Troll Hunt

[Corwin]

Pyre Cumdyn bears the assault, almost slain yet keeping his grip on the torch. Mago slams his greataxe into Grodahk in return. Gutted and spraying ichor, the troll falls to his knees and rises again, scrabbling at the barrel with bloody claws. "Light him up!" Kári puts his shoulder to the barrel before Grodahk can get a grip and oil flies, spattering the creature and sloshing thickly under its feet. Cumdyn sweeps the torch through the oil and fire spreads over the sand and up the troll's legs. The burning troll lunges over the spilled barrel. Kári sees flame reflected in Grodahk's eyes and meets the attack with a solid axe blow to the troll's forehead. The light in Grodahk's eyes goes out, the troll slides back and slumps to the sand. The crowd gasps as a thick plume of smoke carries westward on the wind, then the east end of the stands explodes into cheers while the west end stays silent. The gladiators look up through the smoke to see the announcer glare their way before putting on a milder face and raising his hands for silence. "WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS! TO THE NEWCOMERS GOES THE VICTORY, TO THE VICTORS GO THE SPOILS!" A city guard walks the healer down to a side gate, cuts her bonds, and roughly shoves her into the arena. "KING HOARKL IS MERCIFUL! THE WITCH IS GIVEN HER LIFE." Seraphin carefully picks her steps across the sands, shivering in the wind, as bookmakers and couriers circulate through the benches above. She skirts the burning troll and bows her head to the warriors. "Gentlemen, blessings to you. My stores are yours but not thanks enough. All I can say is that our heads would have sat together in the troll's midden had you lost." A few servants call out from the stands above as they make their way through the east gate. "Count Ivar is hiring guards!" "Sir Threnton Weaver's gladiators eat well and live better!" Denisot meets them under the stadium, smiling as he limps along. "The keepers'll thank ye fer Grodahk's death, he'd done in more than a few of 'em. Don't take the first offer ye get now neither, make 'em bid up fer ye. Don't ferget who told ye." At the far end, the convicts are cheering and slapping each other on the back as they catch a glimpse of Seraphin walking free. She nods their way but looks mournful; her cellmates may never see the light of day again. The gladiators practicing as they wait their turns pause and clash gauntlets and swords against shields and breastplates as the victors pass, until the dark space rings as loudly as the arena above. Denisot guides them back to the booth at the contestant's gate. "Good on the lot of you, have your winnings." The man in the booth slides three heavy clinking sacks under the window and turns to the bravos lined up for the next rounds. Seraphin takes their hands, one by one. "Don't forget what I told you. What I have left is yours, and grateful as I am, you shall need it all and more if you keep on this way." She slips off into the crowd and is gone.

OODM Congrats! Rough start, big finish! I'm counting a chain of 93 damage and a couple good skill checks, -7(Cumdyn-torch fire) -6(Cumdyn-torch fire) -33(Mago-axe) -35(Mago-axe) -5(Kari+Cumdyn-oil fire) -7(Kari-axe), to chalk up Grodahk. Got him by 3 HP. Each gladiator takes 400 gold and two 20HP healing potions.

[Horseman]

Mago Cathargo Mago pants, catching his breath. It was clear why Grodahk was the champion. He was a worthy champion, Mago considered himself lucky to have survived. He looked to each of his comrades, each near death like himself. Mere moments and Grodahk would have killed them each in turn. Mago heard the roar of the crowd and held his axe high in victory, his head hung, sweat dripping. Then he raised his head, looked to Kari and Cumdyn smiling, encouraging them to celebrate the win and take in the victory.VICTORY ! He screamed Mago faintly heard the offers for work. But the thrill of the fight flowed through his veins. Perhaps this is the life he had been seeking. What guard job would pay 400 gold for a short bit of work. None. No, Mago was now a Gladiator and embrace this life. He would take his money, buy drink, food, women, gambling. Likely until it was all gone. Then he would fight again.