[2025/12/16 14:19] Sapphire: so, chatter more or jump into game?
[2025/12/16 14:19] Sonja Bikergrrl: into the game, we delayed you 19 minutes already
[2025/12/16 14:20] Mecha: game is good. We are watching two others go at it, correct?
[2025/12/16 14:21] Sapphire: Yes, following an improptu debate and vote (the local tradition of how wizards govern themselves), it was decided to allow Vortex and Sarah to call their round a Draw.
[2025/12/16 14:21] Sapphire: -☼- -🌓︎- -☼-
[2025/12/16 14:22] Sapphire: Oh, i was meaning to include a scene a bit earlier but due to planning it's a bit of a retroactive injection, just to before the first couple of matches if that's ok?
[2025/12/16 14:23] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me approves of this proactive retroactive permission enquiry
[2025/12/16 14:23] Sapphire: ♥
[2025/12/16 14:24] Mecha: /me nods
[2025/12/16 14:24] Sapphire: -----
[2025/12/16 14:24] Sapphire: "Alright, everyone! I have an announcement!" Garus the Primus speaks up, having levitated a stack of cloth wrapped boxes under his arm while everyone was distracted with the duels, holding the colorful boxes up.
[2025/12/16 14:24] Sapphire: "We've decided exactly which prizes are up for the young magi's tournament! This year, unlike most, there are interesting prizes for third through first place. The two losers of the semi-finals will have a duel to decide third from fourth place, very exciting. To the winner of *that* duel, will go the least of our prizes," He levitates one box while speakinng, a subtle declaration of his skill and concentration. It opens to reveal a codex of parchment bound in oak and brass, an Hourglass-and-Sun etched into the brass.
[2025/12/16 14:25] Sapphire: "A gift of knowledge from Robert Vasquez ex Flambeau, a collection of fundamental cantations and rituals that any young covenant would be pleased to start their library with." The book opens up to a page with a warding spell suitable for protecting a house or even castle, before closing back up and floating back to the box.
[2025/12/16 14:26] Sapphire: ( pauses for reactions )
[2025/12/16 14:28] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me isn't entirely sure how to react. "Woo!"?
[2025/12/16 14:28] Mecha: Sarah looks at it an nods
[2025/12/16 14:29] Mecha: To her any of the prizes are good. if they help her learn more
[2025/12/16 14:29] Sapphire: some amount of cheering picks up in support, before Garus proceeds to second and third place prices, rather more achievable for the mages who have -not- spent their last fifteen years practicing specifically in dueling.
[2025/12/16 14:29] Sapphire: "The second place prize will go to the loser of the finals duel, in recognition of the skills it takes to get that far at all." He gestures and opens the end cap of a long wooden box, sliding out a weathered looking chainmail cloak, pungent with the scent of sword oil. "Enchanted by Pila ex Flambaeu's hands some thirty years ago. The wearer will find their image shifted away from where they actually stand, the chains themselves loose enough to catch and bind a rapier." He nods to one of the older wizards, who is currently wearing a much shinyier version of the same design of chain cloak. Pila grins wide and adds, "May it keep the next generation alive as it did myself."
[2025/12/16 14:30] Sonja Bikergrrl: \woo!/
[2025/12/16 14:33] Mecha: Sarah is taking notes of each item
[2025/12/16 14:34] Sapphire: The cloak swooshes dramatically before returning to it's box.
[2025/12/16 14:34] Sapphire: "And most prestigously, a text penned by my own hand, then illuminated with figures and diagrams by the very accomodating monks to the south. *Practical Implications of the Parma Magica*." He lifts a different codex out of it's box, this one bound with shield-iron covers. "I'll refrain from talking up the contents, beyond reminding the inattentive of you that it's author has survived over thirty duels and nearly a dozen wizards wars, yet remains standing before."
[2025/12/16 14:35] Sapphire: -standing before you."
[2025/12/16 14:37] Mecha: INteresting
[2025/12/16 14:37] Sapphire: This book hovers for rather longer before being returned to it's box.
[2025/12/16 14:37] Sapphire: Pythagora applauds rather enthusastically to the promise of being able to win a text on the Parma Magica, while First Frost is stroking his chin thoughtfully, still eyeing the chain cloak.
[2025/12/16 14:37] Sapphire: Vortex comments, "It'd be lovely to read either of those books, honestly."
[2025/12/16 14:43] Sapphire: "You seemed most interested in the armor," Pythagora eventually jibes to Sera. "Worried about something?"
[2025/12/16 14:47] Mecha: I am interested in all of it. From protection to knowledge.
[2025/12/16 14:48] Sapphire: "It's almost like they're worried about us," First Frost replies wryly.
[2025/12/16 14:52] Sapphire: ( we got sonja still? )
[2025/12/16 14:52] Sonja Bikergrrl: yes?
[2025/12/16 14:52] Sapphire: ( ah, you hand't replied so was giving you time
[2025/12/16 14:53] Sonja Bikergrrl: uhm... nothing to say, per se?
[2025/12/16 14:53] Sapphire: ( and I can't know that silence is "nothing to say" or "still typing"
[2025/12/16 14:53] Sapphire: ( but in that case moving back up to the present?
[2025/12/16 14:53] Sonja Bikergrrl: yus?
[2025/12/16 14:57] Sapphire: -☼- -🌓︎- -☼-
[2025/12/16 14:57] Sapphire: Back up at the present, the duel is rotating over to Pythagora and a different wizard you have had less chance to talk with. 'Sandglass' he calls himself, one of the older mages who specializes in destruction and erosion.
[2025/12/16 14:57] Sapphire: The two of them move over to the dueling marks, Pythagora pulling out a wand with an isocolese triangle of crystal on the tip, standing in a fencing posture while Sandglass instead stands with one hand on the brim of his hat in focus.
[2025/12/16 14:58] Mecha: Sarah leans in to watch, ready to take notes
[2025/12/16 15:00] Sapphire: "Ignem", Pyra suggests, being the younger. "Veto," replies sandglass, who shrugs and declares, "Aquam."
[2025/12/16 15:02] Sapphire: "Perdo!" the older mage declares, prompting Pythagora to tilt her head in thought, and reply, "Hmmm. Veto you on that I feel." before letting Sandglass frown for a bit, her own smile creeping up, and he relents with a simple, "Muto, then."
[2025/12/16 15:03] Sapphire: They form their phantasms of the duel, in this case a battle of Muto Aquam, or transformations of liquids.
[2025/12/16 15:03] Sapphire: What are you seeking to derive from watching their duel? Or perhaps getting up to something else while people are watching?
[2025/12/16 15:04] Mecha: notes on strengths and weaknesses dueling styles. Any patterns she can discern
[2025/12/16 15:05] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me ponders stealing some of Pythags' breakfast, if that's still around. Or their booze. Or, just to see her get her ass kicked.
[2025/12/16 15:05] Sapphire: Sarah, roll Perception plus Magical theory. Sera, the breakfast is totally undefended, booze tankard seems to be empty of ale at the moment.
[2025/12/16 15:06] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me goes for the breakfast.
[2025/12/16 15:06] Sapphire: Eggs and honey toast aquired
[2025/12/16 15:06] D10: Mecha rolls 8
[2025/12/16 15:07] Mecha: 11
[2025/12/16 15:07] Mecha: And getting more breakfast as well. Gonna wind up eating these guys out of house and home
[2025/12/16 15:10] Sapphire: Serah, you get the impression that Sandglass is definately on the back foot in this fight, having been backed into his weaker arts, while Pythagora strikes you as a generalist, perfectly happy with any technique equally, and decent enough at water. Furthermore, she's very comfortable in a dueling challenge like all of her House.
[2025/12/16 15:11] Mecha: this is leading more and more into Sarahs belief that while she enjoys earth magics there needs to be more balance in her studies
[2025/12/16 15:11] Sapphire: The phantasims of magic pivot through water and oil and caustic acids and soaps, each bouncing against the others defenses, Sandglass backing up over the course of the duel, worn down slowly through each exchange.
[2025/12/16 15:12] Sapphire: Perhaps Sera and Sarah will have useful things to each other other once you have time to properly spend on such things.
[2025/12/16 15:14] Mecha: *Expletive deleted. This one forgot it was Sarah and Sera*
[2025/12/16 15:15] Sapphire: ( I've been wondering how intentional that was of you two
[2025/12/16 15:15] Sonja Bikergrrl: ....duwot?
[2025/12/16 15:15] Sapphire: ( That your names are Sera and Sarah
[2025/12/16 15:15] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me blinks
[2025/12/16 15:16] Sonja Bikergrrl: I is?
[2025/12/16 15:16] Mecha: This one thought you were just misspelling her characters name
[2025/12/16 15:16] Sapphire: Nope, your names sound like each others
[2025/12/16 15:16] Sapphire: It seemed possibly intentional
[2025/12/16 15:17] Sapphire: wait
[2025/12/16 15:17] Mecha: Not on this ones side
[2025/12/16 15:17] Sapphire: it's Syra
[2025/12/16 15:17] Sapphire: that's on me
[2025/12/16 15:17] Sonja Bikergrrl: o_o
[2025/12/16 15:17] Sapphire: Sarah and Syra
[2025/12/16 15:17] Sapphire: sorry about that
[2025/12/16 15:18] Mecha: While the next part comes up this one is going to microwave some dinner. Be right back
[2025/12/16 15:19] Sapphire: Soon enough there's a burst of mixed soap and bubbling goo that knocks Sandglass right onto his behind, breaking his concentration of the spell. Pythagora will be advancing.
[2025/12/16 15:22] Sapphire: Reactions, intentions, plans?
[2025/12/16 15:23] Sonja Bikergrrl: uhm... I nom the breakfast while there's time
[2025/12/16 15:24] Sapphire: good plan :) There's a second duel between two mages who seem... rather the youngest of anyone here and not truely in the running for victory,
[2025/12/16 15:25] Mecha: looking over noted. Nomming eggs, making a plan
[2025/12/16 15:26] Sapphire: next up would be round two between First Frost and Syra.... would you prefer that we do full detail dueling or an abbreviated best of three exchanges once you decide on your dueling art selection?
[2025/12/16 15:26] Sonja Bikergrrl: uhm... abbv.8ed
[2025/12/16 15:28] Sapphire: makes sense
[2025/12/16 15:29] Sapphire: Alright, so you and first frost head up, and with Syra having had the pick of form last time, He gets the pick this time. "Ignem," he says. "I think both of us rather favor that one."
[2025/12/16 15:30] Sapphire: "What technique would you prefer?" He asks, having spent his veto last time.
[2025/12/16 15:30] Sonja Bikergrrl: I'm veto-ing that
[2025/12/16 15:32] Sapphire: He blinks. "Amazing. Well then.... Terram instead."
[2025/12/16 15:33] Sonja Bikergrrl: so, I get to pick anything?
[2025/12/16 15:34] Sapphire: yes, which technique to pair with Terram
[2025/12/16 15:34] Sonja Bikergrrl: Ignem.
[2025/12/16 15:35] Sapphire: you...
[2025/12/16 15:35] Sonja Bikergrrl: me?
[2025/12/16 15:35] Sapphire: you just veto'd his own pick of Ignem, which is a form
[2025/12/16 15:35] Sonja Bikergrrl: so it's not a veto on -his- choice
[2025/12/16 15:36] Sonja Bikergrrl: okay, Cr
[2025/12/16 15:37] Sapphire: what were you intending to veto then?
[2025/12/16 15:37] Sonja Bikergrrl: Ignem
[2025/12/16 15:37] Sapphire: so you want the duel to be a Creo Terram duel then
[2025/12/16 15:37] Sonja Bikergrrl: let's do this
[2025/12/16 15:38] Sonja Bikergrrl: fuckers' going down
[2025/12/16 15:38] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me cracks knuckles
[2025/12/16 15:38] Sonja Bikergrrl: What's Creo...?
[2025/12/16 15:38] Sapphire: He takes up position, and forms a magical dueling phantasm of blocks of cracked stone,
[2025/12/16 15:38] Sapphire: Creo is the technique of Creation, which you're fairly decent at
[2025/12/16 15:38] Sonja Bikergrrl: creation, eh
[2025/12/16 15:39] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me is a creationist, so, that's okay
[2025/12/16 15:39] Sapphire: it's key to creating fire as well as earth
[2025/12/16 15:39] Sapphire: of course, you made this into a creating earth duel
[2025/12/16 15:39] Sapphire: alright, init roll
[2025/12/16 15:39] Sonja Bikergrrl: good to keep things grounded
[2025/12/16 15:39] D10: Sapphire rolls 3
[2025/12/16 15:39] D10: Sonja Bikergrrl rolls 3
[2025/12/16 15:40] Sapphire: ....tie, rerolling
[2025/12/16 15:40] Sonja Bikergrrl: 4?
[2025/12/16 15:40] Sapphire: he also has +1
[2025/12/16 15:40] D10: Sapphire rolls 1
[2025/12/16 15:40] D10: Sapphire rolls 2
[2025/12/16 15:40] D10: Sonja Bikergrrl rolls 3
[2025/12/16 15:40] Sonja Bikergrrl: 4.
[2025/12/16 15:40] Sapphire: he doubles his 2 into a 4, then adds 1, so he goes first....
[2025/12/16 15:40] Sonja Bikergrrl: only fair to give him a chance
[2025/12/16 15:41] Sapphire: he'll attack with his stronger terram art
[2025/12/16 15:41] D10: Sapphire rolls 10
[2025/12/16 15:41] Sapphire: botch check
[2025/12/16 15:41] D10: Sapphire rolls 1
[2025/12/16 15:41] Sapphire: so he doesn't totally whiff
[2025/12/16 15:41] Sonja Bikergrrl: yeah? Well...
[2025/12/16 15:41] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me flexes fingers
[2025/12/16 15:41] Sapphire: go ahead and roll your defense,
[2025/12/16 15:42] Sapphire: then your turn to attack
[2025/12/16 15:42] Sapphire: which art are you using for each?
[2025/12/16 15:42] Sapphire: your creo is the stronger of the two
[2025/12/16 15:42] Sonja Bikergrrl: I create a wall of slightly portly middle aged men with orange hair and great big knobbly clubs which they smack down again and again
[2025/12/16 15:42] D10: Sonja Bikergrrl rolls 7
[2025/12/16 15:42] Sapphire: and you seem like you'd rather use the bigger one on attack
[2025/12/16 15:42] Sonja Bikergrrl: 7 baby! Boo-yah!
[2025/12/16 15:43] Sapphire: presumably statues of such, given the nature of the contest
[2025/12/16 15:43] Sonja Bikergrrl: idk, they're created animated statchoos
[2025/12/16 15:44] Sapphire: ok, first exchange to Syra
[2025/12/16 15:44] Sapphire: second exchange, you roll first
[2025/12/16 15:44] Sonja Bikergrrl: does he want to give up now, or get beat down later?
[2025/12/16 15:44] D10: Sonja Bikergrrl rolls 9
[2025/12/16 15:44] Sonja Bikergrrl: beat a 9 :P
[2025/12/16 15:44] Sapphire: he's going to at least give his best
[2025/12/16 15:45] Sonja Bikergrrl: Nice knowing ya :P
[2025/12/16 15:45] Sapphire: well, if he rolls a doubling 1 into something more than 5
[2025/12/16 15:45] D10: Sapphire rolls 8
[2025/12/16 15:45] Sonja Bikergrrl: Fail.
[2025/12/16 15:45] Sapphire: and second exchange to Syra, even as he tries to conjure walls of stone to protect himself
[2025/12/16 15:46] Sapphire: he makes one more try at launching shards of stone at the statues legs to knock them over
[2025/12/16 15:46] D10: Sapphire rolls 5
[2025/12/16 15:47] Sonja Bikergrrl: The animated statchoos fling their clubs at the guy, by flinging them up high in the air so they fall down on his head one by one after another, and once the last one falls on his head, a big "FAIL" rune slams down on him with a loud clang
[2025/12/16 15:47] D10: Sonja Bikergrrl rolls 1
[2025/12/16 15:47] D10: Sonja Bikergrrl rolls 4
[2025/12/16 15:47] Sonja Bikergrrl: 8?
[2025/12/16 15:47] Sapphire: indeed, 8!
[2025/12/16 15:47] Sonja Bikergrrl: and I kicked his ass!
[2025/12/16 15:49] Sapphire: "Brutal!" He backs up when he gets smacked down that hard. "I wasn't expecting that, but very well played, Syra! It seems the better mage won."
[2025/12/16 15:49] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me is a reasonably good winner and just smiles
[2025/12/16 15:50] Sapphire: Pythagora is watching intently, bereft of breakfast, though quiet and thoughtful as the watches the rematch.
[2025/12/16 15:51] Sapphire: ( And ten mins left before Sonja pumpkins, yes? )
[2025/12/16 15:51] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me saunters past Pythagora. "Always good to watch a match with brekkie, heh heh heh."
[2025/12/16 15:51] Sonja Bikergrrl: (Nope.)
[2025/12/16 15:52] Sapphire: "I'm sure it is, one trick pony. I suppose that's inevitable given your masters proclivities, of course," she answers back, not even making eye contact.
[2025/12/16 15:53] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me arches an eyebrow. That's going to cost the little fuck.
[2025/12/16 15:53] Mecha: Sarah hears that at slides a little distance from those two
[2025/12/16 15:56] Sapphire: In her defense, Syra's master has a whole project of breeding horses that will tolerate being saddled by mages, but still it's hardly a kind thing to say.
[2025/12/16 15:57] Sonja Bikergrrl: Neigh.
[2025/12/16 15:57] Sapphire: ( :D
[2025/12/16 15:57] Sapphire: ( How much time left do we have?
[2025/12/16 15:58] Sonja Bikergrrl: Unituk I collapse drom frnkeness
[2025/12/16 15:58] Sonja Bikergrrl: fuck
[2025/12/16 15:58] Sonja Bikergrrl: until I collapse from drunkeness
[2025/12/16 15:58] Sapphire: so, momentarily?
[2025/12/16 15:58] Sonja Bikergrrl: Mecha next
[2025/12/16 15:59] Sapphire: also the abbreviated exchanges for mecha?
[2025/12/16 15:59] Mecha: /me nods
[2025/12/16 16:00] Mecha: who is Sarahs opponent?
[2025/12/16 16:00] Sapphire: Vortex again to resolve the previous draw
[2025/12/16 16:00] Sapphire: then after that, you two will be up against each other
[2025/12/16 16:00] Sapphire: and the winner of that against Pythagora
[2025/12/16 16:01] Sapphire: was generally my plan
[2025/12/16 16:01] Mecha: Sarah looks at him."Shall we?"
[2025/12/16 16:01] Sapphire: He nods, "Yeah, let's... let the best mage win!" he suggests, thinking through how the last match went.
[2025/12/16 16:02] Mecha: *Sarah picks the form again?*
[2025/12/16 16:02] Sapphire: ( Sure, that can work )
[2025/12/16 16:02] Mecha: Sarah, sighs."I know it will be vetoed but I can always try, I pick Terram
[2025/12/16 16:04] Sapphire: "We can only veto in the first or second round, so..." he's stuck with it. "Let's try...."
[2025/12/16 16:04] Sapphire: "Creo, then. I seem to recall you also used veto last time?"
[2025/12/16 16:05] Mecha: Sarah Shrugs. "We can go with that, even if I didn't."
[2025/12/16 16:06] Sapphire: "Ah yes, you're quite solid at that." He admits, squaring up, breathing deeply in and out to center himself.
[2025/12/16 16:07] Sapphire: Another Creo Terram match... roll init
[2025/12/16 16:07] D10: Sapphire rolls 3
[2025/12/16 16:08] D10: Mecha rolls 6
[2025/12/16 16:09] Sapphire: Sarah first!
[2025/12/16 16:09] Sapphire: Are you going to use your Terram for Attack or Defense?
[2025/12/16 16:10] Mecha: Attack , going to create a mole of stone to attck from below
[2025/12/16 16:11] Sapphire: he reserves his Aurum for his own attack
[2025/12/16 16:11] D10: Mecha rolls 6
[2025/12/16 16:11] D10: Sapphire rolls 7
[2025/12/16 16:11] Sonja Bikergrrl: mole mole go back to your hole!
[2025/12/16 16:11] Sapphire: he only has like a 2 in Terram though
[2025/12/16 16:12] Mecha: 6+12+3 so 21
[2025/12/16 16:12] Sapphire: so he's got like 8 to resist, and loses the exchange by a healthy margin
[2025/12/16 16:13] Sapphire: his own counter attack is going to be +12+5 from his Creo and Intellect
[2025/12/16 16:13] Sapphire: his counter attack for Exchange 2...
[2025/12/16 16:13] D10: Sapphire rolls 4
[2025/12/16 16:13] D10: Mecha rolls 4
[2025/12/16 16:13] Sapphire: what are you resisting with against his 31 or so?
[2025/12/16 16:15] Mecha: terram.*That can be done right?
[2025/12/16 16:15] Sapphire: did you attack with your Terram?
[2025/12/16 16:16] Mecha: Yes
[2025/12/16 16:16] Mecha: So have to defend with Creo?
[2025/12/16 16:16] Sapphire: that is correct
[2025/12/16 16:16] Sapphire: which is how it's a test of both arts
[2025/12/16 16:18] Sapphire: so your Creo plus your Stamina
[2025/12/16 16:18] Mecha: Okay then Creo of 8 plus 4
[2025/12/16 16:19] Sapphire: so 16, below his number
[2025/12/16 16:19] Sapphire: then things ride on the last exchange
[2025/12/16 16:21] Sapphire: ok, so he's on defense for exchange 3
[2025/12/16 16:21] D10: Sapphire rolls 6
[2025/12/16 16:21] Mecha: Gonna have the mole attack to bowl him over
[2025/12/16 16:21] D10: Mecha rolls 2
[2025/12/16 16:22] Sapphire: his defensive numbers are pretty scrawny though
[2025/12/16 16:22] Mecha: So 2+12+3+ figure strength for it to be a trip attack?
[2025/12/16 16:23] Sapphire: it'd be intellect as a magical attack
[2025/12/16 16:24] Mecha: So 2+12+3+3
[2025/12/16 16:24] Mecha: 20
[2025/12/16 16:25] Sapphire: you bowl him back wards with the mole, crashing through his moat defenses
[2025/12/16 16:29] Sapphire: "Gah!" he gasps, possibly more than a little off balance with fighting someone he fancies, but a win is a win
[2025/12/16 16:29] Mecha: Sarah brings the mole back and gives it head scritches
[2025/12/16 16:30] Sapphire: cute . :)
[2025/12/16 16:31] Sapphire: ( how people feeling? )
[2025/12/16 16:31] Sonja Bikergrrl: drunk as a skunk
[2025/12/16 16:31] Sonja Bikergrrl: call the war office, I wanna fight
[2025/12/16 16:32] Mecha: Doing okay
[2025/12/16 16:32] Sapphire: hmmmm, drunk....
[2025/12/16 16:34] Mecha: Call it there and snuggles?
[2025/12/16 16:35] Sonja Bikergrrl: yers
[2025/12/16 16:35] Sapphire: "Ah ha, very good, and congratulations to the winners of the first round!" Garus adds. "We'll break for an hour before getting to the next leg of the tournament. And at the end of the day we'll be pulling out a special event from the kitchens. The last fruitcake of the season, which has reportedly been soaking in brandy all winter."
[2025/12/16 16:35] Sonja Bikergrrl: I'll beat the ass of the next sukka
[2025/12/16 16:36] Sapphire: with luck it'll be a cute ass, even
[2025/12/16 16:36] Mecha: /me smiles
[2025/12/16 16:36] Sonja Bikergrrl: it's Mechas, so, yes.
[2025/12/16 16:37] Mecha: /me smiles again, blushing softly