We Who Are About To Die... (Inactive)

Game Master Doomed Hero

The Orc grinned as another blow glanced off his ugly green noggin.

"Welcome to my world monkey."

"So what are you going to do to me, or are you going to beg for your miserable life?"

Lorth sat idly in the stands, jerkin smoothed and moustache immaculately tarred so as to prevent stray hairs from wandering. A contented look upon his portly face he watched the match as it unfolded.

Are you interested in a wager? asked Severus of the halfling.

Choose which of the present participants will win this little contest.

"I hear lots of chatter!" the blue ogre barked. "Sounds to me like a bunch of people saying "I want someone to hit me with a stick!" You lot, fight!"

Kicking half the pile of practice weapons toward the crowd of onlookers, the big ogre glared while the flying weapons caused people to duck and scramble.

As the practice weapons flew by, Ryujin just ignored them. He looked and saw that Jaboo had already grabbed a weapon. He slid over to Jaboo to knock him to the ground.

Responding to Severus
Lorth's head swivelled at the base of his neck, hands not moving from their position atop his paunch. As he spoke the words came out almost clipped with precision "While the offer is flattering good sir, I do not gamble. I am Lorth... and you?"

As the bald man moved towards him...well glide would be a better description; Joboo got excited and had began to drool at the thought of crushing his skull with his club. When he came within reach the little gobbo unleashed the club that he had drawn back with both grimy hands.

As he felt the satisfying thud of the club hitting he also felt his world getting turned upside down as he feet went out from under him. Which was a slightly enjoyable sensation.

Too bad you don't gamble, Lorth. I am Severus.

Are you familiar with the customs of this place?

Theos, please check the discussion thread

What the-

The big blue ogre watched the small robed man charge across the sands and kick at the already engaged orc. His eyeridge lifted in amused shock and he chuckled.

"Alright, this is turning into one hell of a clusterf#+@. The lot of you, knock it off."

Looking at the swirling melee that all but ignored him he yelled "I said STOP!"

Reaching into an enormous pocket Big Blue suddenly tossed a mellon-sized rock into the chaos and quickly plugged his ears.

Zib had enough time to vaguely register that it looked a lot like a thunderstone, only much, much bigger, before the sound and the blast knocked him reeling.

All around would be gladiators lay on the ground wide-eyed and dazed.

As their hearing slowly returned to them, the warriors heard the ogre saying

"...trust I now have full attention from each of you."

"What did you say big guy?" said Zib as he picked at his ringing ears. As his senses returned to him a look of excited curiosity sprang across his face"If you dont mind I would like the formula for such a enormous thunderstone, I may be able to add some quality's, such a flash of light or maybe adding a concussive blast. Adding fire couldn't hurt either...maybe if...' Zib continued with more ideas becoming increasingly complex, more to himself then anyone else...he soon became enveloped in his own little world.

"Shut up."

Zibs excited rambling quickly faded into a quiet incoherent mumble.

zzzzzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzzz

The Orc dreamed of Halflings, medium-rare.

Lorth's lips had just parted to proffer an acknowledgement of Severus' greeting when the arena exploded. Rocked back into his seat by the shockwave, his attention is most efficiently garnered.

Severus raised his shield to avoid the worst of the blast.

"Now this is ENTERTAINMENT!" shouted Samson suddenly coming to, he managed to draw his oddly shapened Longsword and Steel Shield to prepare for any errant challengers.

Looking at the half-orc, Big Blue glared. "So you stand there like a virgin on her wedding night when I throw sticks at you and tell you to defend yourself, but as soon as it's over you draw steel and start yelling? Oh yeah, you'll last a long time. I swear, you slags get dumber every season. Now put that blade away or I'll feed it to you."

"I'm here for sport, no need to get my self dirty before a REAL match, these fools give up all of their tricks now, I wish to keep mine."

The Half-Orc Samson revered the Ogre and thought best to not defy him. He then deftly sheathed his sword.

Samson was wearing a single steel breastplate, ornate and trimmed with gold, the rest of his attire was rather ragged, and didn't match much at all. Standing in the arena however, he stood with a sense of purpose, intensity in his eyes. His gray skin was rather dull, and not your typical bright green orc flesh.

Kids always want to be mysterious..." the ogre sighed.

"Ok, we're going to try this again. You lot, get over there, drag that orc out of the way and use this on him." he said, throwing a wand onto the unconcious orc.

"You." he said pointing to the robed figure who had jumped the orc earlier. "Since you're eager to fight, you get to. You and you," he said to a mustached halfling and a grizzled looking human that hadn't picked up a weapon yet, "Get out here and get to it."

so I didn't see any Init rolls, so I guess I'll just play it as it goes

Tomas is pushed by one of the guards into the arena. The dirt stained scholar picks up a a stick as big as his large bastard sword and readies his stance. He scans around the area to check if he knows anyone around. A glimmer of hope shines in his eyes as he feels lucky.

Lorth stood in place, then took a few moments to smooth the creases from his jerkin before he offered a cursory bow of acknowledgement to the ogre. He then span in place on one heel and moved with purpose to the staging area of the arena.

Tens of seconds later Lorth moved onto the arena floor and picked up a greatclub before he stood where the ogre bade him to. When the time came for combat he took a momentary guard and took in his two opponents. Lorth padded warily forward and took a conservative stance to protect himself. He called out "Righto chaps, lets keep this clean"

Chess strode over to the snoring orc, and placed a hand on the large brute's collar. The dark elf closed his eyes for a moment before pulling his hand up, and quite suprisingly, the orc as well. The towering snoring creature floated gently up and down in the drow's hand, which was already dragging him over to the edge of the arena, away from the fresh fight. The drow's other hand had deftly grabbed the wand on top of the creature and held it up to the light as he moved, trying to understand it's magic.

The dark elf winked at the Samson as he passed, a broad grin on his face for a fraction of a second, but then it was gone, replaced with a cool drow demeanor.

** spoiler omitted **

Chessna'ra

Big Blue

JOboo had stared with amazement at the monk's descending foot that came right for his head. He wondered idly if his skull would squish or crack.

"Hehehe....hohoho..."

But before his question could be answered a thunderous book shook the whole arena and Ryujin's foot disappeared. Joboo felt himself lift up off of the ground where he was already lying and then fall back down again before things went a little hazy.

"Ooh...whosa put bells in my head?..."

Melashara fell to the ground, scowling. She looked at the woman next to her, awaiting a response but unable to hear anything.

Zib sat up against the wall, somewhat disappointed that he could not test his bombs. He lost interest with the fight and turned to his vials as his mutated form returned to normal, mixing this and that together. He then started the process to create a new mutagen for the next inevitable fight. Anyone nearby would hear his nearly incoherent ramblings to himself as he worked.

Zgyjhu looked at the pile of weapons and grabbed the club one. This way he figured he would use his shield.
The host certainly liked to make an entrance with the bombs and dazing everyone.
Zgyjhu found his starting place, gave a short bow to his competitors, "let the fight begin, I'm taking care of mustache first". Zgyjhu charges Lorth

Attack

round 1 summary

Theos charged Chancy the camel attempting to drive his knee into his flank.

looking at Melashara

id just wait a moment. Big blue looks rather pissy today...

"Ryujin do you want to form an Alliance?" asked Theos.

As Samson saw the other gladiators begin their fight, he thought he might try to figure out who he can trust. Samson proceeded to shuffle around the Drow 'Chess' "That one's a no brainer." he thought to himself.

Samson then stared to the large group of gladiators and entered a trance-like state. He was holding out a small rock with a strange symbol carved on it and began mumbling to himself in his native language when suddenly his eyes glazed over.

Theos charged Chancy the camel attempting to drive his knee into his flank.

"The fight's over here, smart guy! Leave the camel out of it."

"Fine, sorry big guy."

"You know what, no. Sorry. I'm just not in the mood for this today. Get out of my arena."

Big Blue shook his head, and watched the fight continue between the other two.

"You there," Big Blue said pointing at Severus, "Take his place. One on one matches are boring."

"Gwrrr'rrr?" mumbled the Orc, confused by seeing Chessna'ra now healing him.

"Good fight dark one. Trick me good."

Gwrrr'rrr stood and dusted himself off, and started walking around collecting a large handful of clubs. When he had 8 of them tucked under his arm, he returned to Chessna'ra, and whispered, "now gwrrr'rrr ready for round 2. who we fight next?"

Status

Aye! responded Severus to Big Blue's invitation.

Severus walked into the sands of the arena. I feel naked without my shield.

Severus assumed a defensive stance, which presented a narrow profile and hid his weapon from the sight of his opponent.

Come.

For DM

Having used his alchemy kit, Zib set up a makeshift lab in order to let his new mutagen start to brew. Satisfied, He got dusted himself of off, stuck a few vials into his pocket and walked away from the wall to watch the match.

Despite Lorth's attempt at defense, the human's club wove through and landed a heavy blow against his side. Breath forced from his lungs Lorth staggered as he regained his balance.

Looking up at the human with a neutral expression the halfling turned from defense to attack. Legs planted in a wide stance in the sand, Lorth's greatclub arced in a wide upward swing aimed at Zgyjhu's midriff...

"Well my large friend, it seems as if the blue ogre is in charge. You could always ask him, but..." Chess's words dwindle off thoughtfully. "Right then. I'll see you in the arena, fight well, large one." The dark elf strides over to Big Blue and extends the wand out to him, his attention partially on the ogre and partially on the fight. There is no bravado or charm, nor any reverence or fear, just simple action.

Zgyjhu had made a dent in his foe, but his balance was off and Lorth's club swung a hit him right in the chin...
For a few seconds, Zgyjhu saw stars but he regained his composure.
"Good one friend, I never saw that coming. Without my armor I'm as armored as a fish out of water. Ho ho ho! Now it is my turn."
Zgyjhu winds up his swing 2 handed and strikes at Lothar defensively.

Round 2 Summary

Despite landing a blow of his own, Lorth's victory is short lived as the return strike glances off his shoulder and clips his head. He gasped and then crumpled into a dishevelled pile upon the ground.

"Well, it certainly has been an exciting day so far," the floating gnome said to his crystal. "So far we've seen some impressive tricks, and one expulsion. It looks like the victor of this latest fight has another fighter waiting for him. Our victor here is pretty banged up, he'll need luck and skill to deal with a fresh combatant. Let's see how he does."

Zib walked up to the large blue orge, a smile caught somewhere between wickedness and childhood excitement, "Sir, would I be allowed to test the reaction times of the currently fighting contestants? For purely academic reasons of course..."

"Maybe after they're done."