Duvain felt like a piece of meat being thrown from person to person. After being bought like cattle, she was tossed into a carriage and carried off to who knows where. Duvain was more concerned about how her younger sister was holding up, while she was use to being alone for long periods of time, she still didn't know how to hunt. Duvain and her parents spoiled her younger sister. Duvain was afraid of the emotional trauma that her younger sibling would sustain after loosing both her parents and her sister. Duvain could only hope that her friend would take her in.

When they had finally arrived at their destination, Duvain was nearly stripped of all her clothing by and orc. She tried her best to resist, but to no avail. After being fully humiliated by this orc, measurements were taken, and many jeers were made. It was all Duvain could do to restrain her anger and humiliation, after all it would only hurt her in this situation. Ragged clothes were forced onto her in a little more rough fashion. They were better than nothing, but still indecent for her standards. It was then that she was handed a wooden dagger, which couldn't even cut a twig. She simply stared at it as she was informed to defend herself, and shoved into a cage. When she looked up, a large serpent was released into the area. Were these people enjoying this? She couldn't imagine why, though.

The serpent slowly circled her, eyeing it's next prey. Duvain carefully watched it's movements preparing herself for it to strike first. In a flash, the serpent launched itself at her, poison fangs ready to rip her to shreds. However, Duvain launched herself into the air above the serpent's head and attached herself to it's neck. The serpent thrashed around, trying to get the nuisance off, but Duvain clung to dear life. The vicious movements almost made her loose what sustenance she had left in her stomach. She mustered up her strength and feebly positioned herself onto the beast's head. With a last effort she stabbed both it's eyes. The animal flailed even more fiercely, causing Duvain to loose grip and slam into a wall. She laid there for a moment trying to regain her breath and energy. But the snake had the sense of smell to lead it to it's victim. Cornered, Duvain threw her hands into a defensive position. The serpent grabbed Duvain with it's mouth, and tried to swallow her, but Duvain forced the snake's mouth open. Shaking with the strain, Duvain thrust her bodily fluid covered dagger into it's brain through the roof of it's mouth. The snake fell limp, and Duvain's exhausted body fell to the ground, limp yet again.

Duvain was then dragged out, and forced into more decent clothing. Then once again thrown into a dank cell. The guards threw some almost inedible gruel and nasty water into her cell. Reluctantly, Duvain cautiously ate the food. She wasn't sure if it was drugged or poisoned, however, it she didn't eat she'd end up dead anyway. After awhile she realized it wasn't poisoned, but perhaps it was drugged because she slowly started to loose consciousness.

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Soon dawn arrive and Duvain was rudely awakened by her shackles being grabbed, and her body being dragged along the sand covered floor. She was then stood in a line. With the new scratches and scrapes on her body, Duvain was wide awake. It seemed that all living things were either close to the line of prisoners or as far away from this situation as possible. The morning chill sent goosebumps all over Duvain's exposed skin, her breath almost visible in the soft morning light. The clattering of hooves startled Duvain out of her trance, and brought her attention to the horse drawn cart. When it reached a full stop, a lanista hobbled out. A moment of silence passed over the group, as if time stood still. "Rejoice, slaves," he boomed, breaking the silence, "I have chosen you to represent me in today's gladiatorial games." A collective gasp went through some of the assembled party. Duvain, straightened up, her body now stiff from shock. "This means that you will be fighting for the entertainment of the people of Lairea," he continued. "Some of you will die, and I will have wasted my denars on a lost cause," he said as he started to limp around, locking eyes with each one of them, "but to those of you who have lived...I have much more in store for you."  Stopping at the other end of the line, he turned back around. "You will continue to fight for me," he said as he straightened up. A Thunderhoof stepped out of the established line. "And what if I just crush your sickly little bones here, human?" he boomed as he reached out of the man's neck. In a flash, the man's cane flew out and slapped the beastman's hand away before returning and slamming across the thunderhoof's face, leaving a long welt. "I will have you terminated immediately," was the immediate reply as an orc stepped out, a large axe in hand. Dried blood caked its surface as he growled, learning towards the Thunderhoof.

An elf from the Forest Thorns then stepped out of line. "And what is to stop us, as a collective group, destroying your...ludus...and escaping?" he asked. Why was everyone threatening him? He held the key to all their chains, the information to get them home, and the power to kill them. The human scoffed. "The urban legionnaires of course," he said, "and my other gladiators." The elf's eyes narrowed. "And for what reason would they remain loyal to you?" The human sighed as he hobbled closer, "Because they heard out my proposal in full," he said as he glared up into his opposer's eyes, "now step back and let me finish, youngling." The elf reluctantly stepped back into line, even as the Thunderhoof was dragged back as well. "As I was saying, you will continue to fight for me," he said as he sat back onto the cart, "until you either die," he said as he held a hand up to stifle any complaints, "or you pay off double what I paid for you. I am a tough, cruel man, tis true," he continued as he rested his peg leg on his good thigh, "but I am a fair man nontheless. If you can pay your price back twofold, I will release you to your own will and allow you passage out of the city." With a lopsided smile, he took out a pipe and started to prepare it. "Is it a deal?"

Sidling over, he lit his pipe. "Well?" he prompted as he gestured in with his free hand. Duvain didn't dare make a move, she stared straight ahead, thinking with whatever energy she had from her short nap. The elf from before took a single step forward, drawing more than a few eyes. Turning to the other 9 in the line, he cleared his throat. "Individually, we cannot hope to best the city's guard," he said as he stood at the foot of the cart, "but...perhaps if we unite our power, we may be able to secure our freedom one battle at a time. What's say you all?"

"It may be possible, but I cannot bring myself to be on the run forever. I need to see my sister, but if I run away at such a time I will only bring her into harm's way." Duvain said, focusing her eyes on the commanding elf. "Under no circumstances will I bring my sister harm. Especially since there is another way. For either path we will have to fight to the death. What makes our chances any better fighting city's guard than fighting others who are forced to fight us? If anything it'd be easier to earn twice the money he paid for us." She proposed her argument, while this elf might not like to kneel under other's authority, it's the easiest way to get out of this situation. Duvain could only hope that all she was going to do was fight for this man.