Snorri vs Al'huin

[eruditus]

The rock was hewn into braided spires above the combatants. The walls were red and dusty and high above the lonely pair the smooth walls were dotted with small black holes no larger than a man's head. The fighters could not see the spectators but the elf and dwarf knew that their audience was peering at them like crows perched atop a hangman's tree.

Beyond said holes was a gallery. This was a quiet affair staged in the ruins of a great hall that once housed the signing of peace treaties among their people. It was an admirable endevour, a meeting of elven lines and dwarven ingenuity. Now a small handful of mourning elves sat in these darkened chambers looking down on two men about to meet in mortal combat.

Then all eyes turned as a clatter could be heard accompanied by gruff voices and hushed whispers.

"But honored sirs, your simply a little turned around. Your gallery is down that corridor."

"No. No, I am certain we have the right room," a second voice boomed, cutting through the elvish silence.

A handful of dwarves wander in and begin to make themselves comfortable. They feign amiability but both the elves and the dwarves move to accommodate a segregated crowd. The elven guests were mortified. Several sifted through papers and raised a finger to their dwarven "guests."

One had the courage to speak up. "Good dwarven brothers. This is the gallery from which we shall be praising the grace and prowess of a fine elven warrior finding himself in the wake of familiy tragedy. Surely we do not wish to offend your pride as you overhear our boasts and hiss over the young dwarf's triumphs. Just as I assume you would have the courtesy to not wish us discomfort as you cheer your comrade on. This is a solomn affair. Lives are on the line. This is a match of honor and blood and not some cock fight or chariot race for amusement. Surely some decorum should be reached?"

The dwarf gnashed his teeth and chuckled at the aged elf. He looked at his comrades who all peered at the elves intently. Then as if some great dam had burst the dwarves roared in laughter. The elves emotions ranged from despondent to rage and some even drew silver weapons, the ring of elven steel sang through the hallowed halls. Some dwarves brought hammers to bear and faced off with their elven aggressors.

One dwarf hurried to the center of the fray and his massive limbs bridged the gap between dwarf and elf.

"Dwarven brothers. Elven hosts. Please. We mean no disrespect. In fact our intentions are galvanized in this ancient place. We're here to see the curr, Snorri, blooded. We're rooting for the elf!

All the dwarves burst into laughter once more. The elves looked at one another with blank expressions. Then one by one they relaxed the grip on their weapons, sheathed their swords and laughed with the dwarves.

Down in the ring Snorri and Al'huin could hear laughter echoing throughout the desperate arena. Both looked about to discern where it emanated from to no avail.

The sun shined high in the clear blue sky. In the distance drums beat and set the cadence to which this combat would begin. Both handled their weapons and prepared for battle.

[eruditus]

Red dust billows up up from the floor as a gust of wind picks up. The opponents see each other across the stark landscape of clay and iron. The dwarf grips his axe and the elf bears his spear behind him. They are but a rush away from one another. The elf draws his cloak about him and begins to skirt the curvature of the wall along with the wind. His slight, gray and silvery figure takes on a reddish hue as the dwarf tries desperately to see Al'huin through the stinging whirlwind of grit. The dwarf snorts "Prepare to die!" and dashes across the field . Snorri strides toward the elf only to find a thick cloud of choking red sand. All could hear a melodic crescendo that carried across the wind and the dwarf tracked the sound spotting the elven Prince farther across the arena.

Mechanics:
Exchange 1/Volley 1
Snorri moves in while the elf tries to keep his distance. Snorri rolls his SPD of 5 - 2 successes while Al'huin rolls his SPD plus two dice for the spear and rolls 3 successes. The combatants began just outside lunging distance for their weapons. Due to the small size of this Arena, Al'huin could not get any further from the dwarf but he deftly kept himself out of melee range.

Snorri assessed for weaknesses in the elf's armor - PER B6, +1 ob for his helm, +1 ob for closing, +1 ob for elf's cloak and a base ob of 1 is a 4 obstacle action. At double obstacle penalty for acting unskilled that is a obstacle of 8. Due to two 6's the dwarf gets 6 successes and barely keeps his eye on the elf.

Al'huin attempts to hide in plain sight while moving away from the Dwarf. He keeps his spear between himself and the dwarf and has his cloak in the other hand trying to use it to shield him from a casual glance. Al'huin uses his Stealthy of 3 and since he can bring his gray mantle to bear he gains an additional 4 dice. Starting at an ob of 1, there is no cover and Snorri sees him enter the arena for +3 obstacle, 4 total, and rolls 5 successes. This does not allow him to leave Snorri's view all together but it does confer the +1 ob against Snorri's Assess.


Snorri Volley 1:
Action 1: Assess
Move: Close

Al'huin Volley 1:
Action 1: Hide
Action 2: Hide
Move: Withdraw

Action Results:
Al'huin gets 5 successes at an ob 4 and adds +1ob to Snorri's Assess.
Snorri rolls 6 successes out of an ob of 8 and does not see what he was looking for.

Volley Results:

The combatants are now out of lunging range.

You have until tomorrow noon to make any Volley 2 forfeits.

[eruditus]

To the onlookers the elf is clearly afraid of his foe. He darts about, maximizing his footing, and concentrates on being where his oppnent is not. Snorri mutters in silent fury, his axe high above his head. The wind and his visor have him at a disadvantage and the elf is too nimble.

The elven prince stops and looks across the arena and the dwarf, a common view between the two of them. The elf can feel the presence of the red stone wall behind him. In these close quarters, the elf knows that Snorri is going to catch up with him sooner or later. Al'huin finishes his final notes in elven and his cloak falls from one shoulder. The elf points at his quary.

Mechanics:
Exchange 1/Volley 2
Snorri continues to move in while Al'huin does his best to keep as much arena between them as he can. With no change in the positioning dice, Snorri gets 2 successes versus Al'huin's 5 and the elf succeeds in avoiding confrontation. At this point they are quickly circling the perimeter of the small arena.

Snorri wants to cleave the elf in two with his axe but gets no opportunity. For the time being he is merely a hunter tracking his prey.

Al'huin stops his motion and his song just long enough to bring his spear to bear. Al'huin just misses his roll by the one obstacle he is penalized for his constant fast motion. If he wants to gain the benefits of that song he will have to attempt it again.

Snorri Volley 2:
Action 1: Set
Action 2: Great Strike
Move: Close

Al'huin Volley 2:
Action 1: Acquire target
Move: Withdraw

Action Results:
Snorri gets 2 successes on his Speed test and Al'huin gets 5 successes, clearly keeping his distance.
Snorri has no one to swing the axe at
Al'huin has aquired the dwarf and he's pissed. Al'huin finished his song and rolls 3 successes. This comes short of the +1ob from his Withdrawl. its tough to sing while running full tilt from an angry dwarf.

Volley Results:

The combatants are still out of lunging range.

You have until 11pm EST this evening to make any Volley 3 forfeits.

[eruditus]

The wind dies down and a cloud of dust still hangs in the air falling quietly like an afternoon fog, leaving only a raises layer concealing the combatant's feet. The two combatants cease their running. Snorri looks about. He is pretty certain this is where they began this scuffle.

As the flurry of motion in the arena quiets down and the audience whispers amongst themselves. Below, Snorri looks about and measures his situation. He lost his footing against the elven prince and it is obvious that he must take another approach to this battle. Every second the elf gains an advantage at this distance. Snorri gnashes his teeth and swings his axe before him. "Blood for the Blood God!" Snorri bellows and braces himself.

Al'huin tries to focus through the dwarf's snarling. The elf's breathing grows deep and steady and he looks down one outstretched arm at his quarry. Al'huin's spear nearly rests on his shoulder and he is set to let the spear fly. A hush comes over the audience as they wait for the release to see if their lust for blood will be satiated this afternoon.

Mechanics:
Exchange 1/Volley 3
Both fighters maintained thus there was no contest. Additionally they are still outside lunging range so no roll is made with

melee weapons as the elf aims at Snorri.

Snorri Volley 3:
Action 1: Block
Action 2: Feint
Movement: Maintain
Speech: Blood for the blood God!

Al'huin Volley 3:
Action 1: Aim
Action 2: Aim
Movement: Maintain

Action Results:
Snorri is out of melee range and cannot apply his melee actions.
Al'huin takes a measured aim at his target giving him +2D to his spear toss against Snorri.

Volley Results:

The combatants are still out of lunging range.

Send me your second exchange scripts.

[eruditus]

Snorri puts one fist to the earth and springs forward. His arms beat while his hand is choked up under the axe head. His head is down and the pitch of his low grunts rise as he closes on the elf. The dwarves stand in excitement, eager to see bloodshed and seeing that until now the Dwarf has been out-manuevered every step of the way. The elf, they think, has Snorri right where they want him.

Al'huin pull's back and exhales just before letting the elven spear soar. His arm arches above his head and swings down below his chest. The spear soars across the field and meets the dwarf midway. Snorri side-steps and the spear sinks deep into the packed soil. The elf bends and his spear hand instinctively rests on his sword hilt. As he is drawing the gleaming elven steel he glances at the rushing dwarf. Just then Snorri brings his eyes to bear on the elf and Al'huin sees the dread plated mask coming toward him like the weight of a hundred dwarven ancestors. For that moment Al'huin loses his faith. For that moment memories of long forgotten wars flood his mind and the blood of his forefathers wash over the red soil beneathe him. He stops singing. Al'huin's jaw goes slack and he just watches.

Al'huin doesn't hear the dwarves shouting from above, "DON'T LOOK! HE BEARS THE MASK!" The elves try to look around their shorter audience. One elf among the audience gasps and feints dead away.

Snorri Volley 1:
Action 1: Avoid
Action 2: Charge!
Move: Close

Al'huin Volley 1:
Action 1: Throw spear
Action 2: Draw Sword
Move: Maintain

Action Results:
Al'huin make a Speed test at a +1 while throwing the spear. 2 successes.
Snorri is rolls 4 successes.
Snorri is charging and gets one incriment closer, from outside lunging to lunging distance for his axe but because he missed his Ob for Charging Snorri is staggered!

Al'huin rolls his spear throw at 3D +2D for his 2 action aim but gets a single success. He is at a +1 ob (2 ob total) for throwing at a closing opponent and misses. On top of that Snorri Avoided for his first action raising the ob yet another +1.

Once Snorri is within range he activates his mask, as per his instincts, and Al'huin is forced to make a Steel test. Considering his Steel he still gains only 4 successes and hesitates for one action.

Volley Results:

The combatants are now within axe lunging range.
Al'huin has to send me his single hesitation action.
Snorri hesitates as well but must stand and drool.