Tiriss grins again at the rules. One more rule, the open spaces of the village are the "playground" any open space is viable as a roughing ground.
He then places hand to heart and states I am Tiriss of the threefold clan.Swamp is the mother, water the daughter, and sun as the unforgiving father. May we go in peace.
On the way there, Sorogar looks up when the strongest fighter is discussed. "Who is this stronger figure than Tiriss, and why won't he fight?" she asks the guides.
When Krokkin hands her the towel, Sorogar hesitantly takes it. Especially since outside help wasn't allowed. "Are you sure? I think if he doesn't comply, I'll have to intervene instead. This cloth won't protect your unconscious body... will it?"
That is Rissstui. He was the reason behind a death in one of these bouts. He won't fight since then. the smallest of the boys says.
"Oh wow...okay...well, this will go quickly. I want you all to stand back." she comments to the children. She will take a sack and empty out some of the salt so that there is the proper amount. She doesn't need the whole thing full as the reaction would bubble over. Once set up, she will begin adding some of the vinegar and making a solution for the larger stones Krokkin was carrying to enter. Once it is roiling, she will nod to Brek to begin casting into it.
"Just a few minor infusions will do."
All in all, the mixture will do the work for her, leaving a nearly purified leftover of a few crystals (worthless, but which wouldn't dissolve in the acid) and the adamantine. If she had river rat teeth it would have dissolved the crystal. All in all, the intensified mixture should be done working in no time. After the adamantine is produced, she will carefully move the acid to the river and begin to dilute it and then slowly over time, pour it into the massive waterway. This should cause no harm to the environment.
At the end of which, she will produce the starmetal for the children to see and will give them the left over crystals that were within the rock as a gift.
----------------------------
"Fight hard, Krokkin. I believe in you that you can win."
Her words of inspiration almost seem like a law; as if she is factual and knows he will not lose.
That is Rissstui. He was the reason behind a death in one of these bouts. He won't fight since then. the smallest of the boys says.
"Rissstui!? What? How did that happen?" she asks, incredulous. "And was that death the only one there to ever occur?"
She throws a worried look at Krokkin.
This is how we build trust, Krokkin says as he winks at Sorogar.
He moves out in the the middle of the street adopting a side fighting stance and beckons to Tiriss.
Your move
If I am able to ready an action I will ready a low knee level kick when he moves within range
Tiriss side steps for a moment or two sizing up Krokkin,, then with sudden underlying speed he rushes.
Krokkin's knee kick hits throwing Tiriss off just enough that his head misses the catfolks by a mere fraction of an inch. The blow was enough to knock someone out had it landed.
Tiriss pulls back and chuckles. Going to make me work for it I see. First move was yours, now find me.
You see his skin start to fade colorwise and then shift to match that of his surroundings causing your vision to wig out. He is moving away from you but you can track him with your eyes although you get a bit off kilter.
Brek sighs as he notices that neither has opted for the non lethal option. He is however interested that Rissstu has had blood on his hands too.
Watching the fight would be interesting.
Krokkin moves with the lizard man as he retreats and smiles as he starts to fade.
So we are going to use our skills, he chuckles and lets the rage wash over him
Excellent, you might just be worthy prey.
He drops to all fours as he starts to move his head a little from side to like feinting like he has lost his quary, then like a coiled spring launches himself up and at Tiriss with a vicious upper-cut.
Total Damage inflicted = 5
Rage counter=1/14
Rage stat adjustments
Health = 63/63
AC/Touch/FF 16/10/14
STR/DEX/CON 21(+5)/16(+3)/18(+4)
Ohime will be cleaning up while the fight commences. While Brek may have sighed for death not being on the line, she doesn't even watch because she doesn't particularly like unnecessary violence. At times though, she will sneak a glance to see how it is going purely out of concern for her new family member.
Sorogar clutches the towel tightly, ready to spring in at a moment's notice.
Meanwhile, she observes the area around them, just to make sure there was no cheating involved.
Tiriss grunt in surprise but then chuckles as the catman lands a solid blow. well done well done. The lizardman continues to fade and tumbles back with the kick disappearing from view.
Several hecklers start harassing Krokkin as this happens. Is he hiding or testing you? What is his intent and what can you do? Hope you're not afraid of the monsters hidden from sight? and such comments abound.
There is quite a crowd gathering as the word of the bout spreads through the village.
Meanwhile, the cauldron bubbles and broils and begins to take the ore apart from the metals. One of the observers approaches Ohime as her concoction begins to be diluted at the river.
How did you know to use those to take out the metal? I have worked with chemicals most my life but haven't learned that trick method of working with the metals. Usually our smiths have to employ students to fetch wood,coal, or peat for them to get their furnace fires hot enough to smelt the ore. This might take less time or be safer,or maybe less effort to do this way.
The what you can assume is an alchemist, pauses waiting for a reply. All the while muttering under her breathe and the solution just disappears in the water. amazing
Krokkin leaps backwards in the opposite direction, stumbles as he lands and rolls backwards into a crouching position.
The Rage washing over him drowns the voices for the moment. He scans the area and ground for small changes that would be left by someone moving who is not seen.
From the crouched position when see any movement into me range I am going to leap forward no higher than 4ft off the ground leading with my forearm. If the opponent was standing it would be a forearm shiver to the stomach. If the enemy was leaping I would hope to catch them in the legs as I pass under them which should allow them to fall to the ground.
Damage inflicted Prior to current attack = 12
Rage counter=2/14
Rage stat adjustments
Health = 63/63
AC/Touch/FF 16/10/14
STR/DEX/CON 21(+5)/16(+3)/18(+4)
Tiriss attacks rushing in from the side. Your reaction is to slow to take advantage of him having a lower guard momentarily. He hits before you make contact. His claws grab hold of your left shoulder rending it with a single pull. The tendons separate briefly before sliding back together. The sheer force is astounding. Pushing off you he lands on your left with a wicked little bow. Even knowing where he is you have a hard time focusing on him with his skin changed the way it is.
Krokkin roars out in pain, at the attack. He then allows the pain to crash into the waves for rage as his claws pop out and he lashes out at the lizards leg.
Tiriss now growls as the claws sink deep into his leg. You'll pay for that. he says between clenched teeth.
--
Krokkin save fort
Then through the pain he snaps out with his massive jaws and again targets the shoulder. His teeth bear down in almost the same spot as the previous attack.
Krokkin's perception
He rolls backward and again disappears although he leaves drops of his blood behind him.
The crowd has gone silent at this time both in amazement of the damage being done and the ferocity of the bout.
Grifg says in almost a whisper Maybe the furry one will win. He's taking such a beating and still refuses to go down.
As one of the observers comes over, she will calmly smile with her mouth closed to show she was accepting of anyone interested in what she is doing.
"Oh...um, well, a lot of studies. A lot of training. A heck of a lot of experimentation."
She will set the cauldron partially in the water to clean it out so that there is nothing left inside. A moment later, she'll pour it out and set it on the ground so she can fully focus on the woman speaking to her. She stands tall and continues explaining.
"You will still need to forge it, which means you'll superheat it, but you can most certainly save yourself time in the purification process. Hi, my name is Ohime. And yours is?"
She speaks normally but makes sure she is enunciating her words well. While this woman seems to speak common well, she doesn't want to assume she understands perfectly.
Ohime will study the newcomer and wonder what her intent is.
Meanwhile, back outside, Sorogar doesn't lose track of the Lizard and continues to look directly at him. When Krokkin appears to lose track, she speaks. "Think Tiriss will be all right? He's bleeding quite a bit over there..."
Though the question was directed to Brek next to her, she hoped that Krokkin could follow her gaze to the target if he saw no other way.
I'm Lisssa states the lizardfolk woman next to Ohime.The woman seems totally enthralled with the process that Ohime uses and very much curious as to Vishkanya herself.
Brek frowns as he notices the extra damage done to Krokkin.
His eyes narrows as he observes the fight.
"Call the fight." he says without returning Sorogar's look.
"Krokkin can't win this one and if this goes on, lives will be threatened. This is supposed to be a friendly bout."
Just to make sure his intuition is correct, Brek summons an owl that settles and overlays on his head to grant him its sight.
"Call the fight." he says without returning Sorogar's look.
"Krokkin can't win this one and if this goes on, lives will be threatened. This is supposed to be a friendly bout."
"Huh? How do you know? It looks pretty even so far...?" Sorogar asks Brek, confused.
She keeps following the fight.
"Lissa, pretty name. It sounds almost vishkanyan, like a name from my tongue."
Ohime easily recognizes when someone is enthralled by her, but usually, it is her words or looks, not her alchemy. She decides to further pique her interest.
"So you guys struggle with getting your fires hot enough? I could show you how to make a more volatile fire. As long as you are careful, it could get your fires instantly hot enough to forge. Where we are from, we even bottle it so it explodes on impact like a weapon. In its raw form, it is very hot. I've known people to make swords from just the heated mixture being hot enough to melt the metal, without the forge. All you'd need is sand and a heat resistant mold for your sword. Anyways, if you have a forge, all the better. Is that something that would interest you?"
You could and would do that? Lisssa says with excitement. My husband would love to see that it would save him hours at the forge
"Also. Someone's casting a spell. Does that count as interference?" Brek points.
Following Brek's arm, Sorogar's eyes widen and the moves forward into to dueling area, pointing at the other lizard with one arm and raising the other. "Halt! This match is over. There is an attempt at spellcasting from the skull-tattoo'd tribesman over there on behalf of Tiriss. This breaks the established rules of this bout, and Krokkin should win by default."
Following Brek's arm, Sorogar's eyes widen and the moves forward into to dueling area, pointing at the other lizard with one arm and raising the other. "Stop! There is spellcasting at work from the skull-Tattoo'd tribesman over there. This bout is postponed until the possibility of outside interference is removed."
Make him bleed and tracking will be easy.
Krokkin watches Tiriss roll away seeing the blood trail and using it as well as any brief irregularities to pinpoint his position. He moves toward him while swinging his head side to side like he is looking around for him. as he gets close he starts to swing his head away from Tiriss, he lunges at his with a claws out slashing strike at where his mid section is.
Damage inflicted = 19
Rage counter=4/14
Rage stat adjustments
Health = 29/63
AC/Touch/FF 16/10/14
STR/DEX/CON 21(+5)/16(+3)/18(+4)
Make him bleed and tracking will be easy.
Krokkin watches Tiriss roll away seeing the blood trail and using it as well as any brief irregularities to pinpoint his position. He moves toward him while swinging his head side to side like he is looking around for him. as he gets close he starts to swing his head away from Tiriss, he lunges at his with a claws out slashing strike at where his mid section is.
[dice=Attack]1d20+10
[dice=damage]1d6+5** spoiler omitted **
[dice=spellcraft]1d20+8
Your attack scores across Tiriss's belly causing him to bleed more profusely. He no longer maintains a smile on his face.
With a feral roar he spins into a series of attacks using claws and bite.
Bleed damage= 2(1 more round)
His teeth snap, barely short of your neck. His fist and tail aren't so clumsy. His fist lashes out catching you midsection and leaving you slightly out of breath. The tail hits and sweeps your legs hard but not quite hard enough to drop you. It still makes you a bit wobbly.
Krokkin roars back Is that all you've got blood and spittle flying out of his mouth.
Krokkin launches himself at Tiriss wrapping his arms around the lizard man's middle burying the claws into his back tackling him to the ground.
Damage inflicted = 29
Rage counter=5/14
Rage stat adjustments
Health = 14/63
AC/Touch/FF 16/10/14
STR/DEX/CON 21(+5)/16(+3)/18(+4)
Tiriss yelps at the pain in his back from the enraged catfolk. He tumbles with the knockdown and breaks the hold of the krokking with the force of the landing on his arms. He again flurries a set of attacks.
His first slash with his claws misses by a hair but his second one doesn't even come close. His jaws snap shut on your forearm causing immense pain. + 2 damage bleed (last round)
Seeing the viciousness of the fight and estimating Krokkin to be near to fainting, possibly death, Sorogar runs forward to the wrestling pair and places her hands on both struggling bodies, channeling a healing wave into the both of them.
"Halt! This fight is over. There is outside interference. One of your tribesmen was casting magic in the direction of the fight, Tiriss. I had no choice but to intervene." She points to the tattoo'd man and holds his gaze, her look severe and demanding an answer. "You who wears the skulls and tattoos. Who are you, and why did you interrupt this duel?"
Tiriss turns and looks where Sorogar is pointing. Then stiffens. Prissterica what do you do? You know the rules. You heard them and yet you interfere with another tribes honor bout. I'll call you to the council for this.
Tirisss turns and extends a hand to Krokkin. I would have liked to finish this honorably but I regret a neighboring tribesman decided to break the traditions.
He grins this time again and raises Krokkin's hand high.
The victory goes to you!
He releases krokkin's hand and turns to Prissterica, You will stay here until you answer to the council.
Prissterica replies
Krokkin stumbles at the blast of energy that courses thru him and turns to the new threat expecting to see another lizardfolk in the battle. The sight and sound of Sorogar's voice halting his arm as it was preparing to stike out at her from instinct.
Her words cause the raging torrent to rise as he turns back to face Tiriss, readying himself to take a blow from his momentary loss of focus. The words of Tiriss again cause him to pause momentarily and then the raging river subsides as the hand is extended.
Krokkin extends his hand and after Tiriss raises his hand up in victory and lets go, Krokkin bows to him.
You are a formidable warrior, If your tribesmen fight with even half your ferocity, your tribe will prosper for many years.
He bows again to Tiriss this time lowering himself enough that eye contact cannot be maintained for a moment.
He turns and faces Sorogar as a wave of exhaustion washes over his face.
Thank you for watching, you saw what I could not. He bows to her wobbling slightly and looking around for some place to sit and rest.
"Of course!" she responds happily, "As long as it wouldn't betray or offend your leaders. I don't want to spark an incident between us. Is your leader okay with you learning outside methods and experiences like this?"
If everything is permitted, she will proceed with the woman to her home, but first will whisper to Brek at the fight's edge where she will be. With a small glance toward the fight, she shakes her head and then moves away before the end is even revealed.
Once in the forge-maker's hut, she will show them how to use their discarded iron shavings from sharpening weapons to make rust, the blacksmith's enemy. Using filings from various rust-covered items they have, she will make up some alchemist's fire in powder form (basically thermite), and then will place it into their forge with their other collected fuels. In no time, the fire will get immensely hot, and not long after, hot enough to melt down the adamantine.
Lissa leads the vishkanya to the forge and introduces Ohime to her husband Griisss. I am forge master here. She is always welcome to learn what she wants if it helps us even better. He states simply. After Ohime shows the process, he asks several questions and notes her answers.
Your generosity is appreciated. I will melt down your ore to be ready to process since you have made our tasks much easier.
Brek notes where Ohime has gone.
Brek steps forward and this time he speaks, his words clear for all to hear.
"Shall not be held to the whims of the council, you say. It seems that you're not part of this tribe then. Then what were you attempting to do when you interrupted this honorable fight between two warriors?" Brek challenges.
He turns and faces Sorogar as a wave of exhaustion washes over his face.
Thank you for watching, you saw what I could not. He bows to her wobbling slightly and looking around for some place to sit and rest.
"Well, that was my task, wasn't it?" she grins. "Come, let's go back to the hut. We'll ask for some food and I'll use some ointment for the rest of the wounds. Don't want to risk a magic rush-job and getting all that infected." She pokes at Krokkin's chest somewhere in between his half-healed injuries, and when he wobbles she quickly slides herself under an arm to half-carry and half-walk him back to his bed.
"That Tiriss was strong. Really strong. I think even my brother might have had trouble with him. It's impressive you lasted so long against him. I suppose it's a good thing he seems so honorable, though I'm not sure the same is true for that dark Lizardfolk with the magic," she says on the way, glancing back over her shoulder.
As dinnertime approaches, she sees the process has taken shape into a molten pool. Now ready to be poured into a form and poured into molds or to be worked on, she is okay letting it sit in heat where it will stay liquid while she leaves them to eat.
"I am not sure what we can make with this. I will leave that to your expertise, but I know one of my friends wished for chainmail and perhaps a replacement of his scimitars. Another friend wished for a quarterstaff made of this. I could perhaps use some hardened wood bolts tipped with adamantine tips that won't break on impact like they do with arrows. If any of that is within your skill set, we'd love to see what you can do. I'm sure we can pay you for your services. Would you be interested in working out something?"
I shall not be held to the whims of the council nor to your whims human.Spits the tattooed caster. What will you do about that? Should I wish to leave I will simply leave. The council nor you may stop me from leaving. Prissterica draws himself to his full height as if trying to make himself seem or feel bigger than he really is.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------
As you glance back you see the dark lizardfolk square up as if to intimidate Brek. You here Brek call out in what you can assume is Draconic the language of the lizardfolk.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------
I can make many of those things. It depends on the amount of time you have to spare. I will make you a dozen bolts with the heads without charging you in exchange for the help you have given. As for the others, the quarterstaff is fairly easy, except for the balancing of it. Your companion may pay for it in time or money. The chainmail is difficult and will take a while to pull and bend. I can do it but he will have to spend equal time in my service. The scimitar I don't think there will be enough left but if there is, I can make that in a day. I would need him to pay for it in money so that I can reacquire many of the things I will use to make these items. Talk it over with them at dinner with Mother and let me know in the morning.
"I see." Brek grins as he looks at the lizardfolk.
"There are honorable ones and there are those that are cowards. I really would like to see how you would leave when the council arrives but then you likely wouldn't stay here despite your bravado." his eyes narrow as he lets his own malevolent darkness flash through his eyes.
"Seems like there are several tribes around and not all friendly, might threaten any chance of peaceful trading." he remarks to his companions.
Sounds good to me. I did hold my own pretty well didn't I? The point of the contest was not for me to win. The point was to show our meddle in battle and our honor.
He ponders for a moment as they move toward the hut.
That is the first time I have entered the ring without the goal of crushing my opponent. For the first time I went in for the joy of competition and to see how they fight. These people would be formidable warriors to have on our side. And fierce enemies that could cause us much harm if on the opposite side of the battlefield.
Krokkin laughs while gently shaking his head. He realized that he had just spoken like one of the elders.
"Wonderful. I will do so. I will let my friends know."
With her providing the material cost, she hopes the fee for his service as a smith isn't too high. Ohime will bow her head and give her new friends a series of goodbyes before going to find her companions. It has likely been a while and supper must be almost ready, but before she goes, she gets information of what has been happening with the others from her bird.
"The point of the contest was not for me to win. The point was to show our meddle in battle and our honor. For the first time I went in for the joy of competition and to see how they fight. These people would be formidable warriors to have on our side."
"Huh. You know what? You speak with wisdom over pride. I was afraid you wouldn't take it so well. Seems like you are growing on this journey." Sorogar nods, gaining some new respect for the catfolk. "Maybe I'm not allowed to ask, but I am curious. What is the riddle they asked you to solve, which you had no answer to?"
Just as the two of them are about to round the corner out of sight, Sorogar looks back and sees Brek and the Skull-lizard assuming threatening poses to the other. "Damn it! I wish the same was true for him!"
She disentangles herself from krokkin, hoping he could stand on his own for a while, and calls out to the sorceror. "Brek! Don't antagnonize him! We're not here to make things worse between these people and that other tribe!"
The tattooed man seems to shrink back a bit before regaining his composure. I will see you die, human. But I can bid my time. You must leave here sometime and then you will not have the safety of home rule to protect you. He turns and storms off up the roadway towards a hut in the distance.
"It applies the same to you." Comes Brek's rejoinder as the tattooed lizardfolk slinks back away from him.
Joining back with the rest. If asked he answers.
"Magic to his steel. Steel to my magic. Besides He didn't like us and so I wouldn't like him as well. If he tries anything when we leave the village, I'll burn him."
"Oh yes Ohime went to discuss alchemy with the local smiths." he informs the party.