Mae found herself amongst a slow growing crowd. Over the following few minutes it doubled in size. She waited towards the outside of the gathering eyeing the people throughout the area for potential competitors. " Haaaah Damnit there's some big fellas here. I have to win. First place is right in front of me. Some of these guys look like vet's. They weren't joking that this was a popular event."
...
E exited to the streets and began to follow his ears, he could hear the far off chants and screams of a large crowd. He looked up the road and could see a large grouping amongst the city walls and far gate and head over. " How long did I stare at my menu I guess I'm running just a bit late. I hope Mae is doing well."
E pushed his way through the crowded area around the small makeshift arena. Snow had began to fall in more heavy. Many people held lit torches and waved them about the area and some outdoor torch spears had been spiked in and were lit. The crowd roared and a chant began,
" Gregor! Gregor! Gregor!" E couldn't see the ring he found himself stuck to the back section of the crowd. He looked around and stood atop a lone barrel next to the city gateway.
In the ring a giant of a man in a simple cloth attire held another man tight to his chest under his armpits. The other man shirtless bearhugged his back, a battle of strength was underway. After a bit of shuffling and some attempted trips the cloth garbed man picked up the shirtless fellow and swung him over his head in a quick flip landing atop him in a meaty thud. The man on the ground let out a deep wheeze as the air in him was cast from him. In a fit of panic he reached up to grab the man on top of him. At that moment the clothed man wired his legs around the legs of his opponent and lay his chest over top him using his chest to push the man's head into the ground. he spread his arms out wide and dugs his fingers in the dirt with a strong grip. The man on the ground gasping for breath clasped his hands to the back of his assailant, and turned his head from his breast to catch his breath. " Gregor! Gregor! Gregor!" The crowd continued to chant. After a moment the clothed man slid his arm under the grounded man's elbow and pryed away his grip. Grabbing his wrist he leaned on the man, The referee standing to the side got in close and watched as over the next few seconds the large man on top pinned the bottom fellows shoulders to the dirt.
" One! Two! ..Three!!!" The reff tapped the clothed man's back
" Raaaaaaahhh! Gregor! Gregor! " The crowd grew fierce and began chanting again.
E had never seen a wrestling match and didn't understand how the victory was given but he was still impressed by both of the men's might. " I'd be flat and broken if I engaged in the show of strength."
Gregor stood in the center of the ring and helped up the man below him. The reff shot up Gregor's hand and the dirty man next to them sunk his head. A few of the men at the sides of the makeshift arena shook their heads. A couple of them seeminy dropped out. E noticed Mae amongst them and cried out to her only to be drowned out by the noise. There only seemed to be four more people left excluding Gregor.
E looked to the board showing the matches. He had missed three bouts before he arrived. Mae seemed to be up next against a someone named Heimhallder. E scoured the board for a prize list. After squinting his eyes all he could find was a first place prize.
" First place - Championship belt of Brackbush- free room and board at the inn , and 30 Gold pieces."
" Hmm looks like there is a single winner for this event. Well I guess that makes sense. Looks like Mae has some tough competition though."
After a quick sweep of the dirt Mae step forward into the ring and the referee came in close to talk to her briefly another man jumped over a bale of hay and walk to the ring. " What the? " E was surprised it seemed a dwarf just a bit taller then Bean had entered the ring. He was half the size of Mae stood before her.
" Hello miss, you're quite a large one" The dwarf Heimhaller licked his lips staring at Mae.
" Yup seems like an easy win for me then doesn't it" Mae retorted, seemingly shrugging off the dwarf undressing gaze.
" My eyes are up here but if this is all your worried about you've already lost."
Heimhaller shook off his thoughts and the Referee standing between the two back up. " Ready!?.... Ready?! GO!"
Mae rushed forward in a grasping swing of her arms. Heimhaller used his smaller height and boulder like statue to tuck and roll into Mae's step, essentially buckling into her, causing her to tumble over him to the ground.
Mae fell face first into the mud and let out a grumpy snarl. Behind her Heimhaller stood up and quickly pounced on her back like a child ape to their mother. He wrapped himself to her and squeezed very hard. Mae was on her hands and knees she felt the weight bear down on her back and almost broke under it. The crowd was going crazy already.
Heimhaller, strapped to Mae's back began to lean and attempt to rock Mae back and forth to have her collapse under him. Mae grew tired of his attempts and she noticed he was sneaking in quick fondles of her. Her eyes grew red, her muscles began to expand and she reared back her head and let out a war cry. "HAAAAAA" She pushed herself backwards and stood up on her feet. Heimhaller clung to her like tightly. She twirled and swung her arms behind her to grab at him with no purchase. After a few seconds of struggling to get the dwarf off Mae did the unthinkable. She quickly charged towards a bale of hay and stepped up on it and jumped backwards. Heimhaller was caught off guard he has been to focused on his grip and could barely see with Mae's hair in his face. A large leap into the air and BAM!
" Oooooooooo" The crowd unanimously let out a deep wince some even laughed or clapped.
Mae fell hard onto the stout dwarf. The ground shook, she even coughed out in pain and her form began to shrink to it's normal size. She rolled over and off of Heimhaller and look to him. He was out cold his arms to his side, in a few inch depression of the dirt. Mae quickly put her hands on his shoulders and the a reff counted out her win. She stood up slowly obviously in pain. " Serves you right you parasite stay in the dirt" Mae spat on the ground next to him and a few men came to carry him away.
E was shocked. In a daring act he witnessed something even he would say away from. More surprisingly moments before the stunt he heard a startling but gentle voice speak into his ear.
" Party member Mae - Rage Activated"
E didn't know what to say, He looked around and the crowd died down. Shortly afterwards the next match began. E Hopped off of his barrel and sought out Mae. He followed her form as she stood out amongst some of the crowd. Before she ended up on the back of a untowed wagon to the back of the arena.
" Mae! Hey are you okay? That was amazing!"
Mae look up as she held some hand packed snow to her back. " Ah it's you. Yeah I'm alright. A few drinks and a good sleep will fix me right up."
E was concerned but didn't pry. " Well you were awesome! Super proud of you that guy was a sleezeball."
Mae looked at him with a befuddled gaze
" Ah you saw that huh, Yeah he was. Guess that's more than to be expected in this event though. Bunch of meatheads. So where's the little one.. Bean was it?"
E sighed and look back at the arena.
" Well I guess.. But yeah Beans back at our room he was in the eating contest. He's sleeping right now. Probably ate enough for a few days haha, He actually won by the way!"
Mae was surprised and then stood to stretch. " What an interesting outcome, any good prizes? And did you find us horse's?" She said as she cracked her back
E looked up at her with a disgruntled expression. " Uhm not really. There's a light horse for 45 Gold which I can purchase or maybe a Mule but he's apparently a really big jerk. And I don't know his cost. We did get Bean some weapons and armor though. If we have to we could maybe sell Beans prizes. He won a steel camp stove a bunch of food and a dogwood tinder bundle."
Mae lit up happily " A camp stove! No way I've always wanted one. I'll put it to good use don't worry we can't sell that!" Mae grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him aggressively in glee.
E was shocked " Oh okay okay. You can cook? I didn't know that. That's great I'm not really good at cooking. And Bean can cook anything so yeah. UHM say you don't cook with beans or anything right?.."
Mae let him go. " Well not unless I have some, why? Oh looks like I am about to have to get back in the ring soon. Here take this 5 Gold and go buy us some produce to cook on the road. I'll head over to the inn after this tournament and check up on Bean."
" Uh ok alright bye.." E stood there with the money in hand as Mae walked away. " Gosh it feels like I've just been an errand boy since I got here. I thought adventuring would be more than just shopping!" He walked back into town and headed toward the stable.