Emerald ear-twitches at Mitt's challenge and says, "I shan't. You'd kick my butt too easily. My thing is sneaking and then striking hard. No sneaking in an open arena like this..."

Reverie doesn't feel she needs to answer Mittens since the cat got so easily distracted. She looks at Mittens at the sound of challenge and headshakes.

"My weapon is horrible.
There's no healing.
I'd show you such terrible,
Terrible things.

Whether you won or not,
You'd beg me to make it stop.
You'd ask for the memory to die,
Of watching all you know rot.

And I would look at you sadly
And tell you: ...I can not."

For a moment, Eli is annoyed by Mittens trying to drag out the violence even more.

Eli cracks a smile at his dad's reassuring words. He hears a lot of people declining Mittens' challenge while others don't even acknowledge it like Mittens wasn't even there. He looks from his dad to Darthic and back before stroking his chin.

Having over-heard Darthic, Eli makes his decision. He leans forward to look past his mom, past Bridget and past Reverie to look at Mittens. "I accept your challenge." the little boy says, "But Miss Bridget is right. It would be better if we worried about such things when we have the privilege to allot time to ourselves. It would be wrong to ignore the problem at hand in favor of sport. So I up the anti. I suggest it be a timed fight."

(OOC: If anyone objects to this oocly due to desires to move on with plot, Chris and I can play out the fight off panel and then type the results here on the board as a single post.)

  "I'm sure you'll understand if I don't envy Mitten's opportunity to stab a King's child." Light them on fire for due cause however, well, that would require due cause.

  Blake considers Reverie's words.  No reason quite yet to discredit them, but the mind held such resilience.  Even twisted, it could function well enough to return such suffering.

  That and being lit on fire usually didn't require retaining the capacity for calculus to notice.  Two plus two is ohargmyface.

At this point, Grall is too injured to pick apart his opponent's argument logically, so he falls back on sarcasm and a right hook to the face.

"Oh no, you figured me out!" Grall says, feigning distress, "I was going to sneak in my tribe of 200 something through the gates of the city!  They'd never have seen that coming if not for you!  And then we were going to conquer your hundreds of thousands of armed citizens!  Good thing they had you to protect them!"

The punch misses, but you can't dodge words.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:16, Sun 14 Feb 2010.

Mortin ducks under his opponents swing with relative ease and retaliates with an uppercut to the Orc's jaw that knocks him out cold.  Mortin straightens himself out, faces the King and Queen, and bows.

"My apologies for the violence," he says to the Queen, "But the Paladin left me no choice but to defend my honor."

He gives an angry look to Mittens.

"I've tried to reason with the Orc in the past, but typical of his kind, he only understands violence."

The healers carry Grall away on a stretcher.

The Queen uncovers her eyes and sighs.  She seems surprisingly unconcerned about Mittens fighting her son and ties the customary "you're my champ" ribbon to his arm with a kiss on his cheek.

"Very well," the King answers Bridget, and apparently Mittens and Eli as well, "As you say, make it quick so you all can get an early start, son."

The king faces Mittens.

"I accept your challenge, but there's time only for one more match tonight if it's short.  You may fight me when time allows.  As far Eli is concerned, I must insist that you use Darthic's training sword for all your attacks."

To Mortin he answers "I disagree with both of your assertions, Captain, but time does not allow for me to delve any deeper into that.  For now, I ask that you and the members of this team consider whom they can work with and whom they cannot.  To be honest, I don't know how your system works when it comes to you or Bridget being in charge of these volunteers."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Sun 14 Feb 2010.

Jarl nods, and for once, allows a small smile to cross his face.

"Then perhaps you four and that interesting dark lady would like to join me in exploring Unity's Arcane Library.  As a courtesy to my King, I have been granted full access and would love to take you with me.  I'm sure there's plenty there that would benefit swordmages, wizards, and warlocks alike.  Nothing like curling up with a good book!  But I insist we take my pupil with us, so we'll have to wait till after he spars the paladin."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:28, Sun 14 Feb 2010.

Darthic chuckles.

"I was just about to suggest that.  Except that I'd insist that Eli be MY pupil today.  Ah well, I suppose I can relent this time since you spoke up first.  In any case, those of us more inclined toward the more martial side of life might like to join me in testing the mettle of Unity's Martial Academy.   I hear they have everything from rangers to rogues to warden trainers there.  Might pick up a new trick or two."

To Mittens he answers: "Well since my King has offered an any-time spar, I accept your challenge on those same terms!"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:14, Mon 22 Feb 2010.

Mittens is rather pleased with the line forming to kick her tail, headed by a little prince no less!

"Well well WELL!" she says with a big smile, "Lookin forward to our matches!"

She nudges Emerald with a smirk.

"I like your modesty, but you should take after this dark poet!  Now THAT's talkin' SMACK!  'I'd fight you, but you'd beg me to stop!' and 'I pity the fool who faces my POWA!'  She gives me goosebumps just thinking of the possibilities!"

To Reverie: "Now I've just GOTTA see you in action!  I can't make you fight me, but I can at least watch you kick butt when we find that nimrod we're after!  Maybe then I can talk you into giving me a taste of your awesome!"

She walks over to Darthic who hands her the training sword.  She then hops down into the arena and opens her arms to Eli as if expecting him to jump down to her for her to catch him.

---

Darthic's Training Sword:
Property: All damage done by this sword is illusary and vanishes within 5 minutes of being inflicted.  If a target is reduced to 0hp with this sword, they pass out.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:26, Thu 18 Feb 2010.

Having trained at Unity's Martial Academy, Freedom knows well that there are still more he can learn from the warden trainers there. Thus the Warforged Warden says, “Darthic, I'll take you up on your offer. It never hurts to be prepared, and bettering ones skills in a proper training environment will be a good way to prepare for what lies ahead.”

Gilant's ear twitches slightly when Jarl mentions that there are resources at Unity's Arcane Library that would be of use to a Swordmage. Despite not being over-eager, it is obvious that the Githyanki Swordmage is interested in seeing just what the Arcane Library has to offer for a Swordmage as Gilant replies, "That sounds like a good idea."

Michael nods and says, “When one has an idea of what they are looking for a Library is often a good place to seek knowledge. Hopefully we will be able to find some answers there, or at least something to point us on the proper path,” when Jarl offers to take the arcane users present to the Arcane Library.

Shale ponders if the Arcane Library might have some books about artifacts that would be of interest to Eochaid, or if nothing else a book or two on Eochaid which might prove amusing to see the author's opinion on Eochaid. “Sounds like we are in agreement that going to the Arcane Library would be beneficial.”

Shale also considers that the library might have some books on techniques used by Warlocks with a pact involving the Fey Realm that would be of use to him.

Eli doesn't seem too sure, but figures if she lets him fall, she'll be in big trouble. So he jumps. It saves time that way.  Mittens catches the boy and sets him down.  Darthic explains to Mittens the training weapon's properties.

"Really?" Mittens asks.

She stabs the arena ground with the sword, making a small hole in the ground.  She attempts to stick her finger into the hole she just made and discovers that she can't because it's just an illusion.

"Neat!  I don't have to pull any punches then!"

She looks over to Eli.

"I take it then you've been stabbed by this thing before?"

Eli nods to Mittens. "Yeah. It hurts like a pinch, but emulates what effects besides pain that damage would do. Such as me being slowed down. It also has a pain setting... but I'm not allowed to have that used on me yet." he doesn't wanna admit that when his arm got "sliced off" and it was on pain setting, he cried. And cried. And cried.

He goes to the center of the Arena with Mittens and says, "Five paces back each... I'm not all that great with close combat. So if you get up to me, more power to you..."

"Well that is just too awesome for words!" Mittens says stepping away from Eli, "Though if you're gunna be joining the investigation, you can expect swords to do more than just pinch.  But that's between you and your family.  In any case, en garde!"

She raises her shield and drops her center, preparing to charge at him.

Eli is surprisingly quick to react to her "en garde" and does some complex gesture with his hand over his orb before saying "Sleep... now..." and the orb's inner lights dance a bit more and glow brighter. He then hurries backward a bit to add some distance.

Mittens feels a tremendous fatigue overwhelm every fiber of her being!  It's like she hasn't slept in days!  Her mind understands that this is just magic, and that her body is just fine for combat, but it sure doesn't feel that way.  The lightning charge she had planned becomes a turtle's crawl.

"Must... Stay... Awake!" she says.

With that, she shakes off the effects of the spell and her pace suddenly begins to quicken.

But the quickening just makes it all the more irresistible to fall to her butt when Eli takes 2 steps forward (in order for Mittens to be in range) and twirls his hand about his orb. The ground beneath Mittens becomes ice and makes her slip.

"ICE one!" Mittens jokes, her teeth chattering from the sudden flash freeze.  She carefully picks herself back up, trying to not let it show just how badly that hurt.  No fair!  That injury was real!  He hasn't even been pinched yet!  Oh well.  No pain no gain.  Backtrack or risk the ice?  Forward is about all Mittens understands, so forward it is.  Woops!  Almost slipped there...  Caaaarefully take a second step.  She winds up covering even less ground than before.

Eli seems a little concerned. But from his experience, people with THAT much armor don't like being doted over. "Ooo... that pun was cold..." he says, giggling. Eli taps his fingertips on his orb repeatedly and a swarm of some kind of magical glowing green daggers appear all around Mittens. They definitely pinch, though not many of them make it through her armor.

"Ice and slice, nice combo!" Mittens comments, shield raised, gritting through the cuts.  So it doesn't hurt as much as being doused with magical liquid nitrogen.  It still hurts.  She barrels toward him like a charging bull and with a final burst of speed, thrusts the training sword right through his gut.  Apparently any instinct she may have for not harming a child are not enough to keep her from such a brutal attack.

Eli's mother screams and turns away.  The king tries to assure her there's no reason to be alarmed by watching an armored Shifter impale their son.

Eli squeaks and winces. That was like... a dozen pinches all at once. He stumbles back a bit and shoots some kind of green glowing arrow thing from his hand at Mittens, but shoots way off due to being distracted by the shock. He then says, "I'm not going to give up just because you impaled me!" and seems to be almost good as new in his posture as he shoots another glowing green arrow at Mittens. This time, Mittens is able to dodge it due to being prepared.

Eli's mother is far more comforted by the sound of her son's confident reply than anything daddy said.

"Well I didn't get to use this earlier today, so I'm gunna now!" Mittens says, pointing her sword at Eli, "Radiance of Tempus!"

Apparently Tempus allows his paladins to use his power for sparring little boys because Eli is instantly engulfed in searing ribbons of light.  Eli manages to raise his arm to shield his eyes from the light, but his body is still wracked by the power of the prayer.  Mittens steps forward, shield ready for another reply from Eli.

The pain is so much more than that charge from earlier. Eli cringes, grits his teeth and keeps telling himself if he cries or screams or anything, he will repeat the cycle of being treated with less respect than he wants.

He's getting the picture... it's so typical. Those who wear armor hit hard and are hard to hit. He reminds himself he needs to learn how to use armor properly.

His skin is red from the burn, like a first degree burn. "That... hurt... a lot..." he manages to say while shifting back, putting his orb away and putting a bit more effort into one last magic missile (remember those green arrow things?) which hits this time. And hits hard, making Mittens feel equal pain to what she just inflicted. Tears do roll down his cheeks, but he continues to stare Mittens in the eye and try to man up.

Eli's two mentors and his dad all jump to their feet when they notice how badly he was hurt by Mittens' last attack.  Darthic and several guards reach for their weapons, and Jarl readies a spell, but the King raises his hand to prevent them from attacking.  Eli didn't cry foul.  He kept fighting.  The King sits back down, and the others follow suit.

Mittens hisses at the pain of Eli's arrow penetrating through her defenses, but the tears of the boy are enough to keep her from getting all barbaric like she did on those wolves.  It's then that Mittens realizes that while a sword may be Tempus' symbol, using that prayer while pointing a sword at Eli may not have been within the bounds of the agreement of the fight.  Oops.

"Wow!" she says, amazed the boy is still standing after the punishment of a REAL attack, "I better end this now or I'm finished!"

She takes a step back then charges at him, this time swiping at him with the flat of the blade.  It rings his bell as intended and Eli drops unconscious.  Mittens kneels next to him, and lays her hand on him to heal him.

"Wow...  For someone who doesn't approve of violence, you sure are darn good at it, and you don't shy away from a challenge!  I'm very impressed!  I was lucky to defeat you!  And then only because... well... I think I cheated by mistake.  Sorry 'bout that."

(Now for the combat explaination...)

Eli HP: 20
Mitts HP: 27

Eli and Mittens paced 5 squares away from each other, making them 10 squares apart at the start.

Eli won initiative. Cast sleep, missed. Miss means Mitts is slowed save ends. Eli used orb of imposition to put a -2 penalty to Mitts' save. Then moves back 6 squares.
Mitts double-moved to move 4 squares, then saved with an 18 roll.
Eli moved forward 2 squares to be in range. Eli casts Icy Terrain, does 9 damage and knocks Mitts prone.
Mittens gets up (move action) and moves through the difficult terrain (second move action), making her move a grand total of 3.
Eli casts cloud of daggers, misses. Steps back 6 squares.
Mittens starts her turn in the cloud, so takes 2 dmg. She double-moves to move 10 squares then spends an action point to charge. Eli is hit for 11 damage.
Eli shifts 1 back, uses inspiring word to heal himself (I rolled a 1, so 6 HP healed), casts magic missile, misses, spend action point, cast it again, misses again (I think I rolled a 2 and then a 5).
Mittens uses her daily, misses (for once), but it does damage on a miss anyway. 3d8+3 / 2. Mitts rolled a total of 21 dmg, divided down to 10. Ouchy.
Eli shifts back 1, uses magic missile and hits (for once). 11 dmg.
Mitts stepped back 1 and then charged, doing exactly Eli's remaining HP dmg: 5.
Fight over. The dice hated me, but it was a good thing for her. If ANY of the above had rolled higher for Eli (even the HP), he would have won. Wizard so pwns. If the dice don't thoroughly hate you.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:45, Wed 24 Feb 2010.

Eli is healed and listens to what Mittens says about cheating. He tries to remember his mom and dad and teachers and what they all would say about this situation. He looks away, looking upset and doesn't know what to say. Literally, he's trying to find words and they are failing him.

Emerald figures it's fair. If anything, the king kinda forced Mittens to hold back some (Not by game mechanics much, but still). She saw the king and his guys standing ready and then holding back. Emerald says nothing since things seem to have resolved themselves...

Bridget was more interested in the maps than the fight. Just like last time. But this time, the queen screams, startling Bridget. Then the king and such stand up, catching her attention. She eyes them and the arena and then the king again. "What's wrong?" she asks. "I thought you gave her a harmless sword." clearly, Bridget didn't see Mittens called down a god's power on Eli.

Reverie watched the fight. She didn't really hear the terms. All she saw was a weird looking sword being given to Mittens. When the queen screams, Reverie looks concerned. But the queen calms. When the king and such stand, Reverie quietly reaches for her wand. But that settles too. She watches Mittens defeat the kid and wonders what was accomplished by either one of them.

"Childhood is about learning.
And Tempus taught with burning.
One should not take opponents lightly
Or think one's self so highly..."

  Blake considers the offer of academic locations, and says "I will take you up on your generous offer as soon as I take care of some thing, should only take a few hours though."  That said, the consider the progress of the fight.

  It was to Blake's minor regret they did not place a bet on if Eli would open up with the sleep inducing spell considering how obvious it have been in coming to them.  Just because they did not use certain schools of the Arcane arts did not mean they were ignorant of them.  At the reactions of the crowd when Mittens dared to fight back in a realistic manner against someone throwing ice, blades, and general arcane power at someone with a practice sword it took an effort of will not to facepalm at the royal staff.

  "They did give them a harmless sword.  It's what can be done with a sword that is not quite so harmless, just as my rod by itself is just a glorified stick.  I suppose Mittens was lucky they didn't request she wear fake armor as well, I don't they would have edged out a win if so."

For the sake of moving things along, will skip ahead to the descriptions of the two offered training locations.

Jarl takes the arcane inclined to the Unity Library.  He leads them past rows of books that are being browsed by a few scholars.  In the back there's an unimpressive looking door with a warforged guarding it.  It offers Jarl a book and pen.  "Please sign in any guests, sir," it requests.  Jarl writes in the names of his guests, unlocks the door, and proceeds down the staircase beyond.

The staircase opens to a torchlit lower floor that's less inviting than the public floor above.  It's cold, quiet, and forboding.  The ancient books here lend a pungent aroma to the stale air.  Some glow with magical energy while others seem to sap the light around them.

"How exciting!" Jarl says with a smile, "A very impressive collection from the looks of it!"

Resting on a podium is a rather large volume titled "Catalogue."  Jarl reaches to open it, and it opens itself.

"Welcome," it says in a female voice not too different from the one that the computers of sci-fi settings have, "I am Catalogue, your guide.  What knowledge do you seek?"

Jarl smiles broadly and looks at his guests.

"After you, friends!"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:57, Sun 28 Feb 2010.

Darthic takes the melee inclined to the martial training grounds.  The ring of clashing swords resonates from every wall as does the shouts of drill instructors and recruits.  Stables well stocked with horses add a barnyard aroma to the existing smells of dirt and sweat.  Darthic leads past rows of trainees to a gateway guarded by a human boy who looks to be 12 or 13.  He stands at attention and salutes Darthic.

"W-Welcome, s-sir!" he stutters enthusiastically, "C-Come right in!"

Darthic salutes back as the boy opens the gate.  On the other side is what looks to be an obsticle course of some kind, riddled with hurdles, pits, ropes, and the like.  A massive human with several nasty scars across his face sits at a small desk nearby.

"Eh?" he grunts, looking up from his papers, "Who are you, and what do you want?"

"Th-This here's the V-Vogel w-warlord, sir," the page answers defensively.

"That so?"

"He was p-promised f-free reign, sir.  Him an-and any g-guests, sir."

"Ah.  Alright.  Let the boy know what kinda lessons your guests want, and he'll fetch 'em."

Darthic nods.

"Well there ya go," he says to his guests, "Ask away."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:20, Sun 28 Feb 2010.

Freedom's face looks sort of like it is grinning, or as much as a warforged can grin as he asks the page, “As I've seen others with inspiring fortitude, I know it is an ability that would serve me well. Thus I'd like to work with an instructor who can teach me how inspire others with my resilience.”

Gilant already knows what would interest him as he asks, "I would like swordmage material about quickly throwing up a temporary shield to protect allies from attacks that aren't marked by my aegis."

It is obvious to the others present that Gilant is seeking knowledge on improving his ability to protect his allies.

Michael ponders what subjects to request material on before reaching a decision and asking, “I would like material on mind affecting techniques and defensive blocking techniques.”

Michael wonders what material 'Catalogue' will provide and hopes it will be sufficient for his purposes.