Kieron vs. Malanuus -- MALANUUS WINS--

[K Man]

{ ::)I knew I should have requested an anti-magic arena...}


Ugh...

Malanuus receives the first blow and stammers back, staring at his chest. He is ignorant of the second blow.

Was there not some justice in this arena? Some grand overseer of all things to be fair? Was this not to be a contest of natural abilities?

Malanuus felt as though he had just been hammered by a spell...or spell-like ablility. This was not a natural ability.

A wry smile spreads across Malanuus lips, frozen as they may be. Forces beyond his control told him he cannot move, but unknowing to them...

...he did not want to.


AC now 11 (10 base - 1 size + 4 natural - 2 stun and no DEX)

--which should increase your chances to hit me (with these dice) about 1000%

[TheZebraShakes™]

OOC: Stunning Fist isn't magical by any means, it's a feat which anyone can take so long as they meet the prerequisites. Monks just happen to get it as an optional bonus. They get so little they have to use what they've got.

And the AC penalties do not apply for this round. You lose your turn but that's about it. Kieron has already had his chance to pick at you with your reduced AC. As stated, the effect wears off the moment Kieron's initiative comes up.

The show goes on.
-------------------------------

Where was the honor in this fight. Who was this monk, using such trickery. The minotaur stands stunned. He knows somehow that he has been duped.

Kieron siezes the moment once more. Watching as Malanuus begins to come around he lays into him once more. Hopefully this would be enough to bring him down. The first blow lands solidly, causing the minotaur a great deal of pain. It all could be over now. (No stunning fist, as was not stated, attk=18 dmg= 8)

In a last ditch effort Malanuus shifts his massive frame with a hope that somehow this cowardly cheater's magnetic fists would for once miss their target. He watches as Kieron swings, watches as somehow the monk's punch sails only inches away from his body, watches as the realization comes to the monk. He had measured inadequately. He has missed. (attk: 12)

Malanuus you may act on your init as usual

(Initiative Malanuus 24 Kieron 17)

MAP

          _______________________
         /-----------------------\  
        /-------------------------\
       /------------(-)------------\
      /-----------------------------\
     /-------------------------------\
    /---------------------------------\
   /-----------------------------------\
  /-------------------------------------\ 
 /----------[=]-------------[=]----------\
/-----------------------------------------\
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
|------------------[===]------------------|
|---($)------------[===]------------(-)---|
|------------------[===]-----------MMK----|
|----------------------------------MM-----|
|-----------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------|
\-----------------------------------------/
 \----------[=]-------------[=]----------/
  \-------------------------------------/
   \-----------------------------------/
    \---------------------------------/
     \-------------------------------/
      \-------------(--)------------/
       \------------(--)-----------/
        \-------------------------/
         \-----------------------/
          \_____________________/

[/size]

LEGEND

K= Kieron 20/43
M= Malanuus 6/47
$- super secret predetermined potion to distract you from the fight
(For everything else, refer to The Battlefield)

[K Man]

Stunning Fist isn't magical by any means, it's a feat which anyone can take so long as they meet the prerequisites.

{Maybe it used to be? I assumed it was along the line of the Quivering Palm and Ki Strike, both of which would be stopped by a field. But as usual, I'm never right. Anyways, no matter, it's done now.}

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Malanuus reels from the last attack.

Not so much from the blows or the damage, but the fact that this seemingly immortal, insanely quick, tumbling, stun-punching (yet 'underpowered') enemy FINALLY MISSED! Though it was but one punch, and at the end of the line...the superman had proven he was not perfect.

However, if this half-assed attempt at battle was any indication, neither was the Minotaur...

1st Attack (Punch) +11, d6 + 8, X2 on Nat. 20
2nd Attack (Gore) +6, d6 +8, X2 on Nat. 20

[TheZebraShakes™]

Nope, stunning fist is just taken as a regular feat which monks are given the option of taking. The other two are special monk abilities which are basically meant for monks alone. That may have lead to the confusion I presume. I'm sorry, I don't mean to make you feel not right, I'll try not to do it anymore, I swear.

And I guess some would say that monks are underpowered, though I'm not one of those people. Going into this I pretty much realized that Kieron had just as much of a chance at winning as Malanuus. Especially since they were going unarmed and unarmored. Monks have built in armor so he managed to sneak through the loophole.

But we'll see how this goes. I'm gonna try the new dice thing on the boards if it's working by the time I get to the post. Then we'll see what the dice have to say.

[Wicksy]

Cool! I was going to ask if you would play out the last post with the auto dice rolls. And damn, forgot to use stunning fist in my excitement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, assuming Kieron is still standing (Malanuus is owed some hefty luck!), he launches into an all out flurry of blows +7/+7, d8 +3 dmg.
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At first I was thinking this was way unbalanced towards the minotaur, but it seems we are reasonably similar in our abilities. It was just my inexperience at playing monks (first time!).

[K Man]

{Yeah, it may actually have been balanced in your favor Wicksy.

Your max, non-crit damage is 22 (d8+3 X2) mine is 28. Edge: Me
You had 43 HP, I had 47. Edge: Me
Your AC was 20, mine was 15. Edge: You.
You're a +7/+7, I'm a +11/+6. Edge: You (Because your AC is higher and my 2nd attack has less chance of hitting, lowering my total damage output)
You have special feats/abilities like Stunning Fist and high movement. I have reach, but it's useless because of your auto-tumble. Edge: You.
Z-Shakes hates me. Edge: You.

So, while big and imposing, I'm really not that much of a threat to you because you negate my one advantage (reach) while retaining yours. Sure, if I could hit, I would have probably pummeled you, but that was a numbers game and they were in your favor too. My other option would have been too seek a corner and use my reach to grant me cover while keeping your AC the same. But that wouldn't have been Malanuus' style and you could have taken a 5ft step to change that. Oh well.

Sorry if I seem overly nerdy about this, but it related alot to the minis game and tactics...which I play for fun offline.

We both gave it a good run though...don't think I won't look for a re-match. }

I'm sorry for posting this here and eating up this space.

[TheZebraShakes™]

Well, I used the board dice, but the thing is that I type out my posts in notepad first so it didn't really work to well. But I'll include the numbers that they came up with, only they won't be in super cool blue boxes.

I'll remember not to do that next time so you can see your pretty numbers.
---------------------------------------------

The monk had missed. But what did that mean in the grand scheme of this battle. Only one more chance that Malanuus could not afford to let pass him by if he intended to survive through this ordeal. He could not allow anything to get the better of him at this point.

Again he raises his fist. These gauntlets had been good to him in the past, and again they would do their job. He drives spikes and leather into flesh and bone, watching as the monk grows weaker with every drop of lost blood.

ATTK 11+ (9 on 20 sided) =20
dmg=(3 on 6 sided) +8 = 11

He considers. Should he try again with the horns, potentially missing and leaving himself open to another quickened assault.

The energy of the crowd can be felt throughout the arena. The ground rumbles in tune with the stomping of feet and pounding of fists. Yes, maybe he could end the fight here and now.

Unfortunately, his attack is once more greeted with the same familiar feeling. Nothing but the slight breeze which comes as a result of Kieron's quick dodge.

attk 6+ (3 on 20 sided)=9

Kieron takes what will hopefully be his final stand. He flails his fists in the direction of the minotaur, but through all of the blood quickly hindering his vision, and Malanuus's decision that it might be wise to try to move out of the way when the monk starts to punch, both strikes miss.

ATTK (5 on 20 sided) +7=12
ATTK (2 on 20 sided) +7= 9

(Initiative Malanuus 24 Kieron 17)

HP totals
Kieron 9/43
Malanuus 6/47

(You know where you are on the map)

[K Man]

There are times, when a faithful man will doubt the presence of his gods. The rain will not come to relieve the drought. The disease wracking a loved one's body cannot be healed The enemy army cannot be beaten...

And then there are those times, when the unexpected happens. The rain clouds billow, the disease is cured, the army is defeated on a muddy battlefield. When the seemingly impossible becomes reality. When miracles happen.

Malanuus had all but given up. He was resigned to this battle, to knowing that a lithe monk half his size had beaten him mercilessly. To knowing he had fallen from the Battle Gods' favor.

And then one punch missed, and another, and another...the miracle was right before him but Malanuus was too bull-headed to see it. He could not be beaten. He was the chosen, the avatar of battle!!

With a howl, he lays into the monk once again;

1st Attack (Punch) +11, d6 + 8, X2 on Nat. 20
2nd Attack (Gore) +6, d6 +8, X2 on Nat. 20

[Wicksy]

And thats it, game over for me i think ;D
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Reeling from another blow to the head, Kieron staggers, blood puring from both ears. He had now lost his hearing and couldnt even hear the roars of the minotaur. His vision now blurred with blood and sweat, he digs deep into his reserves and lashes out with two round house kicks hoping to end the minotaur for good.

+7/+7, d8 +3 dmg

[TheZebraShakes™]

Waves of confidence once dead, were now rebuilding in the minotaur's blood. The gods had not abandoned him as he may have thought. Perhaps it was just some crazed attempt to humble him. Whatever the case, Malanuus knew that now, with the gods on his side once more, he could not lose this battle.

With a newfound vigor, the minotaur howls his fierce how and slams his fist with a ferocity, into the chest of the monk. With this, he also throws the majority of his own weight to ensure that this strike will not miss, and will in fact be the final attack.

The gauntleted fist finds its mark for the final time. Fracturing ribs and soaking both monk and minotaur in a stream of free-flowing crimson blood.

Kieron could feel himself fading quickly. The loss of blood was causing his mind to grow hazy. The pain, the loss, had been too much. At this point, it was only serving to distract him. This was evident in his last two punches, both misses. Now he could only look up through blood-coated eyes at the blurred form of Malanuus, a slight groan escaping his lips along with a mouthful of blood. He could feel the pressure. The minotaur's gauntlet driving ever deeper into his chest. But this time, Kieron did not feel the distracting pain as he slipped into a world of darkness. A world filled with peaceful tranquility.

ATTK =21 dmg= 11

Malanuus pulls away and lets the body of the monk fall to the ground with a soft thud. Blood splatters onto the sand around him.

The crowd errupts, a deafening culmination of sound.

Total HP
Kieron -2/43
Malanuus 6/47

"ENOUGH." a voice booms over the noise, though its source is nowhere in sight. The volume is enough to instantaneously silence the crowd, and even Malanuus is inclined to halt in his tracks and listen.

"Both warriors fought well. But let it be known that ON THIS DAY, MALANUUS BLOOD-HORN STANDS VICTORIOUS!"

The crowd errupts once more. Cheers and howls can be heard throughout the arena. Malanuus can feel the vibrations of the ground as he stands alone for the few seconds beside the fallen monk.

Soon after, the crowd parts a bit, and several figures make their way onto the field of battle. A seemingly disheveled elven cleric rushes onto the field and kneels beside the body of Kieron. With a few quick words the monk is well on his way to recovery.

Malanuus is left to his fans and friends in battle. A familiar pint sized paladin makes his way to the minotaur and with congratulatory remarks, attempts to do what he can to at the very least, cease the minotaur's bleeding and reset a few bones which were forced out of place by the monk's solid knuckles.

The battle is over.

[TheZebraShakes™]

Good fight, those dice were ruthless.

Oh, and the other potion was Bear's Endurance for those who care to know.

I'll update the title as soon as the players finish reading it. wouldn't want to give away the ending up front.

[Althael]

So the flurry horned bear win eh.
Very good match both of you.

I have to say that I was very tempted for Itucal to make a quick apparition like the half-giant and Gilbert.

And Zebra, very good writing and solid description.

[K Man]

Holy cow...that was closer than I expected it to be. I didn't even realize it would be this tough. I was going to rely on reach and what not, but I that was negated pretty quick. Had Wicksy got that potion of Mage Armor down his throat, I would have been done for.

Excellent bout Wicksy, thanks for the humbling lesson.

Thanks Shakes for running it...though next time I'll have to send you some dice to use.

W00T! *victory dance*

[Japic]

I agree, well done on everyone's part. I have to say that Kieron got farther than I'd expected; that charge should have been the end of him. This goes to show you that no matter the odds, the dice decide all (or a DM's fancy , whichever the DM prefers).

I'm happy about the outcome because in this completely random and nonexistent gaming universe my Half-Hiant just made 100gp. I guess he'll have to use it in the arena...

---

Thirty minutes after the fight's conclusion Girud the Half Giant can be seen leaving the arena wearing a "Malanuus for King" tee and foam horns. He jests with Telena, his half-sister, and chases her about mock threatening to gore her.

[TheZebraShakes™]

Just one more good punch from Kieron would have taken Mal down. And if he would have done a stunning fist every round like the fans wanted to see, then yeah, the mino would have definately been done for 50% chance to fail the save.

Though Mal has power attack and that never came into play. Probably a good thing, as you nearly missed with that last hit there. To be honest, I almost added wrong and had you miss anyway, but then I remembered that 10+11 is 21 and not 19. I suck, I had the best paragraph already written until I realized that I can't count.

That mage armor most definately would have worked to save the day.

And yeah, I had to throw in a link to my favorite Shorts character. It really spiced up the post that much more for me.

And again, good battle, full of suspense. I loved how at different points in time you each foresaw your own defeat only to be defeated by the dice. See, I told you it would be fun.

[Wicksy]

Thanks for running the game Shakes, it was good fun! Also, well done to K man (who just squeaked it ;D ). There were a few points where I thought a was completely done for, but I managed to get out of it. Well, Malanuus should of killed Kieron with the charge, but Kieron should of killed Malanuss with the last round of blows. Pretty good i'd say. Cant believe i forgot to follow up the first stunning fist with a second!!!! Still, he probab;y would of passed anyway! ;D

Well, lastly i'd like to thank those who gave me encouragement (and the odd hint!), many thanks.