Tekumsah breathes heavily for a few moments more when the last of his attackers falls, and then, with a cough, he takes one more gulp and holds his breath. His eyes are able to pick out details in even dim lighting, but the smoke doesn't do him any favors. He stumbles toward where he guesses the steel door is located, hoping he can find it and open it to leave before his breath runs out.
Flint starts moving his long way, and drinks a potion as he goes. He beats the first forty feet of the long way, as he start hearing, from all around him, the sound of insects - big, maybe more spiders crawling out of the holes, or maybe something else.
Misriel falls, surrounded by snakes. She can still see herself being bit and eaten by the snakes as her consciousness fades away.
Kit rushes and reaches the bottom of the wall to climb, and then starts climbing as fast as he can. He manages to dodge the stalactites well, but things seems to be getting more dangerous and grim by the second. With the first movement he spends in it, he manages to get fifteen feet up, out of the forty he has to go.
For his "luck", however, the two creatures resurfaced around him, on the wall, and tried to use their advantage to attack the climbing kitsune - this time, versus his flat-footed defenses.
They both hit! The first one manages to get the vein of the kitsune, in a dangerous hit!
But it doesn't confirm its critical hit.
And ended up hit, each one, by a different falling rock! They didn't quite fall - due to their movement abilities - but were hurt by it. It's clear they're having difficulties keeping up with the kitsune, especially with the cave shaking and all.
Tekumsah has no difficulties getting to the door, despite the smoke and the bodies on the floor. He can hear some cries around him, as if the gnolls aren't as capable as the nagaji to escape that destiny. Tekumsah is now in front of the closed door, with the smoke coming from underneath it. As he tries to open the door, it becomes obvious it's locked, even though it doesn't seem to be anything too sophisticated.
As the worst of his wounds closes slightly, Flint hears a buzzing in his ears and a shiver runs down his spine. The noise was coming from everywhere. But panic could never make him fumble. His hands move with practiced ease in removing the next extract and downing it. Invisibility was something one had to use often to get used too. It made you invisible to even yourself. You needed practice and a good awareness of your body to act naturally. You also couldn't panic when someone looked your way. Trust was important.
"If this wasn't an arena," Kit says as he pushes off from the wall and drops to the floor, "I'd ask what I ever did to you to get you chasing me in the middle of an earthquake."
He lands nimbly on his feet and again draws his rapier, casually dodging falling stones as he does so.
"As it is, I suppose I'll just have to kill you first," he states, taking up a guard position.
Still holding his breath, the nagaji looks for a lock on the door, hoping to smash it or wrench it free; if not, he tries to force it open with his shoulder.
Misriel wakes up back on the center of the "arena"-like stadium. She's alone on there, per se - if it wasn't for all the stands, cheering up and throwing objects that don't quite come even close to hit her. The Human is back on her slave clothes, with an absurd headache - but she doesn't see any scars or feel the presence of poison... Or her "sister".
As Kit predicted, the creatures surface again and one tries to attack him. Before anything is resolved, though... The Kitsune faints. From absolutely no reason, whatsoever - he just ceases to be conscious, somehow.
Flint moves a little more, approaching the "tower". The sounds around him intensify, to the point that some insect-like creatures pop around, the closest being within 40 feet. They're large bug monsters with six legs, drooling some sort of green acid from their mandibles. Despite the fact Flint still feels himself invisible, they seem to be turning around their heads to his direction.
Tekumsah forces himself against the door, but it doesn't seem to break; however, he feels it moves, as if he was close to be able to break through it. His efforts to unlock without his strength, however, seemed to fail miserably. He's absolutely blind now on the room, due to the amount of smoke.
Tekumsah grunts as the door gives but doesn't open, but he just as easily senses that he's losing the attention of the crowd. Standing around in smoke, shoving at doors. Not really what people like to see. Still, it doesn't seem there's much more for it, so he gives the door another slam.
Flint knew he was invisible. He couldn't see the brim of his hat. He knew it was working. That did not seem to matter as the damned bugs seemed to hone in on him. "Well bugger all." He makes rush for the tower. At least there he might be able to barracade himself in.
"I guess I lost... Again.." Misriel simply lays there, having no desire to move.
Kabuusah arrives close to Misriel, and tries to help her stand up.
Come, come. I help you. Do you feel pain? - he asks, apparently worried - The critters on the arenas are quite violent sometimes.
As they're speaking, Misriel notices Kit lying down on the far corner of the arena. He seems unconscious.
Kit opens his eyes very slowly for the lack of sheer perception. He's dizzy, feeling a lot of pain on her limbs and torso - like his very bones were replaced. Yet, he doesn't see any of the bites he took from the creatures before, neither he sees any of his equipment; rather, he's back on his "slave" clothes, lying down on what seems to be the big stadium thing again. His audition returns, slowly, and he starts perceiving the loud, deafening sounds of the stands.
Tekumsah fails to move the door, once again. Yet, he doesn't accept defeat and pushes it harder, this time hearing the metal mechanism inside the lock breaking apart. He pushes the door open, and the smoke starts to dissipate.
He is in some sort of hall, now. Whatever was sending smoke from underneath the door isn't here now - then again, it wouldn't be too hard to disappear when no one can see you. The Nagaji slowly regains his strength and recomposes himself. This hall is not too long - maybe around 15 feet only - and ends on a single double door. There are some runes on the left wall, that shine a faint yellow - probably magical. On the right wall, there's an armored statue.
Flint moves as fast as he can, but he doesn't have a true line he could run directly - rather, having to make some small turns on the field. He ends his movement around fifteen feet away from the door of the tower. The further magical beasts that burrowed resurface around 10 feet from him, and spit balls of acid against the human.
As he feels the flying acid close to him, two of the closest beasts pop out of the floor around him, and attack with their dipping acid mandibles, trying to bite at him.
They both miss, even though not by far - making the entire situation feels a lot more dare. As if things can't get much worse, from around 50-feet away from him, the gunslinger sees a huge Ankheg burrowing out of the dirt. He creatures shakes his mandibles and antennae, and it makes clear it looks like an overgrown mutated version of the "small" large ones around Flint.
It burrows again.
Flint ducks two shots of acid, avoiding the worst of it, then sways out of the way of the two emerging bug things. Ankhegs. That's what they were called. He'd seen a few dungeon delving. Nasty bite and nasty temper. But if these were anything like normal Ankhegs, which he doubted, they could burrow but not climb.
Flint rolls out from between the two and heads for the tower. He completely bypasses the wall and crawls up as far as he can. Hopefully these things were so modified they could climb too.
Kit groans even as he force himself to sit up.
"Well that was rather unpleasant," he comments to himself, wondering as he speaks just what had happened. Clearly he'd been pulled out of the arena, but why? He didn't think he'd been on the verge of death there, though he'd certainly been injured...
"I'm.. alright. The only pains are the dull kind." Misriel lets Kabuusah help her up to her feet. She sees Kit rise. ~Was he my opponent? I suppose he enjoyed the easy victory..~
"I can't imagine I put on much of a good show getting slaughtered by snakes." She mutters to Kabuusah.
Tekumsah almost cheers inside as he gets the door open and steps into the hall. He waits a few moments more for the smoke to dissipate, and then takes an explosive breath, welcoming fresh air into his lungs once more. "There! That was exciting, wasn't it!" He calls out to... to the crowd, in a way. Even if he can't see them, Tekumsah knows they're watching his movements. His first job is to live through this and come out on top, but a close second is looking good doing it.
He looks around and decides to move toward the doors. He doesn't know much about runes, but he's sure something bad is going to happen here; he'll deal with it when it does.
Snakes? Oh, so that's what they're called? - said Kabuusah, as he helped the Human stand up with two of his arms, while looking for Kit and waving with the other two. - Don't worry. Many gladiators just fall for the environment conditions. Not really any good for you or your adversary, but normal. You'll have other chances.
The four-armed creature conducted Misriel near Kit, slowly. The Kitsune was having difficulties standing by himself.
How are you? - Kabuusah asked him, while approaching - Here, come. - completed, while pointing towards a side exit. Some things were being thrown from the stands and, although not particularly dangerously close, it seemed like a good idea to get out.
/ 2 = 3 Acid damage
/ 2 = 4 Acid damage
The acid burns Flint's skin as he tumbles out of the way of the two creatures, climbing the side of the tower. There are no visible windows, and it's quite tall. The human feels the stones of the tower are warm - a little hot, even, but nothing that would be unbearable - and he smells smoke, but can't see where.
The creatures that previously tried to bite him now spit at him, then burrow back.
The other two further away that spit before resurface, closer to the wall. They immediately start climbing the stone wall towards the direction he's in, ending at about 10 feet under him. They don't seem to have difficulties climbing here at all.
The big mutated one, though, doesn't seem to resurface anywhere - at least nowhere Flint can see.
Tekumsah gets to the doors with ease. Nothing happens as he moves, neither - for his surprise - as he pushes the doors, that seemed to be simply shut but not locked.
The new room he finds himself in is beautifully adorned with tapestry and more of the decorative armor - 4 pieces, two on the wall Tekumsah came from, two on the opposite wall. There are scorch marks all across this room, although nothing really is fully burnt. Two big tables are sideway positioned, each with a set of eight chairs. On the wall to the right of Tekumsah there's a metallic set of double doors, each fifteen feet high and ten feet wide. On the other wall, closer to the wall opposite to Tekumsah, there's a small wooden door. A big chest can be seen on this same wall, and above the chest a wall picture of a human with recognizable features. Taking a closer look, the human looks just like the male one which was on the same conditions as Tekumsah before being teleported here - Flint - but dressed in red and yellow noble clothes, as some sort of prince, portraiting a dull and arrogant facial expression, with flames on the back.
The naga smells smoke, but he can't pinpoint where the smell comes from. He doesn't see anything else here.
Misriel followed, head low.
"As well as could be expected," Kit states, rather than saying any of the other things on his mind, as he follows out of the arena.
Tekumsah looks around the room and sniffs, his mouth slightly open. He stares at the portrait for a few moments in curiosity, and glances at the chest, but ultimately decides against it. He moves to the wooden door first and tries to shove it open, and if it doesn't give he moves to the metal doors. May not be in great shape, but still need to find something to fight. That's the point, isn't it?
Flint rolls away from another incoming acid shot, keeping one hand on his hat since he was now looking down. "Damn," Flint curses as the bugs start climbing the wall. Course they could. Everything here was weird. And built to kill him. But wasn't he supposed to fight another gladiator? Who and where was his opponent?
The bugs got closer. "Alright. Fine. Let's see how you deal with lead."
When the three of them get away from the public eyes, back to the small room with the "mirrors", Kabuusah speaks again.
You were drafted together, yes. But environment was strong, killed one of the two. So, no victory for either.
He gestures, pointing to the "mirrors".
Your other two "friends" are still there. Fighting each other. But they didn't find each other either. If any of them dies to the environment, no one wins. Rules changing all the time by the desire of...
He pointed up, not willing to state the obvious.
Most gladiators die to the environment on the beginning. Until they learn to adapt and be prepared to first survive, then fight others. It's hard anyway though.
The Nagaji walks towards the wooden door and, on his way, hears some "clicks" - but doesn't see anything else happening, though. He can only imagine what it means.
Finally he gets to the door and opens it with ease. It seems it takes to a dark hall with long, steep stairs down. Tekumsah couldn't see beyond a couple dozen feet before going all dark.
/ 2 = 5
Flint dodges another spit of acid, but feels a little bit of it burning his skin nevertheless. His shots, though, are merciless; the first bug drops at his second shot, losing its grip and falling heavily on the floor, just as one of Flint's guns misfires. The other bug takes a shot but advances, bravely, to bite the Gunslinger.
It misses and the Human can hear it's annoyed by it. The other two creatures that spit before resurface closer to the wall and climb it, ending their movement surrounding Flint.
The last creature Flint saw - the big one - still didn't surface again. Maybe it gave up or got lost. Or, maybe, it's doing something else, terrible.
The nagaji makes a hissing noise as he looks down the stairs, descending into darkness. His eyes are more keen than a human's, but he can't see in the pitch black. With a clicking tongue of annoyance, he turns to try the metal doors, hoping they lead to a passage with more visibility.
"Well, when you can be sent into situations that play to your weaknesses rather than your strengths, it is rather difficult to survive," Kit states, looking over at Misriel. "Did you find it similar?"
"I'm not sure what I could have done differently but blindly run. Which would likely throw me against some other horrible fate."
Flint backs up as the beast moves in while blowing down the barrel of his currently inoperable gun. The creature lunges in for a bite and only gets a cloud of gun-smoke. Flint gets it back in working order by the time two more climb the tower and surround him. Sure. Why not. let's double down. He takes a crack shot at the wounded one while dodging the others.
Kit nods. "I tried to keep moving, and, well..." He shrugs. "I'm not certain if it was a better idea than standing and fighting or not."
He glances over at Kabuusah. "How often do the rules tend to change?"
Tekumsah approaches the double metal doors and notices a thin smoke coming from underneath it. It's not enough to make him cough or anything, but it looks like the one from the previous room. The doors are shut and he sees what looks like dry blood on the doorknobs.
The two large bugs try to opportunistically bite at Flint, but he dodges them both.
As he shoots, the other bug drops, squishing acid all across his way down. The other two creatures squeak, angry, and five-foot-step towards the Human to try another bite at him.
Yet again they miss and shake their mandibles with ire.
Kabuusah seems to hum for some moments before responding.
Certainly the arenas are one horrible fate after another. But some challenges are definitely beaten by running, while others are beaten by staying and fighting. I know some warriors like to use the environment against their competitors, before finishing them off.
He shook a bit as one light started blinking on the wall. He didn't, however, say anything about it - instead, he particularly seemed to like to change the subject.
The rules don't change much, to be sincere. I was exaggerating. But they're not unknown for changing. Usually small things, but happened already at least a dozen times since the arenas were created. - the light kept blinking, and he tried to avoid looking at Kit and Misriel when he continued speaking - Rules changed with wisdom, obviously.
Misriel guesses that the light speaks of some sort of monitoring system and decided to keep silent.
"I see..." Kit says, noncommittally.
Flint was getting used to their attacks. They were slower than he thought and far less deadly without the acid. He dodges and rolls as best he can on the side of the tower and returns fire from point blank range.
Hmm. On second thought, darkness doesn't poison your lungs. With another annoyed sound, Tekumsah spins on his heels and returns to the darkness, stepping down the stairs with caution and balance.
Some awkward moments of silence follow, until finally Kabuusah interrupts them.
So... Who do you think will win? - he says, pointing at the two mirrors on the wall who still show some action.
Kit and Misriel can notice each one of them show the other two gladiators from Golarion - Flint and Tekumsah - on different situations. While the Gunslinger is surrounded by bug creatures similar to the ones Kit fought - including an immense one, with two mouths - the Nagaji doesn't seem much better, moving through dark stairs while very hurt and coughing on pain. Small bars over each "mirror" seem to, somehow, control how much vitality each one still has. Little bright drawings over the mirrors are harder to interpret - Tekumsah has some sort of bright green symbol, while Flint has a red one.
Kabuusah almost feels excited while looking at the mirrors. His eyes don't actually blink much.
Flint steps back to shoot, but it's not quite enough to get out of their reach, since they moved the same 5-feet last turn - and they both get an attack at him.
Even getting surprisingly close of hitting the Human, they both miss. Their mandibles dip acid on the far ground, as Flint unleashes his attacks against one of the creatures - that dies at Flint's fourth shot, the third to hit it. It drops heavily on the ground, spitting everything with disgusting entrails.
The other one doesn't five-foot-step anymore, instead staying on the same place to try to bite the Human again.
And, not surprisingly, it misses! Flint feels safe, for moments, but miraculously manages to hear something coming from the other end of the tower. The immense creature is absurdly silent and tried to sneak on him, but fail at the last second to get its attacks against a flat-footed Flint. Surrounding the Human, the creature five-foot-steps, and tries to bite with its two ugly mouths.
It hits with the first mouth, biting hard on the Gunslinger's flesh and pulling him closer, as it grabs him violently. It then tries to use its momentum to bite at Flint again.
It doesn't quite succeed. The situation is of big despair, as Flint notices the wall underneath the creature (the rocks) turning slightly dark red.
Tekumsah manages to move trough the dark stairs, holding on the walls. The stone stairs seem to make a turn, and the Nagaji felt as if he moved a lot already down, and there's still more to go. The silence and darkness are almost inviting and peaceful - if it wasn't for a strange sensation he's feeling on the bottom of his legs: a bad one; a crawling one.
"The environment. One is nearly defeated already, I doubt they will battle before that one falls."
Tekumsah starts to feel worse--or just stranger--as he moves down the stairs, and it sets him even further at unease. Nothing about this place makes sense, even the combat. He has little choice but to press on, though.
This was going too smoothly. He was easily able to avoid the smaller ones so he'd mop them up soon. But where was the...
The hairs on the back of his neck were his only warning. He felt them rise and turned away out of instinct. Instead of being eaten outright, it took a large bite and pulled him way closer than he wanted to be. He stamped hard on its face as it tried to draw him in for another bite. "Leggo a me ya big ugly cockroach." He struggles to free his guns as the thing hugs him to the wall. He manages to press one against is face the other against its abdomen and pulls the triggers.
Or
Kit glances at the mirrors, then looks away. The casual brutality of this place sickens him, but he dares not speak of it.
"I agree with Misriel," he states.
Flint uses the arm he can and shots twice at the big creature, which shakes his heads in pain. It screeches loudly, and pulls Flint closer to his mouth to eat him.
It ends up swallowing the Human completely on his acidic and disgusting stomach! The other creature, the smallest, only has time to protest he didn't get a chance to act.
Tekumsah can't really see on the dark, and ends up stepping on a trap! It sprungs, releasing small vines that try to grab on his lower legs and damage him.
The released trap lets out a bad burning smell across the environment, as Tekumsah hears - from far - the muffled sounds of what seems to be gunfire.
Kabuusah closes his eyes, from the screen, when in one of the mirrors a giant roach-like creature swallows Flint whole.
Ugh! Yes, you're right! - he says, still covering his eyes - It gets too violent sometimes! But you're right, probably the environment will kill one, or both, faster than they can meet each other! And they were so close!
He steps closer to both the two slaves.
At least you shall be reunited soon, and back to your rest. - he says, trying to calm them down - To plan your next moves, I guess...
"Rest? Is that what you call it? I felt more restful being devoured by snakes. And what moves could I possibly make? Whatever that power is here is strong enough to sever my connection to Abadar. I have no moves against a being that does away with divinity as a mere trifle."
Tekumsah staggers down the stairs, his senses trying to make up for the lack of light, but it's not enough. He feels the vines take hold, winding up his legs, and they trip him just enough that he falls forwards. His other wounds and the poison in his veins make his body betray him, and his final sensations in the arena are the pain of the acid and the dull, crunching impact as he slams into the stairs...
As Flint is pulled into the belly of the beast he did not scream in fear, roar a challenge, or make any noise whatsoever. He looked down the throat and thought. S!~%. Not again. He had the distinct feeling he was not going to get cut out by is friends this time.
Kit says nothing for the time being, simply waits.
Eventually, Tekumsah and Flint also perish to the environment, pretty much at the same time. Kabuusah, Kit and Misriel receive them on the arena, and they're escorted outside. Under a lot of noise - they can barely hear each other - all four are conducted by the native to a set of stairs, taking to a room on a small dome under the center of the arena.
Slowly the noise faded. They were now on this plain white room with a single mirror, which was showing the image of an empty chair. Kabuusah seemed to shake at that point; statue-looking at the mirror, a dip of sweat hit the floor.
They'll announce the winners. It's more of a formality, since no one actually clashed... Other than against the arena itself. - he finally said, towards the four - So it ends up being based on the crowd, and the victories end up being almost worthless.
"Playing the crowd is a victory, no?" Tekumsah cocks his head to the side and gives Kabuusah a curious look. "Otherwise it is just violence. This is close, true, but it is something more as well."