"Pretty words for someone who couldn't get so much as a Goblin to follow them!" Rorak growls with a merry air, opening the combat not - as Gora did - with his blade, but rather with his words, which cut more sharply and strike more swiftly and leave more lasting wounds "But fair enough! Krucks speaks the truth of Gora, and I do not stand here to support her action. But I know of Urzag! I know of his strength and his reach. I know of his deeds, and his honour. A horde that is divided is weak, no matter the strength of the Orcs - or Gnolls! - within it, and so I stand in contempt of Kruck's words! If he is so strong, let him prove it!"

 With that, he slowly draws his hacking-blade and steps to the side, discarding his scabbard for the moment as he awaits the signal for the fight to begin.

Bellatrix stands quietly, awaiting the signal for the fight to begin so that she can begin banging her drum to help her sister since that is her own skill, or at least one of them.  She leans close to Rorak and Gora and whispers.  "I am a Bard and will fight as a Bard fights."

"The witches of the Wyckblud do not feel fear it we cause it.

Klucks the Worm Pecker came to my fire squawking like a rooster.

Hrmph, all its courage comes from its magic axe for it has no strength. It compares itself to Urzag!? What a brave little rooster, cluck, cluck, cluck, but only to face women and gnolls.

Hear me! When Gora of Two-Bloods stood fearless against its word of contempt axe raised in declaration of her acceptance of the challenge, that little rooster pissed itself.

So unexpected was this open cowardice it managed to steal Gora's axe and break it so she wouldn't have an axe to fight it. And shame on her for that. But, no blood was spilled, nor blow was struck. It was Klucks Worm Pecker who broke the the peace with its cowardly words and thieving. It is no more than a convincing liar.

Klucks the Weak says it will fight a whole group of women and a gnoll, pbpht!
But Klucks Worm Pecker, included ME in its foolish boasting.

I do not dishonor the strength of my mothers.
I do not risk the anger of the dark spirits that are my blood.
I do not back down from the foolish challenge from a cocky little piss-chicken.

Its skill are less than mine!
Witness it would not fight with skills alone!

Witness it is not even a warrior enough to face me a woman with normal club, axe, spear, or sword even if I laid aside every trick and tool by which I increase my dark powers and fought naked and defenseless as the day I was born!

See he will only fight cowering inside enchanted armor!
See he will only fight wielding an axe so enchanted it could give an elf child a warrior's might!

If the coward needs to cheat like this to stand before a woman without pissing itself, then this is the fight with which, I will honor the arena with its blood.

I will honor the arena, if it falls and does not rise, if the candle burns out, if the Grumaan declare my victory, then I will make no further attacks within the challenge.

But I say this piss-chicken is soft inside it's turtle shell. And who can split a turtle's shell while leaving the turtle alive? Piss-chicken might die. This Beast will find Urzag a better chicken stronger with more brains, if this happens. Easily done."

The witch stood in a woman's crouched guard. One skilled in magic might easily see through her distorted description of her powers are theatrics meant to scare the ignorant, but most orcs who could understand magic appreciated the value of keeping the ignorant fearful.

Mostly she didn't want to be blamed if the fight turned out to be lethal for Krucks. She was carefully reminding the priest shared the blame if he didn't stop the fight, and Krucks was mostly to blame for choosing terms where death was a much more likely outcome.

She lied about Krucks pissing himself, but it didn't matter to her whether or not anyone believed her. Even if you knew she was lying, here she was ready to face him in the Arena on his terms. He had the perfect opportunity to force her to stop, to make her grant him whatever contrition he wanted, if he could win. Truth didn't matter. She wasn't so much saying he pissed himself as saying he was too weak to stop her

"I am ready. Light the candle."

OOC: Taken 10 on both "bluffs" for what it's worth. DC-22 (circumstance of being skilled at scaring people) for the magic or DC-20 for the pissed himself

Keeping it simple by taking total-defense action until the candle is lit for the start of combat.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 15:37, Sat 03 Oct 2020.

Krucks could be seen visibly gnashing his tusks at Kozryaka's words, snarling to be given the signal to attack. "Let the witch spread her petty lies! I stand here before all, with but a single weapon and my armor, to prove that I am a great warrior, to honor the traditions of the Horde. I, Krucks am ready!"  The mountain orc boasted, waiting for the Grumaans to signal the time to start.

The priests tap the butts of their staves on the ground, and then stop, roaring to start the battle.

OOC: You are all forty feet away from each other, with no terrain blocking. Roll initiatives, and if you roll above an 8 you can post your first actions.

11:37, Today: Kozryaka Wyckblud rolled 7 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

20:09, Today: Bellatrix rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.

Bellatrix begins beating her drum to produce the hypnotic rhythm that fascinates, aimed directly at Krucks.  She knows she is taking a risk there but maybe it will slow him down enough that the others can act against him.

20:15, Today: Rorak Silverfang rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

As Bella was ready with her drums, she begins to play a hypnotic beat with them, focusing her will upon the mountain orc. For a moment, it seems like the rhythm begins to take hold, before the others can act though, it is broken by the crowds roar, or the fact that each of Bella's companions were armed and ready to fight. The mountain orc draws his great axe as he moves, Krucks moves with amazing speed forward to engage Gora in melee combat. With great precision, the mountain orc swings it's heavy axe, smashing into the half-orcs frame. A mighty blow to be sure. Gora reels from the strike, obviously not prepared for such a wicked blow.

OOC: Kruck moves foward while shrugging of Bella's fascination attempt, something which should not be used in combat situations. He lands a mighty blow, reducing Gora's hps by a decent amount for a single strike.

Everybody else may post their turns once more.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:52, Tue 06 Oct 2020.

 The Gnollish way of fighting is to operate as a pack, instinctive and automatic... It prioritises working with others in order to bring down more dangerous prey, seeking out the greatest threats to the pack and tearing at them with fang and claw until they fall... And that's what motivates Rorak as he leaps forwards to counter Krusk's charge, moving to one side and then whirling back in, looking to flank the axe-wielder with Gora as he howls a rising chant of "I am the hunter, blood-soaked victorious, I am the hunter, blood-soaked victorious, here on this field, my foes blood to taste, striking like thunder, seeking our fates!" in guttural Gnollish, the snarling, snapping words rising over the confrontation and stirring the hearts of those who hear it to a near fever-pitch.

 ---

 Initiating Bardic Music (Standard action): Inspire Courage.
 Swift-casting Inspirational Boost.

 Everyone gets +3 to hit, +3 to damage & +3 to saves versus charm and fear.
 You're welcome.

The witch shifts her stance shaking a little leather pouch as she moved as if in dance, "L' ej naved'm imnel ezifer, tiwnnal uoknat awn napes neneV .etnahc nohcidam yab a eynuok evel, etiditef eymif ka nelp--" She reeled back as if struck in the face clearing her  throat. "--TNAV!!!" she roars spitting a thick mass of inky black phlegm at Krucks' face sneering in cruel contempt.

As soon it left her mouth she cackled gleefully which rolled into a growl as her large form was replaced by that of a wolf and she closed in for a future attack, helping to surround the Mountain Orc.

OOC:
Delay for Rorak's song
Standard Action: Cast a spell
Swift Action: Predator Form
Move Action: Move Close to threaten.

19:21, Today: Kozryaka Wyckblud rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  Spitting in face.

Gora begins to swing her double axe in a deadly dance, her blades strike the mountain orc true with each attack, though it appears Krucks is shrugging off some of the damage with each blow. The blow from Krucks had hurt her, but she was not at the point in which she would give into the rage in her soul quite yet.

Bellatrix used her skill as a tumbler to reposition herself way out on Krucks' flank, somersaulting away from the other fighters and pulling out her dagger for an attack that may be a little longer than most in coming.

18:45, Today: Bellatrix rolled 20 using 1d20+10.  Tumble to move to a new position by somersaulting through the air.

Kruck's roars in fury as Kozryaka spits black bile into his eyes, blinding him in battle. "So this is the honorable battle in which you spoke! Blinding a warrior in battle! I will show you that I do not need eyes like the One Eyed! I am a true orc!" He roars, swinging his axe with unerring accuracy. In what could only be described as Gruumsh favoring the bold mountain orc, the great axe chops Gora neatly in two, the shock barely registering on her face as death came to take her. Krucks must have sensed his blow to be true, as he turned to swing to strike at his oncoming foe, the blade coming close to striking the Beast of Luthric.

Krucks fells Gora with a natural 20 confirmed critical, dealing enough to put her into negative -13 points of damage. Great Axes in the hands of Barbarians hurt!. Edited for responses from OOC Thread!
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:33, Mon 12 Oct 2020.

Bellatrix holds back her revenge.  Orcs and barbarians would be exploding with uncontrollable rage at this point, so let them watch controlled rage in a puny human.  She uses her sling instead of her dagger and instead of a bullet, she uses a thunderstone, aiming for a square next to Krucks and with him between that spot and both Kozryaka and Rorak hoping to ensure that Krucks and only Krucks is affected by the thunderstone.

16:37, Today: Bellatrix rolled 18 using 1d20+6.  Using sling to make the thunderstone explode behind Krucks. (AC5 for the space)

DC15 fortitude save or be deafened for 1 hour.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:27, Mon 12 Oct 2020.

 As Gora goes down, Rorak howls a keening, whippoorwill-like cry of impending death, both to warn the afterlife that a warrior is coming and to strike a measure of fear into his enemy - his sword picks up the resonance of the cry, which pulses and swells hypnotically in the air like a distant, death-cold wind as he sweeps the blade down towards the flank of the savage warrior, still chanting in feral Gnollish "I am the killer, slaying my enemy, I am the killer, slaying my enemy, may one who would challenge me rise from his knees!"

 ---

 Swift-casting Bladeweave.
 Full attacking Kruck.

 01:43, Today: Rorak Silverfang rolled 15,15 using 1d20+11,2d4+7.  Chop-chop!
 01:43, Today: Rorak Silverfang rolled 26,13 using 1d20+11,2d4+7.  Touch attack.

 18 to hit, 18 damage (three fours, really?).
 And Kruck needs to make a DC14 Will save or be dazed.

The Beast as she was known was very much the picture of a predatory beast. Toxic looking green mists trailed from her silently snarled fang as she snapped at her foe before darting back to a safer distance ready to take another bite or cast another spell. Her padded paws barely touching the ground leaving not even a single paw print.


OOC:
Standard: Hideous Blow with Bite & Sickening Blast casting defensively
Move: Quietly move 20 ft away towards a random spot in the arena

Bite attack hits AC 31 (Note includes +2 for flanking)
Bite attack deals 21 total damage.
(15 bludgeoning/piercing/slashing (BPS) damage and 6 untyped energy damage)
Bite attack inflicts the sickened condition for 1 minute Fortitude DC-14

Didn't roll for concentration casting defensively because her bonus is high enough she can't fail.

She provoked an AoO from Krucks for moving but normally a blind foe can't make AoOs.

Also she recognized Rorak's spell.

17:01, Today: Kozryaka Wyckblud rolled 31 using 2d20+17, dropping the lowest dice only.  Bite.
17:10, Today: Kozryaka Wyckblud rolled 15 using 1d6+10.  Bite.
17:11, Today: Kozryaka Wyckblud rolled 6 using 2d6.  Hideous Blow.
18:20, Today: Kozryaka Wyckblud rolled 21 using 1d20+11.  spellcraft.

Karguk watches in shock as the ritual combat unfolds.  Normally, these things were resolved without such bloodshed, but obviously Kruck's anger has gotten the better of him, something which was to be expected.  Even encouraged, actually.  Some of the other clerics held this as a sign's of Gruumsh's favor; after all, why would their god grant such things if they were not meant to be used?

Karguk hesitated.  Was the fight out of control?

Krucks seems able to withstand the thunderstone, but is soon assailed by multiple foes. Rorak's bladeweaving strikes the Barbarian, though just barely. The mountain orc manages to shrug off a little damage from the gnolls attack. The arcane bite of Korzyaka bites deep into Krucks side, enraging the mountain orc more.

Krucks seems to be adept at fighting in the darkness, and swings his massive battle axe in two deadly arcs before him. What would have been deadly strikes are turned aside by the blindness enveloping his eyes.

"You will serve as Gora's servant on her journey to the next world", said Bellatrix and then she did something strange considering the opponent was blinded.  She began to move stealthily around outside of the arena but within a moment, cast invisibility so that not only Krucks but the audience too were unable to see her.

18:50, Today: Bellatrix rolled 24 using 1d20+11.  Move Silently.

 As Kozryaka darts in to strike and falls back, Rorak automatically moves to harry the blinded, staggered and weakened prey, his blade rising and falling with all the bone-shattering power one would expect of a potent Gnollish hunter, albeit with the seeming intent being to keep wearing the enemy down rather than seek a single, deadly kill - and all the while, he chants in blood-chilling Gnollish "I am the singer, howling my victory, I am the singer, howling my victory, let the Gods drink their fill, of blood that is spilled!"

 ---

 20:58, Today: Rorak Silverfang rolled 21,12 using 1d20+11,2d4+7.  Hack n' slash!
 21 to hit, 12 damage.

In a moment the beast was gone an in it's place stood the witch again, "Clucks you cowardly limp wristed daughter of an elven pacifist hiding behind a smith's strength because you have none of your own. Clucks, clucks the little elf." She brought forth a swirling ball of greenish mist and launched it at her blinded foe. As she taunted quietly moving to be elsewhere if he went for the sound of her mocking as she hoped. Knowing if she could get him moving about he'd open himself up to attacks.

OOC:
Standard: Sickening Blast
Move: Quietly move 15 ft to a random spot in the arena

Sickening Blast hits TOUCH AC 22.
Bite attack deals 8 damage and inflicts the sickened condition for 1 minute Fortitude DC-14

08:56, Today: Kozryaka Wyckblud rolled 8 11 using 1d20+5 8.  Sickening blast.
09:12, Today: Kozryaka Wyckblud rolled 22 using 1d20+8.  Sickening blast.
09:00, Today: Kozryaka Wyckblud rolled 8 using 2d6.  Damage.

Krucks snarls in fury as Rorak sinks his falchion into his side, shrugging of a little of the damage, but not nearly enough. The sickly green energy from the witch Kozryaka slams into the hulking warrior, though the ill effects seem to do little to mountain orc. The giant orc swings his great axe in a wide arc, but fails to connect with a foe.

Bella's actions appear to confuse those who were looking on, casting a spell of invisibility against a blinded opponent seemed rather redundant to the crowd.

Karguk stands aside, looking on, not having moved or acted yet.

Bellatrix moves as silently as she can until she is in the perfect position to strike Krucks without warning but she holds back until he has swung that axe of his and only then does she move in for the  master stroke and strike with her dagger.

That was the plan anyway but the best laid plans o' mice and half orcs gang aft aglae.

19:25, Today: Bellatrix rolled 29 using 1d20+11.  Move Silently.
19:25, Today: Bellatrix rolled 17 using 1d20+6.  attack, dagger.
19:27, Today: Bellatrix rolled 6 using 1d4+3.  Damage dagger d4+3.
19:28, Today: Bellatrix rolled 5 using 3d6.  Extra damage sneak attack.

 With the final stanza of his couplet chanted, Rorak hurls his blade high and lets the blood-rage he's been building rip through him, his Gnollish turning from well-chosen words into a rising, blood-hungry howl as he redoubles both the strength and speed of his blows, letting savagery substitute for grace as his short, heavy butchers-blade rises and falls with the force of an avalanche.

 ---

 Power attacking for 3.
 21:24, Today: Rorak Silverfang rolled 28,18 using 1d20+10,2d4+13.  Power attack (3).
 With Inspire Courage, that's 31 to hit, 21 damage. Damn!
 1 of 5 remaining rounds for Inspire Courage.
 -2 to Rorak's AC.

Seeing the combination of attack, Kozryaka reconsiders her plan to try to heal her allies and play the long game safely. With errie predatory silence she lunged at him becoming the wolf mid charge. Green mist twisted from her fangs as she went savagely seeking to maximize the bloodshed.


Charging with Power Attack 5 that's 25 to hit and 22 damage (16 physical BPS & 6 untyped/eldritch energy)
Fortitude DC-14 vs sickness as usual (Not likely to work but no reason not to keep trying)

12:46, Today: Kozryaka Wyckblud rolled 25 using 2d20+12, dropping the lowest dice only.  Charge & Power Attack 5.
12:47, Today: Kozryaka Wyckblud rolled 16,6 using 1d6+15,2d6.  Damage, Energy Damage.