The great port city of Grimache was in its usual state of social and chaotic flux. The towns people scurried to the markets, the longshore men operated large rigs to transport goods from other lands and the school of alchemy rumbled with the sounds of chemical explosions and portal experimentation. The sky was always in a strange state of dark daytime, it was hard to tell what time of day it was, as the sky was purple with ambiguity. The area with the most commotion however was the ARENA, even in this world bloodsport was still a very lucrative form of entertainment and the city of Grimache took full advantage of this. Somewhere in one of the guest rooms just outside the main coliseum, a heated debate was taking place.....
Artemis James had his hands open as he spoke, it was if he was trying to inspire reason and understanding, but with limited results. He was facing down a sinewy politician named Francios Hakkan who was aided by two fully armored sentinels, who acted as goverment bodyguards. Artemis was wary of this and tried to contain his tone of voice to keep it civil. In the main room of the suite 8 people from distant lands laid on the floor in varying states of conciousness, having just entered in the room through a portal.
How was I supposed to know where a portal was going to open? You know how tempermental these things are, there was no way I could control it?
The politician Hakkan tilted his head past Artemis and glanced at the 8 on the floor behind him in the next room, he adjusted his glasses with a look of dissaproval in his eye.
I count not one mistake Mr James, but eight, 8 people lay on your hotel floor and they are all warriors, I can tell by the armor. Were you a naive stranger I might forgive this wild conduct, but we are all very aware of the mad scientist who was expelled from the department of portal study, you are hardly a sympathetic character...
Artemis balled his fists and looked at the floor in embrassment, his expulsion was widely publisized and even though it was 3 years ago, he is completely unable to live it down, it was hurting his credibility in almost every conversation about portals that he had.
I had my day in court and I was cleared of all criminal charges, besides this is a different matter and you know it, you have no legal presidence over me Frank, I havent broken any laws.
The mention of Hakkan's abreviated first name caused him to ball his fists too, the sentinels rasied their weapons slightly in anticipation of possible conflict.
How dare you! My name is Councilman Hakkan to all lowly plebians such as yourself. You may not have broken any direct laws but I see 8 undocumented strangers in your hotel room, that havent been processed for tax, they are now property of the goverment where they will be laboured for possible citizenship. Unless you plan to purchase all of them as personal companions under the guild laws?
Hakkan snickered under his words, knowing the insane amount of money that would cost. Artemis' voice became streched and slightly panicked.
Goverment processing for citizenship? Its slavery Councilman and you know it! Much like my expulsion, most of us are aware of your gambling problem and your tendencies to have goverment labourers engage in shady activites for profit.....especially when it comes to the arena...
Hakkan gulped loudly, he knew what Artemis was going to say.
...I do plan to purchase their companionship under the guild laws. And I'll do it with your money Frank, I challenge your Hakkan Ludus of gladitiators for the prize money in the open exhibition games. Legally I have 24 hours before you can confiscate them, and the next matches start in 4 hours, so I suggest you start preparing your fighters.
Hakkan grumbled under his breath and adjusted his glasses once more to look at the 8 people behimd Artemis in slightly greater detail.
...Y..You'll have your competition, outcast....but when my Ludus slaughters your band of time jumping misfits, you will be in serious debt to the government sir, which means serious debt to me. See you at the games.
At once Hakkan turned on his heel and left the room along with his two sentinels leaving Artemis alone with his 8 warriors who were just properly waking up.
How much of that did you hear? Do you understand? You'll have to fight soon, I'm sorry its the only way I'll be able to secure you any sort of freedom from the government. How are you all feeling right now? There is an assortment of fruits and bread on the table if you are feeling hungry. My name is Artemis James. I brought you here.
