[arena] PerrySimm says, "Log on."
[arena] Roger says, "Thanks"
Roger has arrived.
Roger says, "Hiya, Pierre."
Roger says, "Well, I suppose we don't really need to wait for anyone else."
Pieronymus says, "Who you callin' Pierre? The name's Pyro, and don't you forget it."
Roger says, "Sorry, Mr. Pyro."
Roger says, "I guess inky is off at that wedding or whatnot."
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "I forget, did I sent you a character sheet?"
[arena] Roger says, "Is it the same as this? http://strackenz.spod-central.org/~lpsmith/rpg/transcripts/arena/pyro.txt"
[arena] Pieronymus says, "Looks like it, yeah."
[arena] Roger says, "Then I have it; looks good to me."
Roger asks, "Ready?"
Pieronymus says, "Lemme at 'em."
Roger says, "It's a smallish arena. Looks like the dregs of humanity have shown up for a bit of amusment."
Roger says, "The ringmaster takes the floor and the hollering dies down a bit."
Roger exclaims, "Ladies and gentlemen, this brave little man from the desert wastes is about to take on his greatest opponent. The opponent to whom we all, someday, shall fall. I give you... DEATH!"
Roger says, "Some lack wheels out a crudely-built coffin."
Roger says, "Err, some lackey."
Pieronymus looks unfazed.
Roger says, "They stand it up, and the door creaks open."
Roger says, "People are cheering, etc."
Roger says, "Slowly, a human skeleton stumbles out. It's been dressed up a bit with shrouds, chains, etc."
Roger says, "Let's say you're 30' apart; no real cover to speak of."
Roger says, "The ringmaster ducks out. Nearby, a gong rings."
Roger says, "So, initiative. Unless you did anything especially special pre-match you want me to know about."
Pieronymus rolls 1d20+8: 8+8 | 16
Roger rolls 1d20+5: 4+5 | 9
Roger says, "You get the jump on the bag of bones."
[arena] Pieronymus says, "I was considering trying to 'sway' while he was talking, but that seemed probably unfair."
[arena] Roger says, "No one was really paying too much attention to you, but I'll keep that in mind for future matches."
Pieronymus starts dynamically: he darts across the ring, then flings a flask of orange liquid at the undead combatant.
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "That's a 20ft move action. If range increment is 10ft, does that put me just within or just outside of one range increment?"
[arena] Roger says, "Just within, I'm going to say."
Pieronymus rolls 1d20+6: 11+6 | 17
[arena] Roger says, "(I keep meaning to look that up...)"
Roger says, "That's a hit."
[arena] Pieronymus says, "You can just say we were 29 feet apart and not worry about it :)"
Pieronymus rolls 1d6: 2 | 2
Roger says, "The crowd cheers as the skeleton bursts into flames."
Pieronymus exclaims, "Eat flaming death, flaming death!"
Roger says, "The cheap cloth with which he was wrapped ignites quickly."
Roger says, "The skeleton charges towards you, waving a scimitar above his head."
Roger rolls 1d20+3: 14+3 | 17
[arena] Pieronymus says, "That's a hit."
Roger rolls 1d6+1: 3+1 | 4
Roger says, "The crowd goes nuts as it sees halfling blood spurt across the arena."
Pieronymus says, "You're just makin' me mad."
Roger says, "The skeleton does not seem to react to your witty banter."
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "Is it my turn, or is the skeleton still acting?"
[arena] Roger says, "Uhh, it's your turn, yeah. Sorry."
[arena] Roger says, "A charge is a full-round action."
Roger says, "The crowd eagerly awaits the halfling's next move."
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "Oh, there was room to charge for real? Then he's at reduced AC?"
[arena] Roger says, "Yes"
[arena] Roger says, "Yeah, it's 10' minimum move to charge, as I recall."
Pieronymus hurls another vial, aiming for the eye sockets.
Pieronymus rolls 1d20+6: 4+6 | 10
[arena] Roger asks, "That's a touch attack, yeah?"
[arena] Pieronymus says, "Yeah."
Roger says, "Unerringly, the halfling finds his mark yet again."
[arena] Pieronymus says, "Plus there's damage left over from last round, since he didn't put it out."
Pieronymus rolls 1d6: 4 | 4
Pieronymus rolls 1d6: 1 | 1
Roger says, "The skeleton collapses in a pile of burning bones and rags."
Roger says, "The crowd cheers, etc etc."
Pieronymus exclaims, "Go back to whatever hell you came from!"
Roger says, "Your slavemaster complains about your expensive attacks and having to sew you back up all the time."
Pieronymus asks (of Slavemaster), "Yeah, well, you want a winner or you want a winner?"
Roger says, "You get... let's see. 1/3rd of 300xp, so 100xp. Minus %20 slave penalty. So a big 80 xp. Don't spend it all in one place."
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "Any loot-ish rewards?"
[arena] Roger says, "Ehh, sure; you get 100gp in slave dollars, redeemable... just about nowhere. But hold onto them."
[arena] Pieronymus says, "Cool."
Pieronymus asks (of Slavemaster), "So what've you got for me next?"
Sargent has arrived.
Roger says, "After you heal up, etc, another show is scheduled."
Roger says, "And now, freshly-captured from the front lines of the Golgoran War, a slave tried in battle."
Roger says, "Standing across from you is a hobgoblin. He looks pretty pissed off."
Pieronymus asks, "Pfft. Your mother marry an ugly stick?"
Roger says, "A sword in one hand, a shield in the other."
Roger says, "The crowd is more inclined to hear you bad-mouth each other this time around."
Pieronymus rolls 1d20+6: 15+6 | 21
[arena] Pieronymus says, "Bluff, for crowd-swaying."
[arena] Roger says, "Good work"
Roger says, "The crowd suddenly feels a bit sorry for the little guy."
[arena] Roger says, "+2 morale bonus; you swayed them from Indifferent to Friendly."
Roger rolls 1d20-3: 16-3 | 13
Roger says, "The crowd continues to boo the hobgoblin."
Pieronymus says, "Pyro's your man, kids. Don't let that pug-face punching bag fool you."
Roger says, "Again, you're a good 29',11" away."
Roger says, "Again, a gong rings."
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "Applying to attacks, damage, and saves?"
[arena] Roger says, "Yep"
[arena] Roger says, "Not init, I'm afraid"
Pieronymus rolls <bad roll syntax - init>
[arena] Roger says, "Like you need it"
Pieronymus rolls <bad roll syntax - init>
Roger rolls 1d20+1: 11+1 | 12
Pieronymus rolls 1d20+8 for init: 17+8 | 25
Roger says, "He's busy scowling at the crowd."
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "Same size arena and lack of terrain?"
[arena] Roger says, "Yeah... the prop budget got all blown last year."
[arena] Pieronymus says, "OK, same MO."
[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "Heya Sarge."
Pieronymus darts right across the middle of the field and tosses off a vial.
Pieronymus rolls 1d20+8: 8+8 | 16
Pieronymus rolls 1d6+2: 4+2 | 6
[Crows-Nest] Sargent says, "howdy. just blending in with the crowd for a bit"
Roger says, "You time your throw just right. As the hobgoblin is snarling at you, you toss the vial right down his snarling throat. Then his head explodes."
Roger says, "The crowd cheers for a bit, then seems a bit disappointed."
Roger says, "Almost like they had paid for more than a three-second fight."
Pieronymus says, "Bwahaha! Let's see if your army'll take you back *now*."
Pieronymus grabs an eyeball and holds it in the air while dancing on the corpse.
Roger says, "Some clowns tumble into the arena and generally buffoon around as stagehands haul away the corpse."
[Crows-Nest] Sargent says, "goodness"
(From Roger) Ringmaster says, "Folks, come back tomorrow, and I promise you all a show you won't forget!"
Pieronymus says (to Slavemaster), "Hey, boss, got any more like that one? I loves me them exploding heads."
[arena] * schep has joined the channel.
[Crows-Nest] schep asks, "where's the game?"
[Crows-Nest] Alex says (to schep), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Hangman is a game."
[Crows-Nest] Pieronymus says, "DTT."
schep has arrived.
Roger says, "Well kid, you're doing pretty well, no doubt about it."
Roger says, "But this next town is known for not really liking halflings all that much."
Roger says, "(Anyway, that's.... 120 xp, say another 100 gp.)"
Pieronymus says (to SM), "Yeah, well, you just keep pickin' 'em."
Roger asks, "Anyone other than Pyro here want to get in on some D&D arena fighting action?"
Roger says, "Alright, so, Pyro helps himself to an ale or two. The next day, y'all pack up and go to The Next Town Over."
[Crows-Nest] schep says, "(who else is there?)"
Roger says, "The gibbits outside the town gates are festooned with smallish corpses."
[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "other slaves, slavemasters, etc."
Pieronymus says, "That's what they get for not being Pyro."
Roger says, "Night falls. Going to be a night-time show, apparently."
Roger says, "You enter a bigger arena, maybe 120' across; mostly circular."
[Crows-Nest] Pieronymus says, "In terms of players, I'm the only one who seems to have shown up."
[Crows-Nest] Pieronymus says, "Although I was expecting lps and maybe Mordy or inky."
[Crows-Nest] schep says, "aw. I'd jump in, except I'm shaky on D&D combat and have no clue about character creation."
Roger says, "In the middle, a 15' high bonfire is burning. The last 10' or so against the walls is pretty shadowy."
[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "It's alright; I was hoping this game format would be resistant to no-show players, and so far it seems to be."
Roger says, "Fellow NextTownians..." a voice booms out of the darkness."
Roger says, "We have captured the ringleader of the halfling thievery gang in this town!" The crowd cheers, but a little half-heartedly, like they'd already heard this far too many times before."
Roger exclaims, "And now, for your entertainment, he shall be executed in the most horrible and painful way we can think of!"
[Crows-Nest] Sargent says, "ha ha"
Roger says, "Some guy in a robe walks out onto the arena floor."
[Crows-Nest] schep says, "let's hope they're just not very imaginative"
Roger says, "He makes some melodramatic gestures."
Pieronymus . o O ( Is this guy trying to make up a new backstory for me? I ain't no actor! )
Roger says, "A 2-ft blob of living flame seems to step out of the bonfire."
Pieronymus says, "Aw, hell's hell."
Roger says, "The crowd cheers pretty authenticly this time."
Roger says, "Pyro, you can start pretty much wherever you want."
Pieronymus says, "You wanna fight Pyro with fire? You're on."
[Crows-Nest] (from schep) Pyro says, "Okay, I'll start in the announcer's booth."
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "Am I starting out with an unfriendly crowd?"
[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "Really, I should be fighting Pyro with Gyro."
[arena] Roger says, "They don't really believe you're anything other than yet another patsy, so I'm going to say they're mostly Indifferent."
Pieronymus hides in the shadows and waits.
[arena] Pieronymus says, "That's a move/hide action, and a prepared action."
Roger says, "A gong sounds. The fire elemental silently and quickly whooshes right up to where Pyro is standing, stopping about 10' away. The arena is a lot less shadowy now."
[Crows-Nest] Roger asks, "Say, did you know elementals have Darkvision 60'?"
[arena] Pieronymus says, "I did not."
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "Do I still get my prepared action?"
[arena] Roger says, "Yeah, go ahead."
[arena] Pieronymus says, "(It was to attack when it came into range.)"
[arena] Roger says, "Sure, take that shot any time."
Pieronymus rolls 1d20+1: 15+1 | 16
Roger says, "That's a hit"
[arena] Pieronymus says, "Melee, since I'm not quite stupid enough to fight a fire elemental with fire."
[arena] Roger says, "Awwwww"
[arena] Pieronymus says, "Which means it's not a touch attack, of course."
[arena] Roger says, "Still, it's a hit."
Pieronymus rolls 1d4: 2 | 2
Roger says, "The bolt knocks some cinders off his flamey body."
Pieronymus says, "Look, I ain't got nothin' against fire. You wanna be friends, I'm all for it."
[Crows-Nest] nothings says, "two many Pyros"
[Crows-Nest] nothings says, "er, too"
[Crows-Nest] Sargent says, "heh"
Pieronymus says, "We can team up and go after that ringmaster who's makin' up crazy stories."
[arena] Roger says, "Hmmm. You readied an action, so I think Pyro's new init is acting right after Flamey."
Roger says, "The fire elemental, not really convinced you want to be his friend after you shot at him, tries to give you a friendly pat on the head."
Roger rolls 1d20+3: 6+3 | 9
Roger says, "Yet he fails."
Roger says, "Now it is Pyro's turn."
[arena] Pieronymus says, "Actually, I swung at him with my sword, but s'all good."
[arena] Roger says, "Ah... alright, good enough."
Pieronymus looks from side to side for a good hiding place, but that doesn't seem to be happening.
Roger says, "It seems pretty empty over here, but you can't really see the far side of the arena very well."
Pieronymus asks, "Hey, who you gonna root for, you lot? A man with the guts to stand up to a living ball of flame and tell the tale, or some mobile matchhead?"
[arena] Pieronymus says, "That's another sway check."
Pieronymus rolls 1d20+6 for sway: 9+6 | 15
Roger says, "They're just barely inclined enough to give you the benefit of the doubt."
Roger says, "They start cheering in your favour. +2 morale bonus for you."
Pieronymus says, "Hooyah, baby."
Roger says, "The fire elemental, however, is still not your friend."
Roger says, "He attempts a swift kick at your crotch."
Roger rolls 1d20+3: 18+3 | 21
Pieronymus says, "Gyurghle..."
Roger says, "That's 1d4 slam plus 1d4 fire plus maybe you catch on fire."
Roger rolls 1d4: 4 | 4
Roger rolls 1d4: 2 | 2
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "Is the 'maybe' a save?"
[arena] Roger says, "Yep, Reflex, too"
[arena] Roger says, "DC 11"
Pieronymus rolls 1d20+5: 9+5 | 14
Roger says, "Pyro doesn't actually ignite (which is probably for the best, considering what he is carrying) but he sure doesn't look good."
Pieronymus asks, "So you think you're the hot stuff, huh?"
Pieronymus rolls 1d20+3: 16+3 | 19
Pieronymus swings his little sword again.
Roger says, "You sure do. That's a hit."
[arena] Pieronymus says, "I wonder if the audience has some kind of magical magnification lenses."
Pieronymus rolls 1d4+2: 2+2 | 4
[arena] Roger says, "Heh. They look like ants from up here! Or, actually, even up close."
[arena] Pieronymus says, "It must not be easy to see two small competitors duking it out in a 120ft arena."
Roger says, "The crowd cheers as the singed little guy hits the living flame again."
[arena] Pieronymus says, "For my move action, I think I'll Retreat to the side, if that's allowed."
[arena] Pieronymus says, "(I forget if Retreat is a move or a full-round.)"
Roger says, "The elemental suddenly seems to think better of things, and makes a move back towards the bonfire."
[arena] Sargent says, "retreat is a full-round action, IRIC"
Roger says, "He's about 30' off."
[arena] Pieronymus says, "Ah, then never mind that."
Roger says, "Pyro's turn."
Pieronymus moves about 20 feet counterclockwise around the edge of the arena, hoping to find something to hide behind.
[arena] Pieronymus says, "ANd if I find nothing, I'll prepare another attack action for when the elemental gets close enough."
Roger says, "Alright. You take a good look around. Another 10' ahead of you, there looks to be a small pile of wood -- probably extra fuel for the bonfire."
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "Hmm. So close enough to hide behind with a second move action?"
[arena] Roger says, "Yeah, I'll say so"
[arena] Pieronymus says, "(Rule check: if the pile of wood catches on fire, does that do immediate damage to anyone hiding behind it?)"
[arena] Roger says, "Ehh... not /immediately/. Eventually, sure."
Pieronymus ducks behind the wood and hopes the elemental is as stupid as it looks.
Pieronymus rolls 1d20+12 for hide: 19+12 | 31
[arena] Pieronymus says, "That being my second move, and thus the end of my turn."
Roger says, "The crowd (well, the ones that can't see Pyro) sounds kinda confused and disappointed for a moment."
Roger says, "You lose sight of the fire elemental against the bonfire."
Roger says, "Then a whole lot of things happen all at once."
Roger says, "First, you hear something kinda like a hissing sound for a moment."
Roger says, "Then, KERBLAMMO. The bonfire explodes in a fiery explosion of some sort."
Pieronymus . o O ( Good thing I'm behind protective cover! )
Roger says, "A small mushroom cloud rises above the arena."
Pieronymus . o O ( ...flammable protective cover. )
Roger says, "Well, why not give me a Reflex save for good measure."
Pieronymus rolls 1d20+5: 9+5 | 14
Roger says, "Pyro just gets his head down as he sees the most kick-ass display of firepower he's had the pleasure to experience in a good long while."
Roger says, "The crowd is all up, cheering, etc. Bits of burning debris are falling to the earth."
Pieronymus says, "I gotta get me one of those."
Roger says, "There's a crater in the middle of the arena now."
Roger says, "You're still hiding."
Pieronymus . o O ( Damn straight I am. )
Roger says, "Everyone kinda figures out the show is probably over for the night, and trickle out."
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "Does this mean it's the next round?"
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "Or that the next several rounds have passed?"
[arena] Roger says, "The fire elemental seems to be totally gone, so."
[arena] Roger says, "As far as you can tell, you're in the arena all alone."
Pieronymus eventually peeks out around the woodpile.
Pieronymus asks, "What the...?"
Roger says, "When a few of the fans see that the halfling somehow survived, they go nuts. They're cheering, throwing money, promising to name their children after you, etc etc."
Pieronymus, although surprised and confused, is happy to take advantage of this.
[Crows-Nest] schep says, "I'd be a CrowdMember NPC, but it would read like the XYZZY transcripts."
Roger says, "Backstage, you can see a heated argument between the arena owner and some alchemists about the importance of proper measurement."
Pieronymus in particular grabs for the money, seeing as these people probably aren't limited to slavebucks.
Roger says, "Yeah, you manage to scrape up a good, oh, dozen coppers. They're not rich people."
Pieronymus exclaims, "Thank you... thank you... remember to respect the halflings!"
Roger says, "Your owner comes by eventually to heal you up off the doorstep of death."
Sargent is NSFW if 19th century engravings of carelessly draped breasts might be hard to explain.
Roger says, "So that's 270 xp, woo. And 250 slave gold. And a bit of real money."
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "So, uh, when the elemental couldn't find me, did it just decide to do the 'computer who made the mistake of talking to Captain Kirk' thing?"
[arena] Roger says, "Well, the elemental wasn't actually autonomous -- he was still being controlled by the magician guy."
[arena] Roger says, "Who got pretty overconfident, so decided the middle of the fight would be a fun time to set off the fireworks."
[arena] Pieronymus says, "Also, I need to idle for 15-20, but I'll be back. (Meant to do this during someone else's fight, but that doesn't seem to be happening.)"
[arena] Pieronymus says (to Roger), "Aha."
[arena] Roger says, "Alright; I'm going to idle here a bit too. If anyone's around at 1730, we'll play it by ear."
Roger says, "Time seems to stand still..."
[Crows-Nest] lpsmith says, "(Hey, popping by to say sorry I can't make it today--Sara's folks are in town. And IIRC, inky's at a wedding today, too.)"
schep disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.
dfan has arrived.
[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "No worries."
Roger pages: log off
Roger pages: stop
Roger pages: logoff
Roger has disconnected.
Roger goes home.
schep_char1 has arrived.
[arena] Pieronymus is back with food.
[arena] * schep_char1 has joined the channel.
[arena] Pieronymus says, "Since I guess I'm the only one, I'll eat it."
[arena] Pieronymus asks, "Which time zone is Roger in?"
[arena] Gunther says, "Wacky Time"
[arena] Gunther says, "also, this EUR 1200 Bluray player which is the only one in existence is apparently total crap"
[arena] Gunther says, "ilac"
dfan disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.
[arena] Pieronymus says, "I guess Roger didn't mean Central time when he said 17:30."
[arena] Gunther says, "I thought he was on Central/Mountain"
[arena] PerrySimm says, "Log off."