Rath reaches to hand the guard his clothes chagrinned to watch as that same guard keels over dead and Krixus goes rolling forward towards Suny. Better still.
Seeing the large thug getting up and the head of her pole arm missing in her attempt to keep him down, Suny takes a five foot step back to keep her currently weapon within its range.
"There ye are Ravvy!" She says happily, "Come an' help us put this piece o' flotsam down." Her voice turns to a threatening growl as she glares at Krixus.
AoO: Suny takes a swing at Krixus as he rushes forward, but he just barely evades her thrust.
Stepping back at his approach, she then keeps him at bay by landing a strike across his chest with the guisarme.
Havelock, Ravarath, Morgaard, Lureene, Krixus, Suny
UPDATED MAP: http://home.worldsunknown.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Ambley-Way.xls
Havelock, Ravarath, Morgaard, Lureene, Krixus, Suny
Fighting back waves of pain assaulting her, Alis keeps up her inspiration for one last round, "HA! May as well just finish him off Morgaard. If he can't even kill an unarmed woman laying on the ground then he'll bore the audience to tears if the put him in the arena!"
With that Alis reaches one shaking, oil-slick hand and touches her bloody back. A soft blue light radiates over the wound and she then passes out from her exertion.
Ravarath, Morgaard, Lureene, Krixus, Suny, Alis
Lureene thinks, Rath-hun, is he....scolding me?? I am going to give him a piece of my mind! After he was the one who ran off! She takes the unconscious form of Alis in her hand and will fly her out of the combat zone, preferably next to Havelock. She says to her date, "I think she will be all right, hun. Just keep an eye on her OK?"
Seeing the poor state of Alis, Suny yells at Krixus.
Lureene feels a blood red haze come over her vision, and knows one thing in her mind: VENGEANCE
She turns a hate-filled glare at the gladiator, and screams, "You had better pray for a swift death from my friends, because I will not be so kind!" Anyone close to her sees a dark aura surrounding her hand, glowing with an evil taint.
Rath reaches to hand the guard his clothes chagrinned to watch as that same guard keels over dead and Krixus goes rolling forward towards Suny. Better still.
Round 3 Actions
Rath ignores Suny's words and focuses on the Gladiator, a feral grin lighting his misshapen features. "Come, little man, let us see if you can break me."
He adroitly slides a little closer , closes his fists so hard you hear the sounds of popping joints, and proceeds to rain hammer blows on the Gladiator, thankful only that Alis' magic still seems to be working...
If the Stunning Blow works, then his AC will drop for this shot...
"You will pay for that, you cur." Havelock begins quietly chanting, and the shadows start to coalesce near the giant man.
A dog with smoking black fur and red eyes appears behind Krixus flanking him. It immediately glows red with infernal power putting all of its strength into a ferocious bite.
With Krixus' AC lowered by his position, the dog hits tearing a chunk from the man's shoulder on the shield side.
The gladiator is still going in spite of the punishment he's taken, but he's really starting to look like hell.
Morgaard, Lureene, Krixus, Suny, Alis, Havelock
Given his trained footwork, the furious monk has no trouble stepping on or over the comatose guard to let the gladiator know what's on his mind.
The first punch from Rath's rock-hard fist caves in the front of Krixus' helmet and he feels a satisfying crunch as he breaks the man's nose.
The gladiator starts to topple but not before Rath has a chance to yell, "Say hello to little friend!" He then delivers another strike that sends the battered helmet spinning around backwards and the mighty Krixus falls to the ground unmoving. Blood streams forth from his helmet to mingle with the oil on the ground and he doesn't even so much as twitch.
From below Rath's feel he hears, "Uuugh..." His footfalls landing upon the guard's back appear to have awakened him. "Krixus you pig-faced bastard, the master is going to flay every inch of flesh from your back and send you to work in a salt mine for this!"
At that moment, you finally hear the damn cops arriving from the south.
Getting to his feet and looking at the mess of things, he continues. "Oh very nice, I suppose you were the one who skewered Jarth and opened that noblewoman's back too..."
Turning to Ravarath he says, "I thank you for bringin' this mangy cur to heel. Not sure what made the crazy bastard go wild like that but our lord will see you rewarded. I told the master 4 guards weren't enough, maybe he'll believe us for next time."
The city guards quickly move in binding Krixus in heavy chains before performing a cursory job of tending to his wounds. In a matter of moments, they commandeer a nearby cart, throw the fallen gladiator inside and cart him off to prison.
Talk amonst yaselves!
Alis' eyes flutter open from the commotion going on around her. She pushes herself to her feet and stands up, wincing from the discomfort of her corset's severed whale boning jabbing her in the back.
Seeing the monk standing like a dark statue, blood covering his fists, she cries out, "Rath!" before running up to embrace. "Thank the gods you made it, I thought we were all dead!"
Turning to Morgaard but still holding Rath, she calls out, "You have one hell of a sense of timing, you know that right? Luckiest damn dwarf Desna ever did gaze upon. What brings you to Cassomir?"
"As for you two..." she frowns as she looks between Suny and Lureene, "you owe Ravarath a big apology for what you did back in the store. We're all damn lucky he decided to come help us after that stunt in the changing room! I can't even imagine what Laithoron must think of me now... Thank you again Rath."
With that she gives her hug one final squeeze before she lets go. Alis steps back to give him some privacy while she wields her diplomatic skills against the inquiries of the local police...
Rath, steps gingerly off the guard and helps the man up, "Sorry to have standed on you."
Turning to Morg, Rath smiles and shakes his head "No, you did most work - rang dinner gong" referring to the gladiator's helmet and that first hit, "I just finish job. Come Limbo and I buy you drink... hm... but drink must wait til tomorrow think. I not in Limbo tonight." He shakes the man's hand. "Was good fight. Thank you."
He hears Alis cry and turns to greet her, grabbing his gi in the process. Hugging her very gently out of concern for her wounds he starts wiping the grease off her face with his gi. "You OK, Rajkumari? I very worried. Also, please, while very much like holding you - am bloody and sweaty... not nice things to be putting on you."
Lureene after seeing Rath-hun come up to save the day, joins in giving him an embrace, after he lets Alis go, giving the stoic monk a kiss as well. She whispers in his ear, "Rath-hun, I am SOOO glad to see you, thank you for being my knight in shining armor!" She then breaks the embrace to give the dwarf Morgaard an embrace, bending over to give another kiss, this one in more contact with his face.
On hearing the accusation from Alis, she blushes and turns an eye to Rath-hun, walking slowly to him, "I'm sorry Rath-hun, I should not have done what I did, can you forgive me?"
She then turns to Suny, and whispers, "It's a human custom, I will expalin later."
Seeing the monk standing like a dark statue, blood covering his fists, she cries out, "Rath!" before running up to embrace. "Thank the gods you made it, I thought we were all dead!"
Turning to Morgaard but still holding Rath, she calls out, "You have one hell of a sense of timing, you know that right? Luckiest damn dwarf Desna ever did gaze upon. What brings you to Cassomir?"
Suny quickly runs over and gently hugs Alis.
"As for you two..." she frowns as she looks between Suny and Lureene, "you owe Ravarath a big apology for what you did back in the store. We're all damn lucky he decided to come help us after that stunt in the changing room!"
With that she lets go of Rath and steps back to give him some privacy while she wields his diplomatic skills against the inquiries of the local police...
Suny lets go of Alis at her words and looks from her to Lureene and to Ravarath. Her big blue eyes are full of questions themselves.
"Whut's she mean?" She looks to Lureene and Ravarath for answers. "I dun't un'er stand enough o' whut people are talkin' about more' half th' time." She steps towards Ravarath,
"Why did ye say th' things ye said afore? Help me un'er stand here." She almost seems to beg.
"You OK, Rajkumari? I very worried. Also, please, while very much like holding you - am bloody and sweaty... not nice things to be putting on you."
"I've healed my wounds, just a bit stiff now. I'll get this all cleaned up in a bit after I'm done with the cops. The way I look now will help to drive-home how bad the situation was. Thank you again, I owe you bigtime!" She gives the hero a kiss on the cheek and then lets him go.
After finishing with the police, Alis begins to make use of multiple prestidigitation spells to clean herself up as best she can. Upon seeing Havelock, she says, "Well, it's safe to say this probably voids even Laithoron's warranty. I think the only guarantees his workmanship." Looking at him a bit more seriously, she says, "While I can't say that I enjoy being covered in oil, you did make a good tactical decision — one that probably saved all our lives."
Checking first to make certain she's cleaned away all the grease and blood, she comments, "I don't want to risk messing up your nice new ensemble with a hug so—" she leans forward giving Havelock a kiss on the cheek, "I hope you'll accept that instead."
Rath puts a meaty hand up to effectively block Lureene's embrace while still holding Alis."NO!" The look in his eye tells her everything about what he knows happened and that he is very, very, VERY angry. With her finely tuned senses about men, Lureene realises that to even approach Rath might earn her the same hammer blows he delivered to the Gladiator.
He softens only when looking at Alis, and then there is so much sadness, "Rajkumari Alis, as always, I your servant, am. Care very much. But must go now to think many things through... maybe in Limbo tomorrow. I be around Laithoron's tonight, if need me. Just call. I run... hopefully faster this time so you don't get hurt." He smiles "Suggest you salvage what can of evening... Please to use gi to clean up some. I not need it."
He addresses Havelock, "Dog was great help. I owe you. Thank you most for defending lady so valiantly. I leave her in your charge again. Hope your date goes better than has so far. Goodbye."
Without another word or look to anyone else, Rath, shirtless, covered in sweat and blood, picks up his gear, stores it in his grimy sash and walks off.
"HEY!" Suny calls after Ravarath, following along in his footsteps. "Whut is goin' ON!" She pleads.
"HEY!" Suny calls after Ravarath, following along in his footsteps. "Whut is goin' ON!" She pleads.
Rath turns and with malevolence says "Ask Rajkumari explain in Elvish so you GET IT. Also ask Lureene why she took you down course she KNEW would hurt ME." He turns and walks off.
Lureene, at first dumbfounded Rath-hun would refuse her thanks, then hears his refusal, in his voice and his body language. She stands there stunned, tears once again brimming in her eyes, then she runs after him and Suny, and yells after him, "Come back here, if you have a problem with me, then face me, you coward!"
Rath turns and with malevolence says "Ask Rajkumari explain in Elvish so you GET IT. Also ask Lureene why she took you down course she KNEW would hurt ME." He turns and walks off.
At his words she stares, large blue eyes still looking uncomprehendingly at him. At Ravaraths' tone Suny staggers to a halt, blinking in confusion and pain.
"But..but..."
Sensing that there is some remote chance that Suny really doesn't 'get it', Alis leads her aside and speaks to her in Elvish so that there can be no misunderstanding, "Har du ikke forstår? Ravarath omsorg for deg. Han ønsket å stole på deg med intimitet sin, noe han aldri har delt med noen. Likevel første gang du er ute av syne, blir du intim med noen annet med ham stående i nærheten engang. Verre, at noen andre var noen han også trodde var en venn. Hvorfor skulle han ikke bli sint og føle skam? Han føler seg som en venn og elsker bare en sammensvergelse mot ham!"
She runs a hand thru her hair in frustration and shakes her head trying to force her tears to keep at bay. To no one in particular she says, "I'm going back to the fashion studio to apologize and to change clothes. It will be a few hours before I head back to Limbo. Morgaard, there is a good tavern just north of here. Why don't you and Havelock share some drinks on my tab while I take care of things. They have that nasty licorice drink you like, a good year even..."
With that, Alis starts heading back towards the Black Boar — her enthusiasm from a few hours ago nowhere to be found.
Lureene, at first dumbfounded Rath-hun would refuse her thanks, then hears his refusal, in his voice and his body language. She stands there stunned, tears once again brimming in her eyes, then she runs after him and Suny, and yells after him, "Come back here, if you have a problem with me, then face me, you coward!"
Rath's pace neither falters nor hesitates. Karma he thinks is a cast-iron b!tch.
Suny listens to Alis' words, glancing after Ravarath, blinking back the glints that hint at the corner of her eyes as well.
She shakes her head.
Suny sniffles.
With that, Alis starts heading back towards the Black Boar — her enthusiasm from a few hours ago nowhere to be found.
...as the figure of Ravarath recedes into the crowd.
Pausing on her way back to the bar, she looks up at Suny and reaches up to lay a tiny hand on her tear-streaked brown face.
In these lands and all the lands I know of, only wicked, hurtful people or those that do not truly love and care for their lover would share their bodies with someone else. Likewise for a friend to be intimate with their friend's lover is perhaps an even greater betrayal.
If that is different where you are from, then it is different from every land I and Ravarath know of. Lovers from Rath's culture, my culture and other I know have only each other that they are intimate with, no one else. That is why Rath hurts right now, and why I cry for him..."
Lureene stops after a bit, blinking back tears, all her thoughts are of her nature, the fact I am no angel, I can never be an angel. It was foolish to try to be one. I am a demoness like my mother is, and that is all I will ever be. She looks at her wings, and then a feeling of despair washes over her, remembering how Rath-hun had touched her wings, and called them angel wings.
She turns back to the group and says in a dull voice, "I'm going to go back to Limbo and do what I was made to do." She then turns to walk away, Alis's dress clinging to her body, the way it was meant to do.
She sees Suny, standing forlorn by herself, and comes back to her. "I'm sorry, hun. I could not help myself. It's who I am. Do you want me to take you back to Limbo?"
Pausing on her way back to the bar, she looks up at Suny and reaches up to lay a tiny hand on her tear-streaked brown face.
Suny listens to Alis' words, still shivering and sniffling slightly. She blinks, "Wha...wait..y' mean you..you an' Ravvy are judgin' me as if I should know all'a this?" She manages to work through the words. "I has t'...t' know whut you all do...whut ye all mean?"
She turns back to the group and says dully, "I'm going to go back to Limbo and do what I was made to do."
Suny watches the pain in Lureenes' face and posture. She blinks, though the sniffling has stopped. She loos to Alis, then to the place where the people are closing in behind the Monk. Suny stands a little taller,straighter.
"No...nope, I in't gon'a do it. I make m' friends an' treat 'em like all'a my friends. If'n Ravarath be too...too..." Suny sputters as she searches for a word to match the ideas in her mind, "..Ravarath, then...then...t' th ' storm wi' him!"
She sees Suny, standing forlorn by herself, and comes back to her. "I'm sorry, hun. I could not help myself. It's who I am. Do you want me to take you back to Limbo?"
She turns and nods to Lureene, offering her her arm.
"Aye, Limbo sounds like a much more un'erstandin' place then here."
Alis sighs and walks on. Yeah, understanding does seem to be in short supply all around...
Lureene takes Suny's arm in hers and the two ladies walk down the street, back to Limbo. Lureene says to her, "I...feel bad about what we did back there, I never meant to hurt him so. I wish he could forgive me, but he has a heart of stone, like one of the warriors of Mechanus." she stifles another sob, and then remembers what Bit told her after she had kissed him: "needs a special kind of demon... one with a good heart, one capable of love. That is a rare and wonderful creature indeed, a blessing on a world that often sees too much evil. That is evil turned to good - which is a gift that should be treasured."
She continues, "Suny, you need to talk to him, alone. I cannot allow him to see me anymore for now. I hurt him too badly, because he loves you so much," and me, he loves me as well! "I hope he can forgive you, that is all that matters to me, hun."
She thinks to herself, I need to find someone who can teach me how to be an angel.
Checking first to make certain she's cleaned away all the grease and blood, she comments, "I don't want to risk messing up your nice new ensemble with a hug so—" she leans forward giving Havelock a kiss on the cheek, "I hope you'll accept that instead."
"My dear, I'll accept whatever you decide to give me. Also, apologies for the grease, it should dissipate in a few minutes.
He addresses Havelock, "Dog was great help. I owe you. Thank you most for defending lady so valiantly. I leave her in your charge again. Hope your date goes better than has so far. Goodbye."
"No one should raise arms against a lady. Especially not against a lover of mine."
Havelock follows after the monk. "Hey, Rath. Come on, let's have a few drinks. I think we could all use a few after that."
"No one should raise arms against a lady. Especially not against a lover of mine."
Rath looks at him speculatively, "You have good taste in women, Friend Havelock. My choices..." He rolls his eyes skyward.
Havelock follows after the monk. "Hey, Rath. Come on, let's have a few drinks. I think we could all use a few after that."
Rath stops to look at Havelock closely. "I will drink lightly, but will drink. First, must wash up." He points to the bar Alis had indicated Havelock should go to. "I will change clothes and meet you there in... 1/2 hour?"
Lureene, with Suny walking in her arms, draw quite a few stares from the crowd, as the scuff marks of the combat are still on their dresses. After some time, Lureene is feeling a little better about herself. She pauses and pulls Suny to one side, and says, "I don't want to worry you, hun, but I am not sure where Limbo is. I think we're lost, hun."
Havelock follows after the monk. "Hey, Rath. Come on, let's have a few drinks. I think we could all use a few after that."
"I don't want to worry you, hun, but I am not sure where Limbo is. I think we're lost, hun."
"I don't want to worry you, hun, but I am not sure where Limbo is. I think we're lost, hun."
Rath stops to look at Havelock closely. "I will drink lightly, but will drink. First, must wash up." He points to the bar Alis had indicated Havelock should go to. "I will change clothes and meet you there in... 1/2 hour?"
"See you then."
Rath stops to look at Havelock closely. "I will drink lightly, but will drink. First, must wash up." He points to the bar Alis had indicated Havelock should go to. "I will change clothes and meet you there in... 1/2 hour?""See you then."