Griever: The Ravenlords, part 10
Log Info
- Title: Griever: The Ravenlords, part 10
- Emitter: Whirlpool
- Characters: Cryosanthia, Tenoc, Braelnoir, Merek, Halani, Thyrson
- Place: Ravenlord's Fortress: Dining Hall
- Time: Sunday, December 12, 2021, 10:18 PM, Monday, December 13, 2021, 8:32 PM
- Summary: A casual comment on the dinner entertainment, two Egalrins fighting, prompts the most elder to ask if Halani wishes to fight. There is some discussion, does she? Cryo attempts a diplomatic escape, which fails and all but requires Halani to fight. There is some discussion of rules, what rules, and the Islander goes to prepare herself. She changes and returns. Battle Ensues! She is handicapped without her weapons, and it seems, slightly outclassed. The Egalrin warrior is quite surprised at the beating he is taking, and Halani is very mobile, constantly evading then drawing him in so she lands more blows. All is going well, and then she's stunned...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Tenoc 7'0" 280 Lb Sith-Makar Male Tall, green-scaled Sith'Makar hunter. Braelnoir 5'11" 146 Lb Human Female A tall, pale Acanian woman, branded in silver. Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes. Halani 5'4" 120 Lb Human/Xian Female Shortish, dusky skinned woman with almond shaped eyes. Thyrson 7'6" 436 Lb Giantborn Male Northern giantborn. Chiseled features, blonde stereotype. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Whirlpool 5'0" Otyugh I am stinky! -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Previously
The diplomats delicately devour their dinner, striving to understand the Ravenlords and determine if they require assistance with Grauthis. It is a difficult task, as the Egalrin are confident they will succeed and obsessed with Charn to the point of ignoring the rest of the world. Merkahab, Artifice, the death of Animus, guns, all these things have passed them by. Finally, frustrate, they start guesstimating Charn's strength based on it's population and likely tactics and ask if the birds can handle them. One great warrior single-wingedly defeated a giant, two will now demonstrate fighitng techniques for their guests. These are entertaining, very entertaining.
They are graceful. They are dangerous.
Cryo claps at the appropriate moments, making cheerful whistling noises before even checking to see if the other Egalrin do so. She examines them for livery, perhaps one is a traditional loser. The choreography also looks... real, not rehearsed.
She's impressed.
Braelnoir settles in for the show, her wolflike gaze taking in the movements of the two. She never got the more artful brawly sort of training the Ravens are showing off for their benefit. It's an oversight she should probably work on, though she's been... sidetracked with mastering the new aspects of her earlier transmogrification, among other things...
Still, she recognizes target zones, the sweet spots she tries to land hammer or blade... the muffled, hollow thump of a boneshaking impact... recovery speed compared to similar wounds she's seen, delivered, or endured.
"Kor's knuckles, they know their shit." the silvermaned human remarks under her breath, a certain admiration in her eye.
Halani is definitely not the speaker that Cryosanthia, or even Braelnoir are. Well, sure, she often has lots to say.. too much, sometimes.. but when the words are important, she is at least wise enough to know she doesn't posses the verbal dexterity required to bring someone around to her point of view. Skills she never developed. And why would she? Her fists tend to do so much better at that than her words ever could. So it is when the entertainment comes out, her attention is naturally drawn to the ritualized combat... and fast as it is, she seems to follow it. Or at least be absorbed by it. Though... "I could take 'em," she says. Mostly to herself, definitely not meant for their hosts to hear.. but maybe in response to the silent question popping around. "Maybe not both. They're fast, yeah? But.. "
"Oh, could you?"
The elder smiles.
"It appears we have a volunteer..."
Oh no.
Now
Thyrson looks up, glancing over at Halani. "Well, this should be interesting," he rumbles.
The Korite looks across her shoulder as Halani speaks up, a brow perked before the elder's acceptance of sorts brings her attention back thattaway.
She studies the old bird for a beat or two, trying to discern any other motives beneath the surface, but doesn't object.
It's against her religion.
Cryosanthia grips the table. This wasn't according to plan, nor very diplomatic, however... it just might work.
The whitescale turns to look along the table at Halani, "are you okay with it? I think you could take them."
Encouragement!
Plus, maybe it'd pop their 'outsiders have nothing to offer' bubble.
Halani doesn't hear the elder at first, still considering the ritual combatants. Then she grins a little, leaning over to nudge Braelnoir.. only to see Thyrson looking at her. The grin freezes.. "Interesting?" Then she realizes there are more eyes upon her. When Cryosanthia ask the question of her, Halani's response is quite eloquent. "I'm sorry... what?"
"You did issue a challenge, yes?" creaks the elder, slowly, to Halani. Cryosanthis is glanced at. Then the others. Slowly.
It seems like he'd find it very impolite to back down now.
"Is this the blood tax?" Cryosanthia asks, looking at the elders, then Halani again, attempting to judge her mood. She adjusts her robes, feeling a little fighty herself. She doesn't want to risk a fight, not in her condition, but she wants to. Perhaps she's projecting.
She would like to see Halani fight, the whitescale has heard so much about her. Still, might be best to try and finagle a way out, if she wants out.
Facing the elder once more, Cryosanthia says, "We came to speak in peace, and I did not ask my associates if they were willing to go this far. I must leave the choice to Halani."
She looks at her, "Do you wish to fight?"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy: (1)+25: 26 (EPIC FAIL)
Now they all have to fight.
Braelnoir has her own.... interests in a good row, but her way tends to get... messy.
She has more practice controlling her weapons, less so with her current means, and any mishaps could put a twist in the works that no one needs, so, with Halani seeming to have missed the meaning, remarks, "Seems like they want a show, luv."
She wants to play too, of course, no less than her sister does, but.... the mission is yanking her chain again.
"Do I wish to fight?" Halani repeats the question, and yes... there is something in her eyes now. A glint. And here she thought there wouldn't be much fun during this mission. "Oh, a show, yeah?" Her fingers begin to flex, as if limbering up. Then she pounds one fist into her palm. "Alright. But I need a promise that there'll be no hard feeling when I win, yeah?"
Thyrson fingers flex. "How many fight? And with what?"
"Yes! Entertainment! One of yours versus one of ours. It will be fair, I assure you! Hand to hand. No weapon needed, unless you prefer it. Blood is easy to clean up."
The Raven-Lord may be kidding.
Hard to say.
Beaks are not expressive, after all.
Thyrson nods once, and affirms. "It is known." It's so last year, but it'll do.
Cryo glances at Braelnoir. She's got the look, just like she had before she jumped her. She wants to go up. There are many good reasons why she shouldn't, and she is listening to them, letting them hold her back.
But Braelnoir seems agreeable, even Thyrson, whom she didn't expect at all. Halani also, seems okay. She glances Merek's way, has he nodded off, or is he going to nod in? It seems like the whole crew wants to fight.
Someone go up.
Halani isn't going to miss this chance to fight, now that she has been duly informed of what's going on. Her chair is sliding back as she rises, rolling her head from one side to the other "So... now?"
Braelnoir feels her eister's eyes and turns to regard her. The yearnings clashing with the obligations behind her eyes.
Their eyes.
She nods, then holds a staying hand toward the palescale and looks anew to Halani, "Rules?"
Monday, December 13, 2021, 8:32 PM
"The rules? The rules are fight. Fight until you until you win. Is there another way?"
The raven quizzically tilts its head at the lot of you.
Halani says, "The only rule is no crying when I spank this fool hard."
Cryosanthia taps her two forefingers together, clicking the thick, almost claw-like nails against each other. She reviews her latest battles, her fighting has been all over the place. Do verbal jabs count? She adjusts herself in her seat, "No... no... that covers it really."
She makes a direct, serious look at Halani, "Don't hold back. We already had the bath." No need to fight clean.
Thyrson nods, folding his arms on his chest. "Let's see what happens." He watches the crowd of ravens carefully.
A shrug as the old Elgarin seems so nonchalant about the affair, and Brae looks to her companion with her wolfish grin, "Mix's shit -up-, girl!" she exults with a clap.
Give Kor a show.
Merek looks along to watch and listen, though he doesn't really talk a lot for the moment, instead a little content to relax and to take a drink from whatever looks to be with him.
Brae gets some strange looks from the egalrin. They seem to find the displays of confidence unseemly! Or perhaps insulting.
Either way, the elder claps his feathered hands together.
"You will be shown to a room to prepare. You will be given attire to fight in. Your hands may be wrapped if you so wish. There will be no talons."
Halani rubs at her nose with the back of her knuckle, closing one eye to look at the raven single-ocular style.. then nods sharply. "Hah!" she then says, as if catching the elder out in a falsehood. "That's another rule!" Then, perhaps thinking it unwise to 'correct' people they're trying to win over, she clears her throat and looks at her companions. "Don't hold back? Hah. This shit's gonna be so mixed up, they'll be.. well.. unmixing it for days, yeah?"
"You are fortunate, Halani, this one has usually only had six seconds to summon a weapon and drop into a stance," Cryo says, undiplomatically, although she is making it seem like an own-goal. She adds a caveat, "this one is Speaker-Caste though, not Warrior-caste, their preparations are unknown."
Her tail swishes back and forth behind her, then she gets it pinched in the chair.
Braelnoir settles into her seat and cocks an eyebrow at the looks she's getting, which sprinkles some humor to the feral cast of her grin.
Sometimes, the best thing to do is project strength.
Make him wonder what you know that he doesn't.
besides, Halani's been through plenty, trusting her abilities is only right.
Halani offers Cryosanthia an understanding nod, though offers a slanted half-grin. "Usually don't need that much time, me, but.. hey, if the birdies need time to settle their nerves, makes for the better fight, yeah? Really test the mettle?" Braelnoir, Thyrson and Merek get a thumbs up.. then she's looking at the elder. "Alright, old one! Show me to the room! We'll put on a show for you."
With a nod, one of the ravens gets to their feet and escorts Halani out of the room to a different, adjoining room. After all, those fighters came from somewhere, and apparently dinner-combat is a common enough occurrence that an armory is right here besides it.
Really.
Most of them have the look of weapons designed for show *and* use. It's a thing.
She's given a moment to change garb into something less elaborate and more fit for a fight and to grab a weapon should she want one.
Thyrson glances around, frowning a little. "It's like this, I see." He leans down towards Braelnoir. "They seem like your people."
Cryo frees her tail and finds more ways to fidget in her seat. She looks at Merek, at Braelnoir, at Thryson, at the Egalrin elder and all the other ones. Her attention otherwise is fixed on the door Halani will emerge from.
"This one can do a show," she offers randomly, "not combat, but some percussion music, a song and dance, maybe a belly dance," She has the belly for it. "After, if you're into that sort of thing."
Mostly though, she holds the edge of the table and drags her fingertips on it in anticipation.
"Our beer's better." Brae asides with a wink as Halani is escorted off for the prep.
She glances to Cryo, reaching out and lightly alighting a hand on her sister's scaled forearm, "Use your breathing, sister. Halain will handle the affair with aplomb." in her olden <Draconic>
She shrugs, glancing to her brother, reaching out to snap-snap-snap her fingers in front of him to see if she can bring him back to the now before glancing to Thyrson again, "Three silver says there's a knockout."
Thyrson laughs. "Trying to soak me? I think they'll fight to knock out." A pause. "Hopefully, this isn't one of those to-the-death places." A pause. "But it could be."
"It could be," remarks the raven. "Do you *want* it to be?" A cheerful sounding answer. They, it appears, do not mind the thought of death. Halani is more or less true to her word.. had they wished her to fight then and there, she'd have declared herself ready. Still, given a bit of time, she divests herself of a flimsy scarf she purchased before Charn, thinking it fashionable (it isn't), strips out of her boots and wraps both feet and hands with cloth and cord to the knees and elbows. Then she spends time centering herself.. for all her bravado, she can't escape the feeling that this fight might actually be important. That losing it might be bad. So when the time comes for her to return, the eager glint, while still there, is somewhat subdued by her focus.
The whitescale nods, the touch on her arm calming her to a degree but Braelnoir can feel she is wound up, the circumstances and the anticipation. The worry and the hope.
Also, Halani is going to fight!
The music starts up again. A drum beat for the fight. One of the Egalrin has taken the place of the two artists from before. Seems like he's trained this way too, and more than ready.
His beak twitches at her once. Then he spreads his wings and spins around once for her. A kind of gesture of respect, turning his back towards her, however briefly, to show he knows that she will not strike before he's ready. Trust.
"BEGIN," declares the elder.
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+20: (2)+20: 22
So the Egalrin gets the drop on Halani. He promptly zips towards her, aiming to tag her with a single blow. There's showmanship to it. A skill ful attempt to tap her that she easily gets back from, dodges aside.
The egalrin squawks with pleasure.
Challenge!
<OOC> Halani says, "Swift to go to crane, fighting defensively, flurry.." <OOC> Halani says, "First attack stunning fist, second sweep kick." <OOC> Halani says, "Oh. Is this with or without magic gear?" <OOC> Whirlpool says, "Yeah, no magic gear. :)" <OOC> Halani says, "My AC should be 29 now." GAME: Halani spends ONE use of STUNNING FIST. GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (10)+15+4+-1: 28 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (9)+15+4+-1: 27 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (10)+15+4+-1: 28 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1-5: (5)+15+4+-1+-5: 18 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1-10: (11)+15+4+-1+-10: 19 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (9)+12: 21 (vs DC 21) GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2: (7)+2: 9 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2: (8)+2: 10
Certainly no small part of evading the first attack amounts to luck, but Halani weaves as the egalrin strikes at her.. then takes advantage of his brief moment of being overextended, landing a pair of rapid blows of her own amidst a flurry he mostly defends against. Her eyes are narrowed, her breathing pursed.
The warrior reels briefly! Unhappy at having not landed the first blow. Then he goes after Halani!
"Yes! Get Him!" Cryo is on her tip-toes and finger-tips, leaning over the table. Her tail high and lashing behind her like a cat watching a... well, a bird.
Right. Decorum.
The whitescale slowly sinks back to a sitting position but never actually sits. She's crouching there, ready to spring.
Like a dragon.
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+20: (19)+20: 39 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+20: (15)+20: 35 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+15: (17)+15: 32 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+10: (19)+10: 29 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d6+4: (5)+4: 9 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d6+4: (11)+4: 15 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d6+4: (9)+4: 13 GAME: Whirlpool rolls 2d6+4: (7)+4: 11
Braelnoir, for her part, remains half over the table as the show gets on the road, a wild, exultant look in her eye as the two scrap.
With Halani's deft evasion thwarting the opening salvo from the local fighter her fist smals against the table with a, "Kor's thews, 'attagirl!"
Decorum.
The fighting area is fairly large, it's the other half of the dining area, perhaps fifteen by fifteen feet. The size of a small boxing ring.
Stunned by the impact, the bird takes a moment to recover. Squawking a few more times in dismay, he then leaps forward towards her again in a flurry of talon-tucked blows that battered Halani. He's holding back, some, it would appear.
This is a game. A show. He's hurting her, but more for the viewing pleasure of the audience.
Thyrson watches, arms folded across his chest. He leans forwards, curious, watching the show.
<OOC> Halani says, "Alright. Can I get further away from him than a 5' step?" <OOC> Halani says, "Alright. Abundant step as far away as I can get. Total defense." GAME: Halani spends TWO points of KI POOL.
Yup, that hurts. The egalrin has Halani's number, at least for now, his feathered strikes and talons finding their way past every one of her defences. Almost without thinking, the islander steps.. and then she's at the edge of the fighting area, one foot back, the other held in front, barely touching the floor, her arms to the side with her hands suspended. What's a bit of blood, right?
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+20: (11)+20: 31 <OOC> Halani gets an AoO. <OOC> Whirlpool says, "you do!" GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (18)+15+4+-1: 36 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2: (4)+2: 6
He tumbles forward towards her, aiming to launch a hangspring as a kick right into her! This is just showmanship at this point, almost taunting.
And catching a punch for his trouble.
<OOC> Halani says, "Dimensional Dervish to full attack, and end up on the other side of the ring, still fighting defensively." <OOC> Halani says, "Flurry, stunning fist on first attack, sweep on second." GAME: Halani spends TWO points of KI POOL. GAME: Halani spends ONE use of STUNNING FIST. GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (2)+15+4+-1: 20 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (8)+15+4+-1: 26 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (19)+15+4+-1: 37 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1-5: (10)+15+4+-1+-5: 23 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1-10: (5)+15+4+-1+-10: 13 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2: (4)+2: 6
Halani turns aside the raven warrior's foot with one arm, striking him with the other fist almost at the same time.. and then she moves. So fast the eye can't really follow it. Attacking from all sides, and then she's on the other side of the ring. It may not be the most exciting kind of fighting, but pleasing the crowd is not at the front of her mind right now. "So yeah!" she calls over to her fellow missioners. "Knew this would be a good fight, yeah? But the kind of good that leaves me kinda broken on the floor, thinking."
"I promise! No breaks! And if there are breaks, clean ones!"
"Well, that's helpful", replies the bird-warrior. Then he proceeds to seek another battering of Halani, though he's frankly surprised she can even hit him. He was clearly, very clearly, counting on this being an easy fight.
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+20: (5)+20: 25 <OOC> Halani says, "Yeah. I get an AoO on the last. I'd hoped I'd moved far enough away to prevent the full attack." <OOC> Halani says, "it missed by 4 or less, so AoO." GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (4)+15+4+-1: 22
"...well!"
He's impresed by Halani's mobility, and he does have to cross the ring again, move in to tag her again. He's liking this, clearly.
"It's ok. Merek has heals!" Cryo calls back. She's standing again, her nostrils flaring, her eyes following Halani around the ring. She even dodges herself, although it's laughably ponderous, more an instinctive twitch than anything useful. "Heals for days."
<OOC> Halani will run out of Ki, and then be paste. GAME: Halani spends TWO points of KI POOL. GAME: Halani spends ONE use of STUNNING FIST. GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (14)+15+4+-1: 32 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (11)+15+4+-1: 29 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (19)+15+4+-1: 37 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1-5: (8)+15+4+-1+-5: 21 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1-10: (8)+15+4+-1+-10: 16 <OOC> Halani says, "Fort DC 21 for the stunning fist." GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1+2: (6)+15+4+-1+2: 26 (CMB Trip attempt) GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2: (7)+2: 9 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2: (8)+2: 10 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2: (8)+2: 10 <OOC> Halani says, "If he fails the fort save, I'm applying the staggered effect." GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+12: (20)+12: 32 (Egalrin Fort Save)
Halani leans heavily upon her mobility.. another deflection and a returning jab, and then she's dancing around her feathered foe again, probing, looking for weak spots in his strange fighting style. And then another retreat. Hey, if she has the space, she's going to use it. "I'm not sure that's as encouraging as you think it is!" she calls to Cryosanthia. Her attention rivets back to her opponent. "What, you want a break already? Just getting started, yeah?"
Ouchies! He did not like that.
The whitescale winces in sympathy as several of the Egalrin's strikes land, but Halani's retaliation is encouraging. They are both spectacular, the speed and skill, even if many of the attacks are missing. "Um... ah. I'll think of something encouraging to say. You're doing well."
It seems.
Braelnoir pumps her fist as the fight trades momentum back and forth in a flurry, grinning a delighted, "Yeeeeeeah!" as Halani gets back into her stride.
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Stunning fist on HALANI!" GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+20: (14)+20: 34 GAME: Halani rolls fortitude: (8)+10: 18 (FAIL)
This time, he's ready for it. One can only rely on the same tactic for so long. A swift spring in again, a kick to her throat. Distracting enough to keep her from doing what comes naturally to her, giving him time to go for his next plan of action.
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+19: (1)+19: 20 (EPIC FAIL) (Grapple Attempt)
... and the grapple that follows just has Halani slipping through his talons.
... he is somehow surprised by this given the way his beak drops open.
<OOC> Halani says, "I can't think of anything brilliant to do, so still going to try to play hard to get." <OOC> Halani says, "Hopefully one of these things will eventually work." GAME: Halani spends ONE use of STUNNING FIST. GAME: Halani spends TWO points of KI POOL. GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (1)+15+4+-1: 19 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (18)+15+4+-1: 36 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1: (10)+15+4+-1: 28 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1-5: (4)+15+4+-1+-5: 17 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1-10: (17)+15+4+-1+-10: 25 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2: (7)+2: 9 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+15+4-1+2: (8)+15+4+-1+2: 28 (CMB Trip Attempt) GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2: (2)+2: 4
Halani's speed is abruptly halted for several, precious seconds.. dumb luck has her somehow stumbling through the raven warrior's grasp. His hesitation gives her a chance to blitz free.. he's definitely wearing her down faster than she is him, however.
... to be continued.
Combatty
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
19 Raven Warrior
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18 Halani 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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After the Nat1 Diplomacy
<OOC> Halani says, "Everybody was... kung fu fighting!"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I'm cool with that"
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "HAHAHHA"