Freedom, or something like it: Session 4<< Back to Game Logs Morning came, and another day of scorching heat greeted the slaves on awakening. The day was slightly humid, but not so much so as to make it oppressive with the denied promise of rain. As light spilled into the holding area where the prisoners were, an insufficient breakfast of a minimal amount of murky water and lumpy porridge was placed into each cell. The prisoners had to eat fast, for shortly thereafter, the heavily armed military began to bring them out in groups, to disappear around the corner towards the way they had been herded towards before. When it's the slaves' turn, the guards are noticeably more nervous, their crossbows on a hair trigger, ready to take them down at a moment's notice. Xavkul chuckles darkly, but none of the other slaves say anything. They are herded from their cells, through corridors that stink of unwashed human, fear, and less innocent smells that point to one undeniable fact- beings have died here, and will again. The guards usher the prisoners through a portal, where they can see the light of the sun for the first time in several days. A grate closes behind them, leaving them without guards, and within the reach of several weapons to their specifications off to the right. It is apparent that they are to take their weapons and head into the arena, and the spikes on the portcullis gives the unspoken threat that hesitation will not be brooked. But they decide not to put this to the test, as they go out in the harsh sunlight. The roar of the crowds is deafening as other gladiators come out from the other doors; twenty in all- five sets of five gladiators. "My people, this is a celebration of the spirit of Tyr, and the ushering of the city into a new era." Kalak's voice echoes from the royal box, able to be heard throughout the arena. "This will require sacrifices, from us all. But I am sure that the people of Tyr are more than ready for them." "But that is for another time. For now, enjoy the games!" One of the guards signals to the arena, and the more hardened looking gladiators turn toward the stands. "We who are about to die, salute you!" they shout out, and the melee is joined. In the first few minutes of the fight, it is obvious that the fighters fall into 3 different groups. Those that are cannon fodder, that die in these first minutes- either cleanly, or mewling on the sands of the arena. Then there are those that are fighters, but who've never been in the arena. Some find out the hard way that fighting in the arena is different than fighting in other venues, as they die beneath the weapons of someone a little more skilled as the time wears on. Others are seasoned arena fighters, and few fall in the beginning of the competition. The prisoners choose to fight together, watching each others' backs, which proves to be a good tactic. They are able to fight off the challenges from those that know more about the arena. As the field is whittled down to 12 remaining fighters, the competition seems ready to move into the final stage, but Kalak holds off the arena master as he goes to call a stop to the fighting. Instead he motions him over to talk to him. The arena master runs to do Kalak's bidding as the Sorcerer-King stands in his box. "As you know, normally the grand tournament would proceed into the finals a this point, but I have a surprise for you, in celebration of my people's success." At this point, as if triggered by Kalak's words, the center of the arena lowers, and after a moment's pause, raises back up again, three ravenous tigers on chains in the middle of the platform. "To the death!" Kalak's voice roars, and the crowd roars in response as the fight continues. 'What's going on?' Rut thinks to Hannto, hoping that he hears. '...blocked,' the only thing that he gets back, but Gwind gets a more complete vision of the problem. 'Kalak is preparing the ritual now! I'm not sure how... But I'm monitoring the situation.' The fighters are close, and though blood is spilled, no one goes down. The half-giant, Xavkul is almost mauled by a tiger, but they group kills it, then follows up with the next two tigers in order, leaving the other fighters to fight against each other. As the tigers die, Rut sees something that is most interesting happening in the spirit realm to match the deaths in the arena; the spirits of the tigers are seemingly channeled into Kalak! 'We have to stop him now! The ritual is taking place as we speak!' Gwind and Rut both hear Hannto in their heads, his tone urgent. 'First we have to contain the energy so that Kalak cannot access it. Have the others move to the hot spots I direct you to... quickly!' 'Won't he notice?' Rut asks, skeptical. 'He will, but I have another distraction planned.' And indeed, even as he says this, resistance fighters burst into the royal box, fighting to get to Kalak. 'You have to get this done quickly, for the pawns I put into place are no match for Kalak, or indeed even the full might of his guard.' Rut doesn't even ask how he's supposed to get them to go to the spots, instead channeling his fear into an urgency that he uses to convince them. "You have to move where I tell you to- something greater is going on here, and if we don't stop it we're all dead!" His words, combined with the hypnotic haze the audience is clearly in convince the others to follow their lead. It is very much akin to moving in water at first as they proceed to their points.. a passive sort of resistance, that intensifies as they get closer to their spots, becoming at last almost insurmountable. But Gwind and Rut are able to channel Hannto's power to oppose the power of the hotspots, helping them finally get to their spots. As they do, they feel the power being contained, almost as if it will explode from their bodies. It wants to go to Kalak, but they are able to hold it until Gwind and Rut get into the places told by Hannto, and then release it into the pair, to be channeled into Kalak, along with Hannto's addition- a payload that makes it the antithesis of the power of the Sorcerer-King. At first, Kalak appears that he might be able to handle the unwelcome power, as he begins to take on draconic form. But as he swells up, deformations become obvious in the scaly nature of his skin, and he disintegrates under the stress of the power, finally exploding in pyrotechnic display. At that point, the trance that the crowd is in dissipates, and there is pandemonium in the arena. The party is able to take advantage of the riot to escape under the arena, guided by Hannto through their link.
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