IC: Dichotomy's Age of Worms Redux, Part VI

[Dichotomy]

Day 55 (I think...)

The night passes without event, either due to the bar on the door or, more likely, the numerous wardens stationed in the area.

The trio wakens to find a crowd gathered near the meal tables at the north end of the Coenoby. The battles for the day have been posted on the wall near the door to the kitchen. The trio is scheduled to fight in the second match for the day, set to begin around 10:00 a.m. The battle is a four-team battle royale, with only the last team standing going on. The Iron Salamanders are set to face Arcane Auriga, Badlands Revenge, and Sapphire Squad.
[sblock=OOC]Assuming there is some "staring" that will happen:

Arcane Auriga:
Four elven women, lead by Rennida Auriga
Rennida has a magic bow and a magic mithral breastplate
Her three companions have magic bows and magic studded leather

Badlands Revenge:
A male human, Joren, leading two gnolls
Joren has a magic spear, magic sling, a magic wand, magic hide armor, and a magic wooden shield; he also has a "pet" dire badger
The gnolls carry halberds and have no apparent magic items

Sapphire Squad:
A male janni (I don't think any of the trio knows anything about jann), Korush, leading two human men
Korush has a magic scimitar, magic mithral chain shirt, magic arrows, and magic gloves
The two men have magic scimitars, magic chainmail, and magic cloaks

It is also likely that many of the members have potions as well.

There is also quite a bit of time before your bout is scheduled, if you want to do anything.[/sblock]

 

[TiCaudata]

Over the next few hours Erdolliel does some serious goggle-eyed staring at all of their opponents.[sblock=oc]Erdolliel will be trying to focus on all the magic items for the full 3 rounds to get the following information: Auras and strength and school of magic. SoM involves a Spellcraft check (+18). Detect magic page is http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/detectMagic.htm

The stares she'll be giving are wide eyed astonishment type stares to keep up the image that we're incompetent.[/sblock]

 

[Dichotomy]

[sblock=OOC]List updated to include auras. Erdolliel passed all the spellcraft checks.

Arcane Auriga:
Four elven women, lead by Rennida Auriga
Rennida has a magic bow (moderate evocation) and a magic mithral breastplate (faint abjuration)
Her three companions have magic bows (faint evocation) and magic studded leather (faint abjuration)

Badlands Revenge:
A male human, Joren, leading two gnolls
Joren has a magic spear (faint evocation), magic sling (faint evocation), a magic wand (faint transmutation), magic hide armor (faint abjuration), and a magic wooden shield (faint abjuration); he also has a "pet" dire badger
The gnolls carry halberds and have no apparent magic items

Sapphire Squad:
A male janni (I don't think any of the trio knows anything about jann), Korush, leading two human men
Korush has a magic scimitar (moderate evocation), magic mithral chain shirt (faint abjuration), magic arrows (faint evocation), and magic gloves (moderate transmutation)
The two men have magic scimitars (faint evocation), magic chainmail (faint abjuration), and magic cloaks (faint abjuration)[/sblock]

 

[o3caudata]

[sblock=oc]

I can't escape the idea that there's something we *should* do, but we either missed the hook or perhaps we're just not being creative enough.

[/sblock]

Kushnak takes the marginal space relief the first match causes to explore the area to gain a more thorough 'lay of the lang' for his new, albeit temporary, home.

Once the time for battle approaches he'll return to his companions.

"We stick to our original plan, no matter the number of foes. We will exhaust many of our spells before the battle is won, but fast and hard is the right path."

"Keep an eye on our friend in the crowd, i'd like to know if he's overtly taking notice of us yet. He will after today I am sure."



[sblock=oc]

Unless there's some discovery with the exploration, i believe we're ready to start.

[/sblock]

 

[TiCaudata]

Once Erdolliel has gathered all the information she can about their opponents, she joins Kushnak in perusing the area.[sblock=oc]She'll walk around also, in case there are any secret doors her elf-sense can pick up on, she won't be doing thorough searching as of yet. Spot and LIsten both +14[/sblock]

 

[Dichotomy]

[sblock=OOC]Do you want a map, or do you want me to actually post sometime? I'll assume you want the latter. There will be a map eventually. Blame the adventure writers for not making a map with a grid for the arena.[/sblock]With so many gladiators present, the Wardens try to keep order and forbid anyone from leaving the immediate area of the Coenoby. Erdolliel sensing nothing unseen.

The three other teams clearly are sizing up the competition, and it is hard to tell what they make of Erdolliel's staring. Korush, the leader of the Sapphire Squad, gives her a very lecherous glance when he notices her, though.

Immediately before 10:00, a group of wardens gathers all four teams and escorts them back to the lift going up to the arena. The teams are taken up on group at at time, with the Iron Salamanders last. The trio can clearly hear what sounds like Talabir, with a magically enhanced voice, as he announces each time heading up. He introduces Arcane Auriga, with the elves' deadly precision with their arrows; Badlands Revenge, and their frothing savagery; the Sapphire Guard, and the team's skill with mounted combat. Finally, as the trio is taken up, Talabir mentions the teams prowess against kobold hordes, and Nethezar snickers.

As Talabir segues into talking about how exciting this match will be, the trio realizes that both Rennida and Joren have begun casting spells. It would seem that this is the time for final preparations.

 

[TiCaudata]

Noticing Korush's look, Erdolliel raises her eyebrows and winks back at him. Then she patiently waits for time to pass until the match. Once on the lift, Erdolliel joins in on Nethezar's chuckle.

"Hopefully we can live up to our reputation." When she notices the other casters she begins her casting as well.[sblock=oc]Spellcraft (+18) checks on the other 2 caster's spells. Continue the checks as they continue to cast. Share the info quietly with K&N.

Stoneskin on Kushnak and Fly on herself. Then Greater invisibility during the first round. [/sblock]

 

[o3caudata]

Kushnak surveys the teams as they prepare, doing his best to look vulnerable.

[sblock=oc]

Depending on how long the introductions feel, Kushnak will wait a bit, but he's going to cast:

aid, fly, bears endurance on himself(in that order, if it matters).

How far away are the people? Is it like 80'? 30'? 200'? Just trying to gauge what my first actions will be.

[/sblock]

 

[TiCaudata]

[sblock=oc]Oooo Good idea! While I seriously doubt that the bout will last 90 minutes (for stoneskin) Erdolliel will wait to cast fly towards the end of the announcements to not squander her 9 minutes. The bout is probably not going to last that long either, but still.[/sblock]

 

[Dichotomy]

As Talabir continues on, increasing the excitement of the crowd, the magnitude of the event starts to settle in. Perhaps 10,000 people fill the stands of the arena, and hundreds of eyes watch every move. Wardens lead you to the remaining corner of a roughly 100 by 100 foot space. Blood on the sandy ground testifies to the battle from earlier.

While Erdolliel sees some spell casting, it is clear that more has already been done, as there are a total of six Rennidas. Most of the other combatants, except the Sapphire Squad, all down at least a potion or two. The trio responds with their own enhancements.

As the Wardens all retreat to the sides of the area, Talabir reaches a climax. Raknian, sitting under a pavilion in the center of the north side of the audience loudly announces that the fight shall begin, and a trumpeter blows a triumphant call.

[sblock=OOC]The arena is much bigger than this… nearly 400 by 600 feet. That thing that looks like a wall in the middle... it isn't there. It is a remnant of my copying my grid.

Nethezar doesn't cast any pre-fight spells, but does begin bardic music inspire courage.

While it would seem clear that there are other spells in effect, Erdolliel only sees Rennida cast protection from arrows and Joren cast barkskin.

I'm not keeping track of any spells that last minutes per level.

R = Rennida; 1-3 are her elven archer cohorts
J = Joren; B = his dire badger; 4-5 are his gnolls
I = Korush; 6-7 are his mercs; all three are atop heavy warhorses

Korush: delays

Status & Initiative
Korush (29)
Kushnak (24)
Erdolliel (21)
1 (18)
2 (18)
3 (18)
Joren (slower 18)
Rennida (14)
Nethezar (6)
6 (5)
7 (5)
4 (4)
5 (4)[/sblock]