caspian before departing.

Out of the crowd a pair of people walk towards Aksel and kneel down and start to haul him to his feet. "Frick? Frack?" Aksel says coming to as he looks between the two men. "don't tell Nadia okay?" This gets a look between the pair, helping him to his feet. "Aye, Aksel we won't." And with that Aksel sleeps back to dreamy time land. Frick, the on on Aksel's right, says "We'll get him back to the Nightgold mansion." And with that, he's dragged out.