This is a guro thing, isn't it.

This can't end well. You KNOW that.

rolled 19, 14, 14 = 47

Can you be a it more specific? Are we hiring girls to be gladiators?

If so, can we hire a kenku, a lizardgirl, and a gnoll.

rolled 11 = 11

Gnoll, Gneutered.
Escaped slave, recently got out of the pits herself.

>>14630053
Fights that are explicitly to the death are rare; training a slave for months to kill them in minutes is more expense than any but the richest can handle.

>Are we hiring girls to be gladiators?
Well, buying. Think Rome meets Conan.

Availability of intelligent non-human slaves is fairly low, but you could get lucky.

rolled 19, 6, 18 = 43

>>14630113
Hey, you got to look for something outside the norm to get noticed. And you never know, we might be the vanguard of a new trend.

Re-requesting Kenku, Lizardgirl, and Neutered Gnoll.

>>14630137
Name and background first, you can't visit the slave market if you don't exist.

rolled 9, 5, 14 = 28

>>14630143
How about nickname instead?

Name: "Gatos"
You've been very lucky. Born to reputable parents. Lived a middle class life, even got some basic weapon training and education before you were drafted. Your superiors were actually competent, and you took advantage of their knowledge to improve yourself. Unfortunately, or fortunately in your case, war and battle claimed those around you, but left you unharmed.

You know that you got here by chance alone, but now you want to be able to put down the terms of your life. You know of combat, and you'll take this opportunity to make money by training your recruits the way you were trained in the army.

>>14630177
One vote for "Gatos" the veteran, one vote for "Gneutered" (also a nickname) the recently freed Gnoll.

You are Gneutered (randomly chosen), a recently freed slave. Your hands on experience should give you an edge over the average hobbyist who you expect to be your competition at this level.

The slave market is a mass of buildings and occasionally stalls of varying trustworthiness. It has naturally formed around the auction house, where criminals and prisoners of war are sold. However, individuals seeking to make deals, especially those looking for something specific, often must do business less officially.

The obvious place to start is the auction house. Unskilled slaves and convicted criminals are lumped together, and go for 25 SP. Trained arena slaves can set you back anywhere from 50 to 100, depending on their credentials.

You set out to find any non-humans for sale that you can. Many of the merchants are a bit shocked to be dealing with a gnoll, but only show it when they think you aren't looking. Unfortunately, the only non-human you can find is a sullen lizardfolk woman, captured in a border raid. Since she's a bit of a risk, you haggle her price down to 35 SP.

You have 150 SP to work with, and enough space to house five slaves. That 150 SP has to get you weapons and armor, as well. You can buy armor for 10 SP, a buckler for 1, metal weapons for 10, and simple non-metal weapons (club, net) for 1.

You can choose from the above options, or look elsewhere for something specific. If buying weapons, metal or simple, specify what type.

rolled 6, 10, 2 = 18

>>14630350
Requesting full armor set and simple club weapon. Full armor to protect our new asset, and a simple club because it works.

>Requesting full armor set and simple club weapon.
Counted.

>protect our new asset
Any preference? Also, you aren't limited to one, assuming you have the money.

>>14630414
100 SP trained arena slave

>>14630350
I'll take five stocks of armor and five stocks of weapons (100 SP). Weapons are as such: 1 spear, 1 mace, 1 short sword (spatha maybe?), 1 khopesh, 1 trident.
Then buy a convicted criminal and 5 bucklers. Look for one that's got the brawn and flair.

>>14630350
See if we can find a criminal convicted for assault or murder, preferably with some kind of weapon. Maybe an Ex-soldier that went on a binge and did something stupid while drunk.

>>14630449
>>14630447
Counted and counted. I'll continue once any one plan starts gaining momentum.

37 SP and several somewhat awkward document signings due to your lack of any name but your arena nickname, you are the proud owner of a club, buckler, and some armor, as well as Septimia, a petty thief, thug, and semi-successful fugitive. According to the merchant, Septimia managed to injure the guards who brought her in -- though if the merchant guessed your purpose, this might just be an attempt to bump her price up.

At the very least, she looks to be in passable condition. She probably has at least a few useful skills that can be transferred to her new career.

You take your purchases home. On the way back, you check with the local arena and confirm that you plan to enter a fighter in the next game, which is in one month.

Course of action?

See how good our new purchases are. Let them know that freedom is an actual possibility, as we can personally attest, and have some sparring with them to find out how good they are. Only blunted and softened clubs for now. Soften them by tying clothing along the outside a couple layers thick.

>new purchases
I read two votes for one convict. Did I misunderstand?

>>14630695
Yeah, but we had the lizardwoman as well right?

>>14630695
I think he meant the lizard woman and Septi. And seconding the sparring thing between Lizzie and Septi.

>>14630781
She was listed among the available slaves, but nobody voted for her. If she gets a majority of votes, she (and an identical set of equipment unless otherwise stated) get bought too. Marketplace isn't going anywhere.

Regardless, question remains - fights in a month, wat do. One vote so far.

>>14630811
If we have enough left over money, buy the lizardwoman too. We'd need a fallback in case Septi gets defeated.

rolled 13, 17, 6 = 36

There isn't much more we can do but train them. Mock weapons, and offer them their freedom if they win often enough.

>>14630811
Ah, ok. My bad. Buy the lizardwoman, the convict, 2 armors, 2 clubs, a net and shortsword, wooden mock up of a shortsword , a spear and the haft of a spear that we can put a softer padding on annnnnd....a buckler. Total should be 118 SP. We need leftover money for upkeep I assume.

Retcon: You also purchase a lizardwoman and another set of equipment, leaving you with 74 SP. She speaks very minimal Imperial. Her name is a hissing sound followed by a quieter hissing sound that rises in pitch.

You give them a speech emphasizing the positives of their situation -- they now have a chance to be free and full citizens which was not previously available, they have a much higher life expectancy than the gladiator of popular conception, and it isn't in your interest to treat them poorly. Septimia nods, failing to look brave. SSssS is harder to read, but you suspect that the transfer of ownership is more or less academic from her perspective.

You wrap the clubs in cloth and give your new slaves a brief overview on how to use them effectively while avoiding attacks. You spend a few days drilling them on basic maneuvers, and then set them loose on each other.

The results could be worse.

Septimia seems to have picked up a few things fairly quickly. SSssS is still struggling with keeping her guard up, but she hits like a brick when she connects. It must be a muscle density thing, or something; she isn't particularly big.

After a couple of weeks of decent sized meals, Septimia seems to be a bit more able to handle SSssS's blows. SSssS's progress is less impressive, but she does seem to have adapted to her new life very well.

The month passes quickly. Eventually, the day of the fights arrives.

While important fighters get billed as attractions, lesser known ones simply show up on the day of to sign up for warm-up fights.

Knowing this, you show up early to talk to an arena bureaucrat, hoping to sign up for something favorable. There are a few slots open.

-Two slots for a two on two match. The opponents are another manager's unknowns.
-One slot for a three on one match -- three other gladiatrices against one giant toad.
-One slot for a two on two match. All three other fighters are unknowns.
-A slot as a last minute replacement in a three on three match.

If you simply enter your fighters into the games, they'll be assigned a match. It will almost certainly be a group free for all, with a small chance of a dangerous fight that the arena is having trouble filling.

Any fight is worth 5 SP to you, win or lose. You can also bet money on the side, of course.

>three gladiatrices against one giant toad.
Oops. Fixed.

rolled 18, 17, 6 = 41

>>14631110
It's probably not smart, but I vote for the giant toad battle. Can we ask our fighters if they have any experience against such things?

>I vote for the giant toad battle
Who do you want to sign up for it, and what do you want to sign up your other fighter for? That fight only has one available space.

>Can we ask our fighters if they have any experience against such things?
Negative. Septimia has almost never lived outside of a heavily settled area, and giant toads live far from lizardfolk lands.

>>14631173
That's me.

>>14631173
>>14631180
Captcha is ruining me.

rolled 10, 2, 10 = 22

>>14631185
SSsss against toad, human female as backup fighter in 4th choice.

rolled 15 = 15

>>14631202

that sounds good.

>>14631274
>>14631202

SSssS and her two mystery allies are actually towards the end of the warmup, immediately before the free for all that precedes the events that get actual billing.

Septimia is close to the beginning.

You give both fighters a pep talk. It's their first fight, so you try to encourage them, emphasizing the similarity to all of the situations that they are trained to handle.

As a trainer, you have access to a seat backstage -- or more specifically, underneath the arena at a safe distance. The view isn't the best, but you'll be able to shout any emergency directions during the fight if need be.

At this point, there's nothing to do but wait.
>continued

The first fight is a flailing mess between two scrubs. It ends after a lucky blow leads to a broken arm, with the loser carried out on a stretcher.

Septimia is up next.

Her ally is an absolute disaster who barely knows how to hold her trident. Luckily, one of her opponents, armed with a net and short sword, expresses comparable quality, judging by her stance.

Septima's second opponent worries you a bit. She has a noticeable scar on her sword arm, and she holds her buckler like someone who can consistently keep it between herself and danger.

The fight manager gives the signal, and the match begins. Septimia and her competent opponent move towards the center of the arena, each of their allies trailing slightly behind them, probably ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble.

Any orders? Septimia looks like she can at least keep her wits about her, but if you have any clever strategies, now is the time to scream them and hope someone pays attention.

>>14631394
"ZERG RUSH!"

>>14631394

Use your ally to distract the experienced opponent, Septimia!

You shout "Stick together, and rush the one on the right!" You hope that this causes Septimia to use her ally as a distraction without actually alerting her ally to her role. Luckily, this is also exactly how Septimia thinks.

Septimia feints, moves back, waits for her ally to close with her opponent, and then charges. Unfortunately, the attack bounces off her target's buckler at the last second. In the resulting clash, Septimia's ally nearly gets her arm sliced open by her opponents sword. Luckily, it glances off of her armor.

Her other opponent looks on nervously, content to hide slightly out of range, her weapons held up in what must be an attempt to look threatening. Suddenly, at the urging of her trainer, she rushes Septimia, only to be knocked back.

The two sides lock up at close range, each side momentarily unable to gain any advantage.
Orders?

>>14631431

Seconded, not much else we can shout out to her that she could do without special training. Maybe try to rush her with the shield and knock her over?

>>14631560
No, you can be pretty specific with your orders if you want. If you need any more detailed information first, that's fine too.

>>14631560

This makes sense, seconded.

Shield rush, deflect the first blow, full-body tackle, then stabbity-stab-stab

>>14631574

Well, if we can't distract the strong one, then maybe the least we can do is to take the weaker one out first? Try to move between the two so they cannot support each other.

We need to remove the net (and the nub) from the fight, so that we can surround the other chap.

This is a good time to drop the positive, nuturing gladiatrix manager style.

"What are you doing! Why isn't that bitch face down in the dirt yet? She's half your size! You could EAT her! Just run right over her!"

Given the short range that the two are fighting at, you expect a sudden shove to be fairly successful.

It isn't.

It's absurdly successful.

Septimia knocks her opponent back several feet, then delivers a blow backed by her entire body weight plus her momentum, by way of her shin, into her opponent's side. Her opponent's body crumples around the kick and she falls to the ground, her buckler and sword falling out of her hands in opposite directions. She's hardly injured, but you doubt she can get up for the duration of the fight.

Both of the other fighters forget to do anything for the next few seconds as they look on.

>>14631672
>FINISH HIM.wav

I mean, if that's alright with y'all.

>>14631672

Wait, which opponent is this? The experienced one is down? Well then move on and shieldbash or cut the other, that should get us the win?

>>14631694

Who decides that, OP? Is there some high ranking dude around who's the guest of honour here, or is it decided by popular demand?

>>14631694
Don't finish him/her yet, just make them unconscious! And then chase after the noob! Give the crowd ENTERTAINMENT!

>>14631712
The experienced one with the short sword and buckler is in the fetal position, coughing. The inexperienced one with the net and sword is physically fine, as is everyone else. Also, Septimia has a club and shield, just so it's clear.

If there's a better way to represent this, let me know. I thought of drawing a map but it's simple enough that I doubt we need one.

>Who decides that, OP?
Who decides who gets killed? Currently nobody is supposed to die. This fight is officially referred to as a "spar" despite the proper weapons. Accidents happen, but repeatedly clubbing an unconscious person is not entertaining or an accident.

>>14631744
Another kick to the ribs sounds appropriate, yes?

>>14631744

Get the ally to watch your back, then kick the experienced one again until she's on her back.

Put a foot on her neck and do a little sexy shimmy. That should serve to entertain the audience, those lusty little bastards.

>>14631760

Seconded.

"Make her stay DOWN! And make it look GOOD!"

Septimia struts past her downed opponent, pausing to pose with her arms spread wide, her ally taking up a defensive position. Then she does a flying elbow drop. She came up with that one on her own.

The stands are pretty empty, but you're pretty sure a few people made some noise for that one.

Septimia's ally advances on the remaining enemy, who is running out of room to back away.

>>14631815

Corner the nub, wait until she does something stupid, smack the living daylight out of her

>>14631815
Did she just do the People's Elbow? and
>>14631821
seconding this

>Did she just do the People's Elbow
In character, you do not know what this is. Also, yes.

"That scrub on your team knows what to do better than you do! Circle around her! She can't fight both of you if you come from different directions!"

Septimia quickly scoots into position, she and her teammate moving slowly closer. Her opponent makes a sudden, desperate rush, choosing Septimia as her target -- a bad choice, as Septimia responds with a rush of her own, knocking her back and landing a blow to the side of the head with her club.

Her teammate poses over the less experienced enemy, while Septimia shows off a few kicks in the air for the crowd, until the medics show up to drag the losers out.

Not a bad start.

>>14631856

I vote for a cautious yay. We'll have to get Septimia some spiked boots for some righteous kicking.

>>14631856
Well congratulate Septimia, she did great. Let see what our lizardwoman can do.

The next match is a free for all between three fighters. One goes down quickly, and after a difficult fight, the winner makes a point of threatening her more difficult opponent into submission before posing on top of her. It's no elbow drop, but it gets a good reaction.

SSssS is up next. She and her two non-descript human allies enter from one end of the arena, while the giant toad -- a massive thing that would have trouble fitting through a double doorway -- is prodded through an entrance at the opposite side by a group of guards.

Things to yell?

>>14631900

CIRCLE AROUND! GO FOR THE LEGS!

>>14631900
"AIM FOR ITS EYES! Watch the tongue!"

>>14631900
Shit I just missed the first fight. Ok let's see.

"Avoid that fucking tongue! If you can get on top of it, bash those eyes for all you're worth!"

>>14631917
Go for the eyes, Bo-, I mean, Sept!

>>14631975

Actually, this is the lizard chick SssS or however we spell it.

>>14631975

Nah Sept's done, we're on to SS now.

"There's one of it and three of you! Don't be stupid!"

The fighters approach as a unit, then split off. It's a bit difficult, since the toad isn't really interested in moving away from the wall or doing anything.

SSssS darts in from the toad's flank and clobbers it, and one of her allies follows an instant later from the other direction. For a moment, it looks like the toad is in trouble. In fact, it is just mad.

The thing's tongue appears on SSssS's leg as she retreats, and she falls to the ground, slowly dragged towards its mouth. The third fighter, who had been hanging back until now, charges, only to be knocked down by a sudden counter charging shoulder check and pinned under the thing's foot.

This looks bad.

>>14631990
>>14631988
>derped

In any case, RARARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH

>>14631990
I vote we call her 'Slicks' when the event ends. A proper gladiatrix needs an easily remembered name!

>>14632007
That's assuming she gets out of this alive.

>>14632001
Unfortunately she only has a club, so no tongue cutting...

"Smash its face in!"

>>14632001
oh shit, CHOP THAT TONGUE! ANY OF YOU! AND GET THAT DUDE FROM THAT FROG'S ARMPIT!

>>14632026

Does she have any natural weapons, sharp teeth, claws or something? Because if she does, it should be more effective against the tongue than the club.

>sharp teeth, claws
Both.

>>14632038
Oh in that case, we should have been teaching her to use those! Make a note for training.

"Drop the club and slash the shit out of that tongue!"

>>14632038

Arc forward, commence frenzied biting and clawing of tongue.

Attack the tongue!

Start furiously raping one of my slaves in the ass.

>>14632075
Kid, shouldn't you be in bed? Also, if you bothered to read the thread we are a neutered female gnoll. Sage for off topic

"Oh look! The toad is showing you its weak spot!"

You say this as SSssS, or "Slicks" as she will be named if she lives, nearly reaches the toad's open mouth.

It's sort of hard to tell what happens next.

SSssS definitely grabs the toad's tongue. She probably sinks her claws into it, because the toad lets go of her leg and retracts its tongue. The only reasonable explanation of what happens next involves SSssS continuing to hold the toad's tongue to travel towards it through the air more efficiently, but this still falls short of explaining how she ends up on its back with her teeth embedded in its eyeball.

Several berserk spasms later, the toad goes down in a flurry of stabs and clubbings.

>>14632113
That's the spirit, lassie.

>>14632113
Fuck yeah lizardgirl. Can we get the arena announcer to announce her name as Slicks after she tears this thing to shreds for the amusement of the crowd?

>>14632113

Nice. I'm thinking, maybe we get Slicks a chain to pull enemies towards her, then rip 'em to bits. Anyone agree?

>>14632139
I think first we need to work on encouraging this Berseker Lizardperson thing she's got going. Train her to be more efficient with her tooth and claw attacks, maybe make that her gimmick.

What about a chain in one hand, and sharp metal claw-extension things for her other hand?

>>14632139
Fucking this. +1

Once the crowd realizes what just happened, it goes over very well. The allied fighter who was crushed under the toad's foot is injured badly, but at least she's responsive as she's carried out.

You check on both of your fighters immediately -- they're bruised, shaky, high on adrenaline, and currently ecstatic -- though that will probably wear off in a minute. Satisfied, you head to the front desk to collect your 10 SP, bringing your total to 86.

End of part 1.

>critiques
>suggestions on how to organize this to give returning voters some warning that I'm going to do this again

>>14632149 here.
I think >>14632148 is excellent. We should train her to use that combination when the club wont work

>>14632155
Aww over already? I need to sleep anyways, good timing.

I know the guy running HarlemQuest set up a random email and got an email list that he uses to let people know when he's gonna run it.

>>14632161
If by "already" you mean "after four hours" then yes.

e-mail in field, post yours to get added, e-mail me to also get added.

Email'd

Archive?

>>14632219
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/14630047/

>>14632253
Oh, look at that. How do you archive things for future reference? Also, e-mailed.

>>14632265
Suptg is pretty awesome, you just go to the archives and click on the "Request Interface" button down at the bottom. From there it's self-explanatory.

Just remember kids: When in doubt, always over-tag!

>>14632185

though I dont post very often, i enjoyed this thread and liked how it came out. sending an email, as well as putting mine in email field. mayhaps i'll be able to properly contribute next time.

also, I dedicate this glorious portrait, which took over 9000 hours in MSpaint, to the victors.
I imagine Septi wearing a helmet, so thats why her head is all gray.