So, second round: move action to draw alch fire, ready standard to throw if rat moves in closer. 0042B remains with full defense?
** spoiler omitted **
Sorry, I read prepped and thought you were readying an action. No, you can throw. I will rewrite the post. Because of that, I'm going to let you take back the summoning. Remember, if you use you SLA summoning, you're eidolon is dismissed and it takes 10 rounds to get him back. If that was your intention, keep it.
Vermin repellent has no effect on vermin of small size or larger, and vermin are insects in Pathfinder. Throwing the vermin repellent will give the rat a good flea bath. You are a kind man . . . Erm gnome?
Plus a throw still requires an attack roll.
Byron blinks in astonishment at first as the bottle hits, breaks, and then does nothing. Thinking back to the saleman who sold it to him You will pay for misrepresenting your wears, mark my word!
Byron decides if the more humane method won't work then fire will have to.
Yes full defense, Though she want's to ready an action to move if the rat tries to go around.
One rat snaps at the golom another time in frustration
And it's teeth catch a loose gear before a quick twist from 0042B throws it off without damage.
The other slips around 0042B while it is distracted and rushes you. As it's pink tongue grows in your vision, you loose the vial in your hand
which goes wide and breaks open at 0042B's feet. Flame erupts around it and the rat it is fighting. Both take a point of damage. The rat snarls, and 0042B looks disappointed and hurt.
The attacking rat is us detoured by you setting your fried aflame and reaches for your flesh
but misses by a wide margin.
Vathan shakes his head when he sees the rat unhurt and continues when both rats attack his new friend. But Vathan and Rasim had discussed this tactic. The Musketeer brings his gun to his shoulder, inhales, waits for... Rasim backflips out of the way... and fires. Flame jets from the barrel hurtling the ball toward the rat followed by billowing smoke and thunder. With practiced ease, he reloads and presents the musket in front of him ready for the rat’s charge.
______________________________
ranged touch on rat 1d20+4
damage to rat 1d10
Rasim leaps straight up into the air in a backflip over one of the rats. He lands behind it in a roll before popping to his feet a few paces away. As he lands in a crouch he whips another shuriken at the wounded rat.
___________________________Acrobatics to avoid AOO: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Move to put 10' between me and the rats.Shuriken on wounded rat (PBS): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 = 15
Damage: 1d2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4
Rasim sails gracefully through the air, and rat teeth close on nothing but sand and dust. Valthan's second shot takes the unwounded beast in the center of mass. It staggers and drops. Rasim's shuriken buries itself inches from the first and a spurt of arterial blood sprays out into the courtyard. Both beasts fade into smoke and wind.
Byron inwardly apologizes to his mother as he asks her to throw herself at the rat with all her strength.
Byron watched as the Eidolon slammed is heavy frame into the rat. The with a shift of his hand he let his creation go, the Eidolon turning to dust. Before the energy could dissipate completely he used it to for a new creature, an eagle, forming it just behind the rat that was not on fire.
Byron inwardly apologizes to his mother as he asks her to throw herself at the rat with all her strength.
0042B's attack 1d20+4
Damage 1d3+3Byron watched as the Eidolon slammed is heavy frame into the rat. The with a shift of his hand he let his creation go, the Eidolon turning to dust. Before the energy could dissipate completely he used it to for a new creature, an eagle, forming it just behind the rat that was not on fire.
Eagle attack 1d20+5
Damage 1d4
Byron watched as the Eidolon slammed is heavy frame into the rat. The with a shift of his hand his creation collapses into a pile of parts surrounding the angry rat. Before the beast could react, Byron waves his hands at the pieces before him and the cogs and wheels shift in a blur into a completely new creature, an eagle of burnished iron and bronze, forming just behind the rat that was not on fire.
The eagle attack and misses.
The rat-thing looks back at Byron and then the eagle, and snaps at the hand of creation
though Byron pulls it back before he loses any fingers. Without a target, the second rat turns to the newly formed eagle and attempts to rip out its metal feathers
And also fails.
"All right, you little f!%~er," Graxzos snarls, stowing his shield, "I'm getting pretty sick of this." Grasping his ax in both hands, he barrels down on the rat with a bellow.
Sadly, he trips on a bootlace, rolling across the ground en route to the rat. Fortunately he manages to come up with his shield out again.
"....Meant to do that! To startle him!"
"All right, you little f$*%er," Graxzos snarls, stowing his shield, "I'm getting pretty sick of this." Grasping his ax in both hands, he barrels down on the rat with a bellow.
Charging ax attack! 1d20+3+2
Damage 1d10+3Sadly, he trips on a bootlace, rolling across the ground en route to the rat. Fortunately he manages to come up with his shield out again.
"....Meant to do that! To startle him!"
Bluff 1d20+5
He doesn't look startled . . .
He looks self-satisfied and hungry. As a fully actualized being, he knows it is unhealthy to suppress your emotions, so he acts on his. BITE!
However, he misses. Perhaps his internal laughter is affecting his accuracy.
Byron inwardly apologizes to his mother as he asks her to throw herself at the rat with all her strength.
0042B's attack 1d20+4
Damage 1d3+3Byron watched as the Eidolon slammed is heavy frame into the rat. The with a shift of his hand he let his creation go, the Eidolon turning to dust. Before the energy could dissipate completely he used it to for a new creature, an eagle, forming it just behind the rat that was not on fire.
Eagle attack 1d20+5
Damage 1d4
Byron watched as the Eidolon slammed is heavy frame into the rat. The with a shift of his hand his creation collapses into a pile of parts surrounding the angry rat. Before the beast could react, Byron waves his hands at the pieces before him and the cogs and wheels shift in a blur into a completely new creature, an eagle of burnished iron and bronze, forming just behind the rat that was not on fire.
The eagle attack and misses.
The rat-thing looks back at Byron and then the eagle, and snaps at the hand of creation
1d20+3
though Byron pulls it back before he loses any fingers. Without a target, the second rat turns to the newly formed eagle and attempts to rip out its metal feathers
1d20+3
And also fails.
The mechanical eagle whirls it's buzz-saw like claws through the hide of the rat.
Byron takes the opening to shift backwards. Snatching another bot of alchemists fire from his belt. Tearing the safety tab with his teeth he lobs it towards the rats.
[dice=crit]1d3
Confirm the crit with a second d20 roll before rolling damage.
[dice=crit]1d3
Thanks for your patience I updated my post.
Salomae watches the ongoing battles, scanning around to see if she recognizes any of the ones that she spoke to in the Blue Macaw. She spies Zanac, walking away victorious and gives a loud whoop. Then, she catches sight of both the dwarf and the human from earlier, both looking as though they're having trouble gaining any ground against their respective attackers.
They *did* say that we could team up if we wanted...
After a moment's hesitation, her decision is made; the human mage is at a greater disadvantage than the dwarf. She watches the human's battle, waiting for an opening. As the attacking rat lunges and barely misses the man's face, she makes her move. "May my weapon strike deeply," she whispers.
Before the rat can attempt another lunge at the man, she swiftly interposes herself between the two and strikes with her blade.
Attack 1d20 + 2
Damage 1d8 + 3"It's a little hard to make with the sparkles with a rat trying to gnaw your face off, isn't it? I'll try and keep them occupied as best as I can but I don't know for how long - so make those spells count!" she calls to the man, sounding more amused than anything else.
The rat intent on Orcen ducks just instants before Salomae's sword would have taken a substantial chunk of rat meat from its shoulder. It turns and snaps at the new threat
but it's split attention causes it's bite to slide across your armor without effect.
A second beast appears opposite the first, trapping Salomae between them. It takes its turn at food trough and tries to feed on the half-elf
with no more accuracy than the first.
The wizard is surprised twice - once when his spell fails to affect the rat as he'd expected it to, and second when the young woman from before comes to his aid and slashes at the rat. That certainly presents a slight problem as he steps back away from its fangs.
"You know they'll summon another rat, right?" He asks her, before a blob of acid flows from his finger at the summoned creature.
Byron inwardly apologizes to his mother as he asks her to throw herself at the rat with all her strength.
0042B's attack 1d20+4
Damage 1d3+3Byron watched as the Eidolon slammed is heavy frame into the rat. The with a shift of his hand he let his creation go, the Eidolon turning to dust. Before the energy could dissipate completely he used it to for a new creature, an eagle, forming it just behind the rat that was not on fire.
Eagle attack 1d20+5
Damage 1d4
Byron watched as the Eidolon slammed is heavy frame into the rat. The with a shift of his hand his creation collapses into a pile of parts surrounding the angry rat. Before the beast could react, Byron waves his hands at the pieces before him and the cogs and wheels shift in a blur into a completely new creature, an eagle of burnished iron and bronze, forming just behind the rat that was not on fire.
The eagle attack and misses.
The rat-thing looks back at Byron and then the eagle, and snaps at the hand of creation
1d20+3
though Byron pulls it back before he loses any fingers. Without a target, the second rat turns to the newly formed eagle and attempts to rip out its metal feathers
1d20+3
And also fails.
eagle attack 1d20+5
damage 1d3The mechanical eagle whirls it's buzz-saw like claws through the hide of the rat.
Byron takes the opening to shift backwards. Snatching another bot of alchemists fire from his belt. Tearing the safety tab with his teeth he lobs it towards the rats.
...
Byron's alchemist's fire falls wide again, this time far enough afield that no one is touched by flame.
The eagle reaches in with a talon and rips one eye from the rats head. It snarls in fury and with its partner brackets the eagle in a cage of flashing teeth
but Byron builds well and in a flash of steel feathers, all of the potential blows prove useless.
The wizard is surprised twice - once when his spell fails to affect the rat as he'd expected it to, and second when the young woman from before comes to his aid and slashes at the rat. That certainly presents a slight problem as he steps back away from its fangs.
"You know they'll summon another rat, right?" He asks her, before a blob of acid flows from his finger at the summoned creature.
[dice=Acid Splash]1d20+2
[dice=Damage]1d3
Remember to take -4 to hit on ranged attacks to fire into melee, though it doesn't matter in this case. The acid cleans a brick on the other side of the courtyard.
Orcen and Salomae take another round.
The necromancer sighs some more, attempting to aim around Salomae with another blob of acid, and once again failing to hit his mark. He laughs nervously there. "I should have prepared better spells today..."
Graxzos glances around and sees Salomae and Orcen standing back to back, beset by two rats. Damn. I am not having any luck with this bastard, and the lass looks like she could use a hand. Mayhap playing the fool was a poor choice... He glances at the rat, looks at the two he met in the bar, and yells at the rat he's been facing, "Catch me if ya can, cat-bait!" He then stows his shield and sprints off to plow his ax into the back of the rat that's flanking Salomae closest to him.
At last his ax makes contact , and Graxzos grins at the crunch of meat and bone. "Ahahaha! Oy, princess, I've come to rescue ye!" he calls with a chuckle, flipping his shield off his back
The gong sounds, just as the band was finishing up their first set, with a little number called "On the Wings of a Pegasus". Perform. The alcohol had the opposite effect on Noyte's performance than he thought it was, and he accidentally sang a verse of the similarly chorded "Lament for a Mother-in-law. He looked at Starla in panic at the sound of the gong.
"Say Noyte". "Your voice is great and all, but usually the second set is a instrumental one". "You don't mind do you". Noyte with a grateful nod took off after the crowd, just in time to hear the end of the speech.
After a moment he saw some of the people he talked to earlier battling a few rats, and began a warriors chant he learned early in his apprenticeship. Inspire courage to the group fighting the rat. "Rally round friends". "Let not this turmoil get you down". "Hear my voice, and rally together, and we shall defeat these scoundrels one and all". "And to top that offer off, I'll bring some help as well, and this ones on our side.
Noyte holds his Quarterstaff high, and sings a little tune under his breath.
Dire Rat
Summoned Creature: Dire Rat CR 1/3
N Small celestial/fiendish animal
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 11 (+3 Dex, +1 size)
hp 5 [7] (1d8+1) [1d8+3]
Fort +3 [+5], Ref +5, Will +1
SR 5
Celestial - Resist cold 5, acid 5, electricity 5
Fiendish - Resist cold 5, fire 5
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee bite +1 [+3] (1d4 [1d4+2] plus disease)
Special Attacks disease, smite evil/good
STATISTICS
Str 10 [14], Dex 17, Con 13 [17], Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 4
Base Atk +0; CMB -1; CMD 12 (16 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Climb +11, Perception +4, Stealth +11, Swim +11; Racial Modifiers uses Dex to modify Climb and Swim
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Disease (Ex) Filth fever: Bite—injury; save Fort DC 11 [13]; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Smite evil/good 1/day as a swift action (adds CHA bonus (+0) to attack rolls and damage bonus equal to HD (+1) against evil/good foes; smite persists until target is dead or the celestial/fiendish creature rests).
Graxzos glances around and sees Salomae and Orcen standing back to back, beset by two rats. Damn. I am not having any luck with this bastard, and the lass looks like she could use a hand. Mayhap playing the fool was a poor choice... He glances at the rat, looks at the two he met in the bar, and yells at the rat he's been facing, "Catch me if ya can, cat-bait!" He then stows his shield and sprints off to plow his ax into the back of the rat that's flanking Salomae closest to him.
[dice=Ax attack, seriously though, charging AND flanking]1d20+3+2+2
[dice=Ax damage]1d10+3At last his ax makes contact , and Graxzos grins at the crunch of meat and bone. "Ahahaha! Oy, princess, I've come to rescue ye!" he calls with a chuckle, flipping his shield off his back
The only AoO would be from the rat you are facing now. Willing to risk it?
"Hold onta yer butt, princess, I'm a-comin'!"
|
"Hold onta yer butt, princess, I'm a-comin'!"
He immediately looked for that haughty local woman thinking the dwarf could mean no one else but he didnt see her. The battle with the summoned rats had turned into a bit of a wild melee but the priests didnt seem to mind that one bit, everytime someone moved to help another their own personal rat appeared. Since that meant it shouldnt matter if he jumped in her strode forward and drew an arrow.
"Oh dear priests get your spell ready." He called taking careful aim at the rat besetting the fellow whom had aided him with that poor young woman earlier.He heard the man from the stage call out his encouragement as well and he smiled letting the mans cheering sharpen his focus that much more... He loosed the arrow.
The shot flew true, he was glad his father had forced him to practice with practice arrows at targets as the others sparred their movements didnt affect his timing at all.
I think we have hit a general melee, let's let Salomae post a round worth of action, maybe Mr. O'Connel . . . maybe my mysterious private messenger will deign to post.
(let's look at that alignment again . . . Chaotic - doesn't like to follow the rules . . . Good - potential innocents in danger . . . Hmmm.)
I will wait until morning. Good night all.
Man this thing gets hot quick... Zanac thought to himself as he shrugged out of his chain shirt. Simply wearing the thing out in the heat had left his fur hot to the touch. Free from the weight and heat Zanac did a few leg stretches before turning back to watch the ongoing matches. He was surprised to see the bad-mouthed dwarf struggling with his opponent and even the attractive and friendly elf seemed to be at odds with her target. However she did seem to be gathering quite the group of allies and he figured she would be ok soon enough.
Unfortunately for the dwarf, it looked like he could use a little help as well so with a sly grin Zanac pulled the brim of his cap down and melded into the crowd of onlookers, slowly pulling a shuriken from the pouch at his side.
He moved within 20' of the dwarf's rat, right behind the first line of onlookers before hurling the shuriken towards the rat's side as he continued gliding through the crowd to avoid drawing suspicion.
Byron impressed with his creation reaches back for his preloaded crossbow, drawing and firing at the rat whom the eagle gouged.
Meanwhile the Eagle wheels up swooping up and then attack down on the other rat from behind.
Byron looked at the rats with no malice but pity "You poor spirits, dragged into this world only to be given the form of a lowly rat, a creature of vermin. I'm sorry your pact was made with such men."
Thinking to his creation
I would never denigrate you in such a way. We are partners, they are merely servants. Only when we break their bodies can we release them from their servitude back to their home.
Orcen sighs some more, attempting to aim around Salomae with another blob of acid, and once again failing to hit his mark. He laughs nervously there. "I should have prepared better spells today..."
At the human's words, Salomae sighs inwardly. Mages...always complaining about something. Right on cue, the sudden squeaking from behind her gives her a pretty good idea of where the second rat has popped up. Managing to dodge bites from both of them, she sidesteps and then twists slightly, attempting to put both rats in her field of vision.
Graxzos glances around and sees Salomae and Orcen standing back to back, beset by two rats. Damn. I am not having any luck with this bastard, and the lass looks like she could use a hand. Mayhap playing the fool was a poor choice... He glances at the rat, looks at the two he met in the bar, plows his ax into the back of the rat before him.
At last his ax makes contact, and Graxzos grins at the crunch of meat and bone. "Hold onta yer butt, princess, I'm a-comin'!" he calls with a chuckle, flipping his shield off his back
"Well, I guess I could have helped the dwarf over there, instead. He seems like the type to enjoy a challenge!" she says, her tone slightly sarcastic. As she eyes the first rat, she once again whispers, "May my weapon strike deeply...if this thing will hold still!" before bringing her sword around.
Unfortunately, Salomae can't seem to get a clear bead on her target and her sword whiffs by the first rat, the air from its passing kicking up a small cloud of dust. She swears under her breath, beginning to wonder if their lives are about to end much like the man from earlier...and then hears a familiar voice call out, "Hold onta yer butt, princess, I'm a-comin'!"
She grins. Perhaps Chadali is watching over her after all.
Thorin immediately looked for that haughty local woman thinking the dwarf could mean no one else but he didnt see her. The battle with the summoned rats had turned into a bit of a wild melee but the priests didnt seem to mind that one bit, everytime someone moved to help another their own personal rat appeared. Since that meant it shouldnt matter if he jumped in her strode forward and drew an arrow.
"Oh dear priests get your spell ready." He called taking careful aim at the rat besetting the fellow whom had aided him with that poor young woman earlier.He heard the man from the stage call out his encouragement as well and he smiled letting the mans cheering sharpen his focus that much more... He loosed the arrow.
The shot flew true, he was glad his father had forced him to practice with practice arrows at targets as the others sparred their movements didn't affect his timing at all.
Byron, impressed with his creation reaches back for his preloaded crossbow, drawing and firing at the rat whom the eagle gouged, finishing the beast off, the bolt clattering to the ground in a dissipating cloud of dust.
Meanwhile the Eagle wheels up swooping up and harrying the other rat from behind.
Byron looked at the rats with no malice but pity "You poor spirits, dragged into this world only to be given the form of a lowly rat, a creature of vermin. I'm sorry your pact was made with such men." Thinking to his creation, I would never denigrate you in such a way. We are partners, they are merely servants. Only when we break their bodies can we release them from their servitude back to their home.
The rat chewing on Ryuu's spine spits the bones from its maw, and leans over the young man to finish the job and feast on the soft tissues of his organs.
________
(meanwhile at the sidelines . . .)
Noyte stood at the edge of the onlookers, torn. Something within him wanted to help, but he was a singer, not a tomb raider. But blood was in the air and he felt moved to interfere. After a moment he saw some of the people he talked to earlier battling a few rats, and began a warriors chant he learned early in his apprenticeship. Inspire courage to the group fighting the rat. "Rally round friends". "Let not this turmoil get you down". "Hear my voice, and rally together, and we shall defeat these scoundrels one and all". And to top that offer off, I'll bring some help as well, and this ones on our side.
Noyte holds his Quarterstaff high, and sings a little tune under his breath. A smaller, but no less vicious rat appeared in the dust.
A Pharasman priest looks down as Nyote begins to sing and screams out, "This one attempts to aid!"
From the podium, the cleric calls out an order, "Then he is a participant." He indicates the courtyard, and two burly priests thrown Nyote bodily into the ring.
Two more of the giants form in the battlefield – one beside Thorin and a second adjacent to Nyote - ready to tear the flesh from the lottery applicants.
Man this thing gets hot quick... Zanac thought to himself as he shrugged out of his chain shirt. Simply wearing the thing out in the heat had left his fur hot to the touch. Free from the weight and heat Zanac did a few leg stretches before turning back to watch the ongoing matches. He was surprised to see the bad-mouthed dwarf struggling with his opponent and even the attractive and friendly elf seemed to be at odds with her target. However she did seem to be gathering quite the group of allies and he figured she would be ok soon enough.
Unfortunately for the dwarf, it looked like he could use a little help as well so with a sly grin Zanac pulled the brim of his cap down and melded into the crowd of onlookers, slowly pulling a shuriken from the pouch at his side.
He moved within 20' of the dwarf's rat, right behind the first line of onlookers before hurling the shuriken towards the rat's side as he continued gliding through the crowd to avoid drawing suspicion. The flying knife slices past the rat, but Zanac's aim is compromised by his desire to remain unseen.
Rasim collects his shuriken from the ground beneath where the rat was dismissed and ferrets them away in his clothing's secret pockets. He grins and laughs, (in Osiriani) "That was fun. Your musket is awesome man, well done." he says to Vathan, offering a hand palm-up for a high five.
He then suddenly remembers that he just essentially performed in front of a huge crowd. S*$~! What if one of the Dung Beetles saw me just know? Ahmed will know where I am! Rasim begins scanning the gathered crowd intently, while trying to to also disappear into it. He grabs Vathan lightly by the shoulder and guides him back into the mass of people, half crouching next to the gnome as he studies the faces around him.
Vathan high fives Rasim as much as he can stretch, which probably makes it a medium five for the Human. (in Osiriani) "Great leap! I was concerned that I wouldn't get that second shot off, but it worked just like we discussed. Your throwing knives are more deadly than I thought."
His breathing slows down as the adrenaline begins to fade when Rasim starts directing him within the crowd. When they stop, he watches his friend watch the crowd. (in Osiriani) "What's going on? Who are you looking for?", he quietly asks.
(In Osiriani) "Just some people who think I owe them money. Dangerous people who have been stealing from me for a long time." Rasim says. To his relief, he doesn't see anyone from the Dung Beetles in the crowd. They are probably all busy robbing everyone while they're distracted by the festivities.
(In Osiriani) "I don't see any of them though. We're good." , the young Bargetowner continues, trying to play it down. "Now, all we need to do is have our numbers drawn."
________
"ENOUGH!" A shout rings out above the courtyard. A tall half-orc strides purposely into the ring. His body is ringed by magical force, and he holds a huge crossbow in both hands. As he walks, his cloak slips from his shoulders and the sign of Pharasma – a clockwise spiral of three loops - becomes visible, branded into his bare chest. He sights the siege weapon on the rat about to consume Ryuu, and fires. It strikes truly and skewers the rat through the head. The rat falls and disappears.
On his left side an obese dwarf covered in brass rings and holding a pair of Kukris steps out with a bored and amused expression on his adorned face. On his right, a tall figure in full plate armor with a drawn bastard sword lifts her visor. A pale-skinned woman looks out on the blood-stained field.
"You have abandoned the light of Pharasma. She, not the Prince demands the tombs be opened. I have seen it. I have read it in the ancient scrolls. Attack me if you dare; the result is pre-ordained."
From the raised dais, the high priest spits out his next words in fury. "We take our orders from Pharasma, not from apostates!" All the rats left in the courtyard abandon their combatants and converge on the three.
Byron, the fire from splash damage lasts one round and does one point. There are no manhole covers in the courtyard, infact, no sewers in Wati. Rich portions of the city have waste carried away in wagons. The poor just dump it in the streets.
7 big ones total, and one little one isn't attacking (controlled by Nyote).
|
Kaina becomes visibly tense as he watches the unfolding drama. His instinct is to intervene, but he is unsure as to which side is in the wrong.
(In ancient Osiriani, to Akina)Great one, who do we support? These newcomers are denigrating the great Pharaoh and therefore seem suspect to me. But what if they tell the truth about the priests?
(In catfolk, to Zanac, if he's close enough to hear)Zanac, we should try to prepare all the contestants to join the fight in an organized manner. Surely if we all work together, we will prevail.
Now that his new friend has calmed down, Vathan pulls Rasim toward the first row of the courtyard spectators. His Musketeer persistence and demeanor makes a steadily hole in the crowd to get there. First, he wants a better view of the fight. Second, he wants to see if the Pharasman cleric's breaking of their own rules of one rat per applicant needs his personal attention. He unconsciously readies his musket in parade rest.
Zanac curses as his shuriken slides past its target, but fortunately his botched attempt at assisting seems to have gone unnoticed. He returns to where he had stashed his armor and slings it over his shoulder before returning to the crowd of onlookers. He returns just as the large half-orc is calling for the priests to attack him and for a minute he wonders if the man is crazy. Then he noticed the huge arrow skewering one of the summoned rats about to finish off the downed monk and he thinks maybe the half-orc knows what he's doing.
Zanac, we should try to prepare all the contestants to join the fight in an organized manner. Surely if we all work together, we will prevail.
Zanac was surprised to hear his own language coming from somewhere nearby, and was even more surprised to realize the other catfolk actually knew his name. But he responded in the same language "Whatever for? Looks to me like that half-orc has a plan in mind. Besides, I'm not much of one for front-line combat truth be told. It's too boring." he grinned at his fellow catfolk before slinking off to melt into the crowd.
The priest's rats converging on the group of three men bothered Zanac. When it was just one on one matches it was relatively fair, but now it's three vs a horde and that's just not nice. Besides, it looked like fun so he palmed a shuriken and hid himself in a group of men similar in height to himself, pulling the brim of his cap down to cover the top half of his face and the loose collar of his shirt up above his nose, leaving only his eyes visible, a fairly standard look for a desert town.
Byron's eyes light up.
He casually places his crossbow back in its sling and begins walking to the half-orc.
Acting as casual as he can but keeping in mind the rats behind him.
"Well it sure is nice to see you. Looks like I'm the lucky one here. Didn't mean to take your money, I was hoping you would stay and win it back."
Orcen looks surprised yet again by the appearance of some of the others from the bar - the half-orc of the Stones, as he recalled. He looks as the rats converge on the trio, and figuring that it can't hurt anymore than it already has, hits the closest one with a splash of acid.
Satinder stops mid-stride, turning back as the commotion of the three combatants from the inn grabs his attention. I owe no loyalty to these people… Yet, I cannot rely on The Voice to guide me. Gaining favor with these three might improve my chances at being selected. How am I to trust these priests when one garbed as such gave me a false number?
With a grunt and a sigh Satinder marches back to the edge of the battle area, drawing his falcata as he does so.
The three newest entrants walk swiftly for the dias, the rats attack on all sides, but their teeth bounce away without breaking the skin. The three ignore the snapping, writhing beasts. The half-orc leaves the giant crossbow in the dust. The woman in full-plate leans down to touch Ryuu's motionless body. Ryuu's eyes flutter open and the pain in his back flares to life and his legs twitch under him. The dwarf idly kicks a second downed competitor's head from his path.
Tinder cuts a rat down behind the walkers, and Orcen lands a blast of acid, ending the existence of a second. Byron's metal eagle swops at the backs of another. Everyone else pauses their battles for a moment ether in astonishment or to see how the Pharasans react.
The half-orc continues to speak, "You have abandoned Pharasma's third gift, abandoned it because it has become 'hard'." The last word is uttered past a sneer. "you are purposely blind, when our Lady of Graves demands we see. All has been fortold. This will happen whether you desire it or not."
The high priest answers with growing fury and loss of control. "You are mad. Prophecy is gone, Gone with Aroden." A second priest places his hand on the high-priest's shoulder, who shakes it off with a jerk. "No! These heretics will not promote their insanity in our holiest of cities!"
Byron listens with adoration, making his was closer and closer. Glad to hear the half-orc lay into the very same people he had called out earlier.
The eagle swoops at the rat.
Who is proving very resistant.
Byron addresses the priest."What could a heretic possibly mean to a god of absolute truth and undeniable forces? Perhaps you have not made this about your god, but instead you have made this about yourself."
Talking, finally something I can do.
Zanac listens to the exchange and tries to figure out exactly who's attempting to accomplish what
As a rat again attempts to close with the group Zanac steps forward and looses his held shuriken
And lands a solid blow on the beast. After the shuriken hits its target Zanac steps out of the crowd and notices the other combatants also cleaning up the remaining rats. "Heh. Looks like I'm in some pretty good company here." he says with a chuckle as he readies another shuriken.
Ryuu manages to shut the pain out.. to an extent, His training taking hold once again. He cannot remember quite what happened, but that somehow that little rat had managed to sneak past his defenses.
I have brought much shame upon myself and my master's teachings. I must redeem myself.
he manages a small gesture of thanks towards the armored woman before she continues onward. He stands and collects his blade.
even as the thrum of pain continues Ryuu can't help but overhear and ponder
why would they publicly disgrace the name of the priests. Indeed, interesting.
he takes a look around as he staggers to his feet
well this became quite the mess
he manages to pick out the cleric, and slowly make his way over to him.
perhaps, If you could kindly, give me a small taste of the healing you performed at the inn good sir. It seems I may have faltered in my discipline during my fight.
all the way making sure to listen and ponder the words said.
on the blue macaw patrons
on the priests.
From the orc, warrior and dwarf you get just a clear sense of purpose. They know something no one else knows. Anyone can see the priests are furious, that drowns out everything else.
Zanac moves up beside Salomae and places a hand on her shoulder. "Good thing we weren't one of the weaker ones, eh? He says with a smile before continuing in a more serious tone, "Besides," he points to the various scattered dead contestants,"do you really think these men and women didn't understand the risks? They accepted the challenge knowing full well what they were about to face simply for the chance to explore and they failed, simple as that."
Zanac then turned towards the Priests, "That being said, couldn't you have let these poor saps fight for something they wanted? Like an experience in the Necropolis which brought them all here in the first place? I didn't realize you were planning on turning this into a slaughter area or I probably would have tried helping others out more."
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He couldnt believe that itcould be the same woman in platefrom before, so it had to be a different one still... The high preists words offended him. And A lady was in danger again. He drew another arrow and closed towards the three pausing to take careful aim at one of the rats.
"I just lover religious debates." He said dryly loud enough he might be overheard. His tone was quite obviously snide. He scowled as the rat in his haste to reach the three figures skittered just beyond the arrow. He hadnt led it enough. He hated missing.
I see, so thats what they are... how.. disgraceful.
Perhaps, they hoped we would all fail, so that they would not have to open the tombs. Maybe they themselves want what is down there. There is little I detest more than proclaiming a faith, a lifestyle, or anything related and then shunning that same vow, Are you truly priests, or are you all false prophets merely using the name of Pharasma to your own advantage? Following her tenets only when it benefits you!
Ryuu adds this on to Salomae's call. His voice gaining anger the more he speaks.
Byron had enough of a hunch about what was going on to speak his mind.
"Have you all not made the connections yet? They didn't just plan for us to fail here. If we made it to the next round then they would just send us with someone to help insure that we 'didn't make it back' or 'got lost in the tombs'. This was a sick joke to begin with." Byron stated loudly to insure that the crowd could hear.
Even if he was wrong it would get the crowd into an uproar and perhaps make the priests back down.