Katzan and the Gambling Knight

[22:43] A knight clad in armor, covered head to heel, gauntlet to gauntlet, sat by the fire. Mattened black with soot, their armor shone no light from the fire, simply looking towards the group.

"..Ah... greetings."

"Come to have some fun...? Perhaps... a gamble?"

A slow, rusty movement towards a satchel of coins was made, the gauntlet lifting it upright, whilst shaking it left and right!
(Cave Dwelling Knight)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:48] Zabo smiled as the group suddenly made their way in front of another, a cave dweller, a knight simply sitting by a fire, hurrah! "Mmm..." Zabo said, his eyes seeming to bulge as he focused upon the man before them, it had been so long since he and Teuicui hunted, though that was because of the pregnancy and the injuries. There was so much going on that they rarely had the time to actually do as they pleased and as Ixchel had wanted for them to do. A glance was given to Teuicui, he figured she had the same thoughts upon seeing them, and once looking to Katzan he'd point towards the Knight.

"A tent and such already set up here? They've possibly done all the scavenging of this place except for what we've come across til now, hm?" a glance was given back towards the knight then as he stared a while, the obvious malice and bloodlust coming off of the Nagual was rather clear. Others may see a knight, but the man was seeing someone marked by Ixchel and was ready to help have their soul be guided by Ixchel.
(Zabo)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:48] Katzan rolled his eyes as he saw the knight sitting by the bonfire. A glance was thrown to the other two tribesmen. "Someone living in these lands? That's hardly even living." He said, the same neutral tone of always.

Each tap of his staff came with a step towards the man, the greyish flames spreading around him. It was obvious that Katzan wasn't happy with this simple greeting, but perhaps he wasn't going to be aggressive and so upfront.

"But you said a gamble. What's in it for us?" He said, and frowned slightly. "At what price?"

And like that, he rose one hand to the duo of naguals left behind him. For them to wait. A glare thrown at Zabo's way would make it more than clear: Disrespecting this order meant to disrespect Katzan. And he never liked being disrespected even in the least.

"Wait."
(Katzan Xizoh)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:54] They'd happened upon the reason for their choice through this cave the campfire... Though when they properly approached it a knight or what she presumed them to look like sat beside the flames, he offered a greeting nothing more deserving than it needed to be.

Gambling? Was this some sort of underground tavern? How often did travelers come seeking fun? Especially after narrowly escaping a goring by one of those Scorpion's oversized claws. She heard Zabo's tone and intent but with the Chieftain already ready to 'engage' the man in his activities she'd held up her index finger, following just about the same word that Katzan used to follow up his glare towards Zabo 'Wait'.
(Teuicui)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[22:57] The satchel of coins was rested aside, as the man stood upright, dusting their greaves off with equally as soot covered gauntlets-- bringing no avail. Oh well, force of habit, one could suppose.

"Indeed. Gambling. We both put in an equal amount of money, roll a dice, winner takes all. I've stashed myself quite a hefty collection over the years... Care to test your luck?"

With a shift of position, the knight now rested upon their knee's, producing two dice from the same gold pouch! A quick gesture was made in front of him, inviting Katzan to sit-- an overall vulnerable position, to say the least...

May it also be noted, that gold pouch that rested next to the knight... was rather large.
(Cave Dwelling Knight)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:02] He gives a pout as Teuicui gives him the wait as well, heck once he had her approval he would've went in, though it seems they wanted to go about things a different way.

Listening on to the Knight, it seems it was going to be a simple dice roll for a certain amount of coins....He'd stare at the lot then, shaking his head as he clearly hadn't wanted to participate. If Exolo or Xoz should ever come back to him with stone he'd probably need money to buy it off of them unless they were nice enough to give it over. He had to still think of Nagaland of course.

He goes on to simply crossing his arms, staring at the man then and waiting for the time being. Though, the thought of years ago with Teuicui and her lesson came into his head, speaking what was wanted is simply taken. If this man had a lot of coin, then taking it was all Zabo would have to do. Would his boo thang and Katzan attempt to gamble though?

For now he'd simply wait and see, though it was clear he was on the more hostile-side of things when it came to the Knight and such.
(Zabo)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:05] There was one question which would decide the poor knight's fate. Katzan wasn't exactly merciful, but perhaps he was getting affected by Joanne as of late. A weakness of sorts, perhaps, but he considered himself to be the savior and the merciful one.

And he knew that this mercy would extend to this man, were it available. He slowly walked in closer, gesturing for the nagual duo to come closer. A tranquil expression took on his face, as he sat on his knees...

And looked straight to the man, analyzing every piece of equipment, as if looking for something. To see if, beyond that large pouch of coins, there was something else of value to be found.

"Very well." He said, after yellow irises were done running over the body of the... Man? "But I do not gamble with coin alone. You have anything else to up the stakes?"

And obviously. The man couldn't see it, but his tribesmen obviously knew.

Katzan hated to lose.
(Katzan Xizoh)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:08] With Katzan moving ever so closer to the knight she did the same, while Zabo might have been pouty in the back for his own reasons her attentions were focused on the situation they were still in, the sword that was once brandished was barely resting in the soil with her hand tightly on the hilt, allowing her freehand to just rest to her side, watching what would occur.
(Teuicui)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:09] With that, the knight produced the bag of coins once more-- Pouring the entire satchel out!

"I have a thousand coins total... You may decide our total gamble."

As well as that, another satchel was produced, carrying an all-too familiar glass-clattering sound. Upon it being opened-- ten fire shards remain exposed!

"I can provide these into the gamble."
(Cave Dwelling Knight)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:15] Katzan nodded. He brought his own satchel as well, and deposited it on the ground at his side. Yellow irises barely left the man's helmet, a hefty amount of coins hidden inside the leather. And after that, he gathered a hefty part of the scorpion's shell.

He put the satchel inside, and moved it forwards, towards the man. Perhaps the same amount of value? Probably. He did not know yet, but it could be. "I'll offer you that, for all you have. All the shards, all the coins."

And like that, he looked to the dice. "Shall we gamble?"
(Katzan Xizoh)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:17] The dice were gently toyed with, rolled between iron digits with small clinking sounds....

"Hmm. I think you can provide a little better, in the case of all my coins."

"You aren't a poor man, are you?"
(Cave Dwelling Knight)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:20] He rose his chin, yellow hues locking back on the knight's helmet. He tried to see anything on that. Anything. And yet, he was interested.

"I am obviously not a poor man. I am Katzan Xizoh. The chieftain of Atl." And like that, he looked around at the cave. He lurched in closer, eyebrows curled into a frown.

"And after we're done here, this will be my cave. So you can say I am definitely not a poor man."
(Katzan Xizoh)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:23] "Cats-Ass Xizoh.... Got it."

A hardy chuckle was given behind the plates of sheet metal that guised the mans face. A gauntlet withdrew half the coin-- leaving five hundred, in the pairing of the fire shards.

"Final offer."
(Cave Dwelling Knight)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:23] Zabo lets out a sigh, it was clear this whole gambling thing was boring him, and instead of it they could just make a move upon the man instead to take what he had! Though the Chief wanted to indulge himself in games, and Zabo merely sat back for the time being, watching and waiting.
(Zabo)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:31] The man was trying to push him... Worse. And like that, Katzan took it personally. He frowned, and a single hand rose to move up the satchel. Yet, as he let the gold coins drop down on the shell of the scorpion, counting slightly over a thousand...

... Katzan looked up to the man. "Cats-Ass?" And like that, he scowled. It was true that the slightest of things often made Katzan drive himself further down into the madness that he indulged.

He looked down towards his own coins, the greyish flames erupting from around him. They closed between him and the man, a hand quickly taking back the coins and the shell. His single hand grabbed the staff, using it as support for him to stand back up.

"My. Name. Is. Katzan." And, like that, Katzan pointed his staff on the direction of the man. "Apologize. Now."
(Katzan Xizoh)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:34] Practically ignoring the coins-- It would seem that fun would not be coming from gambling this beautiful, endless night. Drawing their sword, the knight quickly raised the blade upwards-- having an edge just as covered as soot as anything else within the cavern... Just how long had this man been down here?

Two words were said to Katzan, blank, dull, monotonic.

"Make me."


(Cave Dwelling Knight)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:37] Zabo gives a little smile, things were finally heating up! Then again, it was very clear the aura Katzan had been giving off. Something tainted, unpure, and very....prideful...It was strange that Zabo could sense what such had been, though maybe it was just animal instincts...? Either way he'd start moving away somewhat, watching for the time being and simply gesturing for Teuicui to follow along, he didn't want her being hit in cross fire obviously.
(Zabo)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:37] Katzan looked towards the man, a scowl formed largely on his face. He did not care for the money, he did not care for what the man found to be fair, or his gamble. This was something that the Knight would do for fun. For Katzan? That was merely a way of trying to get someone out of his way.

And now, these two words. These two words hit him to the core, and like that... He rose his single hand towards the other two nagual that accompanied him.

"Stand out." He spat through his lips, an order to the tribesmen. "I'll make him apologize." And like that, Katzan staff turned to the man, shooting an unannounced blast of flames in his direction.

No mercy.
(Katzan Xizoh)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:40] Call it a coincidence, perhaps.

A blast of shadow flame met a counter-blast of holy fire... While the one blast was enough to block the unannounced, the oncoming fight would announce who was truly the stronger of the two.

No response... Just a chuckle, as a slash of the sword set flames flying back at Katzan.
(Cave Dwelling Knight)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[23:48] ** Katzan Xizoh has inflicted an injury upon Cave Dwelling Knight. ("Permanent Injury", "Permanent Injury", "Permanent", "Severity: MODERATE (-20 Vit)") **
[23:53] {NARRATION} Holy fire versus shadow flame. Polar magic's, where one could argue the two were even rivalry in the sense of their nature... Katzan and this knight, they fought and fought, though one thing set the two apart, and caused the chieftan of Atl to win...

Pride.

While the knight held no pride, living in the confines of a soot covered cavern... This chieftan of Atl, this... Katzan Xizoh... He held so much pride-- an umbearable amount, an amount that... invoked fear.

Surely, one with that much pride... was not one to be reckoned with.

Now, the knight lay on the ground-- while not fatally wounded... They were dead, at the hands of pride.

Much like the former enemies of this forsaken cavern-- The man slowly gave into the heat, body beginning to decompose into char and ash-- leaving behind a skeleton of red crystaline.

[00:03] The skeleton of the man soon laid in front of him, consumed by his flames. He was above. He was superior. He had no way of losing. His expression remained nonetheless unchanging as his flames fought by themselves, often throwing himself in front of the strikes that the man exerted in his direction.

It was wonderful. The beautiful dance, the changing of colors, the black and white changing with the coallike color of the cave. And yet, even as they contrasted with the man's magic... There was one thing unchanging.

Katzan.

He stood in the middle of the inferno. The flames changed, they swirled around him, they danced... But he was still there. He was still visible. And as soon as the man fell down on the ground, he emitted a single word.

"Pitiful." And, like that, an inferno of flames rose to land a final blow -- Only to see his body already decomposing. A huff left his nostrils, before he leaned in closer, and collected the spoils.

And like that, Katzan gestured for the nagual couple that came with him.

"Let's go."
(Katzan Xizoh)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------