The Age of Worms / The Champion's Belt pt. 16 / Von the 18th through the 19th, 3593 CE / 9-11-22

Something strange is happening in Not By Choice's arena battle with Pitchblade. One of the dwarven barbarians has turned on the other, making oaths of allegiance to the party's mysterious new companion, Nataliya. Drusfan, seeing that he is outmatched, makes an escape using his flying powers, but not before Hush deals him a blow below the belt. The hobbled dwarf surrenders, but his brother Pharbol, seemingly out of his mind, attempts to kill him. Guards rush forward to prevent this violation of the arena rules, and Nari, sensing something amiss, channels her innner magic to attempt to expel the force compelling dwarf to this bloody act. However, the magical force drops the dwarf Pharbol to the ground, unconscious and seemingly brain dead. The crowd, feeling they have once more been cheated out of a good match, begins to turn on Not By Choice, but Hush mollifies them somewhat by challenging Ellival Moonmeadow, the arena's musical guest, to dueling violins. At the end of the song, the Prince of Strings acknowledges Hush's superior skills. Back in the Coenoby, Nari and River attempt to alleviate the damage done to the unconscious dwarf Pharbol. Using magic, they restore the dwarf's mind. Pharbol reveals that he and his brother were paid off by Captain Okoral to kill members of Not By Choice in the arena, even if it meant being expelled from the games themselves. Pharbol acknowledges the debt he owes them for not leaving him a vegetable, and vows to take no further action against the party, but he cannot speak for his brother. Efraym checks in with the party, giving them all of the winnings from the last match as part of their agreement for helping him find Lahaka. He informs them that the wheels of justice turn slowly in Kedesh, but that he will soon be able to present Lahaka's undead corpse as proof of Loris Raknian's evil deeds. In the meantime, he states, Loris's presence at the day's match seems to indicate the Arena Master's intention to see the games through to the bloody end. Hush is disappointed to learn that Drunken Devilry has lost their match with The Leatherworks, though he makes plans to try and meet up with once more with their leader, Zealous Edge, after the games are over. And Moth is upset that her friends in the Crazy 8 likewise won't be returning, having been disqualified after brutally massacring The Gutluggers after they were down. When it is time for Efraym to leave, Moth requests to go with him, informing the party that she is no longer interested in participating in the games and seeks only now to find a way back to her homeland in the fae realms. The party expects of day of respite following the battle with Pitch Blade, as the Day 4 of the Champion's Games are meant to be an expedition match between the top-ranked team, currently The Leatherworks, and some sort of monster. But that evening they are subject to a surprise inspection of the Coenoby by the officiant of the games, Talabir Wellik, and a cadre of guards. Talabir is searching for clues to answers to the strange behavior of Pharbol the day before. In the end he is able to find nothing to incriminate Not By Choice, but warns them that they will be watched closely moving forward. The next morning, both Auric and Not By Choice are surprised to learn that it will be the latter who must battle the creature, known only as Madtooth the Hungry, in that day's match. As Nataliya sneaks into the arena to spy on Loris Raknian and his cohorts, Not By Choice finds themselves doing battle with a monstrous froghemoth. Though Hush has managed to damage one of the creatures three eyes, it still remains a deadly threat, and the party wonders if they will be able to survive the day.