Campaign 2: Session 46 - A Rat in the Rafters
Rewards Granted
- Encounters: 225XP
- MVP: 400XP
- Participation: 100XP
- Skills: 30XP
- Total: 755XP
- Bonus XP: 300XP
- Participation: 100XP
- Total: 400XP
- Encounters: 225XP
- Participation: 100XP
- Skills: 60XP
- Total: 385XP
Missions/Quests Completed
25th Spriarjeń 269 5E
On the morning the Grand Tournament is first opened to the public, the party awaken at Honorow Orphanage. Pawel is already gone by the time the others rise. Over breakfast, Mina peppers Zi with questions, which she brushes off irritably. Tedduch Stoutman suggests bringing Mina along to watch the tournament at Stadion Milenow. Mina, clearly fond of Teddy, agrees enthusiastically—something Zi doesn't seem pleased about. The group also invites Thalmun Burrowale to join them, but Thalmun declines, choosing instead to continue focusing on magical study and refining their collection of crystals.
At the stadium, the party secures seats in the most expensive high-class section. Afterwards, they head to the betting booths. The staff there react with visible dread, remembering Teddy's last wager that nearly bankrupted them. While waiting in the queue, an old woman behind them attempts to strike up conversation. Teddy, already irritated, snaps at her when she asks about his bet. The situation escalates until the woman uses Magic to transform Teddy into a rat.
She flees into the crowd, with rat-Teddy giving chase and nipping at her ankles. Zi hurls a rock after the old woman but misses wildly, striking a random spectator instead. This draws the attention of the stadium guards. In the ensuing confusion, Zi hastily scoops up the transformed Teddy and rushes to their seats, allowing the mysterious spellcaster to slip away into the crowd.
Once in the stands, Teddy wriggles free and scurries off, eventually taking shelter beneath the attendant's bar. There, his transformation reverses, returning him to his Human form—though not without causing a scene. He smashes through the bar, launching the attendant into the lap of a wealthy onlooker.
After some heated words with the attendant, Teddy secures drinks for the group, and they settle in to watch the day’s announcements. The full roster of competitors is revealed, including:
Mentor Margareeta, Grand-Councillor Dragan Kresz, Arstan of the Nabomark, Princess Regata Mastoracza, Beirand of the Nabomark, Jarl Eivar Einafsyn, Neferkare, Khamat Chimeg Gansukh, Rameses, Prince Ywan ‘the Younger’ Mastoracza, Ino, Bojar Miljan Karnank, Sir Bertrand of The Order of the Radiant Sun, Dionysius of the Onna, Kapitan Danylo Kjudrik, Andrea of the Nabomark, Magnate Bogdan Bokow, Magnate Goran Bokow, Marta of the Nabomark, Alyosha Smitikho, Prince Hakon ‘the Smiler’ Hakonsyn, Sir Reynold of the Table of Less-Valued Knights, Magnate Nadja Rystotin, Thorald Randbane, Tiidrik of the Metsviir, Kapitan Altan Perenow, Baroness Bojana Karnank, Magnate Otto Grarland, Konstat Kowar, Patrok Gregor, and Pawel.
The day’s match features a clear mismatch: Mentor Margareeta vs. Baroness Bojana Karnank. Despite knowing the odds, the crowd cheers for Bojana, the underdog.
Margareeta enters the arena with slow, deliberate steps, her warhammer slung over her shoulder like it weighs nothing, though it's larger than many battlefield weapons. Bojana, nimble and lightly armoured, moves with the speed of someone who knows brute force won’t win the day.
She opens with quick strikes, aiming at Margareeta’s legs, but the Mentor doesn’t flinch. The blade glances off thick greaves, and in a terrifying counter, Margareeta swings her warhammer in a wide arc. Bojana just barely ducks, the hammer cutting the air with such force it kicks up a spray of dust.
From the stands, Teddy—mistaking Bojana’s title for a higher noble rank—starts chanting “Regicide!” The chant catches on with the more excitable spectators, causing a disturbance that prompts guards to wade into the stands and break up fights.
Meanwhile, Bojana keeps moving, adjusting her tactics. She targets the gaps in Margareeta’s armour with quick, surgical jabs, but they do little. Margareeta remains stoic, seemingly unaffected. Then, she strikes with sudden ferocity. Her hammer smashes into the arena floor, missing Bojana by inches but still knocking her off her feet from the impact alone.
Bruised and breathless, Bojana realises she can’t win a war of attrition. She goes for a final gamble—faking left and lunging right to target Margareeta’s exposed side. It's a move that would fool most, but Margareeta isn’t most. She twists, intercepting Bojana with a brutal side-swing. The hammer catches Bojana in the shoulder, lifting her into the air and slamming her into the sand.
Bojana tries to rise, but her body is broken. Margareeta approaches, raises her hammer—and then gently rests it against Bojana’s chest. A silent gesture of mercy.
Bojana taps the ground twice in surrender. The crowd erupts. Though the outcome was never truly in doubt, the fight’s ferocity and Margareeta’s restraint leave a strong impression. As Bojana is carried off the field, battered but alive, Margareeta turns and walks away without fanfare.
Character(s) interacted with
