Following a rest, our heroes re-entered the arena, this time taking on the deadly duo known as the Bosun's Boys, Knotts and the Crow. The pair of retired sailors from the Phoenix made their new home fighting in the arena, and have been a successful crowd-pleasing part of the Hippo's roster. This time, they faced former crew-mate Varis and and his compatriots, though, and the odds were definitely not in their favor.
Playing to the crowd, Cade charged the increasingly famous Sparkjaw, discharging it with a deadly zipping hum that sent sparks (and crowd spirits) flying high. As if that were not enough, the breakout star of yesterday's battles Nymeria flexed her nature spellcasting abilities, creating a flaming dragon that wreathed itself around Sparkjaw, making it appear as if a dragon made of fire was spitting lightening into the air. Though the Crow tried his best, showing off his impressive weapon juggling and dexterity, there was no competing with the heroes. The crowd had picked its side, especially with Thyrsus on the field for the first time (perched atop Flynkin's bow). Amidst cheers of "DRAGONS! DRAGONS!", the horn sounded, and battle was joined. Cade immediately went into a frothing rage, throwing javelins haphazardly, and Varis charged in. He greeted his old crewmates casually, and they responded in kind...then attacked. The duo's style is a mobile one, and they charged off in different directions. Crow fired both his bows at Varis, hitting with one, and kept running, drawing his trademark weaponized belaying pins. Knotts (with a timid apology) tossed a harpoon, and went on the move in the other direction. Thyrsus joined the battle, and the crowd gasped in anticipation; they had eagerly awaited seeing the popular pseudodragon in action. With a war cry, the dragon charged in on small wings...and planted head first into a wall, missing Crow entirely. There was a brief moment of held breath from all...but as Thyrsus righted himself with a snarl, Nymeria struck. Casting her famous spikes in the arena, the trap was laid, and now moving would come at a cost. Flynn, looking seeing Thyrsus unhurt but for his pride, loosed a volley at Crow, with mixed success, just as Truda and Octavia did the same with Knotts. Noggal went into a blind rage and, unhitching himself from his curious perch atop Cade, charged into battle. Cade meanwhile took a swing with the deadly sparkjaw, narrowly missing Crow. Varis unleashed holy magic, painting his targets with holy light, just as Knotts hit a flurry of stabs on Varis. Though it was a punishing series of hits, Varis has his own punishment handy: with a crackle and snap, Knotts felt a powerful jolt of holy lightning as the smell of salt water (and tinny ozone) burst through the arena. As Varis warned his old friend not to try that again, Knotts clearly was hurting. Thyrsus got back into the game, taking to the air and flanking to bite at Knotts neck, and Nymeria placed a perfect ball of fire around Knotts head. Flynn sent two arrows into Knotts, and both Truda and Noggal missed their attacks. When Octavia hit Knotts with a longbow strike, audience close to the field swear that the amiably dim-witted powerhouse Knotts may have shed a tear at his situation. But that sentimental moment was short lived, as a raging Cade was still in play... Smashing Sparkjaw into Crow, a massive hit crashed into his upper chest, and with a wink and the click of a trigger, Crow and the Crowd new what was about to happen. The buzz was devastating, most notably sending one of Crow's belay pins right into his own face. How he remained standing is beyond this sport reporter, but Crow was not down. Possibly only fight instinct was left in him, as he did continue to fight. Looking at the massive Cade and his dripping Sparkjaw, he decided to focus on the smaller target, the also raging Noggal, and showed that, despite his failures today, he was still a deadly dangerous combatant in the arena. His flurry of strikes with his belaying pins would have felled a lesser man (EDITORS NOTE: HALFING), but it seems to only anger Noggal. Meanwhile, on the other side of the arena, Varis healed himself, and Knotts, in a panic (but wisely not striking Varis again, for fear of the strike of holy lightning), flipped his harpoon and stabbed at the dragon flying over his shoulder. With a gasp from all present, harpoon hits slammed into the beloved Thyrsus, leaving all to ponder his fate. Astonished at his success, and overwhelmed with the many types of damage that had hit him, Knotts gave a surprised smile...then immediately caught fire from Nymeria's sphere of flame wrapped round him. Thyrsus landed a nasty stab in the neck with his tail, Nymeria showed a new trick in calling lightening down for terrible damage, and Knotts was down. Flynkin sent two arrows into Crow, and a horrible slowness took the arena: with an arrow in each side of his chest, Crow wobbled, dazed, and slowly fell forward. As the crowd screamed in anticipation, he landed flush on his chest, two arrowheads now poking out of his back. The healers would be busy tonight...as would our heroes, but not in the Hippo. Far darker tasks await them through a Guild mission, though for the moment enjoy them counting their hard won (and gambled) coin...
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