Chelish Conflict:
The chelish opponents of Frakdar and Gorak spring into action. The man steps forward and attempts to trip Gorak...
...missing the mark with an initial leg trip, but the following arm throw sends Gorak to the deck and flying to his left.
The woman weaves out of the path of Frakdar, focusing her attention instead on Gorak. Eyes focused she lashes out with knees and feet at the prone fighter...
...the initial kick striking Gorak in the kidney, sending waves of nausea throughout his body. Gorak is able to fend off some of the remaining strikes, though a knee finds it's way through to contact his head.
Action Tracker (Round 2): Frakdar, Gorak, Man / Woman
Taldan Tete a Tete:
As Javi attempts to circle the bare-shirted Taldan he is pushed back into the fighter's circle. The Taldan barely avoids Javi's strike and twists away. As he spins, he reaches out to grip Javi...
Attempt to Grapple:
...though his reaction is too slow and Javi evades the man's reaching hands.
The taldan that still has all of his clothes on charges forward, silent with a strange sense of calm on his face. He leads at Nisk with a crude but effective rising knee...
...making solid contact on Nisk's gut, forcing all of the air from his lungs.
Action Tracker (Round 1): Javi, Shirted (C,3), Bare-Chest (F,3), Nisk
"COME ON WHERE'S THE SHOWMANSHIP!! BORING! BORING! COME ON JAVI PUT A SPIN INTO THOSE ATTACKS!! COME ON ARE YOU GUYS THE SAME ONES I FOUGHT ALONG SIDE IN THAT CITIES PIT FIGHTS!!!! LETS SEE SOME ACTION!!!" The Bear Bellows!
Seeing the woman go to task on Gorak.
Split them up, he is the enticer and she is the enforcer. Lets take her down.
5-foot move to O3
Flurry of Blows + Elemental Fist:
Damage:
Flurry of Blows + Elemental Fist:
Damage:
EDITED per comment, would have preferred rerolling, but will use these.
Gorak will get up and attempt to hit the guy that just threw him
Slam
Gorak, shift next to me if you can so that you are not flanked.
Gorak, shift next to me if you can so that you are not flanked.
Gorak does so ASAP.
"DWARFFF! DWARFFFF!!!! MAYBE YOU NEED A DRINK!!! COME ON DRINK MY FRIEND IT IMPROVES YOUR FIGHTING!!!!" THE BEAR CHANTS!
He looks to another on looker, "It's somebody read it somewhere, that booze helps dwarfs fight."
"Ooofff!" Comes the grunt as Nisk is struck, then, a little dazed, looks around for his buddy. Got to get to him. He's not very good alone. Nisk sees that Javi is backed against the crowd by the other man and realizes he may have to take a strike to get there. Ducking forward, he attempts to slide by the man ahead of him, popping upward to soar towards the mast, then throw his whole body behind an elbow strike toward the back of the man threatening Javi.
Taldan Tete-a-Tete:
Nisk dances away from the angry taldan easily, though his strike lacks power and merely glances off the bare-chested one's defences.
Action Tracker (Round 2): Javi, Shirted (D,5), Bare-Chest (F,3), Nisk
Chelish Conflict:
Frakdar unleashes his fists of fire upon the chelish woman, scoring two solid hits though the woman stands firm... just. Gorak attempts to throw off the waves of nausea from the woman's initial kick...
Fort Save:
...able to work through the pain, though his attempt to stand makes him suffer opportunistic strikes...
Man AoO: for
Woman AoO: for
...suffering a glancing blow from the chelish man before being able to strike back at his tormentor with a fist before stepping to the side.
The chelish man grunts with exertion before stepping forward attempting to repeat the tripping maneuver...
Flurry of Maneuvers (Trips): and
....though both attempts are unsuccessful.
Faced with two standing foes beside her, the chelish woman focuses her energy and with a shouted kiai she leaps into the air delivering a two legged spinning kick...
Attack at Gorak:
Attack at Frakdar: for
...missing Gorak, but landing a heavy kick on Frakdar - before stepping back beside her partner.
Action Tracker (Round 3): Frakdar, Gorak, Man / Woman
Damage Tracker:
Woman - 24
Man - 8
As Nisk so ably and gracefully weaves untouched through the fight, Javi can't help but laugh out, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, eh, Nisk?" He punctuates the comment with twin strikes. A right fist followed quickly by a snap-kick to the man's gut. Javi holds a third attack ready, a claw-fist ready to slash the man's eyes if he staggers under one of Javi's well-targetted blows.
Round 3
That's not nice, kicking the short guy.
Acrobatics(for show points):
I 5-foot spring forward showing that Dwarves also have agility by cartwheeling in and striking the waif first with a downward knee to the gut followed as I return to standing with an elbow to the head.
FoB:
Damage:
FoB:
Damage:
Chelish Conflict:
Frakdar clumsily cartwheels, drawing a few chuckles at his attempt to be graceful from the watchers - but they cannot argue with the effectiveness of his strikes. His knee drives the woman to hers, before the follow-up elbow lays her out on the deck.
Action Tracker (Round 3): Frakdar, Gorak, Man / Woman
Damage Tracker:
Woman - out for the count
Man - 8
Taldan Tete-a-Tete:
Javi bursts into action delivering a blinding strike before following up with a weak second attack that only strikes home as the taldan has already been robbed of his sight.
The bare-chested one turns turtle as he rubs at his eyes to clear up his sight.
The angry Taldan growls before charging Javi attempting to make him pay for his underhanded fighting style...
Raging charging power attack: for
Action Tracker (Round 2): Javi, Shirted (D,5), Bare-Chest (F,3), Nisk
Damage Tracker:
Bare-Chest - 24
Gorak again attempts to backhand the man
Slam attack
Nisk decides to make the bare-chested man hit the deck before he shifted focus. Making one go down would make the other child's play, so he struck forward once more, his arms windmilling to strike low at the man's thighs.
Turning to the man and holding up his hands: Well, your backstabber is no longer of assistance, do you submit, or do you wish to say hello to my little friends?
Intimidate:
Chelish Conflict:
The man licks his lips nervously a moment seeming to submit, before bursting into action "Aye I'll greet your little friends" foot flashing forward towards Frakdar's stone jewels...
Flurry of maneuvers (Dirty Tricks): and
...Frakdar barely avoiding painful contact.
Action Tracker (Round 4): Frakdar, Gorak, Man
Taldan Tete-a-Tete:
Nisk's fist thumps into the bare shirted man's trunk and makes him sag limply to the ground.
Action Tracker (Round 3): Javi, Shirted, Nisk
Damage Tracker:
Bare-shirt - is out of action
Javi's encouragement to Nisk's felling blow is cut short as the second Taldan's attack drives the wind from Javi, but there's no time to worry about recovery.
He takes a rolling dive, attempting to avoid any counter-strikes as he sets up a flank with Nisk. Still rolling to his feet, the Wasp strikes out with a fist into the tender area in the man's inner thigh.
Some people never learn, going after a dwarf's jewels is likely to really tick him off. Perhaps after I pin you, I shall tie you up with yours.
Grapple:
Chelish Conflict:
Frakdar reaches out to introduce the uncouth man to the delicate sensibilities of the dwarves, but his grasp lacks conviction as memories of how close the man's foot came to his jewels flash through his unconscious mind.
Action Tracker (Round 4): Frakdar, Gorak, Man
Taldan Tete-a-Tete:
Javi gracefully sweeps through the air to flank the raging Taldan, but his strike glances off the shirt of chain links that lies beneath the Taldan's shirt - robbing it of its power.
The Taldan spins with a wild haymaker following Javi's path, looking to take his head off...
Power Attack Fist: for
...though the strike is ill aimed.
Action Tracker (Round 3): Javi, Shirted, Nisk
Gorak Tumbles to L5 to flank
acrobatics
The attempts to mule kick the man
Gorak's kick lands home with a solid thump.
Feeling threatened from both sides, the man tries to rob you of your sight...
Flurry of Dirty Tricks to Blind:
Gorak:
Frakdar:
...nails raking across the eyes of the Beast, though Frakdar is better prepared.
Time to go down my ballsy friend.
Frakdar again grabs ahold of his opponent. Reaching around the foe. Upon catching his nimble foe, Frakdar immediately performs an agile twist of his body in an attempt to force the man to the ground face down with Frakdar's knee in his back and both arms held behind him.
CMB-grapple: vs CMD
If 28 is 5 or more above the CMD, then I will try to immediately pin him (my maneuver Chakra).
CMB-pin: vs grappled CMD
Frakdar reaches out and gets a firm grip upon the chelish man, before focusing his energy and twisting the man's body into an intensely painful position that severely restricts his movement.
Ok, you now have a second chance. Give in and submit, or shall I return your favor and bind you with your family jewels?
"COME ON LADS AND ELVES!! FINISH THEM!!! ITS ALMOST TIME TO EAT!!" THE BEAR BELLOWS!
Chelish Conflict:
The man struggles in Frakdar's arms for a few more moments before conceding the moot point "Aye you have me dwarf, the win is yours" and going limp beneath his grasp.
Taldan Tete-a-Tete:
Quick Summary:
The sole surviving Taldan goes down hard amid a flurry of blows from both Nisk and Javi. Nisk gets in a wicked elbow just as the man doubles over from a kidney strike from Javi and he does not easily rise from the deck.
Aftermath:
The winning fighters are cheered by the crowd of initiates and sailors and congratulated on a well fought bout. One of the halfling rigging riders breaks open a small flask of some of the most powerful smelling gutrot you've even smelt and offers you a drinks.
Your vanquished opponents gradually stir from their induced slumber, though will be wearing some bruises for a few days to come. They are gracious in defeat, grinning as they shake your hands. The chelish man adds "Pity Torgus didn't step up... I know of a few mates who were looking forward to matching fists. But colour me convinced, you'll serve the monastery well in the tournaments to come."
From the ease of which he spake, you guess he has somewhat of an idea of what is to come...
After offering a hand and helping the man and the woman back to their feet, Frakdar looks at the chellish man for a minute, then turns to the rigger.
Thank you for your offer sir, but I am afraid that I should not accept drink at this time. This is a time for training and preparation. There shall be plenty of time for revelry and celebration once I have won the tournament.
The chelish man smiles at your optimism "Heh, I like your confidence; but all the Masters combined will have a hard time to win this tournament. We will have our part to play of course, but the end will be beyond us."
Please tell us more about this tournament then. Without knowledge we are all fighting blind. And while we are all skilled, blind fighting is not our expertise.
The chelish man continues "I don't know the entire story, but I do know that there are tiers of the tourney. We'll be down in the bottom while the other masters will be competing above us, and the Master Gond above them all. Geniekind and man both will be against us and they'll test all of our abilities. There will be few straight fights like we've just had... there's always a twist."
"FIGHT WAS OKAY, BUT I SEE NO STORY IN YOUR FIGHTING. HOW CAN YOU ALL ENTERTAIN THE ONES WATCHING AND THATS HOW YOU EARN THE MONEY AND RIGHTS TO TAKE ON THE BRAWLING BEAR BWAHAHAHHA"
The rest of the journey passes without any more significant diversions. Bouts and sparring continue, and you feel yourself growing more and more comfortable with your newly found powers.
After a couple more weeks you see an island loom up before you in the far distance. It looks no different from this distance to any other island that you have seen... but you know of the challenges that it contains. You spend a few more days tracing the island down the Western coast before cutting to the East and seeing a city crystallize in the distance. Tall spires and polished domes adorn the skyline and you can sense the anticipation growing among the initiates. As you reach the mouth of the harbor, a small junk approaches your ship. It is under the power of it's oars and a well muscled ascetic stands upon its prow.
What type of twists would you be speaking of? Elves and Kellid's twist quite nicely. Dwarves, not so twisty.
Responding to Frakdar: "More along the lines of the field of battle. The Vudra bind many jinn to their service, and their abilities will shape both the line of conflict and perhaps our foes. Tell me good dwarf - have you danced with air or wrestled a rock?"
I cannot say I have wrestled a rock, but I have much experience working with stones. And my training has given me a connection with fire. I have not per se wrestled with these forces before. Have you?
Javi listens to the conversation as his dark eyes watch the coast fly by. He can't help but imagine all the crazy things they'll see… and have to contend with. He also can't help but laugh as the conversation turns to wrestling stone, "You seemed to be handy enough 'wrestling stones' in that last fight with the Chellish guy." His voice drops to a low imitation of the dwarfs, and javi tries to make his body squat and his face hard like Frakdar's, "… going after a dwarf's jewels is likely to really tick him off! I shall tie you up with yours… GRWAAAAR!" The end is said with a comical double-arm-flex.
Gorak chuckles at Javi's comments, but otherwise says nothing.
Frakdar turns and scowls at Javi, although you think you can see his bushy eyebrows raise slightly as though recognizing the attempt at humor.
The junk draws near, and the ascetic on it's bow leaps onto your ship with ease and vaults unto the main deck. You see Master Gond appear from his quarters and the newcomer heads straight for him. They move within for a few short minutes before the ascetic comes back out and returns to his junk.
Master Gond has a few whispered words with Morthar before the big man bellows "RIGHT - HE'S GOING TO LEAD US IN. QUICK TO THE RIGGING AND SHAPE UP.... ANYONE LAGGING DOESN'T GET TO GET DRUNK ON MY COIN TONIGHT!" which manages to coerce the right reaction from his crew - as they scurry around and adjust the rigging to follow the small junk in towards the docks.
As you approach, the grandeur of the city is able to be seen in full force. The colorful, many-tiered pagodas of Niswan are breathtaking when seen from the great seas that surround its harbor. The silk banners that furl in the cold wind float above the city in it's quiet majesty. There are a great many ships in the harbor, in many designs - including some that the crew whisper are from the great distant Vudra itself. The vessels are painted gaudily though judging by the magnificence of them you'd gauge there are many nobles in the city.
Your vessel pulls in close to the dock, and you are greeted by a company of turbaned soldiers with curved talwars at their waist. They are accompanied by a large red-skinned jinn whose skin plays with fire and teeth are a brilliant white beneath his wide smile. The initiates and masters both form to line a path from Master Gonds chambers to the dockside and await him coming forth...
I step forward and join the line of Initiates and masters.