Copyright ©1998 Jonathan Cardon
Amber DRPG is Copyright ©1991 Erick Wujcik

A political debate begins to grow in volume.

Jeanette starts to turn back to the bar, ordering a refill for her drink. (Some newfangled thing from out in Shadow, 'ginger ale'.)

"... and I tell you that no matter what it cost we should have pressed our attack. We had Chaos by the throat, but what do we do sit down and talk and sign a treaty."

Krinac says "You are pretty free with that no matter what the cost. Have you ever tried fighting in a city? We beat their army on open ground, but that's a damn site different from establishing control over a country."

"... Yeah, well what did we get out of it??? Their king kept his throne. Their nobles kept their heads and their lands. They didn't even pay us reparations.

A third man says, "Reparations??!? Are you daft man? They could have paid anything we demanded easily at no cost to themselves, just like the Lords of Amber. Money is nothing to them. Amber didn't ask for reparations because they don't need the money.

"Well it comes in pretty handy down here. Too many of our forces died fighting for Amber and for what? What did we get out of it??

Jeanette receives her 'ginger ale'.
Jeanette takes it and sips, then observes the three arguers.

Vance pauses on his way to the door, to get a final ale before he goes.
Vance glances over. "How do you know Amber won? It could be propoganda,to cover up a stalemate?"

Another man, a quiet one with a dangerous look about him says, "Oh Amber won. I was there, Rebma sent forces to aid in the final conflict, and Benedict carried the day. The Chaos army was crushed, but we never took their city. The Storm hit then, and it was all anyone could worry about to just survive. After that Chaos sued for peace, and we all went home. Our troops were scattered after the storm, as were the forces of Chaos. If the fighting had continued, it would have been a bloodbath. As it is, most of those who went to fight came home."

The young man says, "And it would have been worth the cost. Instead we left them intact. I promise you that we will have to go back and do it all over again in a few years."

Vance smiles. "How do you know that you fought their main force?"

The quiet dangerous one starts to answer, then shrugs, "It could be so. I saw what I saw, but I had only a small command. It could be as you say."

The young man, tilts back some more wine, "Yeah, then why did they sue for peace? Tell me that then. I say we should have crushed them."

An outlander, judging from his full set of clothes, and of all things a hood which hides his features says, "I think you've said enough foolishness for one night. Go home and sleep it off now and you won't regret it."

Jeanette says "Pardon me, but... what was this war all about, anyway?"

Vance takes his ale, and sips from the bulb.

The young man says, "Why don't you make me?".... and the man in the hood steps up and throws a punch... the young braggart takes it on the chin, and goes flying back upsetting a table... several people stand and look at the man who through the punch... and then the brawl begins.

Vance pushes off from the floor, moving out of the way of the majority of combatants as he swims to ceiling height.

The brawl quickly expands, but being underwater it is like watching the whole thing happen in slow motion.

Jeanette backs off quickly, frowning...

Rebman women near the distirbance show more attention to keeping their drinks or food from being spilled as they pedal calmly away. The fight seems confined to the male patrons.

Vance seems to be a spectator to the whole event, glancing around at what the noncombatants are doing.

Raz, the woman who spoke to Vance seems to be circling the edge of the skirmish.

The brawl escalates in size, but not in destruction as the participants continue to slug it out with fists.

Jeanette moves over to one side of the room, near the exits...

The young braggart who started the exchange drifts by Vance on the current out cold. The bouncers finally arrive and start to impose some order.

Vance keeps one eye on Raz' general vicinity, and the other looking out for trouble. He casually reaches out to stop the young braggart's motion, and leaves him floating next to him.

Raz circles behind the outlander who threw the first punch and appears to be about to deliver a blow from behind.

The Rebman women watching are placing side bets on how many will be knocked unconscious, who will be left standing, etc.

Raz takes her shot at the stranger who threw the punch, clipping him good from behind. It doesn't drop him, instead he turns, about to throw a punch. A motion he checks when he gets a view of his assailant... the delay gives Raz a chance to hit him again... and again the blow seems to do very little.

Jeanette drifts over in that direction, observing the fellow.

The outlander reaches out, grabs Raz's arm and twists. Her arm now hangs at an odd angle... he must have snapped the bone. Which is more impressive his strength or Raz's will, as she says does not cry out?

Two bouncers who had been half-heartedly trying to stop the fight now move on the outlander. The bouncers have clubs.

In the gallery of onlookers, mutters can be heard,
"Barbarian"
"I say she asked for it."
"She was acting like a fool male, she'll learn"
"Pound his face into pulp so he has to keep it in that hood."

Jeanette sighs, shaking her head, and swims over more firmly now, reaching out to yank the fellow out of the fight.

The fight breaks up, the bouncers arrive at the outlander, who throws back his hood. Raz heads for the exit.

Jeanette lets her go, sparing her concentration for the moment for this new fellow...

The bouncers pull to a stop. Jeanette almost collides with them, having a little difficulty slowing her momentum in the water.

The outlander tosses a sack of coins, "For the damages."

The bouncers say, "Yes, Lord Martin."

Jeanette smiles, slowly. "And what is a great lord doing in such a common establishment as this, hmm?"

The buzz in the peanut gallery doubles in volume,
"And _you_ called him a barbarian."
"Where'd the woman go? She's lucky he didn't kill her."
"Yes, but he started the brawl"...

Vance swims back down to floor level.

Martin looks at Jeanette with open apraisial, obviously tracing her figure. Then just as obviously he dismisses her. Offhandedly he says, "I like it here." Martin turns to leave.

Jeanette laughs, softly, watching him go. "Then why try to redecorate? Red is really not the color for this place."

In the peanut gallery,
"Hussy"
"Why not just invite him back to her reef?"

The GM notes that Jeanette just did the same thing as lurking outside the stars door after a concert. Martin assumed she was offering to sleep with him.

Jeanette, of course, has no idea that this might be the custom here.

GM [OOC] at least in Rebman society. You are supposed to wait until the males are done with their displays of manly prowress and have cleaned themselves off before you pounce on them.

Jeanette [OOC] nods.
Jeanette doesn't wait for an answer, but turns on the chatty ones. "Why don't you take him back there yourself, if you're so appreciative? I'm sure you'd enjoy it. Oh, but do mind the sharp pointy bits..."

Vance seems to be moving towards the door, as well.

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