Jack Calgary vs. Arakis!

[Thor Olavsrud]

Once again, the orc war-drums, hanging with the skulls of conquered enemies, begin to rumble like thunder, and the Despair-Shouters whip a disconcerting ululation from their throats. The sound echoes discordantly across the hills, and the rubble strewn stone ring that was once a mannish watchtower. Goblin tongues lick bloody lips in anticipation of a spectacle as the Legioners and He Who Bears the Lash bring forward a man who will fight for a chance at life -- again.

Jack Calgary, shows no signs of anger or fear that the orcs failed to keep their word and release him upon his previous victory against their wolfish champion. He stands calmly, checking the priming of his pistols and sipping from his whiskey flask. His armor is scratched by wolf teeth, but clearly not damaged.

The Goblins are eagerly making wagers as they await the arrival of the hard-eyed man's next challenger. They suddenly grow quiet and shrink back with fear as the mad-eyed Master of Eight, radiating the power of his dark masters, rides forward on a massive, chittering spider. The sinister monster's elongated, bladed forelegs crack the stones as it moves forward, all eight legs moving in an almost hypnotic dance. The Master of Eight, stag horns jutting from his cowl, slides from the terrifying beast, chittering softly to it. It strides forward into the ring of goblins, its faceted eyes gleaming in the torchlight.

The crowd howls for blood.

Jack Calgary and Arakis stand 10 paces from each other. Who will make the first move?

Send me your scripts!

[Thor Olavsrud]

As Arakis enters the ring, Jack Calgary raises his pistol and fires before taking two rapid steps forward. At the same time, Arakis scuttles straight back. Jack's bullet flies wide and the goblins who wagered on Arakis howl with glee while those who bet on Jack groan with disappointment!

Jack Calgary Volley 1:
Aquire Target (free with Chow Yun Fat Trait)
Fire
Movement: Dash Forward

Arakis Volley 1:
Avoid
Avoid
Movement: Dash Back

Action Results:
Jack fires his pistol for 2 successes + 1 success from the gunpowder die for a total of 3 successes. However, he takes a +3 Ob penalty to missile fire for dashing, and an additional +1 Ob penalty to missile fire for Arakis' dash (as per the "He's Coming Right For Us" rule), and +4 Ob for Long Range, for a total of 9 Ob to hit. Arakis does not get an Avoid, as missile/gunpowder weapons cannot be avoided. The bullet misses!

Volley Results:
The opponents are now 14 paces apart!

You have until 4:30 p.m. EST to declare any forfeits for Volley 2.

[Thor Olavsrud]

Dropping his pistol, Jack backpedals several paces and draws his two swords in a single lighting motion as Arakis plunges forward. The gathered goblins inhale as one, anticipating blood!

Jack Calgary Volley 2:
Draw Swords
Movement: Dash Backwards

Arakis Volley 2:
Aim (Devolves to Aquire Target)
Movement: Dash Forward

Action Results:
Jack dashes back 2 paces and draws his swords. Arakis dashes forward 6 paces.

Volley Results:
The opponents are now 10 paces apart!

You have until 11 a.m. EST on Wednesday to declare any forfeits for Volley 3. I'll be here for at least another hour if you decide not to forfeit.

[Thor Olavsrud]

With a steely glint in his eye, Jack pounds toward the monster, preparing to carve through its flesh and screaming out, "Banzai!." But Arakis skids to a halt and uses its rear legs to hurl a sticky strand of its silk at the samurai! Jack attempts to whirl out of the strand's way, but it strikes him squarely in the chest, hampering his movement! The goblins roar with excitement, and the odds-makers begin to shift in the massive spider's favor.

Jack Calgary Volley 3:
Strike (Wakizashi Shield 2D)
Strike (Wakizashi Shield 2D)
Movement: Dash Sideways

Forfeited to:
Strike (2D shield offhand)
A2 Forfeited to change movement to
Movement: Dash Forward
Speech: "Banzai!"

Arakis Volley 3:
Throw Lariat
Movement: None

Action Results:
Jack dashes forward 2 paces. (+1 Ob to Arakis, per the "He's Coming Right At Us!" rule). Still out of range for a Strike!
Arakis throws his Lariat at Medium range (+2 Ob for range) for 7 successes at Ob 4!
Arakis rolls 5 on Die of Fate = Strand is now attached to Jack and requires a 4 Ob Agility, Speed or Power test to dislodge!
Jack tests for Natural Defenses against Strand's Lock (Ob 3) and gets 2 Successes on 5 Gray Dice! :(
Jack is in a 1D Lock!

Volley Results:
The opponents are now 8 paces apart!
Jack is in a 1D Lock!
The strand is Attached to Jack and requires an Ob 4 Agility, Speed or Power test to remove!

Send me your next Exchange!

[Thor Olavsrud]

Finding his left arm pinned to his body by the spider's sticky webbing, Jack jogs forward to put some slack in the line as Arakis plants its horrible, hairy legs and gives a mighty tug in an effort to pull Jack toward him! With a single, fluid, kata motion, Jack frees his arm and slices at the silk line! Even the master swordsman can't sever the spider's silk in a single blow though, and he shows a faint sign of surprise -- a raised eyebrow -- when he fails to free himself!

Jack Calgary Volley 1:
Break Lock
Strike (2D shield) at lariat
Movement: Dash Forward

Arakis Volley 1:
Pull Lariat (Throw)
Movement: None

Action Results:
Arakis uses Brawling and his attached line to attempt to throw Jack for 3 successes
Jack gets 4 successes on 4 dice for his Natural Defenses against the Throw! ]No Throw!

Jack attempts to break the 1D Lock (Ob 1) with 4 successes. Lock Broken!

Jack attempts to cut through Arakis' lariat. Using the material structure rules he automatically does a mark result to the strand, or one Superficial wound! Two more superficials are required to sever!

Volley Results:
The opponents are now 6 paces apart!
No one is locked!
The line has taken one Superficial, two more will sever it!

You have until 4 p.m. EST to declare any forfeits for Volley 2!

[Thor Olavsrud]

Determined to seize its advantage, Arakis gives the strand another mighty yank! But its efforts are to no avail as Jack again uses the preternatural skill of his martial training to counteract the powerful tug. At the same time, Jack takes two rapid steps toward the monstrous spider and slices at the line attaching him to the arachnid. The line is nearly severed, but remains whole by a thread! The cacophonous din of the goblins, rooting for their champions, dies to a low murmur as they hold their breath, sensing that a bloody confrontation approaches!

Jack Calgary Volley 2:
Strike (wakizashi as 2D shield) at lariat
Movement: Dash Forward

Arakis Volley 2:
Acquire Target
Lob Net
Movement: Dash Forward

Forfeited to:
Pull Lariat
Movement: None

Action Results:
Arakis yanks at the Lariat for a 4 success Throw.
Jack gets 4 successes on 5 Gray dice for Natural Defenses. No Throw!

Jack does another superficial to the lariat. Lariat has one more Superficial before Breached and Severed!

Volley Results:
The opponents are now 4 paces apart!
Arakis' Lariat is still attached to Jack!

You have until 11 A.M. EST on Thursday to forfeit Volley 3 Actions!

[Thor Olavsrud]

Like showmen, the two combatants continue to keep the nail-biting goblins in suspense. Jack takes two rapid steps forward, and slashes a third time at the silk chaining him to Arakis. It finally floats free, whisking into the storm-threatening sky. Jack raises his swords in preparation to slash Arakis' tender flesh, but the spider-beast simply takes two steps back, raising its enormously long forelegs and jabbing once at the samurai! Jack casually blocks the beast's spear-like appendage with the wakizashi in his off-hand.

Jack Calgary Volley 3:
Strike (wakizashi as 2D shield) at lariat
Strike (2D shield)
Movement: Dash Forward

Arakis Volley 3:
Strike
Block
Movement: Walk backward

Action Results:
Jack takes a final slash at the lariat and frees himself. Lariat no longer attached!
Jack dashes forward two paces.
Arakis walks backward two paces.
Arakis takes a lunging strike at Jack at Ob 3 (Ob 1 base, +1 Ob for lunging distance, +1 Ob for Jack's dash), for 3 successes.
Jack uses his off-hand to block (Ob 1) for 2 successes. Strike Blocked!

Volley Results:
Opponents are still 4 paces apart!
Arakis' Lariat is no longer attached to Jack!
Jack is Outside Striking Distance!
Arakis is in Lunging Distance!

Send me your third Exchange!

[Thor Olavsrud]

In a surprise maneuver, Jack sheathes his Katana, keeping his Wakizashi in left hand, and draws a second pistol from his belt while stepping out of the monstrous spider's jabbing range. The cheering goblins gasp in surprise as he brings forth the second thunder-maker. But while Jack shuffles his weapons, Arakis comes out with a surprise of his own! Locking its faceted eyes on Jack, it uses its rear legs to grab a net from its back and launch it at Jack! The net falls on Jack as he steps back, and the goblins begin betting on their spider champion again!

Jack Calgary Volley 1:
Sheath Katana
Draw Pistol
Movement: Walk Backward

Arakis Volley 1:
Acquire Target
Lob net
Move: Walk Backward

Action Results
Arakis throws his net at Short Range (Ob 4 -- Base Ob 2, +1 for Walk, +1 for Jack's Walk) for 5 Successes! Net hits!
Arakis rolls Die of Fate for Net. Result = 1! Jack is Minimally Entangled! 1D Lock, Cut 1 Strand to escape (3 separate strike actions). Or Struggle Free from Net (Power or Agility test at Ob 2). Takes 2 Actions.
The net is still attached to the spider and can be used for a pull action.

Volley Results:
The opponents are now 7 paces apart!

You have until 11 a.m. EST on Friday to forfeit Volley 2 actions.

[Thor Olavsrud]

Sensing it's moment, Arakis' chelicera quiver in excitement as it dashes forward and looms over its prey! Jack finishes drawing the pistol from his belt and raises the pistol to point squarely at the hideous beast's thorax! The goblins crowd in and roar! Something is about to happen!

Jack Calgary Volley 2:
Draw Pistol
Aim (Acquire Target free due to Chow Yun Fat trait)
Movement: Stand Still

Arakis Volley 2:
Strike
Move: Walk Backwards

Action forfeited in Volley 3 to change to:
Get Inside
Movement: Dash Forward

Action Results:
Arakis rolls 8 black dice (+2D due to Eight-Legged Common Trait) for his his Get Inside against Ob 2 (Base Ob 1, +1 Ob for his Dash) for 4 successes.
Jack rolls 3 black dice (he's at -1D due to the 1D Lock from the net) for his Natural Defenses. Takashido Natural Defenses do not apply since he is standing still (which would put him at +2 Ob if using Takashido) and using his pistol, not sword. He gets 1 success. Arakis Gets Inside!

Volley Results:
The opponents are now 1 pace apart!
Both opponents are now on the Inside!

You have until 4 p.m. EST today to forfeit Volley 3 Actions!

[Thor Olavsrud]

Arakis wraps its massive, spiked legs around Jack while continuing to rush forward! Jack refuses to let the beast ruffle him, and continues taking aim, even as the black beast squeezes him tight, chelicera beginning to drip with venom!

Jack Calgary Volley 3:
Aim
Movement: Stand Still

Arakis Volley 3:
Lock
Movement: Dash Forward

Action Results
Arakis rolls 7 black dice for his Lock (+1D due to Eight-Legged Common Trait) at Ob 2 (+1 Ob for his Dash!) for 5 successes!
Jack rolls 3 black dice (he's at -1D due to the 1D Lock from the net) for his Natural Defenses. Takashido Natural Defenses do not apply since he is standing still (which would put him at +2 Ob if using Takashido) and using his pistol, not sword. He gets 2 successes, both 6s! Potential additional 2D Lock!
Jack opts to spend his single point of Fate Artha to open end the 6s! He gets 1 success, bringing his successes to 3! Arakis increases the Lock by 1D!

Volley Results:
The Opponents are on the Inside (0/1 pace apart!)
Jack is now in a 2D Lock (1D comes from the net!)

[Thor Olavsrud]

With steely determination, the Samurai fires his pistol at the massive spider's exposed thorax! The thunder echoes across the hills and the smoke obscures the two combatants. Then a stray gust of wind blows the smoke aside. A few drops of ichor drip from a shallow wound, but it does not stop the beast from wrapping its hairy, spiked legs around Jack! Finally, and for the first time, a look of shock comes across the Samurai's face, before it is obscured by Arakis' venom dripping chelicera! Holding its prey tightly, Arakis begins to feast.It takes only a few minutes for the horrible screams to die to a whimper, and then nothing at all.

Jack Calgary Volley 1: (Note: Jack bid 4 actions in an attempt to steal initiative, and thus had only 1 action)
Fire
Movement: Stand Still

Arakis Volley 1: (Note: Arakis bid 4 actions in an attempt to steal initiative, and thus had only 1 action)
Lock
Movement: Dash Backward

Action Results:
Jack fires his pistol. He is down to 2 black dice due to the Lock but his Obstacle is only 1 (-2 Ob due to Pointblank range, -2 Ob due to two Actions spent aiming. Base Ob was 1, +1 for Arakis' dash per the He's Coming Right At Us rule. But Ob never goes below 1). Both are successes! Jack rolls a 6 on the gunpowder die! Reroll comes up a 6. Next reroll comes up a 5. Jack gets 5 successes on his pistol shot and +1 to the DoF because he doubled his Obstacle!
Jack rolls the Die of Fate and only comes up with a 2! Even with the +1, that's an Incidental wound (B4).
Arakis gets no armor test, as the pistol has VA 4 at pointblank range. Arakis takes a Superficial Wound and will be at +1 Ob on subsequent actions.

Arakis rolls 7 black dice for his Lock (+1D due to Eight-Legged Common Trait) at Ob 2 (+1 Ob for his Dash!). He gets 4 successes!
Jack rolls 2 black dice for his Natural Defenses and gets no successes! Jack is now in a 4D Lock (3D from Arakis and 1D from the net). Several of Jack's physical stats are now reduced to zero and he is Incapacitated!

Volley Results:
Arakis is the victor!