Ch.1: "By the Fire" / Village of Ogygia

[Legendary Sidekick]

It's noon, and a particularly hot day in the village of Ogygia, but it's a dry heat. A dry heat's a good thing if you're a Huntress about to set out under the shade of the Tigerwood trees. If you're an amazon about to be burned at the stake, well… you'll burn faster. The heat should shave a few seconds of suffering, bringing your agonizing demise to a slightly quicker conclusion.

As Akantha awakens from yet another drunken stupor, her eyes meet those of the nearest men. One bears a bucket of oil, the other a torch. Each has a broadsword at his hip. Neither has the arm for such a weapon.

That's the first thing Leto notices… the swords don't belong to the men. They're amazon weapons. Leto can see the stake Akantha is tied to, but she can't see the amazon herself—not very well, at least. She's at the edge of the village—the entryway to the forest, under the shade of the Tigerwood trees.

The executioners and the dozen crossbowmen behind them probably can't see the Huntress in the cover of shadow—at least not while they're so focused on the Amazon. It's been a good while since a soldier had the pleasure of torching one of these musclebound bitches.

Kelleia happens to be passing by as a man in a black robe and white wig almost bumps into her. His eyes follow her body up and down, but the glance lasts less than a second. The man descends the steps into the pit, approaching the amazon from behind.

"Daughter of Manimus…"

Akantha doesn't recognize the voice. Such is the price of fame—though she notices the judge doesn't dare mention her mother. She doesn't notice that the man is a judge, of course, until he steps into view. Then she sees his fruity wig, as well as his cowardice. Even with her bound in rope and with a dozen bolts pointed at her heart, the judge stands five paces behind the men with oil, fire, and her swords.

"Your father isn't here to save you, just like I wasn't there to save my son from your drunken wrath. He's in a coma, and I will pay the finest healers to see him awaken from it. But your father will need to pay Hades himself if he's to bring you back from my wrath.

"If you have last words, speak them now."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell gazes up at the Amazon woman at the stake, and the thought of anyone being burned sickens her. Aphrodite never really cared about such women, except however they could aid or hinder her plans, but Kell's heard the stories about Amazons taking abuse from male soldiers, and it reminds her of her own plight - always being someone for others to control or punish for disobedience. The thought infuriates Kell.

She doesn't know what she can do, though. Well, maybe at least ensure the woman doesn't get shot with a crossbow. Those men look bored and are only there for show. She can certainly do something about them.

Adopting what her teacher at the villa called 'the cat's saunter', Kell begins a leisurely sashay down into the pit, pausing to lift her leg and place it on one of the benches around the edge and retying the laces on one of her sandals, not that it really needs it. She surreptitiously also raises her legging so that the lower third of her thigh is visible via the slit in her chiton. She also subtly raises her heel, emphasizing the shapeliness of her calf. That's another trick she learned at Aphrodite's villa.

Kelleia:2D6+1 → 13(6 +6 + 1)#WILL check - distract the men with crossbows

If she catches any of the men with crossbows looking at her, she gives him eye contact and a interested smile. She figures she doesn't have to say what she's interested in.

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto crouches in the shade of the Tigerwood trees, her eyes on the Amazon bound to the stake. She fingers her bowstring, then pulls an arrow from the quiver slung over her back. If she can get a good shot at the ropes binding the Amazon, maybe it'll be enough to get her loose. Leto doesn't know the Amazon, but she can't stand idle when someone is about to die an unjust death.

She peers forward, not breaking cover, waiting for the right moment to strike. The Amazon's last words, as well as the judge's formalities, could buy Leto enough time to get a better shot. Not to mention that Nymph sauntering out in view of the guards with crossbows. She waits to see how the men react -- maybe the distraction will help as well.

 

[Reaver]

AKANTHA

"Dickless cur!" Akantha barked, spitting at the judge. "You and this...this mob of geldings lack the intestinal fortitude to face me in battle! Instead you mewling fig mice ambushed me while I slept and bound me to this pole. I swear by Tusk's shiny red cape, when I break free, I will dance upon your innards and bathe in your blood!"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Akantha's insult rolls off the judge like water off a duck's back, but the two executioners expect a reaction. When they look back at the judge, the man with the torch immediately says to the amazon, "Well, Judge Xarris might be a lot of things, but dickless ain't one of them."

The bulge in the judge's robe is proof of that. He and the crossbowmen can't keep their eyes off of the nymph descending the steps. She moves to one side of the stake. Crossbows move in other directions, no longer aimed at the amazon or the nymph as the men ogle every inch of the strikingly beautiful creature.

The judge stammers, "Th-this is—it's highly irregular."

Akantha doesn't even notice the judge's boner. She does catch the nymph out of the corner of her eye, despite her blurred vision. Tunnel vision is more like it. She's focused on the one thing she can see clearly. A bottle of sake—Strong Sake—her sake! It's in the hand of the man with the oil. He lowers the oil bucket and removes the stopper, saying to the man with the torch, "I don't know about you, but I could use a drink about now."

((PM to Reaver))

As for Leto, no one can see her. The distraction has given her more time than she needs to aim at the rope holding the amazon. Whether one arrow is enough… Leto has no way of knowing. She does know amazons are strong as beasts. Maybe weakening the bonds might be enough that the amazon can do the rest.

Kell can easily see her distraction is much more effective than expected! What is her next move? The crossbowmen are eager to find out!

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto grins as the crossbowmen all point their weapons away from the Amazon, and their eyes up and down every inch of the Nymph. Feeling extra stealthy, she takes aim at the ropes binding the Amazon to the stake, and looses a shaft.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"What was that twang sound?" asks a crossbowman.

"The judge's boner!" says another. "Twang-g-g-g!"

The men erupt into juvenile guffaws. The judge's face reddens. "What is wrong with you people!"

Apparently, Leto's arrow not only weakens some of the rope, but she's added to the distraction as opposed to attracting unwanted attention. If she wants to fire another arrow at the stake, she has time to take aim…

((@Ireth, if you wait until next GM post before firing, you can roll +2 again.))

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto rolls her eyes at the men's laughter, and carefully aims another arrow. One more might free the Amazon completely, if she doesn't find a way to break free on her own. Time to wait and see.

 

[Reaver]

AKANTHA

Akantha ignores the arrow that narrowly miss her upper arm and glares at the torch bearing loudmouth. "Sounds like you're speaking from intimate experience you festering pile of blightcat sick."

The Amazon princess levels her fiery gaze on the vermin who stole her bottle of sake. "You there! Before you infect my bottle of wine with that reeking mungdumpster you call a mouth, let me have a swig."

She smiles defiantly at the judge. "The last request of a doomed warrior, O' honorable batfly rectum."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell's not entirely sure why the Amazon wants her sake, but she assumes the woman has her reasons. Removing her leg from the bench, Kell walks down and stands next to the judge, being careful not to obstruct the path that the arrow came from. If there's help out there, she doesn't want to impede it.

She walks up to the judge and give him a coquettish smile. "Judge Xarris, my name is Kelleia Silvertide, and I just arrived in your fine town today. I'll grant you that the Amazon is a bit rough around the edges, but surely it can't hurt to give this poor woman her sake, now, can it?" And she lightly runs her hand up the judge's arm. "Surely the condemned deserved that much respect, don't they?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

The man with the oil responds to Akantha, "Not even a please. Nah, you die sober."

Judge Xarris adds, "You have no honor, so why would I honor..." The touch of the Nymph silences the judge. He steps back from her. "Temptress!" The crossbowmen start to come to their senses it seems, though only two aim at the nymph. One crossbowman seems to contemplate shooting the guy next to him for daring to point a weapon at such a beautiful, gentle young lady...

Xarris raises an arm. "Let's not do anything rash, boys. The young lady is new in town, and she's right. It can't hurt to let a drunk die the way she lived."

He seems quite satisfied with his thinly veiled jab until the man with the torch says, "Drunker than a fish in a barrel of wine."

The man with the sake says, "Fish don't breathe wine, you ass of a... a... an ass!" He shoves the mouth of the sake bottle into Akantha's, and tries to be forceful, hoping the Amazon will choke. "Maybe you breathe wine. Wine-breath."

It is a bit much, but Akantha knows how to handle a drink. She also knows how to fight without a weapon, which she can do quite well if only she can escape her bonds. Leto's arrow managed to slice two rows of rope at the same time, so a decent struggle should loosen the slashed rope easily. But the rope is coiled around its captive several times. Is the amazon's superhuman strength enough...?

((@Reaver, the effect of the Strong Sake is...
* Strength - roll #2d6+4
* Unarmed Combat - roll #2d6+2
One roll per turn. After you roll STR, I'll tell you if you broke free in one go.))


Leto has had enough time to aim. She can take her shot now...

((@Ireth, if you roll 12-14, you can shoot multiple arrows, all of which hit targets that are in the same general direction. Choices are...
* keep shooting different rows of the rope
* shoot the guy with sake and oil
* shoot the guy with torch
* shoot the torch, but not the guy—only if you roll double-six [14]
* shoot the oil bottle—also only if double-six [14]
* shoot the judge))


Kell notices that a couple of the men are averting their gaze from her, though none continue pointing weapons her way. She can continue to charm at least half the crossbowmen... or maybe it's time to try something new.

((@tbgg, about spell casting... Any motion or effect is like the nymph herself: slow, graceful, subtle, deliberate, beautifully mesmerizing. It won't be completely obvious you're casting... at least not the first time. It'll seem like part of the show.))

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto smiles and releases her arrow, hoping to slice through more of the ropes.

 

[Reaver]

AKANTHA

Akantha breathes heavily through her nose as she gulps down every drop of the Strong Sake. The Amazonian warrior feels the effects of the powerful drink almost immediately.

She stifles a belch and laughs wickedly. "Thanks for the drink pigf**ker!"

With that, she tenses and flexes every muscle in her bronzed, sinewy body, pushing against the coarse, thick ropes.

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell's eyes bulge as the Amazon suddenly looks a LOT more muscular and begins pushing against the ropes. No wonder she wanted her sake!

Taking a chance that between the unknown archer and the influx of strength that the Amazon will break her bonds, Kell takes a step back, putting her off hand to her chest, saying, "Men, there's really no need for the weapon. How about I just step out the pit here?"

As she turns, she grabs her staff and begins the enchantment for the Entangle spell, pointing her staff toward the pit area. I sure hope that between the Amazon's new strength and the unknown archer, she breaks free. I think the best thing I can do is prepare the way for an escape!

Kelleia:2D6 → 6(1 +5)#MAGIC - Kell casts Entangle

((I'm not sure if I need to specify this, but Kell's intent is that the plants entangle everyone but herself and the Amazon. I'm under the understanding that Leto is NOT in the pit, and therefore wouldn't be affected by the spell.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Kell is not the only one to see the amazon's muscles bulging. As she steps back and speaks to the men, one waves her on. "Yes, my dear lady. You better save your own skin." His eyes fall to Kell's legs as he says skin.

Some of the men watch the nymph's graceful motions. But the judge has his eyes on the amazon the moment he hears another twang! This time, the ropes come undone—the one Leto just hit now along with the two she split earlier.

"Hey, that ain't no erection!" says a crossbowman. "She's busting loose!"

Apparently, the men haven't caught on to what the sound is, and they have no reason to focus on anything other than the amazon. Two more ropes loosen as Akantha struggles.

"Oil!" says the judge.

The man with the sake puts the stopper back on the drink. He has every intention to keep this stuff!

"Faster, you idiot!" says the judge as Akantha stretches two more ropes. Only one coil keeps her tightly bound…

The executioner douses the amazon with oil. Her bulging muscles shine in the noon sun; her damp clothing clings to her immodestly. And she is about to die, it seems.

But she doesn't give up, it's not in her blood. Her third push stretches the final rope—it makes a satisfying snap.

"Fire! FIRE!" shouts the judge. The man with the torch steps forward as the ropes slide down Akantha's oily body. She might be able to make an attack without lighting herself up…

But suddenly the executioner's brains explode onto her chest. Another bolt protrudes from his abdomen, and two more tear up his right arm. As he falls dead at the amazon's feet, his back resembles a pin cushion. It seems both the torchbearer and the crossbowmen thought the order to fire applied to them.

Now the amazon is free, and the crossbowmen are reloading. And there is the odd smell of a fresh spring breeze…

The man with the sake draws Akantha's sword: Reaver Calamity.

The dead man's torch rolls ever closer to Akantha, and the pool of oil she's standing in.



((SITUATION:
* Akantha is free to attack unarmed.
* Leto can move, shoot, or do whatever she pleases, really. She's an unknown threat.
* Kellyeia's spell will be in effect next round.
* The crossbowmen are reloading.
* The judge is mumbling to himself.
* One executioner has a sword in hand.
* The dead man's torch is rolling toward Akantha.

…and so far, none of you have killed anyone.))

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto smiles as the Amazon breaks free of her bonds, and nocks another arrow to her bow. No more waiting -- she looses a shaft toward one of the crossbowmen. Better not to let them get any more bolts loosed themselves!

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Her chanting complete, Kell immediately spins back around to face the pit. Holding out her staff, she focuses on putting dry, woody brambles around the executioner holding the sword. If there is any energy left, she also sends plants to entangle the crossbowmen. She contemplates putting plants in and around the oil the Amazon is standing in, but she's afraid that it will make it harder for the woman to escape, even though she tells the plants not to hinder the Amazon. She decides to leave the path open for the woman to throw herself out of the way of the torch.

Kell shoots up a quick prayer to Athena, who she figures is probably the goddess the Amazon worships. I don't follow you, Wise Owl, but this daughter of yours could use a touch. Please help her dodge the flames!

 

[Reaver]

AKANTHA

Akantha screams the Amazonian war-cry and breaks free from her bonds. Half a heartbeat later, the wretched goat raping executioner douses her with oil. The acrid fumes sting the warrior's eyes and burn her nostrils, enraging her further.

Eyes burning with fury and her teeth bared like a ravenous aardwolf, Akantha runs to where the judge is standing and swings her tightly clenched fist at his jaw.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Akantha takes a slash ((not OK)) as she charges past the swordsman and clobbers the judge. But this may prove to be a smarter move than she could have known. It turns out the judge is no weakling. He takes the hit—but to the amazon's surprise, he begins to levitate.

His eyes glow and words flow from mouth though none of you can understand this language.

The swordsman attempts a second swing at Akantha, but he is trapped, as are the crossbowmen. All are about to fire upon the amazon until one is hit between the eyes by an arrow from out of nowhere. As he falls dead, his loaded crossbow discharges, killing a fellow crossbowman. Ten remain.

Four fire at Akantha. One manages to barely graze her. ((-1 damage))

Three fire at Kell. All miss.

The other three fire into the general direction of Leto. But only one actually sees her… after he shoots.

The torch rolls into the pool of oil, igniting the stake. The man with the oil lets out an agonizing scream as the brambles trap him. In his throes, his flailing limbs toss the sake and sword. The sake bottle lands safely in the summoned plants, far enough away from the flames the Akantha can pick it up later… assuming she and her apparent allies survive this!

---

Players Akantha KO=======- Kelleia KO======OK Leto KO======OK

Enemies Judge X XX====== (Levitating!) Oil Can Harry XX- (Engulfed!) The X-Bow Men XX===== (Entangled!)

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto cringes at the burning man's agonizing screams, and stares in shock at the levitating judge. She aims an arrow, hoping to bring him back down to their level.