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Clarence and Mia finish off the last two grave-workers with quick strikes. Alas, only Ulvard has suffered a wound (both physical and mental).
Zug
Inka
Clarence
Mia
Ulvard -10 damage
Pink Foe -10 damage <dead>
Amanita/Barry
Blue Foe -18 damage <dead>
A little urchin girl scampers in as the crowd thins (a bit dejected at the brevity of the brawl) and confers with Vionnia in the window to record the results of the fight on a slip of paper before running off.
Vionnia emerges from the building and gives you a purse of coins (20 silver for this battle). "Well, that was a bit anti-climactic... So, its off to Crownsgate, and the next fight, perhaps more of a challenge, I hope!".
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Not wanting to intrude on Clarence’s attempt to impress Vionnia, Inka simply listens and observes the woman as they walk to Crownsgate. Along the way, she praises Mia’s prowess. “That was some nice shooting back there! Is archery standard training for a war and exploration correspondent, or did you pick that up separately?”
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Mia sings a hymn with warlike hope:
"Oh, how noble to give your blood,
to face your foes without fear of death,
please, Psomeira, bless and heal me,
so I may bleed again on another day!",
and Ulvard's wounds close with the bardic magic.
"Now, for the report, how was it, Clarence bravely charged in, the clear cowbell giving a rhythm to his steps..." she thinks aloud as she pulls out a new paper and starts writing.
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She admires Clarence's prowess, but doesn't seem particularly impressed.
Inka's observations lead to her to realize that Vionnia is actually a noble of some sort here in Oppara, but must have fallen out of favor to be working for this racket.
As such, Inka also surmises that Vionnia wouldn't like being dismissed or ridiculed because of her noble upbringing and any attempts to do so might lead to a bad outcome.
Further, Mia realizes that although Vionnia enjoys vigorous arguments and jesting; direct threats, physical or otherwise, will only make her confrontational.
Piecing together what you know...
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Mia follows the hints found out by Ulvard and Inka.
She starts talking to Vionna about the stories of Iblydos: "The most famous of our legends, at least in my circles, are those that glorify ultimate sacrifice and determination. I'll give you one poem:
'Son, gone to battle,
losing his arm and sent home.
Mother, sorrowful, mourns:
Oh, what shame is this,
not defending us anymore,
with one arm you can hold a spear?"
Her alto voice, with strength and clarity, suits the poem well. She looks around at the city, gestures around, and comments: "Here, you seem to be a bit more forgiving. And we do have tragedies and comedies, but even they tend to be quite strong in the misfortunes of life."
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"Of course, what would poems be if they aren't shared?" Mia promises Vionnia.
"We've clearly got the right audience here, I even saw the first dance to my hymn. Some Shelynites in Absalom wanted me to 'Tone it down with the blood'" she says, delighted of the reception to her art.
She doesn't seem to flinch a bit at the mention of her possible death today.
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Amanita, learning that perhaps their appearance can be somewhat off-putting, waits for a moment.
Upon the revelation that Vionna might be impressed with performance skills, they start ruffling through their bag, after a moment pulling out several puppets.
She starts talking to Vionna about the stories of Iblydos: "The most famous of our legends, at least in my circles, are those that glorify ultimate sacrifice and determination. I'll give you one poem:
They wait for Mia's poem to be done (not wanting to steal the spotlight from a fellow performer) before jumping in. [b]"Yes!! Actually, I was recently in a production of Rise of the Goblin Heroes: A True and Accurate Account, here, I should still have a script somewhere--"
Drawing several puppets from their bag, all of varying quality and make (the group containing both a very-realistic marionette and a sock puppet with googly eyes) of a few goblins, one wearing a crown, a wolf, and a human.
Act V, Scene 1
Enter ZUSGUT, CRIMSI, GRENEK, SIATHORN, MITZI (a wolf, not a dog), PIZAZZ, and ULTHUN (a human).
ZUSGUT (from atop his throne): I see the great heroes have returned! But who is this with you?Speak, brave knight.
ULTHUN: Oh mighty chief of the goblins, whose wit and skill are unsurpassed, I am called Ulthun, Watcher-Lord of Lastwall. Alas, that land has been overrun by undead and is no more!
GRENEK (hops forward): Is true. Undead everywhere.
SIATHORN: But we helped them escape! The longshanks. Not the undead.
MITZI: Woof!
CRIMSI: I helped collapsed the tunnel behind us. It was great!
PIZAZZ (huffily): I found people who appreciate my singing. Here, let me show you. (clears throat)
GRENEK: Quiet! Chief’s speaking!
(PIZAZZ grumbles.)
ULTHUN (to ZUSGUT): Please, my lord, we beseech you and ask the help of your mighty tribe. We are but mere humans and lack the cleverness and skill needed to escape the clutches of the undead. Will you aid us?
ZUSGUT: Of course, of course! Crookedtoes, my people, harken to me! Now is the time foretold, the time when the longshanks would come before us in desperate need.
GRENEK: We help too! We know how to fight undead longshanks!
SIATHORN: Yes, Mitzi will tear them apart with wolfish fierceness!
MITZI: Bark!
PIZAZZ: And I will compose a war song to lift our hearts.
(ALL except PIZAZZ groan.)
CRIMSI: No, no, no. We need my catapult!
ZUSGUT: I think we need to hurry; no time for catapults or songs. Prepare for the journey south and into our destiny! Now, WE be heroes!
ALL GOBLINS (cheering together): We be heroes! We be heroes! We be heroes!
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"Ooohhh! Goblin heroes play! Is very good!" Zug claps his hands, and jumping up and down. "Me in play also, very popular play! We was great, big applause. Me play Ulhun, the hooman." he continues, reminiscing his time in the stage. He rises on his toes, putting up his best human-act.
And he almost forget about making friends with Vionnia. Almost, but not quite. Luckily their guide is a cultured person, and clearly favors performing arts. Thus, he grabs his cowbell, and tells his bat, Gorgonzola, to get ready.
"Me has this little piece... Full cowbell version of famous 'Wraith of Opera' play. Goes like this:"
"One and two and four" the goblin whispers to the bat, and the two start playing perfect unison - Zug his cowbell and the bat using the goblins head as a xylophone.
Ding-ding ding ding di-ding ding di-ding... ding ding ding ding ding-ding-ding... it starts, soft and gentle. And soon moves into a more majestic section.
"You like?"
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“That’s a lovely poem!” Inka smiles approvingly at Mia. “Your country of Iblydos sounds like a marvelous place. Such loyalty and duty. Do you know of any others?”
“I’ve been in places with considerably less patriotism,” she continues casually. “Some of them are even ruled by gangs, and sometimes you need to know the proper signs to just walk down the street safely.” She demonstrates by spreading out one hand perpendicular to her face, touching her thumb to her nose, and wiggling her fingers.
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"Oh I forgot my music!" Mia says apologetically.
She casts a spell, and a faint sound surrounds her, waiting for something.
She starts her tale, and the music supports her, first quietly but picking up the pace as the story gets going:
"Between the years when the oceans drank Azlant,
and the rise of the sons of Aroden,
there was an age undreamed of,
when shining kingdoms laid spread across the world.
And into this world came beasts of frightening power,
cyclops, minotaurs, hydras, and many that have passed from memory,
and against them rose the first heroes.
Now, let me tell you of the days of high adventure..."
Mia goes on to tell a story about the first heroes of Iblydos.
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Crownsgate is in somewhat better repair than the Narrows, and the buildings have sturdier bones—though most have been picked clean. The one thing the districts have in common is that the law seems equally disinterested in both.
This district is filled with old industrial buildings and warehouses, and whatever wealth it might have had has long since been pilfered by the rest of the city, right down to the cobblestones. Cutthroats and criminal gangs hold sway over the shadowy alleys, with the occasional desperate beggar trying to eke out a living.
With the afternoon quickly approaching, the parting clouds let in some welcome, sunny warmth after the cold and muddy slums an hour or so previous. As you near the site of your next battle, a lone beggar stumbles in front of your group and falls to a practiced knee.
"Spare a few copper pieces for a lost soul?" He mutters, trailing off in shame.
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Vionnia eyes the humble barbarian with a hint of a smile.
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The roof of this crumbling bridge lets shafts of light from the afternoon sun pierce its dusty interior. The rundown houses lining the bridge have been boarded up, and rubble and detritus lie scattered on the floor. A broken chain and rotted warning sign stick out of the debris near the entrance.
A lone figure stands, slightly hunched, at the other end of the bridge.
Vionnia instructs "For this fight, please keep the fighting to the general area of the bridge, and again, no looting of the opponents is allowed."
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Amanita also joins in Mia's story, using their array of puppets to bring it even more to life.
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Amanita and Barry move to flank the opening.
“Six against one?!” Inka cautiously readies her bow while assessing their foe. “Will this be a fair fight?” She glances at one of the nearby buildings, trying to decide if she can take advantage of a higher vantage point to shoot over her allies.
"Well, if this were a play, we'd likely all be thoroughly trounced as a way of showing how powerful he is, so... at the very least, I think we have reason to be concerned."
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Mia looks around the maze of narrow alleys. "It is going to get tight, and although I consider myself more a swordswoman, I'll join Inka in the bow unit again", she decides and also climbs up to the roof.
"A moment to prepare? Even more concerning... but maybe I should give it all even though I might run out of magic before the final." She takes her bow in her hand, casts a spell on it, and starts describing the situation, with quite a different tone, as the excitement of combat hasn't taken over her yet: "On this end of the field, the away team starts preparing for the match. With the support of ladies on the roof, Clarence in the middle is ready for the start. For the home team, the tactics are not as clear as only one member has entered the field thus far..."
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A couple of you climb to the closest rooftop.
Vionnia asks if you are ready and waves at the figure on the other entrance of the bridge, who raises his hand feebly to signal back. Your guide then whistles to signal the beginning of the fight.
Ulvard <runic weapon>
Inka <hunt prey purple>
Clarence <shield up>
Yellow Foe
Cyan Foe
Mia <runic weapon>
Orange Foe
Zug
Red Foe
Blue Foe
Pink Foe
Purple foe
Amanita
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Ulvard hangs back, awaiting trouble, but sees nothing wrong just yet.
Inka does not hang back, and her volley of arrows sail down the bridge, two striking the old man in the chest.
Ulvard <runic weapon, readied strike>
Inka <hunt prey purple>
Clarence <shield up>
Yellow Foe
Cyan Foe
Mia <runic weapon>
Orange Foe
Zug
Red Foe
Blue Foe
Pink Foe
Purple foe -9 damage
Amanita