Elf vs Barbarian: FIIIIIGHT!

[luke]

This duel to the death uses the new Burning Wheel Fight! mechanics.

The gates fly open with a clangorous thunder! The crowd chants and heaves. From the East Gate Stiga -- twisted and broken from his years on the wheel -- lumbers forth, roaring and bellowing, his wicked chain taking up chant as it sings a deadly arc. From the West Gate, gliding as if on air, Manuar, glittering and ancient Elven prince slides into the arena, javelin at the ready!

==
Initial Positioning test:
Stiga, B3 Speed plus Ball and Chain (Longest Weapon type)
Manaur, B6 Speed plus Javelin (Longest Weapon type), plus Higher Reflexes bonus.
Neither fighter has the weapon length advantage -- the ring is too small for Manuar to get the true advantage his javelin should grant him -- so no bonus dice are granted.

Stiga = 1 success!
Manuar = 3 successes!

Manuar is in control of the fight. Keeping his distance from the barbarian, he is in range and ready to launch his javelin. Stiga is just out of striking distance for his wicked chain.




Send me your first exchange scripts, please! In order to speed things along, note a short intent ("to get behind him" for example) with each action. Also, when you list an action, list the skill, shade, exponent, FoRKs and artha you're using for that action. That'll speed up my job considerably.

-L

[luke]

Lightning fast, like water rushing down a flue, the Elf Prince whips his deadly dart at the barbarian... while the desperate northerner whirls his chain and struggles to get close.

Exchange 1, Volley 1

Manuar
Acquire that lumbering barbarian target
Throw the javelin

Stiga
Drop to Neutral Stance (fighting against his Agg Stance action)
Avoid

Positioning
Manuar Maintains his distance (B6 Speed, +1D for Higher Reflexes advantage)
Stiga attempts to Close (B3 Speed, no advantages)

Three successes to three successse. Tie goes to the maintain -- the Elf manages to hold Stiga off long enough to hurl that javelin...

Actions
Manuar is at Ob 4 to hit Stiga (Base Ob 1, +1 Ob because he is NOT standing still, +1 Ob because Stiga is moving, +1 Ob because Stiga is also Avoiding). He gets 1 success on four dice. The javelin sails harmlessly into the stands, impaling an erudite onlooker.



Stiga remains outside of striking distance for his chain. The Elf is momentarily unarmed! (And will use the SHORTEST weapon length for positioning tests next volley).

You have until 2pm todat to make any forfeits or declare any artha. Also, if you're STRIKING please declare a desired target, and always tell me (volley by volley) what location you're offering up to be struck.

[luke]

Circling each other like baroque and deadly dancers, the combattants whirl and skim about the arena. Sensing an opening they both skip and lung for each other -- at very same moment!

Manuar's blades fly from their sheaths in killing glitter, but he's an instant two late. The lurching northman lunges past him as they spin, the Elf realizes too late that his taken a bad step. The chain whirls threateningly overhead!

Exchange 1, Volley 2
Stiga
Close and Avoid

Manuar's weapons are sheathed, so Stiga has the Longest Weapon (by two lengths!) He gains +2D to his Speed for positioning. 5D: Three successes with two 6s.

Manaur
Close and Draw Swords, then Block and Strike.

The Elf positions with the Shortest Weapon length -- his sheathed swords! -- but he has the higher Reflexes: 7D for two successes! Holy crap.

Now, both players scripted Close, so the fighters automatically move in. We roll to determine who maintains control of the fight -- who puts who in optimal striking distance.

jc wanted Manuar in optimal for his katana. Dro wanted Stiga into Optimal range for his chain. Dro won the test. He Closes and keeps jc/Manuar Outside Striking Distance for his wicked swords.

Againts all expectations, the twisted, malformed barbarian breathes another breath in the presence of the death-dealing Elf.

The crowd falls into a tense hush watching the two bloodthirtsty warriors dance the danse macabre!

Stiga is in Lunging Distance for his wicked chain. Manuar's swords are out, but he is out of reach. The Elf successfully sings the Song of the Sword. He now has +1D to his prodigious sword skill.

Turn in your forfeits or approve your next volley as soon as possible!

[luke]

Sensing his opportunity, Stiga lunges; Manaur gambles his luck on a desperate bid... and wins.


Exchange 1, Volley 3
Note: I'm not using a die roller for this volley. I'm using regular dice. The die roller yesterday just felt bizarre.

Manaur
Position: Maintain his position at lunging distance for Stiga's chain and outside of his own reach. 4 successes on 7D.

Action: Disarm Stiga and then hesitate. Even though he's out of range, I'm going to allow this one one to go through. He's going for the chain. I applied the lunging penalty, just as I did to Stiga's Strike. Seven successes vs Ob 7. Manaur rips the chain from the barbarian's hands as...

Stiga
Position: Close with 1 success and...
Action: Strike with the intent to Lock with the fighting chain.
His base obstacle to hit is 3 (Ob 1 plus moving quickly, plus lunging). He gets three successes. An Incidental hit with no extra successes to Lock with.

Manaur's armor easily absorbs the errant blow.

After a few moments of whirling and fencing, with Stiga in control of the direction of the fight, the tides have turned.

Stiga's chain lays at his feet, between the two fighters. They are BOTH now Outside Striking Distance.

Send in your next exchange gentlemen. Or perhaps Stiga will surrender to the Elven Food Processor?

[luke]

The crowd is leaning over the grandstands, tense and silent. The match seems a morbid and baroque ballet to them.

Proving his mettle, Stiga refuses to relinquish his advantage in the fight -- he uses his momentum to charge his opponent. Manaur, against expectation, skips toward the lunging barbarian, swords held high.

Exchange 2, Volley 1
Stiga
Position: Close
Action 1: Charge! (B6 Power +1D for Charge, +1D for momentum)

Manaur
Position: Close! (B6 Speed +1D for Reflexes, +1D for Longer weapon)
Action 1: Block and Strike
Action 2: Block and Strike

Action Results:
Both opponent's automatically Close in one fighting distance. However...
Dro spent his 1 Fate point on his Charge and rolled an incredible 8 successes.
Manaur got 3 successes for his Close.
Stiga, with a +2 Ob for Charging from too far away, wins the positioning test by two. Manaur is overcome by a barrelling cartload of Black Barbarian.

On the ground and too close to use his long sword, Manaur automatically switches his Strikes to his shorter weapon. His Ob to hit Stiga is Ob 1, +1 Ob Close, +1 Ob Close, +2 Ob on the Inside: Ob 5.

jc rolls 11 Gray dice for each Strike: 8 successes and 8 successes. Two Mark hits.
Stiga's barbarian hides deflect neither of the shots.
Stiga takes two Light wounds.
Stiga hesitates for his next two actions.


Volley Results:

Stiga flattens the tall Elf to the ground. Before the wild northerner can crush the immortal's bones, the calm swordsman dispatches him with four neat thrusts to the ribs.

The match is over.* Manaur wins, but he must be extricated from under the unconscious body of his opponent by the referee's touts. They mock him.

*Manaur's next two actions were to Strike. This would be sufficient to incapacitate Stiga. No further rolls are necessary.

Stiga is alive, but badly injured. He may be withdrawn from the arena or make other challenges. He may also offer his defeated head to his opponent.

Manaur earns a Fate point. Manaur earns a Challenging test for his Speed and a Difficult test for his G6 Takashido.

Congratulations!