Dwarf Prince vs. Ranger Guy: Fight!

[Yagathai]

Can you handle the initial colour, Verrain? I'm a little swamped today.

[Verrain]

Initial color:



The War of the Races was over and the treaty was signed in the royal capital. Everybody knew that. Well, not quite everybody. Messengers were sent to the regional lords to spread the word and they in turn ordered their vassals to do the same. Some were more industrious in this endeavor than others. In fact, when Lord Jarek was told that his lands were now forfeit to the Dwarves as part of the peace agreement, he simply left. Let the Dwarves deal with their new problems.

Thus when the Dwarven Prince traveled to inspect his new lands, the welcome was far from warm. An inviting looking village turned into an ambush and in the battle that followed, the Prince found himself momentarily separated from his fellows. Aelfwine should have struck from the shadows but it simply wasn't his way. Hefting his javelin, he called out to the Dwarven Prince.

"Throw down your weapons bearded one and there need be no more bloodshed this day!"

[Yagathai]

Arben rolls his eyes under his mask. Bloody monkeys.

"Look, you. The war is over and your liege has ceded his lands and vassals to me. Disarm, come back to your beastly little village with me and perhaps we can stop my bodyguard from totally slaughtering all of your loved ones, hm?" Something brownish-red and viscous slid down the blade of his axe and dripped to the ground. "I'm bally well tired of slaughtering you upjumped apes, and I'd really very much prefer not to have to add another notch to my belt."

If I read positioning right, I have speed multiplier, neither one of us has weapon length (because if you're throwing your javelin, I'm sure as hell throwing my axe) and we're even on Reflexes, too. Yes?

[Verrain]

Yep its a 1D advantage to you. I like that a Dwarf trained to run is faster than a normal human. I can't picture it mind you, but I like it. :)

So 5D speed = 1, 5, 2, 4, 3 = 2 successes for initial positioning.

[Yagathai]

Think of a rhino as it charges. Lots of mass, lots of speed, thick stubby legs moving surprisingly fast.

Roll 1: 2, 3, 4, 2, 1, 4 = 2 successes.

You want to just call that just Outside melee range, but inside throwing range?

[Verrain]

That is beautiful imagery. :)

Yeah, let's call it optimal for our throwing weapons. I think I'd be better suited for an RnC battle but the color doesn't fit.


V1

Let him Come
Acquire Target
Throw Javelin


V2

Close
Shift Axe to Right Hand


V3

Close
Avoid
Set

[Yagathai]

V1 A1: Let 'em Come, Acquire Target
V1 A2: Throw

V2 A1: Close, Use Mask

V3 A1: Close, Draw Axe CHANGED TO Stand & Drool (Greed test)
V3 A2: Draw Axe (I Must Have it!)

[Verrain]

It would seem that great minds think alike. We both stand still and hurl our weapons.

So that is 7D for me, 6D from Skill and +1D balance dice.

2, 6, 3, 5, 3, 6, 3 = 3 successes.

[Yagathai]

OK, so that's base 2 Ob for both of us. Neither is moving. I get 2D of shield dice (3 minus your one VA), which translates to a +2 Ob for you, which means 2 Ob for me and 4 Ob for you.

ETA: Except it's only 2 Ob in R&C, and a 1 Ob in melee, so nevermind. 3 for you, 1 for me.

Oh, not that it matters, but I'm calling my legs as being protected by my shield. No hitting them!

5D throwing +1D Dwarven weapon balance die = 6D

Roll 1: 4, 1, 4, 2, 3, 4 = 3 successes = 2 over Ob. I'm going to spend those two successes to move the throw to your head.

DOF is a 6, which means you're taking a B14 to the head.

Arben sees the human hunter respond to his offer of peace by reaching back and making ready to cast his tiny spear. Quick as a flash, the Dwarf lord whips his axe in a quick sidearm toss, attempting to cripple his opponent and end the fight before it begins.

V1 A1: Let 'em Come, Acquire Target
V1 A2: Throw

[Verrain]

Sorry, confusion here. Why is it Ob2 as a base?

[Yagathai]

Thrown weapons at optimal are a base 2 Ob, aren't they? Page 176 right underneath Thrown Weapons Damage.

ETA: Oh, that's only in R&C. My bad! Base 1 it is. And since you don't have enough successes to hit me anywhere but the chest...

Armor check (5 grey chest armor dice)
Roll 1: 2, 2, 4, 5, 4 = 3 successes. Whew!

And let's move my throw to the head, then. Let's see if I can get a beheading out of this. ;)

[Verrain]

Armor dice don't fail us now eh?

ETA: I had to say that didn't I?

3, 4, 1, 1 One success which is all I need versus an axe with No VA when thrown. Whew!

Now for superior quality armor only the first one counts for armor damage and I think I get to reroll that, yes?

[Yagathai]

Yep! Oh, that wacky elven mail.

His cast flies quick and true, but Arben's axe glances off of the human hunter's armor with a clang. The force of the throw pushes back the hood that the human is wearing, and scrapes off a finger's breadth of the camouflaging mud that the human had smeared over the bright, unmistakable metal of his helm. Arben's gaze widens, then narrows behind his mask. Mithril. The human -- his rebellious vassal, Arben corrects himself, whose goods would be forfeit upon his death or capture -- is wearing mithril.

Oh, this will not stand.

Arben surges forward, gathering his anger and projecting it through the ancient Dwarven enchantments of his war-mask.

"SURRENDER," he booms in a voice that the human can feel deep inside his bones.


Positioning: Close
Roll 1: 2, 4, 3, 3, 1, 2 = 1 success.

Please make a Steel check. =)

V2 A1: Close, Use Mask

[Verrain]

Armor die reroll is a six. No damage to the armor.


Aelfwine had long heard stories of the strength of dwarven mail but had never believed it until now. Glittering links turned aside his spear without so much a dull to the finish. But pierce that mail he must for his people's sake.


Were I a cruel man, I would demand your dwarf make a Greed check at the sight of mithril. As I am a reasonable man I merely put the option out there on the table. :)

[Yagathai]

I thought about doing that, but the way I figure it I'm wearing mail worth about a dozen times what yours is worth. Dwarven mail would definitely trigger the Greed, but Elven mail? I'm not so sure.

Still, even if I made the check, and failed it, I'd choose I Must Have It as my response, and I'm trying to hunt you down and beat you and take your mail anyway. It won't really change my actions at all, I don't think. Still, if the peanut gallery in Discussion disagrees, I'd be willing to make the roll.

[Verrain]

Ok Steel Check. I reroll sixes I believe?

2, 1, 3, 2, 6, 1 = 1 success. So six rerolled to give a 6 and rerolling that six gives a 4. So unless I screwed that up, I hesitate the next 3 actions.

[Yagathai]

Yep. But what's our positioning? Which one of us won?

[Verrain]

We're both closing. What is there to decide?

But since you insist. 4, 4, 2, 1, 3 Two successes. I want to close to optimal for my axe eventually but think I only make it forward one distance rank.


On the Greed front, Elven Mail could call for a craftsmanship, physical beauty or riches Greed check and if you fail it you must stand and drool for one action before I must have it kicks in. So it isn't just color.

[Yagathai]

Fair enough. In that case, 4 success on my Greed check, which is sadly not enough. One round of hesitation and then of course, I Must Have It.

Roll 1: 5, 1, 2, 5, 6, 3. Six rerolls to a 5. 4 successes.

Positioning for Volley 3: Close!

Roll 1: 3, 4, 6, 4, 3, 2 = 3 successes.

What's your hesistation/positioning gonna be?

V3 A1: Close, Draw Axe CHANGED TO Stand & Drool (Greed test)
V3 A2: Draw Axe (I Must Have it!)

[Verrain]

Both actions become Run Screaming!
Panicked Withdrawl of 5D 6, 4, 6, 6, 6 5 successes! Where are these rolls when I need them!?!?!?!

Withdraw one distance back.

[Yagathai]

That mithril! Arben's ancestors whispered into his ears as he stalked forward. The human must not be allowed to keep it. It must be ours! The Elves made it, but the Dwarves shall keep it. The Dwarves...

"I say! You there! Stop! Stop running at once, you coward!"

I won't be able to pick this up for another 45 minutes or so. Looks like we're starting next Exchange on the Outside.

[Yagathai]

OK. Next exchange:

V1 A1: Close, Push

V2 A1: Close, Charge FAILED
V2 A2: Push CHANGED TO Stand & Drool

V3 A1: Close, Throw Opponent CHANGED TO Maintain, Lock
V3 A2: Lock FORFEITED

[Verrain]

V1 Maintain (no dice) Stand and drool

V2 Close: Avoid, Strike


V3 Maintain Set, Great Strike

V3 Great Strike Forfeited to change volley to

Close, Charge

[Yagathai]

Positioning: Close
Roll 1: 2, 2, 1, 1, 4, 4 = 2 successes. You're standing and drooling, so we're now at Optimal.

Push
Roll 1: 3, 6, 3, 3, 2, 3 = 1 success. You lucky, lucky bastard. I was Closing, so that's 0 net successes.

Arben closed with the stunned hunter, and was about to send his weight crashing into his opponent when he stumbled on an upraised treeroot. Stupid treeroot!

V1 A1: Close, Push

[Yagathai]

The way I see it, I have 6D of power +1D for Charge +1D for Closing last volley +1D for sprinting advantage. You've got weapon length on me right now.

Positioning, Charge!
Roll 1: 4, 6, 2, 4, 2, 4, 6, 5, 1 = 6 successes!

V2 A1: Close, Charge

[Verrain]

Right so I get 6D positioning plus 5D at +1ob for my closing avoid.

6, 1, 2, 6, 4, 2 = 3 successes plus 5, 5, 6, 4, 6 = another 4 successes! Woo-hoo!


Seeing his opponent stumble gave Aelfwine an idea. Still heading for his opponent, the ranger ran directly at the largest exposed treeroot on the battlefield. At the last moment, Aelf turned aside from the raging dwarf and once more he tripped and staggered. Blessed tree roots!

[Verrain]

Unfortunately my success now puts me on the inside so that strike will now be with the hilt of my weapon. I now regret not springing for a spike.

So that's 6D + 1D fork for Brawling as I attempt to kick you in the nuts ;)

+1 Ob for moving quickly, +1 Ob for Hilt Strike on the inside = Ob3

1, 1, 4, 5, 4, 5, 2 = 4 successes or 1 over Ob.

A whopping B3 heading for ya.

[Yagathai]

Let's make the armor check...

Roll 1: 3, 1, 5, 2, 6 = 4 successes.

I am, of course, hesitating.

I have a forfeit for next volley, but I won't be able to get to it until after lunch.

As Arben stumbles on yet another accursed tree root, his shifty human opponent treacherously kicks him right in the codpiece and then plants an axe-handle square in his solar plexus. The mail checks the force of the blow, but Arben feels every ounce of dishonorable intent.

"I say! I say! Bad form! Bad form!"

[Verrain]

I also have a forfeit and shall alter my exchange accordingly.

[Yagathai]

OK. So it looks like your Close, Charge vs. my Maintain, Lock.

Right now the way I see it you're rolling 4D Power + 1D Charge, and I'm rolling... 6D Power + 1D Sprinting bonus + 1D weapon length bonus, right?

[Verrain]

So let's see here. I get 4D Power +1D for the Charge +1D for Closing Last turn. I'm positioning weaponless so no weapon bonus for either of us.

So rolling my 6D gives me = 4, 3, 4, 6, 2, 2 3 Successes.

[Yagathai]

Just because you're positioning weaponless doesn't mean that I am. I'm not really sure how that works, but we can play it your way for now. That means I get my Power Maintain + 1D sprinting bonus die = 7D.

Roll 1: 4, 3, 5, 5, 5, 4, 2 = 5 successes. Your Charge fails, we're still on the Inside.

Lock:

Roll 1: 4, 5, 5, 1, 2, 3 = 3 successes.

V3 A1: Maintain, Lock

[Verrain]

Well the only weapon you could position with is your shield (as you never drew your axe) and that would give me the bonus for shortest weapon on the inside. So if you want to give me a bonus die I'll reroll but somehow I don't think that is your plan.

I'm not hesitating yet so I'll roll natural defenses for the Lock.

4D 3, 4, 4, 3 = 2 successes so a 1D lock.

Somehow I picture you hitting me in the groin as I run past and getting me in a headlock as I bend over. :)

[Verrain]

Next exchange (as if we'll need more than Volley One)



V1 Withdraw Run Screaming!

V2 Withdraw Avoid, Avoid

V3 Maintain Set, Great Strike

[Yagathai]

After his dirty kick, the shifty human hunter attempts to follow up with a quick corps-a-corps knockdown, but Arben hardly even notices. As the human bounces off of his stout, unmoving frame, Arben's free hand snakes out and grabs the hapless rebel by the throat. He squeezes...


I was thinking more the fist than the shield.

Anyway, we can finish this up:

V1 Maintain, Lock, Lock

V2 Maintain, Lock, Lock
V3 Maintain, Lock

[Yagathai]

Your Withdraw automatically fails because of the Lock, so it's my Lock vs. your Hesitation:

Lock:
Roll 1: 5, 1, 3, 1, 1, 5 = 2 successes. You're in a 3D lock.

... and squeezes ...

V1 A2: Lock

Roll 1: 1, 2, 5, 5, 6, 6 = 4 successes. You get ND against this, though.

V1 A1: Maintain, Lock
V1 A2: Lock

[Verrain]

1, 6, 6, 1 = Not enough. My kingdom for a fate point! Victory color is yours, my worthy opponent.

[Yagathai]

...and squeezes. Crack! After the human goes limp, Arben lets him drop to the ground.

"Look, you, are you going to surrender now?" Arben nudges the limp human with the toe of his boot, then again, harder. "Speak up! I can't hear you."

Silence.

"Is he dead? Oh, bother." With a sigh, Arben grabs the corpse of his rebellious vassal by the bootheel and begins to drag it back to the village. "I suppose we'll have to hang the corpse anyway, won't we?"

And I did it without hurting the armor, too. ;)