Melee Group 3

Code:

  | A | B | C | D | E | F | G |
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 1 |   |   |   | WF|   |   |   |
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 2 | AS|   |   |   |   |   | JD|
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 3 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 4 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 5 | FG|   |   |   |   |   | AT|
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 6 |   |   |   | BM|   |   |   |

Using initials for placement.

AT=Prince Aemond Targaryen
WF=Ser Willis Fell
AS=Aerion Storm (PC)
BM=Benedict Marsten (PC)
FG=Ser Florian Greysteel
JD=Ser James Darry

Random placements:

NPC fighting rolls/stats:

Iniatives:
Willis Fell 11(10)
James Darry 11(3)
Aemond Targaryen 8(10)
Florian Greysteel 5(4)

Awaiting iniatives from Ben and Aerion.

Given a few special cases in this group, I say it's fair (and fun) to allow awareness (empathy) to gain clues about NPC intentions.

Aerion rolls his shoulders and neck as he takes up his position, sturdy shield on his left arm, well-balanced longsword in his right, entire body encased in the castle-forged plate, toe to head.  Sabatons, greaves, gauntlets, vambraes, pauldrops, gorget, cuirass;  all of it burnished, all with a tasteful brass trim that gleamed almost like gold.  It had cost a pretty penny -- including the coins he'd had to spend just this morning to get help dressing in it -- but facing foes such as these, he'd need it.

He salutes all those around him before shutting his visor and shifting his weight, foot to foot.

Seven hells, that's a Prince right there.  His dark blue eyes dart around warily, invisible within his helmet.  And a Kingsguard ready to fight, not far off.  A good Riverlander knight, besides, then that Ser Florian who hates my bastard guts, and strong Ben Marsten, too, all of 'em here and ready to bash my fool head in.

And then, as he sometimes does, despite it all, he smiles.

Well, we signed up for this, one and all.  So Warrior take me if I can't bash their fool heads in, too, just this once, on this particular ground.  Bastard or not, I'll give as good as I get.  

He gives a few experimental swings, back and forth, lazily, loosening up.

ooc:

Never one for show or pomp, Lord Marsten, the Protector of the Vale, enters in his simple flat gray plate. No shine. No polish. No adornment. Much like the man himself.

Ben looks at the lot circling about, visor closed before he set foot upon the field. This was for the best as any one he was not blind would have read the expletive on his lips.
That one-eyed brute was no friend of house Marsten.

A man could have few known enemies, but when important tourneys came round they seemed to find him.



Initiative:Melee 3 initiative: 4d6k3-3 10
CD: 12 Superior plate, large shield
AR: 10, Bulk: 3
Health: 11/11
F/I/W: 0/0/0
MW Longsword +1 Attack superior longsword

Melee 3 awareness: 3d6 11

Iniatives:

Both Aerion and Ben has managed to maintain their cool and composure enough to notice that whereas Ser James Darry seems more than content to simply keep himself standing as long as he can, Florian Greysteel have cut his way through the throng of men in the direction of the Baratheon bastard, clearly intent on settling some score, whatever that might be. While facing the prince himself might be worrying, his one eye betraying nothing as to his intentions, but a dangerous opponent, and a threat made doubly challenging as Willis Fell, in the white-enameled full plate of the Kingsguard reaches his goal, having battling his way through the throng of men towards the side of the Prince, but without any sign of pause, he charges against Lord Marsten, perhaps picking out the more capable opponent threatening Prince Aemond, leaving Ser James bracing himself for what appears to be a very short duel.

Code:

  | A | B | C | D | E | F | G |
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 1 |   |   |   |  |   |   |   |
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 2 | AS|   |   |   |   |   | JD|
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 3 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 4 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 5 | FG|   |   | WF|   |   | AT|
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 6 |   |   |   | BM|   |   |   |

OOC:

The crashing barrage of Ser Willis blankets Ben. He attempts to use the attackers momentum to bring him down, but can not find the leverage. His shield almost doubled over he decides caution prudent and strikes out from what little guard remains of it. The blow finds some bit of the knight open. A relief no matter how tiny.

Was the dog defending it's master or following orders? For now Ben held his tongue.


Melee 5 knockdown Willis: 5d6-1 8
Melee 5 Cautious attack +3 CD: 7d6k4-1 12+1 Longsword not that it matters 13vs 7CD = 2DoS ×6=12-10= 2 damage


Initiative:Melee 3 initiative: 4d6k3-3 10-1=9
CD: 12(-2+3)13 Superior plate, large shield
AR: 10, Bulk: 3
Health: 1/11
F/I/W: 1/0/0
MW Longsword +1 Attack superior longsword

Fatigue if attack/knockdown. Will not forget that again. What was the ruling on two-handing a long sword? May be relevant shortly.

Two-handing longsword:

Much as Ser James thought, Prince Aemond pick him out for dueling, in keeping with how he came to win the squire's melee at Riverrun, he opts for a careful and methodical way through this one. Aided perhaps, by the fear of his prowess and the fear of hurting a prince perhaps. Though even if he could be said to be holding back, his slash was enough to send Ser James reeling, clearly outmatched, in real battle, another strike like that would threaten his life.

Actions&iniatives:

NPC stats:

At the Drakeson tourney, Aerion had battered himself silly on the wrong end of Ser Florian's lances until changing his tactics.  By being bold and aggressive, he'd unhorsed -- soundly beaten! -- the more experienced knight.  Boldness and aggression would be the order of the day, then, it seemed.  Ser Florian seems eager for it, given how he'd shouldered his way through the melee to find him.  A Storm he wanted, a storm he would get.

"If you want to fight a bastard, Ser," Aerion rushes in as boldly as though he were on horseback, shield before him, heavy-bladed sword high and ready to be brought down in a series of powerful strikes, grunting out a word or two with each hammer-heavy blow, "You will see the bastard knows how to fight!"

ooc:

Code:

  | A | B | C | D | E | F | G |
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 1 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 2 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 3 |   |   |   |   |   |   | AT|
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 4 | AS|   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 5 | FG|   |   | WF|   |   |   |
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 6 |   |   |   | BM|   |   |   |

Ser Florian merely grunts, not about to give this whelp the pleasure of any reply other than his shield planted in Aerion's chest in a bid to send him crashing to the ground, followed by a mean swing of the sword. Ser Willis Fell keeps on battering against Lord Benedict in savage fashion, but the blow is deflected by something that must have cost considerable effort. Ser James Darry shouts "Yield!" lowering his sword and taking two steps back. Stumbling slowly out of the field a hand upon where the Prince had hit him.

Actions and iniatives:

Stats:

Ben brushes off the flail strike and drops his bent shield into the knights chest. He then follows up with a heavy blow.

Melee 3 knockdown Willis: 5d6 16
Melee 3 Cautious attack +3 CD vs Willis: 8d6k4-1 19 3DoS ×6 =18-10Ar =8 dam

Initiative:Melee 3 initiative: 4d6k3-3 10-1=9
CD: 12(-2+3)13 Superior plate, large shield
AR: 10, Bulk: 3
Health: 1/11
F/I/W: 2/0/0
MW Longsword +1 Attack superior longsword


Will use Fatigue if targeted for second attack.

So if I am not completely mistaken:

Ser Willis groans, but one is simply not inducted into the ranks of the white cloaks without having taken worse hits than that. As Ser James have quit the field, Prince Aemond turns to the closest opponent, whether it was planned all along or simply makes tactical sense is hard to judge. A man oblivious to whatever feelings the prince might harbor towards his opponent might suggest that he merely took advantage of the Kingsguard oath preventing Ser Willis from striking him, assuming he was bold enough to utter such words.

Actions and iniatives:

stats:

Aerion grunts with the impact as the old knight's shield-bash tumbles him into the mud -- Hells, it's easier in a saddle, isn't it? -- and grunts again as his shield-arm takes the brunt of Ser Florian's powerful strike.  Clambering to his knees, but still too unaccustomed to his cumbersome new plate to make it all the way to his feet, Storm lashes out. He's battering at Greysteel to try and rock him off balance and down onto the tourney field, too, or at least to put a few bruises on the other warrior where ever his armor doesn't cover.  All the while, though, he works to keep his shield between him and his opponent, and his blade as well, to keep another, angrier, blow from landing too cleanly.

ooc:

Code:

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 1 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 2 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 3 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 4 | AS|   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 5 | FG|   |   | WF|AT |   |   |
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 6 |   |   |   | BM|   |   |   |

Florian appears to have met his match and tries to alter strategy by holding his shield higher, his attack does not threaten Aerion, however. Meanwhile, Willis tries to kick out Ben's feet from under him, the follow up blow merely glancing off the armor.

Actions and Iniatives:

stats:

With a failed attempt to stand , Ben keeps his guard high against his now two opponents. The sword clips harmlessly off Fell's armor. He had hoped to put that flail wielding knight down. The Gods it seemed were set to rain down a world of hurt upon him now. His mind searches for what might have stirred their wrath.

Melee 3 stand up: 3d6-3 4 Fail
Melee 3 cautious attack +3CD VS Willis: 8d6k5-2 19 Rubbish

Initiative:Melee 3 initiative: 4d6k3-3 10-1=9
CD: 12(-2+3)13 Superior plate, large shield
AR: 10, Bulk: 3
Health: 1/11
F/I/W: 3/0/0
MW Longsword +1 Attack superior longsword

Aerion guides Ser Florian's attack away between his angled shield and the bulk of his arm -- though not nearly as smoothly as he'd slipped his opponents' lances when ahorse -- and tries to haul himself to his feet with a grunt of exertion.  He settles for bashing Ser Florian back a half-step, but his follow-through strike is turned away by the experienced knight's own sturdy shield.  The squire's got his feet back under him, though, and looks to be, for the moment, taking the back-and-forth exchange of blows at least as well as the respected Riverlander.

ooc:

With Ben on the ground and facing both Kingsguard and Prince, his situation quickly turns into something that appears rather hopeless, Aemond's sword draws blood, but it's the blow from Ser Willis Fell that seems to have ended it to the eyes of such seasoned men too old to partake, his mighty flail punching through Lord Marsten's shield as if it weren't there, in a real battle most men would have been knocked helpless, if not dead by such a strike.

Meanwhile, Aerion and Florian appears to be locked in a duel going nowhere, fatigue taking it's toll on both men.

Actions and iniatives:

NPC stats:

The prince's sword bites flesh through plate, forcing a rushed exhale, but no scream. The briefest sliver of time before Fell's flail destroys the ragged piece of steel attached to Ben's arm. The weapon puntures gaunlet and vambrace alike. It's brute removal, torques the tendons under the armor, that attempted to cling to it. Clenching his teeth hard, he holds back the pain filled cry that should accompany his wound.

With his blood still pumping high, which only meant it was leaving his body that much faster, he pushes to his feet. He would not kneel. He would not plea from the ground for a yield. His battered body wobbles uneasily. The wasted metal that was once a shield slides form his limp hand. Blood streams after it, to splatter off the wrecked mass. He can feel a warm trail weeping down his midsection, from his noble admirer's sword.

(ooc: Here I will add that yield being a greater action seems ridiculous. Dropping a weapon:free action. Speak: free action. Those would be my follow up free actions, but following the rules... bring on the hurt.)

2 injuries Aemond
1 wound Fell
Greater action: Stand

Initiative:Melee 3 initiative: 4d6k3-3 10-1=9
CD: 12( Superior plate, large shield
AR: 10, Bulk: 3
Health: 1/11
F/I/W: 3/2/1
MW Longsword +1 Attack superior longsword

[I'd say that taking the greater action "yield" let's you dictate how you take the loss, it's a melee, they'll accept your surrender, so narratively speaking it's perfectly fine if Ben gets to his feet like a man first. I'll say that simply shouting yield as a free action suffices, given the circumstances.]

[Also, as Baelon pointed out, it looks as Aerion would have a -3 on that stand-up check, thus failing, Florian's attack won't do damage anyway with that +1D, but possibly significant for the future.]

[Ah, crap. Yeah, I remembered to knock off the Agility penalty for armor (for spending a fatigue), but forgot the immediate penalty for the fatigue. My mistake! It's incompetence and distraction. Not malice, I promise.]

Some in the crowds speculate on whether or not Lord Marsten has a death wish, defiantly standing up to take more punishment, Prince Aemond seems perfectly willing to hand out more of it, delivering a cut that finds the gap between the plates protecting shin and thigh and would have taken his leg if not for the mail beneath. With three quick swings, Aemond then forces Lord Benedict to leap out of the way of another such swing, though this time it would have struck dangerously above his shoulders.

Action and Iniatives:

NPC stats:

Code:

Code:

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 2 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 3 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 4 | AS|   |   |   |   |   |   |
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 5 | FG|   |   | WF|AT |   |   |
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 6 |   |   |   |  |   |   |   |

Aerion raises his shield to block Greysteel's wicked overhand chops, and the older man's sight; as the Riverlander leans and steps and follows through with his next powerful strike, Aerion's shifted aside from it, the blow blasting at his shield alone. He's adjusted his grip on his heavy new sword, grabbed the blade by both gauntleted hands, and shifted his own angle of attack.

The cross-guard hooks one of Ser Florian's ankles, and the muddy field, Aerion's strength, and heavy armor do the rest. After the knight crashes down, Aerion swings again--smashing into steel plate with the cross-guard and hilt, like a mace--and again, and again. Still just up on his knees in the mud, he's relying on brute force to smash it into Greysteel's thick head; you're beaten.

Free to drop shield, Lesser to knockdown, Lesser to attack.
Knockdown v. Florian: 4d6-3 15
[I think that does it?]

Two-handed swing, LBFI, extra d6 is BoA: 6d6-2 23 1d6 1
[What I believe: base damage is 7 with versatile, etc. So LBFI makes a base hit 14, DoS's make this 28, correct? 18 after armor? If (a) I'm wrong somewhere, and (b) it will work to keep a better DoS, I'll use my daily BoA +2 here. Sorry this post stinks, I have a really hard time with no book and on my phone.]

Battered and bruised by this bloody whelp, again, Florian doesn't like it, but he is seasoned enough to know that win or loose, he would not progress much further either way, and now he was beaten. And considering what he spied to their right, progress was about to be cut short for both men. He holds up his hand in sign of defeat, "yield" he says. Ser Willis Fell, exchanging a nod to his prince, doesn't really get up, more like a stumble across the field towards Aerion, maybe from a low position, but he manages to swing his flail in a circle arch, slamming the Baratheon squire in the side with tremendous force.

Actions and iniatives:

NPC stats:

Aerion smiles into his helmet, gives Ser Florian a satisfied--though trying not to be smug--nod, starts to stand up...and crumples sideways, smashed under the right armpit by the Kingsguard's mighty flail. The world flies sideways out from under him, the churned mud ground rushes up to crash into him, mud half-filled his visor, and he only just hears himself wheeze...

"Yiel--" before everything starts to go black around the edges of his vision.