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Post by moralhazard on May 8, 2019 23:01:44 GMT
After a healing potion and a bit of sleep back in her room, Kara was fully recovered. She knew that she should go find a shift at one of the docks near her inn, but the fight against Thogran was still thrumming through her veins, and it felt – intolerable to stand still and wait. Even the thought of the training space that she shared with other Helmites felt too enclosed. If she was avoiding Rolond, who often trained there – well, Kara didn’t think about that.
Instead, she packed up her glaive and her fishing tackle, and made her way through the north of the city, slipping out the gates and into the woods beyond. For once, she left her half-plate behind, wearing her old patched black tunic over a black shirt, breastband and leggings. She spent a pleasant few hours in meditation; not the quiet sort of sitting and thinking, but the active sort of training. She ran through every training dance she knew, starting with the first and going on from there. The first time, she ran through them at speed. The second time, she went slowly, as slowly as she could manage, physically. The third time, she went fast, as fast as she could while keeping the movements precise, and sometimes faster.
By the end, Kara was soaked in sweat and felt as light as a feather. She rinsed her shirt out in a nearby river and left it to dry over the small fire she’d coaxed to life. She’d had the sense to take her tunic off before she’d started training, so she had something to wear after a quick bath in the cold water. Once her hair was finger-combed and braided into submission, Kara sat at cross-legged at the edge of the river, and fished as she replayed the battle against Thogran in her head, several times, thinking of how she might have done better. Once satisfied that she had learned what she could from it, Kara let it go. She wasn’t ashamed of losing, only hopeful that next time, she might improve.
She cooked two fat fish on a stick over the fire, and dined on them hungrily. Kara left two more fish uncooked for the mother bear whose distinctive, one-claw-missing tracks she’d spotted at the edge of the clearing. Her shirt was dry by then, and Kara put it back on beneath her tunic, warm and comfortable even after she put the fire out. It was a lovely warm night, and her muscles were sore and aching from the long day, but the walk back towards the city stretched them out well enough. It wasn’t that Kara minded sleeping outdoors, but if she meant to work a guard shift somewhere the next day, it was better that she get back. Besides, she certainly didn’t mean to pay for a night at the Bird’s Rest that she wasn’t going to use.
Kara was making her way through the Field Ward when she heard a loud burst of noise from a few streets away. She didn’t hesitate, but took off towards it, glaive gripped lightly in one hand. She arrived to see a familiar looking woman in chainmail, squaring off against half a dozen well-armed and armored men and women.
Kara didn’t hesitate. Whatever earlier misgivings she’d had about Warden, whatever she might not know about the tiefling – Kara knew well what it looked like to fight for what you believed in against a superior force. Two against six was much better odds than one against six. It was the work of a moment to focus, to let the world fade away into nothing larger than the fight in front of her.
Kara threw herself into the fight at Warden's side in a whirl of metal and wood.
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Jarovbees
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Post by Jarovbees on May 9, 2019 0:43:51 GMT
Used to going it alone, Warden didn't expect anyone to step in and help. Those that couldn't fight often -rightly- hid from the ward's many scuffles. Those that did were either apathetic City Watch on break or hardened mercenaries who were more likely than not in the pocket of some gang anyway. Six to one weren't good odds at all, but in the tiefling's mind, she only had to keep them distracted long enough for the halfling man to get away. Whether he did, she was long past checking; the woman especially seemed dangerous, and the tiefling knew better than turn her back or gaze.
And then there was a blur at her side, one that Warden recognized. She smirked, grateful to see Kara joining the fray but also eager to see some lowlifes thrashed by more than just herself. Kara was an accomplished fighter even when the stakes were low; she couldn't wait to see what the other woman would do when she no longer needed to pull any punches. And of course, fighting side by side could be just as interesting as face-to-face.
The thugs were largely used to leaning on those who couldn't offer any resistance, so dealing with both a heavily armored woman and one who wasn't yet definitely knew what she was doing with a weapon made for an unpleasant awakening. One, younger and a bit greener than the rest, backed up and started running away. The woman snarled, drawing her blades.
"You're dead, you hear me?!" She was facing the two woman, but Warden suspected she was referring to the youth as well. Thugs so easily turned on their own.
Warden: Td3Xkkqm1d20 Thug Leader: 1d20 Thug 1: 1d20 Thug 2: 1d20 Thug 3: 1d20 Thug 4: 1d201d20·1d20·1d20·1d20·1d20·1d20
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Post by moralhazard on May 9, 2019 0:58:09 GMT
Kara initiative: Uft63L2b1d20+1
Glaive Attack of Opportunity against the Thug Leader (entering range), to hit: 1d20+7 If successful, damage: 1d10+6 If successful, movement drops to 0
1d20+1·1d20+7·1d10+6
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Jarovbees
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Post by Jarovbees on May 9, 2019 1:36:55 GMT
The leader of the crew closed in, with a wicked smile and her mace ready, when that glaive strikes and earned her a bloody slice on her arm. She snarled in pain, reeling from the blow and all momentum ceased. So much for a vicious beginning. A couple of the other thugs muttered to themselves, maybe rethinking matters a bit, but unlike the youth didn't run away just yet.
Warden, of course, was delighted by her foe's sudden, temporary loss of moment and chuckled darkly. "Thanks!" She wasn't going to waste the opportunity to strike, not with Kara's maneuvers and her own vow keeping her focused.
Attack, with adv.: t|O3IAJu1d20+3 1d20+3 Damage: 1d8+3
1d20+3·1d20+3·1d8+3·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+4·1d6+2
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Jarovbees
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Post by Jarovbees on May 9, 2019 1:39:17 GMT
The four other thugs split into pairs, two attacking with maces and two standing back, crossbows raised. Since their sudden enemies were standing close together, each picked a target.
(At Kara) Attack, with adv.: aS5LdqhJ1d20+4 1d20+4 Damage: 1d6+2
(At Warden) Attack, with adv.: 1d20+4 1d20+4 Damage: 1d6+21d20+4·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+4·1d20+4·1d6+2
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Jarovbees
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Post by Jarovbees on May 9, 2019 1:40:45 GMT
Crit Damage on Kara: IfPhpCdM1d6 (So, 8 total, halved to 4.)1d6
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Jarovbees
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Post by Jarovbees on May 9, 2019 3:03:12 GMT
(And they each get one more, so.)
(At Kara) Attack, with adv.: uocWzL|A1d20+4 1d20+4
Damage: 1d6+2
(At Warden) Attack, with adv.: 1d20+4 1d20+4
Damage: 1d6+21d20+4·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+4·1d20+4·1d6+2
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Post by moralhazard on May 9, 2019 3:05:00 GMT
Kara slashed out at the leader as she approached, catching her in the arm.
The first blow with the mace hit her hard, catching her across the face hard enough to blacken her eye. From the reaction Kara gave, it might not have even hit her. She dodged the second blow effortlessly, letting it whistle through the air.
Then it was Kara’s turn. She didn’t hesitate even an instant to attack her attacker, throwing all her energy into three sharp, fast and precise strikes.
HP: 61/65
Reckless attack Glaive attack 1, to hit: D0uvDtPo1d20+7 or 1d20+7 If successful, damage: 1d10+6 Glaive attack 2, to hit: 1d20+7 or 1d20+7 If successful, damage: 1d10+6 Butt of the weapon attack, to hit: 1d20+7 or 1d20+7 If successful, damage: 1d4+61d20+7·1d20+7·1d10+6·1d20+7·1d20+7·1d10+6·1d20+7·1d20+7·1d4+6
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Jarovbees
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Post by Jarovbees on May 9, 2019 3:18:20 GMT
That particular thug had just one moment to question his life choices as Kara barely seemed to react to the mace, before her glaive decimated him. Those sharp, fast strikes all hit somewhere vital and he slid to the ground, a pool of blood quickly forming beneath him. His companion's eyes widened in shock; no doubt all they'd had before now in the Field Ward was easy prey. Nothing like this.
Out of the corner of Warden's eye she heard the twang of two crossbows, from the thugs who had backed away to fight them from a distance.
Attack (for Kara): c8h5mctJ1d20+2 1d20+2 Damage: 1d10
Attack (for Warden): 1d20+2 1d20+2 Damage: 1d10
The leader, finally able to move again and furious at how quickly Kara dispatched her comrade, swings her mace in the barbarian's direction.
Attack (for Kara): 1d20+4 1d20+4 Damage: 1d6+2
Warden, seeing this, responds with a quick murmured prayer (Hunter's Mark) and lashes out once again with her battleaxe.
Attack: 1d20+3 1d20+3 Damage: 1d8+3 1d61d20+2·1d20+2·1d10·1d20+2·1d20+2·1d10·1d20+4·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+3·1d20+3·1d8+3·1d6
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Jarovbees
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Post by Jarovbees on May 9, 2019 3:23:42 GMT
Leader attack for Kara, because I forgot to add the second in:
Attack: lDLPcUOT1d20+4 1d20+4
Damage: 1d6+2
The thug who froze in fear after his companion had been so quickly dispatched, seemed to regain some composure when his leader joined alongside him. He focused his efforts on Warden, seeing as how Kara had the leader's attention.
Attack: 1d20+4 1d20+4
Damage: 1d6+2
Attack: 1d20+4 1d20+4
Damage: 1d6+2
Warden HP: 5/281d20+4·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+4·1d20+4·1d6+2·1d20+4·1d20+4·1d6+2
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Post by moralhazard on May 9, 2019 4:06:10 GMT
Kara dropped the first opponent; there was no pulling of her last strike here, and not even a split second of hesitation in her as she finished him off. Blood splattered against her once clean black tunic. A crossbow bolt thudded solidly into her shoulder. Kara looked down at it and coolly yanked it out. The leader hit her with her mace, twice, one powerful blow and one glancing off, and Kara shrugged them off as effortlessly as she had the rest of the attacks. She ignored the woman for the moment, turning and lashing out at the thug that had attacked Warden, taking advantage of his focus on her companion. Then Kara turned her attention back to the leader, dropping her in a single, powerful strike. She turned her attention back to the thug that had hit Warden, slashing at him once more and swinging the heavy butt of the glaive at him.
HP: 49/65 Reckless attack Opportunity glaive attack against thug attacking Warden, to hit: RY7X1wbQ1d20+7If successful, damage: 1d10+6Glaive attack 1 against leader, to hit: 1d20+7 or 1d20+7If successful, damage: 1d10+6Glaive attack 2 against remaining melee thug (Warden's attacker), to hit: 1d20+7 or 1d20+7If successful, damage: 1d10+6Butt of the weapon attack against remaining melee thug (Warden's attacker), to hit: 1d20+7 or 1d20+7If successful, damage: 1d4+61d20+7·1d10+6·1d20+7·1d20+7·1d10+6·1d20+7·1d20+7·1d10+6·1d20+7·1d20+7·1d4+6
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Post by moralhazard on May 9, 2019 4:09:54 GMT
Extra crit damage: zyUdrCxn1d4+6
Kara hit him twice as well, first with a vicious slice that opened up his leather armor, then with a perfectly aimed blow from the heavy butt of the weapon, crushing his throat and dropping him alongside the others.
With all three opponents dead, Kara turned to the two crossbow-wielding thugs. She stepped forward and to the side, putting herself in front of Warden to block their angle of attack, then took off towards then, steadily eating up the distance between them. She focused on blocking their line of sight to Warden, fully intending to be the more tempting target. 1d4+6
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Jarovbees
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Post by Jarovbees on May 9, 2019 4:16:57 GMT
Extra crit damage: rYT13ZUZ1d101d10
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Jarovbees
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Post by Jarovbees on May 9, 2019 4:34:08 GMT
Warden, wracked with pain thanks to all those blows that managed to connect, spat out some blood down at the fallen woman who had run this particular gang. As much as she hated it, the tiefling woman knew she had to pause and heal herself. She was hanging by a thread, and wouldn't be any good at helping to finish off the gang if they downed her first. Gritting her teeth, she rested a hand on herself, feeling the divine energy seal some of those wounds and lessen her bruises. It was just enough to keep going. Afterward, she transferred her Hunter's Mark to one of the crossbowmen -the one on the left- and took after Kara.
Seeing their leader and other gang member drop and realizing that they were the only two left, the two crossbowmen looked at each other and followed the (long since fled) youth's now very sensible-seeming example. They ran as fast as their feet could take them, away from the devilspawn and the butcher-woman wielding that glaive. Passerby paused to take in the spectacle, some unfazed while others scattered, having learned not to be where the current eruption of violence was.
HP: 20/28
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Post by moralhazard on May 9, 2019 4:52:30 GMT
Kara was close enough to strike when the first one turned to flee - and she did, not quite ready to let him go.
The strike missed, though, and Kara came to a halt. Tracking down and killing two fleeing men wasn’t her style. She turned back to Warden, looking her over for injuries.
HP: 49/65
Glaive attack of opportunity, to hit: XEBjzZFA1d20+7 If successful, damage: 1d10+6 If successful, movement drops to 01d20+7·1d10+6
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