Private Blood and Sand

[Mordecai Zambrano]

Blood and Sand
A front row seat to hell.

​

Tiernvael Mountains, Ambria
870ABY

This new, confidential addition to the Tiernvael mountains was a surprising endeavor. Granted, it had taken years and years of discreet construction (not including the movement of materials), but this newest range of fighting pits and vendors was splendid. Several different levels of pits hung between each and every passageway lining the mountains, offering the perfect opportunity to settle disputes and bad blood. Others, however, were far more prepared for spectator enjoyment with the highest level platforms boasting more fortified arenas and ample space for an audience. Along each passageway sat a smattering of shops and booths, for every manner of merchant to distribute goods. Weapons, armor, food and drink.

Whatever you wanted, illicit or not, it was here.

For Mordecai, it was blood.

At the moment, the dark-haired man was content to sit on the sidelines. Concealed by a dark cloak, the Sith Lord sipped a fruity drink gingerly as a trio of grizzled mercenaries worked over a Hssiss with sword and spear. The group had craved a more primal, brutal fight - and had been quite pleased to receive primitive fighting weapons. Amusement tinged his features as he realized these boys had been played. They obviously had no idea what this creature was capable of. Drawn to carnage and suffering, these reptiles cloaked themselves with the Force itself to hunt its prey.

The trio hadn't even realized the Hssiss had been dropped into the pit. That is, until one of the men fell to the ground in a heap. Blood was already staining the sand as the Hssiss materialized into existence, dozens of jagged teeth piercing through the screaming mercenary's leg. The murderous reptile's eyes narrowed even more as meat met its tastebuds. Its jaw clamped down even tighter, with the audience's cheer drowning out intensifying shouts of pain.

Just as the wounded man's friends decided to take action, the reptile released and disappeared once more. Mordecai snorted, swallowing a mouthful of melon-flavored juice.

What a wonderful day.

Aegon of Vitria

 

[Aegon of Vitria]

It was entertaining. Gladiatorial games had a taste of thrill and opportunity. Fight and you may gain freedom, either through death or through breaking, literally, your chains. There were those that fought for money, pitching themselves voluntarily into the arena against beasts in sentient and animal form. It was a savage sport, it was a martial sport and had its grace in crudity. And this was a reasonably well suited location to find potential candidates for enforcers.

Aegon's face partly was in the shadow of his hood, the cape covering good portion of his body, wrapping him in the dark weave. Yet he was very well visible, it was difficult for a man his stature to hide. Not that he particularly cared. He was leaning against the corridor wall at the lowest level of the arena ranks, observing the ongoing fight with his yellow eyes. It was an amusing sight.

Three mercenaries made a very bad decision, arrogance and ignorance working hand in hand for their demise. Fools. Maggots. One after one they would become food for the Dark side, the Hssiss tearing them apart piece after piece.

As Aegon moved his hand with the cup towards his mouth, it slowly covered the slight smile. It filled him with a warm energy in his stomach to see the death caused by the creature in front. The whisky adding a more mundane feeling of warmth as he was sipping from it. He could even taste the death as the second mercenary met his bloody end.

Aegon kept his smile.

Mordecai Zambrano

 

[Mordecai Zambrano]

Hssiss were dangerous beasts, natural to this very world. Ambria was chock full of these dark creatures. Legends had it that they were once average reptiles that snatched up insects and other small pests, that is, until the Jedi Civil War found its way here. With corpses rich in midichlorian-potent blood, the Hssiss had quite the feast whilst errant spirits took advantage of the now susceptible creatures. Predatory instincts, vicious natural weaponry, and a poison so potent that it took healing trances to remove.

These three men stood no chance. Trained as they may be in conventional warfare - they were no match for something they couldn't see. Mordecai's gaze flickered now as the third man began to panic. His two friends were already in the throes of death or had seized up with paralysis. Gluttonous gamblers cheered from the sidelines; they had planned on this happening.

Easy money.

The Sith Lord was already moving towards the arena. His cup was nowhere to be found, his cloak unclasping to be promptly dropped onto the dusty ground.

"Double or nothing!" His guttural voice cut through the din of excited chatter. Now hushed, Mordecai found dozens of eyes on him.

A short pause, then one of the bosses shouted in reply. "What of your weapon?!"

"There's already a few out there," he pointed a finger towards comatose body. The poor fellow was already caked in blood and froth spilling past lips. An unused blade lay at his side.

"Double or nothing then!" Another raucous flurry as more folks took to the betting stands. Mordecai paid them little heed as he carefully maneuvered towards the sloped railing. Then he hopped right in.

Aegon of Vitria

 

[Aegon of Vitria]

From His view near the pit entrance, Aegon could perfectly observe the new situation developing. The tempest grey eyes following the movement of the muscled looking warrior, one who was emitting an aura of strength and self-confidence while hurling himself into the arena to the Hssiss. The scene had changed quite drastically, quite so towards the idea of entertainment and possibly fairness. Aegon did not knew the guy, but he was certainly a professional by his bearing.

He felt the phantom rattle in the sheath on His back. Agash thirsts. Aegon thirsts. The chance to fight, especially without any planning, out of impulse and passion was making His hand shiver. It was a mere second, to get the adrenaline under control. To get Himself under control. The conditions were perfect, the stage set and the opponent unknown, Aegon was feeling how His hands formed fists, shattering the cup as He started to move with calm steps into the light of the day.

But He was not issuing a crude challenge, a simple show of arrogance or lust for combat, no, Aegon entered the edge of the round pit with a smile, carefully removing His hood and unclipping his heavy cape, the two sword hilts suddenly catching light and reflecting it. The Sith would spectate from nearby how the other man would fight the beast, but without misinterpretation issue an unspoken challenge to him. Aegon would no brag about the money, he did not care, this was for fun and maybe for something more serious, depending what calibre that guy was.

With crossed arms, a slight but devilish smile and alarmingly neutral grey eyes, the white haired warrior just stood there, clad in leather and chainmail, two sheathed blades on the back.

Mordecai Zambrano