"I'm not sure, I must have been eating to make up for the weight I lost running around that castle."
Sandru laughs, "No, there's no need to do anything drastic. It look's like we should make Lasthome with enough left, assuming no more brigands or crazy weather."
Ameiko sounds taken aback when she responds. "Parity, please get up. I may have some royal blood... I can't even say that with a straight face... but I'm no queen... ummm, princess... er, empress... whatever! Get up!"
Parity persists, "You saw as well as we did. That ... thing ... made of jade, won't stop until anyone who has a valid claim is dead. Your family went through great lengths to protect you, and we have inadvertently unleashed that wrath again. You took me in when I was lost and needed help, and you're going to need help now. I've never held an honest job in my life, I spent the better part of it killing for someone else's sport, and I don't have many true friends, but I know this to be a fact: I will stop at nothing to guarantee your safety. It would be my honor to ensure your personal defense as you see this through. Please accept my pledge. I won't be the last, you know this."
To Mal: "You elves, always thinking of shooting stuff," the pit fighter brandishes his falcata and slams it back into its scabbard, "But, I pity the creature that gets within 5 feet of me!" Parity grins widely and lets the sentence linger before pulling two bear traps and a coil of silk rope out of his bags, "Or I could just lure them. As they say, there is more than one way to skin a cat or polar bear in this case."
After you rise, she continues in a lower voice, almost angrily. "I don't want any special treatment, especially from my friends. You, Sandru, Maeve, Shalelu... you're like family to me. I won't abide losing our friendships to this legacy thing. I will honor my ancestors to see this through, but never think for a second that I care about any of that more than I care about my friends."
Malnival laughs and shakes his head. "But how do you find your way back to your traps friend? It is not a good idea to stumble around in the dark with armed traps waiting."
"I wait for them." Parity smiles grimly, "Besides, when you've lived nearly your entire life blind, you tend to remember where you put things ... exactly, where you put things."
Kelda smiles, "Likewise, but don't dare pull your strikes." She spins the staff in her hands and takes up a defense stance.
As the first week out of Brinewall ends, she looks about in wonder as you share afternoon tea. "Varisians are known world-over as wanderers and vagabonds. I've spent more than a few years on the road, but can you believe that this is as far north as I've ever gone? Probably as far from Sandpoint as I've ever been." She shakes her head.
Heng watches the sparring with interest, wondering how Malnival's magic tricks will fare against a berserker's fury.
Sandru steps up, grinning. "Two gold on the Ulfen woman. Anyone?"
Kelda smiles, "Likewise, but don't dare pull your strikes." She spins the staff in her hands and takes up a defense stance.
"Oh, I've got to see this! Heng, can I share your eyes?" Parity says with an arcane waggle of his hand.
Malnival nods once then advances on Kelda, his feet moving as if in a dance while he spins and strikes at the Ulfen woman.
(+1 to weapon)
Attack:
Damage:
Parity looks a bit chagrined at his sudden outburst, "Ahh ... while we've been traveling, I've unlocked some of the arcane mysteries of my bond with Vision, here." Parity waves vaguely at his sword. "I've uncovered a way to chain someone else's sight to mine ... it's actually useful as a spying spell since it can be passed via contact over the next few hours. I essentially see whatever the target sees in place of what I normally see which, of course, is nothing. I just would like ... ah, ummm ..." Parity changes what he was going to say. "... yeah, I'd like to see Mal get whooped by the stick-wielding woman. Anyhow, I can cast it on anyone, but I'd rather you were a willing participant."
Kelda watches for the attack and parries, bringing her staff up in time to deflect Mal's strike. With a spinning move, she sweeps the staff around aiming for Mal's hip. He sees it early and easily hops out of the way.
Round two
HP:31
AC:22
Attack:
Damage:
"It's ok Heng, if you don't want to do it I'll let Parity see what I see. I can't promise he'll enjoy the angle but then who knows. And I'll see your 2 and raise you, I have 5 gold on Mal."
"And I'll see your 2 and raise you, I have 5 gold on Mal."
"Hah! You've got yourself a bet, my brother!" Sandru sets down three more coins.
"Clobber him, Kelda!" he cheers, good-naturedly.
Kelda tries to parry Mal's attack in the same way, and he adjusts his thrust at the last moment, clipping her across the shoulder. Even with the paddding, Kelda winces at the hit. Instead of backing off, though, she presses closer, stabbing Mal in the gut with the butt of her staff.
"We're even," she says.
Malnival grins, "Nice retaliation."
Attack :
Damage:
Maeve thinks about it for a moment, then grins. "I'll take that bet too Harlan." She grins. "At least in this situation." She holds up five coins.
Malnival circles for a couple steps, spinning the staff impressively before attacking, but unfortunately misplaces his grip and has to make an awkward lunge to keep hold of his weapon. Somehow, he makes the near-fumble look semi-graceful. Kelda recognizes the error and leaps in swinging, landing a solid blow to his back. Luckily, the majority of the force is absorbed by Mal's new armor.
Attack:
Damage:
Malnival steps lively after Kelda's blow,"Very good, hit.
Confirm crit:
Crit Damage:
Heng frowns considering, "To be honest that arrangement is rather more intimate than I am comfortable with, but... I do not wish to deny you the pleasure of this spectacle. I suppose I would allow it in this instance. How long does it last?"
"It lasts for hours, unless I end it. Guess you'd have to trust me. I get that its invasive, its why I asked. I'll use Harlan, though since he's more comfortable with it. Just make sure you're paying attention to the fight, friend. No flinching if it gets violent!".
Parity casts [I]chain of eyes[/] on Harlan.
"Thank you, Heng. I am truly loving being out on the open road. The romance and mystery of what's around the next bend, it just calls to me. I feel more at home here than I ever did in Sandpoint... and closer to Desna, too." She looks you in the eyes, "What about you? You're brave, for sure; none would claim otherwise. But I know Ameiko wouldn't want you to feel dragged along on this trip. What excites and concerns you?"
"Clobber him, Kelda!" he cheers, good-naturedly.
Maeve thinks about it for a moment, then grins. "I'll take that bet too Harlan." She grins. "At least in this situation." She holds up five coins.
Shalelu rolls her eyes and walks off, sighing.
Kelda grimaces as Malnival hits again, cracking her across the upper thigh. She spins away, trying to lure him in while arcing around high with her staff, but Mal easily ducks underneath.
Round 5
Ac: 22
HP: 22/31
Attack
Damage
Kelda shrugs off Mal's next hit with a grunt, but you can tell that she is starting to slow down. A few beads of sweat glitter on her brow. She circles a few paces, trying to regain her balance.
"You're quick!" Kelda says.
Suddenly, she lunges in, feinting an overhand chop and then redirecting into a thrust, hitting Mal in the chest. "... but so am I," she grins.
Malnival grunts, spinning to late to escape Kelda's thrust. "Yes, you are a worthy advasary.He grins as he atempts his next attack, "For a human.
Attack:
Damage:
"Are you trying to insult me?" Kelda banters, smiling, while knocking aside Malnival's attack with a deft parry, then quickly reverses and hits Mal in the ribs with a telling hit. Again, his new armor protects him from a lot of the impact.
HP: 9/31
Once again, Malnival grunts after taking the impact. "Omph...Nice hit, that will live a mark.
Attack:
Damage:
Harlan begins tugging on his ear as he watches his ten gold pieces disappear.
"Come on Mal!"
"That one too," Kelda agrees after Mal slaps her in the hip with his weapon. She steps in, swinging low at Mal's legs, but hits only air. She grunts a curse in Skald, face red with exertion.
Attack
Damage
|
Heng rubs the exotic tattoos that cover his shaved head. "My father came from the far side of the world. Not Minkai like Ameiko's family. I certainly have no kingdom to claim, but I have hoped that I would make the journey back some day. I did not think I would have to face an army of demons to do so however. If I were not concerned about that I would be quite a fool."
Malnival clips Kelda on the shoulder when her lunge to the side is too slow. Breathing hard now, she continues to fight on, moving in close to thump Mal in the chest.
"Fall, will you? You're too tough to just be an elf!" she huffs.