Seeing the harpy's hunger, Rayne felt pretty good about giving her a little something to eat - she wasn't sure if NPCs really needed to eat, or if harpies were just programmed to be voracious at all times, but it sure seemed like this made a difference.  She just couldn't see these creatures as wholly artificial or negligible.  And their frantic, quick intimacy didn't have anything to do with that... nothing at all.  Probably.<br/><br/>"Oh, that should be useful."  She watched Sylvia enjoying her cake.  "I wonder if your dominatrix, and my twins, were, like, the next rank up of gladiators, what we're moving up to?"  She shrugged.  "Not that it matters.  Yes, good thing about the barrier - I'd like to make our escape through the arena as a first choice, though we have that chute you discovered as a back-up."  She grimaced.  "No, indeed... let's not wind up downstairs.  A nice incentive to perform well!"  She finished her last bit of pretzel and looked at the 1/4 mug of beer that remained, then at the harpy.  With another shrug, Rayne stepped over to the bars, and mimed drinking from the mug, before offering it carefully through the bars - she didn't think the harpy could hold it, unless she could use her feet for that, so Rayne would hold it and tip it slowly for her neighbour.<br/><br/>Trapped into staying in the cells that night, and with the possibility of being pulled out to new quarters the next day, Rayne retrieved the keys and lockpicks, stuffing them into her virtual inventory and hoping they would avoid detection.  It wasn't as if her clothing could really hide anything!  Then she wandered around her cell a little until tired enough to sleep, which she did partly pressed against the harpy - the feathers were comfy to press her head against, once one got past the initial strangeness.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Sure enough, they were in for a fight, as they had been warned.  She was quite surprised to see the harpy taken out at the same time... "good luck" she called out in common, not knowing if it would be understood, but she was more concerned about what she and Sylvia were about to face.  She was glad to have the same equipment - well, she could have asked for something more dignified, obviously! - and she was amazed to find it much-improved, clearly enchanted as well as decorated.  She looked wonderingly at the gruff dwarf who was preparing them - did he have a hand in that?  She wasn't sure, but touched the bow to her forehead in subtle acknowledgement, anyway.<br/><br/>The microbikini would have to do - at least it was repaired.  But the accessories... she frowned and passed over the butt-plug immediately, though its enchantment was awfully useful.  She just couldn't imagine trying such a thing - she never had - and certainly not before entering a risky battle.  The miniskirt was ridiculous, but... if spell resistance was being offered, maybe it would be needed.  Feeling self-conscious she gave up the bikini bottom in favour of the micro-mini skirt, trying to push it down a little so it wouldn't ride up quite so high - she sure wouldn't want to move too quickly, but how could she avoid it?  For now, she let her bow rest against the skirt across her hips, feeling slightly more secure though it did nothing for the cheeks peeking out behind.<br/><br/>The hoops were less of a slam-dunk.  She held them in her hands, hefting them, considering.  She sure didn't want to show off like that to the crowd, but between the spell resistance of the miniskirt, and the awesome protection she'd have with these rings on top of her other defences... and besides, surely the audience would hardly be able to see anything.  Yes, there were the screens... but she'd be moving, and plying her bow... face burning red she yielded to the need, replacing the solid fabric of her "armour" with these revealing hoops.  Now she had to start with a hand across her chest... she bit her lip and looked back at Sylvia.<br/><br/>"Ready, I guess."  There was actually one more small act of preparation, but she didn't want to do it here, in front of the dwarf.  But once their elevator started ascending, she could rattle off a quick<em>shield</em>spell for herself, which ought to last for the duration of their match.<em>haste</em>would be great, but she didn't think it would last long enough, what with introductions and whatever other preliminaries she might expect.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Rolls</div><div class="spoiler_body">Concentration to cast <em>shield</em>: 1d20a10 DC: 21 Result: 30 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=91236) Oh sure, wasting my 20!<br/><br/>And I'll just add: such a cruel temptation, that "quicken metamagic" plug!  Such an awesome device!<br/></div></div>