As of 11/21/97
Match 1
Kale, Byric, and Yaran face off against 6 goblins
armed with wooden clubs and small wooden shields
Match 1 Begins: Prior to Turn 1
The two wooden double-doors opened smoothly before Kale, Byric, and Yaran. "Walk to the center," Jerrie Two-Toes whispered from behind the three adventurers, "and good luck!" Slowly, the three men entered the Executioner's Pit and into a throng of maddening cheers and shouts from hundreds upon hundreds of spectators. They reached the center as the noise of the crowd died down. On the north end of the Executioner's Pit, from under a purple cloth-covered pavilion, appeared a simple-looking man clad in a white robe. "Let this day's first match begin!" he shouted, followed by a wave of excited cheers from the onlookers. With a raised hand from the white-robed man, all was silent again. "These three have decided to join their powers and skills to face the best Freeman's End has to offer," he said, gesturing toward Kale, Yaran, and Byric. "So then, let the games . . . BEGIN!" The three men seemed to rock back slightly on their heels as the crowd surrounding them exploded with excitement. On the east end of the Pit, from a pair of wooden doors much like the ones Kale, Byric, and Yaran had emerged from, came a small band of goblins. They were six in number, clad in simple rags, and wielding wooden clubs and small wooden shields. Matched two-to-one, the three young adventurers were about to embark on their first match within the Executioner's Pit.
Turn 1
Slowly, the six goblins advance on Kale, Byric, and Yaran, holding their small wooden shields close to their smallish bodies. They communicate to each other with strange grunts and gurgles, tossing an occasional snarl the way of the three young adventurers. It didn't take an Arch-Mage to realize that these humanoids were preparing themselves for just about anything. Two goblins moved toward Byric, with another two advancing slowly on Kale. The remaining two goblins headed north and west, seeming to advance near Yaran. Up to that point, though, the humanoids hadn't attacked.
Kale Lightweaver
"They're probably going to surround us," Kale said, readying his long sword, taking a cautious couple of steps forward, "so let's keep our backs together. I'll take care of the first one that comes along."
Yarankoto Tashimato
"I can't use spells," Yaran said, taking several steps back and toward the north end of the arena, his dagger gripped firmly in his right hand. "You need to take care of the enemies until I'm allowed to use spells."
Byric Lugh
Byric simply growled at the approaching goblins, taking care to keep the humanoids from circling around the three young adventurers by advancing forward slowly. As his grip around the hilt of the long sword tightened, Byric wondered if the matches within the Executioner's Pit were to the death. As a bit of greenish-yellow ooze dripped down the nose of one of the goblins, cascading over a brownish tooth before falling to the dirt ground, Byric had a feeling that he would soon find out.
Turn 2
The goblins advanced cautiously, eyeing the three young adventurers as they crouched into fighting stances. All eyes were on the larger two goblins as they made their way toward Byric. No one was really expecting the smallest of the six to spring forward from the left of Kale. At the same time, Byric was hit in the left arm by a goblin's club, sending a river of tingles up to his shoulder and down to his fingers.
Kale Lightweaver
"Yaran, stay close!" Kale shouted over his shoulder as he took a couple of steps forward, his arm arching back as he advanced on a goblin. With a single clean, swift stroke, Kale brought the blade down, slicing through the goblin's chest, cutting deep into the humanoid's yellowish-red flesh. Ribs cracked and blood poured from the wound as the goblin fell to the dirt ground, followed by a wave of jovial cheers from the onlookers. Kale furrowed his brow slightly as the goblin's body came to rest, unaware of the danger to his left . . .
Yarankoto Tashimato
"Attack one at a time!" Yaran blasted over the roar of the crowd. He was about to tell Kale to keep on the same goblin until it was dead when the young fighter's blade sliced through the humanoid's chest. "Yaa-hey!" Yaran exclaimed. His excitement was short-lived as he watched the smallest of the six goblins, who Yaran thought was slowly advancing on his own position, pivot to its left and leap for Kale. Without thought, Yaran released one of his shuriken, and then another. The first throwing star struck the goblin's wooden shield with a 'thud', catching the humanoid by surprise. It stopped in mid-flight as the second throwing star hit home, digging deep into the small goblin's throat. The creature clawed at its throat, but to no avail. It was dead before it hit the ground.
Byric Lugh
Byric turned his head to the left in time to see Kale's long sword cut down a goblin and, only moments later, Yaran's shuriken take down a second. As he turned back, Byric was rocked slightly when a goblin's club smashed into his left arm (2 hp damage), sending a river of tingles up to his shoulder and down to his fingers. He locked his eyes on those of his attacker. "Grrrrr!" was all Byric needed to say before cutting down the goblin before him. He quickly scanned the area and the three remaining goblins. Sauce for the goose, Byric thought to himself. The odds are now even.
Turn 3
The killing of three of their comrads slowed the goblins down not! As the largest of the remaining three swung its club at Byric, bringing the chunk of wood wide and to the left, the other two attacked Kale with a bit more success. The first swung its club low, catching Kale on his upper right leg (3 hp damage), while the other goblin brought its club up and over its head, hitting Kale across his stomach (1 hp damage). A new confidence seemed to emerge from within the humanoids as the voices of the onlookers filled the arena.
Kale Lightweaver
"Good shot!" Kale shouted to Yaran just before a wooden club smashed into his right upper leg. The fact that he felt foolish for telling Yaran to stay close was bad enough, but to let this humanoid get the better of him was down-right embarrassing. In a single motion, Kale brought his shield arm out, holding the small wooden shield waist high while pulling back on his long sword. As he prepared himself for a quick, clean attack on the goblin before him, Kale was struck across his stomach by a second wooden club. Without thought, Kale thrust the blade of his long sword at the goblin to his front while angling his shield between himself and the humanoid to his left. With the grunt and a gurgle, the goblin he had run through fell to the ground.
Yaran Kashimato
"We are doing better than I had expected!" Yaran shouted as he took several steps toward Byric while still maintaining a rear position. As he came to a stop, he saw a goblin's club strike Kale in his upper leg. That had to hurt, Yaran thought to himself as he released two more shuriken, exclaiming, "Die, stupid goblin slime!" Whether it was his angle or the distance he was from the goblin, Yaran wasn't sure. In any event, both throwing stars missed their mark. "Oops."
Byric Lugh
Byric's movements were fluid and swift. He returned to a defensive stance after cutting down his first goblin just as a wooden club cut the air where he had once been standing. "Foul, evil, little toads," Byric ground through clenched teeth, his face an expression of the pain he felt in his arm, as well as the hatred he held toward the humanoid before him. Avoiding the fanciness of foot work and feints, Byric sliced from right to left with his long sword, cutting the goblin's head off along the way. "Abilloth take you," he spat down at the headless body.
Turn 4
An unsteady hush seemed to fall over the crowd as the final goblin eyed the three young adventurers nervously. It knew there was no way out; if one of the three humans didn't kill it, one of the archers positioned along the arena's wall would. Those were the rules and the goblin, despite its limited intelligence, was well aware of that fact. Jerok not going out alone, the goblin thought to itself as it tossed its club at Kale. The chunk of wood flew end-over-end at the Notannes fighter, sailing carelessly to the left. The goblin's wooden shield that followed, however, was thrown with better care . . .
Kale Lightweaver
"By all that is holy!" Kale exclaimed as the goblin's small wooden shield crashed into his shin (1 hp damage), send a blast of pain up his left leg. Without another word, and vowing to never underestimate goblins again, Kale took a single, yet painful, step toward the little humanoid. With a jabbing feint at the goblin's left leg, Kale suddenly brought his sword up and across, slicing through the humanoid's groin and stomach. The Executioner's Pit errupted as every patron of the games jumped from their seats.
Yaran Tashimato
"Wahoo!" Yaran shouted, slapping Kale on his back. "We got 'em!"
Byric Lugh
So much for that last toadie, Byric thought to himself. "That was a nice throw, Yaran," he said as the Zambarian retrieved the four shuriken he had thrown. "And, umm, interesting weapon."
Conclusion to Match 1
Kale, Byric, and Yaran were ushered into the large room where they had met prior to the start of the first match. "Great job, lads!" Jerrie Two-Toes said, slapping each one of them on the back. Quickly, he directed Kale to the bunk on the left and Byric to a bunk on the right. "Yaran, why don't ya rest up over there while I tend to these two," he said to the Zambarian mage. As Kale and Byric dropped to the hay-filled cots, Jerrie pulled up a small wooden stool, positioning it in front of Byric. "I can mend your wounds, lad," Jerrie said to Byric as he pulled out a small jar of salve. "Justine here will take care of you, Kale," Jerrie said, gesturing with a nudge of his head toward a tall, thin man that had been standing silently in the corner of the room. Upon hearing his name, the thin man, clad in a deep blue robe, moved up to Kale, quickly inspecting the wounds on his leg and the small bruise on his stomach. As Jerrie Two-Toes rubbed the soothing salve across Byric's left arm (2 hp healed), the thin man massaged Kale's left leg (4 hp healed). "Hurry yourself up there, Justine," Jerrie said to the thin man in the blue robe. "These lads don't have much time before-"
The two large wooden doors swung open as a guard clad in chain armor walked into the room. "Prepare yourselves," he said to Kale, Yaran, and Byric. "You boys are on again, and this time it ain't gonna be as easy."
"I'm afraid I won't be able to look at that bruise," Justine said to Kale, pointing toward the fist-sized reddish-blue mark on the fighter's stomach.
"Worry not, my friend," Kale replied as he tested out his left leg. Surprisingly, the pain was completely gone. "Umm, how much . . . ?"
Justine shook his head and smiled. "Master Jerrie has taken care of it this time."
Kale and Byric nodded their thanks to Jerrie Two-Toes as they and Yaran made their way to the two large wooden doors and the guard waiting for them. The guard handed Kale and Byric each a long sword and a small wooden shield, while Yaran was given a six-foot quarterstaff. "I figure you ain't gonna be needing that dagger this time, seeing as though you gots yourself those fancy stars," the guard said, turning and walking back into the arena.
"Luck be with you, lads!" Jerrie shouted as the three young adventurers once again entered the Executioner's Pit.
Go back to the Freeman's End Page and the Executioner's Pit.
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