A, P, B's of Training

Log Info

• Title: A. P. B's of Training
• Emitter: Ashes
• Characters: Auranar, Boaz, Percy
• Place: A03: The Colosseum
• Time: Wednesday, August 25, 2021, 7:37 PM
• Summary: The Explorer's Guild has arranged for some basic training for new members. This time it is being done solo by Firestarter, although she has come cue cards that were prepared by Lars. She greets Auranar and Percy as they arrive, and explains what she is going to teach them. It's a repeat of the previous scenario, where there will be imaginary scorpions to attack at range, then melee, starting with a surprise round. Both attendees realize they didn't bring armour, fortunatey Auranar has spells, and she puts mage armour on Percy. Percy, has only her sword, and draws it. Boaz, a goldenscale Sith'Makar arrives late and is sad to hear all the combat will be 'imaginary'. They are instructed to shoot, and both Auranar and Boaz flub their arrows, and Percy brought none, so she runs up and attacks the targets with a sword. It's a learning experience, after all. Firestarter recalls them, then asks her to hit her. Boaz attacks with claws, Auranar uses a ray spell that won't actually hurt, and Percy is unwilling to strike her teacher. Firestarter uses this opportunity to explain non-lethal attacks. This is followed by a round where she says she'll hit back the one who hits her hardest. This is Boaz, as Auranar and Percy can't land blows on an actively defending hob-brawler. Unfortunately, as she moves to attack, Firestarter trips ignominiously. She explains they've covered everything except grappling, which she doesn't want to do, and thanks all for coming.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A03: The Colosseum *>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Crafted largely of stone, the Colosseum sits heavily in the midst of the district. Effectively a giant arena, seats form its sweeping sides like the forefront of a great stage. At its center is a stained, stone floor. Each end is overseen by the opposing statues of Kor and Angoron, their arms raised and each holding weapons in gestures of triumph. Staged at a crossroads, their stone gazes stand in eternal challenge over the battlefield floor. Angoron's statue appears to have something of a smirk, opposing Kor's dreadful scowl.

Construction here is on the massive scale. The Arena's stone form was carried piece by piece from the Redridge. Borne on the shoulders of ancient oruch and formed by the tireless hands of the khazad, it is second to none in ancient craftsmanship. Old tribal and clan symbols, nearly worn away, reveal themselves when blood and sweat pools in their minor crevices. Their unusual display brings to life, if only for moments, memories of warrior traditions past. It is for this reason the Arena serves as a diplomatic grounds for some cultures, as well as sport and competition.

Beneath the arena's stage are preparation rooms for competitors, and retiring areas for the wounded. Here, warriors are tended to by aids and medics, by coaches and priests. Tarianic laughter echoes from the chambers on the Angorite side. These unseen areas run alongside a cleverly, khazad-designed system to flood the arena's floor for certain performances. When flooded, the arena draws waters from the nearby Tornmawr. During these occasions anything is possible, as even the Nar-Sektoth have been known to visit from far off Am'shere, and display their powers beneath the gods' banners.

The encircling seats provide a grand view, while vendors often walk the aisle ways between, selling food or taking bets. Clear as blood is the single, red line drawn down the arena's center between the twin statues, daring an opponent to cross.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=
Auranar      4'8"     123 Lb     Wild Elf          Female    A wild elf with dark skin and a red dress.
Percy        5'5"     121 Lb     Dawn Elf          Female    An expressive llyranesi with a big blade.  
Boaz         7'0"     292 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      Golden Sith with silver arm and bronze leg.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  NPCs of Note  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Firestarter                      Hobgoblin         Female    A flame coloured, barbarian brawler with attitude.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  As the GM  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ashes        5'11"    177 Lb     Hobgoblin         Female    A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

The explorer's guild has sponsored a series of introductory meetings for new members. At the colosseum, where they can practice working as a team and get to know each other.

New members were directed towards a side of the colosseum where some archery targets were set up, and told to look for an orange hobgoblin. This is an unusual and rare colour for them, typical only of nobility and other highborn.

And an orange hobgoblin does stand near a set of archery targets. She looks like a brawler, with bare arms and a breastplate, showing off well defined muscles. She's also several other colours, red in cooler areas, with a warm yellow nose and streaks on her ears. She's glancing around nervously, holding a set of cards.

"Introduce yourself," She reads it to herself, then waves, "Hello, I'm Firestarter. Are you coming to today's class?"

Auranar had heard about this, and although she considered herself something of a veteran, she knew that she could use a little more 'combat' training, and it seemed like a cool thing to do with Percy. So she'd asked the other woman to come along, well... all but dragged her really. She led Percy right up to the hobgoblin, dressed in clothes that were clearly not intended for fighting in. "Yes! We'd like to sign up!"

Her voice was bright and cheerful, and her expression matched, and she urged silently for Percy to speak up. "I am Auranar, and this..." She gave Percy a pat on the back, further encouragement to introduce herself.

Percy coughed embarrassed. "Um I'm Percy, yes we are here for the class." Percy tied her long blond hair into a ponytail and looked at Auranar with slight surprise with the little encouraging push and glanced at her sword which Percy carried on her back.

"Okay. Hello Auranar, and Percy." Firestarter says, looking both directly in the face and meeting their eyes, one after the other. She is awkward and stiff. Most hobgoblins are in the stoic, rigid zone, not one to show weakness. Or uncertainty, especially a lack of confidence.

She glances down at her card, frowns and scowls, flips the first one to the back and reads the second. Again, aloud to herself, "Explain the class. Tell them what you're going to tell them. Tell them, then tell them you told them. Learning comes in threes."

She looks up, blinks. Her eyes are amber, "So... uh... it's my first time doing this. Normally I'm the assistant. We're going to do a practice fight, like, pretend you're surprised, then you'll shoot some targets, and then melee weapons."

Back and forth, "Um... are you casters too? Your clothes are..." Clothes.

Auranar blinks at the question, then grins. "How can you-" She starts and then realizing that her clothes set her apart from the fighters... blushes. Certainly a red dress with gold piping and boots that are more for dress than they are for walking are not the usual clothing options for someone about to walk into combat. She remembers this conversation with Sandy. Something about not fighting in a dress until she had a little more experience. The blush deepens. "Ah, that is... I am. Should... I have worn something else?"

Percy blinked and thought to herself "Clothes?...Oh! Right, I'm not wearing armor, how could I forget to buy some at an armory store." Percy's face flushed with embarrassment but she wore a big smile. "Ahaha I can see how you would think that, I myself am only a fighter, no magic in these bones!" Percy regained her confidence and the pink from her face had faded away; she even carefully showed her large sword she was so proud of.

Firestarter is armoured, a rather shiny breastplate that has a pleated metal skirt attached. She has greaves and vambraces. It all looks vaguely military, but also as if some parts are missing. Perhaps removed for mobility, or lost in some misadventure.

There is a big earthbreaker standing beside her, head resting on the ground.

Firestarter nods again, running a hand through her hair and looking at her cards, "Armour does help! I like it. Yes. Um, armour's great!" Another glance at the cards, she mumbles, "caster excep... Yes, we covered that. Okay. So..."

She points at the targets. "Imagine those are Giant Scorpions! And that they appear right when I say go. So when I say go, get your weapons out and react as fast as you can!"

"I really like your sword." Firestarter tells Percy. "So..."

"Go!"

Auranar flushes even deeper in the realization that she brought her friend - a fighter - without any armor either. But she manages to take a breath and steady herself. At least until the instructor yells 'go' and then... What is she supposed to be doing? She fumbles around a little bit, trying to remember if she has any weapons on her. "AH!" She lets out an intelligent exclamation and makes a quick arcane gesture that ends with her touching Percy lightly on the shoulder. "There! Magical armor!"

She grins, proud of herself for remembering that there was an arcane equivalent to armor, and that it would serve Percy well in actual combat.

GAME: Auranar casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14

Percy drew her sword into a sparing position as soon as she could after hearing the word 'Go' Percy eyes widened at the magical armor. Percy muttered in awe. "Whoa?" Focused again. "Right! Thanks Auranar!" A confident smile spread on Percy's face and swung her sword at an imaginary scorpion.

"NICE!" Firestarter says with a wide grin, her eyes almost glowing as she looks at Auranar. Her name isn't hard to understand. The hobgoblin looks like she's on fire, or a flame in a fixed, monstrous shape. A slightly different shade and one might imagine an otherworldly connection, as it is she's a striking example of the sunrise children. She adds a little more praise, "That's great! You're acting as team already."

The orange hobgoblin watches as Percy swings her sword, catching the speed at which it was drawn, "Also nice.

Her head snaps to the side, "I think another new member is coming."

Indeed, another comes. A seven foot tall Sith with a broad chest and scale mail armor. It's somewhat hard to tell what color of scales he has at first seeing as he's mostly covered and what does show ends up being three different colors all together. Silver, brass and his head is golden.

He walks calmly up towards the orange one and in a voise that's almost painfully deep says, "This one is here for the...training? This one is sorry he is late. The city is new and large."

Auranar stands there, blinking up... up... up at the /very/ tall (to her) sith-makar. "Hello!" She offers the greeting cheerfully she peers at his armor and thinks on the spell she just cast for Percy. It would not be of any use with so much armor. She shakes her head silently, and without explanation before offering her hand to him. She's assuming him with that deep voice. "I am Auranar, and this is Percy." She waves to her companion.

Percy turns around to face the newcomer and smiles and waves cheerfully but her expression turns pouty quickly, muttering. "Ah buttucks, I just got myself killed." Percy lays on the floor and pretends to die very slowly and dramatically. "I have no regrets!" Percy paused for second. "Actually I have one. I never bought my gold paint to paint that dragon, anyway. Bleh, I'm dead."

Pausing again she stood up. "That's right my name's Percy however if it's too short for your liking call me 'Perinatica'!"

"It's ok, it is a big city." The orange hobgoblin says, "I'm Firestarter, and I'm the instructor. So, Boaz, we're doing a pretend fight, as a group. So imagine."

She waves her hand in an odd way and points at the archery butts that are a good distance away, approximately one hundred feet. "Imagine giant scorpions just popped up there. You already reacted, so now you'd want to shoot at them with some ranged weapon."

A glance at Auranar, "or a spell. So. Take a shot with whatever you got and closest to the bullseye gets the highest score."

She stands there, happily waiting, then says, "Oh, and in, how far in counts!"

The tall one turns his body to face the two women, head canting first one way and then the other while his tail moves side to side in a more constant movement. His golden hand reaches out and takes hold of the one Auranar offers, taking hold of it carefully. His scales rough and thick. "This one is often called Boaz by the soft skinned." He nods to Percy as well. "Auranar and Percy." He repeats as if trying to commit them to memory. After letting go he gives the instructor a strange look. His voice giving form to his disbelief. "Pretend?" He almost seems insulted but nods and takes his bow from his shoulder and strings it.

"Yes, pretend Boaz. The Explorer's Guild wants all new members to go through the same orientation." Firestarter says, "And since you were the last, you can be first. Shoot at one of the scorpions."

GAME: Boaz rolls ranged: (2)+4: 6
GAME: Auranar rolls 1d20+4: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL)

Boaz does not say anything more. Rather he pulls arrow from quiver and sets it to string. He pulls back until the bow can be heard straining and he takes aim. He hesitates and then lets fly. Or would let fly had the arrow been notched correctly. The string twangs! but the arrow clatters to the ground. He looks at the fallen failure and growls softly.

Auranar remembers abruptly that she also has a bow, and pulls it from where it rests on her shoulder. Drawing an arrow she nocks it and aims at the 'scorpion' carefully. Draws further... and the arrow launches itself at her foot. The elf is forced to hop backwards quickly to avoid being punctured by her own missile. "ACK! Ah... Sorry!" She could have hit someone! "Still getting used to this!" She flushes.

"Um... these things happen. Sometimes the 'surprise round' is a real surprise." Firestarter says, watching their efforts. "Okay Percy, your turn, shoot at a scorpion."

GAME: Percy rolls weapon7: (19)+7: 26 (THREAT)
GAME: Percy rolls weapon7: (15)+7: 22
GAME: Percy rolls damage7: aliased to 1d10+3: (4)+3: 7
GAME: Percy rolls damage7: aliased to 1d10+3: (5)+3: 8

Percy's eyes followed the arrows as they missed and remembered she wasn't actually dead. Percy ran toward the imaginary scorpion and slashed the target in half, Percy eyes widened as the halves fell. "Whoops? I'm sorry I didn't mean to break it so badly.” Percy glanced at her sword and put it back in its place on her back. "Do I need to pay for that?" Percy smiled nervously.

"Nah, it's okay. I'll tell them it was a really impressive ballista shot." Firestarter grins, and looks over the small group. "Okay, so, in the ranged attacks, um.. Auranar and Boaz, you score zeros for... your..."

She glances down at the cards she's holding, "... good efforts, yeah."

"Percy, it was ranged, but you're the only one that hit it, so that's a four!" The hobgoblin fist pumps in the air.

"So, you'll get a couple rounds, if you're lucky, of shooting at things and then they'll be on you. So, we're going to practice melee attacks next."

"Azog's fighting du... machine is broken. So I'm the machine. I'll stand here, try and hit me with something."

GAME: Boaz RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 4 temporary HP
GAME: Boaz rolls melee: (15)+5: 20
GAME: Boaz rolls melee: (15)+5: 20
GAME: Boaz rolls 1d4+5: (1)+5: 6
GAME: Boaz rolls 1d4+5: (2)+5: 7
GAME: Auranar casts Disrupt Undead. Caster Level: 2 DC: 13
GAME: Auranar rolls 1d20+4: (16)+4: 20

The large lizard looks at Percy who just cleaved the target in half and then back to the instructor. Again an agitated swish of tail side to side and he's about to voice his question when Firestarter says to hit her.

There is no hesitation this time. This is a plain and simple request by the teacher after all.

He sucks in a deep breath and tosses his head back and roars, claws forming on the ends of his real and false hands as he pounds forward and slashes with the silver followed by the gold. Two nice solid strikes and he stands there puffed up and growling as the claws fade away.

Gnnn! Unf! Firestarter grunts as she's hit, and blood is drawn. Instinctively her fists pop up, after the strike. She's dropped into a stance, and then slowly she stands back up again. "Okay, that was good. Nice."

"Auranar, you're next, hit me!" She stands still and tenses up.

Auranar tries to think of a spell that she can cast at the instructor. One that will not actually harm the hobgoblin, and one that might actually do something useful. Brightening after a moment, she drops her bow and quickly presses her hands through the air. Murmuring words of the incantation she points at last at the instructor. The beam of light strikes forward from her hand to land true on the instructor... but does nothing. Yet she smiles, satisfied.

Firestarter jerks back as she's hit by the ray, then seems surprised she's unharmed. "Good. Thanks, if that was a ray of something or the magic arrow you mages like, it hit perfectly, and it didn't so... you're thinking best spell for the target."

She's nodding her head, "Good job.”

"Okay Percy, hit me!" Firestarter commands.

Percy stood still as stiff as a board uncomfortably. "Um… Actually I'm not very comfortable attacking you or even bringing harm to you… Sorry." Percy untied her hair and pushed the hair out of her face and returning her arms to rest crossed.

"Hey that's okay, I'm ok with that." Firestarter says, "Sometimes you don't want to kill what you're fighting. That's when you hit with the flat of your sword, or the wide side of your hammer, and do a non-lethal strike. It's a little harder to hit, since you're holding back, but it's good if you get in a fight in a city or need to take prisoners."

She briefly gazes across the colosseum, then returns, "I'm okay if you want to do that."

GAME: Percy rolls weapon7-4: (7)+7+-4: 10

Percy pulls out her sword and hits Firestarter; however, Percy's attack on Firestarter is weak, especially using the blunt side of her sword. Percy put her sword away and made a small squeaking noise. "Are you ok?! Did I hurt you at all??" Percy was skittering around Firestarter looking around her and making sure she didn't hurt her at all.

Firestarter waits for the clang from the impact on her armour to die down, "I'm good Percy, thanks. It.. ah... didn't hurt at all, so much as I'm grateful, I'm going to have to score you zero. Boaz, you hit me twice, so you get a four this round, and Auranar gets three points. So, that's Boaz and Percy leading, and Auranar next."

She doesn't even look down at her cards.

"Okay, so we touched a bit on tactics, with the non-lethal," Firestarter says, "There are other things you can do. The easiest is flanking, you get on one side and a friend gets on the other."

"What you have to watch out for is moving around too close to people, if you're within reach, they might tag you."

The orange hob drops to her fighting stance, "So, this round, I'll be moving, and I want you to think tactical."

"I'm going to hit the one that hits me hardest, back after you've all had a shot."

It almost seems like there's some kind of hidden message going on, "So think tactically."

GAME: Auranar rolls sense motive: (9)+3: 12
GAME: Percy rolls sense motive: (8)+2: 10
GAME: Boaz rolls sense motive: (11)+1: 12
GAME: Boaz rolls melee: (14)+5: 19
GAME: Boaz rolls 1d4+5: (3)+5: 8

Boaz hovers on the edge of rage, blood singing in his ears. His tail makes swipes from side to side that at quick and strong then pause before swiping back. "This one's job." He growls with hands flexing. "To take attention!"

He comes in low and strafes to the side and curling about their teacher, trying to get at her flank. He comes close and lashes out again with claws as the blood takes hold and he roars again, striking hard and once again drawing blood.

Auranar also moves around the instructor, but it's clear that she hasn't the experience with this kind of fighting. She has no weapon, and her hands which are up, are in badly formed fists. She doesn't even strike at the instructor but instead hovers there uncertainly. "Like this?"

Firestarter moves well, there's something almost lizard-like in her fighting style, strong stances, lots of power. She twists, keeping an eye on Boaz, and almost dodges his blow.

Her attention may be split because of Auranar, trying to pull a teaching moment out of the air in the middle of combat. She's sharp, but not that sharp. "Uhh..." She says, as she's hit, ".. uff. Okay, that would be good if you had a weapon, but you aren't dangerous to me right now."

GAME: Percy rolls weapon7-4+2: (12)+7+-4+2: 17
GAME: Boaz uses an AoO! 0 remaining.
GAME: Boaz rolls melee+2: (17)+5+2: 24
GAME: Boaz rolls 1d4+5: (3)+5: 8

Percy's eyes darted across the room as she took her place to flank Boaz. Drawing her sword she swipes with the dull side of the bastard sword however she misses, although Percy was pleased that she had missed; dealing no damage to Firestarter. "Phew."

The blood rager sinks to an even lower crouch as Firestarter begins to move around him, following her with his body so that she stay in front of him and then lashes out when the moment is right. More blood is his reward.

GAME: Ashes rolls 1d20+9: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Percy rolls weapon7-4: (6)+7+-4: 9

Percy swigs her sword again at her target but misses once again. This time Percy eyebrows furrowed, questioning whether she can make a hit with the dull side of her sword at all.

The right moment is perfect. A low claw attack to the shin just as she's about to put weight on it, and the hobgoblin nearly frontflips. Instead, she plants on her face. "Uff! Okay."

She stands, brushing stand from herself, "Okay, good. So four points to Boaz, and it's Boaz, Percy, then Auranar."

She picks up her scattered cards, flips through them attempting to find her place. "So... well, there's not much else. Grappling, magic, you did magic. Grappling was more Lars' thing. He liked to demonstrate."

Her somewhat resting angry expression gets more angry. "I'd say that was it, unless there were questions?"

Boaz shakes himself somewhat like a dog as Firestarter says that is all. His scales seem to loose some of their luster and his shoulders sag under the weight of his own frame.

He takes a breath and stands straight and tall, arm snapping across his chest in a very dwarven salute to the teacher. "This one thanks you for your time and effort, Firestarter. This one shall go and find food and shelter for now. Honor to you." He then faces the others and gives them the same salute before getting his bow and starting off out of the arena.

Auranar grinned at the instructor. "No more questions. But thank you for the lesson. I am a mage so... I really did not know most of this stuff!" She seems genuinely pleased with the lesson. She turns to Percy and offers her friend a smile. "You did really good. Much better than me. We should go shopping for armor together!"

"Yes, armour is good!" Firestarter says, returning Boaz's salute as he heads off. "Mages I'm told like it light, or it interferes with their spells. You can, um, ask mages about that."

"It never hurts to have something to throw or shoot, and that's about all."

The fiery hobgoblin seems relieved and elated to have made it through a course as a solo instructor.

Percy grew a huge smile on her face and hugged Auranar tightly. "You are awesome! Yes lets shop as soon a possible!! After some food though, my stomach is killing me." Percy smiled sheepishly slightly pink.

As her students depart the colosseum Firestarter looks over her cue-cards, "Dammit. I forgot to tell them I told them!" She sighs, "Well at least... no they couldn't shoot either. Well at least Lars wasn't here! Yeah! That's something girl!"