"The peasants quickly back peddle from the sudden violence breaking out before them with shocked expressions." The Storyteller resets the stage and continues with "the Old Hag is playing dirty as she constantly thrust her spear at your thighs to keep you busy so her meat shields can take you down. She manage to land three successes to hit on your right thigh."

He is trying for a crit on my legs to slow me down I and respond with a dodge test "I side step the attack with three successes and wait to see what the next girl will do."

He answers "Red Cutie steps up to answer your request and while you are in the middle of your side step, she tries to hammer home her long knife into your armpit with one crit and two successes in her new attempt to draw more of your blood."

I give him a parry test and add "knowing full well I was surrounded, I was more than ready for her attack because my sidestep was actually a pivot and I spin to parry her attack for three successes."

"But the crit still got through, nice" brags the Storyteller who then follows up with a damage test "realizing your intentions, Red Cutie ducks and inverts her hilt allowing your blade slide across her knife in an angle that's likely to sharpen it. She then steps into your personal space and slamming it into your now exposed other armpit. With her left arm she hugs your right arm so it lands on her left shoulder as you grunt in pain. You manage to gasp out 'don't twist', her reply was 'sorry love, it's just business.' With a vicious twist she yanks out her knife and backs away with a side flip, you watch her hair brush the ground before finishing the other half of her side flip to land perfectly. She then performs two double back flips and stands there on guard worry about you possessing any kind of suicidal tendencies with four successes to damage."

I give him another damn toughness test I respond with a disappointing "two successes."

"With your light armor you take only one level normal damage which put you down to Hurt status and lose one action next round." The Storyteller then test for additional hits, then adds a few more dice for the damage results and informs "while leaning over in pain you see Yellow Cutie do a forward roll into your personal space and plants her knife into your gut as a free hit for fives successes to damage."

How can a little girl hit so hard? I grab my dice toss another toughness test for "three successes."

"The two Cuties are doing a nice job chipping you away, with your armor again reducing the damage to one success again and your now down to Injured status" happily responds Storyteller. Then goes into one of his thinking poses and come up with "she then pulls herself up using the impaling knife as an anchor until she can see your grimacing face and greets with "uncle! thanks for the experience points!" She then kicks off and dance merrily away laughing, which she includes a pirouette, a cartwheel and a back flip for the crowd's amusement. Who happily clap and cheer at this extreme live action show.

After all in their eyes who can survive being stab so many times in the chest and remain unaffected while fighting all over the place. So to them, you must be part of the show. Seeing the acrobats are still showing off their skills and laughing, it just doesn't look like a real battle at all in their eyes. The only question the crosses your mind at the moment is who are they rooting for? Me or the acrobats?

Anyways, while you are busy pondering that question. We will now enter the second exchange and you get to act first. The two cuties dance about your flanks looking for openings while the Old Hag seems to be waiting for her girls to finish you off" finishes the Storyteller.

I pick it up with a roll of my dice and add in "next time I exchange blows with Red, I will kick the incoming Yellow, hoping to kick her out of melee combat with three successes."

The Storyteller responds with a roll, and curiously another one that don't bod to well and informs "Yellow Cutie stops short of your kick and wait until you expend most of it force then she gingerly grabs your exposed ankle and makes three quick knife jabs into the back of your right calf." He even went so far as to demonstrate catching an imaginary ankle and making three underhand jab with his right.

"The only protection you have there is the leather of your tall boots. She then sticks out her tongue as she lets go of your ankle and does two cartwheels to land perfectly. Then to demonstrate how limber she is she continues laughing merrily with her back bent all the way so she can laugh at the stupid peasants faces to upside down face for one crit and two successes for her counter" the Storyteller lifts a finger to put me on hold as he slams a bit more of his drink down. Then he ends with "the peasants absolutely loved that and cheer the little girl on. This is when you suspect the peasants are rooting for her and not you, you immediately give her the title rival."

What the hell? Rival, what that suppose to mean? Another toughness test to make and I smile a reply "a crit and one success."

The Storyteller gives me the thumbs up, tosses the last of his drink and provides "Lady Luck will always answers her prayers. But she is female after all, so you can't expect her to be on time when a prayer comes in. When she finally arrives, she has long ago stop listening to why her luck is needed, she just promptly blesses the prayer on their next roll for luck and then vanishes to visit the next caller. No doubt your plea earlier for her assistance has finally arrive and personally delivered you that crit. She is doing pretty good today, didn't expect her so show up so soon" then gives me a big grin.

Before I can say anything he raises a palm of silence and continues "I'm not done yet, don't be so hasty, as you stagger and now limping, but could have been a lot worst. The first stab hit the metal buckle of your greaves strap stopping it in it's tracks, the next stab hit the buckle strap blunting much of it's force to give you a superficial wound. But the third drove clean as you feel the point of her knife bang the inside of your greave that cause one level of normal damage bringing you down to Wounded status, congrats you now only have one action next round."

I respond from this unwarrented battering with "I take my first quick potion" hoping lady luck is still close at hand, I give her another prayer then roll some dice and proudly voice "a crit and one success!" Yes! Your still around, love ya baby!

The Storyteller eyebrow twitches his discomfort and smiles a retort with "that's one down, you quickly snag one of the two potions loaded in your quick potion release on your belt and chuck the awful thing down. As you gag at the horrendous taste the crowd go crazy at your screwed up expression of taste bud defilement. Despite your extreme reaction you feel relief wash over you as your bleeding wounds close up and you feel much better as you rise back up to Hurt status which reduces your actions by one next round.

However your internal critical wounds are making life a difficulty, your breathing a little heavy and realize your are drench in blood and sweat as a drop of sweat stings your right eye to make you aware of the reality of your inner clothes suddenly clinging nature. At this point we have now reached the third exchange, do you have any questions?"

Why are you trying so hard to kill me I thought but instead I go with "no, I'm ready for my next beating."

The Storyteller nods his approval and makes two tests and begins the bashing with "both Cuties attempt to satisfy your new request by performing a duo attack when you are distracted by a sudden spear lunge by the Old Hag, you instinctively jump back to protect your family jewels. The Cuties step into your personal space as you recover from your dodge and attempt to deliver a pair of grinning lethal blows. Since both Cuties succeed in their team attack test, they received a bonus to damage. Red Cutie is waiting for your response" replies the Storyteller.

I respond with "I parry the slash from Reds and try another kick on Yellow." I then roll my dice for the parry and state "two successes" with a frown of misgivings.

His rolled a response was provided "your multi tasking cause your parry to fail at the last moment as she ducks under blades as they clash. As you watch you your blade continues as it was deflect upwards a tad because she didn't provide any resistance, as you watch her long knife pivot around your sword edge as it gets knock backwards by your sword momentum. Red Cutie steps into your personal space and attempts to ram her long knife once again into your chest with one crit and two successes on her dodge and counter move."

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I glance at the table see the offending crit and cry silently 'lady luck please stop answering his prayers' then I toss a toughness test to "soaked the normal damage but took the crit."

"Ah" he responds and immediately explains "another critical hit lands and you drop back to Injured status. While standing comedic like on one leg because your right leg is finishing it's kick. You look down into Red Cuties expose cleavage as she kneels just below your face, she does her customary twist and yank and withdraws her knife. She then lifts her left hand and to give you a conciliatory pat on your cheek as the second part of the team attack arrives."

Rolling his black dice this time the Storyteller adds "at this point you have a voice to say in this story, we need see if you land your kick on Yellow Cutie. She sees your incoming kick and responds with an overhand swing to try to sink her knife into your thigh as she goes for a hit for a hit with three successes."

I pick it up with the required brawling test and respond with "two successes to hit."

Following the sudden competition for last results, the Storyteller rolls his dice once more and announce "two successes to damage with a crit cancelled by a botch."

I return his volley with my own roll "three successes to damage."

Taking the note of my results he then drops another set of dice and provides "two successes to soak and her light armor blocks the last success."

I sigh at my failure to damage and drop my own toughness test for a satisfactory "three successes!"

The Storyteller then weave my two cents in and comes up with "just as your kick strikes home Yellow Cutie tries to bury her knife into your right thigh before she goes flying. However before the kick lands, she folds over and jumps back while leaning forward to stab at your thigh. Her action voided much of the force of your kick as she lands on her feet and does a back flip to put some more distance from you. She pats her belly and calls out 'my little brother kicks harder than you.' Coming from such a little girl, that quite insulting. On the other hand her knife bouncing off the armor plate protecting your thigh an thus adding another mark on your battle scared cuisses."

Then the Storyteller drops a test and mumbles "one crit and two successes to hit," then picks up his dice while adding a few more for a new roll and state "the Old Hag takes the opportunity to make another entrance and thrusts over Red Cutie left shoulder to bury her spear in your chest for a free hit that has three successes to damage to finalize your request for a beating."

I grumble a bit then shake my toughness dice for a lucky toss but got instead "two successes."

"I see, you light armor is being rather helpful and block her spear thrust." the Storyteller does one of his thinking poses before relinquishing "Red Cutie clamps both of her hands on hilt of her long knife to bring her face up close and whispers 'die already so I can get paid.' Then she lifts her lower legs at knees that causing all her weight to press down on her knife."

The Storyteller's evil intentions became appear as he adds "buttress by a rib the impaling knife with all her weight on it causing it to slice upwards for critical damage before being pulled out by her weight. She then sighs and hops away with three spins into a defensive stance. You see the Old Hag gives a vicious look of disappointment and returns to her random jabbing.

She belong to an old guild that provide it's members many ways deal with strong warriors on the battle field. One in particular was used by one of the founding members called the Free Hit Technique. Instead of growing an ornate headpiece for his staff the founding member put a spearhead and had learned to become a fairly skilled spear fighter. Using the typical meat shield philosophy but also made the wizard active in melee combat.

The wizard's meat shields should have the standing order to attack immediately if the wizard cause his target to dodge or parry. Attacks beyond what the target is able to respond to are consider free hits. This will allow the wizard to conserve his mana and actually land a few hits in battle with the mentality of 'show those pesky barbarians that this wizard can do battle!' This tactic was adopted by the whole guild and made sure every newbie was taught it" informs the Storyteller.

The Storyteller smile as he taps his finger on the table he contemplates the wealth of information, he eventually distills it down to "the lightning fast exchange catches the audience by surprise, and a few are clapping their hands at the fascinating realistic battle before them. The highlight was when Reds slips under your sword to stab your chest, then a ripple of displeasure when you kick Yellow back. Some clapping occurred when the Old Hag spear bounce off you armor. Your beginning to think the peasants still think this is a show and your squirting fake blood for fun."

"At this point of the story we enter a new round and begin it's first exchange. Do you have any questions?" smirks the Storyteller.

Plenty, but the one the inhabits my mind is 'will I survive this?' Manning up I answer "no."

The Storyteller then proceeds with "the two Cuties dance before you waiting to retaliation of a wounded beast that you become, they finally brought you down to Injured status and you lose one action this round."

I think carefully for a bit before announcing my intentions "I wait for one of the girls to leap in the air before making my strike." Then I drop my dice to check the results and say 'four successes to hit."

The Storyteller drops his dice for the response "Yellow Cutie blocks for three, so you hit her."

I gather the proper amount of dice for the damage roll and toss with a prayer of hope. I glance down and smile then voice "two crits and one success to damage."

"Nice hit! her light armor ignores the normal damage, so she takes two critical damage because she has no critical damage resistance." He then rolls two set of dice before informing "your carefully planned attack come to fruition as the four of you dance around hacking and stabbing for the quick win. As Yellow Cutie cart wheels towards your back, you feint a jab at Red Cutie forcing her jump back reflexively. You then spin around with a underhand swing to slash upwards at Yellow Cutie's waist. Only to be slightly surprised as she manage to block some of your attack with her long knife while spinning in the air no less.

Your blow buries into a few inches in her side as she uses the force of block to push her body away to land kitty perfect on her feet as she bends her knees to offset the shock. Her glaring hate filled eyes catches your attention for moment as you lock eyes. She clutches her side and screams "bastard! I'll kill you!"

Then he continues with this view point "seeing the two prancing meat shields occupying the bounty, the Old Hag choose this time to cast a charm spell to make you blind and dizzy for three successes."

Shit.. the old bitch is a spellcaster? I count my magic resist dice for a result of "two successes."

He nods and replies "as you turn around to face Red Cutie next attack, you just happen to catch the old hag's eye for a second and that when you lose your sight until the next exchange. This sudden and unexpected development of losing your sight has also cause a sudden vertigo to come crashing into your now blacken world. The best dodge you can muster now is to stagger around like a drunken bum and swing aimless with your sword in an vain attempt to block any attack. As you spend this exchange in this embarrassing state you hear the Old Hag yells "blinded him! I invoke Circle of Death! You hear her chanting the assassin skill as her voice rush closer from all directions due to the vertigo" he then takes a long drag on his drink.

I review my knowledge of the assassin skill circle of death, it will cause any ally that can move into melee range of the target will be instantly teleported to deliver a melee strike before being teleported back where they came from to continue with their own exchanges. Basically gives everyone in the party a free hack against your opponent in one phantom of an instant.

Finished chugging at his drink, the Storyteller smiles evilly and continues "as you reach the point of feeling ready to up chuck some blood at the unfairness of the situation when the first stabbing pain begin to shock your world back into focus. Red Cutie once again slams her knife into your left chest and placing her off hand on the pummel and forcefully buries the knife a little deeper for four successes to damage."

I collect my dice and respond with a disappointing toughness test with "two successes."

"Awesome, Red Cutie draws blood once again and is starting become of fan of yours by commenting "your making this too easy for me!" and punctuate it with a sharp twist and yank of her knife and follows up with a cartwheel and a back flip into a guard stance that makes the peasants go wild. Her attack drops you back down to Wounded status and you will lose two actions next round."

As light burst forth back into your world you see Red Cute and the Old Hag withdrawing their weapons from your chest to prepare for your outrage.

The Storyteller continues with "then you think 'wait where is the third one' and she arrives belatedly by ramming her knife into your lower back and whispers to you "now we're even" then with a vicous twist she pulls it out and vanishes back where she came after delivering one crit and one success to damage. As you glare at her hateful form that materialize outside of your melee range, you notice her pale face and realize she put a lot of effort to deliverer her attack. A moment later she collapses and you watch blood continuously pour out of her wound in dwindling amounts.

At this point the well meaning peasants all scream and dash helter pelter away in panic as they realize you killed your rival for their affection in the show they were enjoying. You smile gleefully at the fleeing idiots before snapping your attention back to battle at hand because we reach the second and your last exchange for this round and you get to act first. How would you like perform your outrage or would you rather drink a much needed healing potion first?" The Storyteller provide me a grin as he waits for my response.