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please give me an intimidation roll with a +2 circumstance bonus

I'm going to move the forward to the Song of Two as soon as I get a little collateral ready.

Dounia - is there anything you want to do concerning Jacote and Vertbaton?

Everyone will be lined up to go the escutcheon door which means several people will be doing it on the same day but one after the other.

Zahra headed back to the room and fell into a light sleep troubled by her friend Dounia's secret rendezvous.

Meanwhile.

Dounia moved through the crowd trying to be subtle as possible. If either Jacote or the Baronet noticed her they didn't let on. They were in heated discussion that could be heard twenty feet off.

Jacote, "- That's three times what I paid you for it."

Vertbaton, "You shouldn't let on you're so desperate. I would have gone higher but, from what I know of your finances, I don't think you are good for four."

Jacote, "Are you telling me you want ninety thousand for that run down foundry?"

Vertbaton, "I can see this hurts but you wheedled more that I wanted to pay when I bought it from you. Had me quite on the ropes as I recall. Don't try to talk me d-"

Jacote, "Done."

Vertbaton, "I … really … no fight? What don't I know. I've changed my mind. Make it one-twenty!"

Jacote, "You agreed! Do you want me to tell every speculator you don't honour verbal agreements. Every deal you make from here on in would have to be in writ. I hope you enjoy paying solicitors."

Vertbaton, "My word against yours, and who's going to trust a cursed wretch like you. One-hundred and twenty thousand."

Not sure if Zahra would think about why Keone said "It must be three or four hours past concilliare. They say half to the song of Penitent here I think" but is there any kind of roll she can make to figure out why he's mentioning concilliare and penitent specifically?[/ooc]

Zahra would know that the twenty-second hour of the day, or 10pm, is called 'The Song of Penitent'. She would have enough 'knowledge-local' ranks to know that Concilliare (kon-sill-E-R-E) is what the this time of day is called in other places.

Cairee and Tymythy - whats your plan?

Options:
Get a short sleep in and be awake for Dounia's meeting at 2am
Stay awake until the meet-up and make a con check tomorrow morning to see if you're fatigued

Spell preparation:
Clerics
A divine spellcaster chooses and prepares spells ahead of time, but unlike a wizard, does not require a period of rest to prepare spells. Instead, the character chooses a particular time of day to pray and receive spells. The time is usually associated with some daily event. If some event prevents a character from praying at the proper time, she must do so as soon as possible. If the character does not stop to pray for spells at the first opportunity, she must wait until the next day to prepare spells.

Sorcerer
Unlike a wizard or a cleric a sorcerer need not prepare her spells in advance. She can cast any spell she knows at any time, assuming she has not yet used up her spells per day for that spell level.

Dounia scanned the crowd with a keen discerning sense. It was like picking a target to filch from. Don't get greedy with your eyes. Don't go for the wealthiest. Find the one that was rich and oblivious.

It was not about looking for a thing that matched a picture in her mind but looking for an opportunity in whatever disguise it might be wearing.

She saw a grungy dwarven man, crass and greasy, as he scolded three humans who looked like servants.

She noticed a woman in heavy modesty-robes with her back to the wall of one of the voms. Sir Pellius was leaning over her. They looked like they were negotiating what would happen next.

And there was Jacote. She looked as pale, as nearly translucent, as ever. She was bargaining with that older man, the Baronet Wigeon de Vertbatton. They were just to the right of the scoreboard. None of her 'sisters' were with her.

The meeting at the song of 2. That is in 3 1/2 hrs from now. The next challenge is at the song of 10. If you sleep a bit now and then after the meet up you will get a full nights rest. You need 8hrs (which includes 1hr of prayer/study/refocusing time) to get rest.

If you don’t get 7hrs of sleep you will need to make a constitution check or be fatigued for your next challenge.

If you don’t get and hour of time then no new spells for the day.

The meeting is in the bath/sauna room. It’s connected directly to the hall and the hall offers nowhere to hide - if you feel you should need such a thing.

To get from your room to the bath would take three rounds of running and using doors.

"Are you hurt?" She did a quick visual inspection, looking for signs of injury.

Tymythy had only a few contusions and scrapes and nothing from the little performance that wouldn't heal overnight.

About 3 1/2hrs to your meeting

The scene was becoming familiar.

People started to head to their rooms, well, maybe not their rooms. A few stayed up and drank into the wee hours. Most of the competitors were headed to their own beds to rest and be ready for yet another challenge.

The sky of this other place, this fairyland, was a deep blue and stars that showed no familiar constellation twinkle as purple clouds threatened to obscure them.

Anything people want to do before retiring?

Thumbs up emoji ;)

Zahra

Prince Keone, "This was a pleasure." His smile was small but warm. "It's rare that I have an unscripted conversation. You must be a remarkable person to know in private life. In my real life people are frightened to introduce themselves. It must be three or four hours past concilliare. They say half to the song of Penitent here I think. My team must get some rest if we're going to survive better than you do tomorrow." He clicked his heals together vigorously with his right leg turned to expose his calf and bowed nearly in half.

He spun in place tightly, then his posture slumped and he trudged off to bed.

Voltus looked unsatisfied, ”You taught me something. Strength of character makes a man hard to read. Badrelow’s pride makes him easy guileless. Aparisteros greed does the same to him. The guard can not see the imagination of others and therefore has none. Always take the wise out first.” He began to walk away, stopped and returned. ”Also, don’t shift your weight until the last moment. When you change your centre of balance the creases in your shoes change.”

He turned to walk to the voms.

During the Fight - Cairee

"Is everything okay? Can I be of service?"

The attendant pulled away from Cairee. She looked confused, affronted, vulnerable. She leaned towards Cairee, "What do you know about it." It sounded more like an accusation than a question.

She backed away two steps. She looked like someone teetering on an idea. Allissette kept walking like she didn't know her attendant wasn't with her.

The attendant stepped back towards Cairree and in a rash whisper, "If you want to help Her … lose." The attendant's face switched to instant regret.

Allissette (from a distance and continuing to walk away), "Manon Claircourbeau, what has you so distracted that you are not by my side." It was not a question. The attendant looked at the ground and hustled after her.

~

During the Fight - Zahra

"Your Lord Badrelow has had an impressive showing." She looked around and asked, "Taking a break from the rest of your team?" "Looks like the house is winning in more ways than one, even though Lord Badrelow and Tymythy have held their own nicely."

Zahra caught Prince Keone in a thousand mile stare. Her addressing him woke him out of it and he looked over. "Well, what a bright enemy do I have here. Sorry, I'm being facetious. Not a true enemy, just a competitor. I'm lucky to be faced with such a good one. The Blackbirds have been the surprise of the party. It's one thing to get through these games alive. It's quite another fr me to survive better than you. You task me."

He looked back to Lord Badrelow, "LORD Badrelow is impressive indeed. He's bastardly, brutish, a heartless aristocrat, and very, very impressive. You aren't announced, are you? Have you ever been introduced at court? You have the air of someone who has. Please, take a turn with me." He began to walk counter-clockwise around the lower stands. He glanced frequently at what was happening in the arena.

"Surely you've marked this display? This isn't a showcase. Like any court, there are intrigues going on here. My guess is that enough has happened and …" He gestures towards Nadj with a slight nod and then towards Voltus. "they are worried about looking vulnerable. This is a lure. Invite the strongest and most brash fighters in and then smack them down. Voltus is trying to make the veteran fighters look small."

"I'm afraid your Tymythy is making the smack-down look a whole lot more like a true contest. But then again, he didn't rush in to fight. He was volunteered." Keone smiled coyly.

~

That's when it happened …

~

During the Fight - Tymythy

Voltus was remarkable. His reflexes were as fast as Tymythy had ever seen. Voltus may not have been prepared for it but he moved cleanly away from Tymythy's iron ring just the same.

As the young spear-dancer brought his weapon down, he felt it. It was like hitting rock. Under the flesh there was such strength that Voltus (without exageration) must be able to rival an angry rhinoceros. There was a crack and it took a half-second before Tymythy realized it was the shaft of his spear.

Tymythy's borrowed spear now has the broken condition: –2 penalty on attack and damage rolls. Such weapons only score a critical hit on a natural 20 and only deal ×2 damage on a confirmed critical hit.

Most of the audience didn't realize what they were seeing. They saw the member of the Black Birds rush in, tag-team Voltus using Badrelow as a distraction, spin and go for the seneschal's hand. Surely with how heroic Voltus seemed, this young warrior must be the villain.

But the warriors in the crowd and the war-wise knew differently. They could see a young man coming into his craft. They could see the battle dance performed to the place where both speed and control are worked to their uttermost when they should be confounding each other. Any one of them knew that a new master had just shown themselves, truly, and for the first time.

It worked. Tymythy's attack slid across Voltus knuckles and hit the short spear. The spear came free from the hand that held it and spun end-over-end until it stuck in the sand five feet away.

The crowd hushed with a quiet disappointment but 'the few' knew. The battle-wise and the truly tested knew something remarkable had just occurred.

In the distance, Batbayar roared.

~

During the Fight - Dounia

… She watched carefully, committing every move to memory. The time to dance wasn't now, but it might be in the future. And besides, Cairee had told them to watch for clues or hints or other important things. It was time to do as she'd been bade.

It was almost impossible to follow but Dounia did. She saw the physical cost, the muscles strain, Tymythy's ploy and then his precision in landing the blow on Voltus hand. She saw Badrelow take a step back, set off balance by this sudden show of excellence. Maybe she saw the lord question himself, his underestimation of Tymythy's skill and the overestimation of his own position on the field. She certainly saw his change of momentum as he took the moment of Voltus' disarming to make his move.

Beyond the fight, on the oposite side of the arena, mid-bowl, Dounia also noticed Candor sitting alone. The rest of her team was higher up in the stands as she seemed troubled and not registering the combat ahead.

Candor noticed Dounia's gaze and nodded slightly. A flutter tickled Dounia's gut. The feeling of the evening before a caper. Candor looked south and Dounia could see to whom. Marie of Glaemorgan was with her team, the Adherents. The three shared a look as Marie made a 'play-it-cool' gesture with her hand and looked away.

End of round 8

Badrelow moved in. He raised his spear and spoke. Tymythy and Voltus were close enough to hear, and Dounia perceptive enough.

The spear pierced the outside flesh of the seneschal's left arm so that it came through a three inch section of skin, and was quickly pulled free. Voltus called out in pain.

Badrelow, "Yeild!"

~

Keone was next to Zahra, "Oh, by the Queen of the Light." His jaw went slack.

On the eastern castle, Hallwn's retinue had moved to the edge near the stands and were watching silently.

Chrizdoff stared with concern, "A talon to Badrelow."

Round 9

Voltus inhaled. Dropped to a low stance and formed his left hand into a fist. His right foot dug into the sand as he straightened out his body. He smashed through Tymythy's target. The Seneschal's fist stopped at his sternum and Tymythy could feel it there, hard as a stone.

Chrizdoff, "Tymythy s out of the match!"

Voltus straightened out and swept in a backwards arc with his right leg. He only barely hooked the back of Barelow's right knee but it was enough to knock the lord prone.

Badrelow tried to stand but, as he was almost up, he exposed himself and Voltus struck him down again.

The final rounds

Voltus seemed to be playing with Badrelow and kept it up for some time. Several exchanges went by as the seneschal fell into his stance and dodged or redirected everything the lord could send at him. Voltus had regained his calm while Badrelow was becoming more and more frustrated, red faced, and clumsy.

Members of the crowd began yelling, "FINISH HIM! FINISH HIM! FINISH HIM!"

Finally, after another moment of Badrelow being on his backside in the sand, Voltus retrieved his spear. As Badrelow stood Voltus threw it dead centre in the target. The wooden plaque shattered and the spear found a spot beyond it in Badrelow's leather smock. The lord rushed to pull it off and set it to one side. The spear just poking through the end and a little trickle of blood on his chest.

Most of the crowd went wild.

As Voltus went to the lake the waters bubbled up and carried the laurel to him. He looked to the eastern castle and bowed to Hallwn,

Voltus has three combat feats: improved unarmed combat, improved trip, and improved sunder

(big post responding to all this is coming - but I have to get to work ;) )

Crowd attitude for Tymythy decreases to indifferent. Anything from Zahra or Dounia this round? Cairee? After a check-in from the others I'll write up what happens ;)

Also, the critical hit is an immediate action sway roll. A 'successful maneuver' is a swift action sway roll.

Please go ahead and make a second sway roll.

Holy crap Tymythy! Nice write-up on the disarm attempt! You've conjured a beautiful image to support a perfectly placed nat20.

You do manage to flank and flanking does provide a +2 to CMB when the maneuver is part of a melee attack - which disarm is.

Your nat20 becomes a 26.

For 'reasons' this happens to be Voltus' CMD. You've rolled exactly what you need.

However …

He didn't attack this round. He is using the 'full defence' action. Although it doesn't (as far as I know) add to CMD, it does mean he can use his 'Crane Style - crane wing feat' which says:

"If you are using the total defense action instead, you can deflect one melee attack that would normally hit you. An attack so deflected deals no damage and has no other effect (instead treat it as a miss). You do not expend an action when using this feat, but you must be aware of the attack and not flat-footed."

Being flanked is not the same as being flatfooted and it does say the attack 'has no other effect'.

However …

You succeeded in your attack against a DC26! You also got a nat20! At the very beginning of our game I set some house rules.

One of them was:
House Rules: Natural 1s and 20s (part c & d)
- In combat, a roll of natural 20 is always a hit (ex. a roll of 20 with a +4 modifier vs an AC of 25 hits). If the result would have been a hit anyway (ex. a roll of 20 with a +4 mod. vs an AC of 24), then the attack does full damage. If you confirm the critical you receive the damage multiplier. A nat. 20 on a confirmation roll stacks to another confirmation roll.
- A nat. 20 on a skill roll that doesn't beat the DC is a partial success (i.e. knowledge rolls still give some information, stealth rolls may work but leave the character in a precarious position, etc.) A nat. 20 on a skill roll that beats the DC is an exceptional success (i.e. knowledge rolls give extra insight, acrobatics rolls provide added distance, etc)

As this is a combat maneuver roll and you managed the equivilant of 'an exceptional success' (with great writing to back it up), then I can't (as a conscionable GM) wave a magic wand, say 'crane wing style feat', and deny such a perfect roll.

What a rollercoaster ride!

Stay tuned.

I forgot to make a sway roll for Voltus as he sundered Aparis' target
Voltus sway large helpful crowd DC23: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

As Aparis' left and Badrelow pressed his attack the crowd was going wild for Voltus show of stamina, command of the field, and calmness while pressed by multiple foes.

Zahra could see Prince Keone Maegan by himself. None of the other Perdition's Cavaliers nor any of his retinue were with him. He leaned against the railing of the lowest area of the stands and was watching the fight.

Badrelow glanced at Tymythy with only the tiniest of assessments then moved his full attention back to Voltus, "We'll see little-crow. Just don't get-in-my-way." He jigged to his left and moved forward. He jabbed at Voltus right foot, jamming the point in the ground and twisting it like he were working a rudder to trip the seneschal.

Voltus moved his left leg out in front to step on the shaft of Badrelow's spear. As he put his weight on the shaft the far end came down on Badrelow's thigh so that he was forced to support the elf's weight. Voltus flew straight upward, spun completely around once as he landed on his right foot and went back into position.

The seneschal stood there serenely. His eyes were dreamy as if he were focused on some distant place, or was he aware of all things simultaneously. Tymythy couldn't tell.

Round 8

Round 7

Griddeon stabbed the ground with his spear and left it as he walked off the challenge like someone who knew what it was like to both win and lose such bouts.

Badrelow and Aparis' made their way to the grassy water's edge and kept their distance from Voltus.

Voltus made a smooth side-step and with a whip-like wrist stabbed at Aparis' target medallion. The wood split in a clean straight line. Aparis' looked at Badrelow, dropped his spear and followed Griddeon off the field.

Chrizdoff, "WELL IT'S ONLY ONE TALON FOR APARISTEROUS! HE IS OUT OF THE COMBAT!"

Voltus looked at Badrelow. The seneschal drew a smooth arc with his left foot and placed it behind his right knee.

Everyone up
Map updated

Map is updated - round 6, everyone up

Zahra and Dounia did their best but the crowd was locked on to what was happening in the lake. Badrelow looked at the tall posts around him and jumped from his post into the water. He swam eastward and paused with his weapon ready.

Griddeon nearly copied Badrelow but managed to waid to the edge of the water. He stabbed downward with a satisfied grin on his face and didn't spare the muscle as he pierced Voltus shoulder untile the spear head vanished in the seneschal's flesh.

Chrizdoff yelled to the crowd, "A Strong Hit! A talon to the guard of the Eusabionan Steerage Company!"

Aparis swam quickly clockwise around the scene trying to get near.

Voltus let his laurel sink to the lake bottom as he stood on the lake bed and walked forward. Pain showed on his face as he pushed ahead, his eyes locked on Griddeon's. Griddeon looked suddenly concerned, his back leg slid a few inches in the sand. Voltus twirled his short spear and swiped it sideways into the wooden medallion hung around Griddeon's neck. It split neatly in half and left a long cut on the guard's chest.

Chrizdoff, "Retribution is fair play! Griddeon, guard's man to Halftwain is out!"

Voltus walked onto the shore and turned to face the oncoming competitors with a flourish of his spear. The crowd began cheering "VOLTUS! VOLTUS! VOLTUS!"

The Crowd:
Voltus - helpful 3 victory points
Tymythy - friendly 1 victory point
Aparis - indifferent 0 victory points
Badrelow - indifferent 0 victory points

[dice=performance]1d20+4

[dice=diplomacy to continue to sway crowd]1d20+9

Nice try but I'm only taking your first roll.

Cairee - already made a good perception check but she's being careful not to look. I'm afraid her bluff wasn't great

Keeping her eyes averted, Cairee could hear the four women whisper, even from a distance. She and they were back from the noise of the crowd just enough.

Allissette, "… I don't like it. That blackbird has flown overhead twice and now its' master is just in the tents. Get back to the crowd. Remember, you were helping me with a cracked whalebone. Give me the bundle."

Handmaid with a soft voice, "Please be careful. His lordship is always watching now."

Handmaid with a sisterly voice, "And make it count. You only have two more nights."

Allissette, "You don't have to tell m… Thank you. We will."

The ladies broke up and went in different directions with only one attendant staying with Allissette. As the princess and her hanger-on walked past the food tent she avoided eye contact. Her attendant looked at Cairee politely and nodded.

Allissette was holding a silk covered bundle.

Tymythy - the DC to sway the crowd from indifferent to friendly is 13.

A section of the crowd is cheering you on and you get a +1 morale bonus on all attack rolls, combat maneuver checks, ability checks, skill checks, and saving throws

You also have 1 victory point and can use it to:

- auto succeed in a performance check if the crowd is less than 'Helpful'
- turn a performance check into an immediate action that doesn't use up your immediate action that round
- force an opponent to re-roll their performance check
- break a tie at the end of the combat if two or more fighters have the same crowd standing

Tymythy - you forgot to write Mic drop as you tossed the laurel

Current Map is up to date

Rnd5; Tymythy, Dounia, and Zhara are up - Cairee is still moving towards Allissette

End of Round 4 and into Round 5

Tymythy was momentarily underwater.

Badrelow's figure appeared wavy as Tymythy looked up at him through the surface. The older lordling stepped down to one post and then up to the next. He held his spear ready.

At a distance, Griddeon's figure was moving between posts. For a moment he seemed off balance but caught himself. He was still several ten feet from anyone else.

Aparis', who was five feet away, lifted himself out of the water and onto the pole to the north. His posture made it look like he was going to throw his spear but the throw never came.

Through the two poles (one just north of Tymythy and one just east) the young spear-dancer watched Voltus twist in the water. He transformed from someone fallen to in-control. He eyed Tymythy and then the laurel. His face was calculating.

He seemed to decide and undulated in the water like an eel. Badrelow took an opportunity to spear downward into the water with no sign of being withholding. The thrust was well placed and should have skewered the elf, but, even in the water, Voltus twisted a foot out and redirected the attack. He almost launched off the spears side and swam eastward.

-

Cairee edged her way through the crowd towards Allissette and her cadre of attendants.
You'll get close enough next round - 6

I didn't intend it but when I created the zodiac signs for this world (more like the Sheng Xiao or Chinese zodiac) I did it a little haphazard. The year you're playing in is 997. I rolled dice to see what year it is and got the year of the stag (Lautslest the pathfinder).

I traced everyones age back to their birth year and this happened:

Dounia was born in the year of the Weaver (hmm, the birds call her little worm fingers for her lock picking skills)

Zahra was born in the year of the Stag (the way-finder, ok, maybe not as on the nose)

Cairee was born in the year of the wolf (the pack keeper, the sign for family. Hmm...)

Tymythy is the most on the nose. Born in the year of Kinig'hos the hunter, the protector sign.

Ousel fluttered back to her master's shoulder.

Cairee could tell that the three women were in each other's confidence but from the distance of nearly half the arena she couldn't tell more.

You'll have to get closer and risk them seeing you 'seeing them'

"Where is the sparkling earth-bound? Can you show me?"

Ousel nodded and shot off clockwise towards the outside edge of the arena and landed on the western side of the food tents. There three women were congregated. By the extravagant clothes one was clearly recognizable as Princess Allissetta but it was hard to see the others. They were probably part of her retinue. The three were facing each other in a small huddle.

Tymythy caught the sea-coral head wreath in his hand. It was fine but sturdy, light and pink. A warmth grew in his palm and he felt a hum move up his arm.

A shiver shot through the son of Stywyrt and it kept him distracted as he jumped, and then as he fell to be woken by the splash of the waters.

[Dice=Disarm]1d20+5 Not good, but... if Voltus loses Dex bonuses and such to AC, perhaps he loses them to CMD as well? I will assume as much...

Interesting, he is falling. A rare opportunity - you have position, timing, he should be considered helpless … I rule you can disarm at a DC10 (so you succeed in disarming him) but to catch the laurel you'll need to give me a sleight of hand check (not usually allowed untrained but in this instance anybody can catch something so: 1d20+dex mod).

The DC will be 10 +size AC mod.
The laurel is about 9" making it diminutive (+4ac).
Final sleight of hand check is DC14.

No Dounia yet. I assume we are all busy. I'm going to keep the action going. I think I need to start announcing rounds.

Round 4

Badrelow moved just to Tymythy's left and clambered up on the post next to him.
Tymythy can take an AoO on Badrelow if he likes

Griddeon moved east, climbed a shorter post and then passed over to a second.

Aparis' swam clumsily toward a post at Tymythy's north-north-west.

Voltus tried to get some distance as he made a play for the tall post east of him. He leapt in a smooth arc, hand touched the top to lead him upward, his foot grabbed onto the edge.

A long splinter of wood cracked on the side of the post. Voltus no longer had purchase. He began to fall towards the water as his body instinctively elongated into its' own spear-shape. For a moment he was open.

The crowd gasped.

A nat1 on Voltus move and attempt to pass a threatened space without an AoO. Tymythy has a free shot (if he didn't use his AoO on Badrelow) as Voltus moved between the yellow and purple posts - no dex bonuses for Voltus. AC10. After Tymythy's action, Voltus will fall into the lake.

After Tymythy's AoO then everyone is up (including Tymythy's natural turn)

I've changed the 'Campaign Info' page.

I've removed the doc that shows the (ridiculously complicated) calendar and replaced it with an updated version called Hours, Days, Months, Years

As I continue to flesh out the 'Faiths' document I will be adding holy days to the calendar.

I also hope to update the Ærde Primer to house a much simplified version of the info in 'Hours, Days, Months, Years'.

Feel free to use it or let the info come up in-game.

Unfortunately, when you get to the actual calendar section, I have formatted the text about the five festival days across the two pages. It will be awkward to read and was meant to be viewed with the season on a side-by-side layout.

Zahra drew the attention of a swath of about fifty people as she continued her chanting and stomping but began to emit a series of tiny fireworks and flash-bangs. It had all the trappings of a performance made to entertain children but her presence, her commitment to swaying the crowd, made it a little wonder, a show people were starting to associate with the name Tymythy.
+1 to any sway crowd roll Tymythy makes during his next actions. If Dounia can keep up her performance I'll make that a +2

Ousel flew down to Cairee's shoulder and gave her report in her wee bird voice, "I saw lots of earth-bound shouting and cheering. I saw Sparonow making stars with her hands. I saw Liwofin doing a funny kind of dance with her metal teeth. I saw a deep-earth-bound hitting an earth-bound and yelling. I saw a big silver plate of berries. I saw a sparkling earth-bound talking to two not so sparkling ones. I saw Shleho fighting on a post."

Tymythy swung out with his spear as Voltus went on a two-footed crouch on his post to avoid the swipe.

From the stands people could see Voltus speak but only Tymythy could hear what was said.

I'll allow minimum, especially as you have special spear spear dancing style and weapon finesse. Otherwise, I'd say minimum +str mod.

The map is updated to my Tymythy is toe-to-toe with Voltus post.

Tymythy - under these circumstances +2 circumstance attack bonus for being 5' above Voltus

Badrelow tried to move past Tymythy, fended off the Basternae's attempt to knock him down, touched a foot on the next post and tipped backwards into the water as he waved his arms wildly on the way down.

Thymythy was already past the spot and toe-to-toe with Voltus.

I won't characterize Tymythy's move until you get back to me, Tymythy. You could go for a superficial cut (non-lethal), keep the lethal attack as this is the match that was set before you, or switch your action to a combat maneuver.

Tymythy - you also asked about target. Treat it as an attempt to sunder. The boards are small and thin so they have opponet's CMD (Aparis CMD17/Badrelow CMD16/Griddeon CMD16) 2hardness, 5hp.

Zahra - give me a basic performance check (1d20 +charisma mod +2circumstance). Prestidigitation says you can: slowly lift 1 pound; color, clean, or soil items; chill, warm, or flavor 1 pound of nonliving material; create small objects, but they look crude and artificial. It also says you can do simple 'magic tricks' so producing small flashes or puffs of smoke that look like 'stage magic' is fine with me and will give you a +2 circumstance bonus on your performance check[/ooc]

Tymythy - I rule that you don't get an AoO on an action that was provoked by as an AoO.

Also, sorry, I wasn't clear. Voltus isn't wearing a plaque. He only has his short spear, a loin cloth, a small shell pendant that might be a holy symbol, and a coral laurel around his head. The challenge is - tag him with a cut before he breaks your target. You only have three choices: attack as Aparis' and the other seem intent on doing; non-leathal cut; or, perform enough combat maneuvers as to win over the crowd and win by popular decision.

Because I was unclear please rewind, replay, or pause as you feel best for your character's decisions.

I'll mark everyone's heights on the map.

Map should be updated to now

Tymythy - you have to swim to the pole as your first move. Your second move would be climbing your first red pole.

Zahra and Dounia - what are you up to?

Tymythy swam like someone used to strange lakes in wild lands and reached the pole before him. It was more that his height out of the water but he shimmied up it and was balanced on top before any of the others could make another move.

Tymythy was now in front of Badrelow. The older lord impatiently yelled, "Boy! Your messing up the field of combat!" He pushed the spear dancer from behind as he tried to advance on Voltus using Tymythy's post top as a spring point. Tymythy teetered for a moment.

AoO to Tymythy on Badrelow. Badrelow tried to trip him without 'improved trip'. You get to do this before I resolve where Badrelow winds up.

Griddeon stepped confidently up to a post that should have been too far to step to, and then up to a second slightly higher. He glowered at Tymythy with a that's-how-it's-done nod, then slipped, hit his back on the post top and fell backward next to the post he started on.

Aparis' stood as firmly as he could manage and swung his spear at Voltus' leg in an attempt to foul the elf's footing. It was clear he was used to smaller weapons and closer quarters fighting. Voltus leapt on his one foot and landed neatly on the same to avoid the trip. He thrust his other foot back so that his body made a letter T on his planted leg. His short spear was by his side as he pushed forward with his free hand.

Voltus struck Aparis' and knocked him off the post backwards. Aparis' was prone in the water.

Cairee watched Badrelow. She could see a harsh man, an angry man, but she couldn't see any sign of a duplicitous man. Aparisterous, however, looked exactly like the kind of person who would provide or accept a bribe. There was no sign here of anything more.

Zahra and Dounia haven't posted this round. After they post then everyone is up

Everyone! Welcome to page 100 of gameplay!!

Badrelow and Gribbeon will roll using the old DCs. The new round starts with Aparis'

Badrelow crouched deeply with his arms out before him. His spear was in his right hand. He forward leapt to the post ahead of him and hit the side to fall backwards into the water. Soaking wet he grabbed onto the post and heaved his heavy body up. His beard looked like he was wearing a drenched cat and his face was red and angry.

Gribbeon made a play for the post Tymythy was last on and followed suit. Waist deep in water, he clambered onto his post. He looked at Tymythy and with a thick Eusabionan accent, "If you can't learn ta climb then learn ta get out of the way."

Aparis dove into the deeper lake between he and Voltus and swam with remarkable grace to a post further ahead. The much of the crowd was very distracted watching Dounia's antics so the show of skill only turned a few heads.

Voltus stretched out with the leg he had raised and made a calm step to the post adjacent to Aparis'. The elf then drew his other leg in front of him so that it hooked out and his foot was between them.

He stood very still.

Zahra noticed a few of the audience were tapping their feet near her. She was warming them up but could she sustain it?
If Tymythy makes a sway crowd roll this round it will be at +1

Dounia's pantomime was also working and in good time. Some of the crowd missed Tymythy's fall into the water but were in full view of how Badrelow and Aparis missed their stabs at Voltus.
-1 to Aparisterous' sway crowd this round

Tymythy is up - use the new DCs

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In the mean time …

Ousel looked at Cairee and nodded then flew off her shoulder. The blackbird made a wide arc behind everyone and headed counterclockwise. She flew high to get a wide view.
This will take two rounds, she'll return next round on Tymythy's turn