104 - Going for Gold
It was the next night, and Rainbow and Spike were eagerly approaching the ring, though there was a bit of stiffness in their step. "Are you sure you used all the healing last night?" asked Spike.
Soft Mane nodded, "And don't ask me to use more today. I'm not going to be running on empty before you get torn apart. Here." She let out a wave of pink energy, chasing away some of the enduring pains, but not all of them. "Are you sure you want to do this again?"
Rainbow shook her head, "What? Of course we are! We only have to win a few more times to get the big prize, and nothing's been able to stop us yet. Don't worry, we got this under control. How bad can the next one be?"
They descended down into the fighting arena to the enthusiastic greeting of the crowd. Most of the crowd seemed quite happy to see them, cheering for their eventual victory. Spike raised a brow, "Who are we fighting that's so unpopular?"
They didn't have to wait very long. They stepped into the ring to see another half-breed! "In this corner, the destroyers of dreams, the dynamic duo of the sky, the newbies with the will to win! They have their eyes on the prize and they're so close they can taste it." The crowd cheered wildly for them, much to Rainbow's delight. "In the opposite corner, fighting on his own -- not that he needs help -- the meat tenderizer with the big mouth! Keep your girlfriends close and your eyes locked on the ring, because this is going to be a fight to remember!"
The satyr advanced. His well defined muscles were on full display, with no shirt or armor to cover them. His fur was very pale, a light greyish color. He had bright green eyes and a red mane, er, hair. "Well if dis isn't a pleasure. 'tis a mighty shame ter trade blows wi' a juicy mare instead av takin' 'er oyt ter bill skinner. Maybe we can chucker dat after oi finish moppin' de floor wi' yisser juicy blue 'ide?"
Spike blinked, "What'd he say?"
Dash shrugged, "I think he said I look awesome, which I do." She spread her wings wide and launched herself at him. He was waiting for her, lashing out with a fist and grabbing one of her wings. With a suddenly yank, the wing popped out of its joint and Rainbow collapsed to the floor.
"None av dat flyin' tin'. We'll keep dis a nice fair match, fists ter fists, or 'ooves. Oi'm not dat picky aboyt it," he said with an almost... friendly smile as he circled her readily.
Spike closed the distance with a roar. He raked cruel claws over the satyr's already-scarred hide, but he scarcely seemed to notice it despite the lines of blood that ran free. "Nigh luk 'ere. dis is a guy dat knows 'oy ter tussle. shame though, i'd bloody lock fists wi' de lady first." He brought up a knee sharply, followed with a dizzying series of punches and jabs that drove Spike back, "But since you're 'ere it wud be rude ter a go yer down."
Rainbow was back on her hooves, reared up on her hind legs and swinging her front, "You want to go hoof to hoof? Fine! Just don't cry when you go down." She lashed out a hoof to thud into his arm. Her other hoof went in for a breaking blow, but he dodged out of the way and brought a fist across her snout with a painful thump.
Spike unleashed the elemental fury in his belly on the springy half-breed, painting his skin with a criss-cross of burns. The strange satyr just laughed as he backhanded Dash with a dizzying strike. She wobbled and fell over, knocked cold on the spot. "Oi guess oi 'av ter finish yer before oi can enjoy any quality time wi' de mare," said the satyr as he approached Spike on springing feet.
Spike wasn't sure what to think. "Can you feel pain?" he asked with rising uncertainty. He lifted into the air and propelled himself at the pugilist. A raised knee caught Spike under the chin. The leg fully extended as it lowered, planting a hoof between his legs as cruelly as Fast Shadow had all those weeks ago. Spike shuddered in pain, but fought through it. Through his tears he got a claw on the brawler's shoulder and left a bloody gash where his body met his arm.
Rainbow groaned on the ground, but remained out. The brawling satyr bounced from hoof to hoof. With a cocky smile he lashed out at Spike. His dangling arm barely slowed him down. Knees, hooves, and even a headbutt were rapid in coming. Spike didn't accept this abuse idly. He sunk his teeth into a furry knee, holding the satyr awkwardly before tossing him to the ground and diving after him. Cruel rakes of jagged claws were starting to have an effect on him.
He kicked sharply, sending Spike sailing through the air and slapping against the ground before he even thought to fly. Before Spike could recover, an arm was coiled around his neck in a choke hold. He thrashed and struggled against the satyr on his back as the cheer exploded with noise. He just couldn't get the pugilist to let go, and things were going dark.
"Let go of him!" came Rainbow's voice just before she popped him in the head with a hoof.
The satyr began to laugh. He released Spike in a heap and stood up, "Gran' so. if oi 'av ter lose, losin' ter a juicy lassy is not de worst way ter chucker it. Oi gie up." As the announcer enthusiastically spoke of his defeat, the Satyr leaned in closer to Rainbow, "So, can oi git dat date? oi nu 'oy ter trate bibe roi." His brows waggled suggestively.
Dash blinked at him, "I have no idea what you're saying. Good fight though." She offered a hoof. Instead of meeting it with a fist, he pulled it closer and kissed the fleshy interior before letting go. Rainbow went scarlet and yanked her hoof away. The satyr walked off with a laugh, seemingly oblivious to his many injuries. Rainbow helped Spike to his feet, and they left the ring to collect their winnings. Two hundred platinum coins awaited them.
The cashier grunted, "If you can win tomorrow night, then you get the rest of the pot, six-and-a-half thousand."
Spike blinked, "Oh, I thought the ten thousand was the grand prize?"
The cashier rolled his eyes, "You don't want the money?"
"'Course we do!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash, "We'll be back, bet on it."
They made their way back to the inn, with Soft Mane trying to undo the harm they suffered. "Whatever he did to knock you out, Rainbow, it left you mostly intact." Of course this meant that Spike took the brunt of the abuse, and Soft Mane doted over him with all of her direct healing. By the time they reached their beds, they were sore but ready for sleep.
Applejack frowned at the book of magus skills. "Ah don't get it." She pointed at the book with a hoof, "How am ah supposed to keep a 'hand' free? Ah don't have hands! None of this works."
Twilight glanced up from her book, "You're an earth pony, AJ. You have to do it with your hooves."
Applejack shook her head, "Easier said than done, sugarcube. They don't give instructions for that." She snorted loudly, "Guess ah won't be doing that 'spell combat' thing till I figger out how ta do it with mah hooves. It's a mite frustratin'! Ahm supposed ta be able to make weapons all magic like for a little bit." She shook herself out, "Ah can feel the magic, but ah don't use weapons, and they don't say how to put it in yer hooves."
Twilight looked up at Applejack with a quizzical expression, tapping her chin softly. "We'll figure it out, even if we have to write our own book on it."
Applejack smiled at Twilight, "Yer the best." She looked around a bit, "Alright, it was understandable the first day, and odd the second, but where is everypony?"
Twilight shrugged from within her fortress of books. "As long as they're ready when the week's up, they can do anything they want that doesn't get them killed or thrown in jail."
Applejack gave a less-certain nod, "Ya know, Ah think ahm gonna visit the castle again, see if ah can't talk some sense into 'em."
Twilight gave an agreeable but distracted noise, her nose already buried in books again.
Soon Applejack was trotting briskly to the castle. The guards there didn't let her pass. "We'll deliver your message."
Applejack frowned, "Ya already did that. Ah wanna know what ya'll plan to do about it."
The soldier trotted up to the castle, leaving her partner to stand with Applejack at the gate. The guard returned before long, a paper held in her mouth. She offered it to Applejack, exchanging snouts. Applejack looked it over quickly.
Concerned Citizen,
It is good to see that civic-mindedness is still alive in the Empire. You have our full support in rescuing those taken by the gem gnolls. As a show of solidarity, we have assigned a valuable city employee to aid you. Go to the address listed and present this letter.
Sincerely,
There was no name, just a fancy wax seal. Applejack shook her head with some confusion, but gathered the note back up and set off to find the address. As she approached, the squeal of excited foals began to reach her ears. The building was brick on the outside and smooth tile on the inside. A sign hung over the door 'Municipal Swimming Pool'. "Fancy," she said to herself, "But what worker here is gonna help?"
She trotted up to the front desk and dropped the letter, "Ah was told to deliver this?"
The older stallion leaned forward and looked it over before snorting loudly. "Is that it? Well, you'll find her at the pool."
Applejack raised a brow, "Alrighty then." She trotted through the building's narrow hallways and through a locker room before emerging into the bright sun beside the pool. She looked around carefully for who she should approach, but none of them seemed a good choice.
"Hi there," came a friendly voice. A rather aquatic-looking and blue pony stood before her in a swim suit, "First time? I can show you how to swim if you don't know how! It's fun!"
Applejack shook her head at the mare, "Appreciate the offer, but I was supposed to find a city worker to come with us."
"I work for the city," said the blue mare, pointing at herself. "I'm the only worker out here... Gosh, I better get someone to take my place if we're going somewhere." She trotted on light hooves into the building with Applejack trailing after her. The stallion at the front desk grunted at her and said something about everything being alright.
"Go on," he said finally, pointing to the door.
"If you're sure," said the blue pony before she looked to Applejack, "You're familiar..."
"Don't reckon we met before. M'name's Applejack," introduced Applejack with a smile.
The blue sea pony gasped, "Like no way! You're not that Applejack, but you look kind of like her... but a pony? This is amazing!" She suddenly leaped forward and wrapped her forehooves around Applejack's neck, hugging her. "Are you from Equestria too?"
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Would the Satyr be classed as Fea, Fae Born, or somwehre in bloodline, with resitances and such but weakness to iron?
What if you get the No Somantic, No Verbal skills and free material for least spells, would those be like L0 cantrips or such?
Just hope sonata doesnt roll a 1 when passing the hot food stand.
5704695 The stats for a pony satyr are in the book 'Forgotten Gods'. They are fey, like ponies and most of the other critters in Everglow. They don't have damage reduction, so cold iron or plain steel works just as well.
Linguistics isn't a class skill for brawlers, so I can't blame Mr. Masochist not bothering to learn how to speak Comprehensible. And I'm very glad to see that Dash's dislocated wing was easily fixed. Still, those two are very clearly pushing their luck. If Soft Mane already can't keep up with their injuries, then the final fight might be truly disastrous...
As for AJ... well, do unarmed strikes count as weapons, or does that only work for monks and brawlers? Hmm. Sounds like she needs to consult with the GM on this one, though that may be tricky without Pinkie's help. Still, surely she can't be the very first fingerless magus... or so I assume.
Also, Sonata returns! Bearer of Honesty, meet the mind controller. I'm sure you two will get along just fine. (Also, I see official government policy is "Let adventurers take care of it.")
5704772 Soft Mane quietly gained a level for her hard work as combat medic, that might help! If they survive the next night and get the prize! Surviving but not getting the prize would be acceptable in Soft Mane's book.
Near as I can tell, monk/brawler unarmed strike might count, but natural weapons definitely don't. Applejack uses her hooves as a natural weapon, not unarmed strikes. A nice solid lash of her well toned flank and she can send things flying. They'll just have to figure something out!
You knew we couldn't leave Sonata out forever. She's too adorable.
His hide is "already-scarred."
There's nothing wrong here, but I notice that you don't ever seem to use the term "muzzle" when referring to the lower portion of a pony's face. That's the term that Spike and Twilight used to describe it at the beginning of Equestria Girls.
"Half-breed," needs a hyphen, whereas "backhanded" is a compound word.
I'm pretty sure the first words in his sentences should have the first letter capitalized. (I also have no idea why he suddenly forfeited like that when he was clearly dominating the match.)
One would imagine that someone would tell Spike that ten thousand is the cumulative total they'll have received after they've won all of the matches.
Her nod is "less-certain."
"Empire" should definitely be capitalized here.
There are two spaces between "no" and "name."
5704901 All fixed! And someone just told Spike right then. To point out, Rainbow Dash found a poster hanging someone out of the way, and they showed up and started fighting. There was no orientation period where they ironed out these details.
5704786
It might just be me, but I'd love to see a side story or intermission where Lashtada and Cadence interact. Maybe go to a karaoke bar, sing a few love songs...
Finish out with "Never gonna give you up"...
5704938 That would be pretty amazing.
I see the Hyphenator has stolen some of my thunder, but whatever.
destroyers
In the opposite corner, fighting on his own -- not that he needs help -- the meat tenderizer with the big mouth!
well-defined
I assume these should be capitalized since they follow a period, but I barely understand half of what he is saying. Actually, all of his dialogue has lots of missing capitalization in it. I know you're trying to do an accent, but you don't pronounce capitalization.
the satyr's ... his opponent (the pronouns are not explicit in this case)
Didn't you say in a previous chapter that a knockout counts as immediate victory?
I don't understand, how did they win? Did the satyr get bored or something? He had them right where he wanted them, and then he just gave up.
5705048 The announcer didn't give specific terms for the match, much like when they fought the ogre.
The satyr's combat style was a ton of hitpoints and con and pain tolerance, but the two-on-one beat-down can only be ignored for so long. He didn't want to look bad in front of the ladies out there, so he gave up when he thought he couldn't take too much more. That way he looks mysterious and magnanimous, instead of beaten.
Typos defeated!
Now, as for comments on where story is headed, *ahem*
Sonata! yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! This is going to be hilarious. Nothing brings out the worst in ponies like constant exposure to silly. Applejack has already been shown to have very little resistance to it ("The Last Roundup") and Lex Legis seems to take himself very seriously. Comedy gold, right there.
I see what you did there.
5705048
He threw the fight and then promptly asked Rainbow for a date. I think he wanted to improve the chances of her saying 'yes', but a clearer accent would have helped him even more...
5705062 Am I that predictable?
5704786
There's an FAQ entry on point. Natural weapon "associated with hands" a la slams and claws are usable with Spell Combat. The FAQ entry also mentions unarmed strikes, which are not, strictly speaking, natural attacks but are apparently lumped in with them for these purposes. A tail slap, though, is not usable with Spell Combat, because it is not "associated with hands."
The question, then, is whether a hoof attack is more like a claw or slam attack or more like a tail attack. From a musculo-skeletal perspective, a hoof is basically a middle finger or middle toe, composed of carpal [hand] or tarsal [foot] bones, while a tail is an extension of the spinal column. A hoof cannot grasp like a hand or claw, but that doesn't necessarily matter. Slam attacks, which can be made with anything from fists to pseudopods, don't require grasping.
I'd say hoof attacks work perfectly fine with Spell Combat.
Mind you, I anticipate that the reason they don't in this story is because you want to give AJ a cool weapon to wield in her mouth, or perhaps horseshoes. And if you want to do that, that's great. But you don't have to in order to remain in compliance.
5705219 For a pony, their mouth is a hand, but their hooves are not. It's a GM discretion call at best, since a hoof is not a hand, unlike, say, a claw attack.
5705273
Taken to PM, so as not to be obnoxious.
5705273 I was thinking 'use spiked horseshoes' but spell combat specifies hand-held weapons? Sheesh.
Wasn't there a feat to use your tail as a hand?
5706025 That doesn't sound like a pony feat, outside of maybe Pinkie Pie.
5706031 Applejack did it in the show, to play fetch with Winona. She also uses it to wield her lasso sometimes.
5706158 Damn cartoon physics!
5707314 Oh, I've been a part of the herd for years, and was one of the backers of the Ponyfinder Kickstarter campaign. It's only recently that I've actually taken the time to read the book, however...
5707152 I'm very nervous about using any instance of Discord's chaos magic as a point of logical reference. While I usually shun any unneeded assumptions (and so would presume that "Tom" was an ordinary diamond), Discord's entire schtick is that you can't count on things working the way they normally would.
Finally finished marathon reading what's here so far. Only took two days, but I really like what I'm seeing here. I've had the opportunity to try Ponyfinder out at Nightmare Nights Dallas last year, really liked it. Couldn't get a copy of the book at the time (was between jobs), but I'm really interested in picking it up now.
Also, this story has been a fun roller coaster to ride. Very much like actually playing through a campaign. Looking forward to seeing where all it leads!
5708359 Welcome to the herd! We may have met? I'm David, the guy who was running demos of Ponyfinder at Nightmare Nights! You can grab the book at drivethrurpg, where I think it's on sale at the moment.
We did meet. IIRC, I ended up playing a pegasus cleric in the demo. It's been a while. Most of my game time in there was directed at the CCG.
Glad to know you are around here, making a story using your setting. It's often interesting to see the game world in a 'live' setting apart from the rulebooks, while still being firmly what us players are familiar with. I enjoy such things regardless of whether the game is pen and paper, board, card, or video in nature.
Yay, Sonata's back! I was wondering if we'd get to see her again.
5721856 She's happy to be back!