Josten smiled down at Britta. The godling was only thinking of single combat when he approached the buxom reptilian. But if the others wished to join, the more the merrier.
"Miss Koldrish, wouldn't it be a lop-sided match for multiple combatants to attack a lone transcendent opponent?"
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Linxx winced a bit at the conversation veering to her past, her language, her people. Not all memories were pleasant, and not all histories lent pride to their descendants. Maybe another time.
She martialed her expression quickly. "It was a name given to me by another. I never learned their language, so I couldn't say. As far as holding back, I wouldn't worry about it, unless you're the type to blow it all in one blast.
Davin Sunwake helped build the arena. I don't know quite the mechanics, but from how he explains it, going through the barrier coats you up so the viewing glass on the side can light you up. Any interesting energies also get highlighted. So if you're the type to skulk, the rest of us can see you fine. Only on the outside though.
It's not great at keeping secrets though, so mind what you do. Finding a way to break the envelope just bounces you out, same as if you died."
Almost forgetting, "Ahh, if you're not feeling like an impromptu fight night to get your claws or beak wet, there'll be others of course."
With baiting amusement, Linxx continues, "Course, you could always wait for Davin He'll proper wake up all the old timers, and set up a proper feeding frenzy where you can find out just how high the sky is, and how far you can jump. I'd pay chips if you convince that feathery shirker to bother with the extra rankings."
Linx chuckled at Josten's suggetion. "Why don't you take Britta with you? She can stand in the back, until you pick up your manhood and your guts and come crawling back and ask for her help? What do you know, you might soften it up for her.
Honestly, I'd never normally put a newblood up against a trascendent as a first match, but the crowds not big, and it gives me a chance to see our new attraction in action."
Linx chuckled at Josten's suggetion. "Why don't you take Britta with you? She can stand in the back, until you pick up your manhood and your guts and come crawling back and ask for her help? What do you know, you might soften it up for her.
Honestly, I'd never normally put a newblood up against a trascendent as a first match, but the crowds not big, and it gives me a chance to see our new attraction in action."
Josten sighs quietly to himself, so tired of the bravo. "Well, then Ms. Koldrish. I shall endeavor to do my best, and maybe, impress you at the same time."
"I'm not interested in your ranking system. Pit someone or a group of someones against our group as a whole or we'll be on our way," she states bluntly again. She can't be more clear that she isn't going in the pit any other way. She is getting irritated that she keeps offering for the group to go in and this lizard keeps singling her and Josten out.
Silvertail trots (on the air, as always) up to Britta's side. "If you have anyone who'd be kind enough to give us pointers after the fight, the idea here is to iron out our teamwork before getting into a situation where death is a possibility," she comments to the... arena master? She's not quite sure what Linxx's actual position is.
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Linx put her mug down, ignoring Josten and giving Britta a hard look. "Clearly you have your wires crossed. This one seems ready to face a warp storm face first, and you seem unsatisfied without backup.
I don't much care. If you want to decide who's in your little clique, fine. Find who'll watch your back. I just hope it's not half a bleeding platoon." She handwaves to the rest of the conversationalists talking about teamwork, and tries not to pay closer attention.
"I'm sure he is ready to fight solo on his own time, but I already told you who is fighting now. Us here..."
"My goodness, if this one here doesn't stop posturing, I may just stab her already and show her I don't need backup. Just get us into a match already! Damn! Calm down, Britt. Who knows what twisted horrors may involve you lashing out here outside the arena."
She had already stated the names of those entering so they are now waiting on Linxx.
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Windchime claps her hands happily, its eyes a brilliant burning orange. "Oh, it is always so fascinating to see the way great warriors speak to one another. To anyone else, their communications would seem very dangerous and needlessly escalatory, but I am sure that among giants thrown boulders become confetti."
"Is there a viewing area for those of us that aren't armored combatants? I'd like to watch but can't imagine ever wanting to be in an arena...."
Silvertail suppresses an eyeroll. She'd just said what the point of this exercise was, which was rather wasted if some who were going on the job sat the arena fight out, but... she'd take what she could get. Even a little bit of preparation was better than none.
There is a subtle smirk to Windchime before she snaps a look at Zeran.
"If you are coming with us...to where we are going...and we are testing our mettle now as suggested, you are coming into the ring with us. Not observing. This is to show our capabilities to handle combat to some degree. I hope you are ready."
Zeran shrugs when Britta points out his error. "OK. Good point, we want to see what each other can do. My informational spells won't help in battle though, and I'm not a battle mage. Any enemy getting close to me will just.... suffocate. What are the rules for the arena? Concerning casting spells before entering for example? I assume there aren't any rules once we are inside...."
Josten slaps his hands together. "Alright. Let's have a duel and have some fun!"
"Normally, there's a 'no pre combat buff' rule for the arena." Comes a new voice. "However, since you're entering as a means to test your capabilities as a team before taking on a Job, you may have one full round to cast whatever spells, powers, or activate similar abilities. We don't want you to have too great of an advantage."
Josten walks up, hand extended. "Sounds fair. Josten Cailean. Nice to meet you."
Dealing with anyone else is preferred by Britta at this point and she gestures to the arena.
"Can you get us in there? I'm ready to get going."
It is clear she wants to get this over with so they can go explore this new world. The arena typically is a place for slaves to fight and/or die, in her mind. She finds no appeal to it at all except for entertainment. So she'd rather be entertaining herself in a gambling den or a cantina like this one enjoying herself after so many years of service. The prospect of money is too great though, and a thousand coins can set her up for a long time in here. If she has to fight in an arena to see whether these are just boastful fighters or if they can actually hold their own, she'll endure.
When they finally do get into the arena, she readies herself. There is no advantage given to herself that would skew the fight to their advantage, even if she is able.
As the fight begins to commence, tattoos upon her arm begin to glow. Just before the other combatants act, it seems to take shape in a burst of speed from the blade-wielding woman.
Zeran nods and glances around at the group. "One round, so one spell before we enter. Haste OK with everyone then?"
Prior to teleport, Josten sang a rousing song of overcoming adversity, beginning a bardic performance of Inspire Courage.
After teleport, Round 1
The godling breath falters in his chest as the intense cold hits it, but immediately shakes it off.
Using his free action to maintain the bardic performance, the red-haired man carefully makes his reduced full movement down the slope. With a mild flick of his wrist, three magic missiles erupt from the palm of his hand and strike the monstrous scorpion.
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The group enters the shadowy entrance to the arena and find themselves in an icy cavern. The echoes of someone talking announcing the start of the fight comes in a bit slapdash.
(26) Zeran Vigga, appears in loose clothes, excited and ready to bring everyone up to speed. Haste
(23) Britta Karan (placeholder)
(21) Josten Cailean, the extremely well built humanoid lets loose a series of bolts across the cavern to the massive creature under them. The missiles hit true and steady, but they hardly seem to scuff the surface, breaking of some of the ice hanging from the creature.
(3) The creature turns towards its new prey.
"I like that...keep doing that when we are in a fight," she grins deviously, letting him know it works well for her.
Suddenly Britta appears where she has not been. This method of travel for her is extremely odd. Unprovoked. Unexpected. As a result, she flips out, pulling her kunai, strikes at the air behind her, and spins around quickly. Almost as instantly, the group will find that she is hovering about 3feet off the ground. The two vents at the back of her "armor" exude a nearly silent, dim, blue glow that, for those of science, will know are producing thrust and stabilizing her. She doesn't seem awkward in the least hanging there in the air. Instead, she seems to have perfect maneuverability. At least she is fast as on her feet as off it.
It is then that the cold hits her.
"Oh! Whoh!" she exclaims, closing her mouth as the blast consumes her.
Thankfully her suit kicks on and begins to regulate her temperature.
"That is cold! What...what? How are we here? Is this the magics that you do?" she asks. "We just...instantly moved. Like with the doors. Is this the arena?"
She then gets the answer when the announcer begins speaking. This is familiar to her now. She then sort of relaxes and lowers her weapon, for the moment, burnt bright with a red, but powerful glow emulating pain and destruction if it were to hit you. Now it shuts off.
"Alright...let's head out. Is everyone okay?" she asks, looking them over before she heads down the path ahead of them.
Once the group is okay, she takes to the icy outcroppings and makes herself less noticed. She moves, still hovering forward to spy around the corner while the rest of the group situates themselves.
For the arena spectators, they will now see Britta. The majority of those in the inn are in the blue mist, and so many probably have not met her. Perhaps they've seen her around from time to time in the inn over the last couple of weeks. She is a poisoner, but isn't evidently allowed to be so in this type of battle. Often she has offered people alchemical goods or poisons for sale. To those that haven't seen her yet, they will find the brown-haired beauty as nimble, lightning-fast, and yet stealthy at the same time.
Silvertail is glad for her fur when she appears in the suddenly-frigid arena, and for the fact that she's floating a few inches above the frigid-looking ground.
"As impressive as expected for the Inn's arena" she comments. "I don't suppose any of you would have spells for protecting from the cold?"
She trots on the air following Britta and Josten, letting them go ahead of her while she hangs back and listens for signs of an ambush. This being an arena, she doesn't expect it'll be long before they face their opposition.
After Zeran gets Haste cast he switches and casts Mage Armor on himself. He doesn't think it would do much, but it's standard....
Britta blinks as around the corner she sees two frost giants. What did they do to capture those? She had heard of them existing in the cold regions on the moons of Endor and elsewhere. This was not going to be an easy fight, particularly since their eyes narrow on her.
"Ah crap. They saw me. Two frost giants are incoming. Lay down some suppressive fire! We are in it folks," she requests as she reaches for her belt. From there, she grasps her kunai and flings it toward the face of the giant. A second later, she goes invisible. With little effort, she zips around the corner and approaches the giants.
"You are bold, little mortal, to come and seek an audience with the prince of the City of Brass. Tell me, why should the mighty Apaosha bother to respond to you?" The lamia states blunty, and it's clear she is no mere slave, but rather a partner to the genie. Perhaps all those with him are thus?
Aleksandros stretches his full height, near if not 7 feet, a self-conscious reaction to being considered little. "He need not. I have extended a greeting and my request. My offer will be given to others if the Prince will not recognise me. I am new to this realm and sought him out first, viewing him as the mightiest being here. I am not a prince, but in my blood runs the power of gods." He isn't bothered at being dismissed or ignored by the prince, having dealt with similar from his peers for most of his life. "If he wishes to take some time to consider my offer, it won't be very hard to find me around here."
Zeran calls out as he glances around the corner. "I'm not really a battle mage, I'm a diviner. But maybe these guys can chew on them....."
He calls out the arcane syllables and send a swarm of biting teeth to attack the giants.
Silvertail trots around the corner and sees the two giants. Narrowing her eyes, she positions herself near the wall opposite them. After a moment's debate she decides to test their defenses with a simple fire blast.
Stretching her tails around herself, tips converging near her snout, she inhales, a fiery light growing in her throat, then exhales sharply, breathing a cone of flames that engulfs the two giants.
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Round 2
Still hasted by Zeran's spell, the godling moves at a reduced speed toward the ice wall and attempt to jump/climb over it.
Silvertail shakes herself and snarls angrily (as much as a fox can) after being struck. This *does* indicate the giants are spellcasters, however...
Picking a point up on the top of the conjured wall, she teleports herself up to the top while trying to stay low and unnoticed for the time being...
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Britta will hold out her hands at seeing the wall form between her friends and her. She will begin to channel the force within her. The wall tears at itself, crashing into falling ice as it is damaged by her forceful pulling ability. Then, through manipulation of the force the breaking ice floats there and begins to glow with the look of something burning instead. A moment later, each falling piece explodes. Gouts of flame spread out before her from a singular point on the wall. Before it can be heard, the giants would feel that something is about to happen from behind them, almost equivalent if you were to hear someone chanting behind you, how you would turn to see someone and hear what they are saying, however, in this instance, they see and hear nothing, but certainly know danger is coming and are able to react. There are alchemical materials within her hands that she has imbued with the force, seemingly increasing the efficiency of this effect.
The sound is tremendously powerful. Such a use of force immediately makes Britta visible. However, if the wall is destroyed, the party will see Britta on the other side for a brief moment before the area is filled with a dense fog (from the destruction of the wall with fire). However, if the wall is not destroyed, regardless, the giants will now know exactly where Britta is, and this pesky, floating soldier is likely to get stomped. Knowing this, Britta quickly refocuses her mind, waves a hand, and vanishes from sight once more.
Zeran grumbles about walls and not having wings. He moves closer, trying to get within range (30') of where he thinks Britta is to announce a prediction.
Foretell (Su): At 8th level, you can utter a prediction of the immediate future. While your foretelling is in effect, you emit a 30-foot aura of fortune that aids your allies or hinders your enemies, as chosen by you at the time of prediction. If you choose to aid, you and your allies gain a +2 luck bonus on ability checks, attack rolls, caster level checks, saving throws, and skill checks. If you choose to hinder, your enemies take a –2 penalty on those rolls instead. You can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to your wizard level. These rounds do not need to be consecutive.
"Oh, this is so exciting," Windchime says happily, pausing in her waitressing duties to watch Josten jump over ten feet straight up in the air. "Everyone is doing so well! So few disembowelments so far!"
Josten tries to dodge the blast but gets hit full in the face.
Seeing the might that these giants are swinging with, she seeks to end this as soon as possible. Her kunai are pulled instantly, she shifts to the right, moving from where she once was, and then strikes out at the giants.
Britta first empowers her teammates to see through the fog. With an intense focus, she stretches out her force willpower to the connection between the fog created by the fire meeting the ice wall, and the strength in each ally's eyes. By bending the force, she makes the fog capable to be pierced by their sight alone.
Next, the acrobatic force-user surrounds herself with the force, speeding her actions. Coupled with the haste from Zeran, she should be significantly deadly to take down these beings.
Attack 1 on Left:
Attack 2 on Left:
Hasted Attack 3 on Right:
Mixed Assault Attack 1 on Left
Mixed Assault Attack 2 on Right
Mixed Assault Attack 3 on Right
There is an almost imperceptible flurry that seems to come from within the fog. It is only because her allies can now see that they manage to catch a glimpse. It seems that for every melee strike she makes, her other hand spins around and hurls a kunai at the opposite giant. Then she will spin and strike the opposite and throw at the other giant. This happens in quick succession and each throw seems deadly in the effort.
Round 3
After Josten nimbly dances on the frost giant's shoulders avoiding attacks, the godling looks down into the face of his current vantage point.
"שאָלעמ-אַלייכעמ!"
Zeran strolls forward like he hasn't a care. He keeps the Foretelling active as he walks. Speaking in giant he ridicules them. "Really? Is this the best you can do? You should throw your weapon down and run. We might let you live if you run fast enough."
Silvertail hits the ground briefly as the giant strikes her before rebounding back up into the air, again floating slightly above it... in spite of the fact that she's laying on her side.
"Well that could have gone better," she groans.
Focusing on her magic, she decides this is not the place to be.
But she's too focused on not drawing attention to herself, and loses her 'grip' on the magic. So she simply lays there and plays... well, not dead, given the arena rules, but unconscious.
Since he's close enough to watch his fang swarm do it's work he nods at the persistence. It may not be much damage, but it all adds up....