[DnD] D&D Arena: The Tale of the Piano Duo, Ebony and Ivory

2 Dice Rolls Damage from jumping

Despite the kobold's loud protests, Ivory is dead set on befriending the wolf. After all, he reflects, dire wolves often hunt in the wild with longtooth shifters, and are often called upon to serve as mounts.

Shin, he has only 1 healing surge. Do you want to use it now?

Deciding to offer more substantial food to his new wolf friend, Ivory gingerly makes his way from the roof. As he has kicked away the most immediate means of support, he has no choice but to carefully jump down. The 15-foot drop is not kind to Ivory's arthritic joints.

!!%#%$^%# wrong sized die again.
Ivory takes 1d10 [19 * 10/20 = 9.5 = 9] falling damage.

Ivory leads the dire wolf towards their now-cooling boar, eliciting loud protests from Ebony. The large animal gracefully bounds down to the roast, and starts eating with gusto. It is delicious!

Taming the Wolf Skill Challenge begins now!
Requires 5 successes before 3 failures.
Primary skills: Nature is the primary skill here. You can use Athletics and Acrobatics to physically overpower the wolf as well and show it who's boss.
Other skills: You're free to use other skills if you like, as long as you can make it sound reasonable. Success might improve your chances with primary checks. Depending on how you portray it, non-primary skill checks may count as successes, but only once.
Limitations: Until Ebony succeeds on a DC20 diplomacy check, he takes a -5 penalty to all checks.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

3 Dice Rolls Nature

The old man lowered himself off the edge of the roof, before dropping gracefully to the floor. Having patched up the wolf and fed it, he tried to remember what he knew about wolves like this in an attempt to bond with the beast.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

2 Dice Rolls Diplomacy

Ivory shouldn't be trying to jump down from the roof. At his age, he'd probably break his hip or something. I try to help him best I can.

"Ey Ivory, bend your knees when you jump!"

Athletics aid to Ivory's roll

I winced as he probably didn't take my advice. I ain't exactly sure how to tell. Well, this whole situation here is fuckin bullshit but I reckon I ain't got no choice in the matter. Ivory always made the decisions for us, on account'a his being on the force longer an' shit. It's fuckin bullshit, but I guess I'll play nice.

I attempt to respect knucks the wolf.

Diplomacy check since I basically have to
Holy crap I was this close

I was speaking idiomatically.

2 Dice Rolls Religion

The Kobold's attempts at pacifying the wolf didn't seem too effective, causing the beast to bare it's teeth and growl at the lizard. Ivory figured some discipline was in order and bopped the wolf on the nose.

Er, athletics?

Also, the old cleric said a brief prayer for the soul of the wolf, in order to calm it's spirit.

religion

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I attempt to respect knucks the wolf with food

drop some food for the wolf, move away in case he tries to snap cause this is not a friendly dog

FELIPE NO

Despite Ebony's best advice, old man Ivory landed on the ground with a sickening thud. Oh well, at least lycanthropes regenerate fast.

Deciding to make the dire wolf his very own, the longtooth shifter bandaged up the animal's remaining wounds, taking advantage of his intimate knowledge about wolfen anatomy to apply gentle, but decisive restraining force to just the right spots.

Old habits die hard, and the old cleric finds himself saying a prayer to the beast's spirit. The wolf looks at him quizzically, head cocked in a questioning diagonal position. But the cleric appears to know what he's doing - the prayer has visibly calmed down the animal.

Religion check succeeds! The next two skill checks made in this challenge gain a +2 power bonus.

For his part, Ebony is extremely leery of befriending a creature that is over four times his size - and especially one that tried to eat him whole. Still, the mild-mannered and obedient ranger defers to his elder and gives a peace offering (consisting of select boar back ribs and the best beef jerky in his pack) to the dire wolf. Still, he keeps a safe distance, fearful of the wolf's intentions.

It sniffs at the food, looks at the kobold curiously, and lopes over to it. Without warning, the wolf opens his jaw, and starts licking the frozen-in-place Ebony. Apparently hungry dire wolves have poor memories.

Diplomacy check succeeds! -5 skill check penalty on checks to tame the wolf removed.
I still need a few more checks from either/both of you.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

1 Die Roll Nature

"Oh my god he wants to eat me," I think. I remember Kobold Scouts - well, I remember watching an episode of the Andy Griffin Show a few times and his boy was in scouts - and I'll be damned if they ain't had a show about this very thing! Course I switched the channel halfway through cause Ghetto Thugz was on...

Oh shit I know what to do. I mark my territory around the hut. Fuckin' try and stop me, you old gizzard*.

Nature Check

* Ebony doesn't know what a gizzard is.

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2 Dice Rolls Diplomacy

The old man remembered a few things about how magic can make Dire Wolves more friendly...

arcana

then turned to the beast and asked it straight up "So are you coming with us or what?"

diplomacy

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Ivory tries to recall any magical cantrips or hypnotic trick that might make dire wolves friendly, but he can't think of any. Dire wolves are deeply rooted in the natural world, and have far too little intelligence compared to its worg cousin, to fall for any such chicanery.

The wolf tilts its head as Ivory issues his ultimatum. It wags its tail enthusiastically, mouth lolling from its own mouth. It doesn't seem to understand Common. Perhaps something more physical might yield better results.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

1 Die Roll Athletic roll

Scratch nuts, waiting to see if my nature check was successful

Additional Spam:
This wolf needs to know who's boss, and there's really only way to determine that.

I grab dick. Athletically.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Skill Challenge complete!

Difficulty Class 15.
Ivory's Heal check, with roll of 4 and skill of 14... PASS!
Ivory's Nature check, with roll of 8 and skill of 7... PASS!
Ivory's Athletics check, with roll of 15 and skill of 5... PASS!
Ebony's Nature check, with roll of 9, skill of 4, and power bonus of 2... PASS!
Ebony's Athletics check, with roll of 14, skill of 12, and power bonus of 2... PASS!
Final tally: 5 successes with 0 failures. I need to set a bigger DC next time

The kobold shows the wolf who's boss by marking his territory and fondling the dire wolf's his own genitals. It is super effective - Ivory and Ebony are now the proud owners of a genuine dire wolf mount

! Now, to give it a name (or not).

Because Ebony is not a beast ranger (and the wolf is not his animal companion), the wolf can only be controlled by either Ivory or Ebony when they are mounted on it.

You have ten minutes in in-game time to prepare for the next encounter. Again, you may position yourself wherever you want.

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No homo. I grabbed my own dick. What DMs do with dogs in their own time, I ain't wanna know.

"Eh Ivory, 's your call dawg."

surge to full

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The wolf appeared friendly enough, despite a trickle of blood still running down it's leg from where the Kobold had stabbed it. Ivory decided the creature needed a name and figured that the name his daughter had given to her pet terrier would suffice, so the beast was named "RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWGGHH". That his daughter had named her pet during a full moon was a bone of contention when it was time to call the mutt in for dinner.

The old man had ridden a few creatures in his time but being so close to a wolf was uncomfortable and he had a horrible feeling that his own animal side might make an appearance before the day was out. He tentatively climbed astride RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWGGHH, thinking that maybe they'd be better served picking up a battle chariot somewhere. They needed transport anyway since the Kobold had crashed their last one during a particularly reckless chase a month back. He had told his partner it was his turn to drive...

Sit on RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWGGHH, hope there's a chariot shop nearby

FELIPE NO

1 Die Roll Be vewy quiet

Halfway Point Reached

The first post in this thread will always be updated for player resources. Here's the latest update.

EBONY: HP 41/44 Surges: 3/7
ENCOUNTER: Action Point | Second Wind | Hurling Charge | Avenging Charge
DAILIES: Scything Blow | Wounded Beast
ITEM POWERS: Flesh-seeking Hand Axe | Shared-suffering Hide Armor
CONSUMABLES: 1x Healing Potion, 1x Alchemist’s Fire

IVORY: HP 29/40 Surges: 6/7
ENCOUNTER: Action Point | Second Wind | Healing Word (1) | Exacting Utterance | Destined Duel | Channel Divinity
DAILIES: Virtue's Touch (5) | Shield of the Gods | Return from Death's Door | Iron to Glass
ITEM POWERS: Symbol of Shared Healing | Swiftshot Crossbow
CONSUMABLES: 1x Healing Potion, 1x Tethercord

RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWGGHH: HP 41/44 Surges: 1/1
ENCOUNTER: Action Point | Second Wind

I will be traveling during this time and may not have Internet access for a few days. Stand by for Round 1-3, coming soon!

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Ivory sits on the newly-christened RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWGGHH, contemplating the thought of acquiring a grand chariot for the wolf to pull. As it turns out, the old codger who lives a few kilometers away has been looking at letting go of his repurposed wagon.

For a fee, of course. Currently short on disposable funds, Ivory contemplates breaking into the nest egg he has accumulated for himself and the missus, which is locked tight in a chest bolted to the old shifter's hut. She probably wouldn't mind.

RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWGGHH nuzzles Ivory's hand, interrupting his reverie. He wouldn't have sensed it on his own, but the wolf is reacting to something. Then it hit him - the forest is entirely too quiet. Something has scared all the animals away, and it wasn't the wolf pack. What could it be?

Enemy stealth check beats all your passive perception scores, with RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWGGHH having the highest result. You have one action to use.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

1 Die Roll Perception

I sat there picking at my teeth, when I noticed the wolf sniffing at old man Ivory's hand. That bastard means to take a bite while Ivory ain't lookin', I fuckin' knew that thing couldn't be trusted! Just what's his game anyway?

Active perception check on the surroundings, please, not on the fucking wolf, that is just color text

There's nowhere I can't reach.

The old man's senses, heightened through years of slaying things that often tried to hide from himhad, on this occasion seemingly dailed him. He wasn't having a good day at all what with having barely landed a blow and now being snuck up on. He edged his new mount away from the fire to see if what was coming was hiding round the corner, expecting that it was probably going to jump him no matter where he moved to.

Move to H10:I11

How ya doing, buddy?

9 Dice Rolls Predatory Eye

Ebony gazes around his immediate environment, straining to pick up any sign of activity. Everything seems to be in order.

Sensing trouble, the more paranoid Ivory leads his pet wolf north and take a peek around the cottage corner.

We've been spotted! Attack! Attack!
H-he's got a wolf!
Quick! Flank them! Makes 'em easier to hit!

One of the intruders rush up in front, and lets loose with a morningstar. It glances off harmlessly after impacting the old shifter's armor. The distraction was, however, fast enough for the band's apparent leader to run around and flank.

Ivory reacts too late to prevent the goblinoid's garrote from circling around his neck.

Ivory takes 11 HP damage and is immobilized.
Strangler grants combat advantage due to running.

Initiative: Ivory (18), Bugbear Warrior A (16), Ebony (5), Bugbear Warrior B (22), Bugbear Strangler (19)

Defenses:
Bugbear Warriors: AC 17, Fortitude 17, Reflex 15, Will 14
Bugbear Strangler: AC 21, Fortitude 18, Reflex 18, Will 16

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

2 Dice Rolls Cccccccombo breaker

Once again, a fight had started with the ranged attacker in the thick of things and the close combat guy away from the action. Planning had never been the pair's strong point.

Ivory quickly found himself surrounded. This might have been a problem, but for the fact he was sitting astride a massive wolf. The wolf backed away from his attackers, snapping at the one holding the Shifter by the neck.

Wolf attacks Bugbear Strangler (Does it have a choice of attacks or just plain attack?)

Wolf attempts to break hold, athletics check

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1 Die Roll Morningstar vs Ivory

Rrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwgghh snaps ineffectively at the Strangler, and its headbutt to loosen the creature's grip on his new master failed similarly.

The laggard warrior rushes forward to thump Ivory on the noggin, but misses by a mile due to his haste.

Bugbear Strangler and Warrior A are granting combat advantage due to running.

Ebony (5), Bugbear Warrior B (22), Bugbear Strangler (19), Ivory (18), Bugbear Warrior A (16)

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I was thinkin' about da club, aight, got dem booties that go damn and shit, but then old man Ivory fuckin' interrupted my flow. Ain't he do nothin by himself?

Move to L12
Hunter's Quarry on B
Throw and Stab B
Free charge converted to Marauder's Rush: if B is dead, rush A; if not, rush B

FELIPE NO

8 Dice Rolls Sustain Strangle

The ever dutiful Ebony sees a friend and mentor in need of assistance, and immediately engages the most proximate foe. His fearsome attacks carve out substantial chunks of flesh from the bugbear.

Warrior B takes [ 6 + 2 + 5 + 8 + 5 = ] 26 HP damage.

The bugbear instinctively lashes out with his morningstar, while the strangler tightens his noose around the old shifter's throat.

Ivory takes [ 1 + 4 = ] 5 HP damage. Still immobilized.
Ebony takes [ 11 + 6 = ] 17 HP damage.

I will be delaying Warrior A's turn until after Ebony's move.

Ivory (18), Ebony (5), Bugbear Warrior A (16), Bugbear Warrior B (22), Bugbear Strangler (19)

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

2 Dice Rolls Chomp

Ivory couldn't disengage from the melee while the creature had it's noose round his neck. Once again he urged his new steed to break the hold which it did, with an angry bite to boot.

Wolf attempts to break hold again, athletics check. Wolf attacks warrior B

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I've been daydreaming about beaches and beer and all kinds of debauchery. And... oddly, the mountains?

Whatevs.

SHifty to K12
Move to L12
Throw and STab B
Marauder's Rush at B if he's not dead; A if he is dead

There's nowhere I can't reach.

11 Dice Rolls Almost forgot! Wolf vs B

Ebony continues carving chunks out of the hated bugbear warrior. Torrents of blood pour out of the wounds inflicted by the cunning ranger.

Unhappy at his brand new piercing holes, the warrior brings his morningstar crashing down on the kobold's skull. It's going to leave a mark.

The other warrior fruitlessly expends its encounter attack on the wily old man. He did, however, provide enough distraction for the strangler to again loop his garrote around the shifter's throat. And he pulled rather tightly.

Warrior B takes [ (2 + 4) + (1 + 2) + (1 + 8) + 4 = ] 16 HP damage. Bloodied by Marauder's Rush.
Ebony takes [ 8 + 6 = ] 14 HP damage.
Ivory takes [ 4 + 4 = ] 8 HP damage. Grabbed again.

Ivory (18), Ebony (5), Bugbear Warriors (16), Bugbear Strangler (19)

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.