Cornel shows these men the power of his god, and also gives him a personal lesson in chemical reactions....to his torment.
Lysimachos helps insure his own survival by stabbing the enemy attacking him to death. He then turns his attention to the remaining combatant, even as people start to spill into the street to watch the spontaneous bloodbath.
Lazverinus finds his blade arm jostled by a onlooker, which causes him to miss his thrust.
Where a normal man might retreat in the fact of superior numbers, the remaining combatant has chosen to double down on his plan, ill-advised though it might be. He swings his blade furiously at Lazverinus, hoping to drop him.
He fails to connect, however.
His blade, arm, face, and chest drenched in the blood of the first assailant, Lysimachos wastes not a second in spinning around and continuing to stab at the second.
His thoughts are not as coherent as KILL! KILL! KILL! but his murderous demeanour is impossible to mistake.
As the others continue to fight for their lives, Cornel tries to make sure they won't have to give up their lives to the state by becoming guilty of murder...he examines the unconscious duelist and tries to stop the bleeding.
Even at a glance Cornel can tell that the man is dead. There is a gaping hole in him that includes part of the shape of Lysimacho's hand, like he had punched through his flesh and stabbed him at the same time. Which, to be fair, is basically what happened.
Oh, no... Cornel's heart sinks as he sees the man is already dead.
Feeling his friend about to pass out, and knowing he is next, Laz puts all his effort on his next strike.
As Cornel ponders the legal ramifications of the situation, he decides to focus on protecting himself, so as to not add to any potential legal ramifications.
Lysimachos, the walking legal ramification, Smashes his blade into the other person attacking him, although the man's defense prevents it from being a lethal blow.
Lazverinus move around into the flank and stabs the man as well, but the man manages to block the blow to his vital organs by putting his off-hand in the path of the blade, which just results in a stabbed hand.
More people have come out of the building, and they're coming out faster now. There are perhaps a couple of dozen people intently watching the fight.
Driven to frenzy by something, the man ignores his wounds and continues to focus on Lysimachos.
Perhaps it is the adrenaline; Perhaps it is a lucky shot; either way, the man manages to swing his blade and drop Lysimachos, although Lazverinus can see that he's still breathing for now. The man then turns on Lazverinus, murder clear in his eyes.
So I'm going to assume that you're going to keep using rage rounds to keep you alive, since if you stop, you'll die.
So, you could have picked up the greatsword of the fallen man and used that instead, if you want to reroll your damage with a proper weapon. Just make a note of it in the thread. Even Hunri would realize that fighting with a dagger like that won't help you kill anyone!
Secondly, I completely missed that I put protection from arrows on that list. It's a terrible spell. I will be replacing it with something else in the doc.
You know what? That makes sense. I'm still pinning down just how crazed the berserker's version of rage makes Lysimachos. And picking up a weapon to cause more carnage makes a lot of sense. So he'll do that.
Lysimachos almost stabs with the dagger, but Hunri draws the raging Intoran's hand towards the hilt of the fallen man's greatsword.
And that is the blade which he brings up and strikes with, the silver dagger falling to the ground with a slight clatter.
Seeing Lysimachos fall, Lazverinus desperately maneuvers to gain Anant and tries to drive the knife through the thug's ribs. It's now or never!
Lazverinus maneuvers into position over an ant hill. What would he like to do with it?
Saying it loud and clear for all the witnesses to hear, Cornel calls out to the remaining duelist as he holds another bomb ready in his hand, "Stand down from this foolish battle! I will use the weapons I must to defend myself and my companions!"
Cornel threatens the man, who snarls in his direction.
Lysimachos slips ever closer to death.
Lazverinus swings at the man, who ducks his attack.
Cornel's readied action goes off, as the man turns and advances on him.
Cornel, surprised by the clear insanity of the man, throws wide with his bomb.
While it is off it's mark, it still manages to splash on the man.
Arriving at Cornel, he swings away.
Cornel was clearly prepared for the incoming attack, and dodges it easily.
"Damn, I'm not used to knife fighting anymore..."
Once again Lazverinus tries to take advantage of his position.
Lysimachos' unconscious straining falters that bit more.
Cornel looks at Lysimachos, who looks so close to death, and thinks of the potion stored in his pack that might be enough to avert his death. But there is time or room to dig through his things with this brute bearing down on him holding that deadly greatsword. This man must be stopped.
Cornel steps back cautiously , then throws another bomb at this man who is only a few feet away
Cornel manages to hit the man, his vial exploding against his leather armor. He screams, but it quickly turns from a scream of pain to one of rage as the drug takes over his mind.
Lysimachos continues to slip towards death.
Lazverinus moves up and stabs the man in the kidneys, and as he does so, the man falls. The streets are silent for a moment, and then they explode into applause!
The onlookers seem rather pleased with the violence they just witnessed.
Lazaverinus has no potions, but his own skill. He goes quickly to the duelist just dropped, which seems to have received a lesser beating, and tries to stabilise him. The other seems beyond hope, given the savagery and the time passed since his passing out, and Lysimachos seems to be attended by Cornel.
"If we have to be trialed by death, maybe one is less than two."
If not stopped, Lysimachos' blood will continue to spill, even with the assailants dead.
Cornel moves up and attempts to Stabilize Lysimachos.
The crowd quickly dissipates now that the fight is over, with several calling it a night and some going back inside. For the moment, only Cornel and Lazverinus stand outside, with the former tending to Lysimachos. As he tends to Lysimachos, Cornel waves off Lazverinus and says "Check them. They might have something useful." while indicating the defeated enemies.
As Cornel seems more versed in after combat treatment than Laz, he does as indicated and quickly searches for something that could give a clue about the assailants. No one here probably believes they weren't sent by someone.
"Come on, come on..." Cornel whispers as he pulls out the contents of his chirurgeon's kit and tries to stop the flowing life fluids from leaving Lysimachos' body. When it seems that has paused, he unstoppers the one potion present in the kit, tilts Lysimachos' head forward so his tongue doesn't cover the opening in the back of his throat, and slowly pours in the potion.
Cornel waits with bated breath to see the results of the healing magic. Is it enough?
Lysimachos' blood no longer flows freely, but perhaps that is because there is less left to spill. And yet, his muscles strain unconsciously.
Once the crowd disperses, several people who clearly look like members of a thieve's guild begin to do three things: first, approach from the shadows, where they were probably watching the fight. The leader, a Female of Erogallan descent says "We can offer your friend there some healing in exchange for some of their stuff." She indicates the men who attacked you "or for currency. We're not picky."
It's clear to both Cornel and Lazverinus that none of them are particularly interested in fighting; they're here to negotiate a business venture.
AFter talking for a few minutes, they start with a price of 150 gold crowns to heal Lysimachos to at least consciousness.
Cornel takes point in the quick negotiations, and manages to talk them down to...
...half that amount, or 75 gold.
"Come on, let's do this."
Taking your money, the woman turns to one of her guildmates and says "Do it." he comes over and presents a holy symbol of Auronis, which he uses to begin healing Lysimacho's wounds.
As the priest begins to heal Lysimachos, the rest of the guild fades into shadows, not wanting to see what happens when Lysimachos comes to.
Lysimachos starts to come around, and for just a moment, looks like he will lash out at the priest. But the wildness dims in his eyes, and he exhales deeply, a slight misting of blood still in his breath.
He casts his eyes about, as he stands up.
With a bone-tired expression, he says:
"I tried to warn them. But they sought Hunri's blessing - and received it."
He turns to Cornel and Lazverinus, concern growing in his eyes.
"Did I harm anyone else? Or you?"
"Nah, an only that one" says Lazverinus while pointing at the obviously dead guy. "We should use or feet now, and maybe bring that one if he's able to tell us something" he points at the bleeding one [/b]
"I will bring him then."
Lysimachos hoists the bloodied man across his shoulders.
Having been paid, and the contract fulfilled, the group of rogues retreat back into the alleys from whence they came.
Having decided to interrogate one of their attackers, the group manages to secure the belongings of note of both men,as well as one of the men to ask questions to. They adjourn to a nearby abandoned building to count their newfound riches and interrogate their prisoner.
Magical Items that each man carried:
A well-made greatsword made of Bronze
Leather Armor
A pair of tattoos that radiate magic
Magical Items the dead man carried:
An odd necklace with a fetish upon it
Magical Items the living man carried:
A wand
2 different potions (as designated by both odor and color)
Non-Magical things of value each carried:
45 gp in assorted coin from multiple nationalities
3 uncut emeralds
When Lysimachos sets down the injured man, Cornel begins examining him, pulling out supplies from his chirurgeon's kit.
As the man comes to, Cornel says to him calmly, "Welcome back from the threshold of death. Now, tell me why you attacked us."
Back home, Lazverinus checks the thug's panoply, and makes sure they have a discreet place for the interrogation. He also hugs hugs precious bow, much missed back in the fight near the club. "I won't go out without you again."
The first point is a light green color, and smells faintly of Pine. After taking a moment to study it, you determine that it is a Potion of Fey Form I
The second potion is Dark Blue, and is a vial of Lungtaker poison.
As the man comes to, he sees Cornel hovering over him, and Cornel can easily see a look of dread start to creep into his features. It's clear he's considering lying to you, but a glance around him, followed by a nervous gulp, convince you that he's going to cooperate, even before he speaks.
"We were paid three emeralds apiece, to pick a fight with you."
Laz slams his fist on the table. "Stop wasting our time! We want to know who paid you!"
"Do you know our names?" Cornel asks.
Lysimachos keeps out of sight behind the man, but within the room. He wishes to hear and see everything, but knows that his rage might be a problem in a more subtle interrogation.
"That priest of Gakoraki. The one you were talking to earlier; and no, I don't know your names. Don't want to."
Lysimachos snorts.
Two tigers indeed. The priest either sought to test us or slay us. Neither is a cheerful notion.
Laz looks alternatively to his two companions, inquisitively. He has been occupied with the gladiator, and was barely paying attention when they talked about the Gakorakite.
"So, what now?" ask the man, pretty thoroughly dejected.
"You tell us." Lazverinus tries to be intimidating, but realy doesn't know what to do with the guy. "How do we know you're not going to step on our toes again? How can we really be sure?"
"You know that fighting us is a deadly endeavour.", Lysimachos rumbles from behind the man.
"You should find a way to assure us that you will pose us no more trouble, as my companion has asked for."
"Did he have a family for which he was responsible?" Cornel asks, indicating the dead man. "I hope you will see to it that the three emeralds he earned with his death are put to the use of supporting that family," he finishes with grave sincerity.
"Were you aware that you were carrying Lungtaker poison in this vial?" Cornel asks, holding up the one bottle. "I almost missed its true nature, myself--at first it appeared to be some kind of beneficial draft, like your potion of Pitborn Form over here... Anyway, as soon as you have assured us of your intentions not to cause any further harm to us, we need not have any more to do with each other at all. Though, I do hope you have learned not to trust that particular priest of Gakoraki."