It is not long before a couple of tables are lifted and moved aside, and a couple of cartloads of logs are brought in. As this happens there is a sudden influx of less affluent patrons, clearly working men and women. Gunt Yarman enters towards the end of this looking pained as a thin immaculately dressed man with oiled hair talks animatedly to him.
The carts are set up in full view and a single log is placed upon each of four large polished tree stumps - which were apparently supporting the tables removed.
Several burly men approach Annette to sign up, several of whom she seems to know and she carefully records there names on a small chalk board - which also bears Sarn's name. Annette approaches Yarman and can be seen holding the board out enquiringly, but the big Orc shakes his head and takes a seat waving to Leesha.
Finally after everyone has found a seat and everyone has a drink in hand Annette walks in between the four logs and strikes a small brass gong. She holds up the board and calls out.
"First up in the Bard's Tail's Hundred Log Splitter's challenge, Bulrum Hentwhistle, Gedd Tanner, Jarik Cromwell, and Morgan Briant! Gedd is joining us for the first time since his unfortunate injury, and both Bulrum and Morgan are former winners - Jarik joins us for the first time!" This is followed by good natured cheering and a smattering of applause.
The four men take their positions and each tosses a gold piece into a hat Annette places upon the floor. Smiling Annette produces a small purse and pours ten additional gold pieces in.
The men are each handed a hatchet though some appear to have brought their own and put aside those provided. Annette pulls a whistle waits until all the men are prepared and then blows it, the shrill blast spurring the men into a frenzied motion of chopping.
After ten minutes of each man snatching and chopping logs each is sweating profusely with a stack of split logs at their feet. It is almost instantly clear that out of these partcipants Morgan Briant is the victor, the others being too close to call. The logs are thrown onto a hand cart as the crowd counts, Briant has split 62, Bulrum 52, and the others 48 a piece. There is much slapping on backs and congratulating and the men take their seats and are soon guzzling ale.
During the festivities Yarman taps Sarn on the shoulder and hands him something wrapped in sackcloth. Sarn can barely hear him ovr the din, but the Orc winks and he can just make out, "Stick together,... edge!"
Once Sarn unravels the sackcloth he sees a worn well used handaxe, though it is clearly sharp as the day it was forged. After a few practice hefts he is surprised to find that its balance is perfect - surely the work of a master. Next thing he knows Annette's whistle pierces the noise of the crowd and the next contestants are summoned forth.
"Next up we have Yung Smith, Sarn Irontusk, Mostin Stanz, and our reigning champ Karl "Splitter" Farris! Yung is back for his third try, perhaps third times the charm? Sarn is new so lets make him feel welcome! Mostin continues to maintain his unchallenged title as the worst log splitter in history, and Splitter seeks to take his unbeaten streak to twenty six in a row - which would place him only four victories short of the record held by Bridgend's own Gunt Yarman!"
When Splitter's name is mentioned the crowd goes quiet and there are a few boos from the far corners of the room, a number of eyes turn to a man standing besides Fat Sal's table - he is not especially big, but his does appear leanly wolf-like and mean. When Yarman's name is mentioned there are cheers, and several cries of, "Take an axe!", which the big Orc waves off genially.
The other three contestants move upto the stumps and take their places. Yung Smith is an unremarkable man who wears a determined expression, and Mostin is a thin elderly man wearing nothing, but an loin cloth who is poseing enthusiastically in a muscleman stance much to the crowds amusement - he wears a huge grin and is clearly having a grand old time.
[sblock=Bard's Tail's Hundred Log Splitter's challenge]Okay I changed up the challenge slightly so this is what you need to do...[/sblock][sblock=Bard's Tail's Hundred Log Splitter's challenge]
Roll 50 times - I suggest doing so in units of ten for ease. Roll to hit with a Handaxe, +1 if Sarn uses Yarman's MW Handaxe - you need to hit an 8. Then roll damage, 5 damage is enough to split a log, any less and you must hit it again - crits don't do extra damage since the logs are immune.
Once you have rolled 50 times, count up the number of logs you split - or I can do it if you like. Then simply double this number for your total count. If you finish with the highest count then you win 18gp. You do need to place 1gp in the hat though.
Here is an example of my rolling for the first 4 contestants...
Morgan Briant (1d20+2=4, 1d6+3=4, 1d20+2=18, 1d6+3=6, 1d20+2=14, 1d6+3=9, 1d20+2=15, 1d6+3=8, 1d20+2=3, 1d6+3=7, 1d20+2=14, 1d6+3=8, 1d20+2=17, 1d6+3=9, 1d20+2=13, 1d6+3=6, 1d20+2=17, 1d6+3=7, 1d20+2=7, 1d6+3=5) [/sblock]
