Saturday, November 16, 2024

"Are You Not Entertained" (Chapter 03 - Part 3)



Oggvurm

Having defeated Franca, the squad heads for the arena, with the Ebaraks with them, and confront Oggvurm and his team!

The crowd roars in anticipation as Oggvurm the Merciless and two iruxi companions step into the center of the arena. Oggvurm drags a massive battle axe behind him and has donned a crimson cloak over his thick rags. With a single swipe, he tears off his cloak and reveals a terrible contraption of tubes, gears, and a large glass cylinder filled with a churning purple liquid strapped to his back. The monstrous warrior addresses the shocked crowd, roaring, “People of Absalom! Your time of reckoning is at hand! Die in agony!” With that, a thick plume of celadon smoke pours from the device, enshrouding the ravenile and billowing toward the onlookers in the stands.

The Poison Cloud Device

The squad and their four Eberrak allies are at the north end of the arena. Oggvurm and his two iruxi companions are at the west entrance. A hill giant, named Brave Buckshuck, has been assigned to the arena combat as Oggvurm's opponent. 

Ogg heads into the crowd of spectators, surrounded by a concealing poison cloud. The squad take off across the sands, following Eberraks, who move quite swiftly. Mr Gone scoops up his master, and carries Jorin across the arena sands. The giant heads for Oggvurm.

Oggvurm makes it into the stands, and the poison cloud starts to affect and kill spectators who were not fast enough to escape it's baleful presence. Some of the Eberraks stand at the edge of the cloud and attack the iruxi comrades, Nishaku and  Sellock. Another Eberrak dashes into the poison cloud and dragges Ogg back out onto the arena sands. 

Pumpelio sings Inspire Courage.

Nishaku wrestles Oggvurm free from the Eberrak. Jorin casts Ray of Frost onto Oggvurm, and the cold makes the giant lizard sluggish and slow. Meanwhile Mr. Gone lands in the cloud to attack Oggvurm from behind.

Brave Buckshuck moves in to fight, but isi confused and attacks Mr. Gone.

Oggvurm tries to intimidate the Eberraks with s roar. but most of them stand firm. Oggvurm runs past Mr. Gone, who is tackled by Sellock. Simimel tackles Oggvurm. One of the Eberracks spits oil onto Oggvurm as another claws at Ogg through the cloud, and his claws ignite the oil.  Oggvurm screams in agony; he was a weakness for fire!

Valcos runs into the poisonous cloud and slices the device from Oggvurm's back while Mr. Gone pummels Oggvurm into the arena sand. 

Sellock tries to wrentle the device from Valcos, but Valcos maintains his hold on it. Sellock is stabbed my Simimel, whose demon mask fairs to incite fear!  Meanwhile, two of the Eberraks charge the giant, to stop him from interfering with rescue efforts.

Pumpelio sings a Green Chromatic Wall into existence, to hold back the already-deployed lethal fumes, saving many civilian lives.

Grimwald engages Brave Buckshuck, who finally gets a clue that there might be something going on that he doesn't understand. The idiot.

Nish tries to grab the device, fails.

Valcos heads outside the poison cloud, and drops the device in his Bag of Holding.

Mr. Gone flies Ogg's body out of the poison cloud.

Brave Buck finally gets a clue.

Nishaku pushes past Simimel to attempt to regain the device from Valcos. Valcos retains the device and retreats long enough to put the device inside the Bag of Holding they had cleared foro just this purpose. 

Grimwald fires arrows into Nishaku, who dies from the effects of the poison cloud. Selleck also dies, poisoned to death. 

Simimel heals their Eberracks with Lay on Hands while the squad helps stricken civilians to recover.

Lord Ganfen gives the squad a  silver sword pin, a badge of honor normally reserved for champions of the arena. 

Simimel petitions for and receives, freedom for the Eberracks, who chose to stay with the arena. Reginald Vancaskerkin publishes their story in the Eyes on Absalom.










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