AVB - Knife Fight

[Rizban]

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OK, looks like Riz is doing a side thing, so I guess we'll return to the story in progress when it's over. I don't know exactly how to work it, since I likely wouldn't do both in the same day, but we can worry about that later. Hate to miss an opportunity to get people into the fighting ring.

Meanwhile....

Wilstaff and Bennett enter the fighting ring, fully equipped and ready to play. Wil is holding a rod, Bennett his masterwork short sword and shield.

Start it up, Buttercup.

Four men drag an adamantine cage into to the ring covered with a dark cloth with large, adamantine bars bolted on over the cloth. On of the timidly reaches up and opens the lock, pulls back the bar, then the four run for the exit.

From within the cage, you hear what sounds like a small roar... until you realize it's merely the sound of a yawn.

[hustlertwo]

Wilstaff floats 50 feet into the air, awaiting his foe's first move.

Bennett stands.

[Rizban]

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Can you please describe the arena? Dimensions, appearances, potential for crowd involvement, etc?

[hustlertwo]

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-To reiterate what the map rules say above, everything in here is transparent. There is no way to block line of sight aside from magic, powers, or items. Please make a note of it.
-Ignore the lava, it's not there. Those squares instead represent the unpassable border of the map.
-Max elevation is 150 feet above 0. Go past that, you get disqualified as if you ran away.


Above reprinted from Fighting Ring thread. Up to you as to whether we do specific square by square movement or keep it vague. Plans preferred vague when we did our matches, but I'm used to square by square from the actual Arena here, and it should work either way.

And right now I don't see any audience; the place is empty, aside from the hired help always dotting the place, clerics and such for the losers.

[Rizban]

There is no movement from within the cage.

[hustlertwo]

Eventually, Wilstaff floats down.

Anticlimactic. Did it die in there? If so, I want that notched as a win for us in the official records.

Wilstaff and Bennett move to B-14 and 13, respectively.

[Rizban]

You hear a loud sniffing sound as a large, animalistic nose pokes its way out of the cage. The door shifts slightly as weight is put against it. Suddenly, the door is flung up, the fabric ripped back, and a grotesque beast that appears to be half ogre and half rat climbs out from within, emerging into square L24. Its muscles seem to be too bulky for the body that is no taller than a human. Armored in dingy, well-worn chain, it drags a massive club ringed with bands of iron behind it. Looking around for a moment, it spots Wilstaff and Bennet and immediately begins moving toward them, slaver dripping down its heinous maw, making to H20 before you can react.

[hustlertwo]

Wilstaff floats up 20 feet and casts Haste, imbuing himself and Bennett with supernatural speed.

Bennett, so bolstered, 5 foot steps to C-13 and readies an action to attack if the foe comes into range.

[Rizban]

The rat beast lumbers over to Bennet, intent on sniffing him to see if he's good to eat. As he approaches, Bennet gets to make his readied attack.

[hustlertwo]

Bennett attempts to slice and dice.

(1d20+8)[19] (1d6+2)[8]

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Is it Wil and B's turn, or you just filling in the rest of yours after the readied?

[Rizban]

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Filling in after the readied action.

Do you have a sheet or written stats for Bennet? I'd really like to be able to see that.

Bennet's attack just manages to slip between the ring's of the creatures armor and slide underneath the matted fur, causing it pain. The creature clasps its side where it is injured, a look of confusion in its eyes. Suddenly, its eyes go bloodshot until they are solid red, its muscles bulge as adrenaline floods into its system, and rage overtakes it.

Attack - (1d20+11)[30]
Damage - (1d10+19)[21]

[hustlertwo]

Bennett buckles, but does not break.

Hey, jerk, just die and quit being such a jerky jerk!

An annoyed Wilstaff floats up 20 feet more (+40) and attempts to blast the mystery thing with a crackling ray of electricity.

(1d20+12)[27] (+1 for Haste, +3 for target having lots of metal)
(4d6)[17]

Bennett attempts to double up on his earlier strikes.

(1d20+8)[23] (1d6+2)[6]
(1d20+8)[10] (1d6+2)[6]

[Rizban]

The lightning strikes true, as does one of Bennet's attacks. The creature screams in agony, striking with all its might against Bennet, his teeth attempting to close around the skeleton's body.

Greatclub
Attack - (1d20+11)[19]
Damage - (1d10+19)[24]
Iterative Attack - (1d20+6)[7]
Damage - (1d10+19)[20]

Bite
Attack - (1d20+5)[21]
Damage - (1d6+7)[12]

[hustlertwo]

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All attacks miss.

Wilstaff looks on as Bennett manages to deflect the brunt of the powerful blows with his shield.

Ha, nice to see you getting a workout. But I suppose if you're going to feel the burn, our new friend should as well.

Wilstaff taps a button on his rod, and fires forth twin rays of blistering heat to his foe.

(1d20+13)[19] (+1 haste, +4 Seeking Ray bonus for ray attacks) (4d6)[6] x 1.5

(1d20+13)[18] (+1 haste, +4 Seeking Ray bonus for ray attacks) (4d6)[17] x 1.5

Total Scorching Ray damage: 34 (assuming both hit vs. touch)

Bennett continues his somewhat less flashy assault.

(1d20+8)[16] (1d6+2)[7]
(1d20+8)[26] (1d6+2)[3]

[Rizban]

It continues to beat against the skeleton in its rage.

Greatclub - (1d20+16)[29] Damage - (1d10+13)[15]

Iterative Attack - (1d20+11)[22] Damage - (1d10+13)[21]

Bite - (1d20+10)[26] Damage - (1d6+4)[7]

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That's 43 damage dealt to Bennet.

[hustlertwo]

The first club swing and bite both land. Bennett still holds together, but his bones are looking brittle, and liable to splinter into pieces from the next solid thwack.

Wilstaff, seeing his companion in what he believes to be agony, grows more irritated.

That's quite enough of that. Time for some shock and awe. Or at least some shock.

He floats up still farther, now 60 feet above the ground. Then, mashing the rod's button once more, Wilstaff fires a bolt of lightning toward the creature, zapping it and potentially igniting anything combustible it touches. He also makes sure to angle the blast so it avoids his partner in crime.

(8d6)[31] damage x1.5

Bennett continues his inexorable assault, unfazed by impending doom.

(1d20+8)[15] (1d6+2)[8]
(1d20+8)[11] (1d6+2)[7]

(So 46 damage from the lightning bolt, DC 19 to halve.)

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Yeah, 43. How much to the beast? I don't know how many of Bennett's attacks hit, although I assume the Scorching Rays did.

And his attack mods went up by 5 that turn? Disconcerting. Some sort of building rage?

[Rizban]

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And damage went down.
It wasn't power attacking this round.

He tries to avoid the blast, but even if he does, the blast kills him outright.

The well dressed man sitting in the audience area begins to clap.

"Well done, sir. You've given me exactly what I needed."

[hustlertwo]

The hob floats back down the ground and approaches the mystery man, looking sweaty and flush but also wearing a toothy grin.

Glad we could be of service. In truth, you've been of some service to me as well; while I was up their deep-frying your pet, I realized there may be quite a few others willing to make use of this place outside of the marquee events. So, for providing the seed of inspiration and giving me a bit of exercise to help it sprout, no charge for this little exhibition. This time, at least. Hopefully we can count on your business again in the future. And maybe get a little betting action going as well.

He extends a hand to the visitor.

[Rizban]

The man looks at your hand then back up at you.

"Indeed... In the future then."

He turns and leaves without ever shaking your hand.

[hustlertwo]

Wilstaff watches him go, then looks down at his still-outstretched hand.

Come on, somebody. Just because he left me hanging doesn't mean all of y'all get to.

He looks to the skeleton, who does nothing.

Yeah, I never expected you to throw me a bone here. You barely have any to spare after that beating.

Wilstaff finally points to a random arena worker with his other hand.

You! Come over here and shake my hand or you're fired!

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So...end of thread, then, at least for now? Any XP, or was it just for poops and giggles?

[Rizban]

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You get 50 story XP. With no danger of actually losing, you didn't earn anything through combat.

[hustlertwo]

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Well, Wilstaff wasn't in any danger, thanks to the wards of the ring. Bennett was, though. Resurrection wards don't work on skeletons.

Did the guy take the thing with him, I assume? Since the wards would have brought it back to life as soon as it expired.

[Rizban]

His servants collected it.