MASKTOURN

The arena had been completely transformed from a wide, sandy expanse, to a dense, bramble-thick forest. The singing of birds and the rustling of the wind can be heard around them. Aarni and Kallum entered into the thicket from opposite sides, and were unable to see each other just yet. Each competitor enters into a small clearing. The pine wood above and around them is dense, and brambly bushes block the clearest entrance out. After a glance around the area, each contestant would be able to spot an assortment of small, medium and large wooden targets. There’s also… a horse in each beginning area? Each horse is saddled and ready to ride. Kallum’s horse is brown with cream-colored spots, and has a black mane and tail. Aarni’s horse has a very dark brown coat, and a white-blonde mane and tail. A masked attendant is there to help the contestants onto the horse, but leaves as soon as the contestants are ready. Naiyta’s voice sounded over the crowd and the arena: “Welcome, contestants, to the first of many fights within this tournament. This match is between Aarni Amosyauro Repo, representing the Bird team, and Kallum Hugoyauro Byrd, representing the Snake team.” “The goal of this match is to retrieve the relic in the bower at the center of the arena. The first to place a hand on this relic, or the first to knock their opponent unconscious, will be deemed the victor. The loser will be put to death. Good luck to both competitors, and may the spoils of war go to the rightful victor.”

This arena is divided into THREE PARTS. You must reach the final area to retrieve the relic and claim victory. 

To pass through the first 2 parts, you must accumulate 30 points in each area. You gain by hitting targets, which cause the brambles to recede and an accessible path to form. You must also accumulate 30 points in the final section to reveal the relic. You must indicate which level target you intend to hit before making your attack roll.

Easy/Large targets reward 3 points each and have a dc of 5 to hit
Intermediate/Medium targets reward 5 points each and have a dc of 10 to hit 
Hard/Small targets reward 10 points each and have a dc of 15 to hit 

Every 2 turns, you must roll animal handling (wisdom) to stay in control of your steed. If you fail this roll, you’ll take environmental damage from the brambles (d5). A critical animal handling failure will result in you falling off your horse. If you stay off your horse, you’ll take environmental damage every turn. 

Once both contestants are in the second area, they can attack each other with ranged attacks. Only once both contestants are in the third area can they attack each other with melee attacks. The horses cannot take damage and are immortal.

(edited)

modifiers Aarni Attack: 0 Defense: 0 Initiative: -2 Stength: 1 Dexterity: 0 Constitution: 0 Intelligence: 1 Wisdom: 1 (+4 for horse) Charisma: 0 Magic: 0 Divine Intuition: 0 KALLUM Attack: +4 Defense: -2 Initiative: 0 Strength: +4 Dexterity: -2 Constitution: +1 Intelligence: 0 Wisdom: -3 Charisma: -3 Magic: +2 Divine Intuition: 0 HP & POINTS Kallum: 1 hp, 20 points area 3 Aarni: 10 hp, 0 points area 3 (edited)

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs pinned a message to this channel. 7/5/2024 12:10 PM

Aarni was on the verge of hyperventilating, and too focused on Naiyta's words, especially the "put to death" part, to even notice the horse at first (very uncharacteristic for him. He scanned the area, taking deep breaths, and when his eyes finally fell on the mare, he froze. It wasn't possible. No, he was hallucinating. Or she was his angel to welcome him to afterlife. He gasped, and cried out with a shaky voice: "Firefly?! The mare immediately lifted her head and let out a long whinny, pulling against the attendant's hold. (edited)

Kallum let Naiyta's words wash over him. He wouldn't die. No. He would win, any means possibly. Hearing their words, he nodded to himself - yes, he could knock him unconscious. Physically. And after what had been said to him. Yes. Then- the horse. What. Why was there a horse.

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 @Twig | Seki / Aarni initiative please

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 13
Details:[d20 (13)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 20
Details:[d20 (20)]

(KALLUM YOUR GOOD ROLLS)

(which size target do u wanna hit @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

(i'm gonna go medium for now

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 16
Details:[d20+4 (12)]

kallum 5 points 25 hp

12:22 PM

@Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kallum brought his hands together and thought of all the lies he'd been told. How people claimed to know him. How people claimed that orders weren't worth listening to. Dmitri. A blast of fire burst from his hands, slamming into one of the medium targets.

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 1
Details:[d20 (1)]

aarni 0 points :( 20 hp (edited)

12:25 PM

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 turn

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 5
Details:[d5 (5)]

Aarni ran to the horse and scooped her neck into a hug, nearly in tears. "Mitä hittoa sie täällä teet, tyttö?" he mumbled softly and shakily. The mare nickered. Its neck was warm, but something felt off. Aarni couldn't feel the warmth of her heart, he couldn't understand her like he normally did. He slowly pulled away from her. "Ethän sie ookkaan Fyffe..." he breathed, brows knitting together, as he looked at the mare. The horse looked back at him serenely with dark, empty eyes, and shook her mane. Aarni trembled and clenched his jaw. His heart was beating furiously. He felt sick. "What the fuck..." he hissed, maybe to the horse, maybe to the attendant, maybe to Naiyta, or Albanes... maybe to nobody. He huffily hoisted himself on Not Firefly, and took the reins. At least this was familiar enough. As he readied his powers to hit one of the targets, a searing pain shot up his left arm, causing him to almost fall of his steed. He gasped a ragged breath, and gripped onto the flaxen mane, clinking onto the mare's neck, doubling over. What the fuck? [What the heck are you doing here, girl? -- You aren't her after all...] (edited)

(kallum's going for the hard target let's go gay boy)

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 7
Details:[d20+4 (3)]

(gay boy why)

miss :(

12:39 PM

@Twig | Seki / Aarni @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 wis check

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 9
Details:[d20-3 (12)]

(oh kallum buddy)

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 0
Details:[/d20+4 ()]

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 16
Details:[d20+4 (12)]

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 20
Details:[d20 (20)]

1

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

12:40 PM

def

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 7
Details:[d20-2 (9)]

d5 pls

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 2
Details:[d5 (2)]

23 hp kallum

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 1
Details:[d20 (1)]

oh no

12:42 PM

d5 damage

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 2
Details:[d5 (2)]

Kallum hated this fuckass horse.

2

Aarni tried to straighten up and aim at the target, but the same thing happened again, not as painful, but it reached up to his armpit now. He trembled and wheezed, terrified. At least his horse was standing still nicely.

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

(hit hard target

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 16
Details:[d20+4 (12)]

(GO GAY BOY GO)

15 points for kallum!

He'd failed earlier- he wasn't failing again. He yelled as fire erupted from his fingertips and slammed into the target he was supposed to hit before- before this stupid horse.

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 2
Details:[d20 (2)]

aarni :(

Why weren't his powers working???

(hard target hard target i'm setting you up for failure kallum)

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 16
Details:[d20+4 (12)]

(OH MY GOD)

25 points for kallum!

The embers of the last blast of fire grew again and struck the next target with the same rage.

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 20
Details:[d20 (20)]

10 points aarni!

He focused, he gritted his teeth. He needed this to work. And finally, his eyes glowed, his hair bristled and washed out into glowing white and waves of green, cyan and magenta. Green wisps poured out of his eyes, nose, and from between his gritted teeth, and flame of cold, pale green and cyan hit the target with a hiss.

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 @Twig | Seki / Aarni more animal handling

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 22
Details:[d20+4 (18)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 0
Details:[d20-3 (3)]

(KALLUM

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 13
Details:[d20 (13)]

(instant die)

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 9
Details:[d20-2 (11)]

d5 please

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 4
Details:[d5 (4)]

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 turn

(medium target time cmon idiot

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 9
Details:[d20+4 (5)]

kallum miss :(

Perhaps he lost sight as the fire soared past the target. He blamed the horse.

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 3
Details:[d20 (3)]

aarni :(

He tried, but the flames seemed almost to be mocking him, dancing around him and the horse, not going where he wanted them to.

(medium target let's go

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 13
Details:[d20+4 (9)]

wooo! 30 points, he is in area 2

Smacked that target. He puffed up his chest with unearned pride.

The second area is almost identical to the first

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 2
Details:[d20 (2)]

aarni oh my god :(

No... the flames flickered out.

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 @Twig | Seki / Aarni

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 4
Details:[d20-3 (7)]

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 12
Details:[d20+4 (8)]

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 3
Details:[d20 (3)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 2
Details:[d20-2 (4)]

(BELIEVE IN ME)

KJSAHDGKJSD

1:02 PM

D5

(AND IN KALLUM'S FAILURE)

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 4
Details:[d5 (4)]

that horse REALLY hates kallum

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 10
Details:[d20 (10)]

5 points for aarni!

He did it! :D

(hard target cmon guy

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 8
Details:[d20+4 (4)]

miss :(

(

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 14
Details:[d20+4 (10)]

(yeah

miss :(

Two failures in a row. Stupid horse.

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 6
Details:[d20 (6)]

yeah

1:05 PM

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 @Twig | Seki / Aarni

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 4
Details:[d20-3 (7)]

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 19
Details:[d20+4 (15)]

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 7
Details:[d20 (7)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 0
Details:[d20-2 (2)]

(KALLUM

1:06 PM

(PLEASE)

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 4
Details:[d5 (4)]

kallum turn

(hard target cmon kallum)

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 9
Details:[d20+4 (5)]

(please

miss :(

1:07 PM

ouch

Horse fault.

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 7
Details:[d20 (7)]

aarni miss :(

These fuckass powers

(HARD. LET'S GO GAMBLING

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 12
Details:[d20+4 (8)]

(AW DAMN IT

miss

Kallum hates this horse.

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 10
Details:[d20 (10)]

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 @Twig | Seki / Aarni

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 2
Details:[d20-3 (5)]

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 24
Details:[d20+4 (20)]

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 12
Details:[d20 (12)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 2
Details:[d20-2 (4)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 4
Details:[d5 (4)]

7 hp kallum

(hard target. explodes

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 21
Details:[d20+4 (17)]

FINALLY.

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 9
Details:[d20 (9)]

:(

(HARD!!!

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 16
Details:[d20+4 (12)]

20 points!

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 9
Details:[d20 (9)]

HOW

1:15 PM

how do you keep rolling nines

1:16 PM

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 @Twig | Seki / Aarni animal handling

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 13
Details:[d20-3 (16)]

yay!

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 18
Details:[d20+4 (14)]

pass for both!

1:16 PM

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

(cmon hard target you have nothing to lose)

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 12
Details:[d20+4 (8)]

miss :(

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 11
Details:[d20 (11)]

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 kallum turn

hard.

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 10
Details:[d20+4 (6)]

miss :(

Kallum was a disappointment.

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 14
Details:[d20 (14)]

Aarni is at area 2! Kallum and Aarni can see each other through the trees

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 5
Details:[d20+4 (1)]

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 1
Details:[d5 (1)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 6
Details:[d20-3 (9)]

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 14
Details:[d20 (14)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 18
Details:[d20-2 (20)]

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 8
Details:[d20 (8)]

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 3
Details:[d5 (3)]

ouch!

Aarni saw Kallum, got scared and drove his horse too close to a tree and got his leg twisted between it and horse :( (edited)

kallum turn @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

HARD TARGET KALLUM

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 18
Details:[d20+4 (14)]

30 points kallum! Kallum enters the final area

1:23 PM

The final area is an open bower. At the center of the clearing is a stone plinth, covered completely in brambles. There are more wooden targets here, too.

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 16
Details:[d20 (16)]

5 points!

1:26 PM

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 kallum turn

hard. bitch (directed at kallum)

1

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 10
Details:[d20+4 (6)]

miss :(

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 19
Details:[d20 (19)]

10 points aarni!

1:28 PM

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 @Twig | Seki / Aarni wis rolls please

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 16
Details:[d20+4 (12)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 8
Details:[d20-3 (11)]

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 1
Details:[d20 (1)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 14
Details:[d20-2 (16)]

yayyy everyone lives

1:29 PM

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 kallum turn

hard babey

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 9
Details:[d20+4 (5)]

kallum miss :(

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 4
Details:[d20 (4)]

aarni miss :(

HARD!!

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 20
Details:[d20+4 (16)]

10 points for kallum!

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 5
Details:[d20 (5)]

:(

1:32 PM

horse roll time @Twig | Seki / Aarni @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 8
Details:[d20+4 (4)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 2
Details:[d20-3 (5)]

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 13
Details:[d20 (13)]

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 3
Details:[d20 (3)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 12
Details:[d20-2 (14)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 1
Details:[d5 (1)]

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 4
Details:[d5 (4)]

Fake Firefly stared at Kallum and his flames, and the way his horse was squirming and bucking, and bucked herself as well. "Ack! Easy, girl..!" Aarni huffed. Crap crap crap... this was not going well. His powers were still unruly, and his right leg and left arm hurt.

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 kallum turn

hard.

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 6
Details:[d20+4 (2)]

miss :(

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 12
Details:[d20 (12)]

15 points!

1:37 PM

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 turn

hard time

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 19
Details:[d20+4 (15)]

20 points kallum

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 9
Details:[d20 (9)]

aarni miss :(

1:38 PM

horse roll @soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 @Twig | Seki / Aarni

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 10
Details:[d20-3 (13)]

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 10
Details:[d20+4 (6)]

both pass!

1:38 PM

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 turn

HARD

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 13
Details:[d20+4 (9)]

miss

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 18
Details:[d20 (18)]

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 turn

y'all know. hard

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 5
Details:[d20+4 (1)]

d5 damage

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 5
Details:[d5 (5)]

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 13
Details:[d20 (13)]

25 points!

1:42 PM

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 5
Details:[d20+4 (1)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 8
Details:[d20-3 (11)]

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 5
Details:[d5 (5)]

aarni 5 hp

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

used /r

# 2
Details:[d20 (2)]

@soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭 @Twig | Seki / Aarni def

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 4
Details:[d20-2 (6)]

Aarni saw how Kallum's horse brutally abused him, got scared and got his leg pinned again. Ow!

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 16
Details:[d20 (16)]

Twig | Seki / Aarni

used /r

# 14
Details:[d20 (14)]

soul | kallum 🔥 + peregrine 🎭

used /r

# 15
Details:[d20+4 (11)]

ye

30 points kallum

1:45 PM

kallum victory!

Kallum got the relic. It didn't hit immediately. It creeped in slowly, like winter air freezing through his flesh, slowly, into his bones, into his heart. He slowed down the horse, and let it walk closer to where Kallum was. It didn't matter if Kallum would beat him up. He was dead anyway. Dead. He slipped down from the saddle, and stood next to the horse. Soulles, fake horse. Not Firefly. It still gave him some comfort to stand there, holding his hand on the warm, fuzzy neck.

As Kallum hit the final target, the brambles around the plinth pulled back, revealing a small clay basin. Naiyta stepped out from the shadowy forest, and picked up the basin, which they handed to Kallum. "Victory to Kallum! The Snakes will feast tonight!" They paused for a moment, before turning to Aarni. "Goodnight." It said, and placed its hand upon his forehead. The minute Naiyta's skin made contact with Aarni's, Aarni would feel his heart stop- the sensation lasting only a moment, before his brain shut completely off.

innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs pinned a message to this channel. 7/5/2024 1:54 PM

Kallum glared as Aarni approached. "You don't know me. Otherwise you would have known you couldn't win." He took the basin, holding it very awkwardly. But it was from Naiyta. He had to take it. And then he watched Aarni die. His eyes widened- he stepped back- afraid- not afraid. He looked away. He won. He always won.

Aarni didn't reply to Kallum. He stood still with glassy eyes, idly petting the horse and trembling. When Nayita came close, he stared at them with eyes wide open, his trembling getting worse, and ever worse as its hand reached to touch his pale, cold forehead. And then he was gone. Funny. His heart stopping was almost a familiar feeling. Maybe a hot guy would fish him up from the waves again....