The Hangover

"What in the-"

A small drone bothered Mungus into taking a letter, reading it, and then promptly crumpling it. As if he needed one more complication to this years Hunt, someone had eyes on him that he didn't have eyes on. Mungus cursed under his breath and ordered another drink.

It wasn't a surprise that this charbroiled fellow knew who he was, or even where he was. As a former Champion of the Hunt and well decorated member of The Hunter Society, Mungus was something of a celebrity. But. This, this was unusual. He cursed again.

Tomorrow he would set out to help catch the Champion Garantua, and he needed to clear his head proper for that. Lest he might die. In the mean time, he'd keep an eye out for drones.

A hooded woman walks into the building. Her golden hair could be seen coming out of the hood but most of her face remain obscured. By her rather tight-fitting armour it was obvious she was a woman. Her armour was green and black with lines of gold accentuating her outfit and curves. Her ornate, golden bow slung over her shoulder as she calmly walks further into this bar.

"Hmm.... Bars usually give good information..." spoke the woman. Her voice was nothing special, your average female with a bit of coldness added to it.

It was her third round on the house, and Niira was feeling alive! She had recently been catapulted to local celebrity status after what could only be described as the strangest experience of her life. Never mind all that, the attention was something else! In good spirits, Niira noticed an armored woman walk into the bar. Over her shoulder was a fascinating golden object, the likes that Niira had never seen before. Her outfit was superb.

"Gold, is my favorite," Niira casually commented on the woman's ensemble, sliding over a seat to make room in the busy bar. The television played recaps from the most recent champion's battle, and it was one hell of a show. Niira was almost sad she missed it.

"You certainly seem in high spirits.... Get a good haul thieving and sold it all to buy alcohol or something?"

Rina casually takes a seat near, but not next to, Niira. She kept her hood on, not sure if her kind is liked around here.

"As for the remark on gold...too many people like it and I've had to silence a couple who've tried to take it off my corpse...Don't add yourself to the list..."

Niira narrowed her eyes, unsure whether to be insulted or not. She opted to flick her hair and flash a coy smile, “Something like that.”

The bartender refilled Niira’s drink, and a gentleman across the bar watched satisfied as she took her first sip. She flicked a hand to her chest and raised her brows innocently.

“Beautiful, but not my taste. Theiving?” She let out a bark of a laugh, tossing around her bright orange hair yet again, “A Pongal would be insulted if they didn’t know from what ignorance an accusation of such was birthed. Y’ent fromma Vien en, are you?” Niira slipped back into her street accent and extended her wrist for a proper greeting.

“Niira Pongal, arre here fo da Hunt?”

Rina takes off her hood, revealing her ears and long flowing hair. She possesses golden adornments in her hair and on her ears, as well as a better inspection of the bow shows it is far too ornate for a simple commoner and is also made with gold as can be plainly seen. Her golden hair, normally kept inside the hood, trails down to her waist aside from the braided sections that don't go passed her bosom. Her ears were pointed and elongated, showing her race as an Elf. Unlike in the picture, she didn't have those super long trails leading off her outfit. Her green eyes sparkled like a polished emerald as she looked at Niira.

"I said what I said only because the last people I saw who had a spirit as high as your own were thieves. I meant no offense. As for the hunt, I heard about it on my travels and thought I would get some information on it. Bars and taverns are always good spots for information. How much is this information going to cost?"

Niira’s face flushed red for a brief moment with envy. The woman under the hood was beautiful, and her ears were exquisite. A true anomaly of a woman. Where could she hail from, Niira incredulously thought to herself.

“Cost? I’m no thief, remember?” Niira scoffed, but then quickly flashed a smile and pointed over to the screen. The recap of C.H.A.R’s fight was coming to a close, and the Gargantua Quadman was decapitated.

“The Hunt takes place down the road - the arena this city is built around? You likely have seen it. Go there, sign forms, and...” Niira flourished, whipping about her orange hair and cast a glance around the bar. The two had caught the eye of most every gentleman present- and a few not so gentle types as well. She flashed a smile and turned back to Rina.

“You finna Champion up?”

"I would like to kindly ask that you repeat your final words again. I did not quite understand them."

As if by magic, her hair curls up again and Rina puts on the hood once more.

"I understood where to go but what you said about champions, you'll have to repeat for me."

Niira gave a sly smile, “You will compete? Then maybe you will Champion a Gargantua- if you are as proficient at slaying beasts as you are thieves.”

She took a long, slow drink from her glass.

"A thief and a beast are very different. Thieves can be predictable... And I might compete. Thanks for the info. As for my name...Rina Morra."

She then leaves to head off for the arena to get signed up.

Niira glanced back up to the screen now that she was all alone. A commercial for forn pops was ending, and the news was about to begin. She groaned under her breath, tossed her hair again, and ordered another drink.

The television was showing the news-it was the only time of year people bothered with the news. Whenever The Hunt was on everyone paid attention. It was perfect timing for the greatest of Gargantua to make it's televised debut, and so they did.

A shaky video came onto screen. It was hard to tell what it was at first, the camera was moving too much and too fast and too close. Anyone familiar with Aberash recognized the black shell for what it was. Despite it's best attempts the flying camera never got a good wide angle shot. It was a shame, for everyone who was anyone was watching the news. Anyone, who was everyone, wondered how big it really could be?

The camera movement jerked to a stop; oops!
It tumbled through the sky towards the Earth at a nauseating speed. On it's way down glimpses were caught of the Gargantua. It was half the size of the city, at least, which was enough to make many citizen's stomaches drop.

The camera landed to the ground and rolled. It came to a stop with a rock formation in focus. In the background a black blob moved and sat mostly out of shot. It was too big.

There was a flash of red light and suddenly... it was gone?
After a few moments, the news cut back to a confused newscaster, and then rolled commercial.

Bian Linh Vu has arrived, coming from Zahn Street.

Bien slammed shut a book as the newscast finished. She pushed her glasses back up her nose, packed her things, and payed her tab. She scribbled furiously in a notebook, then slammed that shut too. Quietly Bien slipped out of The Hangover. She had work to do.

Bian Linh Vu has left the area, heading north into Zahn Street.

Kimberly Trucidabunt has arrived, coming from Zahn Street.

Kimberly Trucidabunt has left the area, heading north into Zahn Street.