[center][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5500203][img]https://i.imgur.com/ay6MDFf.png[/img][/url][/center]
[center][h3]--A11 - The Shire's Lock--[/h3][/center]
Fortunately, their trek through the underpass posed no issues for the duo, having one of them being a 'native' to such an environment might have helped, but then again, the pair had so few coins to their name that unless they wanted to donate the very clothes on their backs, they couldn't have done anything even if they wanted to. Regardless, Frederika was just glad that she didn't have to punch or claw their way through. 

Arriving at the bustling and lively Adventurer's District, Frederika couldn't help but devour the surroundings with her draconic eyes, this was an experience that could only happen once in a lifetime! [color=fd4d58][b]"Look, Master, the Adventurer's District!"[/b][/color] Out of every other sections of the Fortress-City, it was arguable that the Adventurer's District was [i]the[/i] best representative of Oratorio, after all, wasn't this city built specifically to cater to those brave - or foolish - enough to head into the Abyss? [color=fd4d58][b]"Bet it's waaaay easier to find coins here than that somewhat literal shithole back there, hehe~"[/b][/color]

[color=75fcf7][b]"Hmm, indeed."[/b][/color] This close to the final resting place of the Dead God, the Ichor-Blessed of the two could more readily feel the call of the Abyss, the ichor waiting to be harvested to herald his ascension. If he had simply followed his primal instincts, he'd head to the center right away, but... no, as lofty as his ambitions might be, he was no fool. His regrettably still-mortal body would need plenty of preparations first, else, certain death would be assured. [color=75fcf7][b]"Lead the way, Frederika."[/b][/color]

[color=fd4d58][b]"Don't need to say that twice, Master!"[/b][/color] With peppy steps, the dragonkin navigated through the busy streets, then homed in on the sights and sounds of an excited crowd from a nearby tavern. The Shire's Lock, the sign said, and it appeared to host a fighting ring, just what they were looking for! [color=fd4d58][b]"Got one, over here!"[/b][/color] She swaggered her way to the arena proper, after that, spotting the ringmaster was child's play, it was obviously the person handing out coins to battered and bruised men. [color=fd4d58][b]"Oy!"[/b][/color] With naught a shred of hesitation in her voice, the dragonkin sauntered up to the man, [color=fd4d58][b]"I'm here to kick some ass and entertain y'all while at it, so, when do I start punching?"[/b][/color]

[b]"Huh?"[/b] The ringmaster, however, didn't exactly share Freddy's enthusiasm, instead, his visage bore a look that was somewhere in the middle between confusion and suspicion, [b]"Whose sassy midget is this?"[/b] His eyes then fell to the nearest person next to the 'sassy midget', [b]"Hey, old man, she yours?"[/b]

A brief moment before the organizer's question, Almagest's icy blue eyes narrowed ever so subtly as he noticed a certain pattern from the event's participants, but for now, he addressed the ringmaster, [color=75fcf7][b]"She's my bodyguard,"[/b][/color] And more, but for this purpose, this was the most relevant information, [color=75fcf7][b]"And a pugilist on the side, just to keep herself sharp among other incentives."[/b][/color]

[b]"Pew-guh-what...?"[/b] The coin-counting man blinked, genuine confusion oozing from his lips.

[color=75fcf7][b]"..."[/b][/color] As a scholar of the stars and a learned man in general, Almagest wasn't a stranger to a layman's eloquence (or lack thereof), [color=75fcf7][b]"Brawler, fighter."[/b][/color]

[b]"Right, right,"[/b] The ringmaster made a few small nods in misplaced understanding, [b]"It's nice to give your grandkid a job 'n all, 'specially if she can't find anything else, but buddy, what kinda show can she even throw?"[/b] The man snorted, folding his arms, [b]"I'm running a proper fighting ring there, none of that weird shit."[/b]

[color=75fcf7][b]"..."[/b][/color] Almagest's subtle frown returned, so it was as he thought after all, this might be a foregone conclusion, but for Rika's sake... [color=75fcf7][b]"She fights."[/b][/color] He'd try one more time.

[color=fd4d58][i]This little... INGRATE!![/i][/color] For her part, the dragonkin couldn't even fathom why the man was denying her to participate, other than him assuming that she was a small child, and to be perfectly honest, she wasn't entirely wrong, [color=fd4d58][b]"[i]THIS[/i] KINDA SHOW!!"[/b][/color] Spurred by indignation, Frederika launched a good jab to his upper arm, her draconic strength betraying her waifish stature as she packed enough force to stagger the adult man - who himself wasn't a slouch either - and she wasn't even using her full strength, [color=fd4d58][b]"And there's a lot more where that came from!"[/b][/color]

Staggered he might be, the man nonchalantly steadied himself and didn't look any more impressed than he was before, [b]"Yeah, no, y'all ain't picking up what I'm putting down here,"[/b] He shook his head slightly, [b]"C'mon, use your brain a bit, girl. What are you?"[/b]

[color=fd4d58][b]"Huh...?"[/b][/color] Confused by the man's question, she wondered if he was daft or messing with her, or both, [color=fd4d58][b]"Like he said, a fighter."[/b][/color] Oh, maybe he was asking about her... race? Not sure how that'd be relevant, but whatever, [color=fd4d58][b]"Dragonkin, or dragonborn, don't tell me you never heard of our kind before..."[/b][/color] Especially with how much of a melting port Oratorio was.

The matchmaker signed, then he stood up, walked up close, and looked down at Frederika, showcasing that there was at least a full foot's worth of difference between the two, [b]"Look at me, then look at yourself, then consider how it looks from someone else."[/b] He gave her a moment to think, [b]"Now, if I win, what do people think? Or, If I lose, what do people think?"[/b]

[color=fd4d58][b]"...??"[/b][/color] It was painfully obvious at this point that she didn't quite understand whatever it was the dude tried to imply, [color=fd4d58][b]"Obviously, they'd get a good sho-... eh?"[/b][/color]

It was at this moment that Almagest placed a hand on Frederika's shoulder, then gently ushered her to the side for a bit, [color=75fcf7][b]"Rika, a moment please,"[/b][/color] He said, his tone as tranquil as ever, though there was a tinge of care there if one was keen enough, [color=75fcf7][b]"I believe this particular event only accepts burly individuals,"[/b][/color] The astrologist hypothesized, [color=75fcf7][b]"They care more about putting a good show of muscle-bound men facing against other muscle-bound men, regardless of their actual strength. As in the end, it's a performance, a charade, not a true survival of the fittest situation."[/b][/color] That'd be the Abyss itself.

[b]"Most folks come from races where muscle makes might,"[/b] The matchmaker clicked his tongue, sitting back down, [b]"And of course it's a show. Ya think I want my talents dead, buddy?"[/b]

[color=fd4d58][b]"Oh..."[/b][/color] [i]Finally[/i] getting it, the dragonkin actually found herself... unsurprised, especially judging by how the matchmaker regarded her right from the very first sentence he uttered to them earlier, then again, in the bigger picture, she had always have to deal with the permanent consequences of her malnourished upbringing, just that Almagest was one of the rare exceptions, [color=fd4d58][b]"Tch, I'm probably actually older than you lot."[/b][/color]

After the matchmaker confirmed it himself, there wasn't much left to say about the matter, [color=75fcf7][b]"If it's any consolation, Rika, I believe they'd refuse the elvenkind as well due to their looks, and your kind - in the eyes of most others - do tend to be deceptively stronger compared to their preconceived notion of how 'strength' should look."[/b][/color]

Whether it was due to exasperation or Almagest's cold rationality or something else, the horned brawler decided to peacefully drop the matter, for a given definition of the word, [color=fd4d58][b]"...sure."[/b][/color]

With a confirming nod, the astrologist turned back to the ringmaster, [color=75fcf7][b]"If I may ask, sir, are there any jobs around here that'll accept able-bodied people regardless of their appearance?"[/b][/color]

[b]"Aye, there's always labour to be done, adventuring too."[/b] Perhaps the matchmaker wasn't a total jackass after all, he had a daughter that was similar to Frederika, physical appearance-wise, [b]"If ya wanna make a name for yourself as a ringfighter though, check out Slaughterhouse No. 4 or Twenty-First Military Rule, they got a girls' division."[/b]

[color=75fcf7][b]"Hmm..."[/b][/color] The senior Ichor-Blessed listened carefully to the man's informative words, let it never be said that he wasn't capable of giving a fuck, despite what his detractors back home might suggest, [color=75fcf7][b]"Understood,"[/b][/color] Almagest nodded, [color=75fcf7][b]"Thank you, sir, then we'll take no more of your time."[/b][/color] Almagest said before leaving together with his rather grumpy Paladin. 

[center][h3]--A11 - Streets--[/h3][/center]

After leaving The Shire's Lock, Almagest glanced down at his apprentice, [color=75fcf7][b]"So, Rika, what shall be our next destination?"[/b][/color]

[color=fd4d58][b]"Hmph..."[/b][/color] Frederika turned her eyes to the side with her arms crossed at her chest, looking quite vexed, before she then sighed, [color=fd4d58][b]"In this order: Slaughterhouse No. 4, then the Twenty-First Military Rule. If neither of those work out, dear Dead God, then menial labor it is."[/b][/color] She gritted her teeth, hoping her damnedest to be proven wrong, [color=fd4d58][b]"Obviously, adventuring should be last, going into the Abyss without any food or supplies is a death sentence... trust me, I know how it feels to starve."[/b][/color] It wasn't... a pleasant experience to say the least.

[color=75fcf7][b]"Affirmative, Rika."[/b][/color] Almagest nodded, allowing himself the barest hint of a smile, [color=75fcf7][b]"Lead the way."[/b][/color]

Thus, the duo made their way to the ominously-named Slaughterhouse No. 4. If one avenue failed, there'd always be another, this was Oratorio after all, opportunities weren't in short supply for those bold enough to take them.

[@ERode]