Graves looks at Grobbik for several moments, taking in the words that he is saying as he deliberates a response as he leans forward in his chair.  He folds his hands, putting them palm down against the desk as he stares deliberately into Grobbik's eyes.

"Explain."  He says simply.

Grobbik wastes no time when the Provost agrees to hear him out.  All the emotional weight drains out of him since he didn't have to try and keep a secret anymore.  He stands erect, out of respect for hi present company, but can't stop wringing his hands by his chest (in a nervous way) as he speaks.

"Sir, I know your time is very important, you have a college to run.  I will be short and concise.  Thank you for the opportunity."

"During my formative years, I experienced a horrendous explosion that caused great loss in my home.  Since then I have been terrified of fire.  My condition has expressed itself in my ability to bend mana.  Brother Loke will tell you I have immense potential with water spells, but I am completely unable to cast anything else. In other words, I am instinctively protecting myself from fire via my magical ability."

"Brother Loke believes I may be able to overcome this limitation with his help.  He has agreed to create a potion which will create what he described as a "mind palace".  He believes this concoction will allow me to gain control of my magical aptitude, and branch out into different schools of magic."

"As a young and enthusiastic goblin, I was eager to defeat this barrier.  My friends have all progressed past me because of this limitation.  Unfortunately, a magical item is required to properly cure the potion, and I have none available.  My father holds some renown as a merchant, but he was not available to ask either.  The only magical piece that I know of which would work is the necklace that you possess."

"I confess to being a little desperate to grow past this...frustrating problem.  I want to live up to my father's expectations, and I don't want my peers to think that I got in to this school because of my father's money.  I have plotted and schemed at some length because I want so very badly to make this work.  At first I considered stealing your necklace, and then I considered borrowing it.  To be honest, I have been obsessed with this trinket for some time now."

"In the end, I couldn't figure out how to do this gracefully.  I could take being expelled to be done with this damn curse, but I won't dare risk injuring my friends, this school, or any innocents.  This isn't a battle, and I would be foolish to approach it that way."

"My father taught me that everything turns on your reputation.  He makes his living as a merchant, and without it he would be out of business.  However, I think that rule goes for everyone.  If you can't trust me, then you can't have me at your school.  It's as simple as that. "

"Brother Loke was right to send me here.  I do require discipline, and I will humbly acquiesce to whatever penance you feel is appropriate for my transgressions.  "

"Before you pass judgement, Sir Provost, may I please borrow your necklace for a short time?  I will be under Brother Loke's direct supervision if you are concerned with it's safety."

As Grobbik begins his story, it takes little time for the baron to sit back in his seat with an audible sigh, his arms resting down on the rests of his chair.  However, as Grobbik mentions the baron's necklace, the man sits up erratically, his eyes widening.  When Grobbik mentions the possibility of stealing it, it seems the baron stops paying attention entirely, his pupils darting this way and that in a flurry of activity.

"Who put you up to this?"  Graves spits as Grobbik finishes.  "Who told you of my necklace?  Was it Loke?  What the fuck is he after..."  Graves seems to be speaking more to himself now than to Grobbik at all, his attention sucked away from the surrounding space into the recesses of his mind.

"No, you may not have it."  Graves finishes moments later, still hardly paying any attention, his eyes tunneled into the empty space right in front of him.  "Get out, be gone."

Grobbik had not expected this response.  Perhaps that was naive of him, but he wanted to believe the best of people.  In his mind, he needed a tool to complete the process, and the necklace was a means to that end.  He didn't even really care what the necklace did, and didn't want to know.  That was the Provost's business, and no one else's.

When the Provost tells Grobbik to leave, he turns and takes a few steps towards the door.  Then he turns back and says:

"Sir, I don't know what that thing does, and I don't care to know.  It's none of my business.  I asked for your help because I believed you would help me.  My success means the success of the university in some small way.  Brother Loke did not put me up to anything.  There isn't an ulterior motive on my part.  I made the decision, and I regret offending you.  I will not speak of this to anyone. "

Grobbik anxiously withdraws from the room.

OOC: Stopped here in case the GM wants to respond in game somehow.  Grobbik intends to go straight back to Loke and warn him of the potential mistake.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:28, Tue 25 Apr 2017.

As Grobbik turns to explain himself, the provost stands quickly at his seat, his hands white-knuckled against his desk.  He looks about to scream, but he manages to stay silent and instead listens for the few moments that Grobbik continues talking.  Even as Grobbik turns and closes the door behind him, only silence ensues...

Unsure of the repercussions of his actions, Grobbik walks with intent and hasty steps across the castle to Brother Loke's office.  He knocks on the door as he cracks it open, hoping that Loke was within.

"Yes?"  Grobbik hears the monk's voice call from within.

OOC:  Sorry if this seems tedious, but I'd like to role play this part out as it may have repercussions (more likely for me than for you) later on down the line.  I see one other thing to tie up in this thread and that is: do you want to try and find some other magical item to use in the potion?  Judoc has a powerstone that he has already contemplated getting rid of that you might be able to convince him to borrow, or you can try and find some other avenue, or you can give up on it entirely.  All your choice.

Quickly Grobbik enters the room.  Undoubtedly the haste with which he enters betrays his anxiety.  If that doesn't, then his tone of voice does.  Or maybe it's his frenetic delivery.

"I asked him for his help, Brother Loke.  When I looked him in the eye I couldn't go through with it.  I couldn't try to steal from him.  I don't have any experience with that sort of thing.  I wouldn't have been able to pull it off.  I couldn't think of anything else to do, so I asked him for his help.  He got really mad, and told me to leave.  I made the choice so I took responsibility, but I fear that the worst has not come to pass. "

After the words rushed out, Grobbik stopped long enough to breathe.  His lips quivered as he finished speaking, and then he sat down in a chair, trembling slightly at the rush of emotions he was experiencing.  Fear, frustration, anger...  They were all jumbled up in a ball with his heightened anxiety.  Quietly he sat there, at a loss for what to do.

Loke quirks an eyebrow as Grobbik relays his simple story, repeating the phrase, "You asked him for help...  In a slow murmur under his breath.

However, by the end of the story, Loke seems to have waved off the whole thing.  "It is no matter to me but I did warn you about asking him outright.  I suppose there is nothing to do at this point...  The potion will be ready soon and things like this do not keep without all their ingredients.  You have perhaps two days to procure some magic item to serve your purpose, otherwise it will be useless.  Do let me know if you are successful, I would hate for it to go to waste.  Was there anything else?"

OOC:  Ok, so your option here, you can look to try other avenues to find your magic item to add to the potion or you can call it quits.  If you want to persue other avenues, let me know where you want to try and I'll set things up.

Grobbik thinks for a moment. He doesn't have many options, but there could be some opportunity for him to be successful.

"Well, my dad travels, but if he happens to be accessable I might be able to borrow one from him. He is a merchant of some status. I should be able to find someone that knows where he is. "

"I sailed a few times with one of the local ships. I had some friends there. They might help me if I were to ask them. They very much appreciated me using my magic talents to swab the deck. "

"Do you know of anyone else with a magic item?  Maybe one of my peers?  Something like that?  Can it be literally anything magic?  And, is the potion destructive in any way? I might have enough money to buy a cheap powerstone to use. "
This message was last edited by the player at 15:02, Mon 01 May 2017.

Loke nods slightly, though he puts his attention back to the workings he has on his desk.  "No, the spell should not be destructive with any magic item of quality, though I have not tried it with a mere powerstone...  I know of no other items that may work for our purpose, but if you have the means, the place to look would be mage guild, the provost's puppet, which can be found easily enough in the town."

Grobbik nods when Brother Loke suggests going to the magic shop. "My father is a great merchant. I mean to follow in his footprints someday. The people at the Provost's Puppet should know of him. This exercise may give me the excuse I need to negotiate a job with them, if they will have me. I think that's an excellent idea. With your permission I will take my leave and go speak with them. "
This message was last edited by the player at 04:58, Tue 02 May 2017.

The remainder of that day Grobbik spends putting his things together, walking over to the city of Azer and applying for work at the mage's guild.  Unfortunately, it seems the organization needs little help, so Grobbik scours the city for the rest of the afternoon looking for some way to make a quick seventy farthings or so in order to purchase a powerstone to see if he can get this potion working...

Unfortunately, in the vast majority of the city it seems the story is the same.  Work is available, but getting the money in time is the biggest problem.  It seems that there are very few ways to get seventy farthings in less than a day.

Very few.  In fact, Grobbik only found one.  For the very next morning started the Emperor's feast day, which meant a great celebration in the city, the traditional pardoning of at least one criminal in the stockade and nearly a whole day of free bread and fights in the arena...  Seeing few other options in front of him, Grobbik registered to be one of the fighters.

And so, on the morning of the third of October Grobbik stands in a line of other fighters waiting their turn to do battle...  The rules have been explained to everyone in the crowds and are quite simple: to win you must incapacitate or force your foe to yield, last man standing receives all the earnings.  Striking a downed foe or one that has already yielded will forfeit all earnings.  In this particular series it seems, all fighters are volunteers and the Arena is more interested in spreading benevolence than death.

Eventually, It is Grobbik's turn.   Though the Goblin is expecting to walk up a ramp into the arena itself, he finds himself instead ushered to a small wooden platform.

Looking upward, Grobbik sees a narrow swath of sky through the empty shaft that raises up to the sands above.  Grobbik can already feel the chill air of fall settling on the island though he has several yards to be raised before he is in the open air.  From up above, Grobbik can hear the muffled voice of the announcer introducing the match.  Slowly, Grobbik begins to feel gears turning beneath him as his pedestal is slowly cranked upwards into the daylight.

"For our next match, the city of Azer presents to the Emperor Diophrates the twelth, our industry and competitiveness!  The best of our city, pitted in battle, committed to victory!  I present to you Bourgain Dugard, stable master of the Governor's stables!  Grobbik Feezle, master sailor and student wizard!

Grobbik's head pokes out from the underground, his pedestal nearly raised now to the point of the sands.  He shivers slightly with the cold of the air around, though his minimal armor is supplemented by a thick coat of wool it seems the warmth is still leeching out of him by the second.  Still, besides the weather, the crowd is packed in and seems little perturbed by the inconvenience.  About 10 yards away from him, Grobbik sizes up his opponent, a rather average looking man with a leather jacket, thick wool pants and carrying a spear.

"Brand Corair, Artisan Steelsmith!"  Grobbik is shocked as his neck darts to the left to see yet another man lifted from the sands, this one strong and lithe looking, wearing a leather helm and carrying a mace in his right hand.

"And Prova Cuttisgard, Master Merchant and guildsman!"  A fouth man is raised, again off to the left, this one wearing furs on his chest and waist, with a cloth cap atop his head and carrying a knife much like the ones that Grobbik holds.

"May the best and most industrious Azerian win!"  The announcer thunders through a magnified voice.  "The last one standing wins the purse, two gold marks!  And fight!"

OOC:  Sorry for the haste with the post, lot of background stuff that I've been working through and I wanted to get something up tonight.  I'll get a map up soon, but I don't want to suck up another hour or more making it tonight.  Consider each of you standing on the corner of a 10 yard square (where each of the edges is 10 yards).  The spear man is on your right side, the mace man directly across, and the one with the knife directly to your left.  I'm assuming you are carrying all of your possessions into the fight, so please post what you are carrying and in which hand at the start of the match.

What a day it had been.  Grobbik needed money for a power stone.  It was the only magic item he was likely to afford this late in the potion-making process.  If he had been thinking farther outside of the box, it would have occurred to him long before this.  Unfortunately the events of the moment always seemed to grab his attention.  And, the life of a student tended to be plenty busy without needing an external job.  Everything was provided, like room and board.  He didn't need to work to eat.

His first stop was the Mage's guild.  They had a magic shop there with magic items for sale.  With his experience as a merchant, Grobbik was confident he could get a job there.  His dad's name carried a lot of weight, and it should get him in the door.  From there his experience should be good enough.  True to his expectations, the lead wizard in the store sat down with him for an interview.  Grobbik's strategy was to show his bartering skills as they talked about the work, but the man sitting across the table from him didn't seem fazed by it.  In the end, Grobbik was confident he had made a good impression, but they weren't currently in need of anyone, and his class schedule didn't fit with whatever nominal needs they did have.  He was turned away on what felt like a positive note.

That only left the arena.  Grobbik needed money, and while becoming a gladiator was risky, it was also what he had trained for in school.  He hadn't spent all those hours learning his knives and accompanying spells for nothing.  It was a good opportunity to balance out his ability with the competition out there.  And, if he messed up he wasn't likely to get killed like he would in a regular battle.  In fact, this sort of thing should probably be an elective in the college.  He made a mental note to suggest this to Brother Loke when they next spoke.

As Grobbik was raised to the floor of the arena, he felt exhilarated by the chill wind that blew in his face.  The air swirled around him and caused the edges of his wool coat to twitch too and fro as he looked around from his perch.  When the first man appeared a short way away from him. Grobbik was confident he would be in good shape.  He didn't look that intimidating.  Then he was followed by 2 more combatants.

"Shit." he thought to himself.

Grobbik had quite the challenge in front of him.  As a goblin with knives he probably looked like easy prey to the rest of the fighters.  That could mean they would leave him to last, or it could mean they would get rid of him first.  He wasn't sure how it was going to go.  Thus, he decides that staying more or less in his place is a good idea as he prepares for the battle.

Grobbik's approach to the fight is measured, a step back to evaluate his competition.  As he readies his knife.  To his left, the man with the knife seems to be taking a similar approach: evaluating his competition before diving into combat.  To Grobbik's right, the man with the spear takes a similar approach, brandishing his spear in both hands as he takes a hesitant step forward towards the mace wielding man.

It is the last fighter, the one with the mace standing directly across from Grobbik, who is the only one who is spurred to immediate action.  Even as the call to fight is sounded he springs forward with huge, leaping steps, cutting across Grobbik's field of view to the right, towards the man with the spear.  Each man braces himself for the impending impact, the spear man taking a step back to be out of the way of the charge even as the mace wielder swings his weapon in a side arm swing instead of ramming his foe.

The impact hits with bone-shattering force as the leg contorts gruesomely.  Blood is thrown in all directions, speckling the sands of the arena like a robin's egg for yards in all directions.  With a savage scream, the man with the spear drops his weapon and falls to the sands, weeping a slow pool of blood that collects underneath his thigh.  And so the competitors were down to three...

OOC:  The spear wielder suffered a devastating blow to the left leg, and though he is still conscious, he is stunned, weaponless, and unable to stand and therefore effectively out of the fight.  Each of your two remaining foes are about 10 yards away from you, towards your left (knife) and right (mace), with the knife man facing you and the mace man facing towards the southeast.  Your roll for fast draw failed, so it took you one turn to ready your weapon in your left hand, and your ice dagger roll succeeded, so you will have a 3d ice dagger ready in your right hand at the beginning of the next turn.  Please give me two more rounds of action.

Battle Map

Grobbik wants to chuck his ice dagger at the mace wielder right away, since he looks dangerous.  However, he stops himself.  The other man may be a mage as well, since he was a member of the guild.  Instead of making the first move, Grobbik takes a step back and aims at him, so he can keep his eye on both parties as much as possible.

Realizing that one foe has already been taken out of this fight without his help, Grobbik continues to bide his time, holding his right hand aloft as the weapons of ice hover readily over his hand.

That simple act, however, seems to draw Grobbik some attention...

"Shit!"  Says the man to his left, and out of the corner of his eye, Grobbik can see the knife wielder breaking out into a full on sprint in his direction.  Likewise, the man with the mace, after ensuring his current opponent cannot get up, turns about and starts a jog in Grobbik's direction as well.

OOC:  Ok, only did one round that time as your magic gained some attention from the other two.  Both are moving in your direction.  You have 1 turn of aim on the mace wielder and you are facing northeast.

Battle Map

Grobbik hisses.  He didn't want to be noticed as a target this early.  Just a small little goblin, nothing to see here...  But they noticed he could do magic.  Note to himself, don't show your hand so early the next time.

Stepping backwards and to the right, Grobbik aims at the mace wielder while tracking the other man as much as possible.  He addresses the man running at him with "If you want to die Prova, by all means..."

For all his caution at the beginning of the match things are unwinding quickly on poor Grobbik, who sees both of his foes descending quickly upon him.  Unwilling to find himself on the wrong end of a two on one match, Grobbik lets his spell fly, sending the razor shards of ice flying out directly towards the mace wielder.  Though his aim is true, the man manages to dive out of the way, landing on his face and forearms.

Though he steps hurriedly away from his other foe and taunts him with threats, Prova is upon him in a mere moment, slashing wildly with his knife!  Grobbik misjudges the swing awfully and as he steps back, catches his heel on uneven sand, nearly making him lose his balance.  The knife hits squarely along his left forearm, raking open a wide gash in his jacket that bleeds freely and Grobbik pulls in a sucking breath through his teeth.

OOC:  Yikes!  You had a nice roll on your initial throw, but your foe made his dodge roll on the nose and barely avoided the missile.  You on the other hand, critically failed your dodge, which mercifully only unbalanced you.  You have taken a moderate wound to the left arm.  Please give me 2 rounds of action.  You are currently in close combat with Prova (the knife fighter, and about 5 hexes away from the mace wielder, who is still sprawled out on his stomach.

Edit:  Please not that you are suffering from shock and skills/will is at a penalty for your next round.
Battle Map
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:16, Thu 25 May 2017.

Grobbik didn't know very many curse words, but he used all of them after a terrible stretch.  He thought he was better than almost falling over when the first guy got in his face.  It was time to redouble his efforts at practicing his knife skills, because obviously the work he had done at school didn't match well with real combat.  Items like uneven ground had already almost gotten him seriously injured.

Unfortunately, there was no time to dwell on the present.  He had a man with a knife in his face, and there was no time to stop and think about anything more than that.  Quickly Grobbik maneuvers around his foe as quickly as he can, while getting his other knife out.

Recovering quickly from his near disaster, Grobbik slicks another blade out of its sheath  without thought and catches the next slash of his opening neatly off its hilt and he circles his body to the left to keep himself on the outside of the fight.  Grobbik counterattacks, although Prova ducks neatly away from the swing.

Though the blood pumping in his ears still thunders, Grobbik begins to realize the noise of the crowd is escalating.  "Blood!"  One man shouts.  As another small section of the stands is beginning the chant of "Brand!  Brand!"

Several feet away, the mace wielding steel smith has made it back to his feet...

OOC:  No real change in the last two rounds.  Go ahead and give two more.  You successfully managed to circle around to your left, putting Prova affectively between you and Brand.  Go ahead and give me two more rounds.

Gribbik had a bad stretch there, but at least he had survived it intact.  Stepping back, he plays for time since he has maneuvered Prova into a bad tactical position.

"I need a job as a merchant."

Prova slashes out with his knife again thrusting low but then redirecting and slashing upward towards Grobbik's face!  However Grobbik managed to see the ploy in time and steps back nimbly, catching the blow across the hilt of his knife.  The mob groans in anticipation.

"I need a job as a merchant!"  Grobbik barks out at his foe, and Prova is momentarily at a loss, his brows wrinkling in confusion.  Behind Prova, Grobbik can already make out the steel smith Brand starting in another charge right for Prova's back!

Mercifully, Prova hears the disturbance of sand behind him and sidesteps as Brand's mace arcs down wildly, missing each of the other gladiators by over a foot.  Attempting to keep himself on the outside of the fight, Grobbik sidesteps nimbly to the left, trying to keep Prova in the middle of the fray.

OOC:  Again, not a whole lot of change.  Brand did a turn of moving and then another move with a wild swing, which missed.  Prova slashed out at you but you managed to parry neatly.  After Prova jumped out of the way, you circled around to the left again.  You are currently facing north, Prova southeast, Brand southwest.  Note that you can't cast any of your spells with items in both hands (all of them require word and gesture).  You can drop one of your knives as a free action, or throw it if you wish to use a turn.  Also note that Icy weapon takes three turns of concentration to cast.  Also note that if you need to use a defense you will need to succeed a will roll at -3 or your concentration is spoiled.  Two more seconds of action please.

Battle Map

Knowing that his best chance to win this was to keep the fights in Prova, Grobbik continues maneuvering to keep the merchant between him and the  mace wielder, while continuing to swing with his knife.

Grobbik's focus is entirely on his position, keeping Prova between himself and Brand, ensuring that the fight would continue between the other two first or at least that he would not be taken on at once by both of his opponents.  Waiting for a moment due to the range of his closest foe, Grobbik is surprised when instead of attacking either of his opponents, Prova makes a dash to get out from between the two!  Several yards he bounds before turning about and facing back towards the others.

Brand's momentum, already started, continues forward through where Prova had just stood and on directly at Grobbik.  Down crashes his mace, whistling through the air as it seeks to smite its second foe of the match, the whole crowd breathes in at once in anticipation.

Though the man's aim is true, Grobbik manages in a single swift motion to move his body to once side while glancing his knife off the edge of the weapon, redirecting it wide to the right.  But the force of the blow is such that the arm and weapon continue on, and without a hilt to protect his hand Brand is stung by the knife blade as it cuts across his knuckles.  With a sucking breath, Brand pulls his hand back, the mace flying down into the dirt just behind Grobbik where it sinks into the sand with a dull thunk!

Stepping in for his own attack, Grobbik thrusts his knife out viciously, connecting solidly with a blow to the man's side.  Blood weeps from the wound, dribbling downward towards his cloth pants and Brand backpedals furiously trying to escape the blow.  Encouraged by his success, Grobbik thrusts out again savagely and before Brand can regain his balance from the first blow he is struck again with the knife that sinks halfway to the hilt into his shoulder near his collarbone.  Brands shrieks with pain as he stumbles down to the floor of the arena landing flat on his back as blood spurts in a bright red arc that splatters Grobbik's chest and face.

The crowds cry out with glee at the mayhem!

OOC:  Unbelievable rolling on that turn.  You crit succeeded your retreating parry (which I fully expected your knife to break on) which resulted in a hero point for you and Brand losing his weapon.  You subsequently landed two consecutive attacks, the second of which resulted in Brand being stunned and knocked down to his back.  You are facing northeast, Prova Northwest.  Brand is taking up two hexes with his feet under you and his head in the hex his picture is in.  I've been just doing attacks to the torso as you haven't mentioned what your target location is.  Two more rounds of combat please.

Battle Map

The flurry of blows happened so fast that Grobbik barely even registered them in his mind. His reflexes took over. After his parry, he struck again twice as much out of habit and practice as anything.  It was only when his foe was on the ground bleeding that the goblin took stock of the situation.

The mace wielder was down, and seriously injured if not out of the fight. Without his mace, he was in bad shape. The main question now centered around Prova. Would he yield, or would he need convincing? It was time to find out.  Taking a step to his right, Grobbik squares up to face the merchant. He concentrates for a second to create an ice dagger as he does.

It takes him a second to measure up Prova, but that is at least partially because he senses that caution is warranted. In situations like this, most men would either be intimidated by the brutal work of Grobbik's knives, or reckless because they felt like their back was against the wall.  While his confidence was up after his success thus far, Grobbik had to assume Prova would not be here unless he was skilled.

As he waits for Prova to act, Grobbik (ever the businessman) asks him:

"So, about that job...  I was serious."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:13, Sun 04 June 2017.

With his second opponent down for the moment, Grobbik takes advantage of the momentary lull to drop the knife out of his right hand and weave his spell craft, collecting the very water out of the air around him into a sharp, crystalline blade of ice.

"Oh no you don't!"  Prova shouts as he hurls himself forward, slashing his knife wildly though it only cuts the air several inches short of Grobbik.

Surprised by the frenzied attack, Grobbik hurls his dagger at close range, Prova's knife coming up to parry aside Grobbik's throwing arm, though the effort comes up short...  The weapon impacts at a downward angle driving through the muscle of his leg then bursting into a gush of water as blood dribbles slowly down his knee.

Grobbik makes another quick plea for gainful employment, but Prova lashes back with both words and his knife.  "And you want me to employ you?"  Grobbik parries the blow aside harmlessly as he takes another step back.

Slowly, Brand is making his way to his feet...

OOC:  You are in close combat with Prova facing each other.  He sustained a light injury to the left leg.  You have a ready dagger in your left hand and dropped the other one around the area where Brand is just rising to a stand.


Battle Map