Alton waits patiently for Balgus to get enough drinks in himself for a round of friendly combat in one of the side areas,

His mind wanders to his early days of training in the rapier and hand crossbow style of fighting arts, he wonders how much different would it be to use the rapier and a wand in hand, even if the wand were something like a sudden flare of course magic miss...wouldn’t even require aiming so that should be even easier.  Ah the curse of being multitalented in a society which forces males into either magic or fighter..perhaps that was part of the matriarchal scheme to keep the males in line.

Hearing that there might be a competition of prowess between two newcomers, several patrons start placing bets.

(Anyone can place bets, even the combatants. You can place bets with the generic patrons as long as the bet is reasonable.)

In reply to Arbella Elann (msg # 548 of the Old The Netherworld Plane - Game Thread):

In your mind The Keeper says that you may have business coming your way.

Balgus orders 4 more drinks, seeing that his been challenge in a fight. He grabs a pickaxe, downs the dinks with lightning fast reflexes and approaches Alton.

So how does combat work in this particular thread.

In reply to Balgus Brashhorn (msg # 5):

You cannot kill anyone here, but you can make them wish they were dead, lol. All damage is non-lethal damage, and when you reduce an opponent to 1 or less (knocked out),the fight is over. That's the point the loser needs to pay up if they made a bet, and both players can heal up their damage. (The player character named Arbella is an available healer who just happens to be here now.)

From time to time the inn conducts matches between noted personalities who excel in brawn, or weapon finesse. These matches draw quite a crowd. Sometimes even guests wish to get involved and show their prowess by asking the inn to sponsor a match between them and a noted personality or even a dangerous creature. More oft than naught, guests will outright challenge another guest. Most know of how the management frowns upon unsanctioned brawls and personal fights in the inn, so these challenges are kept respectable by having the inn sanction the fight. If both parties agree to such an encounter, the inn will sanction the fight the same as any other event.

Unlike other events that the inn sponsors, these events are not heavily restricted. A challenger is allowed to bring the best they have to the table, including magic. The only rule is that the inn isn’t damaged in any way during the bout.

Most events of this nature are held outside, since they draw large crowds, but some are held indoors in the pit fight area.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:37, Sat 25 Apr 2020.

Also see this link to a message in this game  if you want to refer to what's posted on the message board, see who's who at the inn, see what shops are available in town, see what is offered to eat and drink at the inn, and to see what is offered for games and entertainment (Official Rules for games of chance, and pit fights.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:39, Sat 25 Apr 2020.

In reply to Alton Chasmyr (msg # 2):

Balgus stares at Alton calmly and pulls out a masterwork axe,"Alright pal, ye look like your interested in a brawl. So how aboot this, loser pays for me next round o' drinks, dinna worry I promise ta nae hurt your financial status one bit." he says, laughing jovially.

In the heads of the two potential combatants you hear. "I will sanction this bout, and may the best man win! The match will take place outside in the center of the Farmer's Market in 1 hour. This will allow for bets to be placed, and for spectators who want to see the match to gather. I will announce it to the populace."

“Thank you Sir Balgus for indulging me in a bit of recreation, I have rested too much and need a good workout, shall we agree to at least a few rounds of warming up before we work on vanquishing each other, or must I warm up on my own?”

Alton stands and thinks about the opponents height reach and weapon....
This one is full of surprises he might show up with a tower shield or a couple of war dogs...though that might be against the rules...

Balgus scratch his head when he heard another voice announcing in his mind but then turns to the drow and nods,"I'm fine with a few warm up rounds, I'll be seeing ye at tha farmers market pal. May the better warrior be the Victor." he says, taking another mug from the bartender and heading out.

“Sure! Oh one more question Magic or no magic?”

Alton is wondering who will wait until after the terms are in place and the practice passes completed before placing a bet on the outcome

When the match starts, Arbella, with assistant Isobel at her side, waits with her healer's and surgeon's kits. Four onlookers have volunteered to use stretches to bear patients to the Infirmary, Room 5. Her equipment is in front of her, and her belongings are tied...all to guard against thieves. Her jo* is in hand.

Before the bout begins, she announces Anybody who uses poison forfeits my assistance.

* A jō is an approximately 1.27-metre (4.2 ft) wooden staff

"Oh, so ye have a few tricks up your sleeves, while I'm nae a mage like yourself but I'll agree ta use magics. I think it gives ye some even ground, heh, heh, heh." Balgus says before heading off.

There are several bets being placed with Blaze, and its a bit uncomfortable as some patrons come to look you over like you were a side of beef or even more uncomfortably, as if they were about to buy you at a slavers market. The sizing up seems to lean more towards the dwarf, and so do the bets.

(I will allow the warming up bouts to be carried out now in roleplay. However, I want to give a little more time for any other players in the game to post that they want to come to the event or make a bet. By, lets say, USA 6:00 AM CST the bout will begin.)

The Keepers visage remains impassive as the patrons scrutinize the competitors. Arbella is approached by a woman who thinks she's in labor. Her oversized middle, and the spasms of wracking pain that come quite frequently reinforces the fact that she's about to give birth.

"Greeting. My name is Lilly Farmer, and I think I'm about to have my baby. I didn't know what to do. James, my husband, should have come home by now but hasn't. I was all alone at the farm, and got scared when the pains wouldn't stop. This being my first child, and all, I didn't want to be alone if it came. Oh!" she sways as a contraction takes over.

Balgus appears in the ring, instead of his miner outfit his wearing a well polished wooden shield, a metal banded armor, an impressive looking cloak and he carries an  above average axe with a Longbow strapped on his shoulders,"Can ye believe that I bought this here gears for a cheap bargain. Why I kinna even believe it myself, ha, ha, ha." he says, doing a few practice swings with his axe.

Alton smiles he makes certain his rapier, hand cross bow and buckler are all ready to start the match

He sizes up the dwarf again now that he is fully in his gear, at least now he knows the dwarf is no Druid

He changes his mind and switches the buckler and hand crossbow around then sets his rapier to the other hip

“Glad to hear of someone catching a break on prices now and then. So any wager Inwas thinking the loser could buy the winner a triple serving of seasoned potatoes.”
Sensing disappointment...
“...and two common pints of ale.”

"Hah, ye almost had me their. I wou' have quit right here right now if ye dinna even mention a pint o' ale." he says, striking his axe on the ground and rubbing his beard,"Fine, loser buys tha groceries an' a 4 pints o' ale."

The old farmer grabbed his mug and wandered outside to watch the event.  "Closest thing to dinner and a show around here, I guess.  Even have the medical emergency theme going on.  Why can't they do the fight in the bar?  All this exercise is going to kill me."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:38, Mon 27 Apr 2020.

Statler grumbled and mumbled something under his breath at having to get up from his comfy seat, grabbed his ale and followed Waldorf out of the tavern.  "I've done enough walkin to last two lifetimes, but this should be a good laugh.  Though if they make me spill my ale I'ma burry them!"

Waldorf nodded in agreement to the spilt ale comment.  "My coins on the dwarf.  Then again, I bet on him last time and I'm still broke.  What is he fighting?  That dirty fellow should go take a bath.  Can't bet on a fellow if you can't see his face proper."  The farmer barked out.

Statler looks at Waldorf and laughs "dunn know, the dwarf might faint from the smell of the dirty feller...reckon you could smell that with even with all that manure you've been around...and oh look!  That one there is about ta give birth, hmmm, cute medic too!  What a day!"  as he takes another drink of his ale and watches.

The muppets have arrived

Alton takes his place and draws his rapier...
“Unless you would rather draw weapons like a duel?”
Alton shrugs
This message was last edited by the player at 18:57, Mon 27 Apr 2020.

Arbella replies, Yes...of course. Isobel and she pick up the kits and start for the Inn. They ask two of the stretcher bearers to haul Mrs. Farmer.

She asks the other two to stand by to haul if necessary, and she'll send the first two back.

PM
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:41, Tue 28 Apr 2020.

After some time, more or less, Arbella and the stretcher bearers reappear at the fight site. Isobel is not present; Arbella's equipment is.

PM