#odyssey

"Um, thank you Baroness."

"Um."

"Miss Abuela? I have come to challenge for a prize."

"Oh dear" Abuela says "Are you sure? Our warriors are great, and often quite savage. You could be hurt" Fussing.. and the Coutl looks very concerned.

SYMON's kenning on this woman.. there is a lingering.. there's a MORTAL soul in that CHimera

He eyes the wee snek, then the mighty Serpent. His eyes widen a touch- now THAT’S new. Impressed!

“Coutl? Is that a name, or what it is? Don’t worry, I’m not fighting so you’ll be safe.” He explains to the snek.

"I am a Coult.. a Feathered serpent" The Abuela says "Your little one has no name yet."

She shrugs. "Being hurt is not what I'm worried about so much. I'd prefer to know if it'd be acceptable to fight to the yield. Dagda says I can accept surrenders. I'd prefer not to be facing death duels, even if Vali swears this is important." A frown. "Important enough to risk myself is one thing, yeah? Different if he's asking me to kill to get it, and I'm not sold on that."

Symon pauses while the Hero has a Speech. Such things are important.

"We do not fight to the mortal death here.. and try not to chimerically" Abuela says "But.. yes. I suppose you are pure of heart enough to demand it as a knight. But what will you give if you lose?"

"Um." Brow furrow.

Symon digs into a pocket, and confers into Dagmar’s ear.

She listens, and nods.

"How about a treasure? You can use it to speak at long distances - even in the Dreaming."

"Interesting.. and more than adequete. So, what will be the challenge? Strength, Skill, or Power?" Abuela says

Symon nods. And is relieved when that is accepted. He ponders this next question.

“I think you could do any of the three...” to Abuela, “does the choice determine her opponent?”

Dag seemed about to answer, but she defers to Symon's questions with a nod.

"Oh yes, and wise you aer to ask. If she chooses strength, she must face Shard. if she chooses Skill, Mitra. If she chooses power.. me. And of course, each is a different challenge in that Strength is more raw might, Skill is weapon play, and Power? Well, magic, weapons, it all"

"Strength is probably what I'm best at..." But that doesn't sound like a choice.

Symon lightly strokes the snek as he considers this.

"Prudent to go with your best quality" Mitra says practically

"You're not just raw might, though. You're smart. And getting better at magic... and great with that flyswatter."

"And there's the option to yield?"

"Oh yes. we encourage it," Abuela says, and looks worried "But you're so young. Shouldn't you be enjoying the sights with your boyfriend?"

"We're on a quest. We've been all over, and we killed a vampire. Vali swears that it's to save someone, and I'm a knight, and I promised to help."

"And you" SHe looks at Symon, "Are you not worried about your girlfriend?"

A cough. A shake of his head. "Quest Partner. And... no. Dagmar can handle any challenge."

"I mean, yes. Obviously. I worry about everything. But Dagmar doesn't let me down."

He murmurs to Dagmar.

"If I fail, you can barter Flyswatter and fight the Baroness."

Abuela looks surprised at something "you are..ah, my apologies. Which Challenge did you select?" Abuela asks

He BLINKS.

"ME?"

"If I fail. I'll fight my best, I swear."

"The boy and I sword fight. Sounds good" Mitra smiles

"Skill would be magic, wouldn't it?"

"Or could be. But I mean, if you don't think you could match him mind to mind..."

He shakes his head! "I -will- die." A huff, amused at the idea.

"Dagmar is not a one-trick pony. She can do it all."

"Okay, fine, so I lose, you get Vali."

He can't help it, he grins.

Mitra raises a brow at the idea she couldn't outsmart a slaugh "Skill is more weapon play, strength less than accuracy. But I also play a mean game of chess"

"Could I choose a game?"

"IF we got to that."

"Oh no. I'm not dim. that means I'm not about to end up facing some X-Box champion. You challenged US. " Mitra reminds

A sigh. And a rueful smile.

"Yes'm, and I would like to be the champion here. This is just... if I lose, I don't want the quest to fail."

He nods, in reluctant agreement.