"Thank you." She turned to Alex. "Come, let us face the challenge." Beside her companion, she walks into the arena.


[OOC: Array is in Ki Strike]

The pair walks side by side out into the arena. It is a metal plate about 30 feet around, and as you draw close you can see that it is covered in a layer of oil. Stepping out onto the surface is like walking on wet ice.

Fighting here is going to be interesting.

A few seconds after the pair are on the plate, the door opens and two warriors walk out. Zhang Peter and Chen Míng. They bow, and Zhang Peter speaks. "The final stage of the Second Test. You have done well so far, I am eager to test your skill for myself."

Well. Kuso. Jiro bowed, careful of her balance. "An honor, Zhang Peter, Chen Ming."

She slid into a ready stance across from Zhang Peter, and prepared herself.

[OOC: 20:32, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 26 using 1d20+6. roland initiative.]

Alex glanced at Jiro and nodded. "It will be so nice to fight something recognizably human. I was getting tired of the freak show. Let's Dance!"

[OOC: 00:42, Today: Alex rolled 23 using 1d20+4. Init. ]

The foes fall into a ready stance. There is a moment of stillness, then the battle begins.

[OOC: 01:03, Today: Gamemaster rolled 17 using 1d20+8. Chen Init.
01:03, Today: Gamemaster rolled 14 using 1d20+6. Zhang Init.
Jiro's up, then Alex.
Alex and Jiro are 30' away from their foes.
Moving around on the surface is a DC15 acrobatics check or slip and fall prone. Jiro's skill mastery means he can ignore this.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:18, Tue 08 Mar 2011.

Jiro charged, ki dancing around her fists, moving nimbly even on the slick surface.  This was no time for fancy trickery; nor would it likely work, given their opponents. She simply attacked.

[OOC: 22:04, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 18 using 1d20+12. Ki Strike on Zhang. DC 21 toughness on the off chance that actually hits.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:01, Tue 08 Mar 2011.

Alex leaps in the air a split second after Jiro starts moving. She lands in front of Chen Ming and attempts to get her hands on him.

[OOC: 01:14, Today: Alex rolled 27 using 1d20+12. Unarmed attack.
01:19, Today: Alex rolled 27 using 1d20+10. Acrobatics.
01:21, Today: Alex rolled 28 using 1d20+19. Grapple Check.   ]

Chen, while by any normal standard is a skilled fighter, he is no match for someone of Alex's level. The power of her blows, and subsequent throw over her shoulder leave him on the ground and looking rather worse for wear.

[OOC: 01:31, Today: Gamemaster rolled 19 using 1d20+1. Toughness Save.
01:31, Today: Gamemaster rolled 24 using 1d20+11. Grapple Check.
01:30, Today: Gamemaster rolled 15 using 1d20+4. Toughness Save.
Bruised x2, Stunned ]

Zhang Peter responded instantly to Jiro's charge. He leapt over the attack, landing behind Jiro. The girl whirled to face him just in time to narrowly dodge a punch.

[OOC: 01:42, Today: Gamemaster rolled 21 using 1d20+7. Acrobatic Bluff Move Action.
01:43, Today: Gamemaster rolled 18 using 1d20+10. Attacking Jiro.  ]

"Very nice move, Zhang. I am impressed." Jiro took a split second to secure her footing, then lashed out again.

[OOC: another ki strike. 22:46, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 29 using 1d20+12. second verse, same as the first. DC 21 toughness save.]

Alex waited a moment to allow Chen the chance to regain his feet before attacking again. She attempted to repeat her grab and throw maneuver.

[OOC: 01:57, Today: Alex rolled 28 using 1d20+12. Unarmed attack.
01:57, Today: Alex rolled 39 using 1d20+19. Grapple Check.  ]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:01, Tue 08 Mar 2011.

Chen Ming leaps to his feet, but before he can attack, Alex has put him back on the ground. He slides about 10 feet away this time. Even in the face of this, he seems to be still in the fight.

[02:01, Today: Gamemaster rolled 12 using 1d20-1.
02:00, Today: Gamemaster rolled 13 using 1d20+2. Toughness Save.
Bruised 4, Stun ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:01, Tue 08 Mar 2011.

Jiro feels like he just punched an iron wall. There is more then just muscle beneath his flesh, for it feels much like when he has hit some other Ki users.

Zhang seems intent on the fight and ignores both the strike and the words, to let out a loud shout as he flips back. The emotional force of the shout threatens to disrupt Jiro's concentration.

[OOC: 02:19, Today: Gamemaster rolled 14 using 1d20+8. Toughness Save.
Spends a point of luck to activate Ultimate Toughness for an automatic 20.
Yes, he has ranks in luck.
02:07, Today: Gamemaster rolled 21 using 1d20+12. Startle Check.
Startle - Feint with intimidate Targets resist with Intimidate, Sense Motive, or Will (whichever is best).]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:00, Tue 08 Mar 2011.

I know that connected - how tough IS this guy? Jiro gritted her teeth as Zhang flipped back, loosing a shout of bravado. It slid over Jiro almost unnoticed. "You are tougher than you look, Zhang-san. This is a most interesting fight."

Gliding in closer to her foe, Jiro made another attack.

[OOC: Skill Mastery to take 10 on Sense Motive against that startle check for a 22.

23:27, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 31 using 1d20+12. another ki strike.]

"Chen, no offense man, but are you sure you want to keep doing this?" Alex said, as she waited for him to get to his feet again. She made another jump, and barely managed to make her landing in the middle of the plate.

"I'm not really enjoying throwing you around like this."
[OOC: Alex
15:11, Today: Alex rolled 39 using 1d20+19. Grapple Check.
15:11, Today: Alex rolled 17 using 1d20+12. Unarmed attack.
15:12, Today: Alex rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Acrobatics.
Moving away from the edge, and readying an attack for if he comes close enough to strike.]

Chen grimaced as he flipped back to his feet.

"It is a matter of honor." He took two quick steps towards Alex then went low, sliding the rest of the way. He passed underneath her attack, and delivered the prongs of a blunted Sai square to her stomach.

"Do not underestimate your foe, Alex."

[OOC: 15:16, Today: Gamemaster rolled 18 using 1d20+12. Acrobatics.
15:19, Today: Gamemaster rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Attacking Alex.
DC24 toughness save from the Crit. ]

Zhang Peter doesn't even try to avoid the blow. He steps into it, channeling his Ki to the point of impact. It again feels to Jiro like he is punching an iron wall.

"Interesting? KIAI!" Zhang shouted the last and swung with impressive force. Chi dances around his fist, and Jiro only narrowly avoids being hit.

The attack seems to have left Zhang's defenses open.

[OOC: 15:30, Today: Gamemaster rolled 32 using 1d20+13. Toughness Save.
Zhang Peter uses his Withstand Damage Feat to trade 5 defense for 5 toughness.
15:32, Today: Gamemaster rolled 19 using 1d20+10. Attacking Jiro. AOA 5, PA5.
15:35, Today: Gamemaster rolled 9 using 1d20+6. Startle Check.  ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:38, Tue 08 Mar 2011.

I do believe I touched a nerve. Jiro's grin was wide as she shifted her ki, moving in for a closer strike. "Fist of the Oni!"

[OOC: array is in Fist of the Oni, NOT using the knockback
12:41, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 14 using 1d20+10. FotO, no knockback.
12:43, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 14 using 1d20+10. FotO HERO POINT REROLL. - adjusted total 24. DC 23 toughness save.]

Alex doesn't respond to Chen. She's to busy gasping for breath. DAMN that hurt.

[OOC: 15:39, Today: Alex rolled 17 using 1d20+10. Toughness roll
Stunned, Bruised ]
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Tue 08 Mar 2011.

"Another lesson." Chen Ming said, as he kneeled to deliver a strike to Alex's prone form. "Courtesy has it's place in training, but not in a real fight."

[OOC: 16:12, Today: Gamemaster rolled 20 using 1d20+8. Attacking Alex. DC 19 save ]

"Impressive, but not impressive enough." Zhang said, unbothered by the hit. Paying not attention to warding of Jiro's blows, Zhang pressed his attack. Still, the girl was to fast for him to land a good hit on.

[OOC: 16:06, Today: Gamemaster rolled 31 using 1d20+13. Toughness Save.
16:08, Today: Gamemaster rolled 18 using 1d20+14. Attacking Jiro. AOA 4.
16:08, Today: Gamemaster rolled 10 using 1d20+5. Startle Check.  ]

"I can but try." Jiro smirked and pressed on another strike, ki ghosting around her fists.

[OOC: array is in ki strike, attacking Zhang.13:18, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 20 using 1d20+12. ki strike.]

Alex grunts slightly, but that hit hadn't been nearly as bad as the last one. "Right. No more mister nice... girl."

Alex grabbed Chen Ming's weapon arm and used it to slam him to the floor again.
[OOC: 16:15, Today: Alex rolled 21 using 1d20+9. Toughness Save.
18:05, Today: Alex rolled 22 using 1d20+12. Unarmed attack.
18:06, Today: Alex rolled 37 using 1d20+19. Damage again on the grapple 

Chen grimaces when he realizes that his second blow had little effect. The grimace soon faded as his forehead was slammed into the floor. He goes still. Breathing, but very much out of the fight.

[OOC: 18:11, Today: Gamemaster rolled 6 using 1d20. Toughness Save. Ko'd]

"You have accuracy, but you lack power. You have speed, but I have resilience. Do you?." Zhang replied, and through his all into another punch. This one struck true.

[OOC: 18:14, Today: Gamemaster rolled 31 using 1d20+13. Toughness Save.
18:15, Today: Gamemaster rolled 25 using 1d20+12. Attacking Jiro AOA 5, PA3.
DC 28 toughness save please. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:19, Tue 08 Mar 2011.