Torgue gets ready for some ham and eggs fighting. He strips off his armor to show his fat yet muscular bulk and does some warm--up punches.
Astrianna nods her head solemnly as Varion gets the stuffing beat out of him. Maybe he's a better fighter against the other opponents, but Belok is a tidal wave today.
She notices the spellcasting, and raises her eyebrows. Desperation? If I had money in this fight I would probably say something, but for now... he must have giant balls. Someone else probably noticed anyway.
RD 4: Varion vs Belok
Varion a bit wary on his feet stand toes to toe and resolves to try one more full attack on Belok's jaw.
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Weaving a bobbing he lashes out,
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Both blows hit misses the stone jaw, then the half-orc counter attacks.
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Divine Power full att:
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Two massive fists pummel the midsection of the elf, doubling him over, as multiple ribs snap like tinder, blood gushes from his mouth as his blue eyes go vacate and his unconscious body slumps to the canvass.
Astrianna claps as the crowd roars, extremely impressed by Belok's fighting ability. The half-orc was a force of nature, and she wonders if he would ever take up the adventuring mantle again.
Ah, poor Varion. You can heal a cracked rib but egos are harder to mend.
Belok kneels beside his opponent, saying a prayer to his diety, He lays his hands on Varion letting the healing power surge into the unconscious man.
Once Varion awakens, Belok whispers in his ear. He gives the man a few moments to gather his senses before helps him to his feet.
---
the crowd roars with laughter hearing how Belok talks to his god.
Chell claps along with the others. When it dies down she keeps her eyes on the fighters. Varion might have cheated but it made little difference. So she said nothing about it. She didn't think he deserved to be on the wall. She leans over to Astrianna, "I didn't think Belok would be a cleric. And a powerful one too."
Remember these were the odds:
Varion vs Belok fight are:
Belok (-295)
Varion (+175)
Belok is the favorite.
2 goons vs Jin fight are:
Jin (-255)
Goons (+200)
Jin is the favorite even with two against one.
-----------------
The bookies go about paying off on the bet and the aggressively sell the next fight. Astri there is time to do some fiddling.
Bri cheers and goes to collect her money.
Astrianna leans over as Chell speaks. The bard smiles and chuckles. "Unexpected, isn't it? He is a very powerful cleric of Bowbe, if you've heard of him. Not a commonly worshiped deity."
The half-elf tells Chell about Bowbe briefly while things are settling down, if she hasn't heard of him.
Bowbe
Portfolio: Berserk rage, blood letting, violence
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Domains: Chaos, Strength, Vengeance, War
Subdomains: Blood, Ferocity
Symbol: Crossed Sword and Hammer of Bowbe
Garb: Furs, skins and pelts, over battle armor
Favored Weapon: Greatsword, warhammer
Form of Worship and Holidays: Great feasts and blood
sacrifice precede battles. After battle, the treasures, arms
and armor of defeated foes are offered to the god. Those
that he doesn’t keep belong to the victors. His priests
specialize in wild cursing and imaginative insults.
Typical Worshippers: Barbarians, raiders, reavers, and
plunderers
Bowbe is the embodiment of barbarian wrath and frenzy. He appears as a mighty barbarian dressed in the pelt of Urson the Great Bear, whom he can summon to his side by tossing the pelt to the ground and calling its name. Bowbe carries the greatsword Bm’fob in one hand and the warhammer Wytch-Killer in the other.
Bowbe revels in war and the slaughter of his foes. His battles against giants are legendary, as is his hatred for the undead, arcanists, lawyers, guardsmen, and most other civilized authority figures.
Unlike other gods, Bowbe aids only those who take his name in vain. Thus it is not uncommon to hear berserkers cursing their god for his indifference as readily as they curse their foes. Bowbe only grants the raising of one of his followers if that follower immediately seeks blood
vengeance against his killers. Bowbe grants no healing spells
higher than 4th level.
After everything has settled down she invites Jonah up to the stage for a song, slinging her fiddle case over her back. If she encounters the other fiddler on the way to the stage, she'll invite him to join the two of them as well- put on a real show.
Her first song suggestion is Darcy's Donkey, if the two of them know it.
Astrianna's bow lets out a fiery squeal as she runs it over the strings, the half-elf playing it fast and hot.
Sorrin simply absorbs the action. Paying attention to the fighters, the fighting and the crowd.
No 'goons, interesting.
"Oh," she says looking back at Belok. "That makes since." There is a long pause. "I wonder." She then becomes very quiet, obviously thinking hard about something. The kind of something you are pretty sure you'd never do but think about how it could be done.
Jonah joins the fiddler on stage and sings as she plays the crowd pleasing song.
His voices carries and stirs the crowd.
The three contestant enter the ring, first the two opponents, both burly clearly brothers. the have long greasy hair pulled back into a pony tail and each have greyish green breeches on. They wear no shirts and their bodies are a canvass of tattoos. They have the look of killers.
The half-orc champion makes his way to the ring. He is wearing dark robes and the champion belt of the broken skull, a black leather belt with rat and seagull skulls hanging off it. He is an enormous, fear-some contestant whose movement is like giant predatory cat. He enters the ring an bows to his each opponent.
Initiative:
The stands in place, nearly one third of the way out into the ring when the two opponents approach they clearly are moving towards flanking, yet Jin merely stand there letting the men get in position. Unexpectedly he asks, "Are you ready, now?"
When their songs are finished Astrianna puts her bow and and grins. Ah, that was simply beautiful. I'll be known as the best fiddler in port within the month...
She claps Johan on the shoulder. "We make a good team! If we're ever down on our luck we should start a band." The half-elf says with a grin, putting her fiddle away as everyone gets into position for the next fight.
Astrianna muscles to the ring side with her companions, and eagerly awaits the bout to start. C'mon... need to make my money back from the last time I was here.
She watches the display of badd-assry intensely, clapping and cheering when Jin asks if the two men are ready.
The bard starts up a chant, pumping her fist in the air, encouraging everyone to join in.
There's a rowdy chant inspiring the brother's performance to defeat the champion.
"Mush 'em,"
"Squish 'em"
"Kick 'em"
"Beat 'em, to make some gin."
There's a roar of laughter about the simplistic chant.
Jin permits the two men to settle in flanking him, he unleashes a full round attack, non-lethal flurry of blows attack, on man,
Swift action: 1 Ki for +4 AC
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DC 20 fort save
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A look of dread comes over the opponents face as his left eye is pummeled, his neck punched, and his knee cracked as three of the blows strike. "Put me down because you're be sleeping in second."
Astrianna roars with crowd as Jin unleashes a series of punches and kicks that leaves one of the brothers bloodied and bruised. "YEAH!!! HIT HIM SO HARD HIS BROTHER WILL FEEL IT!"
RD 1: opponents
Opp 1:
Severely battered the man attacks with his own combination needing to put weight behind his attack he powers through the combination,
;
;
One of his blows connects but the champion barely notices the hit.
His brother follows up with his own combination,
Opp 2:
;
;
One blow hits solidly.
RD 2: Jin
He quickly turns to the undamaged brother and strikes out,
Swift action: 1 Ki for +4 AC
;
DC 20 fort save
;
;
;
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Confirming crit:
;
The man's kneels buckle after the three blows hit as his eyes roll into his head. His head thumps and bounces off the canvass. (76 Hp and he had 75)
the other opponents is wide eyes as the last punch catches his temple and he quickly joins is sibling asleep.
Jin flexes his fingers, then straightens his robe. He ceremoniously bows to each unconscious brother.
Astrianna laughs in a mixture of disbelief and delight as the untouched brother is knocked clean out. What power! What speed!
She jumps up and down and claps her hands together.
He collects his purse from the Skull manager, then proceeds to collect from two of the bookies. One of the bookies appears to argue with him and reluctantly hands him a leather pouch.
Astrianna gleefully collects her purse from the bookies, regretting not putting down more.
She bids the crew of the Quell's Whore farewell, and thanks them for their hospitality.
On the way back to the Inn, Astrianna fills them in on the dangers of the swamp they will most likely be entering tomorrow, advising them all to prepare poison detection and curing spells. She also makes her map available for perusal.
Chell is taken aback at the grace shown by Jin. He flowed through combinations like water around a rock. It was like a dance more than a fight. So much so even Belok looked like nothing more than a brawler. And that was saying something. Jin didn't look like a cleric though so Chell supplied the healing as Belok did. She gets close enough to the brothers to channel positive energy and wipe away the damage from the fight.
As awe inspiring as Jin was, she needed to talk to Belok, another of the Wave Riders. She approaches him after the fight if she can. "That was very honorable of you after the fight, considering what he did," she nods knowingly. "I have never seen a cleric so martially capable. Then again, considering the that prayer, I can see why. My name is Chell Silves, cleric of Quell. I am an associate of Father Zalen Trafalger. I was wondering if I could talk to you about your time as a Wave Rider." She smiles brightly hoping not to overstep any bounds as she had with Xander.
Yar! Cut their tonkers off! Torgue bellows during the fight. He will get in the ring afterwards for some ham and egger fights.
Bri will bid farewell to Jonah and Korg. "I hope to see you again at some point. I also wouldn't mind a tour of the ship. But for now, I had best go keep an eye on our young cleric. She's a bit naive and needs looking after in a place like this." Though at least Belok is way more laid back than Xander, so I don't think that she will piss him off as badly.
Bri will move to follow a few paces behind Chell. This should be far enough in here to let her do her own talking but still close enough to help.
Behind Chell's back, Bri points to her and mouths "my cleric", hoping he figures out she was the one from the Xander story earlier.
Sorrin chuckles, shakes the men's hands with a curt, Pleasure tito have met you.
The ringmaster slows the burly drunk down, "Torgue are you t'drunk t'remember the rules. One hour notice...so we can make a book and earn some coin. If yeah are still standing in an hour you can clobber someone." he looks at the tankard and then at the keg.
Belok actually comes out after to washing up and collecting his purse. He makes a beeline towards Bri actually. With loud boisterous commentary, "That whoreson Bowbe sent me a sign of pleasure. Normally the bastard is a worthless deranged piece of toe-dung, but today he favored me in pleasure and contest." He sits at the table scrunching Bri between himself and Korg - much to the witch's delight. "Hope you all cleaned out the bookies today, I told Bri I was gonna clobber that cheating scum."
He gives everyone a toothy smile. His wandering eyes soon falls on the priestess, "whatcha say we go roll on bed of a straw, and infuriate the bastards above, we could combine some of my chaotic strength with your lawful wave...I betcha we can get both those whoreson's rolling with laughter."
Jonah laughs heartedly as Belok propositions the Quell Priestess. "Maybe Belok's internal chaos and Chell's lawful nature will create a neutral offspring." The table erupts with the commentary.
Another person at the table inquires with the drunkard. "So if I put a few gold on you, will I regret it? You know the saying a fool and his money are soon departed."
Sorrin decides to take Jonah and Korg's take on the best vessel to acquire... in a perfect world.
Sorrin's questions are met with a few questions? The two perk up with the questions.
What's your desired purpose, initially and into the future?
How many crew you have?
Are they inexperienced or seasoned?
You carrying or plan to carry only sailors or do you have some marines?
What type of resources do you have? Keeping a crew, supplies, fees( harbor), taxes can quickly drain the pot.
You looking for armaments? Can your retro the ship?
Who's your Captain and navigator, are they experienced?
Captain's one of the best, hands down. No worries there. Navigator's seasoned.
Something a company can grow into. Privateering, transport... Not looking for trouble, but if it finds us, marines will be in order. Let me put it to you this way...
Sorrin pauses, considering his next words.
If Quell's Whore found herself in some trouble, ambush, denizen of the deep and needed assistance. Not to survive, mind you. Just to end it quickly. And a friendly flag was approaching... What ship would you want flying that flag?
"We captured the Black Rider she is very durable but also slow, she carries two large ballistae. We'd make a fair price asking price, but she got a bad reputation which could be a boon or bust to you. I'm sure people will fear it, but you may be the target of some dragoon patrols if they didn't hear about it changing hands. She could easily be refitted with a better helm and more armaments. Gonna take some crew to get her to capacity. Just for the two heavy ballista you need 5 dedicated souls to work those machines and few back ups if when folks get hurt. Sailing it proficiently at least 30 sailors, plus officers. I wouldn't put her to sea without 35-40 sailors and 12 to work the ballista, plus officers. Not trying to talk you out of her, I could use the coin and well, we'd probably work with you on a couple payments if the terms were right."
"She could hold some catapult and a some light ballista, like I said she's slow but durable. Could make fine warship."
"Now the Baron of the Tide is sweet ship that's more to my liking. I like fast, she can run and also put up a nice fight. In the right hands she could approach the Whore's status." He smiles. "That's my ship of choice, but that's my style."
Torgue thinks about the man's words and the invisible beer canteen he has ordered.
Well I dare say that it will be a wise investment! I'll be all humble and say I'm not up ta taken on Belok, but I'll beat my opponent even if I have ta sit on them!
Am I the only fool thunderstruck by the... Thunderstrike?
"Thunderstrike?" he chuckles. "You'll never get that many sailors and marine on the ship. Not as your first ship, if you did, then the first wrong move you'd have a mutiny. Need a solid reputation to command that type of ship, and wealth...lots of wealth."
"Best develop and earn a reputation. Capturing that gnoll drug dealer is start, but you're a long way from commandeering that type of ship."
He nods, "I've heard want you've done with Capt Donovan and Roland those were good moves. Capt Razor is happy with it too, she always like the Captain. Roland would be an excellent boarding commander on a larger ship...that is if he has the balance to walk the boarding planks."
The ringmaster approaches Torgue. "I've got ya a fight, he's Tulitan, if you still want it, you'll be up in just under an hour. Only 10 gold purse if ya win."
This followed by the bookie who announces that the odds are:
Melvin -125
Torgue +125
Insightful... twice the crew, you think? I mean, if we're ever ready.
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Torgue, you know you're my man, right? I'd put my life on the line for you.
Sorrin places 100gp on Melvin.
"The Thunderstrike needs 60 to 80 sailors and she can hold a good 100 marines. You need the marines to utilize her. Shoot depending on how you rearm her add 3 to 5 men per weapon to fully utilize her, to do otherwise is a disservice." he laughs a bit. "It's good to think big, but you can't start as admiral you need to be a captain first. Get experience and build your reputation."
Jonah is happy to chat and give advice.
"Yeah, I'd say either the Black Rider or the Baron of the Tide, O'course, I have a vested interest in movin' the Rider."
Torgue, you know you're my man, right? I'd put my life on the line for you.
Sorrin places 100gp on Melvin.
Yep! I'll get limbered up and get my mask fer the fight.
Sorrin nods appreciatively. I don't mind either way, others have their heart set on the Baron.
So, explain to me if you have time. Who owns Quell's Whore? Who do the crew and marine work for? Not, who's captain.