The sun hung low over the Galldrell Coliseum, casting long shadows as the group gathered to reflect on their recent victory. Marin proposed that if Matthew Gondor could reach his god, he should ask about his true identity, but Matthew doubted even a god would know. Antkeep’s excitement about their win contrasted sharply with Matthew’s contemplative mood. As they exited the Galldrell Coliseum, Marin discovered that Lord Onyx Chest owned the Galldrell Coliseum and warned Antkeep that any fight involving Matthew there would likely be rigged.
While they remained in public, a Galldrell Coliseum worker interrupted Marin’s inquiry about Matthew’s mother, leading Specter away for a private discussion. Matthew communicated through Antkeep that his mother was considered nobility and was supposed to be part of the Circle Of Nine, raising concerns about the fairness of any potential fight against him. Spec returned after nearly an hour, reporting that another Matthew had invited him to join his team, which he declined, noting the other Matthew’s uncanny resemblance and his training with a chimera.
As they deliberated the implications of this encounter, Marin suggested using the confusion surrounding Matthew’s identity to gain an audience with Lord Onyx Chest. Spec questioned their continued presence in town, while Antkeep proposed visiting an Inn and possibly speaking with Lord Onyx Chest directly. They proceeded to the Inn, where they found it empty, and Matthew’s disguise kept him from drawing attention. Antkeep ventured off to meet Lord Onyx Chest alone, leaving the others to engage in light banter. During their wait, Spec struggled to grasp the concept of friendship, leading to a deeper conversation with Marin. Their discussion was interrupted by a masked young woman named Rosemyne, who sought their help against Lord Onyx Chest, claiming he had orchestrated the dragon’s appearance. She proposed a revolutionary effort to stop his reign, suggesting that a fight against Matthew could damage Lord Onyx Chest’s standing. Marin warned that any fight under Lord Onyx Chest’s control would be rigged, but Rosemyne countered that Lord Onyx Chest was overconfident.
Rosemyne offered a favor-for-favor arrangement, promising to facilitate a meeting with a key figure in exchange for their assistance against Lord Onyx Chest. The group agreed to deliberate her offer and sought a discreet way to contact her. After she left, Spec expressed a desire to confront evil directly, while Marin cautioned against acting hastily. Antkeep returned from her meeting with Lord Onyx Chest, revealing that he wanted them to fight Matthew’s team, promising that the match would not be to the death and awarding them Bloody Hand Wraps as part of their winnings.
As they discussed Rosemyne’s unusual name, the group speculated whether she might be related to Lord Onyx Chest. They decided to gather more information about her before making any commitments. During their downtime, Marin learned of strange outsiders seen entering the sewers and bought a flower for Antkeep. Later, a messenger summoned them to Lord Onyx Chest’s chamber, where he demanded to know why they had been seeking Rosemyne. Spec mentioned the blue-haired woman, inciting Lord Onyx Chest’s fury. Lord Onyx Chest offered rewards for bringing Rosemyne to him alive, revealing his fear beneath his anger. The party learned that Rosemyne should not be on this plane of existence, raising further questions about her identity. After a tense exchange, Lord Onyx Chest scheduled their fight against Matthew for the following afternoon, emphasizing the importance of maintaining his public image.
As night fell, Spec chose to spend the night in the forest, entering a trance-like state, while Matthew followed to warn him about discussing Rosemyne without the group. The next morning, the Inn buzzed with excitement over Matthew’s upcoming fight, prompting him to ask Antkeep for a discreet exit. Meanwhile, Spec gathered information in town, posing as an admirer, but found no leads on Rosemyne. At the Galldrell Coliseum, Marin attempted to gather information about Rosemyne’s appearance but encountered dead ends. The party then sought out Matthew, who revealed a striking resemblance to their Matthew. As they conversed, suspicions arose regarding their identities, with both Matthews sharing insights about their families and the experiments that shaped them. The meeting concluded with the Galldrell Coliseum’s Matthew offering to dedicate his upcoming fight to a girl who caught his eye, which Antkeep and Marin recognized as a potential advantage.
Back in private, Spec expressed his belief that the Galldrell Coliseum’s Matthew felt empty, identifying him as a Memanek, a being from another plane. The group pondered the implications of this revelation, setting the stage for their upcoming fight and the choices that lay ahead.
Threads to Watch:
- The implications of Matthew’s nobility and his connection to the Circle Of Nine.
- Rosemyne’s true identity and her connection to Lord Onyx Chest.
- The nature of the fight against Matthew and the potential rigging by Lord Onyx Chest.