Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
|
Post by Arioch on Mar 7, 2019 18:39:33 GMT
For the past half an hour he could hear the sounds coming from within the arena, the roar of the crowd and even then every once in a while the sound of clashing steel ever so close to the barred gates that would mark his entrance. It was quite a thing, the final countdown. It was not the combat itself that was the worst because that would be just a moment at best... It was the waiting. The uncertainty. The anxiety. The way it built up it was terrible. Instead of meditating like he had done yesterday now he had taken the decision to actually prepare his body for the coming combat, doing warm-up exercises and stretches to be in top shape for when those gates opened and the announcer called up his name as well as his combatants.
His sponsor had a way to spice things up, most fighters needed such a thing in order to appeal more to the crowd. Stories that were often made up, embellished, or tarnished a bit. They made the fighters into characters the crowd could get behind until eventually they became celebrities of their own... if they didn't die out in the arena before getting there. Some veterans had lasted quite a while and the current champion hadn't been unseated in years, and usually most people rooted for those established veterans because they already knew them.
Some because of money, some others because simply they liked their names and their demeanor or the way they dressed or fought. But every now and then there were people who would root for the newcomer, for the underdog, either because they liked those odds or simply because they enjoyed the mistery and the excitement that came from it. Arioch didn't know what strings had his sponsor pulled, but he guessed it would be something that made sense. After all that was how he made his money; by doing the pitch. By selling the fight and trying to arrange his fight to be against someone that would entertain the crowd. The sponsor was the seller and he was the product. And the crowd had to buy him not with money, but with their hearts.
He wondered if the man wasn't actually doing quite the opposite, purposedly sabotaging him due to some underhanded deal he had. That better not be the case, for if it was and he actually won...
Fear was ever present within him, his heart was racing and once he was done warming up he was walking back and forth in his waiting place to match how rushed he felt his own body be. He only ever sat down to sharpen his greatsword further. And then, the moment came. And he felt he was not ready, like it had taken him by surprise, he was in the middle of something else, some other train of thought when one of the managers behind him told him that was his cue. The gates opened.
He took a deep breath and walked out towards the sound of the roaring crowd; breathing heavily, hyped up, ready, summoning the anger within, trying to turn his fear into rage, is hesitation into recklessness, and his victory into courage. He brought up his sword saluting to the crowd, showing off before making it spin in his hand. A simple looking feat, until one realised it was a two-handed sword, heavy, and not a shortsword that hardly weighed anything. It was a show of both prowess and strength. He turned to face his opponent, and let out his own roar, entering a rage. Focusing on the battle.
|
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 19:04:47 GMT
“And now folks, a fight that’s guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seats!” The announcer roared, voice echoing out across the arena. “From the frozen wastelands of the north, we bring you… ARIOCH! He’s new to Waterdeep, but well-practiced at arena combat. Enslaved as a young boy, he was forced to fight for his freedom on a daily basis! Now free, he fights to earn enough money to rescue his long-lost beloved from that same fate!”
“And facing him,” the announcer boomed, “we have the magnificent, the dreadful, the horrifying… Domok the Merciless! We saw Domok last week, when he split the skull of another new contestant with his great axe – and here tonight, we expect no less!”
The crowd was roaring, cheering and stomping. One particularly tiny crowd-member was jumping up and down on her seat, screaming Arioch’s name. A slightly larger one – with a heavy cloud of white hair – grabbed her and pulled her back down.
“Did you place the bet?” Pip asked Thea, wide-eyed.
“Yes – even odds.” Thea whispered back.
“The lightning! Thea, the lightning! You promised!” Pip cried out, eyes wide as she watched Domok come charging into the arena, enormous and ugly, gripping a greataxe in one hand.
“AND NOW – ” The announcer roared. “THE MOMENT YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR – ARIOCH HIMSELF!”
Thea inhaled, squeezing her eyes shut, picturing the letters in her mind, convincing herself that when she opened her eyes, she would see Arioch’s name in dripping lighting over her head, exhaling that deep belief out into the world. As Arioch emerged from the arena, his name would flash like lightning in the sky over Thea and Pip, once – twice – a third time – then vanish into a shower of sparks as the illusion faded.
“AND NOW – “ The announcer’s voice roared even louder. “IT’S TIME – LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!”
“For the glory of Gruumsh!” Domok shook his greataxe in the air. He lowered his gaze to Arioch, and grinned, revealing black and rotten teeth. His feet thumped against the sandy ground as he charged towards the barbarian.
|
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 19:05:11 GMT
Initiative: ncZqLBX11d20+11d20+1
|
|
Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
|
Post by Arioch on Mar 7, 2019 19:09:48 GMT
Initiative: fZiSnqNL1d20+21d20+2
|
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 19:16:39 GMT
Arioch was fast, but perhaps he should have spent a little less time playing with his sword.
Domok closed the distance between them in one, two quick steps, and swung his greataxe twice towards the barbarian, roaring his pleasure in the combat. For him, there was no greater glory, no greater joy, than to fight! He had found the arena to his liking thus far, and looked forward to claiming another victim with his greataxe.
Attack 1, to hit: akpIyUf01d20+6
Attack 1, damage if it hits: 1d12+1d8+4
Attack 2, to hit: 1d20+6
Attack 2, damage if it hits: 1d12+1d8+4
1d20+6·1d12+1d8+4·1d20+6·1d12+1d8+4
|
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 19:18:54 GMT
Oops, re-rolling damage for Attack 2 (since Attack 1 didn't hit, no point re-rolling):
Attack 2 damage: P7QqBlSO1d12+4
1d81d12+4·1d8
|
|
Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
|
Post by Arioch on Mar 7, 2019 19:30:50 GMT
Reckless attack
Power attack (-5/+10)
First attack with advantage
rhTbAJTf1d20+1
1d20+1
If it hits:
2d6+15
1d6+3
Second attack with advantage
1d20+1
1d20+1
2d6+15
1d6+31d20+1·1d20+1·2d6+15·1d6+3·1d20+1·1d20+1·2d6+15·1d6+3
|
|
Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
|
Post by Arioch on Mar 7, 2019 20:17:38 GMT
Arioch was breathing heavily as he entered the arena, but smiled just a bit when he saw something light up in the arena. He could see it, he had no idea what it said but he could see it. And just in that moment, his opponent turned out to be much faster than he had expected and charged at him with unsuspecting speed, almost he would dare to say that wasn't very sporting of the Orc. But that was just fine, this was a fight and such things were the choice of each one of them. It was his fault for wasting time when he too should have just charged the beast. He liked it, he liked the fight that his opponent was an orc, he wouldn't have hesitated to fight another human being but a beast? A beast he could fight to kill and feel no remorse afterwards. It released him, in a way. For he knew for sure the Orc would try to kill him without a doubt, they were remorseless beasts.
The orc came charging at him and swung his greataxe with terrible strength, Arioch barely managed to shift his body to the side but wasn't quick enough, the axe made contact against his half-plate and the blunt impact could be felt through his body even though it was only a scrape with a growl instead he charged at the orc with his shoulder sending him reeling back slightly off balanc, just at the same time that the axe went flying off the Orc's hand, though he hadn't realised this yet. And in that instant he made an upward cut against the arm he used to have the weapon in, and it made contact all the way through his forearm right to where the handle of the weapon would have been before it ended up down at the ground between them.
When it fell down, and he realised this not without some shock he reacted quickly. Arioch kicked it away and plunged his own sword into the sands leaving them both unarmed. With both arms upfront he challenged the beast shouting so hard even the crowd would be able to hear.
"Fight me vith your bare hands if you dare. Go fetch your blade if you don't, Orc."
For someone to challenge an Orc to a bare handed fight was... Well, the Orcs were known for their superior physical strength that efortlessly suprassed that of a human, which made them fearsome in combat and usually something to be dreaded out in any settlement or town without a strong military presence. Regardless, Arioch meant what he said. If he went to fetch the blade he wouldn't use the opportunity to attack him and stab him the back, he'd let it get it back. It was on his own honor (or lack of thereof) to decline and go for the weapon. Though who on earth let their weapon slip away from their hands like that, maybe it was the sweat? But the handles had those stripes to prevent that from happening. Arioch refused to have his victory be tarnished by that happening.
|
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 21:21:43 GMT
It was one of those strange coincidences; the blade of the greataxe seemed to almost scrape along Arioch’s half-plate, never quite connecting, however it might have felt – and then flew out of the orc’s hand, dropping to the ground.
Arioch, striking at the same moment, managed to rip his blade along the orc’s arm, opening up his forearm.
There was a long moment of silence in the arena, and then a prompt chorus of ‘boo’s from spectators at the orc’s embarrassing performance, along with loud chuckles as Arioch kicked the greataxe away.
The orc scowled at the spectators and Arioch in equal measure, blood dripping from his arm to the sand. He spat on the ground to indicate what he thought of Arioch’s offer, turning his back disdainfully on the barbarian, as if daring him to go back on his offer. He picked the great axe up – this time deliberately coiling the strap of the weapon around his wrist, and turned back to Arioch, waiting for him to re-collect his sword. The orc then tilted his head back, letting loose a long, howling battle cry that rippled through the arena, echoing through the air and silencing the booing observers.
The orc charged at Arioch again, swinging his great axe once more.
|
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 21:22:21 GMT
Attack 1: 0Ya3AKgX1d20+6 or 1d20+6
If Attack 1 hits, damage: 1d12+41d8
Attack 2: 1d20+6 or 1d20+6
If Attack 2 hits, damage: 1d12+41d8
1d20+6·1d20+6·1d12+4·1d8·1d20+6·1d20+6·1d12+4·1d8
|
|
Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
|
Post by Arioch on Mar 7, 2019 21:28:22 GMT
Reckless attack
Power attack (-5/+10)
First attack with advantage
9bAO6Vi61d20+1
1d20+1
If it hits:
2d6+15
1d6+3
Second attack with advantage
1d20+1
1d20+1
If it hits:
2d6+15
1d6+3
1d20+1·1d20+1·2d6+15·1d6+3·1d20+1·1d20+1·2d6+15·1d6+3
|
|
Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
|
Post by Arioch on Mar 7, 2019 21:41:08 GMT
The booing from the spectators actually had him slightly worried that they were booing at him for some reason, or at the fight in itself, maybe they were thinking that the Orc was letting go of the weapon on purpose. Him, being right in front of the Orc knew of course for a fact that this wasn't so; there was murderous intent on the beast and it had been an accident. Well, but what could anyone expect from such a beast, certainly any skill it had was born out of his natural strength and not practice or actual struggle. In any case Arioch waited for him to retrieve his weapon, though the provokation was clear he wouldn't give in to it. Yet.
Instead he harnessed the feeling. It would be a victory on his terms. He was strong, but his armor had held firm so far, he was virtually unscathed yet and not feeling the injuries, he was good to go; and he could tell that the beast was starting to bleed noticeable from his wounds. It would take more to bring it down but it was a start. When the Orc went to get his weapon Arioch retrieved his and in a split second the Orc was on the offensive again.
A small clash of steel followed as they moved around until one of the strikes went through as he parried to the side and struck him on the side; thankfully his armor absorbed most of the blow but getting hit by bricks on the ribs was no laughing matter. Gritting his teeth he went on the offensive pushing him back, ending with a savage blow that went upwards right for his head from his groin wanting to split him in two.
|
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 21:54:00 GMT
Attack 1 roll: YPDtAx4F1d20+6
If Attack 1 hits, damage: 1d12+4
1d8
Attack 2 roll: 1d20+6
If Attack 2 hits, damage: 1d12+4
1d8
Bonus Attack roll: 1d20+6
If Bonus Attack hits, damage: 1d12+4
1d81d20+6·1d12+4·1d8·1d20+6·1d12+4·1d8·1d20+6·1d12+4·1d8
|
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 21:56:31 GMT
((forgot to roll with advantage, ok:
Attack 1: XYUwaNXq1d20+6
Attack 2 roll: 1d20+6
Bonus Attack roll: 1d20+6
))
1d20+6·1d20+6·1d20+6 |
|
|
|
Post by moralhazard on Mar 7, 2019 22:09:58 GMT
The orc roared in pain and fury as Arioch’s sword bit into his chainmail, emerging bloodied. The crowd was cheering more loudly again; this was the sort of fight they liked, with two massive weapons and quite a bit of blood.
The orc stumbled a little, his blood flowing freely now, and growled, swinging his axe at Arioch again, aiming once to slash him across the body, again at the body, and a third strike aimed for his legs, meant to cripple him, with all the rage of his warcry packed into those strikes. The second blow missed, but the first and third strikes hit, slashing against his chest with some force on the first, and against his legs with a little more on the third.
|
|
