>>22413750
You make your way to the man in the front of the room, and he explains everything Tannis just did.
"The entrance fee is two silver per person." He said. "I expect everyone here plans to fight?"
"Um, I don't." Ariana said. "I'm just here to watch."
"Good to hear." He said. "Just go over to that end of the room and you can buy a ticket once we have the fights planned."
That done, he turned to you. "Entrance fee, please. And do you intend to fight with only a blade? We have weapons and spare armor in back, though you can't keep it after the fight is over."

>>22413757
"I probably won't use the sword, but I'd like to bring it in with me just in-case."

>>22413757
"What's the standard weapon used in the fights?"

>>22413750
"The sword, and this bow if it's allowed."

What kind of armor do we already have?

>>22413757
I'm fine with what I have now

>>22413757
Huh. I guess the revolver counts as magic, and is too fucking dangerous. But pulling an Indiana Jones is extremely tempting.

>>22413850
Yeah, we're not using the revolver unless Gabriel shows up and starts being an ass.

"The sword, and this bow if it's allowed."
"The bow is allowed, but we'll have arrows for you." He said.
"Yes, I'm fine with what I have now." You say, and give him the coins.
"Right, then." He said, and marked something down on a bit of parchment. "Go to that end of the room, please."

Some time later, Cass joined you.
"Tannis and Astora went back to get some other gear." She said, leaning back. She shot you a grin. "But without Tannis's claws, or Astora's powers, I don't think they'll be very hard to defeat, will they? So it'll just end up you and me fighting."

>>22413876
"That sounds like a challenge, Cass. Are you sure you're ready for this mean machine?"

>>22413876
"I wouldn't necessarily count them out - but I definitely consider you to be the biggest threat, yeah."

>>22413876
"Don't count your dragons until they've hatched, Tori's quite good with a stick and Tantan's agile..."

>>22413876
"I'd be careful. Astora is pretty handy with a sword. She taught me much of what few swordskills i have. I'd say she is more of a threat than i am."

>>22413876
"Sounds like I'll have to make them fight you first, then deal with whoever's left."

>>22413905
This, but without 'tantan'.

>>22413905
Knock it off with the Tantan crap.
It's Tannis. T A N N I S.

"That sounds like a challenge, Cass." You say. "Are you sure you're ready for this mean machine?"
"More than ready." She said. "Even with the cold iron bands that guy gave me, I can more than deal with you." She said, smirking at you.
"I'd be careful." You say. "Astora is pretty handy with a sword. She taught me much of what few swordskills I have, and Tannis is agile..."
"Well, if I can beat you, I can beat them." She said, and someone called her name- a burly man with an eyepatch nodded to her. "Meet you at the top, Abel." She said, as the man led her off.

Time passed in the near-darkness, with cheering, roaring, and jeers up above you, and with a loud, triumphant cry, you hear Cass cheer, as the crowd goes silent- it seemed she'd won. Soon after, a second fight started, and then a third...
And then they called your name. The burly man came down, and nodded to you. "You're up." He said, and nodded to you.
You follow him, out into the light, and you can see freshly spilled blood on the sand, as the large, squarish arena of sandstone stood. Far away, on the other end of the arena, a man with a helm, scimitar, and chain stood, twirling the chain.
"Your opponent is Javik." The burly man said, and clapped you on the shoulder. "Good luck."
You nod back at him, and he made his way back below.
Javik, on the other end of the arena, simply grinned... and then you hear a ringing bell, signaling the start of the match. Your opponent charged, trying to close the distance.
>Wat do?

>>22414027
Fire off an arrow and backpedal

>>22414027
Do we have time to get in an arrow and still draw the sword before he is at us? If yes, fire away!

Rolled 36

>>22414027
Shoot him, then drop the bow and draw sword.

>>22414027
>Forgot to mention- you'll need to roll, of course.

Rolled 23

>>22414027
Shootan'

I'll laugh if we drop out in the first fight.

Rolled 32

>>22414027
He's counting on his momentum to gain him an advantage and the chain to disarm us. Go low into the charge, grab one or both legs, and flip him using his own momentum, then go for the sword.

Rolled 35

>>22414027
Arrow his shit (but not lethally)

>>22414047
Rollan

>>22414089
>>22414088
>>22414049
we are going to lose.

>>22414107
I think it was to be expected. Without using tenacity or gunpowder weaponry we are but an average swordsman and good archer. I mean, what are the girls expecting of us?

Without hesitating, you nock one of the arrows the arena officials gave you, draw it back-
And Javik shoulder-checks you, bowling you over, as the bow and arrow fall to the ground. The crowd 'oofs' in sympathy, as he shrugs, and brings his chain down at you. The heavy iron links smashed into your arm, and it stung, badly. He raised it to bring it down again, and you did the only thing you could- you kick him in the chest with both legs, knocking him back, and you scramble to your feet, drawing your sword. Your hand ached, badly- he'd smashed a muscle in it, or something similar.

The man with the helmet grinned, and twirled his scimitar in hand, coiling the chain around his arm to make an impromptu shield.

Rolled 62

>>22414176
Sword (not lethally)

Rolled 50

>>22414176
Go on the offensive.
Use both hands and swing from whichever side he's holding the scimitar on.

Rolled 85

>>22414176
Feign a slash with the sword then stab

Rolled 12

>>22414176
Try to hit his strong arm.

Rolled 7

>>22414196
Honestly, the only thing I think we can do non-lethally with a sword (unless we're trusting uberhealing enchantment) is to disarm him. Possibly by ruining the hand, but that would be bad sportsmanship if we did it on purpose.

>>22414232
It's an arena that uses real weapons, so nasty wounds are a given, even if the fights are non-lethal.

Rolled 10

Rolling to kick his ass up and down the arena.

Rolled 5

Smack him around with the flat of the blade.

Rolled 4

>>22414176
Give a big smile roar and charge

Rolled 11

>>22414272
You seem to have met a terrible Fate...

You twirl your own sword, and then charge, preparing your entire body for a slash. He raises the scimitar to parry, and at the last moment, you pull your blade back, and plunge it into his chest, slicing through the man's ringmail and his ribs. He coughed, and fell back, the sword falling from his fingertips.
He coughed up blood, and for a moment, you were worried- you'd pierced his lung. But soon enough, a woman in a flowing white dress ran out, a small newt on her shoulder.
"Here." She said, tearing your sword out of the man's chest and tossing it to you. He twisted, agonised, but the woman didn't seem to care. "You've won."
He coughed again, and she closed her eyes, placing her hands on his chest. Slowly, you see her palms glow, as the wound in his chest healed. You make to leave, but she grabbed your arm.
".. You've drunk aqua ignis in the past few days." She said. "That should help."
She closed her eyes, and you feel your arm burning, and burning badly, but soon enough, the pain faded. You followed the burly man as he brought you underground again. Tannis was there, with a quickly healing scratch on her cheek, and Astora was lying back, eyes closed.
"Hey, Abel!" Tannis said, grinning. "How'd you do?"

Rolled 84

>>22414345
"I won."

>>22414345
"I won. Barely."

>>22414345
"Pretty well I think. How about you guys?"

>>22414345
"Yeah I don't think this is the best place to use arrows."

>>22414345
Did we pickup our bow?

>>22414345
My attempt to use the bow failed pathetically, but i proved to be the better swordsman between the two of us.

"Pretty well, I think. My attempt to use the bow failed pathetically, but I proved to be the better swordsman. How about you guys?"
"I won!" Tannis said. "But not very well. I didn't get healed, because that witch lady said that I should be fine, this close to new moon."
"I won too." Astora said, eyes still closed. "Didn't even need to get close."

Soon enough, the burly man arrived, and grabbed Astora, as Cass came in, limping. She shot you a grin.
"I won!" She said, excitedly. "The guy tried using a bow on me. Why you'd do that when someone else is charging, I don't know."

>>22414498
>Try to contain embarrassment about making the exact same mistake
>Fail
"I.. don't know either. It seems rather silly to me." feebly look down to feet.

>>22414498
"Hah, I tried it and it didn't work out too well either."

>>22414498
"Yup, that sure is dumb. My opponent showed me that pretty handily."

>>22414498
"How'd you get hurt?"

>>22414498
"Depending on the range it's easy to get a free shot in."

"Yup, that sure is dumb. My opponent showed me that pretty handily. How'd you get hurt?"
"Arrow in the knee. But that didn't stop me." Cass said. "It feels so weird to get my adrenaline pumping and not gain body mass. How'd you two do?"
"I won. Barely." You say.
"I won!" Tannis said. "She cut me with those throwing star things, but I just ignored it and started hitting her in the face until they said I won."

The burly man came by... and then looked to you and Tannis. "You two, you're next."
"Ooh, this'll be fun." Tannis said, shooting you a grin.

The two of you split up to make sure you were healed and got your gear ready, but eventually, you stood at one end of the arena, while Tannis stood at the other.
"Good luck, Abel!" Tannis said, waving.

Rolled 29

>>22414623
"Yeah, good luck."

Rolling to arrow.

>>22414623
"Good luck."
Tannis is fast, so let's try to fake her out with the bow.
IE look like we're trying to shoot her, then switch to the sword when she's close.

Rolled 85

>>22414623
punching time like the fist of the north star

Rolled 27

>>22414623
"You too!"

I think our strategy here should be to eliminate or hamper her mobility. That seems to be her biggest strength.

Shoot at her legs with the bow until she closes in, then draw the sword and try to keep her at a bit of a distance. Be prepared to duck when she inevitably pounces, and kick out behind us when she flies over us.

Let's hope the dice roll is as good as my plan for once.

Rolled 82

>>22414659
whoops, forgot mah dice.

Rolled 93

>>22414670
this but with a better roll

>>22414659
I like this idea.

>>22414662
We aren't good at punching.
We're good at archery and swording, so we should be doing one of those.

>>22414659
Not a bad plan.

>>22414670
trying to use the bow is a bad idea, tannis is too fast for that.

>>22414670
>>22414680
Okay these.

>>22414662
But anon, we aren't good at punching. We're good at slicing and shooting!

"You too!" you cry, and when the bell rings, your bow was already in hand. She charged, quickly closing the distance, and then leapt.

Your bow, undrawn, lay on the ground when you ducked underneath, sword in hand. You whirl about, and she hit you in the chest, biting her lip. The metal plates sewn into your leather took the blow, and in response, you strike her in the face with the pommel of your sword. She 'oufed' and collapsed, eyes rolling into the back of her head.

Somewhat awkwardly, you stood there, looking around.
"Gotcha!" She cried, and kicked your feet out from underneath you, scrabbling to her feet, holding her head.
"That hurt, Abel." She said, as you got to your feet. Quickly, she grabbed your fallen bow, throwing it to the other end of the arena... and pulling something out from a satchel on her back. Something shining and small. She started backing up, throwing object after object. One whizzed by your cheek, and slashed you lightly, drawing blood- some kind of throwing weapon, it looked.

Rolled 14

>>22414791
Well, time to dodge while getting closer and then and POMMEL

Rolled 51

>>22414791
Deflect them with the sword, she'll run out soon enough.

Rolled 72

>>22414791
Close in and hit her.

Rolled 58

>>22414791
Slash her shit up with the sword.
Left slash followed by a right and then an upper.

>>22414829
Just fucking stab her. If we hold back like that, we'll lose.

>>22414829
Don't go easy on her, she can heal anything we dish out. Slashing, no pommeling. We owe her that.

>>22414829
Why should we insult her by holding back?

>>22414829
Do you mean 'pummel'?

>>22414844
>>22414856
>>22414883
I agree that we should be using the more pointy end, but pommel strikes aren't actually "going easy"
There's a technique called mordhau that is literally smashing through armor with the pommel.
Western swords usually designed them to function like a mace or warhammer if necessary.

You charge, sword in both hands, as you deflect two of the throwing objects, the other two flying past your guard. One stuck in your shoulder, and the other in your leg, burning. You persisted, the star-shaped knives sticking into your body, as you barrel into her, knocking her over. With two swift slashes of your blade, she fell to the ground, bleeding badly. The woman in white ran out, newt on your shoulder, and started healing Tannis. You pry the stars out, get your minor injuries healed, and make your way back to the dark room. When you get in there, Cass was pacing, worried.
"Astora won her fight, then got sent out again." Cass said. "I'm getting impatient. It should be my turn next."
Tannis returned, her half-healed wounds still healing, and gave you a hug.
"Sorry about those star things." She said. "But I fought to win! They let me back here to talk before I join the spectators."

>>22414925
Right, but we're not fighting a heavily armored knight. We're fighting an agile catgirl. Also Abel isn't trained in mordhau, he's trained in using the blade.

>>22414942
"Hey, don't worry about it."

>>22414943
That's why I said that I agree with using the pointy end.
But pommels can be used to crush skulls and break bones, so it's not really "going easy" to use one.

>>22414942
Pet her, "You did really well."

>>22414942
skritch her ears. "Like claws but you throw them."

Since they stick you probably should aim for more important bits though, to cripple.

>>22414973
But it is, because Abel doesn't know how to do that more effectively than he does to use the blade.

It's the same as if Abel was using an entirely different weapon that he wasn't familiar with. That would be going easy on her, regardless of how deadly that weapon is, because he isn't as proficient with it.

"You did really well." You say, and ruffle her hair. She beamed, and gave you a simple kiss on the cheek.
"Though... that did really hurt." She said. "But not as much as losing my ear, so I'll be fine."
Astora came back some time later, and Tannis waved to you all as she made her way to the spectate the next few fights.
"Abel. Dirae." The burly man said, and you approached- as did a strange, short woman, with long clawed weapons on her hands- almost like gauntlets with horizontal blades on the back.
"Hi!" She said, grinning up at you- her grin was unnatural, almost too wide, with too many teeth. You had a strong feeling from her look, that there was something.... wrong with her. As if there were worms behind her eyes, devouring her brain, making her smile like that. "You're Abel, right?"
She held her hand out to shake yours, while the burly man raised an eyebrow.

>>22414942
"No hard feelings at all. Incidentally, if you plan on staying in human form more often, we should prbably get you some of those star things. You're nasty in them."

>>22415069
Pleasure to meet you, Dirae. Forgive me, but I'll save the handshakes for after the match.

>>22415069
Give her a quick salute.

"Sorry for not shaking, but those gauntlets look hazardous to my hands."

>>22415069
"Yep."

>>22415069
"No thanks."

>>22415069
Might as well shake. What is the worst that can happen.

>>22415164
Let's not.

>>22415164
our brain gets devoured by worms?

>>22415164
She poisons us (Bad if we can't prove it) or rips our arm off.

>>22415069
"Gabriel sent you, didn't he?"

might as well test how meta we can be

"Pleasure to meet you, Dirae. Forgive me, but I'll save the handshakes for after the match."
"Oh, oh well." She said, and sighed. "I look forward to it!"

The two of you split up again, and collected your gear, making your way to the arena itself. Dirae stood on the other end of the room, her cloak from before removed. She had short pink hair, and her 'armor', if you could call it that, revealed much too much, her only 'real' armor being a breastplate that would direct any blows straight into the center of her chest, or upward into her neck- something designed for looks, not defense. On her back was a large burlap bag, clattering with the sound of weapons on the inside.

She grinned up at you, her face not moving at all, with an eerie stillness, and refastened her gauntlets.
The bell rang, signalling the start of her fight... and she simply set down her bag, rummaging through it.

Rolled 24

>>22415231
Shoot her then.

Rolled 72

>>22415231
Arrow her in the leg.

>>22415231
Duck and wait for her to do something.

>>22415231
Arrow to the knee

>>22415231
Arrow her.

Rolled 100

>>22415259
Might as well roll the 3rd

>>22415283
fuck yes. goodbye.

>>22415259
leg shot seems a good bet. Not immediately fatal, but hugely hampering.

>>22415283
YES.
Is this the first 100 for VaQ? I think it is.

>>22415311
It is indeed. Now we wait and see if it breaks reality

>>22415321
I hope not, since that would probably count as "magic" and get us disqualified.

Rolled 81

>>22415340
If it does we just concede. We wouldn't want to cheat.

And it's not like we'll miss our two silver.

>>22415340
Better than getting nearly killed by whatever abomination big G's thrown at us.

You raise your bow, draw it, and fire.

The arrow plunges into her knee, and she hisses.
"Hey, I'm not ready yet!" She said, and glared at you, yanking the arrow out. "Fine. I don't *need* to be ready."
In a single, powerful movement, she threw the bag- and slashed it in half, sending weapons of all sorts, shapes, and sizes flying toward you, like a storm. Agily, you stepped between a warhammer and a crossbow.
You draw back your bow, and fire again, in her other leg. She yanked it out, and glared at you.
While still grinning.
The grin didn't meet her eyes.
Your heart fluttered, and you drew your bow back again, firing another arrow. And another, and another.

And one tore straight toward her heart.
She caught it in her hand. She crushed it- so you fire another, and another, but she caught them on her gauntlets- and charged.

You drop your bow, and in a single, smooth movement, bring the pommel of your blade down on her skull. You hear a loud clunk, and she went down, bleeding from almost a dozen arrow wounds in her arms and legs, one in her shoulder and another in her lower gut.
Completely unharmed, you watch as the witch arrived to heal her.

Still grinning, the girl opened her eyes.
"Gabe told me to meet you, Abel. So hi! I'm Dirae. One of his shards."

Rolled 70

>>22415366
"Do not heal her! She has been sent to kill me!"

>>22415377
oh shut it

>>22415366
"Is Gabe trying to cheat again?"
>>22415377
Don't say that

>>22415366
I thought you might be. Can I trust you with a handshake?

>>22415366
"How's he doing?"

Rolled 85

>>22415385
>>22415386
Why not? It'd be getting rid of the problem now rather than later.

>>22415404
baseless accusations to the others.

>>22415366
"Yeah, I kinda figured you probably had something to do with him. He's starting to get predictable in the intervals he attacks me in. Not that I'm complaining, mind."

>>22415366
"Hello, then, Dirae." (NOW we can shake her hand.)

"Perhaps we should talk after I'm done in the Arena?"

>>22415377
Nah. Thats not classy.

"Huh. So Gabe got shards? What the fuck. The guy is full of surprises. And none of them are good. Anything he wants to tell me?"

>>22415404
They won't believe it, and she's not going to not heal the girl just because we say so?

>>22415404
Not sure if idiot, or just pretending to be that stupid

>>22415404
Because as a gentleman, we don't attack without provocation. She has offered none yet.

Not to mention, if we continue to attack her after the healer has come out for her, it'll look bad for us. Like, getting sent to prison levels of bad.

"Is Gabe trying to cheat again?"
"Every time he cheats, you cheat too." She said. "So he's stopped that, I think."
"Huh. so Gabe got shards? What the fuck. The guy is full of surprises."
"But you got a shard too." She said, still grinning. "That one girl, out in the desert. Gabe recorded it for me. He thought it was fair, so he Remembered me!"
She squirmed under the healer's hands, crossing her legs and pressing her hands up to her cheeks, going bright red.
"I'm so happy he did. Thank Stirge for existing for me!"

>>22415453
"I will. Have I ever known you before? I forget everything every time, I'm told."

>>22415453
"Wait what, Stirgie's a shard?"

>>22415453
Stirge is one of my shards? I didn't do anything to bring her here.

>>22415453
"But she wasn't. So I guess that means he is cheating again."

>>22415485
>>22415486
Let's not say her name out loud, since it's also the name of one of the local gods, and accusations of heresy aren't fun for anyone.

Do we know what shards are, yet?

>>22415453
tell him I would like to remember help me remember.

>>22415453
Huh. I didn't know that Stirge was one of my shards. I thought she was just you know, another one like me and Gabe. But i'll tell her about it. So, what are you going to do now that you exist? Do you have the same goals as Gabe?"

>>22415504
Good point.

>>22415504
>>22415527
'The White Woman' then?

>>22415546
Or how about, "we should discuss this later?"

>>22415546
That works.

"I will." You say. "Have I ever known you before? I forget everything every time, I'm told."
She sat up, still bleeding from the arms, and slapped the healer away.
She met your eyes, and the world seemed... fake, twisted, like the scrawls of a madman on a wall, written in his own blood and the blood of his loved ones, their corpses in the back of the room.
Her irises got smaller, and her pupils larger, and through the reflection in her eyes, you could see yourself. Around you, and behind you, people froze, as she stared straight at you. Time froze.
"No." She said, grinning widely. "We have never met in the history of histories. Gabriel hates me. I'm the part of himself he hates. His obsession, his madness. But he hates you more. You're his warden. I'm just his heart. But I want to thank you."
She leaned closer, and whispered in your ear.
"You did all of this, all of this... for me. Just for me. Just for me for me for me." She whispered. "So you're mine. And Gabriel is mine, and Stirge is mine. And one day, we'll be free... and... *he* will be mine. Mine mine mine mine me me me."
Reality returned to normal, and she was lying back, being cared for by the warden, eyes closed. You try to shake off whatever had happened, as the burly man leads you back to the room.
Dirae didn't come back.
"How was your fight?" Astora asked, the only one in there, unwrapping her claw to wiggle her fingers, before cracking her knuckles.

>>22415584
"Guess who sent another of his goons after the sword."

>>22415584
"Easy, but worrying."

>>22415584
Strange.

>>22415584
"I uh, Gabriel, a part of him. His obsession and madness. The part of him that he hates. I fought her. It was... weird. Easy?"

>>22415584
>being cared for by the healer, not warden.

>>22415643
This, with "Sorry, it got a little fuzzy there for a moment."

>>22415584
Unnerving, met a shard of Gabriel his heart h .. he is far worse than I though I should leave you all In far to much danger being this close to me

>>22415584
I wound up fighting the personification of Gabriel's madness. So about as well as one would expect.

"Unnerving." You say, something making your voice hoarse.
She met your eyes. "What's wrong?"
"... I, uh, fought Gabriel." You say. "Or... a part of him. His obsession and madness. The part of him that he hates. I fought her. It was... weird. Easy?"
You shake your head, and close your eyes. "Sorry, it got a little fuzzy there for a moment."
"It'll be fine." She said, rubbing your shoulder with her human hand. "We'll kill her when we kill Gabriel."
You open your eyes again, and she met yours, brown eyes staring into your own. She seemed to see something in them, and pulled you into a hug.
"Don't worry." She said. "You won't have to fight them alone."

>>22415733
"Y-yeah. Thanks."

>>22415733
Return the hug.

"I'm still not entirely sure that killing him would be for the best. Properly, that is."

"I'll be fine, just a bit shakey. How many more matches do you think before we fight?"

>>22415733
"Nah, that isn't the problem. The problem is that neither of us can kill Gabriel. If what i've found out until now he is completely beyond this world. As long as he wants he will always find a way back in. And i fear if he really wants to ruin this life of me he will go for you guys, because he knows that that is where he can truly hit me."

>>22415799
nah

>>22415733
"We're angels, we don't die that easily you know?"

>>22415733
"We've already killed him three times...I'm not sure what to try next."

>>22415733
I shouldn't need to fight him If I can just remember... I am his warden are the guards? This is his Jail (sweeping gesture with hand ) I should be helping him making him better changing him bu.. but he is s-so full of hate
I could feel it what he did .....
return the hug

>>22415775
this

You return the hug. "Y-yeah, thanks." You say, and for a moment, you stand there in silence, hugging the human fireplace. "I'll be fine, just a bit shakey. How many more matches do you think before we fight?"
Astora looked around, as a man re-entered the room, taking a seat.
"The room's almost empty, so not many.

The guard, Cass, and the healer came back, Cass missing an entire arm, bone and flesh healing as both Cass's regeneration and the healer's Gift worked on her.
"Hahaha this hurts much more than you could ever dream of, you guys." Cass said, eyes closed. "But I won!"
"You two next." The burly man said. "Astora and Abel."
"Well, I guess we're fighting now." She said, and gave you a grin, wrapping up her claw again. "Good luck."

The two of you split up to grab your gear, and restock your arrows, and meet Astora in the arena.

there she stood, a large shield in her hand, strapped to her claw arm, and a strange, double-headed axe in the other, with a haft.
"I figured out how to beat you." She called. "I put a lot of thought into it."

The bell rang.

>Wat do? You have initiative!

>>22415923
>With a short haft, even. Of course it has a haft.

>>22415923
You can't beat me, I'm the muffin man!

Rolled 30

>>22415923
"We'll see."
Shoot her

Rolled 72

>>22415923
Slice and dice.

Rolled 99

>>22415923
close distance and circle around her towards her unshielded arm. Go for pokes/jabs with our sword, and it's superior reach and try to bait out any tricks she has with her axe.

Rolled 91

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD ANGEL

>>22415923
"I am not sure why everyone is thinking i am some sort of awesome fighter. Have at you!"

We obviously need to close in and fight her with the sword, we can't hit her with our bow non leathaly if she has a shield.

>>22415982
Oooh, just short of 100. The Dice are with us, tonight.

Rolled 92

start off with some arrows.

swords beat axes, right? right?

>>22415962
Bow never works when you're facing a melee fighter in close range. Stick to the sword.

Rolled 64

>>22416046
stick with the sord sord with the sord

>>22416046
don't we have enough distance to fire off a few shots?

"We'll see." you say, and fire an arrow. She caught it on the shield, and it splintered. You fire another, and she batted it out of the way... and then she threw the axe at you. It went whistling toward you, and you stepped out of the way, as she drew a sword on her hip. You charged, your arrows doing nothing, and circled around her, toward her sword arm.
"I'm not sure why everyone is thinking I'm some sort of awesome fighter." you say.
"You didn't see yourself when you fought the wizard." She responded, and swung her blade. You parried it, kicked her shield away from her, and then shoulder-checked her, knocking her to the ground. She raised her shield to protect herself, but you stabbed her shoulder, and her shield arm went limp.

"Well, fuck." She said, lying there, and raised her voice. "I cede the match!" She called, glaring at you. "If only I had my gifts, I woulda' won."

The healer, obviously harried by now, healed Astora's wound. "Finally, one was smart enough to stop when they got hurt."

"And now." The announcer called. "The final match of the evening. Abel, ranger, versus Cassandra, lancer. Please make your bets."

After Astora was healed and went up to the stands, you whirled about, and Cass was there, leaning on the spear. Somewhere in the crowd, in the stands, you hear someone speak. "Personally, I'm betting on Cassandra. Never seen a fighter like her."
Cass shot you a grin, her tail coiling and uncoiling.

>>22416104
It didn't work before, likely won't work now. I think there was a reason why OP let Cass state that using a bow against a charging target is retarded.

>>22416112
"Well. If I win, am I allowed to treat you to a fine evening, m'lady?"

>>22416112
She's going to use our one weakness against us.

Touch scaly tail

Rolled 94

>>22416112
ok, so i have a cunning plan guys. We fight for a bit, then ditch the sword and engage in fisticuffs, then, right when we're about to win/lose, we kiss her.

Rolled 21

>>22416112
Bow bow bow

Rolled 65

>>22416148
That's a stupid idea. We fight to win.

>>22416112
"Well, she did slay a dragon. Wish me luck." To the guy in the crowd.

"Good luck dragon-slayer, you may be lucky enough to see my winning pose if you're still conscious"

Rolled 86

>>22416112
"Ah, the mighty Dragonslayer."

Wait for her to come to us, we don't want to rush a spear.

>>22416169
how cheesy.

>>22416126
I thought that was cause of our shitty rolling not our strategy. fuck, it worked on the claw chick and Tory ... sort of

>>22416187
Yeah. We shoot, but only once and center mass. She will likely ignore the arrow, so we will need to have the sword out and ready as soon as possible. We will need to decide the match as soon as possible, evade her first strike and then close the range.

"Well, she did slay a dragon." You say, and grin at the man. "Wish me luck."

You turn to Cassandra, and nod. "Good luck, dragon slayer."
"Good luck, wizard slayer." She responded, and set her spear spinning just as the bell started to ring. You draw back your bow a few times, firing, but she simply charged, the spear knocking away the arrows as she got closer and closer. At the last moment, when she drew back her spear, you drop the bow and draw your sword, knocking the spearpoint away and trying to get in close. You bring down your sword, and she knocked it away with the rear end of her own spear. Backing away, she took the spear in both hands, weilding it like a quarterstaff, and the two of you started fighting, her using both ends of her spear just as you draw a dagger in your offhand, catching the end of her spear on your knife's edge.
Finally, she reared back, and *threw* the spear at you, sideways, the shaft of the spear catching you in the throat- and then she decked you.
"Shit, fuck, that hurt." Cass said to herself, blowing on her hand and hissing, as you recover.
You drop your own weapons, and punch her back.
>Field too long!

Some time later, the two of you were rolling around, whaling on eachother with your bare fists, scrabbling with one another. Bruised and bleeding, she grabbed the sides of your head and kneed you in the nose. You hear a savage crack in your skull, and everything went white... but you pushed yourself to your feet, wiping blood from your nose.. and you elbowed her in the ribs, hooked your leg around hers, and then slammed your head into her nose. With a second, savage crunch, she fell back, unconscious.
You sniffled, and touched the bridge of your nose. White hot pain emanated from it, and it was already swelling, as the healer arrived.

Some time later, your broken nose and other wounds were healed, and the healer gave you a potion.
"More Aqua ignis." She said. "Should help the bones fuse."
You drink the potion, and then lean back, as the burly man arrived.
"Well, it seems you've won today's matches." He said, and tossed you a pouch. "Your winnings. And if it helps, quite a few people were betting on your opponent, so we're very happy with how things turned out."

Soon enough, Astora, Tannis, and Ariana arrived, the latter beaming. "That was so cool." She said. "That witches' gift, I mean. It's not as powerful as Tapping, but it doesn't have a downside."

>>22416346
"I thought you knew all of the witches?"

>>22416346
"Yeah that's pretty cool."

>>22416346
We should go thank her, it must be hard work when people lose limbs and such.

>>22416346
"Oh? What's hers called? Gift of Healing?"

>>22416346
"What, no admiration for my valiant efforts?"

"In truth that was 98% luck"

>>22416346
"Tappin'? Whad? Whads her gifd?

>>22416346
I truly did not think i would win this. I mean, breaking reality being not allowed, and all.

"Oh? What's hers called? Gift of healing?"
"I think so." Ariana said.
"And what, no admiration for my valiant efforts?" You ask.
"You did pretty well." She said, and grinned. "But I was more impressed by Tannis."
"What? Why me?" Tannis asked. "I sucked."
Ariana just grinned at her. "I have my reasons." She said.

Cass arrived, spear in hand, frowning.
"I can't believe I got my ass handed to me." She grumbled. "I was sure I'd won when I broke your nose."

>>22416481
"Yeah, me too."

>>22416481
"You almost had! I think I was a couple of seconds from passing out."

>>22416481
I'm surprised I could even see after that hit.

So who did you bet on, Ariana?

>>22416481
Ass handed to you nothing! I was barely concious at that point. It was luck alone that saw me ahead of you.

>>22416481
"For a couple seconds I forgot what city I was in, that was an amazing punch"

>>22416481
"That was really close though, Cass. You would've pasted me in troll mode."

>>22416481
yea well all I did today was beat up some girls I don't feel all that much like a winner

I should get moving Gabriel knows wear I am that's dangerous

"Ass handed to you nothing! I was barely concious at that point. It was luck alone that saw me ahead of you." You say, and turn to Ariana. "So who did you bet on, Ariana?"
"I bet on my sister, of course." Ariana said.
"And I still lost." Astora said, frowning.
"But I did bet on you on the final fight." Ari said, grinning. "And I won! The odds were like two one in her favor or something, so I doubled my bet."
"That was really close, though, Cass. you would've pasted me in troll mode."
"Probably." She said, grinning. Then she seemed to realize something, and met Astora's and Tannis's eyes. "Wait. Shit. What do we do now? He won."
"... Aw, man." Tannis said, seeming to realize something.
Ariana grabbed your arm. "Hey, Abel. Come take me shopping. I have to spend my bet. Maybe on a new traveling cloak."

>>22416632
"May I ask, what exactly this bet comprised of?"

>>22416632
"How much did you make, Ariana?"

>>22416632
"I almost don't want to know what you three are talking about. Almost."
Then let's head out with Ari and let those three sort themselves out.

>>22416632
"Wait a minute...what was that bet about exactly?"

>>22416632
"You all weren't competing to decide which of you got to spend time with me, where you? I'm just paranoid, right?"

>>22416632
"Anyone want to tell me what this agreement between you three was?"

>>22416632
"You know what, I'm not even going to ask. Let's go, Ari."

"I almost don't want to know what you three are talking about." You say. "Almost. You all weren't competing to decide which of you got to spend time with me, where you? I'm just paranoid, right?"
"Psh, as if we'd do anything like that." Astora said.
"If we did do something like that, I'd probably cheat." Cass admitted.
Tannis's cat tail just wiggled alongside her ears, as she grinned at you.

You make your way away from the arena, and start wandering, Ariana's arm linked with yours.

"May I ask what exactly this bet comprised of?"
"I bet five gold that you'd win." Ariana said, grinning. "The arena broker guy looked at me like I was insane. But he understood when I explained that you're pretty much family. Ooh, a jewelry shop."

>>22416681
this best option lets get more bomb stuff and tell the girls to stick together inform them about the splinter

>>22416738
That was rather irresponsible, Ariana. I really did only win through luck. If Cass' last hit had have been even slightly stronger I would have been out.

>Do we still have any of mum's jewelery?

>>22416738
"...Don't bet that much money on me. I sure as hell wouldn't have betted on myself against Cass."

>>22416738
"Want to have a look? We should probably find Kale too, I'm sure he'd be interested on how we all did."

>>22416783
We sold our mother's jewelry to buy the bow we are currently using.

"It's nice to have family again"

>>22416845
We have two sisters.
Replace again with around.

>>22416738
"It's nice to be with family..."

>>22416738
we should get something for our sister she should be arriving shortly have Ariana help us pick some thing out for her and the other girls
and get some equipment smelting tools and molds we should make some bullets.

>>22416845
say this give her a kiss on the for head

>>22416915
We have no idea that she's coming though.

>>22416783
>You don't. Lyra took most of it with her, and what little was left, you sold.

"That was rather irresponsible, Ariana." You say. "I really did only win through luck."
"I can be as irresponsible as I want." Ariana said. "I had no money when we started out, remember? I can just start from the start again."
"Want to have a look?" You ask, nodding to the jewelry store.
"Well, they're nice to look at, but there are tons of those in sanctuary, not to mention whatever there is at home, which is probably a lot. Astora talks about people trying to buy her favor." Ariana said. "I want to buy something useful."
She 'hmed' and started to think, arms linked with yours.
"I know!" She said. "Sweets. We can buy sweets. While you guys were fighting, Tannis told me about this place where they take milk and chocolate from Edgardis, and mix it all up with ice and sugar. She said it's really good, but cold. And since you're the reason I have more gold, I'll buy some for you."

You end up sitting at a small table, with a cup filled with a strange, solid cream, and a spoon. Ariana sat there, grinning, scooping as much of her own cup into her mouth.

>>22416931
"Fascinating." Take a bite. "Really fascinating. I wonder how they get ice in such a hot country?"

>>22416931
Tentatively taste it.

>>22416931
"Sweet tooth?"

>>22416928
we dreamed it

them dream come true

"Fascinating." You say, and take a scoop of your own- the first thing you notice is the cold, and then the chocolate, and finally the texture, as it melted in your mouth. "I wonder how they get ice in such a hot country."
"I don't know." She said, thinking. Then she took another scoop.
"Sweet tooth?"
She nodded, and grinned. "A friend from the tower used to bring sweets every other day." She said. "Though I guess she's on her coming of age right now... I hope she's okay."

>>22417031
If we're lucky we might meet her.

Did you have many friends back in sanctuary? Astora seems so... isolated? I wasn't sure how many people you'd know.

>>22417031
"Maybe you could ask Tori to check up on her."

>>22417031
so what do you want to do next?

>>22417031
"What was the sanctuary like?"

>>22417031
"You could try asking Astora to gift-of-sight her. If that doesn't count against her noninterference clause."

"And, how do you like this country? I think it was really worth it coming here from the Free Cities."

>>22417031
"You know, Ariana...with your new gift, you could, well, bring your parents...back."

>>22417123
That one is good, i want it asked.

"If we're lucky, we might meet her."
"Maybe." She said.
"Did you have many friends back in sanctuary? Astora seems so... isolated. I wasn't sure how many people you'd know."
"Oh, I had a lot of friends from the tower." Ariana said. "It's like a big school, where all the kids go to learn before their coming of ages. But my friends there... weren't real friends, if that makes sense. Just the sort of people you hang around because you don't have anyone else. Me, Curls, and Sansa were the real sort of friends, though. Curls isn't her real name, though. She didn't speak english, because she wasn't born in sanctuary. Sansa's the one that kept bringing sweets."

"... You know, Ariana." You say, after a moment. "With your new gift, you could... well... bring your parents... back."
She blinked, then met your eyes, her own golden eyes stern.
"I don't have the Gift to do that sort of thing. It won't allow itself to be used like that. It's not... it's not there to bring people back to life. That's not what it's meant to do. That's a side-effect."

>>22417123
oh shit, no don't ask this, christ!

>>22417210
"Sorry, I just thought...you know."

>>22417123
Nope, don't give her false hopes, wait for her to fully realize her power.

>>22417210
you havn't really told me what it is for.

>>22417210
"Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."

>>22417210
"Sorry, I..." sigh, hug, "Sorry."

>>22417210
"Oh dear. You really got a complicated gift there, hu? I'm sorry i brought it up."

>>22417210
"Sorry, that was a moment of weakness."

"It hurts to lose family, shouldn't have brought it up"

"Sorry, I just thought... you know." You say, and hug her.
"I know." She said, and closed her eyes. "I heard what that wizard said. That he called it the Gift of Rebirth. But he's wrong. That's not what it's called. If he'd taken it, he would never have been able to use it. Not in a thousand years."
"You haven't really told me what it is for." You say.
"... It's to help us understand." She said. "All of us. What exactly living means. I got the ankh tattoo for a reason. That's what my gift is for- to teach us what that ankh really means. It's a song, not a power. Songs are meant to be heard."

>>22417314
"Sorry for ruining the mood, kiddo."

>>22417314
My sword is convinced that none of you are alive.

I havn't spoken to it since it said that, the bastard.

>>22417374
No, he went back on that and said that everyone is and that we should ignore him.

"Sorry for ruining the mood, Kiddo." You say.
She took another scoop of the cream. "It hurts to lose family. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"... I don't even remember their faces." She said, quietly. "Or their voices. It's just been me and Astora for as long as I can remember."
She shook her head, then pushed her cup over to you, and gave you a hug and a chocolaty kiss on the cheek. "It's okay." She said. "You were just trying to help. It's fine."

>>22417314
"I'm sorry, I've ruined our nice frosted cream."

"Are you going to tell me what those three were going to do with me if one of them won?"

>>22417314
"... You know what Gabriel told me in my last dream? That this all isn't real. That its only a dream, made up by him and me to keep us occupied across the aeons... I don't really want to believe him, but lately... Reality hasn't been as stable as i hoped."

"I'm not sure why i am even telling you this, but i guess i need someone to talk about it too."

>>22417408
Well then ChocoButt, where do we go next?

>>22417408
"If it's any consolation you've got a doof who'll refuse to die before we're both grey and withered"

>>22417425
Ok forget this, we already restored the mood, no reason to ruin it again.

>>22417425
>>22417374
We don't need to let her in on the secret of the universe quite yet.

>>22417425
We've been blocked when we've tried to say stuff like this before, there's no point.

>>22417425
Please stop trying to tell people they aren't real. They'll think we're crazy at best, and at worst we'll convince them and send them into a horrific spiraling depression that they might never come out of.

Fucking THINK.

"If it's any consolation, you've got a doof who'll refuse to die before we're both grey and withered."
"Good to hear." She said. "That's a big consolation."
You take another scoop, and then you give her a grin. "Are you going to tell me what those three were going to do with me if one of them won?"
"They agreed that they'd leave the winner alone with you." Ariana said, and then grinned mischievously. "I don't think they've realized yet that I kidnapped you away."

>>22417505
"Ha ha ha, I bet that put a wrench in all their plans."

>>22417505
You know, just as our little secret, I think I prefer the ice cream.

>>22417505
"Hah! Well, let's talk about that then. They're all pretty obviously interested in me, which one do you think I should choose?"

>>22417505
"Oh! Ariana! I forgot to mention, the Gift of Truth gave me a dream. I think my sister is coming to Lys."

>>22417544
"And no, you're not allowed to be biased because one of them is your sister."

"Hah! Well, let's talk about that then." You say. "They're all pretty obviously interested in me. Which one do you think I should choose?"
"... I think you should choose the one you would be the happiest with." Ariana said, confidently. "That's always what you're supposed to do. When I hear all these stories about people who have trouble, it makes no sense because they don't choose the ones they want."
Then she grinned. "Though I wouldn't mind if you chose Astora. Then you could hang around the mansion all the time."

>>22417474
I don't think they would. They would listen, and give us advice, even if its just "don't think about it". I dunno, i just think this is something thats really troubling Able, so sooner or later he will need to talk it over with someone.

>>22417586
"If it were that simple, I would have already chosen. They all make me happy, and I really don't want to disappoint the two I don't pick."

>>22417598
Holy shit, are you listening to anything anyone's been saying? We've tried to mention that the world seems 'fake' occasionally and we were physically stopped.

>>22417586
"But if I pick one of them, then the other two will be unhappy, and I'd prefer not to see that."

>>22417586
I like Tori, she's very strong, and I don't mean physically. I would never hesitate to trust her with anything.

Tannis is too cute though, I just want to cuddle and scratch her ears and watch her purr.

>>22417586

wish we could make everyone happy in the end.

>i like all three of them almost equally.

>>22417586
"Pfft, I should have gotten married off to one of the teases in Berbrook, I'd have less chance of being beaten up"

>>22417586
"Is 'all of the above' a valid choice?"

>>22417626
I don't remember that and i've been here all quest. Though i admit i don't have the best memory. Still, doesn't mean this will continue like this.

>>22417586
Sigh, "I'd take all of them if I could. I just don't want to make any of them unhappy, you know?"

"If it were that simple, I would have already chosen." You say. "They all make me happy, and I really don't want to disappoint the two I don't pick."
"Well, um..." She said. "They're all really pretty... and even though Astora seems rough at first, she's actually really warm underneath. When you make her smile, you feel like you've won an award. And Tannis is warm all the time, and... bubbly? And Cass is a good friend- I have the feeling she'd be there no matter what you need. And Kale is always happy, and he's selfless. Or you could wait for me to grow up, or something..."
She went red, and covered her face. "I'm bad at this, sorry."
"... Is all of the above a valid choice?"
"That's the choice you've been trying to make?" Ariana said, and frowned. "No, it's not. That's really mean to all of them."

>>22417710
Frown, "I know, that's why I haven't really made any choice at all."

>>22417710
Prepare for the oncoming waifu storm.

Astora is the best

>>22417710
"I'm no good at this stuff"
sigh

>>22417710
Of course not.

I'm a bit old for you, Ari. I'm sure you'll find someone for you, when you grow up a bit.

Tori is REALLY warm underneath. She's like a furnace that you can snuggle up with.

>>22417710
"You're a bad flirt, though I bet some boy will be charmed by the otters one day"

>>22417710
"Fireplace, Catgirl or Lizard, each a tough choice."

>>22417738
Cass stronk!

>>22417710

i am no star at this either. you will probably have boys swarming to get your attention when you get back to sanctuary though.

cheers to difficult choices!

"I know, that's why I haven't really made any choice at all."
You sigh. "I'm a bit old for you, Ari. I'm sure you'll find someone for you, when you grow up a bit."
"I know." She said. "You're like a brother, not anything e-else. It was a joke."
"... Fireplace, catgirl, or lizard, each a tough choice." You say.
"Well, you don't have to choose now." Ariana said. "As long as you choose eventually."
She sighed, and shrugged. "But really, I'm wondering where we should go next. East, west, maybe back north to the free cities..."
"Oh! Ariana! I forgot to mention, the Gift of Truth gave me a dream. I think my sister is coming to Lys."
"Your sister?" Ariana asked. "The cute tiny one? Isalva?"
"No, Lyra." You say.
"Was that the lady who joined the order?" She asked, and you nodded.
Then she smiled. "Good! Then we should wait here until she comes."

>>22417710
> "Or you could wait for me to grow up, or something"

Corvo, if you won't marry Astora would you marry me?

>>22417904
That might work. We could probably make enough to get by from the arena.

>>22417904
"Yep. Is there anything else you want to see in this town?"

>>22417904

i do believe it would be good to see her again, but i'm a little worried about what she would say about my time spent with you.

>i forgot what the nice Order knights name is but we should tell her that he was in the dream as well.

>>22417977
I think this should be reworded as to not imply embarrassment about hanging out with a witch.

>>22417914
>Corvo
Oh god, why does that make so much sense?

"That might work." You say. "We could probably make enough to get by from the arena."
"We could, but something could go wrong." She said. "We've been saving up, so maybe we could just spend that money on an inn. If we skimp on as much as we can, we'll only lose a few gold."
She tapped her fingers.
"Is there anything else you want to see in this town?"
"I want to never leave this place." She said, grinning. "But yeah, we could go wander around for a bit."
She payed for what the waitress called the 'ice cream', and then the two of you left the building, wandering around on the streets.
"Hey, maybe we could stay in Tannis's old house! Unless they sold it or something..." She said, suddenly.

>>22418061
"I don't know if that would be a good idea. I get the feeling there are some bad memories there for Tannis."

>>22418061
It looked pretty un-sold when she took me there last night.

>>22418061

she showed it to me, it holds a lot of memories.

>>22418061
"Her little log cabin? She's still got it, but it's a bit small for all of us, I think."

Let's buy a gift for Tannis. I think a hairbrush would be appreciated.

>>22418061
"Do you want to go and find an inn for us now?"

>>22418140
Let's buy gifts for all of them as a thanks for letting us beat them up.

>>22418166
This idea starts at bad and slowly drifts to the realm of horribly horribly bad for Abel's well being.
>At least we would die laughing.
Don't do it though.