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>>3473477

It is rare for an army to be annihilated to a man. Defeated, routed, even destroyed - but always there are a number of survivors, their numbers proportionate to the size of battle. Often in such cases it is not the combatant's own will to flee that causes him to run away from the enemy, who may not even outnumber them, but rather that damnable herd instinct that overrides the common sense of man he finds himself submerged within. Once the motive for fear is given, all reason vanishes.

>>"I am countermanding your master's order, Vishtapah. We will hold the line until the Atreidae troops arrive." [DISCIPLINA]

Discipline is what keeps soldiers in line, but these are no soldiers. Vagabonds, ruffians, barrelchested sailors; individuals who climbed up to a marginally higher rank within the trading fleet from Seres by virtue of their skills in brawling and bullying, and little else. If Caesar's Legio X promoted the cream of the crop of Roman militants, then these were the scum of the pond from Lady Tzi's unregulated militia.

Fear is what keeps these men in line.

"We cannot stand against the consecutive waves of the enemy." Vishtapah turns his helmeted head to the group of monk-warriors who broke away from the larger Indian masses, running toward the two riders, no doubt in hopes of greater glory by slaying targets more prestigious than simple sailors. "Here come six men who have a death wish. We will kill them with ease, of this I do not doubt - these warrior-monks wear robes and cloth instead of leather and metal. But after these six, there will be seven. Then eight. They will keep coming, and we will become mired by footsoldiers from every side, losing what advantage we have by being mounted. We are alone, lord." There are six of them as Vishtapah noted. The monks are naked from the waist up save for the white cotton scarf that descends from the back of their necks to drape their arms, wound up in a serpentine fashion. Loinclothes made from the same fabric are their only other concession to modesty. The lack of armour and billowing silk to mire their steps grant them better speed than the more fancifully dressed Crimson Sashes.

"I urge you to reconsider. My lord Ariamnes made me vow that I would ensure your safety."

"Not alone, Vishtapah." You point your sword toward the sailors, running in clumps of tens and twenties. "We still have half a mob. The Sihanese flee not because of their inferiority in strength and numbers but because are terrified. Fear is what kept them in line, and fear rules them still. I will grasp those fears with these two hands and rein them back."

"Can it be done?" the Parthian asks.

>>3473479

>"Among such primitive militias, size and strength is the benchmark for officership, not skill and valour. I will ride to find the most imposing among the Sihanese and execute him for desertion. This will force the remaining rabble to acknowledge my authority." [AVCTORITAS]

>"Among the prideful people of the orients, I have noticed a tendency to make a spectacle of duels. Wars have been decided by individuals acting as representatives of each armies, entire peoples subjugated by their oath-word to be bound to the outcome of such fights. I shall demand the Indians send out a champion, with myself as his opponent." [VIRTUS]

>"Those who flee are undeserving of mercy. They are greater foes than the enemy itself, for they agitate their fellow men with trepidation by their desertion. Turn your lance to the cowards, Vishtapah! We will slaughter them until they start running away - toward the enemy." [FIRMITAS]

>Custom [write-in]

[Welcome the ninth chapter of the Commentarii. We finally made it out of the accursed chapter eight!

You can read the previous archives here:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=Commentarii

This quest tries to update once a day, sometimes even making two (2!) QM-updates if able. Onwards with the quest!]

>>3473484
>"Among such primitive militias, size and strength is the benchmark for officership, not skill and valour. I will ride to find the most imposing among the Sihanese and execute him for desertion. This will force the remaining rabble to acknowledge my authority." [AVCTORITAS]
Although maybe rather than only slaying the greatest among them, maybe try for a number of the larger “officers”

>>3473484
>"Those who flee are undeserving of mercy. They are greater foes than the enemy itself, for they agitate their fellow men with trepidation by their desertion. Turn your lance to the cowards, Vishtapah! We will slaughter them until they start running away - toward the enemy." [FIRMITAS]

>>3473491
Ah, so instead of 1v1ing the biggest and baddest Sihanese, make it a group combat involving a number of the largest (and thus the most "authoritative") within the rabble, including the biggest and baddest?

>>3473494
Something like that, yes.

>>3473484
>"Among the prideful people of the orients, I have noticed a tendency to make a spectacle of duels. Wars have been decided by individuals acting as representatives of each armies, entire peoples subjugated by their oath-word to be bound to the outcome of such fights. I shall demand the Indians send out a champion, with myself as his opponent." [VIRTUS]
When in Rome...

CaesarQuest and ties: name a more iconic duo

>>3473518
NeetQM and the QM curse?

>>3473484
>>3473491
This then.

>>3473507
Support

>>3473484
>>"Those who flee are undeserving of mercy. They are greater foes than the enemy itself, for they agitate their fellow men with trepidation by their desertion. Turn your lance to the cowards, Vishtapah! We will slaughter them until they start running away - toward the enemy." [FIRMITAS]

Just out of curiosity, how much time is it going to take to go frem greece to Sinae?

I’ve been thinking on logistic and if it would be viable to bring more people eventually.

>>3473619
From Egypt to India (Muziris) taking advantage of the seasonal monsoon then back again was an annual voyage, so assuming the ships survived the treacherous waters in western India (strong tidal currents and rogue waves) that would already be a year. The reason it was shorter for us is because we began in the eastern end of Parthia, not Greece.

For the next leg of the journey... the Seventh Treasure Fleet embarked from Nanjing in 19 January 1431 and arrived in Calicut (also in Tamilakam) at 10 December 1432, so another almost-2 years. Not an impossibility to have people transplanted in China, if you have a huge amount of disposable income to finance and build a fleet, as well as reliable assistants.

These are rough numbers though, I don't know much about the sea routes of the ancient world - mostly relying on the Periplus and the Ming dynasty's treasure voyages which was more than a millennia later.

>>3473662
Hum, well my thought was to use Formosa as a Power base by transplanting people here, perhaps by having people taken to the Indian Port and than having the Chinese lady with the pirates fleets transport those peoples to Formosa, since she know the way.
Not sure about how feasible this all this. Our own boat could make trips as well.

>>3473662
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Journals/TAPA/82/Speed_under_Sail_of_Ancient_Ships*.html

This may be a good overview of speed for ships, but it deals primarily in inter-Mediterranean trade. Nothing as far east as we are, I'm afraid

>>3473491
>>3473530
A

>>3473492
>>3473577
F

>>3473507
>>3473538
V

I like to think that the constant ties are because of the choices being equally palatable. Call me an optimist.

>>3473521
I don't know who NeetQM is but my heart goes out to them, having experienced QMcurse personally

>>3473678
Hmmm, so basing off in Formosa (modern day Taiwan apparently)... islands are definitely easier to defend compared to a continental holding, which might give you the edge while setting up shop in Sinae for the first few years. I assume you will want to expand into China proper later on, but then again I assumed we would be starting in China and not Parthia :P

Funnily enough your ship can easily carry half the people-capacity of Lady Tzi's fleet by itself. There are some Indo-Greeks in the continent, which you might be able to convince to come further east with you, especially with the recent anti-foreigner attitude by the Archer King Nedum.

Letting your ship ferry colonists about might be a good use of your ship while you're settling on Formosa, yeah. Though that would leave you open to naval incursions since you would lack a naval presence then.

>>3473694
More Yavanas are always good. Also, maybe we could simply time skip to the Far East after we leave Muziris, unless you have a particular stopover you want to write out before then?
>[Virtus]

>>3473694
>I don't know who NeetQM is but my heart goes out to them, having experienced QMcurse personally
https://archived.moe/qst/thread/3411119/#q3411817
Also what the fuck am I smoking now, his name is UberNEET

>>3473694
Yes, eventually the Goal would be to expand into Sinae, I don’t hink we need to worry about anyone invading us while we set up shop, as long as we don’t actually invade Sinae we will be a blimp on everyone radar, especially if they are in the middle of a huge war.
Thinking about it, we got both Greeks merchants and the Chinese lady living in this Port city, we can have the Greeks ferrying Greek/Jew/Romans/Germand/Gaul, etc from Greece/Parthia to the Port in India and have the lady takeover from here to bring them to Formosa, on the tripe back they can take good made in the far east from us(maybe even Japanese stuff?) to bring back to the others side and make money, everyone win, and they probably expand they transport capacity as well. Of course, we will need a more agreeable Kings here to make it work.

The Malayan peninsula is also an option. It's a bit far from Sinae, which brings its advantages and disadvantages. But most importantly, seaborne trade must pass through the Straits to go West. If we build a fortress there we could get rich quickly and acquire a safe power base. It's also a place ruled by only some primitive tribes that makes for quick conquest.

>>3473763
It also Nearer to the west compared to Formosa, so travel would be faster, hum....

>>3473706
Here's the tiebreaker. And yes, that was the plan - to skip to the southern shores of China once we got things wrapped up in here.

>>3473713
...at least my house didn't burn down

>>3473753
Oh I wouldn't bet on not being bothered by anyone. Let's just say a certain island nation is known for its piracy...

>>3473763
>>3473769
That entire area is a blank for me, at least when it comes to contemporaneous accounts. I suppose I could flavour them as island-Nanmans, but it would probably slow our progress to China proper. If enough people are game for that, then I could consider it!

Vote closed, writing

>"Among the prideful people of the orients, I have noticed a tendency to make a spectacle of duels. Wars have been decided by individuals acting as representatives of each armies, entire peoples subjugated by their oath-word to be bound to the outcome of such fights. I shall demand the Indians send out a champion, with myself as his opponent." [VIRTUS]

It is a dangerous plan, a crazy plan - one that relies on the Indians being compelled to save their equivalent of Face or Reputation. And you don't exactly know if these people hold similar ideas on the duel of champions that the Syrians and other Levantine peoples do.

But you are far beyond the waters of Reason. This is the Far East; anything that can happen, happens.

"My lord Ariamnes would disprove," the Parthian says at last.

"I will apologise to him personally afterwards," you chuckle. "Do you have one of those warhorns your master carries about?"

The cataphract hands you his, a dainty thing of a forearm's length, filigreed silver in simple floral patterns. Not at all like the huge bullshorn trumpet that Ambiorix lugs around in the supply carts. "It may not be heard over the din of the battle," Vishtapah warns.

"We shall see." You breath in, and then...

>Three rolls of 1d100

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>3473837

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>3473837

>>3473837
The quest is roll over right?

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>3473853
Unfortunately yes

>>3473853
Roll under

>>3473853
Roll under

>>3473858
*unfortunately no
Had a brain fart there, at least I rolled well

>15
Close one with two of the rolls in the 80s, writing

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The battle-line moves on and leaves behind wrecked men in its wake. One of the more greasley duties of a soldier is the aftercare of the field of war, squelching around the blood-muddied grounds and sifting through the dead. Sometimes they find the still-living in this plain of death. If it is a friendly, they call for medical personnel. If it is one of the enemy...

Another life, claimed by battle. More men die after the clash than during.

The din of battle seems almost a distant memory here, where the first clash of swords and arrows were made. It is nearing morning. A dense early morning fog drapes over the bodies, further muting the sound of the still ongoing fighting some meters away from the city. Foreigners came in and tried to conquer them, but the people of Chera stood firm. The most energetic of their number was now chasing the fleeing foreigners to put them down for good, while the bulk of the army takes a breather.

The warriors of Tamil take their well-earned rest amidst the fallen, taking surreptitious swigs of water and eating their issued rations with a voracity that surprise themselves. War is hungry business, and after the shock of adrenaline fades away, one remembers his stomach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9KDP-rdlyE

Dirt-grimed faces look up from their temporary respite, weary eyes seeking the source of the eery sound. The mournful notes linger on in echoes across the field. A fey sound, an unmistakable sound. The sound of a challenger.

From within the throng of kingsmen and godsmen, unsettled by the unnatural power behind the hornsong, a man steps forward like one who emerges from water. His clear eyes sparkle with the light of a sage, and upon his brows are the paint-symbols of one who has received royal favour. Unburdened by armour of leather and steel, the wiry man stalks forward, every step a spring. His iron-tipped quarterstaff sings as it spins in his hand. Lifting his left hand to cup around his mouth, the priest-warrior responds with a call of his own, all the complications of different languages stripped away in its primal simplicity. I am here, he shout-sings. Come to me! Fight me! I am the one you seek.

The squish-squelch of horsehooves on the mildewed mud announce the arrival of the hornblower. The beginning of his profile can be seen, black behind the grey curtain of fog.

"Yama Raja," one of the monks whisper fearfully. Lord Death. He who rides on the black buffalo in eternal search of errant souls to carry back to his domain.

The rider's silhouette emerges at last, revealing a young man of indeterminate age. He is dressed with the fineries of a victorious general in the fashion of the Yavanas. Beside him is a second rider, horse and man both covered in metal.

"Glad that got your attention," you smile as you dismount. "Let's see if I've still got it."

>>3473981

---

(1)

>Cautious - Double AV (Max 80), Total unsaved damage to Foe is halved (Rounding up)

>Guarded - Exchange of Blows does not inflict or sustain damage.

>Balanced - AV and Damage remain unchanged.

>Belligerent - Exchange of Blows does not inflict damage; +1 Damage to Foe if any unsaved damaged is inflicted.

>Audacious - Halve AV (Rounding up); Each point of unsaved damage to Foe is doubled.

(2)

>Crucible-steel khanda
A straight-bladed longsword with a blunted tip at the end, this exotic blade was the personal weapon of the leader assassin. The material is of superb quality, known to the local Tamils as urukku. Its length lends itself well to use as a cavalry sabre. [Chance to ignore armour]

>Gladius hispaniensis
The Romans may not have invented this weapon, but it was they that put it to its proper use. Adopted from the Iberians during their pacification wars in the Hispanic peninsula, this shortsword can be used only by the most disciplined of infantrymen, willing to go face-to-face against the enemy to ensure their painful deaths. This is not a weapon of the faint-hearted who wish to keep the enemy combatants at an arm's length. Its double-edged, point-ended design lends itself especially well to bleeding the foe. [Chance to bleed enemy, negative AV modifier]

>>3473995
>Audacious - Halve AV (Rounding up); Each point of unsaved damage to Foe is doubled.
>Crucible-steel khanda
A straight-bladed longsword with a blunted tip at the end, this exotic blade was the personal weapon of the leader assassin. The material is of superb quality, known to the local Tamils as urukku. Its length lends itself well to use as a cavalry sabre. [Chance to ignore armour]

>>3473995
>Audacious
>Crucible-steel khanda

>>3473995
What happened to jovian step and the others?

>>3473995
>Audacious
>Gladius
He's unarmored, so the Gladius will be of.more use here

>>3473995
>Audacious
>Gladius hispaniensis

>>3474044
Replaced them with the more streamlined versions seen above

>>3474134
That's unfortunate. I really liked the extra bonuses they gave. Any chance of them ever being relevant again?

>>3474134
Yeah I thought they were cool but if you'd rather do this that's ok

>>3474146
One of my concerns was that the names made them rather unclear what they were for, and another issue was the haphazard way with which I'd made up the effects (practically on the spot). I'm not very good with mechanics, as you may have noticed during the course of this quest. Were they any good?

>>3474160
I personally liked them and the idea of upgrading them through significant use.

>>3474167
I may introduce them again as a sort of MC-unique skill, but if so I'd probably allow choosing only one for simplicity's sake. Juggling all the different things and effects and dices are not my cup of tea! Though I'll say that I enjoyed writing up the descriptions for the Carthaginian Sea God encounter, but then again that was more fluff than combat.

>>3474160
I liked the idea of being able to upgrade them, and thereby maybe unlocking new effects, that and the descriptions you gave of the styles in combat.

>>3473995
>Guarded - Exchange of Blows does not inflict or sustain damage.
>Crucible-steel khanda
Learn our foe before we make a spectacle of them.

>>3473995
>Guarded - Exchange of Blows does not inflict or sustain damage
>Crucible-steel khanda
A straight-bladed longsword with a blunted tip at the end, this exotic blade was the personal weapon of the leader assassin. The material is of superb quality, known to the local Tamils as urukku. Its length lends itself well to use as a cavalry sabre. [Chance to ignore armour]
Frankly, the gladius will next see use when Alexandros has a shield.

So far there are three opinions, each with the same amount of votes

Guarded-Crucible
Audacious-Gladius
Audacious-Crucible

I'll possibly be asleep before the three-way tie (a classic in this quest) is broken - if so, I bid you all a preemptive good night

>>3474233
I'll change my vote from Gladius audacious to guarded Khanda

>>3473995
Actually, how about
>Guarded
>Gladius hispaniensis
That way we have some AV to mitigate the gladius' malus, but we're not going total defense either.

>>3474253
Okay changing my vote to this

>>3474256
>>3474253
That removes one vote each from Audacious-Gladius and Audacious-Crucible, leaving us with:

Audacious-Gladius (1)
Audacious-Crucible (1)
Guarded-Gladius (2)
Guarded-Crucible (2)

>>3474203
>when Alexandros has a shield
That was the intent! Shortswords like the gladius is not intended to be used by no-shield wanderers. Speaking of which, is there any armour you guys would like to use as "default" that isn't the ceremonial muscle cuirass currently being used? Maybe something from the hoplites? What you have right now is the closest approximation of a "Roman" armour - there are no loricae available locally.

>>3475171
If you're online to write the update now, I guess I'll go ahead and switch to guarded khanda. It's not like this is a massive deal, so let's just move on with the fight itself.

>>3473995
>Audacious - Halve AV (Rounding up); Each point of unsaved damage to Foe is doubled.
>Crucible-steel khanda

>>3475171
Audacious
Khanda

>>3475200
Oof, I was just checking up in the morning to see if the vote was decided, sorry if it seemed like I was going to write then

With the latest votes it's back to a tie between Audacious and Guarded for the Khanda

>>3475173
Probably some iron or bronze lamellar armor, what with us coming from Parthia.

>>3475419
Changing my vote back to audacious khanda

>>3475432
The Five Hundred's equipment was not uniform, but rather a mix-and-match of different armour styles and pieces aggregated over their long history. Looks like we'll need to plan a visit to long-term storage in our ship!

>>3475456
You haven't voted for a sword yet, unless you voted with a different IP? What vote are you changing back from?

>>3475456

>>3475483
Fuck just change my vote to whoever will allow this to continue I'm
>>3475384

>>3475483
Whoops, I'm >>3474256

>Audacious - Halve AV (Rounding up); Each point of unsaved damage to Foe is doubled.
>Crucible-steel khanda

Captain Alexandros, Caesar Reborn: Healthy
>Combat = +30DC [Healthy +5DC, Skilled +5DC, Unnatural Strength +5DC, Muscle cuirass +5DC, Gladius Hispaniensis +10]
>Armour Value = 3AV [Muscle Cuirass +5AV]/2
>Active Skill = None

VS

Velu-Maiya, Royal Champion: Healthy
>Combat = 35DC [Healthy +5DC, Elite +10DC, Martial Art: Silappadikkaram +10DC, Patti Bandage +5DC, Silambam Staff +5DC]
>Armour Value = 10AV [Unnatural Armour +10AV, Patti Bandage +0AV]
>Active Skill = None

Crit-fail = Suffer a mighty blow (3 degrees of damage sustained AND dismounted/disarmed)
0 Success = Suffer a solid blow (2 degrees of damage sustained)
1 Success = Exchange glancing blows (1 degree of damage inflicted and sustained)
2 Success = Inflict a solid blow (2 degrees of damage inflicted)
3 Success = Inflict a mighty blow (3 degrees of damage inflicted)
Crit-pass = Inflict a killing blow (what it says on the tin)

Doubles Pass = +1 damage ignores opponent AV or Dismounted/Disarmed penalty
Doubles Fail = Dismounted and/or Disarmed penalty

> (1) Personal Combat DC50
>3 rolls of 1d100
>(2) Armour Piercing (Crucible-steel Weapon) DC33
>1 roll of 1d100

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>3476060
Shit this is a 50/50 guys. We cant get mirked by a mortal.

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>3476085
>>3476060
Meant 1d100

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>3476060
Here goes nothing!

Rolled 53 (1d100)

>>3476060
REEE POOLOOS

>>3476060
Wait, Gladius Hispaniensis in our bonuses? With the Khanda?

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>1 Success - Exchange glancing blows (1 degree of damage inflicted and sustained)
>Doubles Fail - Disarmed!

Rolling for enemy AV, could one anon roll for Alexandros'?

>>3476111
Oops my bad, both weapons are a +10DC, just differs in their effects so the overall DC is still unchanged

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>3476113
Oh, ok.

>>3476113
I'm not gonna ask where we got the one success from but ok cool

>>3476125
Oh I just realised the 7 was from a 1d20, welp time to rewrite

>>3476125
Nice going, anon.

>>3476125
Nice work anon

>>3476130
THATS STILL BELOW 50 IF ITS SAW SCALED UP DAMMIT

>>3476130
RIP

>0 Success = Suffer a solid blow (2 degrees of damage sustained)
>Doubles Fail - Disarmed!

The kshatrya-caste meets your charge unflinchingly. His tempered bamboo quarterstaff, augmented with iron weights in one side to form an oversized club, spins with dangerous air in his expertly trained hands. A single hit from that might send an ordinary fighter down for life. Short and sweet, you think to yourself as you leap mid-air, the superlative steel weapon on point in your mad dash forward. I should try to end this quickly in a single attack.

Your next thoughts are of the bitterness of topsoil, then the blossom of pain erupting from your head. The ringing in your head makes it difficult to concentrate.

"You've got guts!"

You raise your eyes. Through your obscured vision of dust and blood, you see the silhouette of a laughing man. You wipe the free-flowing ichor from your brow and realise the object of his ridicule: you.

"An ape-like impatience, the desire to take what you wish with as little distance between the 'want' and the 'have'. I like that in a man! The other geezers may call it the folly of youth, but you will not find me among their number." He whirls his composite staff effortlessly with no regard for its hideous weight, ending the miniature performance by slamming the weightened end of the staff-mace against the ground with a distinctive whumpf. "Perhaps a foreign princeling such as you might understand the importance of pleasure in life. The ascetics here, they do not think it important to experience the sensations of the world."

You rise up from the earth guardedly, but the man only looks on with a grin, not making any move to put you down again. There is an uncomfortable emptiness in your hand. The sword, where is it?

"Stand up, princeling!" he taunts. "I see you have two scabbards on your hip! Most men require only the one, but I suppose you are half the man they are. Withdraw your other blade, so that no man can say that I, Velu-Maiya, Champion of the Court of the Archer King, slew an unarmed man!"

"You speak marvelous Greek for a monk," you say calmly, finding your other - and only - sword safely in its scabbard. You withdraw. "I was under the impression your kind preferred isolation from 'foreign influences'."

He scoffs. "Chera is a kingdom of trade. Unlike the fools who chant the ancient texts without understanding them, I seek to find fulfillment in as many ways possible. Do not compare me to the ascetics or the brahmans!"

"True, I was perhaps too hasty in thinking you as a mere footsoldier," you say as you raise the gladius in front of you. Good, steady hands. The head injury is not lethal, not immediately. Pooled bloods within skulls have been said to kill a man five years after its making.

You may actually die to this man, if man he truly is.

The gold-bright ichor flows freely from your temple.

>>3476216
>Magnanimous foe: automatically equipped Gladius hispaniensis with no penalty

(1) Style
>Cautious - Double AV (Max 80), Total unsaved damage to Foe is halved (Rounding up)
>Guarded - Exchange of Blows does not inflict or sustain damage.
>Balanced - AV and Damage remain unchanged.
>Belligerent - Exchange of Blows does not inflict damage; +1 Damage to Foe if any unsaved damaged is inflicted.
>Audacious - Halve AV (Rounding up); Each point of unsaved damage to Foe is doubled.

(2) Stance (trying it out again in conjunction with the current combat format)
>Dance of the Maekarii I [Personal Combat +10, -2 Damage dealt]
>Aetian Acrobatics I [Exhaustion +1(Personal Combat -5DC, stacks), +2 Damage dealt]
>Iovani Backstep I [Personal Combat +5DC, -5AV]
>Susa I [Personal Combat -5DC, -1 Damage received]

(3) Divine Constitution (Heal a Wound)
>DC33

Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>3476224
>Cautious
>Susa

Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>3476224
Ahh we are so fucked
>Cautious.

>>3476224
>Cautious
>Iovani Backstep
>Heal

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>3476266

>>3476265
>>3476224

Iovani back step is the erratic one right? I'll pick that.

>>3476268
Yep, changed up their names a bit and added some effects, do give ideas if you have any for them that you think might suit them better!

>>3476276
From what I remeber of their description all those bonuses and weaknesses look apt.

>>3476224
>>Iovani Backstep I [Personal Combat +5DC, -5AV]
>Belligerent - Exchange of Blows does not inflict damage; +1 Damage to Foe if any unsaved damaged is inflicted.

>Cautious - Double AV (Max 80), Total unsaved damage to Foe is halved (Rounding up)
>Iovani Backstep I [Personal Combat +5DC, -5AV]
>Gladius hispaniensis

Captain Alexandros, Caesar Reborn: Injured
>Combat = +25DC [Injured -5DC, Skilled +5DC, Unnatural Strength +5DC, Iovani Backstep +5DC, Muscle cuirass +5DC, Gladius Hispaniensis +10]
>Armour Value = 0AV [Muscle Cuirass +5x2AV, Gladius hispaniensis -5AV, Iovani Backstep I -5AV]
>Active Skill = Iovani Backstep I


VS

Velu-Maiya, Royal Champion: Healthy
>Combat = 30DC [Healthy +5DC, Elite +10DC, Martial Art: Silappadikkaram +10DC, Patti Bandage +5DC, Silambam Staff +5DC, Kama -5DC]
>Armour Value = 0AV [Unnatural Armour +10AV, Patti Bandage +0AV, Kama nullAV]
>Active Skill = Kama the Reckless: +2 Damage

Crit-fail = Suffer a mighty blow (3 degrees of damage sustained AND dismounted/disarmed)
0 Success = Suffer a solid blow (2 degrees of damage sustained)
1 Success = Exchange glancing blows (1 degree of damage inflicted and sustained)
2 Success = Inflict a solid blow (2 degrees of damage inflicted)
3 Success = Inflict a mighty blow (3 degrees of damage inflicted)
Crit-pass = Inflict a killing blow (what it says on the tin)

Doubles Pass = +1 damage ignores opponent AV or Dismounted/Disarmed penalty
Doubles Fail = Dismounted and/or Disarmed penalty

> (1) Personal Combat DC45
>3 rolls of 1d100
> (2) Bleeding (Gladius hispaniensis) DC33
>1 roll of 1d100
> (3) Ego Death (Iovani Steps I) DC33
>1 roll of 1d100

Good luck.

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>3477367

Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>3477367

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>3477367
We need to be a better solo combatant.

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>3477367
BLOOD

>>3477501
Thank Cesar you are the fourth roll

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>3477367
Ego death???
>>3477501
Jupiter above man

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>3477367

Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>3477367

An almost Crit Pass, a Critical Fail that thankfully does nothing because it's not part of the Personal Combat Roll, and a Double Fail that again, does nothing because it's the sixth roll. I guess you could say things are getting real... dicey.

We only needed the first five rolls for this one, writing

>2 Success = Inflict a solid blow (1 degree of damage inflicted due to Cautious)
>Bleeding - Fail
>Ego Death - Fail

You are glad that Venicius wasn't here to see you fuck up your stance so thoroughly. An unconnected series of staccatic sequences, your trainer had put it. No rhythm, no reason. Only death. Let go of the rational hogwash your other teacher has been teaching you with his scrolls and books. Ignore even my other teachings: to always think of the next step, to have an image of the enemy weapons in your mind. That is for gladiators and soldiers.

This is not the stance of a soldier, boy. It is the style of a man with a death wish.

You are not capable of attaining the zen of the man who does not fear death, it seems. But what you fail to attain in technicality, you manage in practical terms.

"What sorcery is this?" the noble monk says with a puzzled look, rubbing his fingers on the newly-created wound against his ribs. "You completely abandoned any sign of self-preservation. The sword-hand, splayed loosely and without tension; your eyes, unfocused to the duel at hand. Yet I couldn't hit you."

"There are things not known to even the most enlightened of your monastic orders. Why not travel the world with me, Champion? A man with your skills is wasted in this corner of the world."

"Oh, don't think you've bested me, little prince." He hefts his club-staff anew. "I scored a hit on you first. If this was to first blood, you would have already lost. You won't land that cheap shot on me again, now that I've seen through you."

---

(1) Style
>Cautious - Double AV (Max 80), Total unsaved damage to Foe is halved (Rounding up)
>Guarded - Exchange of Blows does not inflict or sustain damage.
>Balanced - AV and Damage remain unchanged.
>Belligerent - Exchange of Blows does not inflict damage; +1 Damage to Foe if any unsaved damaged is inflicted.
>Audacious - Halve AV (Rounding up); Each point of unsaved damage to Foe is doubled.

(2) Stance (trying it out again in conjunction with the current combat format)
>Dance of the Maekarii I [Personal Combat +10, -2 Damage dealt]
>Aetian Acrobatics I [Exhaustion +1(Personal Combat -5DC, stacks), +2 Damage dealt]
>Iovani Backstep I [Personal Combat +5DC, -5AV]
>Susa I [Personal Combat -5DC, -1 Damage received]

(3) Divine Constitution (Heal a Wound)
>DC33

>>3477567
> Guarded
> backstep

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>3477567
>Audacious - Halve AV (Rounding up); Each point of unsaved damage to Foe is doubled.
>Iovani Backstep I [Personal Combat +5DC, -5AV]
We don’t have AV anyways, full death time

>>3477567
>Guarded
>Backstep

Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>3477567
>Guarded
>Iovani Backstep

>Guarded - Exchange of Blows does not inflict or sustain damage.
>Iovani Backstep I [Personal Combat +5DC, -5AV]
>Divine Constitution - Success

Captain Alexandros, Caesar Reborn: Battered
>Combat = +30DC [Battered +0DC, Skilled +5DC, Unnatural Strength +5DC, Iovani Backstep +5DC, Muscle cuirass +5DC, Gladius Hispaniensis +10]
>Armour Value = 0AV [Muscle Cuirass +5AV, Gladius hispaniensis -5AV, Iovani Backstep I -5AV]
>Active Skill = Iovani Backstep I

VS

Velu-Maiya, Royal Champion: Battered
>Combat = 25DC [Battered +0DC, Elite +10DC, Martial Art: Silappadikkaram +10DC, Patti Bandage +5DC, Silambam Staff +5DC, Kama -5DC]
>Armour Value = 25AV [Unnatural Armour +10AV, Patti Bandage +15AV]
>Active Skill = Kama the Life-Lover : -1 Damage

Crit-fail = Suffer a mighty blow (3 degrees of damage sustained AND dismounted/disarmed)
0 Success = Suffer a solid blow (2 degrees of damage sustained)
1 Success = Exchange glancing blows (1 degree of damage inflicted and sustained)
2 Success = Inflict a solid blow (2 degrees of damage inflicted)
3 Success = Inflict a mighty blow (3 degrees of damage inflicted)
Crit-pass = Inflict a killing blow (what it says on the tin)

Doubles Pass = +1 damage ignores opponent AV or Dismounted/Disarmed penalty
Doubles Fail = Dismounted and/or Disarmed penalty

> (1) Personal Combat DC55
>3 rolls of 1d100
> (2) Bleeding (Gladius hispaniensis) DC33
>1 roll of 1d100
> (3) Ego Death (Iovani Steps I) DC33
>1 roll of 1d100

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>3477567
>Audacious - Halve AV (Rounding up); Each point of unsaved damage to Foe is doubled.
>Iovani Backstep I [Personal Combat +5DC, -5AV]

>>3477609
Just so you guys know, I won't count this roll as part of the Personal Combat roll since it was for an earlier post

Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>3477608
>>3477623
Aww comon senpai it's a 22

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>3477608
>>3477623
That’s ok

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>3477608
RIP us

>>3477634
Yay we did guarded and thats a doubles success so we do 1 whole damage!

>>3477642
Death by a thousand cuts, anon. Death by a thousand cuts. Just waiting for the Bleed and Iovani secondary effect rolls now.

>>3477643
I'm just happy we did a damage and didnt take 2 this turn. Do you need different IP's to roll or can I go ahead?

>>3477644
I'm in no rush, already fulfilled my daily quota! As long as it's not taking insanely long I do prefer different IPs voting.

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>3477623
reeeeeeee

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>3477608
C’mon ego death!

Rolled 22 (1d100)

Rolling for enemy AV

>1 Success = Exchange glancing blows
>No Damage dealt (Enemy AV success)
>No Damage received (Guarded)
>Bleeding - Fail
>Ego Death - Fail

"Ohoho, no you don't!" You barely react in time as the staff's iron-studded end misses your nose. "I told you that it would not work a second time- unf!"

Your gladius clangs with a steely whine as the monk blocks your stab with his forearm, only armoured with cloth bandages. Wait, clang?

"Close one, but I should not have even let you hit me," he says with visible anger. "You snakelike westerners are all the same, no strength and all skill."

...was that meant to be an insult?

---

(1) Style
>Cautious - Double AV (Max 80), Total unsaved damage to Foe is halved (Rounding up)
>Guarded - Exchange of Blows does not inflict or sustain damage.
>Balanced - AV and Damage remain unchanged.
>Belligerent - Exchange of Blows does not inflict damage; +1 Damage to Foe if any unsaved damaged is inflicted.
>Audacious - Halve AV (Rounding up); Each point of unsaved damage to Foe is doubled.

(2) Stance (trying it out again in conjunction with the current combat format)
>Dance of the Maekarii I [Personal Combat +10, -2 Damage dealt]
>Aetian Acrobatics I [Exhaustion +1(Personal Combat -5DC, stacks), +2 Damage dealt]
>Iovani Backstep I [Personal Combat +5DC, -5AV]
>Susa I [Personal Combat -5DC, -1 Damage received]

(3) Divine Constitution (Heal a Wound)
>DC33

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>3477674
>guarded
>iovani backstep.

>>3477682
Clutch

>>3477682
Today is a day for crits and doublecrits

>>3477674
>Audacious - Halve AV (Rounding up); Each point of unsaved damage to Foe is doubled.
>Aetian Acrobatics I [Exhaustion +1(Personal Combat -5DC, stacks), +2 Damage dealt]
I know it’s probably meant to get a rise out of us, but now I really just want to murder this damned Indian

>>3477674
>Audacious - Halve AV (Rounding up); Each point of unsaved damage to Foe is doubled.
>Aetian Acrobatics I [Exhaustion +1(Personal Combat -5DC, stacks), +2 Damage dealt]
Kalaripayattu when, I want a whipsword

>>3477674
+1 >>3477682

>>3477706
We gotta play it slow and smart we are healing slowly they are not. Once we are fully we will have a higher DC and can whittle them down.

>>3477674
>Audacious
>Iovani Backstep

>>3477727
I believe we’re at “full” health now, it’s time to press the advantage

Guarded 2
Audacious 3

Aetian 2
Iovani 3

Looks like a mix of the two prevailing opinions

>>3477822
I'm cool with audacious iovani

>Audacious - Halve AV (Rounding up); Each point of unsaved damage to Foe is doubled.
>Iovani Backstep I [Personal Combat +5DC, -5AV]
>Divine Constitution - Success

The blissful euphoria of your unnatural body knitting itself back up and repairing the damages is not enough to distract you from hearing the sound of men running. The soldiers that were sent to kill off the remaining armsmen are returning.

Tarry overlong, and I may get overwhelmed from the returning wave. Vishtapah's horse whinnies nervously as if sensing its owner's tension.

Will they honour the result of your duel? A presumptuous question - you have yet to win it. On the bright side, the old man is breathing heavily. This level of physical exertion would reduce any young man with a healthy body to sweating bullets at this point. Not that you know what bullets are.

--

Captain Alexandros, Caesar Reborn: Healthy
>Combat = +35DC [Healthy +5DC, Skilled +5DC, Unnatural Strength +5DC, Iovani Backstep +5DC, Muscle cuirass +5DC, Gladius Hispaniensis +10]
>Armour Value = 0AV [Muscle Cuirass +5AV, Gladius hispaniensis -5AV, Iovani Backstep I -5AV]/2
>Active Skill = Iovani Backstep I

VS

Velu-Maiya, Royal Champion: Battered
>Combat = 20DC [Battered +0DC, Exhausted I -5DC, Elite +10DC, Martial Art: Silappadikkaram +10DC, Patti Bandage +5DC, Silambam Staff +5DC, Kama -5DC]
>Armour Value = 25AV [Unnatural Armour +10AV, Patti Bandage +15AV]
>Active Skill = Kama the Life-Lover : -1 Damage

Crit-fail = Suffer a mighty blow (3 degrees of damage sustained AND dismounted/disarmed)
0 Success = Suffer a solid blow (2 degrees of damage sustained)
1 Success = Exchange glancing blows (1 degree of damage inflicted and sustained)
2 Success = Inflict a solid blow (2 degrees of damage inflicted)
3 Success = Inflict a mighty blow (3 degrees of damage inflicted)
Crit-pass = Inflict a killing blow (what it says on the tin)

Doubles Pass = +1 damage ignores opponent AV or Dismounted/Disarmed penalty
Doubles Fail = Dismounted and/or Disarmed penalty

> (1) Personal Combat DC60
>3 rolls of 1d100
> (2) Bleeding (Gladius hispaniensis) DC33
>1 roll of 1d100
> (3) Ego Death (Iovani Steps I) DC33
>1 roll of 1d100

Fucked up the PCDC, it should read 65DC

Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>3477840
The greatest high

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>3477840

Rolled 70 (1d100)

Just rolling enemy AV here, don't mind me and keep rolling

>>3477844
Looks like that ain’t really a problem any more

Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>3477840

>3 Success = Inflict a mighty blow
>6 Damage dealt (Audacious)
>Velu-Maiya, Royal Champion: Slain

"Why - won't - you die?!" Every time he swings his staff of impressive girth around, the air whistles in its passing. None hit. Your footwork is too chaotic, the deceptively sluggish movements affording your body just enough distance to continuously evade his attacks. He slams his quarterstaff two-handed in a downward crash in a futile effort to bash your skull in - not close enough - and that is when you strike.

And what a strike.

Like a serpent freshly awakened from its winter hibernation, you spring forward with cold, unfeeling precision. There is nothing beautiful about the next moment; no fanciful sword-dance or dramatic upswing of the blade. Those things are the expected; this stance is anything but. Your dash is suddenly checked, artificially slowed, then in a dreamlike slowness, you open the monk's throat.

Blood spray covers the shocked faces of onlookers violently. You are half covered in his blood yourself. The stink of iron-water is heavy in your nostrils.

"So," you begin conversationally, barely panting. The monk's corpse falls belatedly onto the earth as if still uncertain as to its death. "Will you be surrendering cleanly, or..."

It is then that the first of the Indian vanguard emerge from the fog.

>Try to take the horse and ride away [Medium Dice]
>Stand your ground and prepare for a fight [No Dice, Combat]
>Attempt to get on your mount to fight [High Dice, Combat]
>Other [suggestion]

>>3477893
>Stand your ground and prepare for a fight [No Dice, Combat]

>>3477893
>Attempt to get on your mount to fight [High Dice, Combat]

>>3477893
>stand your ground and prepare for a fight

>>3477893
>>Attempt to get on your mount to fight [High Dice, Combat]

>>3477893
>Attempt to get on your mount to fight [High Dice, Combat]

>>3477893
>>Attempt to get on your mount to fight [High Dice, Combat]

And with the return of the Indic vanguard follows the sound of war. Roll three 1d100.

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>3478002
Common gimme that 1

Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>3478002
Check em

>>3478002

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>3478002

>>3478002

>>3478028
No failures, only happy little accidents.

Writing

>Doubles Fail

Venus damn it. "You! Horse!" you shout lamely, then realise that you haven't given the Nisaean horse a name. The onrush of men is making it skittish, the lack of proper military training making itself clear despite its long and storied heritage. You cannot breed discipline. You swear to yourself then and there that the first thing you will do after you go to a safe spot is name the damned horse. Getting some proper armour and shield will be the second thing.

And maybe get the damned thing trained. You have enough horsemen to do that, at least.

"Fucking Juno," you mumble quietly to yourself as you try to press forward against the flood of Indians to your horse. "That higher-than-thou slut. Are you enjoying yourself watching me struggle?" You never cared for that Troy-hating goddess, who was the reason you were spawned so far away from Rome. Besides, the patron goddess of the gens Iulia was Venus. The rivalry between those two goddesses were mythic. Probably why she went out of her way to piss on your pudding, actually.

Of course, you have no proof she arranged all the bad things in your life. But if not her, who? Fortuna herself?

"My lord!" Vishtapah shouts, trying to get to you, but it is impossible even for the elite cavalryman. The disorganised rabble running around causes a congestion that not even his mighty steed can trample, not without some room to begin a charge.

"Vishtapah! Ride out, you fool!" you shout desperately. It's a wonder you haven't been stabbed yet, the panicking Indians running by you without sparing a glance. "You can't win against footmen this close to the enemy formation! Ride out and charge back in-"

You stop dead. Panicking soldiers. They are running away.

"Thárros, syntrófoi!" A row of spears materialise through the gaseous mist of the heavy morning fog, their points bloodied but holding. Bits and pieces of the recently departed dangle on the point-tipped edge, sometimes slipping down the length of the xyston, to the disgust of the wielder. "For-ward! Show the damned Romaioi who fucking invented the art of heavy infantry!"

"Oh for feth's sake, we aren't Roman!" grumbles a voice you know very well. "I'm as Greek as the lot of you. In fact, Greeker, seeing as I haven't been living in some swampland for the past twenty years!"

It's Galen.

"Where is your Hellenic pride?" retorts the Atreidae officer good-naturedly. "The long xystons and rows of hoplites? Shortswords! Towering shields! You may as well wear those hideous horse-hair helms and flaunt your crimson cloaks! You have forfeited your Greek card with those ridiculous costume-show, my good fellow."

>>3478083

>"The aesthetic implications of my men's accoutrements aside, they make an effective fighting force, do they not?" [DIGNITAS]

>"Galen! Nameless Greek! It is good to see you both." [COMITAS]

>"Silence in the ranks! What have I taught you regarding legionary discipline, Galen?" [DISCIPLINA]

>Custom [write-in]

>>3478086
>"Galen! Nameless Greek! It is good to see you both." [COMITAS]
Lel

>>3478086
>Galen! Nameless Greek! It is good to see you both.

"Galen! Galen of Suerna!"

Galen's helmed face swerves at your voice. "Alright, who was that? I told you lads that it will be a week in the brig with nothing but bread and water if I heard that nickname again- oh."

A round of snicker within the legionary ranks fills the pause, until the decurions behind them slap the helmets of those guilty of laughing. The junior NCOs have their heads on straight at least.

"It is very good to see you and your friend here," you say warmly, walking up to the man and clasping his shoulder.

"I didn't expect to see you here, Commander," Galen says awkwardly. "Also could you not call me that moniker?" he adds under his breath.

"You really saved our guanciale there," you smile, pointing at Vishtapah who is being helped with legionaries shooing away the Indians who were trying to unhorse him to steal the mount.

"Who is this young man, Galen?" the Atreidae officer asks, raising an aristocratic eyebrow quizzically. "He absolutely reeks of blood, as if he showered in it."

Ah, a fop. Here was a man who gloried in battle, yet turned his eyes away from the disgusting reality of it. Spilled guts held more than just blood. The innards of men contained all sorts of nasty (and foul-smelling) things, not least of which was the shit. It is a sure sign of a green officer, one who uses his uniforms to attend parties more than see to battles. Then again, the Atreidae were mostly house guards. They didn't have any reason to participate in large-scale conflicts like this, until now.

>"Long story. You wouldn't believe it, but I faced the Royal Champion of the Indians, who promised me the hand of the Chera princess!" [COMITAS]

>"No time for that now. I need an update on the status of the battle. Is Ariamnes safe? Any word from our second prong attack led by my cavalry?" [SEVERITAS]

>"I was duelling with the representative from the Chera dynasty in order to stall the main body of the army from continuing forward and supporting their vanguard. No, seriously." [VERITAS]

>Custom [write-in]

>>3478153
>"I was duelling with the representative from the Chera dynasty in order to stall the main body of the army from continuing forward and supporting their vanguard. No, seriously." [VERITAS]

>>3478153
>Veritas

>>3478153
>>"No time for that now. I need an update on the status of the battle. Is Ariamnes safe? Any word from our second prong attack led by my cavalry?" [SEVERITAS]

>>3478153
>[SEVERITAS]

>>3478153
>"No time for that now. I need an update on the status of the battle. Is Ariamnes safe? Any word from our second prong attack led by my cavalry?" [SEVERITAS]

File: Blacklance.jpg (69 KB, 498x712)

69 KB JPG

"The Parthians? Well after you gave the order to charge..."

---

You are Ariamnes, faithful servant of Ahura Mazda, occasional seer, and clinically insane - or so they say. But few madmen have fought and led as you have.

The following segment determines the fate of Ariamnes and the Equites Cataphractarii Parthi. Each Doubles Fail in Personal Combat Dice results in the death of a Parthian knight elsewhere in the battlefield.

"The will of the Lord is the law of righteousness." You recite. Most of your men are scattered within this battlefield, the confluence of war having turned them aside. But you still have five men, ready for the charge once more.

"Khshnaothrâ Ahurahe Mazdâo," reply your brethren, voices strong despite the funny muffling effect their neck-guarded armour have. Shattered lances are replaced, tired horses given a breather.

"Broken, broken be Shaotan Ahreman. Let his treachery not reach me." You do not need to replace your kontos yet. How many foes has it slain alongside you these past fifteen years? Too many to count. Let this not be the last charge, Lord of Wisdom, you offer a silent prayer. I have yet to battle this water-mill they say exists in Sinae.

You ignore the itch to simply dismount and begin butchering where the enemy stand; the heavy cavalry is at its most destructive with the charge, which means temporary withdrawals after crashing into their ranks. It rankled you, this flight from the enemy in all but name. Only by facing the enemy do the Voices subside...

Remember your training, Ariamnes, you tell yourself. Your faithful steed Huyashta snorts comfortingly, sensing your struggle.

Wheeled chariots send arrows your way, making sure they are carefully out of reach. An errant bolt or two hits, but they do not penetrate the thick iron scales of your armour.

"Are we readied?" you ask your fellow countrymen. Nobles and exiles all, they who willingly followed your banishment out of the City of Kings, all because of a poem and an error. You once bemoaned the loss of your attendants and armies.

Wisdom set in, and you came to appreciate these few but dauntless men that accompanis you still.

Tirdat, son of Arya-brz-ana responds to your question. "We are readied, lord." A hesistant pause. "Do you think Vishtapah reached the young Greek?"

"The Lord of Wisdom protects his servants," you reply.

"Mazdayasnō ahmi," Tirdat replies. "God's order is the best of all good."

Of course, that Greek child was no servant of Ahura Mazda. Or Greek. He was-

"Silence!" you shout at the Voice. "Not now. I must keep focus."

>>3479329

>Belligerent - Exchange of Blows does not inflict damage; +1 Damage to Foe if any unsaved damaged is inflicted.
>Blackwood Kontos
>Insanely Outnumbered: -40DC Nullified (Lord of War, Madness of Ariamnes)

Ariamnes I: Healthy
Tirdat, Servant of Ariamnes: Healthy
Baghadata, Servant of Ariamnes: Healthy
Mazdabandak, Servant of Ariamnes: Healthy
Baxtorzmud, Servant of Ariamnes: Healthy
Rtaxasir, Servant of Ariamnes: Healthy

>Combat = +285DC [Healthy +5DC, Skilled III +15DC, Elite II +20DC, Lord of War +10DC, Equites Cataphractarii Parthi x5 +125DC, Grivpanvar +30DC, Mounted (Nisaean) (Armoured) (War-horse) +45DC, Ebony Lance +20DC, Charge +15DC]
>Armour Value = 45AV [Grivpanvar +40AV, Iron buckler +5AV]
>Active Skill = Remember your Training: Increase the number of dice to prevent Berserk effect

VS

Hanumaram, Warrior-Monk of Murugan: Healthy
Crimson Sash Spearmen x22

>Combat = 255DC [Healthy +5DC, Elite +10DC, Martial Art: Gadayuddha+10DC, Gada +10DC, Crimson Sash Spearmen x22 +220DC]
>Armour Value = 10AV [Unnatural Armour +10AV] Lance during Charge ignores AV
>Active Skill = Meatshield: Generic mobs must be destroyed before the primary combatant can be slain.

Crit-fail = Suffer a mighty blow (3 degrees of damage sustained AND dismounted/disarmed)
0 Success = Suffer a solid blow (2 degrees of damage sustained)
1 Success = Exchange glancing blows (1 degree of damage inflicted and sustained)
2 Success = Inflict a solid blow (2 degrees of damage inflicted)
3 Success = Inflict a mighty blow (3 degrees of damage inflicted)
Crit-pass = Inflict a killing blow (what it says on the tin)

Doubles Pass = +1 damage ignores opponent AV or Dismounted/Disarmed penalty
Doubles Fail = Dismounted and/or Disarmed penalty

> (1) Personal Combat DC80
>3 rolls of 1d100
>(2) Shock and Awe V (Nisaean Warhorses) DC55
>1 roll of 1d100
>(3) Skewer (Ebony Lance) DC50
>1 roll of 1d100
>(4) An Error DC (Madness of Ariamnes) DC50
>2 roll of 1d100 to prevent
>(5) Battle Progress: Doomed - 10DC
>3 rolls of 1d100

Rolled 90 (1d100)

>>3479331
Let's kick things off.

Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>3479331

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>3479331

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>3479331
Shock and Awe V

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>3479331
Kebab

Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>3479331
Don't chimp out, Ariamnes

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>3479331
I'll roll more too I guess

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>3479331
This is (not) the end

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>3479331
Let’s hope we win.

>>3479448
>>3479451
>YOU TRIED SO HARD, AND GOT SO FAR
>BUT IN THE END IT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER

Okay apparently I can't roll multiple different dice together

That or Options really doesn't like me trying to roll that many dice at once. Fine, website - I'll do a 1d22.

Rolled 20 (1d22)

Is it because I capitalised the D in Dice that my rolls don't show?

>>3479465
Ah there we go, I think it's because of the capitalisation after all. Not going to bother rolling for the Warrior-Monk, because he's very, very dead with 20 of his comrades-in-arms fleeing.

>>3479465
Yeah, you gotta be very particular.

Rolled 51, 92, 55, 94, 39, 37, 2, 86, 42, 71, 48, 27, 43, 55, 13, 81, 81, 31, 82, 90, 44, 67 = 1231 (22d100)

>>3479465
Yes, lowercase only

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>3479331
Here's that 10th die you needed, if you still need it

>2 Success = Inflict a solid blow (2 degrees of damage inflicted) +1 Damage (Belligerent)
>Skewer - Ebony Lance penetrates a second target for reduced damage (2 Damage)
>20 Damage dealt!
>Madness of Ariamnes: Prevented
>Shock and Awe: Crimson Sash Spearmen x20 has fled!
>Crimson Sash Spearmen x2: Skewered
>Hanumaram, Warrior-Monk of Murugan: Slain
>Battle Progress: Still Doomed (?)
I was expecting this guy to last at least three turns, damn...talk about overkill. Note to self: buff enemies

And just like that, the seemingly impenetrable ranks of spearmen crumbles like goat cheese. Even as the great body of Indic infantrymen chase the Sihanese, in this particular corner of the war a slaughter of a different kind is happening. Pleading, crying, even throwing down their spears and kneeling, these royal guardsmen babble for mercy in their unintelligible language.

Ahura Mazda save them in their ignorance. You kill them where they stand, uttering a silent prayer for every life. May they be cleansed of their heretical beliefs in death.

"Shall we ride out to prepare another charge, lord?" Tirdat asks. The men are spent - you don't need to see them to know that, their voices alone speak to the strain they have endured. Godlike horses or otherwise, there is a limit to the length of time that men can strain against the heavy scale armour.

"Optimistic as always, Tirdat. Do you think you can manage one more charge?"

"With you at the helm? You fight like two men by yourself, my lord," he smiles weakly below his face-helm. "No doubt we'll manage."

A tempting offer. You begin to reply, but a shrill trumpeting sound interrupts your train of thought. You turn around to see the titanic creature that befouled the ancient Macedonian king's plan to dominate the earth, its massive trunk-like legs shaking the very ground you stand on. On its broad back is a miniature-tower where three archers fire their deadly bolts with the height advantage their mount affords.

Rtaxasir whistles, impressed. "They managed to wake the elephant."

Now that's just unfair. You can't run from a challenge like that.

>"We have held on as long as we could. Alexandros' legion should be marching in to fill the void left behind by the Easterners by now." [Ride out to safety]

>"Sound the war-horns, Tirdat! Let the beast know that we have our own challenge calls to meet its bestial cry!" [Lead your men in killing the elephant]

>"Leave me, Tirdat. Lead the others to safety so that you can fight another day. Alexandros will have need of your assistance." [Turn around and joust against the elephant]

>Custom [write-in]

Elephant warfare is a niche enough topic that I think I should mention this: cavalry charging into it is a very bad idea. But it's up to you.

>>3479625
>"We have held on as long as we could. Alexandros' legion should be marching in to fill the void left behind by the Easterners by now." [Ride out to safety]
As much as I want to fight an elephant, discretion is the better part of valor.

>>3479625
>Buff enemies
Did you SEE Ariamnes’ bonuses? Anybody is fucking dead when that dude charges them. Also, recall the relative trouble Caeser had that only was bypassed because his healing gave him a serious DC advantage.

>"Leave me, Tirdat. Lead the others to safety so that you can fight another day. Alexandros will have need of your assistance." [Turn around and joust against the elephant]
>Implying Ariamnes can pass this challenge
How can one fell a water-mill when you turn tail at the elephant?

>>3479625
>leave me, Tirdat. Lead the others to safety.

Yeah am just becuase we pass one with flying colors just means luck. I would look at the percentages of things happening before anything else. We sometimes roll like shit too.

>>3479638
In my defence, I didn't expect anons to make a save from the Berserk roll given our history with bad dice. You make a good point about Caesar's literally divine constitution allowing him to press on where others would falter.

War is exhausting business, and people in pitched combat will incur said penalties VERY quickly as battle extends. The reason Caesar hasn't been feeling that effect is because he's a (demi)god. I was hoping to showcase what "very good fighter but still mortal" guys would be like with stacking Exhaustions and all that shit, but man, their massive bonuses won out in the end with a single charge :P

And thus I throw out: SURPRISE ELEPHANT!

>>3479625

>"We have held on as long as we could. Alexandros' legion should be marching in to fill the void left behind by the Easterners by now." [Ride out to safety

Charging elephants..... how about no

P.S. I swear this is the hardest update I had to write, literally scrapped it whole four times. I wish I was better at writing battle scenes.

Or writing in general.

I am interested whether anons will go for it or not. Might be a good litmus test for how anons react to... challenges.

>>3479657
You did good boss, it was a thoroughly glorious update

>>3479657
Gloriously charging an elephant sounds wondeful

>>3479662
Thanks, was really thrown off by the unexpectedly okay rolls. Here I was, all prepared to write teary-eyed goodbyes to dying comrades all around you, then suddenly you just terrify the lot and skewer the rest! Damned Fortuna getting in the way *shakes fist*

>>3479650
>>3479657
>>3479665

I’m telling you, basically everything you right reads amazingly. A serious knack for dialogue. Don’t worry about combats being too easy or whatever, because they always are extremely fun to read.

>>3479667
Behind every line, behind every dialogue...

...is FortunaQM typing and deleting and typing and stealingcomparing with Black Company Quest and re-deleting and re-typing and looking up esoteric Avestan words and finding out nobody knows what this specific thing is called because the FUCKING GREEKS rewrote everything into their language, AAAARGH! Thanks for the words of encouragement!

(Not trying to start fishing for compliments, just wanted to respond to the thumbs-ups - I'm still open to taking criticism in areas you may feel are lacking)

>>3479625
>>"We have held on as long as we could. Alexandros' legion should be marching in to fill the void left behind by the Easterners by now." [Ride out to safety]
I *really* want to fight that elephant, but I don't want Ariamnes dying before he reaches that final showdown with the watermill.

>>3479671
>>3479667
I fully back this guy FortunaQM, we really enjoy the fruits of your effort

>>3479694
I don't know, this anon >>3479638 makes a compelling point. Can someone who couldn't fight an elephant joust against the water-mill?

>>3479638
>>3479702
You underestimate the elephant.

>>3479671
But as a certain someone said, the world only cares about the results. The means for generating your writing are largely irrelevant, what with the not-for-profit nature of quests. You could probably just dress up some Xenophon in modern English and call it a quest and most of us wouldn’t much mind it. I suppose if I had to critique the quest at all, it’d just be the changing bent of it (Going from seemingly “realistic” to blatantly supernatural and back again). But even that is attributable to the two-sided nature of the narrative itself.

I know it might seem like I’m just praising you for the sake of it, but oftentimes I’ve found (through some personal experience I might add) that QMs worry a bit too much about their work being
illegitimate because “I’m just aping someone else” or “there’s no grand plan here, I’m making up so much on the fly, isn’t this all just DM Fiat?” when the truth of the matter is that so long as the posts are gucci and the votes meaningful, all is well. I’ve been following Levy Quest, and when I found out the QM was literally making it all up as he went along it was really funny but also was an exemplary example of what I’m talking about here.

>>3479752
Originality is, funnily enough, the bottom of my concern! I mean, I did begin with an almost word for word copy of Julius Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico and its introduction of the Gaelic race. It is pretty darn hard to find good pictures in this setting that isn't just hoplites and romans, which made me try to be better in describing things - things that we modern people don't even fully know of. How I word things, how I describe things - these tend to be my chief concern for the most part.

Man, that supernatural-realism balance is a finicky thing. Especially in a quest where we're a (demi)god. I think the biggest issue there was the suddenness with which I started putting magic into the setting, not the existence of magic itself. Given that we're going to NotChina, some measure of magic is bound to occur.

I definitely used the Dream sequence too closely together. The impetus for that decision was actually to let Caesar speak with Augustus before the latter died, but the unnecessary magic-dream bit occupied the stage for too much, when the readers were apparently unwilling to go through the mostly-tread ground.

>>3479793
yeah but still, that Julius/Augustus interaction was great

>>3479625
>>"We have held on as long as we could. Alexandros' legion should be marching in to fill the void left behind by the Easterners by now." [Ride out to safety]

>>3479625
>"We have held on as long as we could. Alexandros' legion should be marching in to fill the void left behind by the Easterners by now." [Ride out to safety]
Don't attack an elephant on horseback. Just don't.

>Did not go berserk
>"We have held on as long as we could. Alexandros' legion should be marching in to fill the void left behind by the Easterners by now." [Ride out to safety]

You can feel the relief radiating from your brothers-in-lances. They live to fight another day. Still... an elephant would have made a magnificent trophy in your pile of victories. Children would have heard for a hundred generations, the Knight who charged at the Elephant -

"Shut. Up." You grit your teeth, trying to get the Voice out of your head. Ifs and maybes, possibilities and should-haves; the intermittent narration comes and goes according to the whim of the cruel voice, second-guessing your decisions, throwing doubts on a course already laid - though most of the time it is not addressed to you. You are not the main character in this tale, after all.

The others do not respond to your "fits". They have ridden with you for this long. Become used to the verbal outbursts. If only they knew how bad things really were.

Ahura Mazda, deliver your servant from the torment of the voice of Ahreman, you pray feverishly, as you and your men ride off away from the converging spearmen.

---

"Ariamnes portrayed uncommon restraint," you remark. "I thought he would definitely go for the elephant." You've taken off the blood-drenched ceremonial armour and the wolfpelt cloak for something more breezy. The sun has taken off the horizon, dispelling with its arrival the heavyset fog that was hanging in the pre-dawn morning.

"So did I," Galen says. The three of you (the hoplite officer included) are drinking a local drink in the shade of the command tent. Hot water brewed with some sort of a leafy plant; its taste is not disagreeable to you, having an oddly calming effect. "The old man and the rest of his men are resting back in their own tents."

"And no casualties, you say?" That is unexpected.

"They were mostly in the periphery of the enemy columns, focusing on the chariots," the Atreidae officer named Xanthippos replies. "As you can see on the battle map here," - he taps with an officer's cane - "and here, they were thankfully not mired by enemy infantry when Lord Ariamnes sounded his horn for retrea- tactical withdrawal."

Well, looks like all that armour counted for something. "And the Indian defenders?"

"Routed," Galen says with a self-satisfied grin. "The Easterners did what they were supposed to, which is blunt the initial enthusiasm of the enemy. After killing then chasing such a large group, they were not prepared when we marched in through the fog. It would have been good if we had cavalry to chase down the runaways, but all of them were busy setting fire to the municipal center of the city."

>>3482547

It was a near thing, but isn't it always with you, Caesar? "Gentlemen, I think we have attained unqualified success." You clink your fragile clay-baked cup together with Galen.

"I'm sure that Lady Tzi is going to be happy about the loss of three quarters of her men," the Atreidae officer says sarcastically.

"But that is just the thing, Atreides. Do you not see? Her position is severely weakened with the loss of most of her forces militant - or at least, what passed as such in that rabble." You lean back on the foldable army chair, luxuriating in the soothing effect of this warm chai spreading throughout your body. She will have to recoup her losses in some way or another - accepting a considerable sum of money in leading you toward Sinae, for example.

Xanthippos blinks. "You know," he says slowly, "you're not so bad, for a Harkonnen. I half expected my men to get shafted the way your house usually does with its "allies"."

Apparently shafting Lady Tzi is fine in his book.

>"And you're not as much of a tight-arse as I expected from an Atreides." [COMITAS]

>"One can hardly choose one's blood." [DIGNITAS]

>"My father may have only belonged in a cadet branch of the Harkonni, but that does not mean I will suffer insults to my family." [PIETAS]

>"This infantile tribalism between our two houses really must stop. It gets in the way of progress - look how much we can do, when we are together." [PRVDENTIA]

>>3482548
>>"One can hardly choose one's blood." [DIGNITAS]

>>3482548
>"This infantile tribalism between our two houses really must stop. It gets in the way of progress - look how much we can do, when we are together." [PRVDENTIA


I wonder if we should talk about setting up a supply/colonists line with him now.

>>3482564
Voting for this as well

>>3482548
>"This infantile tribalism between our two houses really must stop. It gets in the way of progress - look how much we can do, when we are together." [PRVDENTIA]

>>3482564
Support

>>3482548
>>"This infantile tribalism between our two houses really must stop. It gets in the way of progress - look how much we can do, when we are together." [PRVDENTIA]

You tsk disprovingly. "And here I thought we were having a moment. This infantile tribalism between our two dynasties really must stop, Xanthippos. Look at the battlefield below us." Not a difficult thing to do - it is getting harder to ignore the rising smell of body rot now that the sun is out. "A kingdom bowed and broken, its nobility fleeing to their last bastion for refuge. See how much we can do when we cooperate!"

The Atreides commander shrugs. "It's not for me to decide," he says. "Like you, I am only a commander of men. The direct descendants of Atreus get all the administrative positions, overseeing and safeguarding the moving of trade."

"Ah, but one is never only a commander of men," you comment cryptically. "The respect of soldiers can do wonders for an enterprising young man like you."

"There's the wiley Harkonni talk," Xanthippos chuckles. "Tempting, but no. I am quite happy where I am, thank you very much. And we Atreidae actually put stock in loyalty to the family, unlike yours. But you gave me something to think about regarding inter-house cooperation."

"Take as long as you need," you tell him. "There are plans in motion that might require both the Atreidae and the Harkonni merchant fleets. All in good time," you put your finger against your lip in response to the Atreides' questioning look. "All good things come to those who wait."

And you have waited a very long time indeed.

---

The monks and the nobles having withdrawn into the palace fortress of the Archer King, Caesar instructed the men to construct a fortified castrum as was his custom while they waited for the Indian captain's promise. That man was playing a different game, he was sure, but Venkata had not explicitly betrayed them. There was the assassination attempt that Caesar suspected was engineered by Venkata, but that had been to prompt the quick alliance between the different merchant captains.

It was noon when the gates finally opened, revealing a party of charioteers, this time waving the traditional colours for parley instead of displaying their bows and arrows. When they approached the wooden fort, its messenger shouted before the walls that Venkata had slain the fratricidal tyrant Nedum, and put in place the only remaining son of Uthiyan. What the messenger neglected to mention was the fact that he was the sole royal heir due to Venkata's execution of the rest. Under orders of the late Nedum, of course. That did not completely absolve the old army captain in Caesar's eyes.

>>3483112

>But Caesar was nothing if not a practical man. He agreed to cease hostilities with the new King of the Chera Dynasty, in reality puppeted by Venkata. In return, he and the other two trader dynasties would receive preferential treatment from the royal court in perpetuity.

>Caesar was especially incensed at the lack of mention of the bars of urukku, or crucible-steel, that he was supposed to receive. He demanded that Venkata show himself at once to explain this breach in their agreement.

>Custom [write-in]

>>3483112
>Caesar was especially incensed at the lack of mention of the bars of urukku, or crucible-steel, that he was supposed to receive. He REQUESTED that Venkata show himself at once to explain this breach in their agreement.

"Surely it is easier to provide a one off payment then house and placate an ally scorned"

>>3483131
>>3483117
This

>>3483112
I must admit I am torn, on one side, I want out urukku, on the other side, this kingdom cooperation is necessary for our plans down the line....

>>3483112
Supporting >>3483131

>>3483131
Voting for this. Venkata is a crafty man and he pushes the limits of our patience with such oversights.if we give an inch he will take a mile

>>3483140
>>3483209
>>3483338
>>3483131

The polite but firm request was relayed back to the palace by the charioteer, who Caesar noticed seemed inexperienced in driving the vehicle. The warrior-nobles and monks who fled into the supposed safety of the palace must have been taken care of by Venkata.

When the messenger emerged once more on the gaudy contraption on wheels, he was carrying an invitation into the Palace. The court, the letter explained, was completely pacified of "our mutual enemy". Alexandros and the other chiefs of the alliance was being blessed with the opportunity to attend the coronation of the new king, it continued. There was still no mention of the promised metal.

>Caesar had the messenger captured and bound, and at the same time ordered for his siege engineers to begin construction suitable equipments. He was not going to start another battle, but a general should be prepared for the worst.

>Confident in his ability to prevail through any situation were it to turn out to be a trap, Alexandros accepted the invitation, ordering a few good men to attend him in his visit to the newly-crowned Archer-King.

>Custom [write-in]

>>3483382
>Caesar had the messenger captured and bound, and at the same time ordered for his siege engineers to begin construction suitable equipments. He was not going to start another battle, but a general should be prepared for the worst.

>>3483382
>Confident in his ability to prevail through any situation were it to turn out to be a trap, Alexandros accepted the invitation, ordering a few good men to attend him in his visit to the newly-crowned Archer-King, and at the same time ordered for his siege engineers to begin construction suitable equipments. He was not going to start another battle, but a general should be prepared for the worst.

>>3483382
>Custom write in
Caesar wise in his years knows the danger of both total acceptance and refusal, I will meet Venkata on neutral ground outside the city walls equal distance between our camp and the city. We will each bring a retinue of 4 only one of these men is to be armed. If Venkata acquiesces to this request we will forgive his accidental oversight on the metals promised to us

>>3483516
By forgive you mean let go of your claim toward the crucible-steel?

>>3483382
>Caesar had the messenger captured and bound, and at the same time ordered for his siege engineers to begin construction suitable equipments. He was not going to start another battle, but a general should be prepared for the worst.

>>3483539
Yes sorry I was not clear in my post. I mean we will forgive the fact he forgot the steel, for the sake of our relationship. but it would a gesture of good faith of he could show he can deliver on previously struck agreements otherwise how can we rely on him for future occasions

>>3483382
>>Caesar had the messenger captured and bound, and at the same time ordered for his siege engineers to begin construction suitable equipments. He was not going to start another battle, but a general should be prepared for the worst.

>>3483382
>Confident in his ability to prevail through any situation were it to turn out to be a trap, Alexandros accepted the invitation, ordering a few good men to attend him in his visit to the newly-crowned Archer-King. Nonetheless, he had his soldiers begin preparations for an extended siege.

Hello, just wanted to notify the readers that I'm too exhausted to post now. RL has a cruel way of reminding one that it still exists. I'll make a new thread when things ease up and I can make the daily updates that I have been making so far.

Thanks a bunch for being such agreeable readers.

>>3486411
Take it at your own pace dude. As long as you keep writing like you do, you'll churn out quality so don't be too harsh on yourself. Namesake be with you.

File: e1276960699306.jpg (203 KB, 800x1081)

203 KB JPG

Ariamnes for best secondary character!

>>3486411
It's over. He's dead

>>3499435
I like to think I do a pretty good job about keeping players informed instead of disappearing off the blue. Not dead yet, just really busy with life.

Even the weekends.