Star Pit: King of the Kobolds
| Star Pit: King of the Kobolds | |
|---|---|
| Date | 01/30/24 |
| Storyteller | Sushi |
| Tier | Trainee |
| Player Characters | Keira, Xie, Melfyra |
| Rewards | 20 GP each, 250 XP, 2x Weapon Potency runes, healing potions, Wand of Fear |
| Result | Queens of the Kobolds |
| Author | Keira |
| Downtime | 2 |
Log
Ever since I struck out on my own, I've found myself at more Star Pit exhibitions than I care to admit. The past year or so I've been unable to spectate any, let alone the annual King of the Kobolds event, but imagine my surprise seeing a job posting in Onadbyr looking for gladiators at the Star Pit! I had no clue that associates were being tapped for Star Pit events, and lo and behold, it was time for the King of the Kobolds!
To elaborate, King of the Kobolds involves a magic stone stolen from a nearby Kobold tribe, and every year they muster forces to try and take it back. The Reverend makes this a spectacle and commissions contestants to hold back the Kobolds. As long as we maintain possession of the stone, we win!
Our group was put together hastily, but we were strong contestants nonetheless. Speaking little of my own prowess, we also had Xie, a Vanaran Magus, as well as Melfyra, an odd Elf that I've encountered on all of my previous job. Xie was excitable, and Melfyra was as I'd come to expect her.
We arrived at the Star Pit and the Reverend gives us the lowdown on the event. Xie eats what seems to be a literal tonne of food, and I'm not wholly sure where she put it all since she was not impeded by the banquet put on for us. We're prepped and ushered out to the starting gate, but I'm so dumbstruck finally getting to participate in a Star Pit that I completely freeze up. Xie helps me with her boundless energy, and magic begins to course through both of our bodies as we make a show of our abilities. It becomes apparent that the stone's magic power is to revitalize us.
The event starts simply, Kobolds had dug into the lower area of the pit and arrived from the stairs leading below. 3 spearmen and a crossbowman arrive to try to take the stone, and I very clumsily fumble at the first volley of the combat. Melfyra's wolf draws first blood, and I remember my training, enhancing my weapon (prompting Xie to do the same) and attempting to yank the spear out of a nearby Kobold's hand. Xie and I claim our first kills as more Kobolds begin to flood in, and get the better of me. But I'm built different, and stand my ground, successfully fooling the Kobold into thinking I was knocked down. I do shamefully have to step away to attempt to heal my wounds, but as this happens, one begins to flee from Xie - I am capable of taking the opportunity and spear the Kobold with Needle Darts, before preparing to drink some more potions. I believe my potions were expired and did not do much to help me, I'll have to remember to pick some fresh ones up in town.
More Kobolds begin to swarm the arena, this time coming in with gliders from the spectator's stands! They begin their descent, but one gets too close to the wolf and she catches it in her mouth mid-air, like a thrown chew toy or throwing disk of some variety. One of the Kobolds begins to threaten Xie, so I approach it from the back, snagging its ankle with my whip and dropping it to the ground, hitting its large head considerably on the way down. As we begin to mop up the Kobolds in the arena, more arrive, alongside their pet beast, a giant skunk. I try to hold it back from afar, but it makes its approach and Xie sprints towards one particularly annoying crossbow wielder hiding in the back, but not before the skunk sprays and causes the two of us to become nauseous.
With the skunk in my face, the leader of the Kobold force appears and begins casting spells, attacking us first with a force barrage-like "Magic Missile". The wolf and I make short work of the Skunk, but the crossbowmen hit me vitally, finally knocking me out. Luckily, I had the foresight to stay within the stone's radius of effect, and when I wake back up a few seconds later, I find that the spellcaster is preparing some kind of spell, but something is off about it. After we clean up the last Kobold near the stone that Xie mistakenly showed mercy to, I'm able to take closer stock of the spellcaster, realizing it's stopped moving and talking, as if it were just an image imposed on the world. With deductive reasoning, I figure it's some sort of illusion magic, and we take up guard around the stone to ensure it doesn't come closer... but as we do this, the remaining living Kobolds begin to flee. Xie and I are in pursuit, and while I'm able to reach out, the Kobold dodges while dropping some shiny stones. It became apparent that the spellcaster made itself invisible and fled the arena after seeing the skunk killed.
The Reverend declares us the winners of the annual King of the Kobolds, and provides us with great rewards for our performance. I will have to keep a continual eye out for more requests of gladiators, as it's a whole new experience participating and not just spectating! Next time, however, I have to be sure to come up with a cool nickname for myself...