Game summary for May 17, 2007; present characters included Ashkor (lizardfolk battle sorcerer/dragon disciple/fighter), Eol Seregon (half-elf hexblade), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), and Pitamian Kalal (human yang monk).
After picking up another pair of gladiators, Pitamian Kalal and Ashkor, the Mercenaries slipped back into the coenoby and waited for their next arena fight. They found they were up against the dwarven maulers, Pitch Blade. The group stood across from the dwarves watching them closely. One carried a large maul, another (the female) toted a strange crossbow loaded with razor disks, and two held flaming bastard swords. When the games began, the dwarves charged.
The female ran out to the side and fired spinning disks at several party members. Much to their dismay, the blades appeared to be poisoned with a disabling venom attacking their Dexterity. The flaming-blade dwarves revealed an ability to fly and moved at astounding speed across the arena to attack Eol and Ashkor. The hammer-wielding dwarf flew up into the air and began unleashing curses.
The first few rounds absolutely belonged to Pitch Blade as the Mercenaries suffered injury after injury. Despair gripped the Mercenaries as they felt outclassed and overpowered by the vicious dwarven warriors. However, Lyrin hit upon a combination of spell effects that could punch through the hammer cleric’s spell resistance. Eol unleashed curses and hideous laughter to fantastic effect, and Morak proved he is a master healer. Things began to turn around for the Mercenaries when one of the dwarves was disqualified for killing Ashkor after he surrendered. Soon after, Lyrin hit the crossbow woman and the cleric with a nasty lightning bolt, killing her and forcing the priest to surrender.
Although the last flaming-sword dwarf loomed over paralyzed Pitamian, he opted to try and eliminate the rest of the party. However, in a short time, the Mercenaries regrouped and beat the dwarf unconscious. With the crowd cheering wildly, Phylund came forward and accepted the victory purse and trophy for his team.
Once back within the coenoby, Eol requested an audience with Aridarye. He was escorted to see her, and she met him with a small group of armed guards. Eol suspected Prendergast had wanted Pitch Blade to play assassins in the arena, and Aridarye revealed Captain Okoral is the manager of the team. She also made it clear she would expect Okoral to cheat and slip additional magical aid to his dwarves. Eol admitted he believed this may have happened due to the sheer power the dwarves possessed. Aridarye warned that Okoral was not a good sport and would likely move against them in the near future. While Eol met with Aridarye, the Mercenaries got Ashkor a raise dead spell.
The Mercenaries huddled up in their rooms and discussed the future. They decided they needed to be better prepared for future battles and had Aridarye slip them out of the arena again. On the way out, one of the guards whispered a message from Aridarye. It appears Prendergast has arranged for the Mercenaries to fight in the beast battle tomorrow. He has lined them up against Madtooth the Hungry, an enormous frost salamander captured some time ago. Some of the guards hope the thing gets killed off because they have so much trouble keeping ice packed around its cage to keep it cold. Traditionally, the previous year’s champions fight the beast battle, but Prendergast seems determined for the Mercenaries to fight the salamander.
Now outside the arena, the Mercenaries seek items of an arcane or divine nature to aid them in their coming matches.
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