[IC] The Crucible

[Fishybugs]

Iselshera Elkian 1st Level Paladin Issy smiles at the unsubtle hints and politely declines. After dinner, she makes her way back to the remainder of the group. What a waste of time. She didn't learn much about what was going on, and this Haman was way to much of a pretty boy to interest Issy. Shame, really. As she rejoins the others, they seem to be discussing the bandits' (?) history here, so her thoughts come back to the point at hand. "Do you all have quarters like his? Do you all eat as well as he does? Hardly seems fair that the ones doing all the work sleep in a barracks..."

[Armored Walrus]

Jast is very quick to shut down that line of talk, with a quick, "No one here is complainin'. And they ain't gonna." He gives the crew, and Issy, a hard look and one of the other men changes the subject.

[Theoboldi]

Atas

By this point, Atas simply looks over at Kyra, waiting for her next move. Personally, he doesn't think that all these men deserve death, but then again he also doesn't plan on doing more than break their bones if a fight breaks out.

[miinstrel]

Mohan Haman's men will notice Mohander's eyes drift toward the back of the cave, obviously curious about what lies beyond, but he doesn't make mention of it again. He spends an equal amount of time looking toward the front and curious how Issy's evening was going... hopefully the food and comfortable room made up for what must be lousy company. Without any special incident he accepts the accommodations and sleeps in the cave below with the others... though if someone were to start some trouble between now and then... well he'll just wait and observe as his kind always does.

[Azktor]

Kyra

Kyra that has been kept herself quiet most of the time eating she whisper something quickly to Mohander and the others - but it is visible it is more towards Mohander - "You better bet on me, and be ready to fight if things go south!"

After that the hulking woman with red dark orange hair sundenly raises from his chair with provocative fiery eyes looking at Lummie "Your name is Lummie right? You look like the stronger man among all the others here. I want to put my strength to test against yours. What about a match of arm wrestling against me? We could even bet something to make things more interesting for you - and for the others. What do you say?" Kyra looks really thrilled about doing this.

[Armored Walrus]

The heavy bench slides back with a screech as Kyra surges suddenly to her feet. Your hosts' hands instinctively find their weapon pommels and a few inches of blade are bared before she gets her challenge out. Once they realize this is just an over-eager challenge being issued to their largest member, they relax and start joking about and discussing the match in relieved jollity.

Lummie scoops the last fork full of beans into his mouth, and smiles at Kyra. "Sure I'll arm wrestle you, woman. Don't cry on me when I break your wrist. What will you wager?"

[Theoboldi]

Atas

With a quiet thud, a single red gemstone lands on a nearby table. When the men turn to look, they'll find Atas standing next to it, his arms crossed.

"I will wager this that your friend stands no chance. Is anyone confident enough to wager against me?"

[Armored Walrus]

Jast glances at the gemstone on the table and licks his lips.

"Hold on," he says, "I'll be right back."

He disappears into the alcove you haven't been allowed to explore yet. In a moment, he returns and tosses a gemstone roughly the size of a chicken egg, with banded stripes and whorls of red and green, onto the table.

"Lummie won't even break a sweat," he sneers, eyeing Atas.

[Fishybugs]

Iselshera Elkian 1st Level Paladin Issy covers her face with her ungloved hand. Why did men...and Kyla...always feel everything came down to physical contests? The mind was a much better weapon. The young paladin leaned against the wall, keeping an eye on everything going on...or at least attempts to. Spoiler: OOC Show Just keeping an eye out for anything shady...or treacherous: Perception: (d20)[20]

[miinstrel]

Mohan As their blades begin to draw so does one of Mohander's, though his hand slowly returns to his front side as the scene unfolds. "Afraid I've nothing of real value to wager, so I'll leave the betting to you all." The elf stands and moves to the side, amusedly observing the proceedings. While certainly not the confrontation he expected from the large warrior, it seemed a perfect way to end the evening.

[Armored Walrus]

Lummie eagerly cracks his knuckles and grins at Kyra.

[kladams707]

Shaena raises an eyebrow at all the tense reactions, a few crumbs sticking to the corners of her mouth. As Kyra gets her challenge out and the others relax a bit, she returns back to the food, figuring if things take a turn for the rest she can jump in easily enough.

[Armored Walrus]

Lummie peers at Kyra.

"We doin' this or not?" he says.

[Azktor]

Kyra

"Hell yeah we are doing this!" Kyra sits in the chair in front of Lummie confidently and put her arm in the traditional 'arm wrestling' stance ready to fight back to this guy.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Strenght (+2 if Athletics):(1d20+3)[11] AD (1d20+3)[17]

Using the inspiration point for this!

[Armored Walrus]

"Hell yeah we are doing this!" Kyra sits in the chair in front of Lummie confidently and put her arm in the traditional 'arm wrestling' stance ready to fight back to this guy.

Lummie, although obviously strong, apparently underestimates Kyra. They face each other across the splintered surface of the table, and clasp hands. The two briefly flex, testing each other, and then Kyra, channeling her years of training - much of which was spent facing physically stronger foes despite her impressive build - twists her wrist. The move applies leverage to Lummie's forearm, locking his wrist joint and preventing him from bringing his full force to bear. She slams his hand into table, leaving a dent in the moist wood and causing one of the mess kits to clatter to the floor. Lummie himself slips, barely keeping his seat on the slick bench, and gives the Ambershield warrior a nod of respect.

Jast bitterly eyes the gemstones, still shaking on the table, and gives Atas a heated look.

[Theoboldi]

Atas

"If you wish to engage me in unarmed combat, I will allow you to win it back. Once again, however, I wager that you stand no chance." Atas tells Jast, itching for a fight more than he does for the monetary reward.

[Fishybugs]

Iselshera Elkian 1st Level Paladin Issy cheers on Kyra as the barbarian easily wins. She leans back against the wall when the competition has ended, then perks up when she hears Atas issue a challenge. I guess if we can beat them all recreation, they'll wonder how good we are in combat. Less chance they'll attack us in our sleep. Nevertheless, her she subconsciously stretches her left hand, opening and closing it as if it was itching to get to her flail.

[Armored Walrus]

Jast's hands twitch, then he slams a hand down on the wagered gemstones and pauses. Watt rubs his bald head and shares a worried look with the other guard, but Jast finally just slides the gems toward Atas and removes his hand.

"Ain't gonna fight with 'guests,'" he spits, and turns on his heel to leave the room.

He pulls up short when he spies Haman standing in the entrance, watching the whole affair, he says softly, "Jast, if you've finished.... entertaining... our guests, kindly show them to their quarters." Haman then turns and leaves the room.

[miinstrel]

Mohan As they follow the upset Jast to the elevator platform, Mohander grabs the last piece of bread off the table and rips a piece of the hard crust with his teeth, chewing as they walk. As the platform descends, he asks, food in his mouth still, "Can we leave this a foot or two off the cave floor for a couple of us to sleep on? May as well keep what we can out of the mist all night - don't want Shaena's notes getting too damp if we can help it."

[Azktor]

Kyra

Kyra is fueled with adrenaline that second, she unleashes a small warcry as she 'finish' Lummie off, for her this is the same as a fight to the death, even more important than her life, her pride as a warrior is at stake. She have lost in the past, her village was filled with stronger adversaries, but that don't mean that she did not felt each of those lost.

Lummie, although obviously strong, apparently underestimates Kyra. They face each other across the splintered surface of the table, and clasp hands. The two briefly flex, testing each other, and then Kyra, channeling her years of training - much of which was spent facing physically stronger foes despite her impressive build - twists her wrist. The move applies leverage to Lummie's forearm, locking his wrist joint and preventing him from bringing his full force to bear. She slams his hand into table, leaving a dent in the moist wood and causing one of the mess kits to clatter to the floor. Lummie himself slips, barely keeping his seat on the slick bench, and gives the Ambershield warrior a nod of respect.

But after the arm wrestling end, albeit still thrilled for just winning against Lummie, she becomes respectful - remembering her father words 'Always show respect for those that earned in fight with or against you.' - and returns Lummie nod. She then comes back to Atas and the others smiling proud of herself.

[Theoboldi]

Atas

The wood elf catches the gemstones with a flick of his wrist and quickly deposits them within his pocket. Even if he didn't get a combat out of it, winning that little battle of wills with Jast was worth it.

He gives Kyra a proud nod as she returns. "Well done. They respect our strength now." he quietly says to her. "And the gold we earned is a nice benefit as well." Then, he joins the others to retire for the night.

[kladams707]

Mohan As they follow the upset Jast to the elevator platform, Mohander grabs the last piece of bread off the table and rips a piece of the hard crust with his teeth, chewing as they walk. As the platform descends, he asks, food in his mouth still, "Can we leave this a foot or two off the cave floor for a couple of us to sleep on? May as well keep what we can out of the mist all night - don't want Shaena's notes getting too damp if we can help it."

It may not be necessary, depending on the state of the quarters, though the thought is appreciated Shaena says in response. She then addresses their escort. But could such a thing be arranged? the halfling asks.

[Fishybugs]

Iselshera Elkian 1st Level Paladin Issy moves forward at the first potential threat from the bandits, then relaxes as he turns and walks away. It's best we get separated before things blow up, she thinks to herself. Fortunately, Haman steps in and directs his men to show them to their sleeping area. She nods her thanks to the men as they leave, then turns to the others. "I don't trust them. I couldn't get a thing out of Haman throughout the dinner. I say we set a watch."

[Armored Walrus]

Jast hesitates, but accedes to your request to leave the platform hanging down. He has you all pile onto it with him and then Lummie lowers it down into the cave, stopping it just short of the cave floor. He uses the torch in his hand to light the brazier, shows you where a small stash of charcoal can keep the cave warm for the night for you, hands his torch to one of you, and shimmies back up the rope.

The sound of the water dominates the room, but after awhile it fades from your consciousness. As you're getting situated, you notice the lights in the room above the cave go dark. Not too long after, despite the sound of the waterfall, you can hear occasional shuffling around up there. Apparently you are not the only ones electing to set a watch tonight.

[Armored Walrus]

Time slowly ticks by while the brazier smoulders, the soft breathing of the party drowned out by the constant pouring of the waterfall.

Iselshara is aware of eyes peering at her occasionally through the hole above her head, but nothing untoward seems to happen during her watch, and she steps over to prod Mohander with the toe of her boot.

The wood elf comes awake instantly, and silently nods to Issy's murmur that all is well, but that there are watchers. He whiles away the time on his watch as well, and when the agreed upon hour strikes, he wakes Kyra.

The human instinctively huddles nearer the brazier and its soft glow. Just as boredom begins to set in, though, she hears a loud screech of metal dragging against stone near the cave's entrance, followed immediately by what sounds like a brief, harshly whispered argument. Looking in that direction she can see a faint glow coming from around the bend in the tunnel.

[Azktor]

Kyra quickly awakes Atas saying "Wake up, I think someone or something is commimg."

[Theoboldi]

Atas

From one second to the next, the elf's eyes shoot open, darting around for threats. When he sees what Kyra is talking about, he gives her a nod, then slowly sneaks away from his resting place to quietly awaken the other members of the group.

"Let us ambush them when they approach."

[Armored Walrus]

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Doing Issy's roll for her in Roll20 - she rolled a 3.

Atas and Kyra stealthily begin waking everyone up. Unfortunately, not everyone wakes quietly, some muttering, or asking questions as they are awakened. But the worst is Issy, who, having forgotten she was sleeping on the platform, rolls over while getting her bearings, and rolls completely off the platform, landing with a clang on the hard rocks below.

The noise is immediately followed by a shout from directly above the party.

"They awake! Attack now!"

The familiar voice of Haman calls his crew to action.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Initiative Rolls:
Haman and Watt: 19
Shaena: 18
Mohander: 16
Atas: 14
Jast, Lummie and no name: 14
Kyra: 11
Issy: 0!

Haman immediately follows up his shout by speaking an arcane syllable; a fine, powdery, glowing dust cascades down onto the group from the hole in the ceiling. Fortunately, most of you easily dive out of the way, but Atas is covered in the glittering substance, outlining his form and making him an easy target. Someone up above makes immediate use of the opportunity and a bolt streaks out of the darkness into Atas' torso.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Atas, take 9 piercing damage from a crossbow bolt. Shaena, Mo and Atas, you are up!

FYI, Haman and Watt are not on the cave floor with you, they are attacking through the hole in the roof. From where you are all standing, they have no cover, but if you move around and change the angle, I'll adjust their level of cover for each of you (and adjust the amount of cover you have from them).

[Theoboldi]

Atas

Though he tries to weave out of the way, Atas is too easy of a target to do much. The crossbow bolt hits him squarely in the stomach, and the pain overpowers him despite his best efforts. With a grunt of frustration, he sinks to the floor, unconscious.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Yeah, that bolt was enough to take Atas to 0 HP exactly. I recommend we get the heck out of here. Also, have a death saving throw.

(1d20)[19]

[kladams707]

Shaena's eyes go wide as she watches Atas go down. Without thinking, she fires a blast at the closest archer.

Spoiler

Show

Attack: (1d20+5)[23]
Damage (1d10)[7]