Episode 1

Thorn

Scachan looks over at Thorn curiously, then cracks a smile.

"I tell you these will die soon." He speaks rather frankly, and suddenly does not seem so religious.

"I tell you what I told Nemes too, traveler: they are not cooperating with the Bat Hannocs. They certainly do not know the witch."

After seeing Thorn's empty look, the druid continues, "So he has not told you yet then. Alright. We'll end this talk here for now, son. Be wise and discern what is best in the days to come. Just remember what I tell you: the Gandish are not the neighbors that Rutcrana speaks of. I am certain of that now."

He nods to Thorn. "May the wind be at your back, friend."

Ivor

Trident Attack to Prone Opponent: Hit

OOC:

Added +2 damage for Rage.

Hand Axe Throw: Hit. Requires Opponent to Save DC 14 STR for Trip

Save Result Opponent v. Trip: 6. Failed Save. Trip effective.
Results in fall. Opponent will take 10' fall damage.

Ivor's trident slips past Qiu and jabs into the upper corner of the prone Gand's chest, causing a serious bleed to erupt on the grappled opponent. Despite the injury, the muscular Gand fights on, clawing at Qiu with all of his might.

At considerable range, Ivor hurls a hand axe upward toward the Gand as it is leaping from the second stone menhir to the third. Spinning end over end, the axe catches the Gand on the hip in mid-air, throwing off the trajectory of his jump ever so slightly. Off course, the Gand is unable to complete the landing. He hits the corner of the other menhir but bounces off and falls backward, clutching at the stone, but crashing down to the ground near some observers who clear out of the way.

The impact is rough, but the Gand rolls forward and recovers as best as he can. Stumbling a bit at first but all the while driving forward, he reorients himself and makes a dash towards nearby bushes outside of the stone circle clearing.

Jeers spring up from the crowd. From the high mound, Scachan raises a hand and proclaims in a loud definitive voice, "A coward! He has fled the Circle of War. His life is forfeit!"

Hearing this, a few Danneins and Voldruvans draw weapons and begin to move in the direction of the escaping feral Gand. Others though do not leap to action.

The wild Gand is extremely fast and is making his way to a patch of scrub and foliage cover.

Qiu

Bottom R3

Blood pours out of the clavicle area chest wound caused by Ivor's trident. Covered in blood, the desperate Gand looks across the ground at his axe, still lying a fair distance away. He also looks back to see Ivor's net lying on the ground, just out of reach but close. With a loud roar, the savage Gand pulls with all of his might in an attempt to shift Qiu off balance, break free of the Alijanian's hold, and somehow roll free.

Attempt to Break Grapple Result: 22
Qiu must beat this on comparison check to maintain Grapple condition on opponent.
Opponent retains 1 remaining Action for Bottom R3. Choice of opponent Action depends on result of Qiu's hold.

Kray

Both arrow results: Hit
Second arrow was required to neutralize opponent.

Kray fires an arrow that plunges into the fleeing Gand's shoulder. Seeing the Gand stumble and then continue, Kray fires again. This second shot thuds into the Gand's back, just to the left of his spine. The fast warrior slows, stumbles, and then crashes forward in a heap.

From the foliage ahead of the Gand, where the Gand was running to make good his escape, emerges the Voldruvan Rori, also called Ru Lanskkeld. It is apparent now that Rori was lying in wait in the covered area. Rori raises a hand to acknowledge Kray and nods, as if approving the shot and confirming the kill. Rori points a couple of Danneins nearby to give him a hand.

Rori pulls the arrows out of the Gands back. The Danneins grab the dead Gand by the arms and start dragging the body back to the circle, the Gands limp legs dragging along in the ground cover. Rori comes calmly up the small rise and hands the arrows back to Kray. "Both are undamaged," he says. He smiles kindly and briefly at Kray and then moves over to stand among Zaituc and his other lieutenants.

Most of the people in the crowd who were not watching already turn attention back to the last remaining contest between Qiu and the strong black-haired Gand in the circle clearing.

Qiu, Ivor

Opponent breaks free from Grapple.
Opponent currently has Grapple condition imposed on Qiu.
Opponent Movement reduced to 0 by Sentinel Reaction of Ivor, so...
Opponent also remains Prone.

In his fury, the blood-covered Gand pulls Qiu downward, breaking the Alijanians controlling grip over him for the moment. Still, the Gand is unable to stand or move as Ivor drills down upon him with the barbed trident. Frustrated but ignoring the pain, the Gand lurches up to bite at the neck of Qiu, perhaps hoping to tear open an artery with his filed teeth.

Bite Attempt Result: 17. A miss.

Qiu's armor and shield provide too much protection however. The Gand cannot find an opening for the primal attack; his sharp teeth bite down instead on leather padding and mail. Qiu's shield and armor are splattered with blood as the injured Gand thrashes about trying to gain ground.

All

Round 3 is a wrap.
PCs enter Top R4 as desired.

Qiu's final shield smash cracks the Gandish wrestler's facial structure; the bones above his upper teeth and his nasal cavity collapse inward with a sickening crunch. Talius' hammer follows, slamming down in full swing and splattering the Gands head like a melon. Ivor's trident pierces the lungs and heart of the headless body. All three men back up and turn away from the small off-centered area of the stone circle, now covered in blood and gore.

As the triumphant combatants depart from the circle, the two Danneins drag the body of the feral Gand who tried to escape back into the stone circle and then release the arms. The corpse flops back, sprawled out and facing upward, dead cat eyes wide open towards the sky.

Everyone talks briefly in low voices, but soon turn to look up at Scachan who still stands up on the high mound. The druid leans on his staff in silence for a time, then nods and turns to descend the back of the mound towards the lower ground. Zaituc walks forward within the ring, and says in a heavy voice for all to hear, "The Morrigan received sacrifice this hour. Ruin will befall the Gandish clan and not our own."

" Warriors, victors," he continues, looking at Qiu, Ivor, and Talius, "Come and take hold of these prestigious gifts from wise Scachan. They are testimony to your triumph, witnessed by this assembly and by any of the gods who chose to view the affairs of men in their struggle." The big Voldruvan motions to the altar near the narrow north end of the circle, on top of which sit the three bronze and silver entwined torc bracers.





Zaituc turns to Ruacht, and lowers his voice, though only slightly, "Right, Anfa Rada?" (Storm Runner in Dannein) "Anything else that must be said here before we move?"

The big Dannein woodsman gives a single heave of silent laugh and shakes his head back and forth with a wry smile as he starts walking forward and away. Several of the men in the crowd laugh.

"That is the end of it then!" Zaituc proclaims with finality. "You know the way of this. Leave those Gandish bone bags where they lay. The carrion flyers can fight with the fox and the aligator tonight to see who claims that wretched meat."

Everyone starts to move around in different directions, gathering in small groups talking casually with one another.

Zaituc starts to walk over to Daig, Ruacht, Rori and a few others who are gathering towards the south end of the circle. The big captain seeks to make eye contact with Talius, Kray, Thorn and also with Ivor and Qiu. He motions everyone to come and join with his group of lieutenants.

Zaituc to Talius
...as they are walking to the side group.

"Well done, Heir of Lasdan," the Voldruvan says as he puts his hand on he Dannein's shoulder. "I am sorry to hear of the pain that you must carry. My hope is that crushing the skulls of those vermin gave your soul a drink of fine liquor, to the honor of the name of your mighty patron, to all his families, and to yours who might be yet to come."