<div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">EDIT: Corrected Sashi's HP (was 870, should be 70)</div></div></div><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Mindy wrote:</cite><span style="font-style: italic">~Soma, do you know of any other psions in town? More specifically, someone trying to gather psionic energy?~</span></div></blockquote><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~Gather energy?~</span>Soma asks.<span style="font-style: italic">~You mean like a 'psychic vampire' sorta thing? I can think of maybe a dozen psions in town, but nobody who operates like that... well, besides that one elan guy, but he lost in the arena a week or so back. He's not in much of a shape to do anything right now.~</span><br/><br/>The connection is quiet for a second or so, as the violet-haired tiefling pauses to think.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~It sounds like something the Nezibolge would try, though~</span>she adds.<span style="font-style: italic">~Those parties they throw are probably full of energy.~</span><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Rihyan wrote:</cite>~And just how big is a gladiator's entourage allowed to be?~</div></blockquote><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~Smaller than ours, usually.~</span>Soma offers.<span style="font-style: italic">~Most of them are solo acts, or one manager with two or three gladiators. A few entries like Jess have two managers, but that's pretty rare.~</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~According to the arena forms, you're a 'servant with invested authority.'~</span>Yuki interjects.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~That just means I'm safer than you.~</span>Soma counters.<span style="font-style: italic">~Anyone who tries to eat me's getting slapped with a half-bar fine, plus restitution.~</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~Unless they beat Jess first and claim you as property.~</span>Yuki points out.<br/><br/>Soma snorts derisively.<span style="font-style: italic">~Yeah, like </span>that's<span style="font-style: italic"> going to happen.~</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~At any rate, you'd better register separately if you don't want to draw attention.~</span>Yuki suggests.<span style="font-style: italic">~They're likely to ask questions if you have more than four people... excluding slaves, of course.~</span><br/><br/><br/>While the two tiefling cousins and their companions discuss arena bureaucracy, Jess is eagerly handling her favorite (well, second-favorite) part of the gladiator business. The huskygal peruses the morning roster with hungry eyes, reading the list of fighters as if it were her own personal menu. Which, in a way, isn't too far off the mark. The roster is barely half-full, leaving plenty of opponents to sign up across from; the only question is, what sort of breakfast does she want?<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Imvylla, Greth, Brod, Korgan... Kitts? No, there's something else after that...</span>Jess squints at the last name on the roster, trying to decipher the mess of tiny letter crammed on where the writer ran out of space on his line. Something that looks like a u... then maybe an f? Or maybe it's a stray ink drop- at this size, it's impossible to tell.<br/><br/>"Hey, any idea who this 'Kitts' guy is?" she asks, holding the roster up to the ticket naga.<br/><br/>"We cannot disclose the identity of contestants prior to the match, ma'am," the naga answers in a bored monotone, without even bothering to glance up from the novella in her hand.<br/><br/>"Mystery meat huh? Alright, I'm in for it." Jess quickly scrawls her name in blocky letters next to the oddly-sized calligraphic script.<br/><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Mindy wrote:</cite><span style="font-style: italic">~Ah, Jess. Before you go to your match, would you like to complete our trade? I’m sorry about the delay, but my feet wouldn’t be able to handle all of this weight.~</span></div></blockquote><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~Absolutely! Be right with ya!~</span>Setting her quill in its place by the roster (actually, jabbing the quill into the blotter beneath the roster, much to the ticket naga's dismay), the huskygal crosses the few yards back to her group in large strides, fishing the two vials for Mindy from her pocket as she approaches.<br/><br/>"So... boots?" she asks Mindy, barely concealing her eagerness.<br/><br/>Once the elf's boots are in her possession, Jess gladly turns over the two much needed potions before hurrying downstairs, eager to make use of her new prize before the match starts.<br/><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Mindy wrote:</cite><span style="font-style: italic">~Is there something wrong, you two?~</span></div></blockquote><br/>Yuki nods in the redhead's direction.<span style="font-style: italic">~That girl, by the entrance. Geno is hearing voices whenever her lips move. She's probably a mage of some sort.~</span><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Hypogeum</span><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Broga's 1st attack: : 1d20 (2) + 15 = 17, miss<br/>Broga's 2nd attack: 1d20 (18) + 10 = 28, hit<br/>Damage: 1d8 (6) + 8 = 14 piercing</div></div></div><br/>Sashi's axe bites into Broga's thigh, but the wound doesn't seem to slow him down in the least; compared to the injuries her scythe was serving up, this is barely a scratch. The captain counters with a jab to Sashi's midsection, rattling her armor with the force of his strike.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Guards 1 and 2 ready actions.</div></div></div><br/>The stair guards glance uneasily between Broga, Sashi, and the two shamblers, trying to decide which side of the fight is least likely to get them killed if things start to go badly. The two frogmen edge back a step, brandishing their spears unconvincingly.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">&lt;&lt;Round 4&gt;&gt;</span><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Ciro's Diplomacy check: 1d20 (10) - 10 (rushed) = 0<br/><br/>Ciro has failed at plant diplomacy.</div></div></div><br/>Ciro stands his ground, as the two shamblers advance, rustling madly as he gestures towards Sashi and Broga's fight. What the squirrelboy is saying, Sashi hasn't the faintest idea; his "speech," if it even deserves the name, sounds like a tall free in a windstorm.<br/><br/>The shamblers pause for a moment, rustling back and forth between themselves. The leafy mounds appear to exchange glances... then, with a sound of cracking branches, the two creatures charge forward past Ciro and into the fray.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Shambling Mound A's attack (versus Sashi): : 1d20 (4) + 11 + 2 (charge) = 17, miss<br/>Shambling Mound B's attack (versus Broga): : 1d20 (3) + 11 + 2 (charge) = 16, miss</div></div></div><br/>The shamblers each pick a target as they barrel forward: the larger, ivy-colored mound<br/>lashes out at Broga, while its squatter, kudzu-ish partner strikes at Sashi. Fortunately for the two combatants, the plants' attacks are uncoordinated, and their heavy armor absorbs the blows with ease.<br/><br/><br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">[Status Scroll]<br/>Sashi: 70/105 (67%) [AC: 25 (+9 mythril platemail, +3 natural armor, +3 dex)]<br/>Ciro: (100%) [AC: 13 (+2 dex, +1 size)<br/><br/>Broga health: (59%)*; [AC: 20 (+8 armor, +3 natural, -1 size)] (enlarged, holding breath)<br/>Guard A health: (89%); [AC: 19 (+5 armor, +1 Dex, +3 natural)]<br/>Guard B health: (100%); [AC: 19 (+5 armor, +1 Dex, +3 natural)]<br/><br/>Shambling Mound A health: (100%); [AC: 18 (-1 size, +11 natural, -2 charge)]<br/>Shambling Mound B health: (100%); [AC: 18 (-1 size, +11 natural, -2 charge)]</div></div></div>