[Solo Jacior] Academy of Secrets [PF]

[Cowpies77]

Each year, as spring turns to summer, the Acadamae of Korvosa holds the Breaching Festival: a carnival-like day on which a dozen hopefuls try to enter the famed magical university’s Hall of Wards by whatever means they can, and in doing so earn extravagant wealth, magical might, and the praise and admiration of an entire city. Yet no one has emerged victorious from the Breaching in over a century and a half, and a great many contestants have gone missing entirely after bypassing the school’s defenses. This year, the Acadamae’s headmaster has invited non-student adventurers to participate in the contest as well. Is it possible that they will uncover the secrets of the Breaching’s long stretch of years without a victor? Or will they simply fall victim to the Acadamae’s unseen guardians?  

[Cowpies77]

This is a solo game for Jacior.
Jacior's character: Alexander Cross, a Verdant Assimar Sorcerer.

Jacior has selected (level 13 versions) Merz Arkos and Kuroto as Alexander's traveling companions.

Kuroto - A massive, muscle-bound cleric from the elusive race of mountain dwelling nomads known as Goliaths. Kuroto stayed behind due to encountering an injured adventurer that needed help, and so accompanied her to the lowlands. He is looking to put his considerable strength to help lowlanders as he waits for his tribe to make another pass around this region.
Merz - Crowned prince of the Orcish nation of Arkosia, Strong, prideful and independent, he trains himself by adventuring alone to test his limits in the extremes of nature. He's a Ranger that trains himself with his ancestral weapon, the Orc Double Axe.  

[Cowpies77]

Part One: An Unexpected Invitation

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The rosy fingers of the dawn begin to creep over the sky as Alexander wakes up. He had to admit as he rose from his bed and saw an attendant standing by dutifully that managing to befriend Merz, while he disliked the simple-minded and often brutish methods he preferred, had certain perks.

One of which was being able to occasionally skip crashing at an inn or tavern full of drunken, rowdy vagabonds and onlookers, and instead got to stay at one of the Arkos family's foreign estates. It always struck Alexander odd that Merz considered these sorts of places "quaint" and occasionally complained of them being tiny (a complaint that Kuroto often echoed, although the Goliath was a full foot and a half taller than the half-orc, to be fair) when compared to his home. Even though the tiny, quaint residence is a thirty bedroom mansion, with a large estate grounds housing a barracks, stables, training field and smithy, and could probably overpower Korvosa's red-cloaked City Guardsmen if they tried.

As Alexander got dressed with the help of the attendant, he vaguely wondered what the famed "Homas en vec Arkos" looked like. His gaze wandered to the attendant walking behind him as Alexander was heading to the dining room, and thought about asking him before realizing that he probably hadn't seen it either. If rumors and hearsay was to be believed, the capital city of Arkosia was crafted around a giant castle that could be seen for dozens of miles, and had been mobilized during several wars for terrifying effects, earning it the nickname "Crisis Fortress" from the Elven and Dwarven survivors.

A loud, dull thud can be heard coming from the dining room, along with cry of anger and anguish accompanying it a second later from Merz. Alarmed, Alexander moves forward and opens the doors to see Merz and Kuroto sitting at one corner of a long table. Merz was standing up and shaking his arm a bit, saying "That's luck, dammit! LUCK!"

"I'm pretty sure it's physics." Kuroto said, sipping at a cup of hot something and going back to reading a book.

"Bull. s**t. We're going again!" Merz says, sitting down and holding up his arm again for arm wrestling.

"I really don't know why this is a big deal for you. I've got like, 200 pounds on you in muscle, and we all kinda know that my entire tribe is built for entirely physical things..."

Merz sits there with his arm raised on the table, staring intently at the Goliath. Alexander relaxes again as he realizes that it's just their normal daily routine of Merz attempting to better the Goliath at physical prowess. Kuroto just sighs as he locks in hands with Merz, and they both begin straining.

Rolling his eyes, Alexander goes to sit down and enjoy his breakfast of a chopped beef steak and large cheese curds served on flatbread, with roasted diced potatoes, red peppers, a quarter of a melon and several poached goose eggs. Alexander entertained himself with watching Merz strain as Kuroto slowly pushed his hand down to the table. It was slightly amusing to see the veins pop out in his neck and head sometimes.

Kuroto, going back to his book, says "So, why are we in Korsova again...? I thought you hated being in cities."

"I do, but they have the Breaching Festival coming up. My brother and I always had a good time laughing at 'the braaave and adventurous' idiots that line up to throw themselves at it. It's been a few years, and I heard that still no one has had the balls to get past it."

"Maybe you should hire them to do security for you."

"Feh. There's a difference between having a school do it, and having an entire nation at your disposal. I would love to see someone try to rob my home. Literally everything in there is designed to kill intruders, including the grass." Alexander raises an eyebrow, and Merz just gives an assuring nod.

A guard enters into the doorway, and nodding to Merz says "Sir, we have a visitor at the gate. She bearing House Orlenos colors and insignias, and wishes to meet with you and your two companions."

Merz looks at Kuroto, then to Alexander, and then gives a shrug. "Sure. Let her into the antechamber, I suppose." The guard nods and promptly leaves. "Any idea what this is about? You didn't sleep around, did you?"

"THAT's your go-to thought?"

"If you met my little brother, it would be a lot more reasonable. Trust me."  

[Jacior]

Alexander climbs to his feet, the wings sprouting from his back ringing as the metallic feathers rustle and brush against each other. "I will admit that that was not the first thought I had upon hearing of a guest." He says, the first thing he had actually said since waking up. "But it was the second. Now answer the question." The antics of Merz and Kuroto were always a welcome sight, though silly at the best of times. He stretches and cracks his back, before smoothing his clothes. "As much I enjoy staying here, I think I much prefer sleeping outside. Do you mind if I sleep in the garden tonight?" Alexander was only half joking, really preferring the outdoors to being inside.

"Let's not leave the lady waiting to speak with us. I'm sure every moment we delay is one she'll regret not spending in our oh so delightful company." Alexander grins as the two that dwarfed him immensely. "Just... try to keep the acts of machismo to a minimum. You don't want her scared off before she has a chance to tell us why she's here."  

[Cowpies77]

Waiting as Alexander as finishes his breakfast, Merz says "It's only an act if I'm not actually manly. Like if I were some sort of tiny, scrawny winged spellcaster that looks like an honest day's work would kill him before lunch." Laughing a bit, Merz adds on "Hypothetically speaking, of course."

A few tens of minutes later, Merz leads Kuroto and Alexander to the antechamber, where a pair of Arkos guards flank the (comparatively tiny) human messenger, who is dressed in immaculate uniform and bearing the seal of House Orlenos, was standing rather uncomfortably in their suspicious gaze. Fumbling a bit with a pouch, she draws out three sealed envelopes, and says "Greetings, sirs. I have come here from orders of the Acadamae's Headmaster, Toff Orlenos, to deliver some invitations to participate in the annual Breaching Festival, and also wishes to speak with you three on the school grounds immediately. I have a carriage waiting, but uh..." Hesitating as she looks that the glowering guards on either side of her, says "I'm not sure you all would need it."

The three heroes open up and review the contents of the letters, Toff’s invitation not only offers (among other things) a chance to not only take part in one of Varisia’s most talked-about yearly events, but also a chance to attend as this year’s special guests of honor. The only catch is that the festival itself is scheduled to begin tomorrow—the invitation apologizes for the lateness, but promises that you will be well paid for their time even if they don’t wish to take part in the Breaching Festival itself (although Toff writes in that he hopes that you all will).

Alexander thinks about the the Breaching Festival's main attraction and recalls that not only is it supposed to be a great honor to participate in (as they restrict their invitations to only well-known adventurers), but that they increase the Grand Prize every year that it goes unclaimed. It now sits at a nice 153,000 gold.

Merz says "Well, it'd be at least fair to hear what all the rumblings are about. I guess we'll come. At the very least, I should show your city how to properly breech a school. It's not like it can be worse than laying siege to the Fortress of Tronticar. Again."

"Is that what happened to it? I wondered what happened to the Castle of the Cyclops. One year, my tribe passed near it. The next time around, it's a smouldering ruin. Also, I'm admittedly not very familiar with the finer points of smooth-skin cultures, but I thought that the Dean of Abjuration is in charge of inviting people to participate. It's pretty odd to get one from the Headmaster, isn't it?"

The Courier just shrugs as she's escorted off the grounds by Merz and his guards, and into the carriage. The group ride for about an hour and a half into the city, with Merz leaving his guards to deal with the finer points of their invites with the Campus Security. Toff’s office in Orlenos Hall is an austere, well-organized chamber with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a large
oaken desk. The wizened headmaster stands to welcome his guests, his long beard wagging slightly as he moves to shake their hands.

Once the (many) escorts have left the room and the characters are seated comfortably, Toff speaks.

“Welcome, and thank you for answering my invitation!

As I’m sure you well know, the Breaching Festival is a longstanding Acadamae tradition, with prizes both material and magical. You might also know that entry in the contest is traditionally reserved for only the best and bravest of our students and a select few representatives of other Korvosan institutions. This year, though, we’re changing tradition and expanding the invitations further than ever—we want the most powerful, qualified individuals to compete, in other words.
It has been a century and a half since the last ...the only... winner of the Breaching Festival won the prize! One of you surely must bring glory to yourself and the Acadamae by enduring the traps and tricks in the Hall of Wards.

I’m even willing to bend the rules to allow a team of allied competitors like yourselves to cooperate as a single unit — whatever it takes to get a winner tomorrow. Now, I'm sure you must have some questions, and I'm more than willing to answer any questions or address any concerns you might have.”  

[Jacior]

"We could hardly refuse an invitation from the Headmaster of the Acadamae, it's an honor to be here." Alexander says looking around the room, more wishing he could enjoy the sun of the day. "I do have a few questions, the first being why has no one has won? Is it really so difficult a challenge that you have to invite those completely out of the ordinary?" It was no small event, the Festival. Alexander had attended many times in his life and even going on almost 2 centuries without a victor, it was an event to behold.

"What are the chances we're actually going to die during this? I like gold as much as the next person, but I'm not sure I'm willing to put myself at so much risk when people have disappeared."  

[Cowpies77]

Jacior

"I do have a few questions, the first being why has no one has won? Is it really so difficult a challenge that you have to invite those completely out of the ordinary?"

"It's not that no one has ever won. It's just... well, with last year marking the 150th failure for breaching the Hall of Wards, and this school's reputation for turning out the greatest mages in the kingdom, it's a little embarrassing. 150 years is simply absurdly long for a winning streak."
Kuroto coughs and says "And?"
"And...?"
Kuroto looms over the old man and says in a deeper, more commanding voice "And?"
The Headmaster sighs a bit, before adding quietly "I want to see at least one successful festival while there's still life rattling around in these bones of mine. Is that too much to sodding ask for?"

Jacior

"What are the chances we're actually going to die during this? I like gold as much as the next person, but I'm not sure I'm willing to put myself at so much risk when people have disappeared."

"Well, you have to keep in mind that this is a challenge that was issued by the Headmaster from over two hundred years ago: that the Hall of Wards cannot be broken into. And so the original contest was started up as a basic deal: Get in and claim the riches we've staked and claim the honor of our illustrious school, or die trying. Sadly, the latter half of that option has proven to be the option nearly everyone ends up with. The challenge -and the danger- are all very present and real. That's the point of the entire challenge, but also why it's so exciting for onlookers. I mean, if all the traps did what throw fluffy pillows at you or such, it defeats the entire purpose. "  

[Jacior]

"That's certainly true, I've lived a long time and I've never heard of anyone winning." Alexander puts his hand on Kuroto's arm. "Relax big guy." He relaxes a little more in his seat, as much as he could really. "It is a lot of gold... Hmmm, I'm not sure. What do you two think?" He had little doubt to the opinion of his two companions would possess, he was just curious as to what their input would be.  

[Cowpies77]

Jacior

"That's certainly true, I've lived a long time and I've never heard of anyone winning."

Headmaster Orlenos clears his throat a little and says "Back in 4551, a man named Dyson Fordyce, the only winner to date, managed to step into the Hall of Wards and just as quickly step back out, winning on a technicality.
Since then, the Breaching Festival has required entry into the Hall of Wards by one door and exit from one on the opposite side of the building."

Jacior

"Relax big guy."

Kuroto folds up his arms and says "Please do not ask me to calm down. I don't like it when people hide information from me, Alexander. We Goliaths do not keep secrets from each other. We believe that nothing good ever comes from deception or half-truths. Knowing that you have done wrong should be enough of a reason to shame one from doing it in the first place."

Jacior

"It is a lot of gold... Hmmm, I'm not sure. What do you two think?"

"We Goliaths... our competitions and games... they're based on survival. This is merely like being back home, except with spectators. I care little for money, but I would compete for the pride of my people. To show you lowlanders the strength we draw from our bodies, the focus of our minds. I would compete to inspire the younglings, and show them that nothing is impossible. That even the might of this place can no more likely stop the progress of the dawn than they can stop the spirit of the willing and able."

Merz nods, saying "If you are worried, I will hold your tiny little hands, Alexander. Easy living has made these people soft in the body, soft in the mind." Raising up his hand, he slowly tightens it into a fist while he talks, saying "The people here of this school believe that they have studied every angle, and can control every outcome. They might as well try to hold back the wind itself. For the glory and honor of the Arkosian bloodline, I promise you that I shall tear down the flimsy barricades your mages put up and show you that a weak spirit and mind makes it's home in a weak body! I just want to say this to start: I'm pretty strong. If we're to operate as a team, then I can promise you I shall lead us to victory, Headmaster."

Waving his hand dismissively, he adds "Besides, my family's honor demands that I meet challenges to our integrity and honor with resolve and fortitude. You issued my house a challenge, and I am honor-bound to accept. I'd believe that if I challenged your line, you'd do the same. My family did not take the burden of leadership from our peers and command their respect by cowardice and hesitation."  

[Jacior]

"So no one's actually ever won. And no, I do not count a technicality as an actual win." Alexander said slightly irritated with his companions. "So all that gold is just sitting and waiting there for 200 years, wow." He climbs to his feet and stretches his wings, expanding them out to there full, nearly 20 foot span.

"I do not fear death. I have watched my friends and family grow up around me and die already. I have already come to terms with that particular subject. That does not mean I wish to rush blindly into it to prove my worth to people who will die long before I plan to Merz!" Alexander doesn't talk with his hands so much as his wings ruffle and wave. He splays out his wings again and brings himself to his full height, still much shorter than either of the two he'd come with. "And stop calling me small or dainty or weak. I'm fully aware I don't possess the physical prowess you do. That does not mean I won't fully engage my skillset in the coming trials." He pulls his wings in tight and turns towards the headmaster. "We obviously will accept. Despite what protests I might have made, I am clearly outvoted."  

[Cowpies77]

Jacior

"So no one's actually ever won. And no, I do not count a technicality as an actual win. So all that gold is just sitting and waiting there for 200 years, wow."

Headmaster Toff clears his throat, saying "It's officially a win, whether or not you'd choose to accept it. The Acadamae recognized it as a win, and since we're the ones that run it... well..." He just lets his point trail off a bit, assuming that everyone kinda gets the gist of it.

Jacior

"And stop calling me small or dainty or weak. I'm fully aware I don't possess the physical prowess you do. That does not mean I won't fully engage my skillset in the coming trials."

Kuroto says "Easy now, my Kur'go (friend). Relax~ You know he doesn't mean to offend."
Merz snorts a bit as he turns to look at some of the various baubles around the room. Not actually moving to approach anything, just keeping a general look around as he says "I expect you to perform as you always do in times of need. If I didn't think you could make the cut, I wouldn't spend the time to keep you around. But when we're in sync, we become stronger than our parts. And that's something I can appreciate, despite your physical short-comings or my magical ones."
Turning to the Headmaster, Kuroto says "I'm not entirely sure where that would put me... I'd like to think I have a good bal-"
"Shut up. I want another rematch tonight."

Jacior

"We obviously will accept. Despite what protests I might have made, I am clearly outvoted."

Merz furrows a brow and says "If you object, feel free to back out. I'll compete with Kuroto and you can watch us from the stands or something. Like I said: I'm pretty strong." Turning to face Alexander, the half-orc prince says "You should want to join because you want to. Your reasons for fighting may be your own. If we die though, I don't want to hear your complaints about blaming us for roping you in or something."

Toff Orlenos sits awkwardly as the exchange is going on, then clears his throat again. "I would like to remind you, it's not compulsory to show up, even if you accept, and this isn't an All-or-Nothing sort of invitation. Please, if you'd like some time to think about it, feel free to take a walk or something. I can call a senior student to be a guide if you'd like to look around the facilities a little. The various halls are closed today for obvious reasons, but there are still other places you can spend time at here. The Halls of Crafting, the dorms, the school grounds... oh, and of course, Orlenos Hall here are all open for you.

I'll just mark you down as a yes, but just know that it's not uncommon for some contestants to withdraw themselves from the competition for a whole host of reasons, from a patron threatening political reprisals, to the far more common case of some contestants quietly admitting that they don't have the mettle to compete with these sorts of stakes. It's perfectly reasonable, and no one would think any less of you for it, Mr. Cross."

"Well, I might. But that's because I have high expectations for him." Merz retorts, his gaze again wandering around the room.
"Hey, is that a first edition of Karikawa's '37 Precepts of War and Peace'? My best friend had to buy two copies of that scroll because he spent so much time reading one that it wore out as he kept unrolling and rolling it..."

Ringing a small bell, Toff says "You're familiar with Tian scholars?"

"It's on the required reading list for all officers in our army. Everyone needs to commit them to memory and be able to recall them at a moment's notice."

"So you would know number... thirteen then?"

"A soldier who treats his horse poorly will go to battle with an enemy between his legs."

Toff looks pleasantly surprised by the ranger (who appears to have made himself far too comfortable in his chair, with one leg over an armrest, dangling idly) and begins to say "How about number thirty-?" when he's interrupted by the door opening up.

A tall, lanky (and a little too skinny, if Alexander is being honest. Eat a sandwich once in a while, man...) human man in school graduate robes appears. "Good day, headmaster. You rang?"

"Ah, everyone, please meet Jandar Lilswin. He's an assistant of mine, and a recent graduate as well. He'll be your guide. He knows as much as anyone else about the Breaching Fesitval, as he was one of the students that helped with it... two years ago?"

"Three, sir. It was part of my practicals." the wizard says, with a small bow.

"Yes, quite right. Anyway, so if you'd like to go anywhere or have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask Jandar."

Jandar helps usher the party out of Toff's office and down the hallway. Merz notes idly that he's hungry, and Alexander realizes that the trip here must've taken longer than he expected, as it's already midday. Getting down to the end of the hall, Jandar turns around and says "So, I assume you must have questions about this place or about the festival that went un...asked..." He stops and looks around, appearing flustered.

"What now?"

"Weren't there three of you?"

Alexander and Merz look at each other, then over their shoulder and note the large, empty space behind them, and the many open windows.

"I thought he was being quiet. Well played on him for stepping out of a third-story window though. I'm sure he'll be fine. And if not, he can deal with the consequences. It's not like no one's going to miss an 8 foot tall guy in plate armor in a wizarding school."

"Unless you're losing him?"

Merz doesn't turn to look at Jandar, but just says "I know ways to hide your corpse so that no one will find you. Even in a magic school, chicken little."  

[Jacior]

Alexander just shrugs. "I will participate. Though I feel my reasons are less clear-cut than most." He follows Jandar out of the room quietly at that point. "What can you tell us about the actual challenge. Anything is better than walking in blind." He doesn't ruffle his feathers at the sudden knowledge that Kuroto is gone. "He certainly can take care of himself. I would count more capable than either Merz or myself on our own."  

[Cowpies77]

Jacior

"What can you tell us about the actual challenge. Anything is better than walking in blind."

Shrinking a bit under the ranger's angry stare, Jandar gulps a bit and attempts to get his mind back on track.
"W-well, a-as you know... the Breaching Festival grew out of the Hall of Wards’ claim that their traps and defenses were so great that no thief could breach them. Needless to say, the dangers you contestants face are real and lethal. Each year, our dean of the Hall of Wards, Wards-Master Cangi, goes and handpicks talented spellcasters, most of which are either graduates or students in their final year of studies, like I was. Together, they craft a new series of traps and dangers.

No one else knows what these wards are until the festival is actually underway, because Master Cangi keeps it all pretty closely guarded. Even the Headmaster doesn't get told what's going to be used."

Thinking for a moment, he says "This is probably why, actually. But if it's anything like the previous years' Festivals? Normally each department has a theme that ties into the school. But most can be relied on for summoning monsters or putting up a magical glyph of sorts."

Heading outside, Jandar leads the two adventurers to the dorm kitchens, where Alexander and Merz grab some food. After around half an hour, one of the other students sticks his head in excitedly and shouts out "Jandar! Someone apparently got in an argument with Evoke-Master Irevotnin!"

Jandar hurriedly rushes out with a confused Merz and Alexander following behind. Standing in front of a large building, a stern looking human is standing about 100 feet away from the massive frame of Kuroto.

"What in the blazes-"
Kuroto raises up a hand and says "It's best to let little ones vent during a tantrum."

The other human only looks more enraged and fires off a massive fireball at Kuroto. Heat from the blast passing over Alexander and Merz as they flinch a little from reflexes. As the air begins to clear from the smoke and dirt that was kicked up a second later, Kuroto is still standing and wipes a few scorch marks off his armor, and says "You said a one round duel, did you not? Feeling better now?"

The man shouts back "Fight back, dammit!"

Kuroto shrugs and says "I'd really rather not. I surrender. You win. My people don't really care for duels, but it seems to mean a lot to you." As Kuroto turns to leave, the man's face is red and Alexander and Merz can see veins throbbing, appearing even angrier. The human turns and storms back inside as the School Guards begin to make the small crowd disperse.

"...Are you alright?"
"I believe the it would not be wrong to say 'I feel like s**t', but I am quite glad I recited some protection prayers while the crowd was still gathering."
"So... why'd you leave?"
"I saw a woman in the window that appeared to be upset, and wanted to make her feel better. I think her lover was in the last Breaching Festival. Oh, also: I found out that we're not supposed to go inside of the faculty building."

"That was the Dean of Necromancy, master Orianna Delmore. And she's always been like that. I think it's because she was unsuccessful in turning herself into a lich, but decided that it was enough just to settle for 'b***h' instead."

Walking past a building, the group hears a scream and a sudden, thunderous crash coming from the other side of a closed door.

"What in the seven hells was that?" Jandar says, opening up the door to look inside, and almost immediately tripping on himself as he backs up in terror.

While the guide is attempting to crawl away on his hands and knees, the party looks inside and see a large spider-like monster the size of a bull elephant, standing over the bloody, scorched body of a young woman in student robes.

(Map and such coming in a little bit)  

[Jacior]

((Initiative: +2))

"Who on the face of the world would someone just challenge you to a duel, Kuroto?" Alexander says shaking his head. "I don't understand people as well as I think I do sometimes." He claps the giant of a man on the back. "Good on you for not stooping to his level though. Some people are just angry for no reason."

Then the sudden screaming and crash distracts from the conversation. He rushes in behing Kuroto to see the spider creature over the girl. "I thought things like this wouldn't happen. Where are the wards to stop this kind of thing?" Alexander says with some indignation. "Now someone's gotten hurt!"
He extends a finger and intones something under his breath. A thin green gray shoots fromt he tip towards the monster.

(Ranged Touch Attack: + cool )  

[Cowpies77]

Merz looks over the scene and barks "Kuroto, see if she's still alive." Drawing out his Vicious Morningstar, he roars "MONSTER! YOUR OPPONENT IS ME!"

He moves around the room, towards the monster, which the Retriver responds to by striking out by biting at the half-orc. It gets a solid chunk of shoulder, but doesn't stop Merz's movements as he brings his morningstar down, cracking the fleshy shell of the construct and sending a spray of violent energy exploding into the air. "Let me just say this to start: I'm pretty strong."
20 damage to retriever, 4 damage to Merz.

Kuroto takes the distraction to move forward, drawing his greatsword behind the Retriever and says "Well, not much choice." Closing his eyes, he focuses his power and Alexander can see his hands glow as he passes them over the woman.

(Alexander's turn here.)

The Retriever rears up on it's large hind legs, bringing in the front 4 to fight the half-orc. Merz bats away the mouth full of fangs, and two legs, but gets stabbed by the other two.
(-31 hp)
And adds in an eyeblast of fire power at the ranger, but Merz reacts with finely honed senses and, kicking a student table by the leg, makes it flick up enough that the desk explodes instead of him.
(Fire blast, 54 damage. Reflex half DC 21. Merz succeeded, And Evasion makes it for no damage.)

Merz snorts and spits out a bloody snotwad, then says "This has 'long day' written on it. It seems to heal fast."

Cocking back, Merz begins swinging away. The Retriever tries to back up, but Kuroto's in the way.

Two hits. One of which was a crit.
43 damage to the retriever. Merz takes 2 damage.
15 damage on the second hit. Merz takes 1 damage.

Kuroto, grabbing the girl and holding her close, says "Are you hurt?"
"A-a little sore..."
Smiling, the Goliath says "One moment then, miss."
Keeping her close, Kuroto spins around as the monster turns to bite the big man. Kuroto instead jams his fist it it's maw and says "Enough... BEGONE!"

Alexander can see the monster's body actually crack a bit as bright blue and white flames seep out of it. The Retriever screeches in agony as it rears up one last time before falling over into a smoldering ash pile.

Merz looks at the scene, then takes a step forward and spits on the ashes. Turning to Kuroto, he adds "It's probably better you didn't fight back against that Dean."

Still holding the girl close, Kuroto says "I had nothing to prove to him. I know what I can do, and needless displays of power seem..." Looking at the ashes, he finishes with "tiresome."

Kuroto expends a Channeling to heal everyone for 30 damage.

Kuroto offers to patch up Merz's last scratches, but Merz just waves him off, saying "A good nap is all I'll need. Besides, scars build character."