Unbinding the Fetters - Disciples of Master Gond (Inactive)
Game Master Mark Sweetman

Stepping into the ring with the Ulfen was a curious thing.. Cassadar was used to reacting, and working towards a goal through whatever was happening.. His style was mostly defensive so far, and managing an offense was not something that he practiced as much.. So when he faced the Ulfen, he let go of those worries and instead set himself to pull and push to see where he stood by comparison.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24, 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
The first attack was to test and provoke, if possible, making the man move and begin to attack, the both of them testing each other, but more importantly, allowing Cassadar something to react to, as ripples would form in a pond from a stone thrown into it.
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
The second was a push against his defenses, allowing some sort of give and take to be managed, as the movements would allow for more and more openings as time progressed.
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
This was the first forced movement he tried, playing off of the man's responses to his attacks, sliding around his arm and applying more leverage after a few strikes pushed him off-center, helping that off-centered imbalance.
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11Stunning Fist used
Finally there was an attempt to stun after enough interaction with him to read just where to strike to allow for a few seconds of disorientation, the intention being to better his position.

The Ulfen passively takes your blows, making some token attempts to block - but letting most of the strikes through.

Torgus:
Your elbow strikes his chest and moves him back slightly, though he takes your grapple attempts easily - shrugging off your hold after a few moments. "Heh, Mtumbo will like to see you again..."

Bandogrim:
Your strike at his vitals is true, though the Ulfen shrugs the effects with a light grunt. Seeing that you strike a defensive pose afterwards, he makes a token effort to attack and draw out your counters. "One for Eldrin" he mumbles as he breaks contact.

Cassadar:
A flash of confusion goes across the Ulfen's face before he is able to read your strikes as you weave and wend using momentum and positioning rather than brute force. He nods at the conclusion of the spar "Another for Eldrin"

With a nod and a quick bow, Bandogrim thanks the Ulfen man for his time and aid before exiting the sparring circle. Looking around at the other novitiates, the halfling stretches and hops on his toes to keep his muscles warm.

"I suppose we're to spar with one another, now. Anyone game?"

For the spars against each other, I'd suggest the following pairings:
Bandogrim vs Cassadar
Torgus vs Jarquin
Aaaand Nisk will just have to find out ;)

Treat it as a normal fight, you start ~15ft from one another.
It's purely a non-lethal contest, and damage will be handwaved back to full after the fight.

Seeing as that it seemed that Bandogrim and himself were recommended to the same instructor, Cassadar stepped up at his offer for a spar, and gave him a polite nod. "I am, it seems." At least he did not have to be worried about being grabbed and wrestled about, he took some comfort in that fact, as he still remembered the holds and technique of the Mwangi.. It was nothing that he could-- or should-- run from, but he was just comfortable if he did not have to encounter that again just yet.

Moving to give themselves space, he took no stance and simply bent his knees slightly, the foot spacing of his knees slightly odd. This was the first drawback to his style.. Initiating motion was not its strong point. Set, he waited.

Sorry for delay, I'm back

Nisk will remove Darkfang, not wanting to injure the Ulfen in a sparring bout, and ready himself in his low stance at the edge of the ring. Closing the distance in two short, low steps, he will strike at the Ulfen's midsection using his elbow.

Attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

From that attack he will flow forward, still far lower than the average fighter, attempting to move to the side of the man, but as he steps to the right his left foot rises to strike at the warriors head.

Attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

His third strike flows in from behind, his hand finding a hammer blow on the other man's back a mere second after the kick.

Attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Nisk:

The Ulfen grins as Nisk 'de-fangs' then attacks, taking the blows stoically "One for Fangul after all" then pointing at Nisk's discarded cestus "Put back on and try again"

When Nisk re-enters the ring, Fangul once again takes guard - though this time crouching lower and with hands high.

Bandogrim vs Cassadar:
For the bout, you don't have any prep time - though you also don't start flat-footed.

Bandogrim Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21 - Bandogrim up first
Cassadar Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

"I hesitate to do so Fangul. My strikes with Darkfang are magical, and can pierce many defenses, however, if you feel up to it I shall not hold back." After waiting for agreement Nisk will strap back on his leather pads, ensuring they are tight and stay steady, with the bone 'fangs' pointing at the angles he's used to.

"Shall I move first?" Nisk will ask as he drops into a crouch at the edge of the ring, his legs in a forward stance obviously designed to intimidate, with arms low to his sides but strongly clenched and ready.

Should I activate my stances separately for the fight or consider them both active at the beginning?

Nisk:
I'd say activate them separately as part of the actual 'bout'. Though Fangul will wait for you to approach - so it's a wash anyway.

"Come little one, I do not fear your spikes" the Ulfen responds with a toothy grin.

Nisk finds himself smiling a predatory smile as he prepares his styles at his end of the ring. "Then perhaps I will teach you to." The half-elf takes two large steps to build momentum, then throws himself upward and forward with both hands and feet, bringing his body into a tightly curled ball and attempting to strike at Fangul's head with his elbows and knees simultaneously.

Charging Power Attack:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

D'OH!!

As Bandogrim enters the sparring circle with Cassadar, he notes that the half-elf utilizes a similarly defensive style as his own. The halfling decides to adjust his game, going on the offense instead. Sparring, after all, is the perfect venue for trying new or underdeveloped techniques.

"Thank you for your help in training, my friend."

Bandogrim Cotton supplies a small bow with his gratitude before launching forward at his sparring partner. He closes the distance quickly, and strikes out at the half-elf's body.

MOVE: Move into range of Cassadar.
SWIFT: Mantis Style
STANDARD: Unarmed Strike
Attack - 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Damage - 1d6 ⇒ 5

Torgus snickers at the Ulfen's comments, "Good, I believe I need a rematch with him as well HAHA!!" He moves over to face Jarquin, and cracks his knuckles at him, "You ready to face the Brawling Bear HAHA!!! This will be fun my friend." Hell get in hunched fighting stance ready to pounce on the other fighter.

Did you want us to roll initiative or have you do it? Just for the sake of it hehe:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Torgus - I'm waiting to see if Jarquin pops back up out of the woodwork, he's been offline a while so I'm not sure if he's out for good or not...

Nisk:

Chuckling the Ulfen slaps away your attempt to strike "Try again we call that one practice shot"

As Nisk tumbles from his jump to a fall, he rises, weaving a bit, and then forces himself to straighten. What the hell was that? Ugh... get your head into this damnit. You have to prove yourself. After a moment of breathing he will drop into his stance again, watching the Ulfen's eyes... Be a bit less obvious idiot. This isn't a street fight, he's a trained monk.

Nisk will move forward once more, this time moving low, then stepping in from the left. After stepping one step past the Ulfen, he drops to a knee, throwing his right fist and elbow low toward Fangul's knee.

Attack... Again:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 For 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Weekend is slow posting, but I hope that Jarquin is still with us?

As Bandogrim enters the sparring circle with Cassadar, he notes that the half-elf utilizes a similarly defensive style as his own. The halfling decides to adjust his game, going on the offense instead. Sparring, after all, is the perfect venue for trying new or underdeveloped techniques.

"Thank you for your help in training, my friend."

Bandogrim Cotton supplies a small bow with his gratitude before launching forward at his sparring partner. He closes the distance quickly, and strikes out at the half-elf's body.

Motion was something he could understand. The patient waiting of the Ulfen man was something that he was not used to, and as the halfling struck, he raised his hands, guiding the strike even wider, and casually sticking his foot out into the path that Bandogrim would be stepping. It was done with more of a curious expression, paying attention to what he was doing in detail, so he was not exactly committed.

Trip: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Noticing the half-elf's counterattack, Bandogrim sidestepped around before completing his strike.

10 for Trip vs. my CMD of 20 is a miss; though I'm pretty sure I missed you, earlier, with my attack 14 vs your AC.

Nisk

Nisk's strike lands solidly on the Ulfen, cutting a gash along his knee and calf. Fangul seems to drink in the pain, before aiming a crude straight arm clothesline at Nisk to send him to the ground.

Trip: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Bandogrim / Cassadar

First round was two misses, so you are on to round 2.

Nisk crashes to the ground, then snakes out a hand to grab onto the Ulfen's leg while spitting "Ugh! Why are you fancy fighters always tripping and grabbing, stand and fight!"

Grapple From Prone:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Bandogrim / Cassadar

First round was two misses, so you are on to round 2.

Actually, I believe the Trip attempt was an Immediate Action as a part of Cassadar's Redirection feature. I believe he still has his Round 1 turn to go.

Cassadar's mind was racing far faster than his body was at the moment, evaluating and discarding possibilities as patterns of movement. He had already proven that the halfling was light on his feet, and as such, he was deciding on how he wanted to approach this, but let the momentum from the attempted trip carry Bandogrim where it would, pressuring his defenses with a pair of strikes aimed more to see how well they fared, rather than striking for acknowledgement. "Stirring the waters", he thought of it as, and his feet kept him moving around the halfling, imitating his warmup.

Attack1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5, Attack1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Ah, sorry.. busy week. Got a new computer built.

Torgus waits for his sparring partner to get ready. "How much prep do you need friend?HAHA!" He asks Jarquin.

Bandogrim vs Cassadar, round 2

The half-elf's attacks were fluid and constant, like a stream of water cutting its way through a wood. Cassadar's first strike flew wild, but before Bandogrim could take advantage, a second attack had come much closer. The halfling could feel the brush of air across his cheek as he just managed to slide out of the way of Cassadar's fist.

At this rate, the taller fighter was throwing out three strikes for each that Bandogrim could manage. He needed to slow his opponent down, if he was to gain the upper hand in the bout. Slipping to his right, Bandogrim Cotton loaded a huge body blow and directed it straight towards Cassadar's liver...

STANDARD: Stunning Fist Unarmed Strike
Attack - 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Damage - 1d6 ⇒ 2

...but his blow came short as the half-elf dodged out of the way.

Bandogrim has 8 Ki points and 5 Stunning Fist attempts remaining, today.

Nisk

The Ulfen easily shrugs your grab, before delivering a thunderous kick into your ribcage.

Kick: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18 for 1d3 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Jarquin's last post was Tuesday 30th, so it's been a week. How long do you guys want to give him before we consider him lost to us?

I'd say give him 3-4 more days. He might have been hit by the hurricane. I'm having the same issue, as I'm about to drop a player from one of my games.

Nisk rolls with the kick, painfully, and attempts to stand by the man, knowing he will likely strike.

Immediate: Snake Sidewind to use Sense Motive as AC if he AoOs me. Sense Motive:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
Move:Stand

He then uses his movement into the standing position as a ruse to drop himself lower, his hand snapping out in a knife hand movement toward the big man's thigh.

Power Attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 For 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

They both were well-focused on what they were doing, but landing any decisive hits was something that was looking to be something that they would both have to work for. The body blow Cassadar turned around, and made his path along the halfling's arm as he returned the strike with one of his own. If given another chance, he would try for another pair, but that was not until the next exchange.

Attack:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Bandogrim vs Cassadar, round 3

A well-matched pair, the combatants traded strike for strike and dodge for dodge, neither yet landing a single blow. Bandogrim decided to try, just once more, to give his opponent a bruising which might slow him down. This time, the halfling launched a stinging hook at Cassadar's femoral nerve cluster...

STANDARD ACTION - Stunning Fist Unarmed Strike
Attack - 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Damage - 1d6 ⇒ 3

...but once again, his fist found nothing but air where his target should have been.

Bandogrim has 8 Ki points and 4 Stunning Fist attempts remaining today.

R3
Attack:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7, Attack:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Pulling out of the range of the swing, Cassadar opted for a simple response and threw two more strikes at the halfling as a part of the dodge, aiming to knock his arm out of position and capitalize on the opening. He did not want to attempt to trip him again, not yet, but it may just be time to push a little more directly at Bandogrim. Unsurprisingly, those missed as well, his opponent being too small for him to accurately gauge, his defense too good.

Bandogrim vs Cassadar, round 4

The small fighter hadn't had a fight this evenly matched in quite a long while. Slips and parries and dodges were the order of the day. But Bandogrim was losing out on the sheer number of attacks being thrown. If he couldn't manage to take some of the wind out of Cassadar's sails, eventually the half-elf would begin to land his attacks.

The halfling drove forward, throwing a heavy cross directly at his opponent's solar plexus...

STANDARD ACTION - Stunning Fist Unarmed Strike
Attack - 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Damage - 1d6 ⇒ 1

...finally finding purchase with his strike.

Cassadar must make a DC 19 Fort Save or be Fatigued.
Bandogrim has 8 Ki points and 3 Stunning Fist attempts remaining, today.

Nisk:

The Ulfen brings his fist down upon your back as you rise...
Strike: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25 for 1d3 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
...just missing as Nisk twists away from the strike. Grimacing at his miss, he closes and knees you in the groin...
Dirty Trick to Sicken: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
...solidly, causing waves of nausea and pain to wash over you.

"Just fight me you prick!!" This was more a trick Nisk knew. Dirt in the eyes, sand in the mouth, groin shots... street thug tactics. And I came here to learn to fight correctly. He thinks, though he can't help but notice the Ulfen is kicking his ass.

Crouching, he attempts to move away, warily, and then breathes deeply for a moment to clear his head.

Five foot step. Move Action: Clear Dirty Trick. AC vs. First Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17

Fort:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

There was a slight exhalation of air when Bandogrim hit, but Cassadar absorbed it well, shrugging aside the effects and rocking backwards a step. He would wear him down.. Thus far the exchange had been even and he wanted to keep it that way. The next exchange he threw was intended to keep the halfling off-guard and lot looking for the two strikes that came in from the other side, aimed close behind each other, palm changing to knuckles.

slightly relieved at landing the strikes, he continued, as waves would wear stone, as a river would erode ground.. He just had to persist.

Attack:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 - Subdual:1d8 ⇒ 6,Attack:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Torgus cleches his muscles and starts to shake as if his fighting spirit wants to burst out since everybody else is fighting around him.

Just letting you know I'm still here waiting for my sparing partner hehe.

Since we've been at the bouts for almost a week and without Jarquin, Torgus is getting antsy - any opposition to me moving things on to the next task later tonight (my time)?
Will get you all back involved in the action as it goes.

I'm cool with moving on to the next task.

Bandogrim and Cassadar

After observing a few of your passes at each other Fangul interrupts "Enough, no need to finish. You have more to do today."

Nisk

After Nisk disengages Fangul laughs "Ah, now the pup bares his teeth. That is enough for now. Next time I help you channel that anger"

All

After the spars are finished, the Ulfen leads you further around the monastery to another large open area. What you see before you is a large obstacle course, with both strength and balance elements throughout. Fangul elaborates "This for making sure heart strong" thumping his chest with a fist for effect. "We start you on easy one, like for child. When you can handle, we start trying you on man's one." and he gestures you to the start of the course.

I'm going to basically use the chase rules to simulate running the course. These are in the PRD if you aren't aware of them.
Lets start with a straightforward obstacle, and ignore the option for 'three card moves' for now.

Obstacle 1:
Near the start of the course is a pit about 15 feet wide. On the left of the pit is a thin log that spans the pit from one side to the other. The right side of the pit is relatively open and you gauge that if you dropped into the pit you could climb up the other side.

Option 1 - traverse the beam (Acrobatics)
Option 2 - drop and climb (Climb)

No Option to jump? My Acrobatics of +9 should let me jump it on a 6 or better, and that's way more awesome. Just wondering.

Sure - give it a jump if you like.

Nisk stops for a moment in a runners crouch, then jumps forward in a flash, throwing himself off the edge of the pit as far as he can.

Jump:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
This die roller really... really hates me. Stupid die roller.

The half-elf's face contorts as he strikes the wall painfully, just below where he could have grabbed the edge. He then painfully falls to the bottom. Worst... Day... Ever... He thinks from the dirt as he begins to pick himself up.

Bandogrim Cotton, sure-footed and swift, sets out to cross the beam...

Acrobatics 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

After watching Nisk jump and fall Torgus is curious if he's able to make it that way. So the Bear runs and leaps just making it to the other side. "HAHA, didn't think I was going to make it HAHA!"

Acrobatics{jumpe}1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Cassadar is usually on later - so I'll put up the second obstacle and he can do a two-fer when he comes on.

Bandogrim and Torgus move on through the course to the second obstacle...

Obstacle 2

A brackish pool blocks your passage, you can barely make out some stepping stones beneath the murky surface. A set of monkey bars has been put above the pond, allowing you to traverse swinging from your arms.

Option 1 - Spot the stepping stones (Perception)
Option 2 - Make like a Monkey (Climb (easier) or Acrobatics (harder))

Torgus looks in the pond, "What no gators, no jagged rocks, or even a strong current where's the motivator HAHA!"

Perception:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
If he doesn't see the stepping stones he'll Climb:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Starting to feel like I'm on Glorian's ninja warrior hehe, I love it!

Seeing what seems to be an easier path, Bandogrim tries to pick out the stepping stones lying just below the surface...

Perception 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30

For clarity - you can only choose one means of traversing the obstacle for that round.
I'm keeping it simple for now (one obstacle per round), though later runs will allow for attempts to take risks and try and move quicker by making two obstacle attempts in a single round.

Torgus - that is the intent, though I'll ramp up the difficulty significantly later....

Sorry about that, mistook it then Torgus would go for climbing first no need to look. Yeah I understand its easy now, unless the dice roller hates you. Torgus only comments cause he was trained rough for the pits thats all hehe.

"Damnit!" Nisk pushed himself to his feet, watching as Torgus and Bandogrim manage to get ahead of him, and decides to try the wall, though he's not very good at climbing.

Climb:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Just as a tracker thus far.
Two Rounds Elapsed:
Torgus, Bandogrim - cleared both
Nisk - cleared first obstacle
Cassadar pending

Will have more up tomorrow.

Nisk Round 3

Nisk moves ahead, annoyed at the delay, and looks at the next challenge. He spots Bandogrim finding stepping stones and thinks that way is far easier, quickly moving to catch up to the little halfling.

Perception:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Obstacle 3

A shelter has been built overhanging the course and from it's roof hang many ropes. At the base of each rope a metal weight hangs, making it difficult to easily move them aside.

Option 1: Might makes right (Bullrush them out of the way) - CMD 14
Option 2: Bend like a reed (Escape Artist slip through the gaps like an eel) - DC 18

Obstacle 4

A section of track has been covered with fine sand and then a huge taut blanket held close to the earth. You will have to get scrabble through on your belly under the blanket while the sand grabs at your limbs to slow you down.

Option 1: Make like a snake (Escape Artist - slither through while prone) - DC 17
Option 2: Crabwalk limbo (Acrobatics - try and crabwalk with your belly off the ground) - DC 20

You can all take actions up to the end of Round 4