Arisa’s spiritual weapon- the spinning blue star, hovers menacingly closer to the closest Orc, she herself advances- readying an action to firebolt if one attempts to kill a half ling. “I have a different deal. You drop your weapons, step back,and we let you live.”
Both orcs still have their axe blades pressed agains the neck against two of the halfling prisoners, one a young female with shoulder length curly blonde locks and an middle aged slightly portly male with a twinge of gray starting to show in his black hair.
The orc who spoke responds to Zyllith.
"No one innocent. Half ones can die just as easily. More easily. You can send us to the halls of Grummsh, but you cannot stop us from cutting the throats of two of these small weaklings before we go."
Osmord uses thaumaturgy to enhance his voice, "You bring shame to Grummsh, you hide behind small halflings and speak of honour." Osmord spits on the ground, "A true Orc would fight, and not loose a single slave, but you are no Orc."
"So scared, so spiteful, you are more goblin than Orc. You both disgust me."
Vernon turns around. "I am not afraid! Defeat me, and I will let you pass. Lose, the prisoners walk free. There is nothing an Orc can do that a Gnome can't do better!" He raises his war hammer in defiance.
The orc answers Osmord, "You hide behind spells. Too scared to fight without magic. You are no more than forest pixies. Grummsh care not for half ones and magic, he care for strength in battle."
The orc responds to Vernon, "So, there is a brave one among you. In a bunch of humans and tall creatures, the smallest one has the most bravery. What say to that, cowardly men?"
"Uguk accept. Fair fight. No spells. No magic weapons. Strength and skill alone. Rest of you, honor the duel. No one intervenes or you dishonor your own companion who is brave enough to fight."
With that, the other orc steps away from the prisoners and walks towards Vernon, while gripping and slowly swinging his great axe back and forth. As he gets closer, Vernon can see the scrapes and deep scuff marks in the orc's hide armor and the notches and dried blood on the shape end of his weapon and hear his thick raspy breaths.
When the two of you square off, Uguk tightens both of his dark skinned, scarred hands on the heft of his axe.
Zyllith stood quietly to the side, hoping no one would notice her rolling her eyes. She felt they were just falling for the orc's provocations and there was no point to the duel when they were winning the fight. She thought about voicing her objections, but it was clear Vernon was passionate about this and she was not going to deny the gnome his chance to shine.
Of course, she also had no intention of fighting fair either. She took a step back and waited until she was certain that all eyes were focused on the duel, and not herself. Once she was certain she would be able to take advantage of the situation, she quietly slid into the shadows of the tall grass surrounding them.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Orc Initiative: 19
Vernon, the diminutive, stout hearted gnome and Uguk, the hulking, battle scarred orc square off in the grass, one-on-one, big against small, cruel against noble, hammer against axe, while the rest of you watch from a moderate distance so as not to appear that you're offing any assistance to your brave companion who accepted this duel. The other orc remains by the prisoners, most of who have quieted down to whimpers in anticipation for the contest that will determine their fate.
As the two combatants lock eyes and begin sussing each other out, reading body movements, looking for rhythms and slight tells that might offer an opening, Zyllith waits for the opportune moment before slowly moving towards the tall grass in an attempt to slip out of sight. However, she only gets a few steps before the other orc calls out to her.
"Hey you... no funny business! Stay where I can see you. Over der' by the fight circle... No slinkin' around"
However, he does not seem to see Elion, who appears to be trying to slip into the grass behind the orc and make his way closer to the prisoners unseen.
Vernon and Uguk continue their initial dance of slight movements, feints, quick blocks, for a few moments, and then Uguk comes in with a surprisingly quick swing of his axe, aiming right for Vernon's torso. Attack: 17 Damage: 10
Vernon sees it coming, though, and he blocks the attack with his shield, absorbing the forceful, clanging thud of Uguk's axe with well-trained martial prowess.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Shifting his body's momentum from the defensive to the offensive, Vernon takes advantage of the orc's slightly overextended swing and quickly bashes his hammer into his opponent's unarmored left knee. The orc barely sees it coming as the head of Vernon's weapon slams with a solid thwack. Uguk lets out a ferocious roar and tries to retaliate by bringing the axe around for another terrifying swipe. Attack: 21 Damage: 8
Once again, Vernon sees it coming and he quickly ducks his head even lower than it already is off the ground as the axe slices through the air where his neck once was a second ago.
Vernon's turn.
Arisa
Out of the corner of her eye, Arisa sees Elion treading quickly and quietly towards the prisoners. Right now, he's about 20 feet away from the halflings at the end of the line where Uguk had been previously guarding, and 20 feet away from the first orc, who is shifting his gaze between the combat and Zyllith, who he clearly is trying to keep an eye on.
Zyllith frowned deeply as the other orc spotted her. However it seemed he had not noticed Elion, thus she figured she could at least help keep things that way.
"OY! Shut it' ya moldy git! Ye got tha' fight ye wanted, now lemme sit where 'ah damn well please an' enjoy watchin' me friend crush yer mindless friend." She shot back loudly at the orc, happy to anger them if it meant they could not focus on anyone else - doubly so if the orc fighting Vernon was also distracted. So much so she made sure to turn her performance towards the orc in the fight for that added extra distraction. "Ya 'ear tha' ye weaklin' dung worm? Yer 'bout 'ta eat dirt at tha feet of a better warrior less then half yer size."
( not sure if trash talking is intimidation or persuasion, but she'll try to help as best she can :D )
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
This time, Uguk anticipates Vernon's move and blocks the hammer swing with the thick, blood encrusted blade of his great axe. He kicks then gnome with a swift stab of his huge booted foot and then brings the axe around in a more measured, tactical, less wild swing. Attack: 18 Damage: 9
However, Vernon's training and martial skill allows him to easily block the swing once again with his shield.
Vernon tries to go for the leg one more time now that he has axe-shield contact again, but realizes he needs to vary his attacks more immediately afterward.
Belkas silently transfers the his Hex from the dead orc to the other guarding the halflings (giving it disadvantage on WIS and hopefully giving Elion a better chance of not being seen).
'Crowley, go help Elion free the prisioneros if you can, or at least keep him safe. Stay invisible. Remember that we haven't presented you to him yet and we don't want him screaming back there.'
Following Zylliths example, Belkas tries to make noise and keep the orc's attention away from Elion. In orcish he calls out, "I've seen a slug with better aim than you! And it was dead at the time. And here I thought you were warriors."
Arisa’s spiritual weapon- the spinning blue star, hovers menacingly closer to the closest Orc, she herself advances- readying an action to firebolt if one attempts to kill a half ling. “I have a different deal. You drop your weapons, step back,and we let you live.”
Both orcs still have their axe blades pressed agains the neck against two of the halfling prisoners, one a young female with shoulder length curly blonde locks and an middle aged slightly portly male with a twinge of gray starting to show in his black hair.
The orc who spoke responds to Zyllith.
"No one innocent. Half ones can die just as easily. More easily. You can send us to the halls of Grummsh, but you cannot stop us from cutting the throats of two of these small weaklings before we go."
"That change your mind, trifling?"
Osmord uses thaumaturgy to enhance his voice, "You bring shame to Grummsh, you hide behind small halflings and speak of honour." Osmord spits on the ground, "A true Orc would fight, and not loose a single slave, but you are no Orc."
"So scared, so spiteful, you are more goblin than Orc. You both disgust me."
DM - Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Watching Arisa approach, the orc keeps his blade pressed against the halfling's necks. All of the prisoners are crying and wailing in desperation.
The orc responds, "Not so fast, step again and I'll drop my axe onto this half one's neck."
"Why not take fight? Are you peoples afraid? Choose one to fight Uguk and and show strength and honor, not cowardly magics."
Vernon turns around. "I am not afraid! Defeat me, and I will let you pass. Lose, the prisoners walk free. There is nothing an Orc can do that a Gnome can't do better!" He raises his war hammer in defiance.
The orc answers Osmord, "You hide behind spells. Too scared to fight without magic. You are no more than forest pixies. Grummsh care not for half ones and magic, he care for strength in battle."
"Show your gods how brave you are. Fight Uguk."
The orc responds to Vernon, "So, there is a brave one among you. In a bunch of humans and tall creatures, the smallest one has the most bravery. What say to that, cowardly men?"
"Uguk accept. Fair fight. No spells. No magic weapons. Strength and skill alone. Rest of you, honor the duel. No one intervenes or you dishonor your own companion who is brave enough to fight."
With that, the other orc steps away from the prisoners and walks towards Vernon, while gripping and slowly swinging his great axe back and forth. As he gets closer, Vernon can see the scrapes and deep scuff marks in the orc's hide armor and the notches and dried blood on the shape end of his weapon and hear his thick raspy breaths.
When the two of you square off, Uguk tightens both of his dark skinned, scarred hands on the heft of his axe.
I need Initiative from Vernon.
(Go Vernon!)
Initiative: 5 + 0 = 5
Vernon holds his shield in front of himself, hoping his confidence doesn't kill him now.
Belkas calls out, "You can do this Vernon! Crush that orc down to the ground."
Zyllith stood quietly to the side, hoping no one would notice her rolling her eyes. She felt they were just falling for the orc's provocations and there was no point to the duel when they were winning the fight. She thought about voicing her objections, but it was clear Vernon was passionate about this and she was not going to deny the gnome his chance to shine.
Of course, she also had no intention of fighting fair either. She took a step back and waited until she was certain that all eyes were focused on the duel, and not herself. Once she was certain she would be able to take advantage of the situation, she quietly slid into the shadows of the tall grass surrounding them.
( Stealth 4+9 = 13 )
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Orc Initiative: 19
Vernon, the diminutive, stout hearted gnome and Uguk, the hulking, battle scarred orc square off in the grass, one-on-one, big against small, cruel against noble, hammer against axe, while the rest of you watch from a moderate distance so as not to appear that you're offing any assistance to your brave companion who accepted this duel. The other orc remains by the prisoners, most of who have quieted down to whimpers in anticipation for the contest that will determine their fate.
As the two combatants lock eyes and begin sussing each other out, reading body movements, looking for rhythms and slight tells that might offer an opening, Zyllith waits for the opportune moment before slowly moving towards the tall grass in an attempt to slip out of sight. However, she only gets a few steps before the other orc calls out to her.
"Hey you... no funny business! Stay where I can see you. Over der' by the fight circle... No slinkin' around"
However, he does not seem to see Elion, who appears to be trying to slip into the grass behind the orc and make his way closer to the prisoners unseen.
Vernon and Uguk continue their initial dance of slight movements, feints, quick blocks, for a few moments, and then Uguk comes in with a surprisingly quick swing of his axe, aiming right for Vernon's torso. Attack: 17 Damage: 10
Vernon sees it coming, though, and he blocks the attack with his shield, absorbing the forceful, clanging thud of Uguk's axe with well-trained martial prowess.
Go Vernon!
Vernon takes the opportunity to strike back with his hammer.
Attack: 12 + 4 = 16
Damage: 7 + 2 = 9
Shifting his body's momentum from the defensive to the offensive, Vernon takes advantage of the orc's slightly overextended swing and quickly bashes his hammer into his opponent's unarmored left knee. The orc barely sees it coming as the head of Vernon's weapon slams with a solid thwack. Uguk lets out a ferocious roar and tries to retaliate by bringing the axe around for another terrifying swipe. Attack: 21 Damage: 8
Once again, Vernon sees it coming and he quickly ducks his head even lower than it already is off the ground as the axe slices through the air where his neck once was a second ago.
Vernon's turn.
Arisa
Out of the corner of her eye, Arisa sees Elion treading quickly and quietly towards the prisoners. Right now, he's about 20 feet away from the halflings at the end of the line where Uguk had been previously guarding, and 20 feet away from the first orc, who is shifting his gaze between the combat and Zyllith, who he clearly is trying to keep an eye on.
Zyllith frowned deeply as the other orc spotted her. However it seemed he had not noticed Elion, thus she figured she could at least help keep things that way.
"OY! Shut it' ya moldy git! Ye got tha' fight ye wanted, now lemme sit where 'ah damn well please an' enjoy watchin' me friend crush yer mindless friend." She shot back loudly at the orc, happy to anger them if it meant they could not focus on anyone else - doubly so if the orc fighting Vernon was also distracted. So much so she made sure to turn her performance towards the orc in the fight for that added extra distraction. "Ya 'ear tha' ye weaklin' dung worm? Yer 'bout 'ta eat dirt at tha feet of a better warrior less then half yer size."
( not sure if trash talking is intimidation or persuasion, but she'll try to help as best she can :D )
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Vernon tries to make another swipe at the leg. (And presumably fails.)
Attack: 6 + 4 = 10
Damage: 6 + 2 = 8
This time, Uguk anticipates Vernon's move and blocks the hammer swing with the thick, blood encrusted blade of his great axe. He kicks then gnome with a swift stab of his huge booted foot and then brings the axe around in a more measured, tactical, less wild swing. Attack: 18 Damage: 9
However, Vernon's training and martial skill allows him to easily block the swing once again with his shield.
Vernon tries to go for the leg one more time now that he has axe-shield contact again, but realizes he needs to vary his attacks more immediately afterward.
Attack: 6 + 4 = 10
Belkas silently transfers the his Hex from the dead orc to the other guarding the halflings (giving it disadvantage on WIS and hopefully giving Elion a better chance of not being seen).
'Crowley, go help Elion free the prisioneros if you can, or at least keep him safe. Stay invisible. Remember that we haven't presented you to him yet and we don't want him screaming back there.'
Following Zylliths example, Belkas tries to make noise and keep the orc's attention away from Elion. In orcish he calls out, "I've seen a slug with better aim than you! And it was dead at the time. And here I thought you were warriors."
Belkas, roll a Slight of Hand check.