Does anyone know what we are supposed to do for call-backs? I'm sure it is well past the time we were supposed to start.
Erin listens with interest to Evalee's rambling spiel, and by the end of it she gives an involuntary bark of laughter. She then sits in awkward silence for a moment while the others exchange small talk, before sliding over to address her. "Hi, um... Evalee? Anyway, sorry about that. That's just a... refreshing outlook. Really. I wish I felt that comfortable with my own cosmic helplessness."
Does anyone know what we are supposed to do for call-backs? I'm sure it is well past the time we were supposed to start.
In response to Zarine's query, Erin raises her eyebrows. "They're probably giving us a chance to get to know each other, so it'll be all the more amusing when we duel to the death for their entertainment."
Aphrashai walks along with Erin. After she finishes speaking he pipes up, "Well, I believe life has a bit more meaning than nothing at all. What's ones purpose if not to serve themselves after all? I suppose if one allows themselves to be miserable and has made their peace with it then more power to them. Well, all told why would you allow yourself to be miserable when with enough charm and determination one can attain great things?" He pauses for a moment to think before continuing, "That said, it seems increasingly likely that this...audition will involve a bit of violence. Well, I can handle myself in a duel of wits but when it comes to a duel of arms I am less purely skilled."
Pogug laughs. "If life has meaning for yous, it was meeting Pogug. Pogug knows that life is about him, so he does as Pogug wishes. No one influences Pogug like Pogug, therefore Pogug is Pogug. If you wish meaning outside of Pogug being Pogug, then yous is stupid and don't understand. You should be yous like Pogug is Pogug, but Pogug not be mad if you want to be like Pogug rather than yous. Pogug understands." Looking rather happy with his explanation, he grins with his sharp teeth.
"Pogug not scared of violence! Pogug is strongest! Pogug would also win duel of wits too! Despite yous all seeming nice people, Pogug not feel bad if he must hit yous to win. But will be mad if Pogug is hit. That is not nice."
They're probably giving us a chance to get to know each other, so it'll be all the more amusing when we duel to the death for their entertainment.
Zarine laughs.
A duel would be interesting, though death probably less so. I mean, I need a job, but not THAT badly.
She smiles.
You may have a very good point though about getting to know each other. Perhaps part of the test is how well we get along with each other.
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A tall, debonair-looking man approaches. His short, reddish-brown hair contrasts his thick, orange beard. He wears a long brown coat with elaborate red, gold and black embroidery on its trim. He has the confident stride of a man in charge.
Is this everyone? His eyes scan over the group assembled in the stands. You recognize the voice from the night before. It's the same one that dismissed one performer after another from the stage in the bigtop. Where's the frog?
Clyde looks around and shrugs.Must have hopped off somewhere.
Erin looks mildly confused. "There's a frog?"
As the newcomer enters Ashak turns to his peers. "Good luck" He bends to take a seat, turning his head back he add "Just not too much."
In response to the missing frog
"must've gotten cold feet"
Nathaniel turned to the red-haired man with the flaming orange beard, a slight warmth permeating through him as he was filled with nervous energy. This was it, time to shine! As the man asked about the froggish performed, the young man shrugged his whitecloaked shoulders. "Not my day to keep up with him, I'm afraid."
Internally Nathaniel winced after the words left his mouth, but he kept a performer's smile on his face. Others had already answered, why had he felt the need? And in such a smarmy way! No matter...Nathaniel whispered to Ashak, "Good luck to you as well."
Thinking back, the Juggler wondered why so many of his fellow performers thought there was a combat coming up. Had they been joking? Or was that how primal it was here in these parts? Maybe he should have ventured further before seeing what was in store for him. Oh well, nothing to do about it but just see what happened.
Zarine looks around. Well, maybe the frog will be along soon.
Pogug licks his lips. Mmmmm... Frog...
Mmm...sauted in garlic butter
The man stands in front of you, resting one hand on the ornate silver pommel of the sword that hangs at his side. My name is Gregor Maleffect. His voice booms. If you have one of these, he holds up a wooden token, like the ones you were all given, it means that you've shown you can perform, but I am looking for individuals who can do more than just the performances you have demonstrated.
The Sirensong Travelling Carnival performs all around the world. In some parts that world, bloodsport is still the primary form of entertainment. Yesterday, we saw who could perform on the stage, today we see who can perform in the arena.
It wouldn't do to have you killing one another, so the order of the day is nonlethal damage only. Your goal is not to kill one another, it is to put on a good show for the audience. Those of you who haven't fought in front of an audience before will find that winning their favor is a boon to your ability, but make them turn against you, and the match is as good as lost.
Any questions?
Zarine doesn't really like this idea, but goes along.
Is healing allowed, for ourselves or others? And how are you gauging audience reaction... are you our audience, or are you going to let people in here while we .. um... "audition"?
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Healing is not against the rules, nor is it what the audience will want to see. You will have to try harder to keep them on your side if you do it, but it could mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Nathaniel's brow furrowed as he glanced down at his daggers, realizing how difficult it would be to hit anyone without giving out 'nonlethal' damage. Still, the young man shrugged. At least he had specified no killing...hopefully he meant it. Surely he had. "Ummm...so do we spread out...count to 10, how's this work?"
Zarine puts her armor on.
No. I want to see how you work on a team. He seems to think for a moment, probably trying to decide how to divide up the teams, given that one member is missing, before continuing to Nathaniel. You, your blue-haired friend, and the fat one will take the east. The mystic, the halfling, and the hobgoblin will take the west. The rest of you will start at the north. I will tell you when to begin, and the last team standing wins.
Nathaniel looked at the team he was assigned to as he slowly started to walk in what he assumed was an easterly direction. He'd never been big on the sun and how it could clue you in to these things. As they diverged from the others, he whispered to Clyde and Zarine...
Gregor adds, before the teams begin to adjourn to their respective corners.You may cast whatever spells you like on yourselves and your team beforehand, but no offensive spells before I tell you to start.
Zarine pulls out her bow and her quiver full of blunt arrows. I can't exactly do non-lethal damage with arrows, but I'll use blunt ones, so the audience won't be shocked by any blood.
I'm okay with attacking the three-person team I suppose. You have a point that the others will look like underdogs, but of course, we can hopefully manipulate that. I am going to use a bardic performance, which will keep you loose, and it will help you even more if you are mobile. You're going to think that I'm crazy, but the way it works is that I am going to be narrating our great battle for the audience, telling them our great feats and failures, and making us out hopefully to be the heroes, so I want you guys to go full melodrama. This is full improv of course, but if you miss, pout. If you hit, cheer. Show the audience what is happening, and if you hear me give you a cue as part of the story, try to run with it. ... I'll also try to be watching to see if there is something that I can narrate to our advantage.
Either of you want me to call you something specific in the story... a stage or heroic character name? ... Or anything else you guys can think of?
Ashak cracks his neck, stands and discards his heavy clothing. Beneath is ashort, wiry hobgoblin in old leather armor, as he stands kukri slide from hidden sheathes into his hands. "just like the good ol' days". He crosses to his side of the ring with his team mates.
Ashak leans in a whispers. "The fat one, Clyde, is going to be tough. He looks like he can throw quite a punch, and I'm sure he can take quite a few hits himself. If one of you can give me an opening I can hit him where it hurts. The other two should be a bit easier but I'm sure they have plenty of tricks up their sleeves as well.
For the other team the other Clyde seems like he could be trouble too, the goblin doesn't seem too bad, and I'm not sure about Ms. Baker, I don't think that's her real name. What are your talents?"
Nathaniel listened to Clyde's words thoughtfully, nodding along at the end. "Vaulting off your wide back for my initial attack would probably look pretty cool, I guess."
The young man paid as well of attention as he could to Zarine's rather longer list of instructions, trying not to tap his foot nervously as his eyes flitted to the other teams getting ready. He nodded his understanding of the performance aspect of her speech, putting on a good show something he was at least decent at.
His mind was whirling as the combat approached, but he grinned nevertheless. "How about Nate the Great!" He cackled to himself, shrugging his shoulders as he started to stretch his limbs to loosen them up.
Pogug shys away from Semsephiel, frightened by what he saw in him. He turns more to Evalee, whispering. "Pogug is strongest, so will be in front. Vween-Maker make Pogug strong, though hes also thinks that it could make yous stronger too. But it is hard to use weapon while playing Vween-Maker. Do yous have weapons?"
At Maleffect's announcement, Erin looks somewhat shaken, but she takes a deep breath and smiles. "Well. This should be fun."
Erin opens her backpack, draws out a spiked breastplate, and puts it on. She slips on a pair of wrist sheathes and a cestus, then straps a buckler to one arm and lashes her lance to the other with a leather cord.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" She lifts the bat from outside of her backpack and tosses it gently into the air. It immediately grows at a rapid pace, quickly reaching the size of a small pony, then it loops around and follows Erin as she walks briskly toward her teammates.
"So, who do you think we should go for first? What would make the biggest splash?"
Can't you use your bardic performance/raging song with any perform skill? You could sing and hold a weapon.
"My vote is that we hang back from the initial melee and harass them at range, if they're forced to close the gap we have the advantage."
"It might be best if your took one of my nets. They're a little big for you, but with two of us throwing we can increase our odds of snaring the bat."
[ooc]Do we have a battle map?
Pogug nods, and takes the net from the man. He keeps it folded, and puts it on his belt. It easily reaches his feet even in that manner, looking rather ridiculous. "Pogug stay in back and shoot with crossbow. Sting real bad!"
As for the nets, I don't think I'll get much use: between the size penalty and exotic weapon, I'm getting a -1 to hit. Even for a touch weapon, it isn't too great.
Pogug waves his hands and hums a melody. A magic imbues each of the team, as they feel the sound take them. . "It'll only work once, so make sure not to waste on stupids."
As you are moving to your corners and discussing strategy with your new allies, you notice a group of characters about as diverse as yourselves take up seats in the southern stands. When Maleffect moves to join them, you assume they are other members of the carnival, who will be acting as the audience for your performance. This "professional" audience is small, but may be unusually difficult to impress.
Once Erin and her team have finished making plans, she mounts her bat and they take off, rising thirty feet above the battlefield.
Erin raises her eyebrows at Ashak's height reference, but lets it pass without comment. A few minutes later, though, from the top of her bat's arc over the arena, she looks down to catch Ashak's eye, makes a *this high* sign, and winks.
Aphrashai picks up his walking stick, twists the handle, and produces a finely crafted dueling sword. He says to the group, "I do indeed, well, more of weakening minds, making them more open to my...suggestions. I have a bit of minor mind control as well, commanding people to do a task that they cannot refuse or causing them to collapse into unstoppable laughter. "