Mas Bagus

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Jazdia led them toward the underground tunnels with many turns and crossings. Room after room, hall after hall, and warehouse after warehouse. Wide was the reach of the Black Serpent guild, almost like a prosperous empire. And with that, it was not surprising The Guild Master would cling to his hard-earned wealth, even if the world were burning around him.

Many valuables were stored here, from basic needs like flour and sugar to intoxicating beverages. Then, crates of irons, sacks of cotton, sugar, and one particular crate that piqued Jazdia's interest the most; It was full of sulfur, and next to it was a distilling table with several round metal casings stored on top of it. The smell and shape were identical to smoke bombs found at the park.

She pocketed a casing, and then, the hunt continued.

Probably thinking he had managed to fool them by leading them to the surface, the head of the snake must be very smug with his cunningness he only stationed five of his men to guard the crossroads that lead to his hideout.

"Listen, Gerrald's underling!" she called out. Her voice echoed in the cold and damp tunnel. "You are in the way between a criminal and Kindeance's Justice. Drop your weapon and show your hands where I can see them if you value your foul skin! Or I will tear you apart from tail to snout!"

Some thugs did not heed that warning and Jazdia intended to keep her word by preparing her explosive arrow. But one, mohawk guy who froze in place with his hands raised makes everything a little bit more problematic.

One arrow struck two henchmen, while Chonan took the initiative and ended two others. There was nothing bombastic when that mohawk redhead cowered in fear as the group passed him. "I yield! You promised right?!"

The path was getting dark, and after more sprinting, they arrived at a cavernous hall, It was much bigger than any chambers they had passed so far. It had two doors directed to tunnels at the Northwest and Northeast, and another one at the south where their target made his escape.

To the middle of the hall, the floor vanished and fell to a river, no, more like a huge, man-made canal that was part of the city's sewage system. The water that ran through it was black, foul, and filthy and the stream looked deep and swift.

Crossing a wooden bridge with rope rails, the party reached half the hall and rushed for the last race. Their target was hiding in a bunker and all they needed to do to reach the said bunker was through this tunnel, go right and then, left again...

The door was locked. An explosive arrow with a directional blast would do the trick.

Breach and clear! The party rushed in as the wooden door shattered. Jazdia was the first to reach the stunned guild master, bashing his hand with her bow as he tried to pick a lantern to burn the already pilings documents. The lantern crashed to the floor and topped sideways, extinguished, while the owner... also crashed, to the wall, face first.

"Got you! Didn't see that coming, huh?" Jazdia grabbed the man by his white mane and bashed him some more until she could hear his nose cracking. Then she let him tumble backward, hands clutching his bleeding mug.

"Kaito, check that documents. If they all are important, get a sack or something."

"Fuck! Do you know who you are messing with? You are dead! You are fucking dead! You hear me you bitch?"

But Jazdia paid him no mind. "Samurai! Take care of our man. Make sure he is unarmed. I don't care if we have to parade him naked."
Then she moved closer to the guild master. "Nice tunnel you've got here. I believe you had several interesting guests last week. Let's say the Kindeance Monarch wants to have a word with you, with four horses, ropes, and a hatchet. How's that sound?"

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Jazdia followed. As she reached the stairs, the interference felt weakened, rapidly. She could use her enchanted vision again, and immediately, as she hiked from one stair to another, the elf utilized her power to scan the entire place.

There he was! Hhite-haired, prominent jaw! Jazdia climbed two more stairs and reached Yvonne's wrist.

"That's not the way! Follow me! Gerrald is heading toward the catacombs. It seemed our guy doesn't want to leg it to the surface. He has five goons blocking the way for him."

As the elf passed Henri, she took a moment to look at him with a mix of amusement and confusion. His bulky and unnatural interior no longer amazed her after the whole debacle. "Mister Henri. I am surprised to see you here. I presume Matilda sent you? You are... quite resourceful to be able to find us here."

Then Jazdia rushed toward the aisle, noticing how the pathing, the lighting, and the overall atmosphere gradually changed as they went deeper into the guild's massive tunnel system.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

@wierdw@Milkman
The bear bellowed. Clawing up the parasite before clumsily unbuckling his metal armor and throwing it aside. Then, before he could stomp the naked, shattered, and battered stoneman, a sharp pain assaulted him at the back of his head. It was Kaito who jumped with his blade, trying to impale the beast's gigantic head with his thin blade.

But the werebear's skull was as thick and hard as stone. Lacking sufficient strength and entering at the wrong angle caused the blade to slide sideward, ripping his scalp from the back of his head all the way to his ear. With a sheer of primal rage, the Bear tried to reach this cowardly backstabber. His right hand was injured but his left hand was free, and he was this close to grappling Kaito and subjecting him to a gruesome punishment.

Before more people could get mauled, a crystal arrow came whistling in and bit deep into the Werebear's muzzle. His rampages faltered in a loud gasp, and a pained grunt followed as he tried to reach for the jutting fletchings.

Standing on four, the werebear was pretty much alive, but struggle to keep his balance. His bloody scalp hung like a piece of carpet, revealing the thick skull that gleamed akin to a big chunk of marble. Everyone in front of him was ready to end him, but then a voice rang.

***

"Ohhh! Poor little lady! I hope she's not dead! I really do! Isn't her pretty face a fresh change in our little bloody game? Yes, yes, I can hear you hiss. I'm a fair commentator, and I put my career and reputation on the line to say that! No mistake! But still! I'll play along-- did Ted the Executor managed to bash in this pretty little face of hers?"

"--w-what the hell is that? Jumping from the shadow! Is that a Gollum? Crawler? A very ugly Ghoul?! Isn't that guy dead already!? Can someone--- oh wait, what in the hell! He is naked! And he burned the poor Ted! Oh! he forced the champion to disrobe! Ohhhh! He fucked him so bad look at that stone asscheeks! Goodness gracious I told you to not blink but this is disgusting, and I have seen a lot of and described shit to entertain you all! And finally that Gollum let go! It should be easy for Ted to crush him now--

Watch out watch out! It was Lady Stritzel's second favorite! Doing a sneak attack on her first favorite! What is this? A fight for Lady's favor! Whatever it is, Ted is in trouble right now! I don't know about you, but don't like this! Ladies and gents... I really do!

There was no shrill anymore except, even from the announcer who watched in disbelief. A shrieking fleabag Stritzel again demanded to forfeit the match, but nobody listened to her until gradually her demand came in a hurtful plea. Please! Stop the match! That fifty grand's all yours! Stop this. My boy is suffering!"

Then in desperation, she shouted at the fighters below, to those who really could decide the fate of her pet bear. "Champions! You have won! Please spare him! I beg you. I-I will see you compensated! Teddy My sweet Teddy Gugu! Stay there and don't fight them. You have done enough! Mommy's proud of you!"

Still, nobody listening. Not a single noble up there knew what the Guild Master had planned. That he intended to use all of the champions to kill these unplanned contestants and sow profit from selling their injured bodies. And now, seeing his plan had crumbled before him, the man stormed off from his throne.

"Seal the arena! Recall all of our men. The bombings were obviously their doing!"

"But Master, Grond is still there!"

"Do I look like giving a damn? Do it, and silence that Strezel bitch!

"So the match is over? Wait, boss? Boss?!!"

When the announcer looked at the arena again, he had nothing to comment on. Everything had gone to the south, and it became even more apparent when he saw the elf woman launching another dazzling arrow at the trap door... which had already been rigged with two similar arrows.

The explosion was massive it did not only blow the door away but also destroyed the surrounding wall and launched a good chunk of stone across the arena. Not even waiting for the dust to be settled, another arrow launched, and that time, the Announcer only knew two things:

That the portcullis gate would soon be history, and he needed to find a new job.

***

@Remuri
With Gerrald calling the match off, confusion filled the entire tribune. Some were angry, some had enough sense to smell trouble and go home without a fuss. Some were still watching the fight eagerly. The first ranker having a duel with an unknown fighter was a rare sight, and they wanted to be the ones who see the end of it, after all the ticket was paid and the guild offered no refunds.

Chounan did not care. His focus had sealed him from any disturbance of the mortal world and solely directed his attention to his enemy. The furious slash came swiftly, but all in the world seemed predictable in his eyes. He formed a stance, and then the blow exchanged. Metal clangs and bone severed. But was not his.

The werewolf had his arm slid away from him, and the next attack came like a violent hurricane. He managed to move his head before the small human could score a fatal blow on it, but he didn't predict it when the blade bite his shoulder deep and cleaved his chest open. Grond the Champion staggered for a moment before slumping to the gravel.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

@A5G
The attack deflected with a twang, for normal humans that recoil alone would have shattered the bone, but the noblewoman, either she was above normal or just due to sheer of ingenuity used the push to feed her own momentum and swing the poleaxe back to the bear's unarmored crotch.

Nasty burns he had there! Holly shit! —Hold on! Something's happening here! The small lady is at it again! The two of them are at a standoff, but she is using the weapon thrice longer than her size! What is happening here?! Is she hoping to take on Ted's gigantic bulk with that?! Unbelievable if you see how enormous the difference in both size and power!
I can't emphasize this enough—! The balls! Right onto the balls! We have witnessed many nuts busted in this sorry arena but the bear's nut! Holly hell! What an ugly sight! But we all must bear it together!"

It was Stritzel turn to rush from her throne. Despite her butler attentively ushering her, the old hag outpaced him. As she arrived at the edge, she watched in horror as the small lady from the newbie team castrated her occasional nightly comfort with a nasty-looking halberd. "NOOOOO!!! MY TEDDY BEAR NOO!!" angry and sad, she turned to Gerrald! "Forfeit this match, now! Gerrald! Don't you see these newbies are not ordinary people?!

***

The bear did not howl, did not growl, nothing. The pain was so immense he was not even registering his master's cry. But when he did, he had already made his stance, and when fully woke up, he held the polearm with his injured arm and let his body fall, giving the little lady tough choices; either abandon her weapon or get mauled.

The noblewoman failed to make her call in time and the bear's paw swatted her aside. Sending Yvonne flying and tumbling across the arena. It was due to pure sheer luck that she didn't move from her original position and get the paw instead. Had she tried to dodge backward, she would have faced the full wrath of the bear's claw, and the result would have been much more grisly.

Still, she took the full brunt. Some broken ribs and dislocations were in order.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

@A5G
As her foe arrived, Yvonne greeted him with a violent blur of steel.

But to her annoyance, the opponent did not storm at her as planned. This time because Jazdia's explosive arrow scored a hit on the Werebear's right side. The beast stopped on his track, grunting in pain as it returned to his bipedal stance, clutching his lower jaw before revealing the burned furs and charred skin beneath. While the beast was busy feeling his wound, Yvonne performed a series of jabs and slashes against the standing bear. One attack grazed his chest armor, one struck him right on the forearm, and the third attack never managed to deal any meaningful damage as the werebear parried it aside and angrily bring his whole body down to maul the nobleman.

@wierdw@Remuri
With no hesitation, the werewolf snatched Henri's mangled leg and was ready to lift-and-claw him to shreds. But his bravado was rewarded with piercing burns as the golem rapidly heated himself. The werewolf roared, almost humanely so. The pain brought back a flash of ugly memories. How he was branded with red irons by those humans, humiliated, and stripped of his pride. He clutched the heavy man's limb tighter, embracing the pain, and with all of his might, slammed him to the stone pillar nearby.

He howled. A curse to the humans who laughed at his misfortune, to those who were entertained by his plight, and to whoever stood in his way. A net suddenly entrapped him, and it brought back the day when those humans captured him as a cub. His eyes glared at the short human male with sheer malice. Not wasting a growl, he was so angry that all in his mind was to get there and exact vengeance.

No armor ever survived his razor-sharp claws, but the Wigerjurgen's net was unusually tough, even after years of competing with them, he knew escaping it couldn't be done easily.

That one shortie started to aim his bow at him. Seeing no quick way out, Grond rolled his body forward, ensnared be damned, and felt the arrow stuck on his back. He saw that Gerald was looking down on him, and he remembered that advice of his, to temper his rage and think clearly. He hated him with passion even more than that obnoxious announcer, but the bastard had a point. Finally using his brain, Grond held the net at one point to keep it taut and then tear it in a single line. With his head unraveled first, then hand and torso, he broke free, and in no time chased the short bastard with a bow.

Oh wow, oh wowser! We've seen Grond the Champion toying with his prey many times, but today the roles are reversed! We've got a circus show going on here! Clever move from our newbie! But oh watch it! He better think as quickly as his legs!

---

Where was Jazdia amidst the chaos? After hurting the Bear, the elf relocated to the left and realign herself with the gaps she aimed before. The result of the previous explosion was unsatisfactory. The wall was the real deal.

Seeing that there was no way she could help her allies by shooting her most devastating attack while they wrestled with the enemy, the elf opted for the more pragmatic approach and enchanted her arrows. The environment was against her, so she imbued the delayed command with a prolonged time to trigger and shot two of her arrows at the same gap, two meters higher than the first.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

The explosion left a very noticeable crater on the surface, revealing a tiny bit of metal that seemed to be the hinge of the door. Like any of her trademark crystal arrows, the explosion should have been loud and flashy, but it all drowned in a deluge of clamor and bombastic commentary as the final butcher-knight met its final fate.

"We've just had—the shortest duel of this entire season—! And the one who fell was none other than Wigerjurgen Crews! Completely unreal! Who could've seen this coming—! I ask you! Who could've seen this coming?!"

Certainly not that short slavemaster. He stomped his feet and pushed one of his girls, angrily making his way toward the sitting guild master. A few henchmen stopped him, but Ulgad's followers were equally numerous. "You cheating, insufferable lout, a stinking snake is what you are! This is staged! You killed my crew!"

Whatever the man Gerrald said was unintelligible, but the stubby slavemaster backed down when one of the guild master's henchmen came in between with a sword drawn.

"That won't do! Master Ulgad! Nobody is cheating our arena!~ (Hey! This stage's for commentators! Get off!)"

"Silence you clown!" Ulgad was as angry and red as a roasted pig, he stormed toward the elevated podium and pushed the announcer aside. "I paid Gerrald a hefty sum of money, but if you lots want to see him send his best you must pay!"

There was a loud booings, and the announcer persuaded the angry slavemaster to step aside. He was a lean and physically unimpressive man, and his style was ridiculously flamboyant; Mohawk red hair, baggy pants, and a shirt with excessive accessories. A clown was an understatement, but this clown this time came with armed henchmen and carrying Gerrald's will.

"With all due respect sir, but you are a lousy talker. Let me handle this!" "Ahem! We had a little interlude just now, but both sides have regained their composure! Master Ulgad had some words with management and we're back on track—Hang on!"

The announcer cleared his throat. "Interesting match we've got in this early morning, but you want more?! of course you are! If you don't have your own fighter (like Master Ulgad) to put your money on yet, then let me introduce to you once again— The Savage Crusher of the Black Serpent! Ladies and Gents! Gives applause to the Black Roarer! Grond the Mutilator!!!"

The trap door opened with a shriek. Inside that tunnel, behind another portcullis gate, stood a very large wolf. His rear leg was thin but muscular, and the rear ones, not much different from the former, were two efficient slashing weapons in a form of elongated arms with razor-sharp claws. Eagerly he peered from the gate. Presenting this nasty muzzle with a grin.

"Now the interesting part. Of course, we are not sending our first ranker to be ganged up by those newbies! Yea! Yea! They are newbies so what? Gotta give em proper respect by arranging a proper match. Ladies and Gents! The offer is still open! Your champion with our best champion! The winner takes all! You know the rules!"

There were myriads of voices responding to that offer, but the announcer only noticed one requested by a classy middle-aged woman at the other side of the arena. Like any noble, she was sitting on her own throne. And judging from the number of men voicing her request, she seemed to have her own faction in this guild. It was a very surreal display considering the hag was so ugly she tried to mask her face with heavy makeup, but it only made her appearance becoming more disfigured. She pointed at Kaito, and if one could look closer, it looked like she was drooling.

A well-dressed man, her personal butler stepped forward from his lady's side. "The lady wishes to appoint her champion for fifty thousand gold coins. Kill all. But leave the... ahem 'fluffy and manly fox boy alive'."

Whatever it was, her involvement had brought liveliness back to the crowd. People began crying a name in unison. Grond! Grond! Grond! countered by the other audiences who sponsored another name Ted! Ted! Ted! You all will be dead"

As if projecting the same expression of his boss, the announcer smiled. Seemed delighted with the prospect. He then peered at the arena before addressing the audience.

"Well well! If it's not lady Stritzel herself. Everyone! Please calm down! I know how excited you all are right now, but please calm down a little! Try to give the newbies a little space, ya!? If they get stage fright and call it quits, the Guild won't be issuing any refunds. Hahahaha! --That's right! Support your champion with the cash in your wallets, not your voices! There's nothing more exciting than seeing your favorite fighter reign victorious with gibs and entrails on their neck, thanks to your support, especially the monetary kind! Yes, I can hear you complaining! I've got to get a word in for our sponsors. That's no less important than the events themselves! And so— Now hold your horses, we're getting there. Our newbies will soon be facing the judgment of the fiercest storm of their lives! give Applause to our second ranker! The Furred Manace from meche! The champion of Stritzel clan! No further introduction! Ted The Executor!!!"

Joining with the wolf was a bear, and like him, he was standing in two. The portcullis gate raised, and the two beasts sprang to the open with the werebear taking point. Unlike his agile brethren, he wears iron chest armor, leather shin guards, and knee protectors. A kite shield was strapped on his right shoulder, overreaching some part of his back.

Jazdia nocked an arrow on her bow, and engulf it with magic that instructs heat and solidification. The shot fired and hit werebear's plated chest, soldering through but it did not make him flinch. Now charging in all four, he speeded up for Kaito to fulfill his master's wish, but the next arrow, the explosive one landed on his shoulder, shattering the shield and throwing him off track.

"Behold! Ted's starting his hunt-- wait. The elf lady is shooting at him and it hits! Hold your breath, dear audiences, and don't blink! Here comes another arrow. But Ted was not slowing! Is he going to take that hit straight on like last time?! A flash! The arena is suddenly filled with a blinding light—Let's take this opportunity to look at what happened!!!"

While the Bear took a straight beeline, the wolf opted for the left route and rushed straight to the recovering Henri. Maybe he should brace for another impact...

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

"And the tale keeps twisting! They are both spent! Who would have thought we had a very unusual creature in our little squabbles and game of blood? Did you see what I see? ladies and gents? Did you all—!? Barely minute and two Wigerjurgen fighters are flattened! And I am afraid soon we will see the other one!"

Yvonne barely finished with her power strikes. With the giant human still on his warpath to get Chounan, she had all the chances in the world to inflict any debilitating attack she wished. And she did, the mace swung with great force against the side of the butcher knight's knee, dislocating it and causing the burly attacker to lose his balance. As his broad body toppled and landed adrift on the gravel, his mighty weapon hurled as the last resort, hitting Chonan in the process, but luckily he was struck by the hilt.

The Butcher-Knight! He! Gives! No! Quarter! A relentless rush! Not letting the sneaky guy catch his breath! But now, look at the black-haired lady! She taunts! She taunts, over and over! A look of disdain and victory in one, aimed square at his opponent! So Graceful, so Deadly it makes your blood run cold! Terrific! Marvelous! This gives a new meaning to the proverb small chilies are the spiciest!

Three down, five left. The midgets dropped their last net in horror when one of their brethren suddenly jostled by an impaling arrow, then the one beside him met the same fate. Three left. Two took refuge behind the pillar while the unfortunate one got an arrow on his head when trying to reach for the dropped net.

They thought they were safe there, and their plan was to wait. Daggers in hand, obviously outmatched by those heavy weapons, but theirs were coated with poison, so potent it could kill the knight-butcher in one sneak attack and grueling hours after. And that was how they maintained their mutual respect over the years. The butcher was big but they were numerous, and not afraid to die if it meant bringing a single enemy down with them.

An arrow landed at the wall behind him, lodging itself in a small gap between the trap doors. The violet luster on its head was the last thing those goblin-humans saw before a fiery explosion claimed them.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

Everything didn't look very good for the Wigerjurgen crew. One of their heavies was killed and one was dying in such a short period of time. Chonan intended to finish the wobbling butcher-knight by lunging forward, delivering a mighty thrust on the burly man's bare chest. And there was no resistance when he shove his blade into the man's left chest.

Except for the ribcage and hardened muscle. Chonan soon found that his blade was stuck in his victim's abdomen. And being this close, he can feel the giant heart beating and the breathing movement. Looking up again, the butcher-knights holds his sword with his injured hand, and his grin could only mean one thing.

__

Over the years, they only taught one thing. To fight, not to think. To fight, not to talk. And lastly, to fight, not to care. Work with the little men and fight bravely, and so they will triumph.

That was the only mantra the Slavemaster Ugad expected his gladiator to follow to their death. But the fat master overlooked one thing, many years together in peril would form camaraderie, and so when the last butcher-knight rushed to aid his dying brother, he could only watch in awe.

The little nobleman redied her flanged mace, in position to give a nasty counterattack against the rushing knight, but she only went as far as that Standing in the way, expecting the knight to go all out with her, but the giant human was not interested.
He rushed passed that noblewoman as if she was just a thorny twig. The noblewoman welcomed and attacked him in return. It was a heavy one, landed square, and could possibly rip his abdominal wall. But the woman was strong so did her opponent and the size advantage was apparent. It didn't matter, he reached his brother in time and swung his halberd down with all of his might. And like a damned monkey that puny swordsman leaped away, leaving his sword embedded in his comrade's chest. The butcher-knight's eyes were set on Chounan and sought to attack him at every opportunity.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

@Milkman
Sending Jazdia crashing to the corner might be a sound idea if you are not big and brandishing a big stick for a weapon. So when Kaito stood between the butcher-knight and Jazdia, the man did not have an optimal room to swing his mighty weapon, allowing Kaito to skid beside him and leaving a slashing wound on his forearm. The butcher spun around, but the foxy youkai was faster. Taking the advantage of his enemy's limited field of vision he ducked out of sight and used his wakizashi to tear his achiles tendon. Spurting blood all over the graveled ground as the burly man struggled to keep his balance.

@wierdw
Nobody knows where those men came from, what they really were, and how Ulgad trained them into fearsome fighting slaves. One thing for sure, they were tougher than any human.

When the heated metal struck his neck, the butcher-knight still managed to muster an incredible amount of strength to hold it by tilting his head sideways, using all the fat and muscle to cushion the impact, just like what his enemy just did. Behind that strange helmet came a muffled roar, and unexpectedly, he grabbed Henri by his arm and brutally pound him against the wall before succumbing to his fatal wound.

Sovereign's Will: A Fantasy Roleplaying Game. [CONCLUDED]

"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?!"

The two other butcher-knight looked at each other dumbfoundedly. Though their metal helmet showed no expression, they seemed to be flabbergasted by the new guy's bizarre entry. One thing for sure though, they were not one to answer a question, they were here to fight and they would just deliver that.

The trawlers managed to net the unsuspecting Henri, and it seemed to be their biggest catch today. Wasting no time, the Butcher-Knight leaped forward and bring down his mighty poleaxe to the ensnared man before he could defend himself, mercilessly hacking his hardened body.