Raddunth: "Aaaii-ee!"

(Besides his battle cry, he had nothing to add.)

Thistle looks to her friends on the rope, then at the guards, and she saunters up to the goal line, winks at whichever guard is in front, and does a little shimmy.

(Gender doesn't matter to Thistle, whoever is first in line. She's not good at this though, so Performance, Persuasion, straight up Charisma are all the same: 2)

In fact, she's so not good at this that she manages to embarrass herself thoroughly with her attempts to be crude and lewd, gets flustered, tries to retreat, stumbles, and lands on her butt, perhaps in the mud, but laughing, because... funny!

oh...my...word. That is just too perfect. 

Thistle, after hearing Zashier get the crowd riled up, saunters over to the other team, and attempts something that someone somewhere might call flirting, but most people everywhere would not. In attempt to retreat, she does trip over herself, falling down - look cute, but clumsy.

I will add another -1 to the guards, because several of them are trying not to laugh, and are loosening their grip.

Ruby’s team Initiative: 18

Guards team: 14

Winner gets +2 to their contested check.

Thistle is enough of a distraction to let Ruby and her team get a jump on the guards. With the echo of the crowd, and Thistle making a fool of herself to help the team, they give another big pull.

Ruby's team Athletics 17

Guards athletics(Still with a minus one from the snake, and another from trying not to laugh at Thistle) 20

But it just isnt enough. The strength of the guards overpowers you once again, pulling you 5 feet closer to them.

Dead even

guards 15:15 Ruby

So there aren’t rules that would prevent Lem from casting sleep on the guards, right? But it would absolutely ruin the whole point of the exercise so he will hold off for now. Just pulling hard. He takes out the bagpipes with his mechanical hand and begins playing them, trying to inspire Ruby’s side to victory. Or maybe annoy them into finishing quickly.

Zashier manages to remain completely stone-faced throughout the affair, though it took some added willpower not to let go and go over to help Thistle back up to her feet. As he is starting to at least call out a question, suddenly he is having to throw his weight more into the pull just to avoid being pulled of this feet. Despite the set-back he still lets out a strained chuckle.

"Well, would look at that, dear Ruby. It seems there's a spark of strength in those guards, if I do say so myself, and I do. Too bad they still have a ways to go even come close tire out a Heroine like yourself, don't you think. Now! Let's really give'm a challenge! Raddunth! Time you be cutting loose, I be thinking!" He called out as  he braced himself for what he hoped to be the man's fervor truly being unleashed for the competition. For surely a man's man like Raddunth wouldn't make it that easy on the guards.

Quote from rkmobius >>

So there aren’t rules that would prevent Lem from casting sleep on the guards, right? But it would absolutely ruin the whole point of the exercise so he will hold off for now. Just pulling hard. He takes out the bagpipes with his mechanical hand and begins playing them, trying to inspire Ruby’s side to victory. Or maybe annoy them into finishing quickly.

I really want to "cast" grease, which I happen to have prepared, but that seems like it would cheapen the game. I'll hold off until it looks like we might lose. :)

Thistle laughs at herself lying on the ground, but watches from her vantage as the guards haul Ruby and friends closer to the line. Sitting up, she looks around for a full pitcher of ale. She’ll scamper off to secure one and return next round. 

Quote from Orileo >>

"Now! Let's really give'm a challenge! Raddunth! Time you be cutting loose, I be thinking!" He called out as  he braced himself for what he hoped to be the man's fervor truly being unleashed for the competition. For surely a man's man like Raddunth wouldn't make it that easy on the guards.

While still... pulling... with... all... his... might, Raddunth continues the conversation with Zashier. "I was considering entering a full battle frenzy to improve our odds, but that seems a bit much for a friendly competition. I don't think either side would appreciate the self-inflicted wounds I would need to keep the Rage going."

I don't think either side would appreciate the self-inflicted wounds I would need to keep the Rage going."

Technically, you could rage twice without having to attack or be attacked. You'd just have to start hurting yourself (or someone else) to keep the third rage going.

To the sound of a chanting crowd, and the melodious/grating sounds of the bagpipes, the tug of war continues.

Thistle gets up, dusts herself off, and runs off - but you don’t know where. Raddunth cannot decide if he wants to rage or not, but everyone is pulling with all their might.

Ruby’s team Initiative: 7

Guards team: 14

Winner gets +2 to their contested check.

Once again, the party and Ruby gets the jump on the guards, gaining their footing and pulling.

Ruby's team Athletics 30

Guards athletics 27

Both sides have now forgotten that this is supposed to be fun and games. This is now a battle. The guards are not giving in to little Ruby. They are proving themselves against these new heroes of Fallcrest.

But their grit is not not enough, as the party pulls them 5 feet closer.

guards 10 :: 20 Ruby

A pitcher of ale should be easy to find! She grabs a cup, too. Thistle returns with her load, going to the line of guards. Starting at the front, she offers them a drink. She is being careful not to actually touch them, lest a foul get called.

"You are working so hard! Here," she pours some into a cup, holding it out. "This looks so good! No? Are you sure?" she waggles the cup. "What about you? Here's a cup! No?" she takes a drink. "Oh, that's so nice and cold! Are you sure? What about you?" refilling the cup. "Crushing the boss' daughter on her special day, or having a cold ale..." And so on.

Lem realizes the bagpipes aren’t working well and stows them. He pulls very hard.

Zashier has to bite back a retort from needing to focus for a moment, and longer still longer still to bite back a laugh. Even then, he chuckled in between breathes. "A bit much, you say? Well, If'n I do dare say, and I do, it'd be the word hardly! A friendly competition isn't rightly so if both aren't doing their best within the realms of the rules. So feel free to, if but for a moment! Show them what you're really made of, and let's make our Ruby proud!" He yells cheerily just loud enough to be overheard by pullers over the cheering crowd.

"Doing good, Ruby, just by the way! You're so close! Just one more good pull, and you'll have a good stone to remember the day by!"

Lem starts talking quietly and is only barely audible. It’s not a speech but it’s what is on Lem’s mind, and he doesn’t realize he’s speaking aloud until the end.

“Ruby, I’m not one for speeches or encouragement or really anything involved here. Usually I cast spells to make problems go away. I have, however, spent much of my life working to do hard things with people I didn’t know well until I did. The only way I did those hard things was to trust the people alongside me to help me. So that I could help them. Let us help you. You’re helping us. Those are some strong men and women over there. Let’s go pull them on their butts.”

Raddunth: "Well spoken, Lem. They are strong over there. Very commendable. They intend to continue their futile struggling, even when they can see defeat reaching out to embrace them."

(OOC: Raddunth still has Inspiration, which he would like to use now. It wouldn't give Advantage to the whole group, but maybe a little bonus on the next pull?)

Yokini starts hitting the back of her glove against her face. Between swats, she gets out, "Hold ... your ... nose ... Thistle ... " Finally, there's a hissing sound, and, while holding onto the rope with one hand, she points the other at the group in front of her. The scent of a skunk's spray wafts its way toward the opposing team.

Thistle, who had previously run away, returns to the festivities with a pitcher of ale and a cup. She pours the sweet liquid into a cup, and takes a long swig. The condensation on the edge of the pitcher lets the guards know how cool this refreshing liquid is, as it parallels the beads of sweat beginning to form on their necks.

Persuasion 8

With Lem’s speech, and Raddunth being willing to offer his inspiration, I will say it gives a +2 to your inspiration and a +2 to your strength.

Yokini lets out a skunk spray directed at the guards. Lets say DC 12.

Constitution save, averages out to +3 5

The sweet liquid is nice, but not enough to pull the focus of the guards from saving their reputation. If they lose, it will not be for lack of trying.

The skunk smell, though stinky, is not pungent enough to make them loosen their grips.

Ruby’s team Initiative: 22

Guards team: 11

Winner gets +2 to their contested check.

Ruby's team Athletics 37

Guards athletics 18

With everyone pulling their hardest,and the crowd chanting, the rope slowly moves towards Ruby. It continues, steadily, as the margin continues to shrink on the guards' side of the rope. 

At last, Ruby and her team pull the lead guard across the line, and a loud cheer erupts from the crowd!

Ruby immediately begins to run to each of you, hugging you (if she is able). Thank you thank you thank you! You have made my day very special!

Zashier more than happily accepts a hug, and even spins Ruby around in the air at least once, forgetting his station in the heat of the moment. "Pleasure to be of help there, little Ruby, as always. And do remember whenever you're in doubt, which will happen, to think of the Oath I taught ya in a favorable light, eh?" He say after setting her down, grinning from ear to ear. After which he gets from having squat down to be more on her level, and gestures to the guard. 

"Now don't forget to thank the guard as well, as odd as that may sound, what with the victory 'n all, for giving you a right and proper challenge. A stone you'll need to come closer to being all that you can be, and maybe help them do the same." He suggests, and would lead by example by going over and offering the guard each a hearty handshake. When it comes to Rimero, however, they grasp at each others forearms in more brotherly show of respect.

Lem gets hugged a bit less awkwardly than you'd expect, silently absorbing the cheers. When he catches the eye of some of his fellow veterans on the guards' side, he flexes his one good arm hilariously. "We pulled you on your butts! Took a while though. If you ever have to pull a rope away from would-be attackers of Fallcrest, I have no doubt you'll do just fine."

Then he goes back to standing on stage, looking about awkwardly, wondering what he's supposed to do next.

The crowd begins to spread out, visiting some of the vendors, talking and chatting. You all are congratulated on your win, and everyone is impressed by the aid you provided to Ruby.

As you mingle, there are some other games to play, and several food vendors, a few pop-up shops. Everyone is taking advantage of tonights festivities to offer a little lightness to their daily lives. Lem, after awkwardly standing on stage by yourself for a while, you also finally manage to mingle a bit, probably awkwardly.