TOP of ROUND 8

The fierce winds drop off to a gentle breeze as the heat becomes anything but! Great gouts of steam burst randomly from the ground, the water in both river and lake approach the level of a very comfortable hot spring. The rain continues to pour down, but it falls straight down, rather than riding the wind horizontally, and the fat, heavy drops are very nearly hot to the touch.

Throughout the arena, to a height of 30 ft, visibility is cut to 10 ft. Hearing is fine (+4 DC from the sound of rain). Positions will not be posted this round, although I will include some of the humorous noises y'all hear. When posting your actions, please include the exact square you are flying, running, etc., to, and what you will do if your target is no longer there.

The storm clouds drop to 150 ft above the arena floor. Visibility inside the storm clouds is 5 ft. No one but Cholestus knows how high they extend. The light level is sufficient to see 60 ft, for those who are not in the pea soup fog.

The temperature is not sufficient to do damage to anyone, but each round a Reflex save (DC 15) is required to avoid the steam gouts. Each steam gout does 1d3 fire damage.

The water inside Izad's force sphere is unaffected by the temperature change.

Over the course of the round, it will become obvious that the heat is continuing to rise, and that the mists are thinning and evaporating. It also seems likely that the clouds will break soon.

TOP of ROUND 7

Note: Conditions have begun to change. They will be completely switched over to the new conditions by the top of Round 8.

Hethas, looking over the gods, sees that it is time to instigate some new variables in the fight down below. A wave of her hand, and the weather begins to shift!

Hurricane force winds begin to drop off to mere fierce winds, and the cold, wet air begins to heat up! Faint tendrils of mist rise from the ground, where rain meets the warming earth, and the rain changes to fat, heated drops!

50 mph winds...

The wind is more than 50 mph (severe) at the top of the round. Hot, fat droplets of rain continue to pour down, unabated by the heat.

Tiny-size or smaller: Fort DC 15 or blown away; on an upwind hillside, this is "knocked down".
Small: Fort DC 15 or knocked down; on a downwind hillside, this is "blown away"
Medium: Fort DC 15 or checked.
Large or larger: No effect.

(flying creatures are one size smaller)

Blown away: knocked prone, roll 1d4x10 ft (2d6x10 if flying), take 1d4 subdual per 10 ft rolled along the ground (or a flat 2d6 subdual if flying).

Knocked down: knocked prone. Flying creatures are blown back 1d6x10 ft instead.

Checked: Unable to move North. Flying creatures are blown back 1d6x5 ft instead.

All exposed flames are extinguished; 50% chance of extinguishing lanterns and similar. Ranged attacks are at -4 to hit. Listen checks are at -4.

Buckets of rain and faint mists...

Visibility is cut to 30 ft (elves and other sharp-sighted & low-light critters 60 ft; darkvision is still cut to 30 ft). Sound-based blindsight is cut to half normal. Everything is spookily dark, although there is still enough light to see by. People who are glowing for whatever reason are visible (as a dim glow) despite distance.

Note: I am still publishing where people are, as general area can still be guessed at. Secondary note: Actually, y'all can pretty much tell where everyone is with simple (DC 10-15) spot or listen checks, so it's not that big a deal anymore.

The ground is increasingly muddy and slick, although this is only an issue for people fighting on hillsides (DC 14 Balance check each round of actual combat not to slip and fall - result of Prone). Spell casting and up to double moves do NOT require balance checks, but Running does.

Universal effects...

Dust of disappearance is stripped away by anyone hit by the wind and rain.

Walls such as the prismatic wall and walls of force provide some cover - for 5 ft south of the walls, there is no wind or rain; for every 5 ft south thereafter, the wind and rain creeps in 5 ft from all sides (left, right, top and bottom).

Thus:

xxxxxxxx
 xxxxxx
  xxxx
   xx

Where the 'x' areas are calm and everything else is windy and rainy.

The hills provide no protection against the wind whatsoever.

Init 36 - Xiao Fung

Position unknown.

Init 32 - Rillos

Position unknown. However, three arrows pass out of the mists and pass entirely through Osirdar. Two of them seemed to ripple him as they went through, while the third seemed to have no effect at all. (dmg 14, 15, 0).

Init 29 - Osirdar

A hissing laugh comes from the incorporeal creature known as Osirdar as he tears Duder's throat open, and he speaks strange words to the south....

"Welcome my child! Exinguish the life of these mortals that they may join with us!"

Who this is to is not immediately evident, but you have the feeling that the words are not wasted. Osirdar then dives straight down, into the earth itself, disappearing from view.

Init 23 - Master

The force cube disappears as rain that once hit on its flat surfaces now passes through unhindered! Naught else can be seen for a few moments, and then a sickly green ray lashes out, striking Mang on the south side of the slope.

Mang, like Xiao Fung's son, disappears into a fine powder which is then swept about by the winds.

Moments later, the rain begins splashing off of a square surface to the southeast, near Blaster (18,83, +5 ft).

Note: Master himself is still nowhere to be seen.

Init 23 - Blaster

A furious series of attacks ends Unth's life, and Unth dies before Blaster even manages to finish the deadly sequence of blows. (160+ dmg - I stopped rolling when Unth stopped breathing).

Unth was a powerful figure, it is true. But can anyone truly stand up to the favored of Ares in battle?

Init 23 - Antony

Yes. Antony.

The corpse of Antony, a bit worse for the wear, lays in the pouring, warm rain. Mists whip around it in the wind, or... perhaps it isn't mist.

With a hissing, malevolent scream, a ghostly image of Antony pulls itself, bit by bit, out of its former corpse. Looking to the north, its face contorts in pain, and it dives into the earth, passing through its own body as only so much meat.

Init 22 - Izad

Position sort of known, but unseen.

Strange flickering lights have been vaguely visible since last round.

Init 22 - Cholestus the Shredder

Position unknown. He's up in the clouds somewhere. Maybe plastered against the adamantine ceiling. Maybe just plastered - do we really know what was in those "potion" flasks earlier?

OOC: I would like to publicly apologize to Jeremy. I've messed up the visible portion of his turn almost EVERY ROUND. And that sucks.

I'm going to give him some bonus points from Hethas because of the disadvantage I keep putting him at, and I'm re-editting the following to show what is visible.

Init 21 - Tairnandon

Position unknown.

Init 21 - Usasmir

Usasmir sucks a moment more at Omigawd's neck before pimp-slapping her away from him, and releasing his pin on her. Then he squints his eyes really hard in concentration...

And Omigawd turns into a fine powder and blows away in the wind.

Init 20 - Mrs Stampy

Mrs Stampy remains behind the prismatic wall, peeking out to see if she can spot her target, Xiao Fung.

Init 17 - Unth Dirn

His mangled corpse, lying near Blaster, stays where it is.

Ogres are toughest,
biggest, meanest, and strongest
But watch for tigers.

Init 8-6 Duder, Omigawd and Mang

His throat violated and open to air, Duder remains hanging where his fly spell placed him. Omigawd and Mang have ceased to exist.

The dwarves are dead.

Init 3 - Mr Buffles and Mr Duffles

The bears remain with Mrs Stampy.

Init 3 - Mr Huffles

Yawns and goes to sleep.

Init 3 - Mr Stampy

Continues to munch the grass. A more contented elephant, you have NOT seen.

COMMENTARY of the GODS

The gods watch a bit as Xiao Fung and Izad secretly vie for supremacy, but what really catches their fickle eye...

Tairnandon and crew wipe out Duder and Omigawd, while Master takes care of Mang. The cowardly dwarves have died! And Hel, still smiling, slides near to Wee Jas and Hethas, and has a quiet conference with them. Both then glance at Antony's corpse and smile.

When three goddesses of death are smiling, something unpleasant is up.

As indeed it is. A ghostly form of Antony rips itself from its flesh shell, and then dives into the earth and out of sight. All three pair of eyes then shift north, from Antony's body... to Duder's.

Blaster distracts the other gods, however, adding the seemingly unstoppable Unth Dirn to his list of "stopped people".

GLORY CUPS

Clockworkjoe: 30 points
   Rnd 1
   Marius survived assault by 4 people
   BONUS: Sif, for absorbing obscene amounts of dmg
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   Rnd 6
   Rnd 7
Cool hand luke: 17 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   BONUS: Sif & Nike, for shoving back a charging elephant
   Rnd 3
   Unth killed Raster the elephant
   DIDDLED: Mortem
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   Rnd 6
   Rnd 7
DM with a vengence: 12 points
   Rnd 1
   Thoramus killed Xiao Hu (kill-thief)
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Hagbard killed Xiao Lung
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   Rnd 6
   Rnd 7
duder: -67 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 2
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Mang
   Rnd 4
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 5
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 6
   Rnd 7
JDragon: -30 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 2
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 4
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 5
   BONUS: Wee Jas, for a clever escape
   Rnd 6
   Rnd 7
Jeremy: 46 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Osirdar killed Antony
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   Rnd 6
   BONUS: Hel, for an evil, evil assault.
   Rnd 7
   Osirdar killed Duder
   Team kill on Omigawd
Number47: 168 points
   Rnd 1
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 4, Cuffles, Fluffles
   BONUS: Wee Jas, for precision and clockwork
   Rnd 2
   Xiao Fung killed Emeldra, Thoramus, Polar 1, Gruffles
   Xiao Lung killed Polar 5, 7 and 8
   Rnd 3
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 8
   Xiao Lung killed Polar 3, 6
   Rnd 4
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 2, Hagbard
   Rnd 5
   Rnd 6
   Rnd 7
reapersaurus: 82 points
   Rnd 1
   BONUS: Nike, for a fantastic start
   Rnd 2
   Blaster killed Marius
   Blaster survived assault by 3 people
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Blaster, Master
   Rnd 4
   Blaster killed Mortem
   Rnd 5
   DIDDLED: Master
   Rnd 6
   DIDDLED: Master
   Rnd 7
   Blaster killed Unth
   Master killed Mang
Saepiroth: -40 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Cholestus
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   DIDDLED: Cholestus
   Rnd 6
   DIDDLED: Cholestus
   Rnd 7
   DIDDLED: Cholestus
Sollir Furryfoot: -30 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Rillos
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   DIDDLED: Rillos
   Rnd 6
   DIDDLED: Rillos
   Rnd 7

TOP of ROUND 6

Note: The air is a smidge warmer, and the raindrops coming down have shifted from a cold downpour to tropically warm droplets. This is the 2nd round of the current environmental condition, and each environmental condition can only last between 3 and 6 rounds.

80 mph winds...

The wind is more than 100 mph (hurricane force!) at the top of the round. The clouds have finally fulfilled their promise as well, and have begun dropping veritable buckets of driving rain throughout the arena.

Medium-size or smaller: Fort DC 20 or blown away; on an upwind hillside, this is "knocked down".
Large: Fort DC 20 or knocked down; on a downwind hillside, this is "blown away"
Huge: Fort DC 20 or checked.
Gargantuan or Colossal: No effect.

(flying creatures are one size smaller)

Blown away: knocked prone, roll 1d4x10 ft (2d6x10 if flying), take 1d4 subdual per 10 ft rolled along the ground (or a flat 2d6 subdual if flying).

Knocked down: knocked prone. Flying creatures are blown back 1d6x10 ft instead.

Checked: Unable to move North. Flying creatures are blown back 1d6x5 ft instead.

All flames are extinguished. Ranged attacks are impossible (even with siege weapons). Listen checks are impossible. This is strong enough to fell some trees.

Buckets of rain...

Visibility is cut to 50 ft (elves and other sharp-sighted & low-light critters 100 ft; darkvision is still cut to 50 ft). Sound-based blindsight is cut to half normal. Everything is spookily dark, although there is still enough light to see by. People who are glowing for whatever reason are visible (as a dim glow) despite distance.

Note: I am still publishing where people are, as general area can still be guessed at.

The ground is becoming muddy and somewhat slick, although this is only an issue for people fighting on hillsides (DC 10 Balance check each round of actual combat not to slip and fall - result of Prone). Spell casting and up to double moves do NOT require balance checks, but Running does.

Universal effects...

Dust of disappearance is stripped away by anyone hit by the wind and rain.

Walls such as the prismatic wall and walls of force provide some cover - for 5 ft south of the walls, there is no wind or rain; for every 5 ft south thereafter, the wind and rain creeps in 5 ft from all sides (left, right, top and bottom).

Thus:

xxxxxxxx
 xxxxxx
  xxxx
   xx

Where the 'x' areas are calm and everything else is windy and rainy.

The hills provide no protection against the wind whatsoever.

---

Init 36 - Xiao Fung

Knocked off balance slightly by Mrs Stampy's assault, Xiao Fung momentarily loses his lean and grip into the earth... and the wind takes immediate advantage. The last surviving member of the Xiao family tumbles 40 ft south through his prismatic wall to a roughshod landing downslope (11 subdual). Mrs Stampy attempts an AoO, but is too close to the prismatic wall, and avoidance of that causes her to miss.

Xiao Fung, flicking mud from his soaked robes, consumes another blast from the ice storm wand, and then utters the final syllables of a spell, disappearing entirely from view.

Init 32 - Rillos

Position unknown.

Init 29 - Osirdar

Position unknown.

Duder, hovering near the top of the force dome, cries out in rage as his tough dwarven skin pales a bit further!

Init 23 - Master

Side note: It's come up a few times, so I want to make a quick statement - my delays around Init 23 are tied strongly to the fact that Master & Blaster's round took around 1700+ words to hash out, and usually involves a lot of double checking. 3.0 rules on grappling are far from clear, and reapersaurus has consistently found new and interesting situations to grapple people in. That's GOOD, but it doesn't lend itself to swift resolution. Once I get past Init 23, things usually go a bit swifter (at least partly because Blaster has managed to reduce the number of characters I have to figure out ;)).

Master is unseen, and Marius' old tower shield disappears from view as something invisible covers it up. However, the rain pattering off of his force cube moves to (9,73).

Init 23 - Blaster

Standing briefly on the slippery force sphere Izad is esconced in, Blaster makes a kind of half-leap, half-fall, splashing and flailing "movement" towards Unth. It's ugly, but it works, and Unth is so confused by the tiger's graceless water ballet that he fails to take advantage of his reach. Taking full advantage of his sudden nearness, Blaster slips a paw behind one of Unth's knees, and the big guy goes down hard... and the tiger takes immediate advantage to attempt to intiate a grapple.

Here, however, the tiger finds some immediate frustration... Unth is not quite as strong as Blaster, but he is a better grappler! Blaster fails to close the deal, and though prone, Unth remains free of the entangling claws.

Note: per the earlier discussion, Blaster does not get the Pounce-full-attack on this, but he does get his rakes on a successful grapple.

Also, if it wasn't clear, Blaster's flailing about was the combination of a almost-missed Balance check (on the sphere), and an excellent Tumble check (which I've decided is fine to apply to general movement, based on reading the rules).

Init 22 - Izad

Forgotten by Blaster, and invisible through the water, rain and wind, Izad's position is probably known, but his current status is not.. although strange lights play for a few moments beneath the surface of the water.

Glub glub.

Init 22 - Cholestus

In a fantastic moment of clarity, Cholestus realizes something: getting pushed through a wall and into the "killing zone" is no fun at all. Chugging two potions in rapid succession like a kegger frat boy, the ugly little man angles his body in the wind like a kite and...

...ZOOMS into the sky. Adding the wind's velocity to his own, he soars higher than he could have reached on his own. As he disappears into the cloud cover, you can hear his screams.... "AH! CEILING TOO %&*# CLOSE! AHHHH!"

Did he manage to stop himself from slamming into the adamantine roof? Did lightning rolling through the clouds catch him? Just how many hit points does the little guy have to lose, anyway? Time will tell!

Init 21 - Tairnandon

Position unknown.

However, Duder hears someone chant something, and... it is too late. Vengeful, fiery chains wrap around the poor dwarf and bind him! Although he tries to escape before they truly enwrap him, all too quickly he is trussed up in the molten wraps (3 dmg, helpless).

Init 21 - Usasmir

Position easily guessed...

Omigawd yelps when something strikes her from behind, and then flails helplessly as an invisible force grabs and forces her to the ground. It is obvious she is struggling against a grappler of some sort... and equally obvious that she can't grapple to save her life.

Finally, she is pinned helplessly by the invisible force, still screaming, and blood seems to flow from her neck, only to fade in midair. She remains alive, but for how much longer?

Init 20 - Mrs Stampy

Bereft of her target, Mrs Stampy looks to the sky, but there are no targets there, either. She glances at her bear companions, and some primitive consensus is reached.

Glancing once more at the sky, Mrs Stampy settles down and waits.

Init 17 - Unth Dirn

Still laying on his back, Unth desperately swings his ranseur in a series of deadly arcs that seem impossibly close for the massive weapon. Opening his salvo with a deceptively weak looking attack (20 dmg), he follows it up with an incredible blow (71 dmg) and then an equally incredible miss (apparently, the sky needed some swinging action).

Total damage to Blaster is 91 dmg... but the weapon is not silver, so may not have done as much as Unth hoped.

Note: I couldn't find the rules on fighting while prone, so I assessed a flat -2 "unfavorable situation" modifier. If someone can find the durned rules, let me know.

Applied a -4 for fighting prone. This did not change any results, except the below...

Unth misses, coming oh-so-very-slightly off balance, and the massive tiger immediately capitalizes, making a grab at the humanoid's arms and tangling them up into a grapple. This time, Unth fails to resist, and the grapple has begun! (24 dmg from grapple check).

Init 8-6 - Duder, Omigawd and Mang

Duder struggles furiously with the chains, but fails to get out.

Omigawd struggles furiously with the invisible grappler, but fails to get away.

Mang, in a moment of supreme inspiration, dismisses the force dome, and lets wind and rain sweep in to wipe away any dust of disappearance that may be present!

Unfortunately, that about does it for the poor little dwarf. He is swept south 10 ft downhill and knocked flat by the winds. Fortunately, the rain prevents anyone from seeing his tears.

Revealed!
Usasmir is standing at (15,64,+0 ft), grappling with Omigawd. His mouth is pressed against Omigawd's neck.

Osirdar is floating at (14,65,+10 ft), next to Duder. A look of pleasure on his pale face turns quickly to surprise as rain and wind blast through him.

Init etc - other animals

The other animals all stay where they are. Mr Stampy continues to eat grass; Mr Buffles and Huffles stick with Mrs Stampy, etc.

COMMENTARY of the GODS

His original target impossible to reach, Blaster gracelessly flops through the water to attack Unth, but again fails to get a good grip... which makes the second time Unth has pushed a grappling specialist off like it was nothing.

Cholestus continues to disappoint his lord and master, as he flees into the stratosphere, and Hextor's face can only be described as sour.

Meanwhile, what Hel had noticed before now plays out in full. Tairnandon's trio pounce! Pinning Duder and Omigawd with spells and invisible strength, they prepare to tear into the morsels they have... and in a final act of desperation, Mang drops the wall of force, revealing two of the trio for all to see!

Hel gives Hethas a meaningful smile, and the goddess of the arena drips beads of glory into Tairnandon's skull cup.

Kord and Thor gasp in unison... "YOU MEAN THEY'SH BEEN THERE THA WHOLE TIME?" then collapse into Nike and Sif-like giggles, much to the goddesses' consternation.

Blaster, almost unwatched, takes a few hits from Unth, and then prepares to rip the ogrish warrior apart.

GLORY CUPS

Clockworkjoe: 30 points
   Rnd 1
   Marius survived assault by 4 people
   BONUS: Sif, for absorbing obscene amounts of dmg
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   Rnd 6
Cool hand luke: 17 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   BONUS: Sif & Nike, for shoving back a charging elephant
   Rnd 3
   Unth killed Raster the elephant
   DIDDLED: Mortem
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   Rnd 6
DM with a vengence: 12 points
   Rnd 1
   Thoramus killed Xiao Hu (kill-thief)
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Hagbard killed Xiao Lung
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   Rnd 6
duder: -67 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 2
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Mang
   Rnd 4
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 5
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 6
JDragon: -30 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 2
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 4
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 5
   BONUS: Wee Jas, for a clever escape
   Rnd 6
Jeremy: 16 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Osirdar killed Antony
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   Rnd 6
   BONUS: Hel, for an evil, evil assault.
Number47: 168 points
   Rnd 1
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 4, Cuffles, Fluffles
   BONUS: Wee Jas, for precision and clockwork
   Rnd 2
   Xiao Fung killed Emeldra, Thoramus, Polar 1, Gruffles
   Xiao Lung killed Polar 5, 7 and 8
   Rnd 3
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 8
   Xiao Lung killed Polar 3, 6
   Rnd 4
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 2, Hagbard
   Rnd 5
   Rnd 6
reapersaurus: 66 points
   Rnd 1
   BONUS: Nike, for a fantastic start
   Rnd 2
   Blaster killed Marius
   Blaster survived assault by 3 people
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Blaster, Master
   Rnd 4
   Blaster killed Mortem
   Rnd 5
   DIDDLED: Master
   Rnd 6
   DIDDLED: Master
Saepiroth: -30 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Cholestus
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   DIDDLED: Cholestus
   Rnd 6
   DIDDLED: Cholestus
Sollir Furryfoot: -30 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Rillos
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   DIDDLED: Rillos
   Rnd 6
   DIDDLED: Rillos

TOP of ROUND 5

A quick note on... WIND

This is the first major environment shift; the next one is 1d4+2 rounds away (3-6 rounds). The wind will probably drop back down to the 40 mph range a round before the next major shift, and will probably die away when the next shift happens. But don't count on it.

80 mph winds...

The wind will be 80 mph (hurricane force!) at the top of the next round. The clouds have finally fulfilled their promise as well, and have begun dropping veritable buckets of driving rain throughout the arena.

Medium-size or smaller: Fort DC 20 or blown away.
Large: Fort DC 20 or knocked down.
Huge: Fort DC 20 or checked.
Gargantuan or Colossal: No effect.

(flying creatures are one size smaller)

Blow away: knocked prone, roll 1d4x10 ft (2d6x10 if flying), take 1d4 subdual per 10 ft rolled along the ground (or a flat 2d6 subdual if flying).

Knocked down: knocked prone. Flying creatures are blown back 1d6x10 ft instead.

Checked: Unable to move North. Flying creatures are blown back 1d6x5 ft instead.

All flames are extinguished. Ranged attacks are impossible (even with siege weapons). Listen checks are impossible. This is strong enough to fell some trees.

Buckets of rain...

Visibility is cut to 50 ft (elves and other sharp-sighted & low-light critters 100 ft; darkvision is still cut to 50 ft). Sound-based blindsight is cut to half normal. Everything is spookily dark, although there is still enough light to see by. People who are glowing for whatever reason are visible (as a dim glow) despite distance.

The ground is becoming muddy and somewhat slick, although this is only an issue for people fighting on hillsides (DC 10 Balance check each round of actual combat not to slip and fall - result of Prone). Spell casting and up to double moves do NOT require balance checks, but Running does.

Universal effects...

Dust of disappearance is stripped away by anyone hit by the wind and rain.

Walls such as the prismatic wall and walls of force provide some cover - for 5 ft south of the walls, there is no wind or rain; for every 5 ft south thereafter, the wind and rain creeps in 5 ft from all sides (left, right, top and bottom).

Thus:

xxxxxxxx
 xxxxxx
  xxxx
   xx

Where the 'x' areas are calm and everything else is windy and rainy.

The hills provide no protection against the wind whatsoever.

---

Init 36 - Xiao Fung

Now visible at (24,20), Xiao Fung takes a 5 ft step north to (24,19), points his ice storm wand into his mouth, and takes it like a man. He does not appear hurt by this, although his breath practically sparkles with frost.

Then, leaning into the wind, he turns and grins at Cholestus and Mrs Stampy, who both stand on the other side of the prismatic wall.

Init 29 - Osirdar

Waits...

Init 23 - Master

Quickly chanting, Master disappears! His force cube is still visible, although it appears to have reduced in power somewhat. The force cube steps 10 ft south, and a distinct *cracking* sound can be heard, like a pistol or a cracking whip, and Marius' old shield, lying just beneath the circle of razors scootches (seemingly of its own accord) across the grass 5 ft towards the cube. Another crack, and it scurries through the force cube's walls (as if they weren't there).

Simultaneously, a rope snakes out of the cube and into the grass. Once it hits the grass, however, it becomes functionally invisible - no one in the game has the Spot check required to see what it's doing.

Init 23, 22 - Blaster & Izad

Blaster runs and leaps upon Izad! Although Izad was blurred, Blaster relies on senses other than sight along, and managed to drag a claw into his chest, dragging Izad with him as he sank into the storm-whipped waters.

As they sink, Blaster pulls Izad in close and rakes with his hind legs... blood mixes with freshwater, and both disappear beneath the waters. Desparate, and unable to break free by any other method, Izad grabs Blaster by the tail and kicks free...

Alas, not far enough. The magical drain upon Izad is present still. One last try, he thinks, and reaches an arm out as far as it will go, a small black bead held in his hands.

With an amazing display of manual strength, he cracks the bead. A wave of force completely fails to harm anything within the antimagic field, but the sphere of force expands into place without difficulty. Izad does not resist, and is pulled by the bead of force into the "safety" of an impenetrable prison.

Will he drown? Time will tell.

Total damage to Izad: 67! He lives!

Blaster rips across the turf towards the mini-lake, growling ferociously... although it's hard to growl properly when you're grinning. Teeth bared in what appears to be joy, Blaster hits the turf at (17,83) and leaps the remaining 15 ft (DC 20) to smack into where he thinks Izad is... but the blurring of Izad's outline puts him off just enough.

At the last second Blaster swipes a paw as he falls, ripping Izad for 23 dmg and dragging the poor bastard into the water with Blaster.

Something is keeping Izad on the surface of the water despite the weight of a large, wet tiger, and Blaster is wrapped around him like some kitty afghan, and manages a binding grip with his paws (on the second try). He then proceeds to rip the poor man up as much as possible with his two remaining attacks (dmg 23 and 21).

Izad, finding himself beneath lashing waves with a rapturous tiger, decides that this, THIS, is not the life for him.

He fights valiantly to free himself, a fierce look of concentration on his face as he pits human strength against striped brawn, and the tiger bares its teeth and holds him tight.

He tries trickery, relaxing momentarily, then bucking and diving for freedom... and almost makes it, but the tiger drags him, inexorably, back into its deadly grasp.

Despair seeps in with the chill of the waters, and as a desparate, last ditch effort, he reaches down... and grabs the tiger by the tail. Blaster doesn't like that! No sir! He yowls and howls and growls (or would, if he wasn't holding his breath), but Izad manages to kick free for a precious half second.

And in that half second, Izad kicks himself another five feet, narrowly avoiding an opportunistic slash from Blaster, and finds himself just far enough for magic to work.

Grimacing at what he is about to endure... he cracks a black bead on his forehead, and a blast of force (not quite large enough to catch Blaster, even if magic worked around the big beast) deals 23 points of damage to Izad, and encapsulates him in a perfect sphere, 10 ft on a side.

Alas, when the bead of force encapsulates, it does not create air. Izad finds himself in a 10 ft force sphere filled with water. The sphere slowly begins to sink beneath the waves (hits the floor of the water this round).

22 - Cholestus the Shredder

The Shredder looks through the prismatic wall, his ugly face deep in concentration. Xiao Fung is taunting him. TAUNTING him. He glances over at Mrs. Stampy. She obviously feels it too, this yearning to rip the old wizard from stem to stern with a rusty hook.

But... BUT! His feral instincts say different. They say... he wouldn't be taunting if he didn't have a reason. Cholestus takes the better part of valor, and stays where he is.

He does take a partial action to flip the old wizard off, however.

21 - Tairnandon

Position unknown.

Cholestus looks suddenly discomfitted and is lifted bodily by an invisible, telekinetic force! And what will happen to the daughty warrior now that something has him?

Why, toss him through the prismatic wall everyone has been admiring for the past several rounds of course! Cholestus flies through the field, screaming like a little... well, a very ugly little girl... and disappears from existence.

He then winks back into existence at (25,77), burned, shocked, eaten by acid, and partially poisoned... but very much alive.

Red (Ref, fail) 20 dmg (fire)
Orange (Ref, fail) 40 dmg (acid)
Yellow (Ref, fail) 80 dmg (electrical)
Green (Fort, succ) 20 dmg (poison)
Blue (Fort, succ) no effect
Indigo (Will, succ) no effect
Violet (Will, fail) teleported to a random position in the arena
- New Pos (25,77)
- Total dmg 160 dmg (He Lives!)

Xiao Fung's face, if you could see it through the rain, is probably priceless.

21 - Usasmir

Position unknown. But Hethas is pleased.

20 - Rillos

Position unknown.

20 - Mrs Stampy

Tusked Vengeance: Once upon a time, there was a spell cast upon the favored son of Xiao Fung, and this spell did keep all manner of beasts and kin at bay while Xiao Fung blasted hither and yon amidst the beasts and their friends. Even when Hagbard, friend to animal and elephant kin everywhere, smote the favored son into dust, the spell remained, anchored to the remaining motes of his corpse. Those motes of dust, however, were carried by a vengeful storm into a wall placed (ironically) by Xiao Fung himself, where they were smashed into nothingness, and the terrible spell with them.

Mrs. Stampy grimly shook herself and began rumbling through the grass, one dire purpose alone in her mind: kill the murderer and bury him in the mud beneath her feet!

She moves 85 ft to (16,17)-(23,20), goring Xiao Fung as she arrives (30 dmg), and bellows a terrible song of elephantine war!

17 - Unth Dirn

Seeing the fight that he wanted to be in going on at the water's edge, Unth runs pell-mell to (17,84) where he puts his reach weapon to good use, smacking the big kitty across the back! (36 dmg)

Of course... now Blaster has his choice of sweetmeats.

8-6 Duder, Omigawd and Mang

All three go to all out defense, stepping swiftly about and obviously hoping to avoid whatever it is that invades their sanctum. All seem to have readied themselves to hit anything they spot, and appear to be listening intently as well...

But they hear nothing but the rain and wind, beating against the walls of force surrounding them.

3 - Mr Buffles and Mr Duffles

These two meet up where Cholestus used to be, and grunt affirmation to each other. They give Xiao Fung a look that is unmistakeable - meat to be wasted.

3 - Mr Huffles

Continues eating the brains of Polar Bear #6. Mighty, mighty pleased about it, too.

3 - Mr Stampy

Contentedly munching on the grass, Mr Stampy examines his life from a whole new perspective. Having reached some form of accord with himself, he begins a trumpeted rendition of "White Rabbit", adding to the already cacophanous winds!

COMMENTARY of the GODS

"Do you think," asks Nike of Sif, "that we shall see a duel of similar proportions between the mighty Xiao Fung and the ugly little man?"

"I think," replies Sif to Nike, "that we shall see the adorably horrible looking Cholestus beat the poor wizard to death with his own arm, yes."

Having mimicked Ares and Hextor sufficiently to vex both, the two goddess collapse into giggles.

Ares and Hextor just glare, then go back to watching their Chosen.

In all, Xiao Fung and Cholestus both disappoint, flipping each other off but not really doing anything.

Blaster, however, makes another run, and you can hear the gods' breaths catch as they strain to see who his target is this round! And its... the unassuming looking person in unassuming robes, Izad.

It seems to be unlikely to result in much of a fight, and disappointment starts to leak through, but the gods should have faith in Blaster to pick the hardest target available! For Izad puts up a tremendous fight, finally squirming free of Blaster long enough to capture himself in his own bead of force.

Nike and Sif look disgusted, but Wee Jas laughs out loud, "Hethas, you do pick the best! What a clever ploy! Give him my boon."

Hethas drips some beads into Izad's empty bowl, an eyebrow raised at Wee Jas' idea of entertainment. Hethas would have rather seen the ascetic torn to pieces.

The slight smile on Hel's face continues to widen as she watches, rapt, the actions of Tairnandon's invisible trio. The other gods fail to notice, really, and shift their attention to the north, where Mrs Stampy delivers what Xiao Fung and Cholestus failed to... some smackdown. Bellowing a terrible trumpet of war, she smashes into Xiao Fung, goring him on her tusks... and failing to kill him.

GLORY CUPS

Clockworkjoe: 30 points
   Rnd 1
   Marius survived assault by 4 people
   BONUS: Sif, for absorbing obscene amounts of dmg
   Rnd 2
Cool hand luke: 17 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   BONUS: Sif & Nike, for shoving back a charging elephant
   Rnd 3
   Unth killed Raster the elephant
   DIDDLED: Mortem
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
DM with a vengence: 12 points
   Rnd 1
   Thoramus killed Xiao Hu (kill-thief)
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Hagbard killed Xiao Lung
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
duder: -67 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 2
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Mang
   Rnd 4
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 5
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
JDragon: -30 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 2
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 4
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 5
   BONUS: Wee Jas, for a clever escape
Jeremy: 6 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Osirdar killed Antony
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
Number47: 168 points
   Rnd 1
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 4, Cuffles, Fluffles
   BONUS: Wee Jas, for precision and clockwork
   Rnd 2
   Xiao Fung killed Emeldra, Thoramus, Polar 1, Gruffles
   Xiao Lung killed Polar 5, 7 and 8
   Rnd 3
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 8
   Xiao Lung killed Polar 3, 6
   Rnd 4
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 2, Hagbard
   Rnd 5
reapersaurus: 69 points
   Rnd 1
   BONUS: Nike, for a fantastic start
   Rnd 2
   Blaster killed Marius
   Blaster survived assault by 3 people
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Blaster, Master
   Rnd 4
   Blaster killed Mortem
   Rnd 5
   DIDDLED: Master
Saepiroth: -20 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Cholestus
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   DIDDLED: Cholestus
Sollir Furryfoot: -20 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Rillos
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Rnd 4
   Rnd 5
   DIDDLED: Rillos

TOP of ROUND 4

36 - Xiao Fung (Number47)

Xiao Fung casts a spell, and Hagbard is suddenly revealed at (15,11)! Xiao Fung then waves his wand and drops an ice storm for 24 dmg (this also hits Polar Bear 2). The bear dies, but Hagbard yet lives!

His face purpling, Xiao Fung casts again, and lightning arcs into Hagbard for 57 dmg. Hagbard, his face blackening under the coruscating energy, falls.

From the other side of the wall, Mrs Stampy bellows with rage, and prepares to attack.

Xiao Fung disappears into the smoke wrought by Cholestus.

35 - Lung Xiao's continuing spells

From beyond the grave, Lung does his best to continue protecting the remainder member(s) of the Xiao family.

A bigby's grasping hand rocketed skyward at Cholestus and attempted to shove him higher. Cholestus whacked it with his vicious, nasty chain, but did not manage to destroy it, and it shoved him a good 10 ft upward.

Also, Mrs Stampy still finds it impossible to approach!

29 - Osirdar (Jeremy)

Position unknown.

However, Duder seems to have some idea, because the dwarf starts looking around wildly, his face paling somewhat.

28 - Hagbard the Chartreuse (DM with a Vengence)

Hagbard has a new strategy. He lays prone. Hopefully Mrs Stampy will avenge him.

23 - Master (reapersaurus)

Master casts a spell, and the ioun stone orbitting Blaster's head glows momentarily. He and Mr Wonder (his bat) then act in concert. The bat pulls and activates a feather token (fan) to counter the wind (down to 15 mph), while Master drops the force cube and flies into the air (8,69, +10 ft).

Master drinks a potion, and Mr Wonder draws from a back at Master's side, tossing a small, tan ball towards the ground. The wind grabs it and carries it about 20 ft south to (8,73), where it grows into a tan-furred lion and the wind ceases to matter to it. (8,72)-(8,73).

Master reactivates his force cube, and the wind ceases to matter at all to any of them.

The Tale of the Poor Lion

He was brought into this cruel world only to appear amidst the flashing blades of dwarven vengeance. Yes, I speak of the Tan Lion, who's woeful fate we now discuss.

The damage roll on the blade barrier against the lion was 58 slashing damage. Alas, poor Lion, had only 32 to give, and the rest, as they say, was taken out of his hide.

At knee height, the blades were, and falling softly into the grass beneath the barrier, the stumps of his legs came to rest, spattered with the bits of the corpse left by the vicious circle.

Init 23 - Blaster (reapersaurus)

Blaster roars and charges south to (9,80). The ioun stone orbitting his head disappears somewhere as the wind catches it, but he doesn't seem to care at the moment.

His eyes are on Mortem.

As with Marius, Mortem's magic seems to go away for a moment, but this time, the effect is far deadlier. Blaster leaps and pounces, and drags claws and teeth through Mortem's body. Although almost as large as the roman gladiator of old, his body is not quite as sturdy, and Blaster happily rips limbs from his body before finishing with a killing blow that snaps Mortem's neck and very nearly decapitates him.

At 203 points of damage, there was no real question of survival.

Init 22 - Izad (JDragon)

In rapid succession, Izad sucks down two potions and jogs south to (17,87). As he drinks the second potion, his outline wavers and distorts, making him difficult to see precisely.

Init 22 - Cholestus the Shredder (Saepiroth)

Drops almost straight down to the ground at (25,21), where he gets a close shave with the prismatic wall. The Bigby hand following him ceases to exist.

Init 21 - Tairnandon (Jeremy)

Position unknown.

Init 21 - Usasmir (Jeremy)

Position unknown.

Init 20 - Rillos (Sollir Furryfoot)

Position unknown.

An arrow thunks into Unth from somewhere northeast... although with wind sheer, it may have been arced from somewhere to the east. It does 11 dmg.

A wall of force springs up along the southern edge of these squares: (41,80)-(46,80). The wall is 30 ft high and 30 ft wide, and the bottom edge of the wall is at +85 ft high (the top edge is +115 ft high).

20 - Mrs Stampy (DM with a vengence)

Stays where she is, unable to force herself towards the area where Xiao Lung died.

17 - Unth Dirn (Cool hand luke)

Roaring, Unth moves NW to (3,73), then sprints completely around the blade barrier and SE to (23,84).

10 - Mortem Redgrave (Cool hand luke)

Mortem's left arm lays in the cool grass, considering the intellectual challenge of achieving its goals without a direct connection to the brain. A few feet over, its mirror twin considers the same thing. The brain awaits their response, as the lack of heart's blood is making it a bit difficult to think for itself.

8 - Duder (duder)

Delay to Init 7

7 - Omigawd (duder)

Omigawd casts something and touches Duder's shoulder. Duder looks relieved, but...

All three of the dwarven team are watching the air around them warily.

(note: "warily" = defensive casting)

7 - Duder (duder)

Warily (and somewhat shakily), Duder casts a spell and lifts into the air to the top of the little force dome (+10 ft). He watches all around himself, and looks ready for anything to pop out of anywhere.

The events of the round appear to have shaken him a bit.

6 - Mang (duder)

Mang, also glancing warily around, takes the time to wring his hands as he cowers in his patch of the dome.

3 - Mr Buffles (DM with a vengence)

DOUBLE MOVE: 80 ft to (11,27)-(15,28)

Mr Buffles seems intent on making a stand with Mrs. Stampy, to avenge the deaths of his friends.

3 - Mr Duffles (DM with a vengence)

FULL ROUND: Runs 160 ft to (37,52)-(38,55)

Throwing caution to the winds, Mr Duffles hauls ass for Mrs. Stampy. Vengeance awaits no bear, even an oversized one.

3 - Mr Huffles (DM with a vengence)

Mr Huffles manages to crack the skull of Polar Bear #6 and gives a howl of triumph. It can barely be heard over the wind at this point, but it sounds pretty pleased.

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 2 (DM with a vengence)

"I am not a number, I am a free man!"

"You are number six. I am number two."

Incoherent yell

"I am not a number, and you... YOU. ARE. DEAD."

Who will be the new number two? Stay tuned next week!

3 - Mr Stampy (DM with a vengence)

Sniff. Sniff. As Mr. Stampy charges at those he believes ruined the grass, he passes a fiiine patch. His vengeance shall wait.

The lumbering elephant comes to a near instant halt and practically plows his face (tusks and all) into the turf.

Mmmmmmmmm MMM! That's some fine grass.

COMMENTARY of the GODS

At the north end of the battle field, it seems an epic duel is coming to a close. Xiao Fung, face cold with anger at the loss of his two sons, burns Hagbard to a crisp with lightning.

Hades simply smiles, but Nike and Sif, for once in agreement, lead a cheer for the Mighty Xiao Fung! As Hethas reaches for glory beads, however, Sif stops her, saying, "It was a great victory, but only because it was a great foe. If aught has earned our admiration, it is Hagbard for giving Hades' chosen very near his match."

Hethas nods, and changes the direction of her hand, when Nike stays her hand, "Nay. The loser should not get glory for being beaten."

Hethas nods, then splits the beads between two hands, "Then I shall provide some to each, for their part in providing us with a duel worthy of our time." This satisfies the goddesses, and so it is done.

Meanwhile, below, Master cruelly tosses a lion into the winds, where it is carried into Omigawd's blade barrier and turned into lion gibblets. At this, Kord and Thor begin to laugh uproariously.

"Didju SEE that?", yells Thor!
"Yeah, but didSHOO see the LION?", yells Kord in return.
"BWAHAHAHAHA", they laugh together.

Hethas, her face looking slightly ill, considers whether to give Master tokens for the two, when Kord yells down, "GIVE MY BONUSH TO.... BRRRAAAAAARP"

Hethas sighs, and puts the beads back.

Blaster continues his sprinting race of death, pouncing and tearing apart Mortem. The goddesses of competition continue to admire the tiger's sleek curves and swift, decisive action.

the other gods, however, have begun to watch Tairnandon and crew. Hethas waves them to be silent about their observations, but Hel fails to suppress a small smile.

The remainder of the fight passes, and the rains begin to fall...

GLORY CUPS

Clockworkjoe: 30 points
   Rnd 1
   Marius survived assault by 4 people
   BONUS: Sif, for absorbing obscene amounts of dmg
   Rnd 2
Cool hand luke: 17 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   BONUS: Sif & Nike, for shoving back a charging elephant
   Rnd 3
   Unth killed Raster the elephant
   DIDDLED: Mortem
   Rnd 4
DM with a vengence: 12 points
   Rnd 1
   Thoramus killed Xiao Hu (kill-thief)
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Hagbard killed Xiao Lung
   Rnd 4
duder: -51 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 2
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Mang
   Rnd 4
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
JDragon: -40 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 2
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 4
   DIDDLED: Izad
Jeremy: 6 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Osirdar killed Antony
   Rnd 4
Number47: 168 points
   Rnd 1
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 4, Cuffles, Fluffles
   BONUS: Wee Jas, for precision and clockwork
   Rnd 2
   Xiao Fung killed Emeldra, Thoramus, Polar 1, Gruffles
   Xiao Lung killed Polar 5, 7 and 8
   Rnd 3
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 8
   Xiao Lung killed Polar 3, 6
   Rnd 4
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 2, Hagbard
reapersaurus: 72 points
   Rnd 1
   BONUS: Nike, for a fantastic start
   Rnd 2
   Blaster killed Marius
   Blaster survived assault by 3 people
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Blaster, Master
   Rnd 4
   Blaster killed Mortem
Saepiroth: -10 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Cholestus
   Rnd 4
Sollir Furryfoot: -10 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Rillos
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Rnd 4

TOP of ROUND 3

The southerly breeze is no longer a breeze, but a steady, sharp wind of 20 mph. Still not strong enough to cause problems, it rapidly becomes obvious that the wind is doubling in speed every several seconds. By the beginning of next round, the wind will likely be strong enough to knock down small children and push full adults around a bit.

Clouds, laden and dark, have begun to blow across the sunlit ceiling, about 250 ft above the ground. Although they do not entirely obscure the sunlight, they promise moist violence to come.

Note: Winds will be 40 mph at the top of round 4; this is sufficient to be blow away Tiny creatures (like bats) (Fort DC 15), to knock down Small creatures (like gnomes) (Fort DC 15), and check/prevent forward movement for Medium creatures (Fort DC 15). It also gives a flat -4 to missile weapons and Listen checks, and is likely to extinguish or spread fires. Also, IF YOU ARE FLYING, treat your size as one smaller!

36 - Xiao Fung (Number47)

Xiao Fung downs a potion and tumbles (an odd sight for a 10 ft human!) to (20,14). There he sprays prismatic beams (60 ft cone, 90 degrees west of south), catching Mr Huffles and polar bears 2, 6 and 8. Polar Bear 6 and 8 both drop as red beams scorch deep into their bodies.

10 dmg to both polar bears 6 and 8.

Fung yells something over the wind, that sounds vaguely obscene, like the wail of a rotting soul in the abyss, and casts another spell with no visible effect. His bat drops to his shoulder and clings against the rising wind, and continues to squeak excitedly.

35 - Xiao Lung (Number47)

Xiao Lung pushes into the wind, moving 10 ft to (25,14), and pulls out a scroll, carefully shielding it against wind and a few rain drops with his body. He speaks words of power, and something happens in the pitch black cloud of smoke just above his head.

Cholestus can be heard yelling and cursing, and his chain is briefly seen, whipping out of the cloud and seeming to hit nothing.

Xiao Lung has already dismissed the ugly little man from his mind, however, as he aims a wand the other way, and a fireball erupts at (6,9)-(13,16). The polar bears roast and die, although polar bear #2 somehow manages to retain its deathgrip on life.

26 dmg to polar bears 2 and 3, and 13 dmg to polar bear 6 (who was unconscious, and is now dead).

Xiao Lung is not yet done! Even as the wand is finishing its deadly effect, Lung flings another fireball with deadly purpose into the same spot. Polar bear 2 still retains the spark of life, and Lung seems somewhat disappointed.

33 - Master (reapersaurus)

Delays to Init 23

30 - Duder (duder)

Delays to Init 8.

29 - Osirdar (Jeremy)

Position unknown.

However, Antony dies, suddenly and horribly, as his face grows ashen and his eyes mist and whiten. He falls to his knees like an old man and, clutching his breast, crumples to the grass.

28 - Hagbard the Chartreuse (DM with a vengence)

Position mostly unknown...

Originating somewhere in the area of Xiao Lung's fireballs, a green ray strikes Xiao Lung, followed by a burst of magic missiles at Xiao Fung, as Hagbard unleashes his rage on his horde's murderer.

Lung, the look of disappointment in his fireballs still etched in his face, is eaten away by the green beam, and his dust blows away in the wind. Only his equipment, now an untidy pile being tugged about by the whipping air, remains.

The magic missiles hit their target as well, and Xiao Fung's face darkens.

Five magic missiles did 19 damage.

27 - Antony Grandell (Cool hand luke)

The wind pulls at his cloak. A rain drop caresses his face. He is dead, cause unknown.

26 - Usasmir (Jeremy)

Position unknown.

23 - Master and Blaster (both) (reapersaurus)

Master yells over the wind, "Blaster! Let's go!" and motions to the north. Then, as Blaster nods, casts a spell upon himself, deactivates the cube, and flies to (8,56). As he arrives, he casts another quick spell on himself.

Blaster, meanwhile, rolls backward (an impressive feat for a tiger!) and arcs into a series of flips meant to dissuade opportunistic enemies. He growls as he does so, as if he might be reluctant to leave his play toys, but then sprints to Master's side, where Master grabs something out of his mouth, and puts an ioun stone around Blaster's head.

Blasters' wounds, inflicted at grievous cost, fade to nothing, and the cube of force rises up around the gnome and tiger once more.

The antimagic is obviously gone.

22 - Izad (Jdragon)

Izad rises up past the bear (who makes an obligatory swipe) and surfaces, visible once more (54,87), on the surface of the lake, where he immediately begins running west to (33,87).

22 - Cholestus the Shredder (Saepiroth)

As Cholestus' turn comes around, the bottom of the smoke cloud covers the hill. It is sixty feet across, but does not cross the prismatic wall. If it did, it would be a circle from roughly (19,11)-(32,25).

Cholestus bursts out of the smoke cloud just above the prismatic wall at (25,21, +30 ft). Glaring around him and not seeing Xiao Fung or anyone else where he thought they'd be, he shoots straight up, up, up to (25,21, +170 ft) where he continues to look around, bellowing over the wind, ""wh... Hey, where'd he go? WHERE DID YOU GO?"

21 - Tairnandon (Jeremy)

Position unknown.

21 - Usasmir (Jeremy)

Position unknown.

However, around this time, Unth Dirn grunts and shifts his weight as if being grabbed, but as near as can be told, succeeds in shoving the attacker off.

20 - Rillos (Sollir Furryfoot)

Position unknown. An arrow strikes Unth Dirn from somewhere to the east.

Although Unth glares, he does not look very bad off.

19 - Mang (duder)

Delays to Init 6

17 - Unth Dirn (Cool hand luke)

Looking mad at the invisible bastards attacking him, but not quite sure where they are yet, Unth whips his ranseur around and CHOP CHOP CHOP, cuts Raster the Elephant to pieces. The elephant disappears, and something twinkles in the grass where it died.

Damage to the elephant was 31, 36, 98.

12 - Raster/Master's Elephant (reapersaurus)

Dead and gone. Maybe.

10 - Mortem Redgrave (Cool hand luke)

Mortem casts a spell with no immediately visible effect, then moves 60 ft to (9,81).

8 - Duder (duder)

Duder's hemisphere of force disappears, and he flings his arms out in a dwarven chanting spell. A tiny bead of red heat flies out into the middle of Mortem and Unth and explodes into a fireball.

Fireball is from (4,75)-(11,82) and does 25 dmg to Unth and Mortem.

7 - Omigawd (duder)

Omigawd, meanwhile, chants to an obscure dwarven sun god and knives, flashing in the sunlight, materialize in a massive blade barrier from (2,72)-(13,83)... at just a bit above ankle height. Both Unth and Mortem evade the blades, dancing wildly, but it is obvious that if they do not immediately move to the edge of the barrier, they'll be cut to pieces.

Note: If you make your save against blade barrier, you take no damage, AS LONG AS you take the shortest route to leaving the barrier. In this case, that means next round they have the choice of leaving the barrier, or taking the damage.

19 - Mang (duder)

Mang then casts a spell, and a second wall of force, this one a cramped 11 ft in radius, springs into existence around the three dwarves, from (13,63)-(17,67).

3 - Mr Buffles (DM with a vengence)

Mr Buffles, bereft of a target, hauls ass for Mrs Stampy's area, moving swiftly to (3,18)-(4,21).

3 - Mr Duffles (DM with a vengence)

Mr Duffles moves to (41,82)-(44,83).

3 - Mr Huffles (DM with a vengence)

Mr Huffles spends the round gnawing on dead Polar Bear #6's skull.

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 2 (DM with a vengence)

Polar Bear #2 continues to snore loudly.

3 - Mr Stampy (DM with a vengence)

The grass simply isn't good enough. It is, in fact, not at all what he remembered, so long ago... those distant twelve seconds ago.

Mr Stampy, furious, looks around and spots who must be causing it! Ah HA!

He charges 80 ft to (22,58)-(29,61). His target appears to be Mang's hemisphere of force.

3 - Mrs Stampy (DM with a vengence)

Mad. Angry. Perturbed. The oversized elephant takes a five foot step east to (16,22)-(23,25) and seems to be considering her next move.

COMMENTARY of the GODS

A stray smile graces Hel's half-hideous face as Antony collapses from an unknown source, but otherwise none of the gods considered this round worthy of comment.

GLORY CUPS

Clockworkjoe: 30 points
   Rnd 1
   Marius survived assault by 4 people
   BONUS: Sif, for absorbing obscene amounts of dmg
   Rnd 2
Cool hand luke: 17 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   BONUS: Sif & Nike, for shoving back a charging elephant
   Rnd 3
   Unth killed Raster the elephant
   DIDDLED: Mortem
DM with a vengence: 12 points
   Rnd 1
   Thoramus killed Xiao Hu (kill-thief)
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Hagbard killed Xiao Lung
duder: -35 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 2
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Mang
JDragon: -30 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 2
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Izad
Jeremy: 6 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   Osirdar killed Antony
Number47: 128 points
   Rnd 1
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 4, Cuffles, Fluffles
   BONUS: Wee Jas, for precision and clockwork
   Rnd 2
   Xiao Fung killed Emeldra, Thoramus, Polar 1, Gruffles
   Xiao Lung killed Polar 5, 7 and 8
   Rnd 3
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 8
   Xiao Lung killed Polar 3, 6
reapersaurus: 42 points
   Rnd 1
   BONUS: Nike, for a fantastic start
   Rnd 2
   Blaster killed Marius
   Blaster survived assault by 3 people
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Blaster, Master
Saepiroth: -10 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3
   DIDDLED: Cholestus
Sollir Furryfoot: -10 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Rillos
   Rnd 2
   Rnd 3

TOP of ROUND 2

The southerly light breeze has kicked up to 10 mph, still southerly. Still a gentle breeze by most standards (and insufficient to affect even light missiles in skilled hands), but a possible warning of things to come.

33 - Master (reapersaurus)

A small bat pokes its head out of Master's pack and begins squeaking excitedly.

Quickly casts a spell on himself, followed by a second spell. Transforms from a gnome into a tall, green-skinned, elderly crone with matted, twisted black hanks of hair and a cruelly wrinkled visage. "She" is dressed in semi-rotted clothing from which rank droplets of water are dripping.

Fiddles with "her" six-sided die, strides quickly to (19,67) and tosses something out onto the grass, a bit outside of "her" cube; the cube flickers out as this happens*.

An elephant springs up from the grass at (15,58)-(16,61).

And, as the action occurs between Blaster and Marius, Master gestures theatrically at the two, and intones, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls..."

"...dyin' time's here."

* Note: After looking over the cube of force, I decided that deactivating and reactivating it within the same round costs 1 charge (based on the idea that you could stage down to let something through and then stage back up for a reduced charge cost). This simplifies the math somewhat, and removes a minor headache for me. It also continues to cost charges to get anything out of the cube.

30 - Duder (duder)

Duder becomes wreathed in wispy, translucent flames.

29 - Osirdar (Jeremy)

Position unknown.

28 - Hagbard the Chartreuse (DM with a vengence)

Position unknown.

Lightning strikes Marius (48 dmg) and spreads out, also hitting Antony (24 dmg), Unth (12 dmg), and Mortem (24 dmg).

Magic missiles streak from somewhere west of Xiao Lung and impact him (21 dmg).

27 - Antony Grandell (Cool hand luke)

Delays to Init 10.

23 - Blaster (reapersaurus)

Blaster takes a 5 ft step adjacent to Marius. Blaster attacks, and steps 5 ft more into Marius space as he hooks a claw deep in the half-ogre's shoulder! Marius brings his sword around to prevent it, but misses.

As Blaster moves in, he steps within reach of Unth (with his huge ranseur) and Antony (with a fast snapshot from his longbow). Both take chunks out of Blaster's hide. Blaster is almost beaten off of Marius, but hooks another claw in, and then, in a blurring series of oddly elegant maneuvers, tears into Marius with hind and fore claws, digging himself in... getting a terrible grip... and still Marius lives!

Howling with rage, Blaster grabs Marius by the neck in powerful tiger jaws, and heaves, pulling his head off. You can almost see in his eyes, a pleading to the gods, please let this bastard be dead this time.

His prayers are answered. Marius the Weathered is dead.

Unth hit Blaster for 24 dmg; Antony would have hit, bit Blaster managed to deflect the arrow with a shoulder; Blaster hit Marius for a total of 211 dmg.

22 - Xiao Fung (Number47)

Xiao Fung walks swiftly north (26,17). As he does so, a vicious looking spiked chain lashes out of the smoke cloud overhead and catches him across the shoulders (29 dmg). Xiao Fung has a job to do, however, and he ignores the pain for the moment to cast prismatic spray across Hagbard's troupe again... because as irritating as the sky is, the earth carries greater threat for the moment.

Cone (120 ft long), 100 degrees left of south, W). Hits the entire animal horde, and very narrowly misses Xiao Lung.

Emeldra takes 40 dmg and DIES.
Thoramus takes 80 dmg and DIES.
Mr Buffles takes 20 dmg.
Mr Duffles disappears in a puff of violet smoke and reappears at (46,86)-(49,87), belly-flopping into the lake.
Mr Gruffles turns to stone!
Mr Stampy disappears in a puff of violet smoke and reappears at (49,47)-(56,50)
Mrs Stampy takes 20 dmg.
Polar Bear 1 disappears in a puff of violet smoke. A statue of Polar Bear 1 appears at (57,58)-(60,59).
Polar Bear 3 takes 20 dmg.
Polar Bear 5 takes 20 dmg.
Polar Bear 7 takes 40 dmg.
Polar Bear 8 takes 10 dmg.

Xiao Fung then points the wand he used to cast ice storm into his own mouth. A brief blast of frost can be seen, but it does not appear to have done him any harm.

Xiao Fung casts a quick spell with no visible effects, and seems done for the round.

22 - Izad (Jdragon)

Izad moves deeper into the waters, all but disappearing from casual view. He seems to be somewhere near the deepest waters, somewhere near Mr Duffles.

22 - Emeldra the Mauve (DM with a vengence)

Hit by one too many prismatic sprays, the daughty lady of Hagbard's acquaintance lies unmourned by any but her animals upon the land. Perhaps Hagbard mourns her.

22 - Cholestus the Shredder (Saepiroth)

Position unknown within the great, roiling cloud of black smoke.

The cloud has expanded 10 ft in all directions, and drifted downward. It has now begun to cover the hill. It is roughly centered on (26,18) and a 15 ft radius is at ground level (the hill drops below the rest of it). The top of the cloud is roughly 20 ft in the air. It does not extend past the prismatic wall.

And from somewhere in the blackness, a mighty "BA-A-A-A-A" is heard, like some sheep from the depths of Hell, and something hits Xiao Fung square in the chest, knocking him back 20 ft to (25,21). It does 17 hit points of damage to him, and he passes through the prismatic wall without any ill effect whatsoever!

21 - Tairnandon (Jeremy)

Position unknown.

20 - Rillos (Sollir Furryfoot)

Position unknown.

An arrow sprouts from Antony Grandell's side. It does 17 hit points of damage!

It seems to have come from somewhere to the east.

19 - Mang (duder)

The loin-cloth wearing dwarf casts a spell on his comrades.

17 - Unth Dirn (Cool hand luke)

Unth takes a 5 ft step south to (6,76), and then proceeds to (at the maximum reach of his massive ranseur), puts three swift chops into Blaster even as the tiger yells in triumph over Marius' abused body!

Three attacks, for 32, 26, and 31 points of damage.

16 - Xiao Lung (Number47)

Steps 5 ft to (23,15).
Puts the scroll in his hands into his pouch.

Takes a small ceramic bowl and breaks it open, pouring a thin liquid over his head. It rapidly spreads, coating his entire body and all of his equipment, making it all vaguely shiny looking.

Chants and flings his arms wide - a fireball streaks into the few remaining animals and explodes in a nearly pure elemental blast of fire (fireball).

Mrs Stampy takes 30 damage. Polar Bears 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 takes 60 points of damage (polar bears 5, 7 and 8 keel over). Polar bear 3 takes 30 points of damage.

16 - Usasmir (Jeremy)

Position unknown.

14 - Thoramus the Puce (DM with a vengence)

His ashes, all that's left after the terrific firepower brought about by the Xiao Team, seem to be weeping. Should he have asked Emeldra out last weekend? We'll never know.

12 - Master's Elephant (reapersaurus)

The elephant that Master brought forth from the dewy grass finishes getting its bearings and, at a brief word from Master, charges straight at Mortem Redgrave's small group! It only clears 55 ft (8,75)-(11,76) before it hits Mortem, however.

The elephant's intent to overrun and shoot right past Mortem is obvious, but he's having none of it. He steps squarely in the elephants path and meets it head on... and when they impact, a surprised trumpet forces its way from the elephant's trunk. Stopped in its tracks (and looking a bit dazed), it takes a half step backward (9,75)-(12,76) and blinks a few times.

Mortem, his physical power proven, just grins.

10 - Mortem Redgrave (Cool hand luke)

Mortem moves (in a square around Blaster) 30 ft to (5,71). Master's elephant (named Raster) attempts to gore him as he moves away, but misses.

Mortem then takes up his massive flail in both hands and swings at Blaster... and although he hits, he looks a bit annoyed as he feels the effects of the AMF*.

One hit for 17 dmg.

* Exact measurements are, of course, difficult, but the AMF does extend a bit into that square; I allowed a simple Reflex save (DC 12) to make the attack without stepping into it, and Mortem managed to fail it.

10 - Antony Grandell (Cool hand luke)

Antony mimics the success of his two comrades, but simply stands in place as he plugs three arrows into Blaster, for 7, 10 and 11 points of damage each. At least one of those don't appear to have even left a proper wound, however...

7 - Omigawd (duder)

Omigawd appears to be thinking, but otherwise does nothing.

5 - Marius the Weathered (clockworkjoe)

His corpse looks like a rag doll left in the hands of a loving terrier. His indomitable spirit, however, will likely fly with a goddess tonight.

3 - Mr Buffles (DM with a vengence)

Mr Buffles growls and awaits the time for vengeance. He can not approach those whose blood he seeks, nor are any other targets within easy reach.

3 - Mr Cuffles (DM with a vengence)

Still a fierce looking statue, Mr Cuffles nonetheless looks happy to have some statuary companions.

3 - Mr Duffles (DM with a vengence)

A few feet above the surface of the water, Mr Duffles has time to blink in shock before he belly flops into the water. He HAD that little 9 ft tall bastard! HAD him! Really!

On the other hand, there appears to be... yes. A target to work out some frustrations on, down in the water.

Mr Duffles dives down after Izad. It looks like they might be fighting a bit, but it's hard to tell.

3 - Mr Gruffles (DM with a vengence)

If anything, the statue of Mr Gruffles seems to commiserate with Mr Cuffles. You know how it is - the photographer says pose, you get all fierce looking, there's a flash of light...

Hey, that didn't look like a camera flash!

...Shit.

3 - Mr Huffles (DM with a vengence)

Unable to figure out anything he can do, and itching from the light that just hit him, Mr Huffles begins to scratch. Scratch furiously. Madly. Obsessively.

After a few seconds, he stops thinking about other things. There is only the itch. And the scratch. Except that he is not scratching it... it is simply... being scratched.

A bear and his itch. Nature as zen.

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 1 (DM with a vengence)

At (57,58)-(60,59), a statue of polar bear 1 pouts. It didn't want to be in the other guys' statuary garden, anyway. Just cuz he's a summoned animal, and they're all, like, "enspelled" n stuff... who needs them, anyway?

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 2 (DM with a vengence)

Covering its eyes just like its brother, polar bear 8, polar bear 2 notices that polar bear 8 appears to have gone to sleep.

Well, hell, that's NEVER a bad idea! Polar bear 2 begins to snore loudly.

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 3 (DM with a vengence)

Moves 10 ft north to (10,6)-(11-9).

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 5 (DM with a vengence)

Still madly attacking the statue of Mr Gruffles, polar bear 5 continues to chew on Gruffles' fierce "camera pose" face until a fireball turns him into a very crispy, very large barbecued kabob.

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 6 (DM with a vengence)

A moment passes, and the polar bear sits up on its haunches. Why in heck is IT fighting, anyway? This is obviously some sort of miscommunication. Polar bear 6 (known as Pee Bee Eff among friends) is a Higher Being! It should be chatting up ghaeles, not kissing spell caster butt here on the Prime Material!

It pouts. Which looks a little funny on a gigantic white-furred bear.

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 7 (DM with a vengence)

There's a lot of polar bear barbecue over here. Polar bear 7 wonders why it had to be one of 'em.

Oh the ursinity!

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 8 (DM with a vengence)

Blessedly collapsed
polar bear 8 enjoys a
no movement moment

3 - Mr Stampy (DM with a vengence)

Teleported to (49,47)-(56,50), away from the very fine grass way the hell back there... Mr Stampy ges a desperate look on his face.

The grass here simply won't do.

It won't.

Do.

At all.

He leaps into action, sprinting for the grass... by the river! Yes! The river will have good grass!

DOUBLE MOVE: Charge 80 ft to (33,47)-(40,50)
STANDARD: Begins to thoughtfully chew the fine, fine grass in these parts.
FREE: Brief sip of water. Hm. Fine vintage.

3 - Mrs Stampy (DM with a vengence)

Unable to get closer, she backs off for a bit... and discovers another route, and target.

Xiao Fung is on the other side of a prismatic wall, and there doesn't seem to be anything preventing her from moving toward HIM.

Total move 40 ft to (15,22)-(22,25). Gores Xiao Fung (at 15 ft) for 30 damage.

COMMENTARY of the GODS

The first casualty of any war is the Plan.

Rarely is this more evident than today, as gladiators meet one another and discover the surprises each bears with them. The gods, naturally, are delighted.

Stoic Marius finally goes down under withering assault. Attacked by Mortem's team from behind, from Blaster in front, and even a seemingly random bolt of lightning from far across the field... Even at the end, he seems very near making it another round, until Blaster, with a roar sounding more of rage than victory, tears Marius' head off in a very final manner.

Sif squeals, "HE ALMOST MADE IT! Did you see, Nike? Such bravery! He fought to the end! E'en as his mortal coil lay tumbled about his feet, he was planning a full assault upon the tearing teeth that slew him!"

Nike, laughing, cries out, "That he did! But more important, fairest of the Norse, is that he fell, and that the once-enslaved tiger felled him! Such decisiveness! And such a victory!"

Sif harumphs, saying quietly to herself, "It is all very well for the goddess of victory to smile on those who have already made it. I choose to reward those who put great effort." And so saying, she asks permission of Hethas with a glance, and then scoops Marius' soul from its shattered shell and places it in a timely vessel - a Nordic vase, as worn as its new occupant, but still divinely strong.

Hethas will ask a trade later, but Sif has many souls she is willing to provide the passionate goddess of death in return for this rare item.

Before the two goddesses can become too estranged, however, a new event in the same area catches their eye...

The elephant brought into being by Master charges into the fray and, against seemingly impossible odds, Mortem Redgrave steps in its path, catching its massive chest in his hands, and shoves it back.

"Ooh, I liked that," Nike quietly coos, and Sif nods quickly in agreement. Sif begins carefully looking over the souls she is willing to trade, and wonders where Hethas found all of these...

Meanwhile, Hextor quietly watches his Chosen combat the Xiao family. He is as impressed as Wee Jas with the Xiao family's decisive handling of Hagbard's monstrousity, but he also notes that Cholestus has begun to seriously hurt them... and they have yet to return the favor. All of the defenses they have thrown up to protect themselves have been as naught before the lash of the chain and the concealing powers of the smoke.

If there is a faint hint of an approving smile at the corners of his mouth, it is well concealed. He is not yet ready to declare his Champion strong yet.

Ares, of course, is declaring exactly that to any god who will listen. And indeed, it is difficult to deny - Master and Blaster have thus far been responsible for the only death of an entire "team", and that in only the second round!

As the round ends, Hethas glances at the gods. It is time, she decides, to stir the pot a bit. A moment of concentration, and the wind slowly begins to increase in ferocity - the increase is slow enough for gladiators to recognize the danger, but swift enough to be interesting.

A slow, blood-thirsty smile creases her face. It does not promise pleasant things to come.

GLORY CUPS

Clockworkjoe: 30 points
   Rnd 1
   Marius survived assault by 4 people
   BONUS: Sif, for absorbing obscene amounts of dmg
   Rnd 2
   DEAD: Marius.
Cool hand luke: 10 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
   BONUS: Sif & Nike, for shoving back a charging elephant
DM with a vengence: 2 points
   Rnd 1
   Thoramus killed Xiao Hu (kill-thief)
   DEAD: Polar 4, Cuffles, Fluffles.
   Rnd 2
   DEAD: Emeldra, Thoramus, Polar 1, 5, 7, 8, Gruffles
duder: -32 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
   Rnd 2
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
JDragon: -20 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Izad
   Rnd 2
   DIDDLED: Izad
Jeremy: 0 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
Number47: 98 points
   Rnd 1
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 4, Cuffles, Fluffles
   BONUS: Wee Jas, for precision and clockwork
   Rnd 2
   Xiao Fung killed Emeldra, Thoramus, Polar 1, Gruffles
   Xiao Lung killed Polar 5, 7 and 8
reapersaurus: 55 points
   Rnd 1
   BONUS: Nike, for a fantastic start
   Rnd 2
   Blaster killed Marius
   Blaster survived assault by 3 people
Saepiroth: 0 points
   Rnd 1
   Rnd 2
Sollir Furryfoot: -10 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Rillos
   Rnd 2

TOP of ROUND 1

Special Ruling: Horn of Blasting can be resisted by AMF, SR, and anything which provides immunity to 5th level spells. This is based on the text of Spell Resistance, which specifically excludes only certain types of magic items.

33 - Master

Says, "Why, look, Blaster! It's one of the ole slavers that kept us imprisoned all those years, stuck slopping pig *&^* in the methanol factory!"

Toodles 20' to (18,61).

Casts spell on self.

Pockets an ioun stone.

Says something quietly and Blows horn of blasting...
Cone (100 ft long) (45 degrees left of south; SW) Hits Omigawd, Duder, Mang, Marius and the original locations of Tairnandon, Usasmir and Osirdar.

Master does something with a d6 in his hands, and a wall of force springs up around Master! 10 ft to the side, centered on Master.

28 - Hagbard the Chartreuse

Yells, "Cholestus, you have a choice to make. Fight us and die now, or avoid us and die later. After all, are we not here to die?"

Position unknown.

27 - Antony Grandell

Holds his action to Init 10.

25 - Osirdar

Position unknown.

23 - Blaster

Blaster sights his prey, rears back and charges. He moves 80 ft (right by an insensate Omigawd) to (7,70)... and several things happen at once.

Marius' floating tower shield falls down, its magic temporarily suppressed. Marius, not stunned after all takes an attack of opportunity as Blaster steps through his half-ogre reach (doing 47 damage), and then Blaster leaps, pouncing on Marius with an absolute frenzy of clawing and biting (8 attacks, total 192 damage) and knocking Marius prone.

Incredibly, Marius appears to be alive and unconcerned.

22 - Xiao Fung

Fu Lung (the bat) squeaks continuously at Xiao Fung.

Xiao Fung steps 5 ft to (25,19).

Xiao Fung defensively casts prismatic spray.
Cone (120 ft long) (110 degrees left of south, ENE) Hits the entire animal horde there, and the original position of Hagbard, and Emeldra and Thoramus.

Mr Stampy (orange, 40 dmg)
Mrs Stampy (orange, 40 dmg)
PB 1 (red, 20 dmg)
PB 2 (indigo)
PB 3 (orange, 40 dmg)
PB 4 (green, DEAD)
PB 5 (indigo)
PB 6 (orange, 40 dmg)
PB 7 (green, 20 dmg)
PB 8 (yellow + indigo, 40 dmg)
Thoramus (orange, 20 dmg)
Emeldra (red, 20 dmg)
Mr Buffles (orange, 40 dmg)
Mr Cuffles (blue, TURNED TO STONE)
Mr Duffles (orange, 40 dmg)
Mr Fluffles (green, DEAD)
Mr Gruffles (red, 20 dmg)
Mr Huffles (red, 20 dmg)

Xiao Fung defensively casts prismatic wall.
Wall (60 ft long, 30 ft high) stretches from the south face of (19,20) to the south face of (29,20).

Xiao Fung points a wand, and an ice storm hits, centered on the point between (9,13) and (10,14). Hits Mr Stampy, Mrs Stampy, all of the Polar Bears, Mr Duffles, Thoramus and Emeldra. (18 dmg to all hit).

22 - Izad

Pulls a potion out of his backpack, sucks it down, and goes into the water. His exact position can not be discerned through the water, but he is somewhere near the south-east edge of the deeper waters.

22 - Emeldra the Mauve

Casts a spell. Mr Huffles doubles in size!

22 - Cholestus the Shredder

Flipping upside down without warning, Cholestus streaks feet-first into the air before sliding north. He moves up 30 ft and then flies over the wall to directly above Xiao Hu, then drops 15 ft to being at (26,18, 35 ft) (20 ft above the ground).

He attacks with his massive spiked chain, doing 51 hp of damage. Xiao Hu lives, though it staggers him.

Then Cholestus does something with a bottle at his side, and smoke explodes outward, enveloping him and a radius of 50 ft around him, 15-25 ft high in the air.

21 - Tairnandon

Position unknown.

20 - Rillos

Current position unknown.

19 - Mang

Mang stands there in his loincloth. He looks stunned.

19 - Mr Cuffles

The stone statue seems happy to stand there, as fierce looking in death as he was in life.

17 - Unth Dirn

Holds his action to Init 10.

17 - Mrs Stampy

Holds her action to Init 3.

16 - Xiao Lung

Moves 35 ft to (22,14).

Casts a spell with no apparent effect.

Casts prismatic spray
Cone (60 ft long) (due east) Hits both elephants, Polar Bears 2, 3, 5 and 8, Mr Gruffles, Thoramus and Emeldra.

Mr Stampy (indigo)
Mrs Stampy (green, 20 dmg)
PB 2 (indigo)
PB 3 (red, 10 dmg)
PB 5 (indigo)
PB 8 (indigo)
Mr Gruffles (red, 10 dmg)
Thoramus (yellow, 40 dmg)
Emeldra (red, 20 dmg)

Xiao Lung then points a wand and a fireball hits, centered on the point between (9,13) and (10,14). Hits Mr Stampy, Mrs Stampy, all of the Polar Bears, Mr Duffles, Thoramus and Emeldra. (12 dmg to all hit).

16 - Usasmir

Position unknown.

15 - Mr Duffles

Holds his action to Init 3.

14 - Thoramus the Puce

Casts flame strike.
Circle (radius 10 ft) centered on (26,19), hits Xiao Fung and Hu, Fu Lung, and Cholestus. Xiao Hu dies a horrible, burning death.

Xiao Fung (54 dmg)
Fu Lung (NO DAMAGE)
Xiao Hu (27 dmg, DEAD)
Cholestus (27 dmg)

14 - Mr Fluffles

The poison-ridden corpse of Mr Fluffles lies there, its agony ended.

13 - Summoned Polar Bear 1

Holds his action to Init 3.

12 - Duder

Holds his action to end of round.

12 - Mr Buffles

Holds his action to Init 3.

12 - Summoned Polar Bear 7

Holds his action to Init 3.

11 - Mr Stampy

Mr Stampy begins methodically and monomaniacally pulling up grass strands, one by one, and then chewing them and savoring the flavor. It is the best grass he has ever tasted.

10 - Summoned Polar Bear 6

Holds his action to Init 3.

10 - Mortem Redgrave

Casts a spell with no immediately visible effect.

Flies low along the ground 60 ft to (8,75).

10 - Unth Dirn

Moves swiftly 55 ft to (6,75) and swings his huge ranseur at Marius' back, but misses.

10 - Antony Grandell

Antony moves 60 ft with unseemly speed to (7,76) and fires a single arrow at Marius' back, doing 26 dmg.

8 - Mr Huffles

Holds his action to Init 3.

7 - Omigawd

Omigawd stands there, watching Blaster rip into Marius with a bemused expression. She seems stunned.

7 - Mr Gruffles

Holds his action to Init 3.

5 - Marius the Weathered

Marius rolls out from under Blaster, heaving the tiger off his chest with seemingly effortless ease, and rolls south. Blaster hooks a paw around him, but fails to keep him from escaping!

Unth Dirn waits for a clear shot, but Marius moved too quickly over too short a distance... and his wounds begin mysteriously healing.

Marius takes a moment, still prone, to bring a potion to his lips... but has to stop moving as much to get the liquid down his throat. Before he can even take a sip, Unth Dirn and Antony both make attacks of opportunity.

Unth hits him with the ranseur (19 dmg) and Antony plugs him with an arrow (10 dmg).

Marius finishes off the potion and makes momentary eye contact with Blaster. It is obvious to all... neither of these two gladiators are going down the easy way.

5 - Summoned Polar Bear 8

Forty feet of penguin-fed bear meat begins to whimper pitifully. It drops prone to the ground and covers its eyes with his huge, razor-tipped paws. Those close by may have heard a blubber.

4 - Summoned Polar Bear 2

The polar bear looks at its brother flopped on the ground and whimpering, a look of supreme curiousity on its face. You can almost imagine it saying in Polar Bearese, "Why brother, whatever are you doing? Can I do it also?"

And with that, a small ursine smile on its face, Polar Bear 2 drops to the ground and covers its eyes with its paws. After a moment, it giggles and peeks.

4 - Summoned Polar Bear 3

Holds his action to Init 3.

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 4

The corpse lies there, unmoving. Its paws may be covering its eyes, but it is difficult to tell... white on white, you know.

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 5

Struck in the rump by a painfully colored ray, the polar bear screams in rage and attacks that which is directly before it... Mr Gruffles. Both claws and a ferocious bite (48 dmg) fail to kill the daught Mr Gruffles, however, and Mr Gruffles begins his escape.

3 - Mr Gruffles

Poor Mr Gruffles desparately tries to get out of the polar bear's rage-filled hug, but fails, so he takes a chomp out of Polar Bear 5's shoulder.

3 - Mrs Stampy

Ignoring her obviously mad husband, Mrs Stampy begins a charge at Xiao Lung... and stops, her movement arrested by traitor muscles. She tries and tries, but simply can not seem to force herself to move towards the large (but not Stampy-sized) human. She glances back over her shoulder at her human friends for guidance.

3 - Mr Buffles and Mr Huffles

All three hit the same difficulty with attacking towards the Xiao family. They simply can't make themselves do it. Six eyes turn towards Emeldra and Thoramus for guidance.

Well, Mr Gruffles doesn't. He's too busy extracting himself from

3 - Mr Duffles

Mr Duffles ignores his brothers. He's got a bigger fish to fry. A really irritating one, at that. The puny human (he doesn't care if the puny human is ten feet tall now) has hurt his friends. He makes himself run right at him! Moves to (19,12)-(22,13).

Xiao Lung attempts to kick the bear as he comes into range, but misses, and the bear gives a feral grin. As soon as his next turn comes, he plans to eat this human.

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 3 and 7

Neither of these worthy bears can make themselves approach the hated Xiao family.

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 1

Following Mr Duffles' brave example, this lone polar bear moves right up next to Xiao Lung as well, at (18,14)-(21,15).

3 - Summoned Polar Bear 6

Polar Bear 6 attacks Polar Bear 5, helping Mr Gruffles (51 dmg over full attack, grapples Polar Bear 5).

1 - Xiao Hu

His smouldering, charred corpse stands where it was in life, a fitting symbol of the lessons of losing.

0.12 - Duder

Casts a spell that does not have any obvious, immediate effect.

Casts wall of force.
Hemisphere (15 ft radius) centered on (15,65), completely surrounding Duder, Mang and Omigawd.

COMMENTARY of the GODS

The gods choose their gladiators from among the best offered up by the graveyards of mortals. Despite having only a few seconds of preparation, and scant moments of glancing around to see their opposition, plans are set into motion within those scant moments, and Hethas smiles grimly upon the gathering.

Nike and Sif, giggling together over something or another, find their attention drawn back to the centerfield as a shocking blast of sound washes through the arena, tearing at turf and gladiator alike in a cone south of the Master and Blaster team.

Far to the right of the paired goddesses, Ares bellows in triump - "What's the matter!? You candy-farting foreigners scared of loud noises! HA!"

Even as he's pumping his fist in what appears to be triumphant glee, and while others begin to swing into action all over the arena, Blaster digs massive cat-claws into the earth and fluidly rips across the distance to the half-ogre Marius.

For Sif and Nike, here to see glory, and for Hethas, who created this arena to see struggle, time briefly stands still. Even Ares finds himself catching his breath, as Blaster and Marius meet.

Marius, striking like Hermes' serpents, brings his eight foot greatsword around in an incredibly deadly arc, even as Blaster curls around him in a frenzy of claws and teeth, and, getting a solid grip with jaws designed to break antelope, twists and hurls the massive humanoid to the earth.

No limb in Blaster's arsenal goes unused. By rights, and seeing his wounds, Marius should be dead... and even as they grapple, a trio of gladiators prepares their attacks on Marius from behind.

Marius, though, while bleeding from wounds enough to kill a human, grunts as he heaves Blaster off of him and rolls backward, tucking the one purple stone he managed to save into orbit and healing.

In fewer seconds than it took to hear about, both gladiators find themselves facing each other again, the worse for the wear, but still in good shape to continue the battle.

Nike, her eyes bright and her voice strident, praises Blaster's decisive, aggressive stance, "As the goddess of victory, Ares, I say you chose well! By Zeus' beard, Sif, did you see that! He must have been a great warrior in life, to retain so much vigour!"

Sif, squealing over Marius, turns to the tall Greek next to her, "Are you out of your divinely inspired mind? Did you not see Marius turn certain doom into glorious contest? How many Nordic warriors could claim the distinction of surviving such odds? I choose Marius for my praise!"

Hethas, noting the flushed approval of the two goddesses, smiles and puts a few extra beads in each of the "glory cup" skulls used to keep score for the gladiators.

But even as that is happening, Wee Jas' attention is directed elsewhere. Hades had brought in some souls he felt were special, and she was curious to see what that was...

The Xiao dynasty acted in tight concert, alternately blasting the worst threat and seeing to their defense. There was not a single wasted motion, nor a second that passed without devastating action. Combining thorough mastery of their spells with wands and their opponent's weaknesses, they laid smack about them as if they had planned their opening strategy for weeks, rather than seconds. She felt a pang of regret only that she did not have the opportunity to see what Xiao Hu's contribution would have been without his untimely demise at the hands of Cholestus and Thoramus.

She leaned in to Hethas, "Dearest friend, Hades chose well. Do you see them? They shine with the enlightenment only cold logic provides, and they destroy their foes with its sharp brilliance, even as they prevent counterattacks."

Hethas grins at her logical companion, and puts a few extra beads in their glory cup as well.

Turning to Hextor, Hethas calls out, "And you? Do you wish to put in a word for your gladiator?"

Hextor shakes his head, "He has only begun. I will leave the granting of premature glory to others."

The opening salvos have ended, and the gladiators below settle down to the grim business of making each other dead for the gods' amusement.

GLORY CUPS

Clockworkjoe: 30 points
   Rnd 1
   Marius survived assault by 4 people
   BONUS: Sif, for absorbing obscene amounts of dmg
Cool hand luke: 0 points
   Rnd 1
DM with a vengence: 2 points
   Rnd 1
   Thoramus killed Xiao Hu (kill-thief)
duder: -16 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Duder, Omigawd, Mang
JDragon: -10 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Izad
Jeremy: 0 points
   Rnd 1
Number47: 40 points
   Rnd 1
   Xiao Fung killed Polar 4, Cuffles, Fluffles
   BONUS: Wee Jas, for precision and clockwork
reapersaurus: 10 points
   Rnd 1
   BONUS: Nike, for a fantastic start
Saepiroth: 0 points
   Rnd 1
Sollir Furryfoot: -10 points
   Rnd 1
   DIDDLED: Rillos

Artificial sunlight shines down from the ceiling on the combatants as they study the positions chosen by the other gladiators. Plans are laid in moments, and like well oiled machines, they begin to move.

Artificial sunlight beams down brightly from the ceiling, and the air is cool and dry, with a faint but noticeable southward breeze. The ground is covered in light grass. The lake is blue crystal with about thirty feet of visibility.

But as the action begins, murmuring goes on among the gods, in their own time. They discuss the spectacle before them, and critique Hethas' gambit.

Note: the gods are seated as follows, not that it matters:

Third row: Kord and Thor.
Second row: Hel, off by herself; Hextor opposite her, also by himself.
First row: Far left is Hades, Nike and Sif all together; far right, near Hextor, is Ares; center is Hethas and Wee Jas; a little to the left, Anubis.

Kord and Thor, drunkenly leaning against each other, have the least and loudest to say. Thor, still squinting at the Gladiator Guide, points aimlessly down into the arena, "Sho tho'sh tha onesh ta wash." Kord, interpreting Thor's vague gesture as only the drunk can, nods sagely in agreement, "Yesh. Eshpeshally tha dwarfs - can never wash a dwarf too mush."

Hextor leans down to Ares, commenting quietly but with some mirth, "Your champions are a bit far from my single champion, but I do admit that they look more impressive than I thought... which is to say, they'll be picking chain links out of their spleen by the time this is over."

Ares turns around and glares, "Just wait, old friend, and you will see just how useful an animal form can be."

Hextor chuckles, "Yes, I'd heard you greeks were into that."

Hel, across the arena, barely watches. Her half-formed face continues to sneer at Sif and Nike.

Nike and Sif, however, are oblivious. Talking excitedly over each other, their words falling about like overgrown puppies, they point and discuss almost simultaneously...

"That poor dwarf in the loincloth - do you think he's just realized...?"
"Yes, I do - poor lad, he's been rather ill used."
"And what about that one?"
"Marius? A bit older, but well seasoned, I think."
"Certainly skilled enough looking."
"Do you think he'll devote his efforts to us?"
"More likely Wee Jas - he seems to want to die."
"Hm. True... say, is that the Xiao family?"
"Ah, according to the Guide, yes.. you know...?"
"Hades picked them up some time ago. He's rather fond of them."
"How do you think they'll...?"
"Oh, well enough. I saw them in action a century ago, Hades was running war games with Poseidon.."
"Why isn't Poseidon here, anyway?"
"Siding with Zeus, like always. Zeus doesn't wholly approve, you know.."
"Ha! Like I care. Odin loves this place."
"But they may well do some glory here."
"Hm... any opinion on that one...?"

Hades, bless his black little heart, bears up admirably under their chatter.

Anubis, meanwhile, leans in to Hethas, concern evident on his furry features, "Milady, the... " he looks at his Guide, "...one named Osirdar, he seems to be afflicted, even in death? I understood that you restored each of them?"

"Worry not your brow for him, Lord Anubis. He has chosen that for himself. He serves Tairnandon, and believes it his duty, even unto death."

"Ah. Thank you for alleviating my concern."

Hethas surveyed the soul slots along the arena walls. They looked ripe, and ready. Satisfied, she nods almost invisibly to Wee Jas, who banishes prior magic from them. Hethas then restores them, whispering into their ears promises of... something they don't quite grasp, but definitely good, should they win.

Then, fully restored, they are shown quick glances of each other, prior to entry into the arena, and are then given six seconds to prepare themselves for the coming fight.

Below are the descriptions of all of the characters prior to their prep round. Following each is a quick note of changes to their appearance when they appear in the arena. If you desire to add anything, add it in the comments or in the ENWorld thread, and I will fix it here.

MARIUS (Clockworkjoe)
Male half-ogre (large humanoid)
Covered by a body-length, heavy cloak worn over full plate armor. Slung across his back is a backpack and tower shield, with a huge greatsword tucked under. Another greatsword is held in his massive hands. From the fall of the cloak, he has some other weapons tucked beneath.
An amulet can be seen at his throat, and a ring on one finger.
Three ioun stones (they appear purple) orbit his head.

In arena: The tower shield has left his back and is now floating a few feet north of Marius.

MORTEM REDGRAVE (Cool hand luke)
Male human with a reddish cast to his skin
Draped in a stylish cape cast jauntily over half plate armor. A pair of heavy flails, both seemingly designed for social impact rather than physical, are tucked through an embroidered leather girdle. An attractive backpack slings carelessly from one shoulder. A pair of winged boots cover his feet.
An amulet can be seen at his throat, and an aristocratic headband at his brow.

In arena: No longer the slender human he was prior to the prep round, but now twice the height of a man and well proportioned for the size. The air fairly sizzles with restrained physical power around him. He's still stylish, though.

UNTH DIRN (Cool hand luke)
Male half-ogre (large humanoid)
Covered by a body-length, heavy cloak worn over a chain shirt. A huge ranseur rests in his massive hands.

In arena: Same.

ANTHONY GRANDELL (Cool hand luke)
Male human
Dressed in a light cloak over finely designed leather armor, with a composite longbow in one hand and an arrow in the other. A quiver is slung over his shoulder, but nothing else is evident.

In arena: Same.

HAGBARD THE CHARTREUSE (DM with a vengence)
Male human
Draped in a beautiful black cloak over heavy, aristocratic robes colored chartreuse. A pair of bandoliers criss cross his waist over the robes, one holding scrolls, the other holding potions. A short spear is slung across his back, and there is evidence of other weapons beneath the cloak.
He is wearing two rings, one on each hand.

In arena: A puff of smoke announces his location, but Hagbard is nowhere to be seen.

THORAMUS THE PUCE (DM with a vengence)
Male human
Draped in a heavy wilderness cloak over puce robes. A scimitar is slung across his back.
A periapt can be seen at his throat, and a pair of rings, one on each hand.

In arena: Same.

EMELDRA THE MAUVE (DM with a vengence)
Female human
Draped in a heavy wilderness cloak over puce robes. A scimitar is slung across her back.
A periapt can be seen at her throat, and a pair of rings, one on each hand.

In arena: Same.

THE ANIMALS (DM with a vengence)
2 elephants, 6 brown bears, 8 polar bears.

In arena: The elephants, 3 brown bears, and all eight polar bears are doubled in size.

DUDER (duder)
Male dwarf
Dressed in light, tailored robes, with a tight vest shaped to his body's contours (held close at the base by a thick girdle), fashionable boots, and delicate gloves. A greatsword is slung across his back, underneath a tightly-cinched backpack.
A heavy leather headband adorns his head, an amulet his throat, and a ring one hand.
Eleven ioun stones, all dull grey, orbit his head.

In arena: His skin has darkened somewhat. There are now twelve ioun stones orbitting his head.

OMIGAWD THE ENLIGHTENED (duder)
Female dwarf
Draped in a thick, dwarven raincloak over full plate. Has a large metal shield and dwarf-crafted greatsword slung over her back, along with a backpack.
A headband with various dwarven runes is on her forehead, a ring is on one hand, and an amulet is visible at her throat.
Nine ioun stones, all dull grey, orbit her head.

In arena: Her skin has darkened somewhat.

MANG THE ARTIFICER (duder)
Male dwarf
A dwarf dressed in a utilitarian loin cloth. A single ioun stone orbits his head.

In arena: The ioun stone no longer orbits his head.

IZAD (JDragon)
Male human
Draped in a heavy cloak over travelling clothes, with a visible pair of bracers. Sturdy boots and gloves cover the remainder. Several javelins are slung across his back, along with a backpack.
A pair of rings adorn his hands, and a periapt adorns his throat.

In arena: Same.

TAIRNANDON (Jeremy)
Male human
Draped in a heavy cloak over a monk's outfit, with a flowing red scarf flowing freely around him.
A diamond-studded, mithral necklace adorns his throat, and a headband with an all-seeing eye symbol adorns his crown.

In arena: A puff of smoke announces his location, but Tairnandon is nowhere to be seen.

USASMIR (Jeremy)
Half-orc with unusually pale complexion
Dressed in a monk's outfit bound by a sturdy belt. A glint of metal can be faintly seen at the edges of the neck and wrists.
A headband with an all-seeing eye symbol adorns his crown, and a ring adorns one hand.

In arena: A puff of smoke announces his location, but Usasmir is nowhere to be seen.

OSIRDAR (Jeremy)
Male human, but semitransparent and faintly luminous. Looks dead.
He is wearing ordinary (transparent) clothing, save for non-ordinary looking boots and gloves. A small pouch is visible at his waist.
A gold circlet adorns his crown.

In arena: A puff of smoke announces his location, but Osirdar is nowhere to be seen.

XIAO LUNG (Number47)
Male human
Dressed traditionally, with a spell pouch at his side, a greatsword and composite longbow slung across his back, and a spiked chain wound at his waist.
An arcanely-marked headband is seen at his brow, and a faded-looking brooch at his breast.

In arena: Holding a scroll in one hand, Lung has grown to twice his original height, and his flabby muscles have turned into a powerful, lanky body. His skin has turned as grey as ordinary granite.

XIAO FUNG (Number47)
Male human, somewhat elderly
Dressed in a very conservative cloak over traditional attire, but manages to hold a certain amount of awe in his appearance.
A pair of diamond-studded, mithral gloves cover his hands, and a pair of rings cover that. An arcanely-marked headband is visible at his brow, and a sturdy-looking brooch at his breast.

In arena: Fung has grown to twice his original height, and his flabby muscles have turned into a powerful, lanky body. His skin has turned as grey as ordinary granite. A small bat named Fu Lung flutters about in his square; the bat alternates between short swoops around Fung and panting on his shoulder. It is squeaking excitedly.

XIAO HU (Number47)
Male human
Dressed traditionally, and somewhat awkwardly. Has a visible spell component pouch.

In arena: Same.

BLASTER (reapersaurus)
Male half-ogre, roughly 50% taller than normal for a half-ogre
Dressed in monk's clothing and a well-designed vest, with some lumpy, suspicious-looking sacks strapped tightly to his back. An adamantine collar is visible around his neck, and an oddly open bag hangs at his throat. Several potions are strapped to his torso.
An ioun stone orbits his head.

In arena: Blaster is gone, and in his place (and wearing his collar and vest) is a tiger. The tiger is NOT 50% longer than a tiger normally would be, but it is an impressive specimen of its species nonetheless. There is no ioun stone orbitting his head.

MASTER (reapersaurus)
Male gnome
Covered in a heavy cloak pinned with an iron emblem brooch, over otherwise ordinary-looking clothing. An adamantine collar is visible at his throat, and a backpack is slung over the cloak. It is obvious there are things under the cloak. A huge club and crossbow are barely held in his tiny hands.
A headband with arcane letters on it rests upon his brow.

In arena: A horn is held in one hand.

CHOLESTUS THE SHREDDER (Saepiroth)
Male human, only much, much uglier than you might imagine
Draped in a heavy cloak over a mithril breastplate, with a backpack and darkwood shield slung over his back. A pair of winged boots poke out from under the cloak, and a pair of ugly looking gauntlets are just barely visible. An immensely hideous and oversized spiked chain rests in his hands.
A pair of rings are visible on the gauntlet.
Two purple ioun stones and one green and purple ioun stone orbit his head.

In arena: Feet are no longer touching the ground, although he is still at ground level. The shield is now floating in the air next to Cholestus, ready to defend its owner.

RILLOS (Sollir Furryfoot)
Male elf
Covered in a thick cloak over ordinary clothes. A darkwood bow is held in one hand, and a rapier is just visible under the cloak.
A headband with elven meditation symbols is visible on his brow, and an amulet nestles at his throat.

In arena: A puff of smoke announces his location, but Rillos is nowhere to be seen.

Initiative Order
33 - Master (reapersaurus)
28 - Hagbard the Chartreuse (DM with a vengence)
27 - Antony Grandell (Cool hand luke)
25 - Osirdar (Jeremy)
23 - Blaster (reapersaurus)
22 - Xiao Fung (Number47)
22 - Izad (Jdragon)
22 - Emeldra the Mauve (DM with a vengence)
22 - Cholestus the Shredder (Saepiroth)
21 - Tairnandon (Jeremy)
20 - Rillos (Sollir Furryfoot)
19 - Mang (duder)
19 - Mr Cuffles (DM with a vengence)
17 - Unth Dirn (Cool hand luke)
17 - Mrs Stampy (DM with a vengence)
16 - Xiao Lung (Number47)
16 - Usasmir (Jeremy)
15 - Mr Duffles (DM with a vengence)
14 - Thoramus the Puce (DM with a vengence)
14 - Mr Fluffles (DM with a vengence)
13 - Summoned Polar Bear A-blue (DM with a vengence)
12 - Duder (duder)
12 - Mr Buffles (DM with a vengence)
12 - Summoned Polar Bear D-red (DM with a vengence)
11 - Mr Stampy (DM with a vengence)
10 - Summoned Polar Bear C-red (DM with a vengence)
10 - Mortem Redgrave (Cool hand luke)
8 - Mr Huffles (DM with a vengence)
7 - Omigawd (duder)
7 - Mr Gruffles (DM with a vengence)
5 - Marius the Weathered (clockworkjoe)
5 - Summoned Polar Bear E-red (DM with a vengence)
4 - Summoned Polar Bear B-blue (DM with a vengence)
4 - Summoned Polar Bear C-blue (DM with a vengence)
3 - Summoned Polar Bear A-red (DM with a vengence)
3 - Summoned Polar Bear B-red (DM with a vengence)
1 - Xiao Hu (Number47)