Dornos makes his way towards the dwarf, unsure of what he’s thinking, but confident that his time spent living and training among people of his size will give him some insight into how to pin him and win this contest.

Dornos moves forward deftly, trying to anticipate his opponent’s movements. As soon as the dwarf moves to tackle, Dornos will push off the ground and use his superior height as leverage in his attempt to trip and wrestle the dwarf to the ground.

Strength 6

Strength 2 15

Remembering Sherri’s display of...encouragement, Dornos uses the inspiration given to try and beat the dwarf soundly. 

+1

Despite Sherri's inspirational lack of modesty, Dornos finds the dwarf a difficult opponent to wrestle. He's wily in the most ridiculous sense of the word and his foul odor give Dornos pause at every attempt to grapple. By the time Dornos firmly has a grip on the dwarf he's near exhausted from the late afternoon heat and exposure to the sun, and his strength finally gives out as the crazy dwarf sits on his chest hard enough to knock the breath from his lungs.

"Huh... strange technique but effective enough it would seem."

Fleia's smile has turned to a look of general disinterest in the group as a whole, though she did appear to be impressed by Aphos and Misha's displays.

"Very good, have a rest and we'll prepare for the melee. It's every one for themselves in this and it'll be first blood in that if your opponent strikes you once, you're out for the match. Best put that armor back on if you need it as well." 

dwarf athletics : 16

Misha comes up to Dornos, gives him a firm pat on his shoulder. "You did you best, there is no lost honor or glory in defeat, only in those who do not even try." she reassures him.

Misha rejoins with the others and meditates for a little bit before donning her armor and weapons for the next challenge.

By the time the prospective combatants return from getting water and having a short rest, Fleia's attendants have drawn a circle and marked 20 points on it, one for each individual. The points are spaced about 10 ft away from each other, so that if one were to rush across the circle to attack someone at the other end it would be about 60ft to reach them. "Take a place at any marker meat bags, and I'll let you know when we'll begin. I want to be clear that no one is to die today. If you do, your next of kin will not receive full payment; we need bodies to put on a good show for tomorrow's event, hence the practice weapons. Whatever tricks and special skills you have you can use them as long as they're non-lethal you hear me?"

"Everyone ready?"

[ooc : Combatants can roll initiative, and if anyone sitting in the stands wants to be able to take actions during the melee, feel free to roll initiative as well. If you get to the nearest edge of the seating area, you're about 200ft away from the action so take that into account if you're planning any shenanigans.]

the random 17s initiative : 4

Misha's Initiative: 19

Misha stood in her ring, and bent on one knee, hammer held high, offering a reverent and silent prayer to her Lord and Master. After a few moments, she stood up, banged her hammer on her shield, and was ready.

"I am heartened by your encouragement," Dornos tells Misha as he suits up for the final test.

Once he's rested, Dornos joins the rest of the combatants in the arena. Hefting his shield and pact-weapon staff, Dornos smiles and takes a defensive stance, preparing for the melee.

Initiative: 15

As Misha, Dornos, and Aphos suit up, Meera sits up and focuses on the three of them like this battle is a lecture that's contents are going to be on the test. "Well Sherri, are you excited to see our friends in action?"

(Aphos initiative: 17)

Aphos rests the training sword against his shoulder and braces for a charge.

Besides the bare chested orc and the crazed dwarf the rest of the random prospective combatants seem to be on edge, holding their random assortment of training weapons they look almost pitiful. One of them might be shivering.

Fleia stands off to the side and slices the air with the edge of her hand as she says "Commence!"

• Initiative Order
• 19 - Misha
• 17 - Aphos
• 14 - Dornos
• 4 - Randos

“Yeah, for the most part...” Sherri says quietly, her eyes focusing on the shivering combatant. “This doesn’t seem to be at all fair.” She gives an idle shrug. Just a few minutes ago the bard had been hooping and hollering her group mates on in the wrestling portion, but now she seemed to have calmed down. “Ugh, what do I know?” She laughs, forcing herself out of that bout of doubt. “Beat their asses guys!”

Misha, feeling the adrenaline course through her veins, engaged the half naked orc woman.

She was an impressive specimen, but Misha had a job to do, and she intended to do it. She could almost smell the dwarf from here, and wanted to down him first, but the orc woman looked dangerous. 

As she got within range of the woman, she called out to her. "An honor to combat you thees day, woman! Bane will bring us glory!" She raised her hammer and swung.

Hammer Time Attack: 21 Damage: 10

Bane has indeed blessed me this day.

(Aphos attack: 18+4)

Aphos leaps to the side, charging blindly at the nearest target. There's no clear idea of who it was, or what the looked like. All he knew it they caught that practice blade square and one less threat was in the melee.

The she-orc roars as Misha approaches her and is ready to pummel the redheaded paladin with her bare knuckles, she goes for a punch and Misha's hammer strikes the orc in the ribs with a meaty thud. The she-orc hardly seems to notice, but after a moment gets a surprised look on her face. She calms down and says "Ah... well struck," before excusing herself to the sidelines.

Aphos's giant wooden sword beats back the shield of a terrified opponent and Barlow gently taps the man on the shoulder. Breathing a sigh of relief the man moves aside, trying to avoid getting hit by anyone else on his way out.

Dornos casts mirror image and is suddenly quadrupled. The four Dornoses shift and ripple, blinking in and out of existence, making it impossible to tell which is the real Dornos. He sees his two new friends across the circle tearing it up, and bides his time, waiting for someone to come and attack him.

"You have fought bravely. May you receive much glory thees day, woman." Misha salutes as the she-orc walks away, and quickly turns to find her next opponent. One down. While not using her own hammer, this would do for now.

The remaining random folks charge toward the middle of the ring and strike out at each other in a flurry of movement, they jump around and flail their weapons striking shield and ribs and helms and a few of them fall over after having been struck and are pulled aside by Fleia's attendants, and a few more walk out after being struck of their own accord. After six seconds eight combatants have been struck and removed from the melee, leaving twelve remaining. 

Combatants and spectators can roll perception 15 (Combatants with disadvantage) to read the spoiler below.

Perception: 2

Between Sherri's boobs and her comrades' skill in battle, Meera doesn't notice anything.

"Yeah, take that ya ****ers! You're doing great you three!" Sherri hollers from the stands.

Perception: 18

Seeing the absolute injustice in this man continuing to fight, Sherri hops to her feet and leans over the railing to yell and point: "Hey! Lady! Mustachio over there got hit! Put me down there I'll set that cheater straight! Let me at him coach!!"

Mishception: 3

Ooh! Wine!

Misha thought she heard someone yelling, but was too involved in the contest.

Perception 10

Dornos keeps his eyes peeled...