Constantine's Courtship Dance first activates, affecting the fae and two non-magi humans, with both Simon and Theodoric dazed, and also the three smaller fae Meadow (fox), Ghardouri (rabbit), Beshmu (songbird) all dazed too. Lady Ghouri is not affected by the dance.
There is movement in the quicksand near where the small bear sank.
It is now Viola's action.
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OCC. Courtship Dance - roll Athletics 5 +1 for flying specialty +3 Dex + stress die 3 = 12. Uses one more Might, two spent in total. Rolls to resist for the characters Simon, Theodoric, Meadow (fox), Ghardouri (rabbit), Beshmu (songbird); all fail.
As before, the he casting total: (Cr 8 + He 6 +2 Sta + Aura 5?) / 5 = 4--no roll or Fatigue required for the spell itself.
Now, God help us, for the Finesse roll to put in front of Ghori's feet as she charges toward Theodoric and/or Viola:
Finesse 3 + 1? for precision specialty +1 Qui + stress die 1 = 5 or 6 (at least it's not a botch this time)
Yeah, I realized that this morning. The next roll is a 6, making the stress die 12, for a total of 16 or 17--presumably that's enough to put the log in the right place.
Yes, the sizable log appears accurately plonked in front of her feet, edging as close as could be to her feet. Lady Ghouri can't easily move forward. It's a hindrance rather than a barrier though, as her long spear is useful at range and she was already close enough to Theodoric for him to shield-block her last attack against Viola. As the rest of the grogs and fae are dazzled by the butterflies dancing spell Lady Ghouri strikes out at Theodoric.
Having stepped up to block the spear Theodoric stands a little forward from the rest of the group, and is unfortunately "distracted" so he can't really actively defend against Lady Ghouri's strike. With the disadvantage of poor-ish footing she is able to strike him and his passive defense scores are no match for her due to being distracted; her strike should have caused a savage wound - instead she strikes him with the side of the spear drawing a gash but causing only a small wound.
The other fae seem to briefly notice the blood despite the butterflies distraction, especially the fox who licks its lips with dazzled eyes and Lady Ghouri smiles wickedly.
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That's a light wound for Theodoric, -1 on actions.
The idea was to trip her--having a log appear in front of while you're moving should at least force an Athletics roll to avoid tripping. It's not like a big tree trunk that simple stops movement; rather, it's a log a few inches thick that's less noticeable but more meddlesome.
OK, what next? Does Viola have any take on why the spear didn't do more damage?
Given that the log cannot be created within her personal space, I gave her a strike penalty. It might also introduce an additional botch dice, but forcing an athletics check seems too harsh when she already knows about this trick and doesn't need to move overly much to still strike.
Lady Ghouri thrashed Theodoric with the flat side of the spear blade rather than cutting into him. Looked deliberate, more like what a trainer might do to tease a recruit?
Given the effect the power is having on the grogs, Constantine doesn't think it's wise to do it again for the moment.
Viola will try a sponted version of Eye of the Wizard's Swamp with a duration of Diameter a smaller area of effect--just big enough to get under Ghori's feet. The reduced duration will make it level 15. Viola will use Fatigue to double the lesser art, and remember this time that her talisman is attuned to Muto, giving a +5 bonus in that art:
[Mu 12 + Talisman attunement 5 + (Te (or Aq) 5 X 2) + 2 Sta + stress die 0] / 2 = 15
Targeting roll (should that be Dex?):
Finesse 3 + 1? (specialization in Precision) + 0 Dex + stress die 6 = 9 or 10
The spell drops Lady Ghouri into quicksand just as expected, and she starts to sink, a look of anger and surprise across her face. Very clearly unimpressed. She will sink down slowly.
Theodoric's action please.
(ooc: late due to madness)
Theodoric stabs the Fairie Lady with his short sword from behind his big shield, grunting with pain as he does. His movement is minimalistic, precise, practised. It is the elegance of a soldier rather than the savagery of a barbarian.
ooc: Attack 10 + roll 5 -1 light wound = Attack Advantage 14 (bonus iron? Pissed off fairie?)
I assumed following orders was part of a grog's training.
