349
« on: April 28, 2015, 06:02:47 pm »
You proceed through Door 1, which turns into Impossible Geometry Hallway 1 before eventually turning into a large magical forge. You enter with mild confusion, and at once, you're swept up by assorted enchanters and such. While being measured, you look across the room to see a painfully thin and surprisingly dark-skinned vampire staring back at you. It grins without showing its fangs and nods with a degree of respect. You surmise that the vampire is the other gladiator, and upon further study, note that it's not a "traditional" vampire but a "variant" type with secondary energy sources and powers in lieu of the shapeshifting: in this case, a "Gehenna" type. You're not entirely familiar with physiology, but you remember that their secondary source of powers are pain and anger, they can manipulate their bones, and that they are just as capable of frenzy as you are of rage.
You're fitted into Good Steel Chain and Good Steel Chestplate, as well as a Gold-Plated Steel Horned Helmet that actually fits over your horns (Effective: -5 Slash/-5 Pierce/-4 Bludgeon/-4 Ballistic); the vampire simply slips on a pair of rings (-???) and what looks to be an itchy and uncomfortable bit of loincloth. You get the sense that it's worn more for irritation than to cover anything, and lift up your feet to receive a set of Iron Shoes (+2 Bludgeon and +2 Piercing to Kick 2 = 8 Bludgeon+4 Piercing) You're handed a Perfect Shock Whip (5 Piercing Damage+3 Electric Damage) and a Steel Shortsword which you recognize as yours, although it's clearly been restored to Perfect condition (10 Piercing/8 Slash) for the fight.
With this, you're promptly shoved into another door, and after a short jaunt, emerge into a slightly bowl-shaped arena with spotless white floors and glaring overhead lights. Twenty unarmored figures, mostly humans, are waiting at the edges, bearing Clubs (6 Bludgeon), Spears (8 Pierce/4 Bludgeon), and, in a few cases, Sabers (7 Slash/4 Pierce). The vampire is at the other end, and after a moment of fanfare, your names and levels are announced.
Khünbish, Vampire Paragon 1 / Gladiator 1 / Hand-to-Hand Specialist 2 / Blood Mage 2 / Blood Priest 1
Olsha, Liagoran Monk 2 / Warrior 2 / Gladiator 2
The bell rings, the crowd cheers, and the combat begins. Many of the convicts turn to their neighbors and begin to fight crudely but painfully, although a small group of six with fresh coward-brands band together, handling their weapons like they know how to use them; the Vampire casually stalks towards one of the fights, its own Whip ready to strike as its hand caresses the handle obscenely. One of the convicts, clearly a Sea Elf sailor from the gait and experience with a saber, neatly shoves their blade up into their opponent's ribcage and twists before nearly gutting the competition and turning away from the wood elf. The crowd cheers, and you manage to contain your surprise as the first cannon shot goes off to mark the first death.
***
Khünbish, L7 Vampire Martial Artist Bloodmage: 45?? HP / 32?? MP
You, L6 Minotaur: 39/39 HP 24/24 MP
Coward Soldier Group: Healthy
Fight 1: Lightly Wounded v Lightly Wounded
Fight 2: Moderately Wounded, Disarmed, Bleeding v Healthy
Fight 3: Healthy v Dying, Bleeding
Fight 4: Healthy v Healthy
Fights 5 and 6: Healthy and Healthy vs Healthy and Lightly Wounded
Wary Convict 1 (Spear): Healthy
Wary Convict 2 (Club) Healthy
