After the eventful night I slept perfectly. Which was good because the next quite a busy one. We started off with a 10-mile jog, then breakfast was served. It was a nice hearty portion of meat, milk and fruit. I was not exactly sure what the meat was though it seemed to be almost moving, however I felt a rush of nutrients, so it was worth it. After that there were a few quick rounds of sparring. Luk seemed to be holding back, there was no fire or blood or anything of the sorts. He must not want to drain himself. Aesir and Qysik ended up sparring. It was quite interesting. Aesir won out, but Qysik ended putting up a great fight. Following that was a workout period. During this I was next to Luk, so I just followed what he did. By the end I couldn’t quite keep up with the weight he was using so I had to go down 10 pounds. When it came to legs however, I was destroyed. His legs aren’t the biggest in the world, but they went on forever. After the workout there were drills. We formed lines and practiced casting magic. The Seargent's were surprised because we managed to start group casting a week early. Finally, we would eat dinner since we hadn’t eaten lunch, it was quite a bit bigger than breakfast. This consisted of the same off meat, ale, potatoes, apples, and bread all in one big stew. An Achul cleric special of garlic bread was also served. After 5 more days of this we were granted a sabbath.
“Come on gargoyle nails!” I yelled at Aesir and Qysik’s tent (They had decided to sleep in the same tent since they were both relatively small. As well they said that it helped keep body heat together.) “I heard there is a pub nearby, and I want to have some fun!”
“We were going to sleep in go ahead of us we will be there at ten-thirty.” Qysik grumbled. Sighing I start jogging next to a carriage drawn by smaller ground wyverns. After thirty minutes or so we arrived. The people step out, they’re all privates except for Captain Marquise. He sees and a look of horror stretches over his face.
“I didn’t see run ahead of us, how did you run as fast as ground wyverns?” He was astounded by it. He then mutters something about the flanking party next week.
I don’t question it, but then I realize that he’s not at camp. “Wait, aren’t you supposed to stay at camp?” He replies telling me that Little T has it under control.
We walked into the bar and Luk was already there. Drinking what I presume is a Bloody Mary. He nods towards us. Turns to the bartender. “Hello gentlemen,” he greets us and shakes all of our hands with a firm grip. When he gets to Marquise, he takes a formal nod, “what is the pleasure of being able to serve under. When I arrived on this continent, I heard so many great things about you.”
Before Marquise could respond Aesir and Qysik burst into laughter with two mugs of ale in each hand. “We meant to be here later, then I realized what you were offering, and I couldn't miss my first drinking day with the regiment!” Qysik exclaims.
Luk then offers a challenge of a game of shack hustle we play for an hour. Before we begin, Luk offers a bet. “If I win you have to give your meat for three days. If you win, I’ll show you a club system I think you would like”
Confused I ask, “We are in the south what kind of interesting clubs could there be?”
He responds, "Well in encompasses the entire continent, the original one is in the south though trust me you will like this.”
I accepted and we started to play. I end up winning and we get distracted by Qysik and Aesir singing some old elvish song. Eventually the entire pub is filled with people from the seventh regiment I go over to get a drink. When I try to order one of the server's hands me an odd red drink looking exactly like the Bloody Mary that Luk I was drinking. Not minding I take a sip and it tastes like an entire barbeque. The flamed meat taste dances across my tongue. Hints of garlic, rosemary, and thyme are subtle, but amazing. The meat portion tastes almost like a combination of beef, chicken, and pork. Amazed I order another and when I try to pay. The server tells me that someone already made a tab for everyone for today. Once I get a fare buzz, I return to Luk. Nod that I’m ready, we head out. We arrived at a pottery shop. Curious I question, “Luk are we really going pottery shopping?”
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He chuckles and hands something to the shop owner. The shop owner’s face lights up. “Oh, Luk welcome back. Haven’t seen you since you were on the other side.” Turning to me he, he hands me a card. “This will cover you throughout the entire continent.” He then turns to the wall behind him. Muttering something to himself, and putting his hand on the wall. It disapears, he motions us in and as we are walking down a stairwell the cobblestone walls retain a suprising amount of heat. Once we make it down the stair the wall returns. Once my eyes adjust to the low amount of light it suddenly looks much brighter.
Luk confirms my suspicion. “The card you were given grants you night vision while in a club. It takes a lot of magicians to keep all the specific locations running, but some will fracture their essence so they can be at multiple locations.”
We walked over to a bar. However, there are no drinks and a man with a considerable number of scars across his face. With a hearty smile he greets us and takes our cards. “Welcome back Luk haven’t seen you on this side yet, and who are you, haven’t seen your face around here yet?” He looks at me, sizing me up, he nods in respect.
“I am Timothy. Infantry of the seventh regiment of Achul.” I respond, he then tells me he runs the betting counter and that if I would like to join a fight there is a spot open in two fights. Putting 5 coins down on myself for my coming up fight he tells me if I win, I’ll be rewarded one hundred gold. “Are the odds really that bad?”
“Your next fight may not seem menacing but Ol Bettie packs a punch,” he responds in a grave tone. Rubbing at his face perhaps reminiscing on his scars.
Until my fight I start to talk to people around the club and get to know them. Right before my fight I asked the referee if magic was allowed. He shrugs it off saying, “we haven’t had anyone do it for a while but go ahead, the important thing is to be entertaining.”
Taking this into consideration I cast magic weapon on my longsword. Once my fight begins, I jump into the arena. It is about a fifteen-by-fifteen-foot circle instead of a wall, several mages cast a shield spell to make a boundary. Then I see my opponent. He’s a half elf, half dwarf teenager with a spear I his hand. For some reason he has a cow next to him. The skin of the cow is almost metallic with a ruby tint. I hear the announcer yell, “five-four-three-two-go!!!”
The half dwarf half elf hops out and the cow is staring directly at me. I turn to Luk for some explanation, but he is looking almost scared of the cow, making sure to pay attention to every move it makes. Then turning to the referee with a pleading look. He has the same expression. “For the love of the maker please tell me I’m not about to fight a cow?”
Then I realized the cow was charging at me. I stick my sword out to stab, and the blade bounces off the cow. Putting its head down to scoop me, my genitals get a throbbing pain sent up. Feeling like I’m going to hurl, I get sent ten feet into the air summoning the buckler I roll out of it. I put my sword away and cast darkness. As the spreads throughout the arena the cows' eyes glow red. Eventually the cow makes some kind of noise, and the magic is dispersed. Dumbfounded I stand still, and take another hit, this time to the gut. Feeling something burst my ribs ache. “Am I really get bodied by a freaking milk machine?” Then seeing I presume the owner of the cow suddenly has a frown on his face. The cow then runs up to me. I take a position in case it charges me again. Then out of nowhere it spins around and back kicks me in the shoulder putting it out of place. “How the urgh,” as I was speaking it kicks me again. Eventually after 7 more minutes of the cow kicking and tackling me the referee feels bad and calls off the fight.
Luk walks over to me after the fight. He is chuckling and says, “didn’t expect Ol Bettie to do that good did you?” He laughs, putting his arm around my neck to lead me out.
Before we leave the owner of the cow walks up to me and punches me in the rib. After that he heals me and warns me. “Don’t ever insult Ol Bettie again or next time I’ll have your head. Otherwise have a fantastic day, and I hope to see you again.”
Confused we walk out and it’s dark. “Time works kind of weird in there. Oh well, let’s head back to camp.” We then jog and pass by the same carriage from earlier. Eventually making it to camp the cooks made a special meal for the sabbath. It consists of pork, potatoes, and garlic bread. With the odd drink as an option for today.
Sitting with Luk, Qyisk, and Aesir I ask, “what is this weird drink, it tastes just like a barbeque.”
Qysik replies, “really? To me it just tastes like dwarven sweetbread.”
Luk answers, “it’s something that the cooks brew up it tastes like your favorite food.”
After dinner we returned to the sparring pit and spent the rest of the evening there.