As the bout rages between the warlock and the falconess, Sigmund sits on a stump and works on polishing his breastplate. As he works, a folded piece of paper slips loose from the inside of the chest piece and drops to the floor. He retieves with soiled fingers, leaving prints of black polish on the yellowed paper. Unfolding it carefully, it rings with the sound of quenching iron and fills the corner of the yard with the smell of citrus. As his eyes scan over the charcoal portrait of a young woman, his composure shatters and his face becomes a mask of loss and pain. The sheet crumples as his hands clench, and with a roar, he rips it in half and tears it to shreds.
He morosely goes back to polishing, but after a few minutes, he sets the rag aside and gathers up the scattered pieces. Holding the tatters with one hand, he incants and carefully pieces them together with his other. Several more minutes pass as the magic stitches them together. Leaving his kit near the stump he crosses the yard and approaches the other spectators.
"Blessings to you all. I am Sigmund Voight, but I didn't get your names in the inn last night. I know Jin is an arcanist, but he's occupied, so I'm hoping one of you can help me. My magic fixed the paper fine, but it won't do a damn thing for these smudges. I know most practitioners have a cantrip for such occasions. Do any of you know it?"
AC is now 23.
Straining to hear, the human fighter cannot pick where the crafty Magus has gone, yet no attack is forthcoming.
Terri is up for round 3
Before the night gets to long Peitry excuses himself and head up to the buck houses after an agreement has been reached with the distribution of the loot feeling well pleased with it's conclusion. Reaching the bunk house after a visit to the baths he finds a relatively out of the way bunk and sets up his gear, taking of his now clean coat and boots he puts his knapsack on the bed and sits down and opens it. Taking out a candle, some ink and a pen, a pouch of spell components and a few other materials he places his spellbook on his knees and uses it as a table for the sheet as he scribes a scroll after lighting the candle.
Remaining in this sitting postition for just under two hours Peitry hears the door open just as he sprinkles the drying sands over the freshly scribed scroll. Feeling sore in his back he stretches and kneads his lower back with his knuckle and turns to see Jin entering inquiring about access to his spellbook. Giving him a blank stare for a moment he mutters an 'alright' and rolls up and puts away his fresh scorching ray scroll knowing he should be charging the magus for the magic and not quite understanding why he doesn't, could this be some form of the brotherly bond forming or just Peitry's own instincts for survival? He didn't know, nor did it really matter, the magus would have his spells.
Getting up thankful for a full eight hour sleep Peitry gets comfortable with his spellbook in his lap, feeling excited as he leafs through it knowing that he doesn't have to spend most of his power just to ward of the weather. Selecting his spells he spends an hour filling his mind with arcane knowledge before setting of to find food and a merchant.
The thundering her ears as the rush of battle takes hold drowns out anything that might have told her where to expect an attack. She turned in place, hoping to catch something that would let her know where to expect a strike from. Her sword was up in a position to strike as quick as her reflex would let her.
Once again Terri strains but her senses betray her and still no attack comes.
turning away from the sparing towards Drez "I am a caster, But I put my trust in this he taps his sword. I can heal them as well but your channel will be more complete. I look forward to it."
Greetings Sigmund, I am Sirhan the Steelwolf I am sorry but I can not help you with the smudges on your paper. You are correct Jin might be able to help or maybe Pietry" Sirhan looks for him "He must have gone to do research for our upcoming exploration into the Wound."
Unable to hear or see any sign of her opponent, she decides to try something different. She drops into a crouch and using her blade to stir up a cloud of dust around her, hoping that she'll see him coming when he attacked.
Lost edit.
Jin tripped and critted Terri.
Of course, the subject is not magically silenced, and certain other conditions can render the recipient detectable (such as swimming in water or stepping in a puddle). If a check is required, a stationary invisible creature has a +40 bonus on its Stealth checks. This bonus is reduced to +20 if the creature is moving. The spell ends if the subject attacks any creature. For purposes of this spell, an attack includes any spell targeting a foe or whose area or effect includes a foe. Exactly who is a foe depends on the invisible character's perceptions. Actions directed at unattended objects do not break the spell. Causing harm indirectly is not an attack. Thus, an invisible being can open doors, talk, eat, climb stairs, summon monsters and have them attack, cut the ropes holding a rope bridge while enemies are on the bridge, remotely trigger traps, open a portcullis to release attack dogs, and so forth. If the subject attacks directly, however, it immediately becomes visible along with all its gear. Spells such as bless that specifically affect allies but not foes are not attacks for this purpose, even when they include foes in their area.
So we're gonna assume you just moved in round 3, and didn't cast.
Terri knows she's in serious trouble when she feels the scimitar hook behind her ankles and her feet leaving her the ground. Her arms go wide as she tries to catch herself, but only manages to leave herself open as Jin's blow slams into the seam where two of her armor's segments meet. She loses her voice as her breath is knocked from her from the fall and the brutal blow.
She isn't quite beat yet. She swings as hard as she can hoping to get a little breathing room.
Du Dagnir's voice rings in Jin's head.
AOO vs PRONE
Jin does a light jump, hopping over the fighters prone attack and strikes her again as she lowers her defenses, needing to use her arms to stand. His jump, however puts him of balance and his swing is powerful but wide.
Having lost his Significant advantage. Jin 5 ft steps away to E7 and casts ILL OMEN.
Drezen nods to Sirhan,
"Suits me fine, got me armor magicked already though - since it last all bleeding day. I feel pretty much the same, I'd rather be swinging than botherin' Gorum, tend to use me spells as a fall back, or before a fight I know is coming. Like if I were in poor Terri's place now, I'd a started buffin' my defenses and waited for him te strike on the defensive."
Watching the combat he calls,
"Come on Terri! Make him pay for that!"
Terri steps up next to Jin and begins a furious assault to try and keep the magus on his heels.
Unfortunately, she can't seem to land a hit on him.
Greetings Sigmund, I'm Kenan Borjigon. Unfortunately I can't help you either. I've never mastered the mysteries of magic.
With his wits and magic holding firm the Magus ducks 2 clumsy swings and counters against the tiring fighter.
Yet he fails to get past her shield. She apparently wasn't THAT tired. But he was getting close. He was sure.
With his wits and magic holding firm the Magus ducks 2 clumsy swings and counters against the tiring fighter.Swift Arcane Accuracy.
A HIT. It was OVER.
As he falls the magus breathes a sigh. That. Was. Close.
Well done
Terri's vision goes black as Jin's blade strikes true once more. She's tough, but even she could only take so much and she found herself gasping as the scimitar strikes the seam once more. Short of breath, and aching from the blows, she passes out and falls to the ground.
Even as Terri topples Drezen is holding up a hand - upon which a single vaguely sword-like patch of pale white human skin can be seen, in sharp contrast to the red hoary hide which covers the rest of his body.
"Gorum, bind the wounds of these brave warriors that they might fight on for your glory!" He bellows, as several pulses of blood red light ripple forth bringing the scent of steel and gore, and a faint sound of far off battle.
The red light laps at wounds and bruises erroding them until the flesh beneath is perfectly restored. Then Drezen strides over and offers Terri an armored hand saying,
"He's a tricksey one and no mistake, I'd not like to fight him in a serious battle," he glances back at Jin grinning, "though I'd love te give it a try for fun some time."
Peitry comes out into the sun for a lunch brake from his scribing and approaches the group at the training grounds munching on an apple just in time to see Jin fell the warrioress and nods to those present.
"Hey'ya, keeping busy I see. Good. We'll need to keep our edge out here. I bought the wand and the other item we discussed this morning, I'm working on a scroll right now so I'd appreciate us not leaving till next morning. Or if we leave the morning after that I can get more scribing done even.." he says between bites of the apple.
Finishing the thing he tosses the core into a growth of grass and fishes out a pouch and begins rolling himself a cigarette. "Hey, what'ya got there?" he says to Sigmund. "Looks pretty, shame about the blood." Finishing his rolling he pop the cigarette into his mouth and lights it, leaning against a railing he puffs away contently, watching the fighters gather themselves.
Nodding a greeting to Peitry Drezen pats the pommel of his greatsword with his tail and asks,
"So are we ready to go? I will warn you, I do not aim to fight pretty, I fight to win," the horned cleric says to Sirhan, grinning with the cheerful visciousness that is common to the battle hungry clerics of his order.
"Well met, Master Sirhan, Master Borjigon. You both have the bearing of stout warriors. Still, given his" -- points at Jin -- "martial prowess, I figured looks could be deceiving. I had asked Drezen earlier, unaware that he was not yet part of your band, what sort of monsters you encountered in the wilderness. Perhaps you can tell me..."
Sigmund listens with interest as Pietry briefs the others. When addressed, he replies, "a shame, I agree. It is a trivial matter, one too unimportant to bother the runewardens here with. Still, if you happen to have a Prestidigitation handy, I'd be grateful. The cadets at the College training to be war wizards would often use them to remove the evidence of their midnight jubilations."
Shrugging, he folds the portrait back up and tucks it into his shirt. "Speaking of jubilation...," Sigmund retrieves his own ivory pipe and a small silver box. "I was introduced to this lovely stuff by a fellow cadet. From the fertile jungle plots of Sargava, it's known as 'Dark Fire,' and it's quite expensive." He stuffs the bowl with black leaves, lights it with a matchstick, and soon has it drawing nicely. "Worth every coin, though I've no idea how I'm going to get more here. Have you a reputable supplier?"
Peitry looks wistfully at his tobacco pouch before putting it away at Sigmund's question. "No. No I don't actually. I hope there is one at the keep though or this stuff might get right valuable real quickly." Leaning back on the railing he watches with interest as the thiefling, Drezen, eagerly awaits a fight and *tsks*.
"No, I'm sorry to say, I don't have prestididgitation prepared for this day, seems a bit trival a spell to be preparing this close to the world wound, sorry. I'm Peitry by the way, Peitry Valzarion." Peitry extends a hand in greeting to Sigmund. "You're the Iomedaean cleric right? That one is the Gorumite by the looks of him." he says indicating Drezen.
His bruises healed and Terri awakening, Jin returns the practice scimitar to the box containing the brass training weapons beside the ring. As soon as his hand touches Dur Dagnir, his true blade berates his performance.
Forgiveness,my shadow, I promised no damaging spells or flight. It would have been over far sooner otherwise. I could have simply flown above and shot her full of arrows.
But a wise one. I'll not fight stupidly for your lust, shadow. I cannot slay demons with you if I am dead. So let's fight smart
So glad we agree.
Jin sees Sigmund's dirty papers and catches the unspoken question.
Casting Prestidigitation to clean the smudges.
A keep sake my friend? Forgive my rudeness but your marks on your hands? They are some form of punishment yes? What did you do?
Giving Terri a chance to recover her feet, Jin bows as she approaches.
Thank you, you performed very well. You hit hard and with skill. What impressed me most was your attempt to catch me with a dust cloud and in truth it was that kind of lateral thinking I was looking for. This will prove a very difficult decision, but I feel once we have tested the limits of our two other applicants we should be able to choose someone this evening at the Watchful Blade.
Terri gets to her feet after the first wave of channeled energy heals many of the bruises she'd taken, though she staggers, a little punch-drunk from the fight still. The second wave took care of that though.
"Thanks, a pity it didn't work, the blow you delivered after that trick was the worst one I've had in a while." She smiles, more pleased that she had a challenge than anything else.
"We'll have to see how you fare in a straight fight with no tricks someday. If you fight like that all of the time, I may have to feel a little sorry for the demons we face."
Well met, Master Valzarion. Sigmund Voight, servant of Iomedae. Yes, he reminds me of many of Gorum's Battlemasters I have known. Those two seem eager to fight. I am also eager, but I wouldn't be satisfied with sparring. No fight but our mortal enemy will bank my fire.
He congratulates Jin and compliments Terri. The pipe has put him in a better mood, and having the blemishes removed lifts his spirits. At Jin's question, he wipes his palms and holds them up. Remorse and anger flicker across his face, but dissapear as he draws another puff. The scars on his palm are faded pink, not quite old enough to have bleached white. They appear to be starbursts, with a longer spike that reaches to his wrist. The center of the star is red and bloody, looking freshly gouged. The wounds do not penetrate his hands, as the back is untouched.
My crime was believing that all who follow the Inheiritor are good and just. The truth is that demons walk amongst even the devout and they wear the most cunning disguises. I was decieved by one such succubus, betrayed by her, judged unfairly, and punished harshly. I have come here, where the demons are easy to see, to exact my retribution.
Jin replies to the Fighter, Think of my tricks as an expression, of respect, for I freely admit your superiority in direct confrontation and would be foolish to believe otherwise. It is just so with the demons we face as well and so yes, I do always fight like that.
Something like a look of real understanding covers Jin's face as Sigmund speaks, You have suffered and seek vengeance. Well, you have certainly come to the right place to find what you seek.
It appears I spoke too soon about combat not being a full measure of a Cleric, though I can understand that being incorrect when speaking of disciples of a War god. How about a little difference for you two? Just to make it interesting? Peitry, would you have any summons of battlefield altering spells to make the field more interesting? Or we could also pair Crissor and Sirhan against Sigmund and Drezen? Merely a thought. No one has to fight if no one feels like it.
The magus finds and chair and sits down taking out 2 of his pearls of power and repreparing his Ill Omen and Shield spells. I really should have prepared Vanish today.
"No. No, sorry. Nothing like wall or cloud spells. My magic is mostly more direct as my field of study focuses on the power of the written word and the composition and oppositions of the elements."
"I'm sorry to hear about you're betrayal, my story has a striking familiarity to your own, without the bloodshed but with the shame. I will take my leave now and continue with my work. I will meet you all for dinner, good day."
With that Peitry tosses the stub of his cigarette and walks off to continu scribing.
And that is why I could never be a proper wizard. I need to feel steel in my had and outside. Too much study indoors and I feel as though I am in bonds again.
Enjoy your day, Peitry. A few more and when your ring kicks in you'll find ample time for study while others sleep. Your rise my even gain speed. Good day.
Drezen paws the ground with a cloven hoof,
"Well I'm up for anything, so long as I get to hit something soon, its practically prayin' for a priest of Gorum - and I'm very devout."
Sirhan watches as Sigmund lights his pipe. "Sir once I am done Sparring Drev, I have some pipe tobacco given to me by a halfling village as thanks for recovering some missing children from slavers, it is quite exceptional."
Sirhan walks onto the fields grinning his wolf grin. "What rules did you want I have no objection to magic and I to play to win. Sirhan readies himself for combat growling something in Drev's direction
Initiative:
Terri finds a place to sit and watch the coming match.
Well, let's see what I can learn of these men.
"Start say twenty feet apart, and no trying to damage equipment, otherwise anythin' goes? Start when a copper piece hits the floor, alright?" Drezen suggests, moving out into the middle of the courtyard. He readies himself removing his shield and cracking his knuckles. Then pulling out a copper piece showing it to Sirhan and hurling it up high into the air.
The coin rises some fifteen feet into the air, glinting in the sunlight and then tumbles down to the ground with a dull clink which is drowned out by Drezen's jubilant roar!
The armored priest surges forward before Sirhan can move, pulling his greatsword from its sheath, with neon blue tendrils of magic crackling over the blades surface. As he closes, moving with surprising speed for someone in such heavy armor, he brings the greatsword down in an arc and sweeps the wolf faced oracle from his feet before he can react!