"Later today, I imagine," Simon replies, his voice still a little faint. "Battle will find us, my dear Goblin, you needn't worry about that."
"Hmmph. Poog think we am going to have to kill Asha's litter mate. You think she am going to be mad about that? Poog no am wanting to fight her if he no has to. She am seeming to be useful."
"If you try to kill him before she has another chance to lead him back to her pack, then yes, she will be angry," Simon says, his voice solemn. "As a matter of fact, she will probably kill you. If we see the boy again, try to restrain him or scare him off if you can, but do not try to kill him. Not unless Asha says to do it. It is... a thing of Blood."
"This am very strange. In goblin tribe, when litter mate try to kill you, you try to kill them back. Winner am getting much praise. When it am chief and sibling, winner am becoming chief even. If Asha am killing him, maybe she am being chief of Golden League."
"It is different with humans," Simon explains. "In some cultures, yes, the one who strikes down an enemy gains their possessions and power. But those are most often pre-arranged duels.
In most human societies, the ones who strike down their blood relatives heap only dishonour and shame on themselves. They are known as scum, creatures who can be trusted by none. It is our way. Family units grow strong within our society by having their members work together against all outside threats. To disrupt that unity is to endanger the whole unit.
Consider: if your tribe were at home, surrounded on all sides by traps and defences, well-supplied with food, and a brave warrior challenges the Chief, then that is fine. Whoever wins, the tribe still has a strong leader and it ideally only loses one member. Yes?
Now consider this: your tribe is on a raid, with enemies on all sides. Goblins are not famous for their great strategies, but they do have a certain command structure, yes? If some eager young Goblin stabs the Chief in the kidneys while he is fighting, all dissolves into chaos; the old leader is gone, the new leader is not yet known as such. The enemy is everywhere around, and the tribe runs the risk of being badly hurt."
Simon lets this thought sink in. "In many ways, a human family unit is constantly on a raid, constantly in danger from enemies all around. There must be unity, or the unit risks destruction. It happens more often than we would like. As a result, if one litter mate tries to kill another, there is shame and often banishment, if not more. However, that shame cuts both ways. Litter mates are taught from birth to work together, and not to harm one another. They are taught to try and resolve arguments and differences without bloodshed -- and most often, they try to keep their conflicts private. Outside interference is not appreciated, and an attack on a litter mate is all too often still seen, on the level of the Blood and the Bone, as an attack against the family unit. And that, my dear Goblin, is something which sparks terrible rage in most humans."
"Hmph. That am silly. But if Asha's brother no attack Poog, Poog will no attack him. If he attacks Poog, though, Poog am going to teach him same lesson Poog taught last person to attack Poog."
With that the goblin begins tucking into his breakfast.
"Restrain him, friend Poog," Simon says, his voice quiet but stern. "Restrain him or run him off. Do not kill him without Asha's say-so. You do not yet know the wrath that is unleashed among humans when someone kills a litter-mate who has not been completely rejected. You can not know it. Such wrath has scoured cities, countries... It is a wrath of madness and destruction fit to make demons tremble. Wait for Asha's say-so before you do more than restrain or frighten the boy. His current associates in the Golden League are fit for killing; save your killing blows for them."
When Asha comes down the stairs, she seems not at all stronger, although there is a stiffness in her movements and expression that is greatly at odds with her usual flowing grace. She joins Poog and Simon at their table, smiling quietly but keeping her thoughts to herself and saying little beyond a simple greeting and an order for rice, fish and vegetables to the servers.
After catching a simple meal, you make your way to the Tournament grounds, and after the opening ceremonies are over, the Emissary calls forth your group. "The Five Elements have so far bested many," he says to the crowd, gesturing broadly to your group. "But so has their competitor. Hok Fung, present yourself!" The crowd cheers as a grotesquely fat Tian-Shu man waddles towards the ziggurat, a pot-bellied pig following in his wake. Though the day is not especially hot, he sweats profusely as he bows to the Emissary. "Both you and the Five Elements have overcome many obstacles to get to this point, but only one of you can move onto the fifth and final day of the Tournament. Which of you this will be will be determined in the fight stage. Take your places, and prepare for battle!" He sits upon his throne, and the crowd cheers for you both as you make your ways to the fight stage.
As you turn your attention to the fight stage itself, you see that the combat grounds have undergone a dramatic change overnight. Gone is the gritty dust that served as the sand that soaked up the blood of competitors. In its place is a morass of watery mud with five islands of stone jutting up from the swampy bog. The nearest to your side is just large enough to hold the five of you, but there is at least a ten foot gap to get from your island to the next nearest.
You hear some familiar words indicating transmutative magics, and see that Hok Fong's massive body begins flickering. It looks like he's cast blink upon himself.
"He is casting a Blink spell," Simon says, his voice dour. "If you have magics to see the unseen, use them. If not that, then use magic to dispel his as soon as possible!"
The old man starts chanting his own spells right away, his movements becoming smoother and a protective shell forming around him.
"Suggest we take the pig-botherer from many angles," he adds. "He is a caster, so we must not stay bunched up. Move as soon as possible."
Zarina casts Fly, See Invisibility, resist Energy Electricity, Shield and Mage Armor. The last spell she casts for the group is Haste.
AC 29
Poog holds off on casting any of his spells, waiting until the last minute before he quickly scratches a claw along the leg of each of his companions, beginning to chant in Goblin moments afterward.
Zak graces himself with flight and lowers his mask, thanks his companions for their spells, and readies to unstopper the silver urn slung over his shoulder.
Asha flexes her shoulders, takes a couple of steps to stretch her legs, then sends her glaive spinning through a dazzling kata before bowing to the crowd. I come first with a rose, she thinks, murmuring a prayer to Shelyn, but shows no particular reaction to Simon's announcement about the other man's spell. She does nod an appreciative thanks to Zarina and Poog for their magics on her behalf.
Round 1, init 22
Wanting to use Poog's hex benefit before the cackling stops, Zak flies upwards at an angle away from the platform and unleashes a single arrow at Hok Fung with deadly aim.
Simon springs into action, leaping from the current island to the one to the south.
"A little taste as an entrée, sirrah!" he shouts. "Enjoy your feast! Sagittae magicae, omne erroe vacuae!"
Three darts of force go flying from the old man's hand towards Hok Fung.
Zak and Simon both take to the air, though Simon's leap propels him to the southern island while Zak defies gravity's pull and takes to the skies again. They both launch missiles at the bloatmage, Zak with his arrows and Simon with force constructs. Both slam into the fat man, and blood gushes from his wounds. "Damn you!", he shrieks in a shrill voice that seems unnatural coming from his massively corpulent form. "First blood to you, but I'll not fall so easily!"
He then leaps into the air after Zak, though where Zak soars into the air, Hok Fung barely manages a lazy float. Still, he manages to achieve a height of 15', and begins casting a spell. The three Warriors still clustered on the original island and Zak begin to a strange disassociation from their bodies. Their limbs feel heavy and refuse to respond to their wills. He lets out a squeaking cackle as he grins maniacally. "Your wills are mine to command, Warriors! Hok Fung will reign supreme this day!"
Zak fights against the effect as his limbs go numb.
Asha raises an eyebrow, but the monk does not otherwise respond to Hok Fung's taunts.
Zarina will use the fortune hex as well
Will
Will, via Fortune
Zarina howls as she springs into action, flying straight for the obese wizard.
"Someone, take out the pig if it's on the battlefield!" Simon shouts. "The four-legged one, not the Bloatmage!"
Poog tries to snarl, but fail, as he feels his body freeze.
Asha lifts smoothly into the air, a broad smile appearing as she experiences flight once again. The smile does not disappear entirely, but it does fade some as she focuses on the battle again. Shifting her glaive into an attack posture, she darts through the space between her and the obese mage, swinging down to strike at his inconstant form.
Round 2
Zak delays the onset of the numbness as draws upon Poog's hex to break free of the spell.
Drifting upwards, he pulls the lid from the silver urn and vanishes in a cloud of smoke.
Simon holds position while the others engage Hok Fung in mid-air and starts to chant, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
Both warrior women leap to the air as well, swiftly closing the distance to face Hok Fung directly. Asha strikes the man hard with the flat of her glaive's blade, and the crowd cheers as the strike connects, sending the bloatmage reeling.
Zarina slices at the wizard at the end of her flight.
Claw Attack with Power Attack and rage and charge
Damage
Ac is 27 this round.
High is good.
Poog continues to struggle against the spell.
As the bloatmage recoils, his wince turns into a mischevious grin. "That would have hurt, had I been there!", he cries, mugging to the crowd. "But since I'm not, I'll have to get someone to do my dirty work for me." He floats away from both women, turning his attention towards Zarina. "You, dragon lady! Kill her! Rip her to shreds!" His shrill voice echoes in Zarina's mind and she feels him touch her mind, trying to crush her will. As Asha watches, his complexion goes from ruddy to pure scarlet, the whites of his eyes taking on a deep crimson color.
Poog struggles against the spell.
Float over here, fat slug!
Will
Simon finishes his chant -- and a small air elemental spins into existence. Right on top of Hok Fung! Immediately, the elemental transforms into its whirlwind form, intent on sending the obnoxious Bloatmage for a good spin...
"Zarina!" the old man shouts. "I would prefer for you not to do anything you shall regret! Time out!"
Simon throws something at Zarina -- something which explodes with a bang, releasing a cloud of smoke.