[December 12 – Some of the longest and the shortest bouts in the tryouts happen.]
[This game uses the Fifth Revised Edition of the Hero System rules along with the Fantasy Hero supplement. This session happened March 7, 2022.]
Player Characters:
Jala – human female – a person of discretion, studier of Pact Magic with a focus on shadows
Ozrel Runeweaver – human male – Pugilist and Rune Magician
Zarek the Red – fox male – Golem-mancer
Vorgand – human female – Guildmaster and Chief Combatant for the Delvers Guild
Ricky the Astrologer – human male – Newly-minted specialist in Magic Circles and Teleportation Gates
Non-Player Characters:
Torsten, Fish, Harek – ex-bandits, now The Torchbearers for the Delvers Guild
Lars – Chamberlain of the Delvers Guild
Unit: Z0-E – Zarek’s first golem, looks like a fox made of iron
Cromsday, December 12th, 1st year of the reign of King Vladik the Gamesman
10:00 AM
Fight 4: Ozrel Runeweaver vs. Bear
Both combatants stepped into the arena inscribed on the ground, each with empty hands.
Ozrel activated the runes tattooed on his arms [Strength and Dexterity Aids] and then waited for Bear to approach him. Bear advanced but stopped short of Ozrel and waited in turn. Ozrel moved in on Bear, who then attempted to grab Ozrel but was blocked. Ozrel followed his block with a counterstrike that Bear attempted to block but failed, Ozrel hitting Bear in the chest. Ozrel next attempted a leg sweep on Bear but failed to connect. Bear took the opportunity presented to grab Ozrel and fling him out of the arena space, winning his bout.
While the audience applauded enthusiastically for Bear, Vorgand and Ozrel thought over what they had observed [they both applied their Analyze: Style skill]. Vorgand believed that she could take Bear in a fight and contemplated a separate challenge at the end of the exhibition [she just made her skill check]. Having directly experienced Bear’s fighting style, Ozrel was certain that Bear was self-taught and quite capable [Ozrel made his roll by two and learned that Bear did not use a known fighting style].
Fight 5: Vorgand vs. Yngvar Copperarrow
Both combatants stepped into the arena inscribed on the ground, each holding a wooden practice sword, Vorgand’s shaped like a rapier, Yngvar’s a bastard sword with a buckler strapped to his left arm.
Having an edge in reaction time, Vorgand chose to hold and see what Yngvar would do. Yngvar advanced towards Vorgand, stopping short and holding in turn. Vorgand shrugged and stepped up to Yngvar, triggering an attack that she dodged. Vorgand then attacked, hitting Yngvar in the stomach, stunning him. Yngvar shook off the stun before Vorgand attacked again. This time Yngvar dodged and was able to avoid getting hit.
Vorgand put everything into landing a blow on Yngvar and, even though he was still dodging, she hit him…in the arm and to little effect. Luckily for Vorgand, Yngvar’s swing also went wide. Vorgand attempted another Martial Strike with her rapier. Yngvar dodged but wasn’t able to completely avoid getting hit as Vorgand again landed a blow on his arm. Pressing the attack, Vorgand attacked again despite Yngvar’s defensive fighting [he was still dodging] and missed. Yngvar took advantage of the miss and landed a blow on Vorgand, hitting her in the chest [doing stun].
Frustrated with the lack of results in her strikes, Vorgand switched tactics and attempted to throw Yngvar, using her rapier for leverage. Yngvar was able to completely avoid the attempt [he dodged and she missed], but Vorgand pressed, attempting another throw and missed again. In return, Yngvar put maximum effort behind his next attack [he pushed his Strength for more damage], but hit Vorgand in the arm to no effect. Gaining control of her frustration, Vorgand waited for Yngvar to commit to his next attack before launching her own. When Yngvar puts his all behind the attack and started swinging [he pushed he Strength again], Vorgand launched her own, speedier attack [she won the DEX roll roll-off], hitting Yngvar in the chest. Yngvar still landed his attack, but only hit Vorgand’s off hand.
Vorgand held off her next attack, hoping to repeat her interruption of Yngvar’s attack. Yngvar noticed the pause and asked Vorgand for a draw. Vorgand declined, so Yngvar attacked. This time both attacked simultaneously [both failed their DEX roll for the roll-off]. Yngvar’s attack failed to land, but Vorgand was able to lift and throw him out of the arena space and into the crowd. The crowd went wild.
While Yngvar got back to his feet and the crowd kept applauding, Vorgand returned to her sword stand and rested her hand on her magic sword, making use of its restorative magic. Once she was recovered, she shook hands with Yngvar.
Fight 6: Vorgand vs. Bork
Both combatants stepped into the arena inscribed on the ground, each holding a wooden practice sword, Vorgand’s shaped like a rapier, Bork’s a short sword.
Vorgand looked over Bork, who was clearly nervous and had a terrible stance. After the marathon fight she’d just had with Yngvar, she was ready for this fight to be done quickly. She stretched her legs to close with Bork [pushed her Running by 1”] and attacked, easily hitting him in the stomach, knocking the air and consciousness out of him. The crowd attempted to be polite and clapped, but there was some snickering at how quick Bork folded up.
Fight 7: Vorgand vs. Erian Eldergold
Both combatants stepped into the arena inscribed on the ground, Vorgand holding a wooden practice sword shaped like a rapier, but Erian a medium bow with blunted arrows and as far away from Vorgand as he could stand and still be in the arena [this put him 5” away or outside a half move for her – he had been carefully watching her movements in the previous fights].
Vorgand stretched her steps to almost close with Erian [pushed her Running by 1” for a 4” half-move] and then held to see what the archer would do. Erian attempted to shoot the rapier out of Vorgand’s hand, to which effort she dodged and he missed widely, his arrow skittering across the packed dirt. Vorgand closed the distance between the two and struck Erian on the arm for minimal effect. In response, Erian retreated to the far corner of the arena [this took his full phase]. Vorgand approached Erian, not closing the entire distance, and waited. Erian drew and shot at Vorgand, so she dodged and he missed again.
Vorgand closed with Erian and attacked, landing a solid blow on his shoulder. Erian took a moment to perform a precise shot [the attack has a 1 segment delay], hitting Vorgand in the vitals, stunning her. Vorgand shook off the effects of being stunned and Erian shot the rapier out of her hand. Vorgand kicked up the rapier to her hand [Acrobatics roll] and moved to the middle of the arena space so she could follow Erian and attack him no matter where he moved to in the arena. Erian held position and took a moment to perform another Precise Shot. Vorgand dodged in response [used her held half-action].
Erian’s shot missed [due to extra time, it happened in Segment 1 of the following Turn]. Taking advantage of Vorgand not being right on top of him [and winning the roll-off for initiative at the same Dexterity for the first time] but knowing she would attack him, Erian attempted a Defensive Shot, but failed to hit. Vorgand stepped up to Erian and struck him solidly on the chest despite his defensive stance, stunning the archer. Erian was able to recover from being stunned, only to receive a blow to his thighs from Vorgand, which dropped him.
The archer recovered his senses quickly and Vorgand helped him up while the crowd applauded. Ozrel recognized Erian’s style as Thornwood Archery, a style common in the northern parts of the kingdom. Jala approached Erian and asked if he could teach her the ranged disarm maneuver. He asked her if she could use a bow and when she said no, he apologized and said he could not teach her. Jala was disappointed but understood.
End of Session
Guild Postings
[Just the four duels this session, but I was able to try out several different styles of combat and the fights were fairly dynamic. Except Bork’s, but he’s really just a greenhorn from the city who earnestly wants to adventure and see wonders. At this point we have a strong grip on the combat system…until I totally flub it in Session 10. You’ll see what I mean when we get there.]
[This is the second posting of the three than I’m trying to get done over last week and this week in order to catch up. Session 7 ended up being split across to sessions as Vorgand’s and Zarek’s players missed the game due to real life stuff. I’ll provide more detains in the next blog post.]
Delvers Guild
Arc 1
Arc 1 Landing Page – Links to all Arc 1 sessions
Arc 2
Arc 2 Landing Page – Links to all Arc 2 sessions, as they post
Last Session: Arc 2, Session 5
Next Session: Arc 2, Session 7 [Not Yet Typed Up]
[5/3/22: Updated to correct fight numbering.]
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