Kieran's quick strike is easily evaded by the bounty hunter, who pays him little heed.
N'bellocq takes a run up for his original leap, when the monkey suddenly screeches and leaps into his face! Barely able to see with the creature holding onto his hair, N'bellocq manages to stumble back away from the edge before making a leap that would surely injure him, throwing the screeching monkey aside. For its part, the monkey attempts the wide leap itself, trained as it is to go for the tower. Despite its small stature, the monkey is quick and it is an impressive jumper, making it across to the other side.
Fending off blows from various Mwangi, the only awake Swashbuckler manages to get back to his feet without being trampled on.
The Mwangi ignores the Abadar priests surrounding the Taldan and swiftly climbs up to the rooftops- almost falling in the process but catching himself and catching up with N'bellocq.
The Elf is approached by two Sargavan officials and seems to be involved in some kind of dispute...
You recall that magic was actually prohibited in this event...
Meanwhile, the Taldan manages to get out of the clutches of the Abadar priests who chase after him as he pushes through and makes the climb, catching up with N'bellocq and the Mwangi team's competitor.
The mercenary who has been trailing the lead most of the event moves to aid his ally's fight, the unfair fight becoming two seperate duels. Despite now not enjoying numerical advantage, the Mwangi weave aside from the mercenaries swords with ease, continuing to attack with their clubs.
Not wanting to abandon his high ground, the bounty hunter closest to Kieran stands his ground, dropping his bow and drawing a nasty looking scimitar carefully from a belt sheath. The scimitar is coated in a pale, almost translucent substance. The speed of the inept archer's melee attack surprises Kieran and although he avoids several swift slashes he eventually fails to parry one entirely, the blade slipping past his guard and cutting across his abdomen...
Please make a DC10 fortitude save VS poison. If you fail, you fall unconcious...
The other archer continues to endanger the audience and innocents taking part in making the Trial feel authentic with wild shots going far off mark.
Ordered Initiative-
Kieran- 23
"Imp"- 20
N'bellocq- 15
Swashbucklers- 13
Mwangi- 12
Avistans- 11
Mercenaries- 4
Bounty Hunters- 1
Map (non-annotated)-
Map (annotated)-
Miss!
Destroyed
Destroyed
Destroyed
Damaged
The Avistan team representative is a simple strongman, whose physique rivals Qhude's although a little wider. He takes up the greataxe and swings it expertly in the same motion every swing, as though has has done this dozens of times before. Despite this, he botches his second heavy swing, losing his firm footing for a moment. He equals Qhude's own achievement with 3 destroyed boats and one damaged one.
Lingering tiredness fading from his body, Qhude looks upon the ongoing trial with a dark disposition. Although he has not spoken, it is clear that his inadequate showing in the trial is weighing heavily on his thoughts.
Not one to waste a good opportunity when it presents iteself, Kieran quickly turns his previous failed thrust into a slashing strike as he aims at the bounty hunter's right side.
Kieran seems to stand rigid in shock from the cut dealt to him by the bounty hunter, before collapsing in a heap...
Free of the monkey's distraction, N'bellocq tries again to make the next roof. The presence of more competitors on the roof adds to his desire to move ahead quickly.
N'bellocq deftly manages the next leap away from the Mwangi and Taldan in pursuit of him and the flag he holds. Running along the slates, N'bellocq is forced to take a different route and double back on himself somewhat after nearly falling several times on the treacherous footing.
The boundaries of the race course have streamlined you onto the roof of an extravagant house, so large you suspect it was probably here before the other shabbier buildings were built around it for the trial. Vaulting down from rooftop to rooftop in order to progress you end up back on ground level in the back garden of the mansion. To progress you will have to navigate the swimming pool set up here, which faces onto a street in the direction you need to go. Swimming across is the obvious option, but you notice that there was a party here last night, and several large inflatable safari animals are scattered around the pool. It would be difficult, but you could leap from animal to animal, using your momentum to carry you forward even quicker…
Obstacle 1- Swim
Applicable checks- Swim!
Obstacle 2- Safari Traversal
Applicable checks- Acrobatics, Reflex Save.
Tired of the Mwangi assailing him, the Swashbuckler draws a cutlass and tries to slash his way through, making little progress, only furthering his anger.
The Mwangi deftly leaps across to the other rooftop, catching up with N'bellocq as he doubles back from his failed attempt to skirt around the mansion using the treacherous slating.
The Elf is being led out of the Trial grounds, perhaps no longer permitted or able to participate. The Taldan grits his teeth and makes a leap in his armour, only to crash into the wall he was trying to reach and falling through a wooden balcony, hitting the ground hard.
The longest paired duel to go on this long without blood being drawn in the history of Sargava continues with neither side able to gain a significant advantage...
The two men try and catch up with the others in the race (the man who felled Kieran dropping his scimitar in favour of picking up his bow). The man who hadn't moved much beyond the start line manages to navigate both obstacles quickly and rapidly moves to card 4, while the man who cut down Kieran weaves through the carriage street to card 3.
Ordered Initiative-
Kieran (not acting)- 23
"Imp" (no longer relevant)- 20
N'bellocq- 15
Swashbucklers- 13
Mwangi- 12
Avistans- 11
Mercenaries- 4
Bounty Hunters- 1
Map (non-annotated)-
Map (annotated)-
Destroyed
Destroyed
Confirmed
Destroyed
Damaged
Finally, the last competitor strides into the arena, face grim with detrmination. The young Mwangi warrior takes up the greataxe offered to him, cutting furiously for half the duration and then flying into a frothing frenzy as he finishes the trial. The third boat he destroys is shattered into hundreds of wooden pieces on his second stroke, with all his fury behind it. He has just enough time to damage one final boat before the whistle blows.
Mercenary- 4 destroyed and a 5th damaged.
Bounty Hunter- 4 destroyed
Qhude, Mwangi, Avistan- Tied on 3 destroyed 1 damaged.
Swashbuckler- 2 destroyed, 1 damaged.
After some discussion in a crowded huddle of officials, it is announced that the three participants who tied for third place will compete again to determine 3rd, 4th and 5th positions. Qhude is up first and the arena is set up once more...
Surprised when the guard comes to retrieve him from the crowd, Qhude follows as instructed back onto the sand. Once again with his hands gripping the greataxe Qhude goes through a few practice swings to re-awaken his muscles.
Dropping to one knee with the greataxe in his left hand, he takes his amulet in his right and bows his head. Touching the amulet to his forehead, Qhude mutters a few words Strength in arm and honour through deed before re-taking his stance.
Taking a couple of deep breaths, he then nods to the guard and awaits the shrill blast of the whistle once more.
Tebati's attention is spread across the course, as she tries to keep up with the actions of the varous competitors. She cringes with tepidation as N'bellocq is accosted by the monkey and seems in danger of falling to the hard street below, then breathes a sigh of relief as he retains his footing. When he is joined on the rooftop by the Mwangi, she is simultaneously pleased at his showing and terrified that his ambition to win the Trials might tempt him to hurt her cousin; the arrival of the Taldan jouster does little to calm her worries.
Glancing back at street level, she nods with approval as the Avistani elf is accosted. "The colonials care about the letter of their law, at any rate," she murmurs. As her eyes travel back toward N'bellocq, she just catches the flash of steel as Kieran is cut across the torso. Expecting him to return the blow, she is horrified to see him instead collapse, unmoving. She reaches out and grabs hold of Ansha's wrist with an iron grip. "Did they kill him?!"
Round 1:
for 9 damage
Round 2:
for 10 damage (19 total)
Round 3:
for 9 damage (boat 1 down)
Round 4:
for 11 damage
Round 5:
for 13 damage (boat 2 down)
Round 6:
for 6 damage
Round 7:
for 15 damage (boat 3 down)
Round 8:
for 9 damage
Round 9:
for 8 damage (17 total)
Round 10:
for 6 damage (boat 4 down)
Qhude sets about his second run at the trial more methodically, focusing on strong swings and aiming at the center point on the hull. The first boat offers some resistance, requiring three blows to burst, but the second and third are rent asunder in two strikes - the first establishing a deep rent while the second splits the hull in twain. By the fourth boat Qhude is beginning to tire and his swings do not hold the same strength - though he does manage to destroy it before time runs out.
Looking back at his handiwork Qhude is content that he bettered his first attempt, and hopes that it should be enough to see off the other competitors.
N'bellocq calls out to the Mwangi chasing him. "I would think they put a real hippo in this fake pond." He makes to dance across a few of the toy animals before diving in and swimming the rest of the way. But the animals are more slippery than he imagined leaving him ill-prepared when he hits the water.
:
Mid-cheer when Kieran fell, Ansha's hands go to her mouth, a look of concern bordering on horror etching itself on her fair features. She turns that horrified look on Tebati as the Mwangi woman grips her wrist. "I-I don't think so...But we're so far away! I can't tell!" she stammers.
Tebati stands up and turns on the escort forthrightly. "Your officials entered the field to escort out the elf who broke the rules. A critically-injured competitor is no less out of the Trial and could die if left untended until it is won. Will they not send in someone to carry him out and tend to his wound? Or is his lingering death part of the 'entertainment?'"
Tebati stands up and turns on the escort forthrightly. "Your officials entered the field to escort out the elf who broke the rules. A critically-injured competitor is no less out of the Trial and could die if left untended until it is won. Will they not send in someone to carry him out and tend to his wound? Or is his lingering death part of the 'entertainment?'"
The escort seems to have made a habit of looking very nervous whenever Tabati speaks. Relieved that he can provide a confident answer, he replies-
Someone should already be on their way to retrieve and revive him, if hes still alive.
N'bellocq moves smoothly from inflatable to inflatable, diving into the water a little over a third of the way across the pool. It is at that moment that tragedy strikes, for N'bellocq's foot gets caught in the mouth of an inflatable crocodile, cutting his dive short and confusing him. He ends up tangled up under several safari animals, thrashing and barely managing to come up for air.
The remaining Swashbuckler tries to gut the Mwangi in his path but has his slim blade sent clattering to the ground by his opponent. Diving under another swing of the club, the Swashbuckler manages to retrieve his blade and press the attack anew.
Jumping into the pool after N'bellocq, the Mwangi makes a grab for the flag with two open arms.
Pass (CMD19)
The Taldan looks like he can barely stand after the fall he just took, but he doggedly and slowly gets up to his feet and climbs back up the nearest building to retry the leap.
The professional warriors are being made to look like cheap militia as they continue to struggle against the Mwangi men before them.
One of the bounty hunters enters the highly crowded section of Card 4, while his teammate a little further ahead of him embaresses the mercenaries by smoothly gutting a Mwangi in his path- only to trip and fall over the flagstones a moment later.
Ordered Initiative-
Kieran (not acting)- 23
"Imp" (no longer relevant)- 20
N'bellocq- 15
Swashbucklers- 13
Mwangi- 12
Avistans- 11
Mercenaries- 4
Bounty Hunters- 1
Destroyed
Destroyed
Destroyed
Destroyed
-----------------------------------
Destroyed
The Avistani strongman mirrors Qhude's own progress, destroying a final boat just before the whistle blows in much the same way. The Mwangi only manages to destroy a single boat, hacking at the second multiple times but never quite shattering its spine. His spirit and fury was spent in the previous round and he had little left to give this time. As Qhude and the Avistan competitor are tied once again, Qhude is asked to compete once more. This time, he has a minute and a half to destroy as many as possible, the extra time added to increase the chance of differentiating the results of the two...
"Get off me you damnable toy!..wait, that's a hand.."
Fighting for breathe, N'bellocq surface to find a competitor grabbing for him.
ROUND 8
As the flag is pulled from his struggling hand, he makes a quick snatch to try and grab it back.
(If this disarm works, he will try to swim on through the pool, if not, he will take no action, awaiting the Mwangi's movement checks.)
The flag is taken from N'bellocq, but just as quickly N'bellocq snatches it back in a quick tug of war, then swimming away to gain a little distance from him.
Somewhat reassured by the escort's prompt answer (and fatalistically aware that if he is already dead there is nothing to be done for Kieran anyway), Tebati turns her attention back to N'bellocq and the remaining Mwangi competitor. Between the water and the bobbing toys, however, she can tell neither which of the two stuggling natives in the pool is her cousin nor which one has hold of the flag. She remains on her feet, unconsciously holding her breath, in hopes of catching a clear glimpse of the situation. She wishes neither of the two ill, but she hopes to see N'bellocq come out the victor.
Led out onto the sand for what he hopes will be the final time, Qhude readies himself for the minute and a half of focused destruction.
2: for - 12 dam (boat 1 gone)
3: for - 8 dam
4: for - 14 dam (boat 2 gone)
5: for - 10 dam
6: for - 7 dam (17 total)
7: for - 11 dam (boat 3 gone)
8: for - 7 dam
9: for - 9 dam (16 total)
10: for - 5 dam (boat 4 gone)
11: for - 14 dam
12: for - 15 dam (boat 5 gone)
13: for - miss
14: for - 13 dam
15: for - 11 dam (boat 6 gone)
Now well practiced at the process, Qhude proceeds through the boats methodically managing to match his previous mark of 4 boats in the first minute. He gets partially mired in the remains of the fifth missing a stroke, but recovers to destroy the sixth boat before time runs out.
Kieran's collapse seems to have stolen the enthusiasm from Ansha's cheerleading. She seats herself again, quietly observing N'bellocq and occasionally stealing a glance at Kieran, wondering when the officials were going to come to remove him from the Trial. I wonder whether the other collapsed participants have been removed yet, she thinks to herself, and looks toward that section of the Trial's course.
The remaining Swashbuckler defeats his Mwangi assailant by leaving a gash on his arm and darting past him and his allies.
The Mwangi seems determined to get the flag back, but although he catches up to N'bellocq he isn't able to wrest the flag from him.
(Swim)
(Disarm VS CMD19)
The Taldan makes another attempt at the leap onto the mansion, but loses his nerve and almost falls off the edge without managing the leap.
One of the mercenaries finally cuts his way through after the Swashbuckler.
As the Mwangi terrorist's numbers begin to thin, the Bounty Hunters make good progress towards cutting through them, one of them making it after a nasty gash keeps a Mwangi at bay.
Kieran's body is examined by an official, before being placed upon a stretcher and taken into a small building near the start of the race.
Ordered Initiative-
Kieran (not acting)- 23
"Imp" (no longer relevant)- 20
N'bellocq- 15
Swashbucklers- 13
Mwangi- 12
Avistans- 11
Mercenaries- 4
Bounty Hunters- 1
Map (non-annotated)-
Map (annotated)-
1.
2.
Destroyed
3.
4.
5.
Destroyed
6. Crit threat
6a. Crit confirmed
Destroyed
7.
8.
9.
Destroyed
10.
11.
Destroyed
12. Miss
13.
14.
Destroyed
15.
Damaged
The trial finally concludes as the Avistan strongman narrowly defeats Qhude; despite similar early progress the big man managed to destroy his third boat in a single, massive axe blow, and destroyed his sixth boat with just enough time to spare to damage a seventh.
Splashing around in the rooftop pond leaves N'bellocq feeling extremely inept. "Let's continue this away from the water."
N'bellocq swims to gain some distance between him and the Mwangi harassing him, but his efforts to get on top of an inflatable rhino end in disaster as the animal capsises.
The remaining Swashbuckler swiftly ascends onto the rooftops, catching up with the Taldan.
The Mwangi seems determined to get the flag back, continuing to swim after N'bellocq and failing to wrest the flag from him once more; ignoring N'bellocq's words.
(Swim)
(Disarm VS CMD19)
The Taldan tries to navigate the bird-shit ridden rooftops to the left in an attempt to avoid trying the leap again, but after several minor falls he seems resigned to try the leap again in a few moments.
The beleaugered mercenary continues to struggle against the Mwangi terrorists while his ally further ahead is having a difficult time trying to ascend to the rooftops.
The Bounty Hunters continue to sling-shot most of the participants, both navigating the obstacles in their path to advance one card.
Ordered Initiative-
Kieran (not acting)- 23
"Imp" (no longer relevant)- 20
N'bellocq- 15
Swashbucklers- 13
Mwangi- 12
Avistans- 11
Mercenaries- 4
Bounty Hunters- 1
Map (non-annotated)-
Map (annotated)-
"We will both drown in this struggle. We need to move on."
The struggle between N'bellocq and the Mwangi ends up with each of them at the edge of the pool, holding on with one arm and attacking/defending the flag with the other in quite a comical display. However, N'bellocq's attempt to quickly leave the pool meets an early hitch, as his foot has somehow got stuck in some kind of hole in the side of the pool...
The Swashbuckler makes an attempt to leap the rooftops and run the precarious rooftop- making the leap successfully but almost falling off the tiles. He is forced to leap off early, landing smoothly in the back garden with the swimming pool near the struggling N'bellocq and the Mwangi trying to take the flag from him.
Seeing N'Bellocq somehow stuck, the Mwangi attempts once more to take the flag from him- saying as he does so in a quiet voice.
Hand it over or this gets violent; i've been playing nice because the others were behind us but now...
Disarm vs CMD 19
The poor Taldan looks on in astonishment as the Swashbuckler makes the task he has been attempting for so long look easy. He gulps as he runs to make the leap once more, but after so many failures loses his nerve.
With his ally through and with one less Mwangi to contend with, the other mercenary smoothly disarms his foe and dashes past, moving towards the base of the rooftop section. His teammate manages to climb to the roof on his second attempt, joining the increasingly crowded rooftop section.
Neither Bounty is successful in their efforts to either get up onto the rooftop or leap across to the next section.
Ordered Initiative-
Kieran (not acting)- 23
"Imp" (no longer relevant)- 20
N'bellocq- 15
Swashbucklers- 13
Mwangi- 12
Avistans- 11
Mercenaries- 4
Bounty Hunters- 1
Map-
Map Link
"N'bellocq, you have been a river pilot," Tebati whispers anxiously into the air. "The water is your second home. What dangers have you floundering?" She wonders if the colonials have stocked the pool with carnivorous fish or poisonous snakes or some other water hazard beneath the deceptively festive floating toys.
N'bellocq swings to make sure his opponent keeps his distance. "I too hoped to avoid blows, but I will not give up what is mine. Too much has been taken from me in the past to give up anything now."
He pulls his foot free but that leaves him little chance of moving on quickly.
The Swashbuckler in the garden with the two leaders joins the struggle in the pool, diving in and attempting to swipe the flag from N'bellocq swiftly before he can react to the theft; but the monk instinctively sways aside and the man's hands never even touch the soaking wet flag. Just after his disarm fails, the swashbucklers snaps his wrist and a dagger flies into his hand from a spring loaded sheath.
(Disarm attempt failed, provokes AOO but you used yours this round already.)
The Mwangi makes one last effort to grab the flag from N'bellocq but he simply refuses to relinquish it, dodging and swaying in the pool and wrenching the flag free when the Mwangi gets a hold on it. In response, the Mwangi draws a dagger.
So be it; I tried to give you a fair chance.
Provokes AOO but assume you used it on Swashbuckler. Failed.
Avistan-
The Taldan seems to have given up. Deflated by his several unsuccessful attempts to reach the next section of rooftop, he changes tactics, seeking to gain points by being closer to the winner; namely, by thinning out the competition. He draws his sword and tactically engages the mercenary who just arrived; the choice likely being made due to their higher position in the leaderboard as opposed to the trailing bounty hunters. Swinging his sword in two hands and confident in the protection of the metal armour he wears, the Taldan smashes past the mercenarie's raised weapon, battering it aside and rushing past the man with a horizontal slash that cuts right through the mercenaries primarily leather armour; he falls to the ground bleeding out from the wound.
-1
Seeing his ally fall, the other mercenary roars a challenge to the Taldan, but still cannot manage the climb to the rooftop. Knowing his ally's life may be in peril if not already extinguished, the mercenarie's frustrated cries of rage and fear are quite chilling to hear.
Both Bounty Hunters continue to try and advance, one ascending to the roof while the other just manages to catch the lip of the rooftop after an ambitious leap, pulling himself up and then lowering himself into the rapidly crowding back garden with pool...
Ordered Initiative-
Kieran (not acting)- 23
"Imp" (no longer relevant)- 20
N'bellocq- 15
Swashbucklers- 13
Mwangi- 12
Avistans- 11
Mercenaries- 4
Bounty Hunters- 1
Map-
Map Link
"Oh, fie! Fie!" Tebati cries angrily and impotently from her position in the stands, as she watches the Trial turn deadly. "He cannot win so he will kill another to make a better showing? Is this Jakob's honorable competitor? Honorable in victory, perhaps, not so honorable when facing defeat!"
The escort near Tebati looks a little uncomfortable at her latest outburst and addresses her.
Assuming the competitor moves off we'll send someone for him soon lady. Hes ruthless, true... But its not a bad tactic seeing as he can't make the leap. I'd be more worried for your own teammate; hes got two men waving daggers in his face...
"Not a bad tactic?" Tebati rounds on the escort. "To kill a man in order to claim success when you have already failed? By that reasoning, the best tactic would be to stay at the starting line and arrange to kill everyone else with volcanic gas. Thus a competitor demonstrates 'athleticism?' Why did your leaders not just commission a team of assassins to murder everyone in their sleep before the Trials began?" she finishes acidly, then turns back toward the pool. Between the depth of the water, the bobbing toys and the many thrashing bodies, it is hard to be certain what is going on beneath the surface. She holds her breath, dreading to see a telltale billowing cloud of crimson....
You all signed a death waiver to compete, lady. At the end of the day, our General wants results from the winning team. If ruthlessness is a quality that gets them, so be it. However, I suspect points will be docked for his companions spellcasting either way.
You all signed a death waiver to compete, lady. At the end of the day, our General wants results from the winning team. If ruthlessness is a quality that gets them, so be it. However, I suspect points will be docked for his companions spellcasting either way.
"Then let us hope that the task your General sets involves nothing which cannot be stabbed with a sword," she answers tersely, her eyes still on the course.
N'bellocq dives deep to avoid their attacks.
He surfaces at the far end and makes a break for it to close the distance with the tower.
Diving suddenly under his pursuers before they can swing at him, N'bellocq is up and away, rising up from the water smoothly after his dive and running agilely up the inflated neck of a giraffe and leaping several feet up onto the highest nearby rooftop, running all the way to the base of the black tower in a burst of speed.
N'bellocq, there are no obstacles for card 10- your a fair distance up the sixty foot tower as your on an adjacent rooftop and your expected to climb it; you have about thirty feet to climb from where you are. Two fairly sturdy hempen ropes have been provided for this purpose. You may take 10 until anyone begins to take hostile action against you, at which point you'll need to start making rolls (for example, if some dirty bounty hunter decided to fill your flat-footed back with arrows...). I'm also not guaranteeing that a take 10 will meet the DC, i'm just pointing it out as an option. With that said, the wall is fairly smooth and you can brace your legs against it as you climb so its not likely to be high.
The Mwangi looks on in surprise at N'bellocq's swift escape, then tries to follow him on the same route- copying his movements. He gets to the tower just behind N'bellocq.
Pass
Pass
The Taldan surges towards the bounty hunter also on the roof as he spots him finish the climb, taking him by surprise and ramming his blood stained longsword through the mans chest. The man remains standing, albeit barely.
The mercenary climbs up to the roof, seeking his fallen teammate...
Despite the grievious wound dealt to him, the bounty hunter struggles and draws his own blade once more. He staggers forward, dodging the Taldan's next swing and hacks his scimitar into the mans shoulder, cutting a huge wound into the Taldan's chest. The Taldan collapses instantly from the blow, while the bounty hunter slowly sinks to his knees and also loses conciousness. The three men from their seperate teams are now all down, so an team of officials begin to climb a ladder from the sidelines in order to get to them and provide medical attention. The other bounty hunter is a strong swimmer but botches using the inflatable animals to his advantage, progressing forward but much slower than N'bellocq or the Mwangi before him.
With easy grace like a fish in the water, the Swashbuckler easily keeps up with the pace set by N'bellocq and the Mwangi.
Meanwhile, those put to sleep by the Elf begin to wake up, but they don't look like they are in a hurry to try and catch up with competitors already at the tower...
Ordered Initiative-
Kieran (not acting)- 23
"Imp" (no longer relevant)- 20
N'bellocq- 15
Swashbucklers- 13
Mwangi- 12
Avistans- 11
Mercenaries- 4
Bounty Hunters- 1
Map-
Map Link
Damn. So much time lost in that stone pond. And they still nip at my heels.
N'bellocq will at least try to maintain a slim lead and climb the ropes in a manner that does not show panic and sap his will.
So close now
Tebati sees N'bellocq surge dripping out of the water with relief, but the two competitors grasping at the flag are right behind him. The blades are out now, in this endgame, with even those nowhere near the finish line turning on one another violently. How much more danger must her cousin be in, in possession of the flag and so near victory?
"Somehow, I don't think our Taldan friend is the trustworthy sort. . ." Ansha murmurs as she watches the man turn on his fellow competitors, then be struck unconscious himself.
N'bellocq climbs fifteen feet, about halfway up the distance between the rooftop he was on and the top of the tower. The Swashbuckler and the Mwangi seem to have formed an uneasy alliance to bring him down from his climb; each hurling their daggers at N'bellocq. Luck is with the leader of the race though, as each clatters off the wall a few feet from him. However, the remaining bounty hunter seems to have finally got his eye in, sending an arrow over the rooftops which penetrates deeply into N'bellocq's shoulder blade. Despite the pain, N'bellocq doesn't lose his grip on the ropes, and looks set to finally win the Trial...
Meanwhile, the mercenary tends to his wounded comrade.
Dagger miss
Dagger miss
Crit threat bow
Unconfirmed crit bow
Damage
Climb check
Please make another fort save against the same DC, at a +4 bonus. If successful, you come to in a tent lying on your back with a physician tending to your poisoned scimitar wound. If not, i'll narrate later...
Qhude remains quiet upon the return to the staging tent. In preparation for the next trial, he begins re-donning his armor and cestus. Going through the motions in a practiced and methodical manner.
"Well, well...," he mutters somewhat absently, still a little numb. "So," he goes on as he regards the other man again, "did we win?"
The daggers thrown from below him were easy enough to dodge, but whatever hit him in the back he never saw coming. The impact and pain had him hanging on by one hand, but he stabilized and resumed his climb.
Got to end this quickly before I get another arrow for my trouble.