Off to a good start, at least, because the magitech beast Michael is facing off against is an extremely adorable, if huge, coati. Towering above him, just shy of elephant size, it twitches its mechanical tail curiously, almost like a cat.
Too bad Michael is just off the chain today. (DC 12; +1 Spellmaster, +1 STR, +1 complete disregard for own safety and basically a Barbarian/CDFOS&BAB = +3 = 12 + 3 = 15) He quickly shoots off Thunderclap and Grease at the same time, neatly knocking the coati off of its feet. Earth Tremor further disorients it, and Web secures it in place for long enough that he gets a few brutal hits in. Unfortunately, his hyperfocus on doing damage means he doesn’t fire off Haste quickly enough when it starts to get loose of the sticky strands. (DC 12; +1 Spellmaster, +1 STR, +1 CDFOS&BAB = +3 = 6 + 3 = 9) The enormous magitech creature gets one back claw loose enough to scratch Michael across the stomach, not very deeply but certainly enough to sting, and enough for it to wriggle its way free of its confines.
This is where the fight starts to turn. The coati is angry now, and even with Misty Step available once Haste wears off, Michael is simply too distracted to avoid its attacks. (DC 12; +1 STR -2 CDFOS&BAB = -1 = 7 - 1 = 6) With tooth, claw, and fiercely whipping tail, the agile beast catches Michael over and over, his movements aggressive and predictable enough to drive him more than once into the coati’s waiting jaws. This goes on for some time, until the coati picks Michael up in its jaws — and he shoots a Magic Missile directly at its chest.
(DC 12; +1 Spellmaster, +1 STR, +1 CDFOS&BAB = +3 = 3 + 3 = 6) It’s not a great shot. But it’s a shock, and that’s enough for the beast to drop Michael. That’s enough for him to lunge upward with Flaming Sword and Burning Hands and sheer unadulterated frenzy — enough for him to do enough damage to the coati in a few terrifying seconds that the crowd begins to murmur, then to shout. Out of nowhere, someone’s running into the arena, yelling STOP! Stop! It’s over! The match is done!
It’s the rooster trainer. Behind him, running full tilt but still struggling to keep up, is the referee, who runs up to Michael and puts firm hands on his very bloody shoulders. The rooster pulls his coati beast away from Michael, speaking quiet, soothing words meant for no one but the creature itself as he checks out the damage on its carapace.
For some time, Michael has to stay here, watching this and listening to the following conversation about what to do with him. He technically won, but should he be allowed back? The referee is vehemently against it. The rooster, surprisingly, is for it — on the condition that Michael take a 24-hour breather to cool his head and bring back materials to fix the damage he’s done. Stone from the forest, shells from the Lagoon, artifacts from the Ruins. Bring those back, the rooster says, and we’ll fight you one last time, together.
Reluctantly, the referee agrees. The look he gives Michael says it all. He’ll step in if it gets anything near like this in the final match. He barks at Michael to get out of here, I don’t want to see you until tomorrow.
And so, Michael has his marching orders. What will he do?
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Off to a good start, at least, because the magitech beast Michael is facing off against is an extremely adorable, if huge, coati. Towering above him, just shy of elephant size, it twitches its mechanical tail curiously, almost like a cat.
Too bad Michael is just off the chain today. (DC 12; +1 Spellmaster, +1 STR, +1 complete disregard for own safety and basically a Barbarian/CDFOS&BAB = +3 = 12 + 3 = 15) He quickly shoots off Thunderclap and Grease at the same time, neatly knocking the coati off of its feet. Earth Tremor further disorients it, and Web secures it in place for long enough that he gets a few brutal hits in. Unfortunately, his hyperfocus on doing damage means he doesn’t fire off Haste quickly enough when it starts to get loose of the sticky strands. (DC 12; +1 Spellmaster, +1 STR, +1 CDFOS&BAB = +3 = 6 + 3 = 9) The enormous magitech creature gets one back claw loose enough to scratch Michael across the stomach, not very deeply but certainly enough to sting, and enough for it to wriggle its way free of its confines.
This is where the fight starts to turn. The coati is angry now, and even with Misty Step available once Haste wears off, Michael is simply too distracted to avoid its attacks. (DC 12; +1 STR -2 CDFOS&BAB = -1 = 7 - 1 = 6) With tooth, claw, and fiercely whipping tail, the agile beast catches Michael over and over, his movements aggressive and predictable enough to drive him more than once into the coati’s waiting jaws. This goes on for some time, until the coati picks Michael up in its jaws — and he shoots a Magic Missile directly at its chest.
(DC 12; +1 Spellmaster, +1 STR, +1 CDFOS&BAB = +3 = 3 + 3 = 6) It’s not a great shot. But it’s a shock, and that’s enough for the beast to drop Michael. That’s enough for him to lunge upward with Flaming Sword and Burning Hands and sheer unadulterated frenzy — enough for him to do enough damage to the coati in a few terrifying seconds that the crowd begins to murmur, then to shout. Out of nowhere, someone’s running into the arena, yelling STOP! Stop! It’s over! The match is done!
It’s the rooster trainer. Behind him, running full tilt but still struggling to keep up, is the referee, who runs up to Michael and puts firm hands on his very bloody shoulders. The rooster pulls his coati beast away from Michael, speaking quiet, soothing words meant for no one but the creature itself as he checks out the damage on its carapace.
For some time, Michael has to stay here, watching this and listening to the following conversation about what to do with him. He technically won, but should he be allowed back? The referee is vehemently against it. The rooster, surprisingly, is for it — on the condition that Michael take a 24-hour breather to cool his head and bring back materials to fix the damage he’s done. Stone from the forest, shells from the Lagoon, artifacts from the Ruins. Bring those back, the rooster says, and we’ll fight you one last time, together.
Reluctantly, the referee agrees. The look he gives Michael says it all. He’ll step in if it gets anything near like this in the final match. He barks at Michael to get out of here, I don’t want to see you until tomorrow.
And so, Michael has his marching orders. What will he do?