<blockquote><div><cite>Alyssa wrote:</cite><span style="font-style: italic">~A servant? Soma, you don't mean to say you've declared yourself to be a... a <span style="font-weight: bold">slave?</span>~</span></div></blockquote><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~Well, it's not for real, obviously,~</span>Soma replies.<span style="font-style: italic">~I just have to act like it is when they check for tickets. Once you're inside, the snakes don't really care who you are unless you owe them money. And their forms don't mean a thing once you're back on dry ground.~</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~Dry ground?~</span>Yuki asks, cocking an eyebrow.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~Yeah, you know. Not Soggy?~</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~Of course,~</span>Yuki deadpans.<br/><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Rihyan wrote:</cite><span style="font-style: italic">~I'd want to know a lot more about the rules of the Arena before I did anything like sign up, though it does sound like a possible way of building strength up openly, as well as thinning the ranks of our enemies.~</span></div></blockquote><br/><span style="font-style: italic">~The registrar should have a full copy of the rules,~</span>Yuki suggests.<span style="font-style: italic">~I'm going to check them myself later, in case they've made revisions for the tournament.~</span><br/><br/><br/>(if anyone approaches the registration desk)<br/>Noticing the approach of new customers, the ticket naga quickly dog-ears her page and sets her book aside before shifting her coils into a more upright sitting position.<br/><br/>"Welcome to the Sogluyem Arena," she greets the new guests with a salesman's smile. "How may I assist you today?"<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Hypogeum</span><br/>The effects of Sashi's next blow are... dramatic, to say the least. As the axehead strikes flesh, the combined shock trauma of many stabs and gashes finally reaches the critical point and overwhelms Broga's elasticity. The sound of flapping froglips dominates the basemement for several seconds as Broga's stored air supply spews from his gullet, reducing the guard back to his former size.<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;">Broga shrinks back to Medium size!<br/>Broga must make a DC 10 Constitution check or be stunned for 1 round.<br/><br/>Con check: 1d20 (18) + 5 = 23, pass</div></div></div><br/>Broga looks down at his torn-up, deflated body, then at the now chin-high rabbit warrior, then at the two shamblers who have suddenly become very tall. The captain weighs his options, trying to decide what plan to enact now that brute force, numbers dirty tricks have all failed him. There is one tactic he's never tried, but it's not one he's ever used before: a technique forbidden to the royal lictors, to be used only in the direst emergencies...<br/><br/>Well, getting eaten by a compost heap sounds pretty damned dire.<br/><br/>"LICTORS!" Broga bellows. "FALL BACK!"<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;">Broga withdraws!<br/>Sashi and the shamblers may each make one AoO if desired.<br/><br/>Shambling Mound A's attack: 1d20 (4) + 11 = 15, miss<br/>Shambling Mound B's attack: 1d20 (3) + 11 = 14, miss</div></div></div><br/>The shambler's vines lash at Broga as he bounds towards the hydra-side staircase, but once again fail to do any noticeable harm.<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 A and B withdraw!</div></div></div><br/>At the captain's command, the two guards break off and hop towards the upper levels, one following Broga directly, the other ducking into the maze of catwalks on at the thermae landing.<br/><br/>Sashi can hear Broga shouting something about 'the alchemist' as he retreats.<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;">Shamblers: chasing Broga (high) or Sashi (low)?<br/><br/>Shambling Mound A's action: d% (80), chasing Broga<br/>Shambling Mound B's action: d% (96), chasing Broga<br/><br/>(Sashi is one lucky bunny...)</div></div></div><br/>The two shamblers turn to the stairs and give chase to the fleeing captain, leaving Sashi and Ciro alone in the basement for the time being.<br/><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: (50%)*; [AC: 22 (+8 armor, +1 Dex, +3 natural)] (fled)<br/>Guard A health: (89%); [AC: 19 (+5 armor, +1 Dex, +3 natural)] (fled)<br/>Guard B health: (100%); [AC: 19 (+5 armor, +1 Dex, +3 natural)] (fled)<br/><br/>Shambling Mound A health: (100%); [AC: 20 (-1 size, +11 natural)] (fled)<br/>Shambling Mound B health: (100%); [AC: 20 (-1 size, +11 natural)] (fled)</div></div></div><br/>(And now, something long overdue for Sashi...)<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;">Experience Scroll:<br/><br/>Sashi: 64,087 + 1,000 (killed two guards) + 1,000 (half-killed Broga) = 66,087 XP (Level UP!)<br/>Ciro: 0 + 1,000 (plant commander bonus) = 1,000 XP (Level UP!)</div></div></div>