Two weeks ago, you saved your girlfriend from the drug den that she had been lured into. She's been going through some odd withdrawl symptoms, and can't really sleep still at night. Even so, she's looking much healthier.
At least that's one thing you feel good about. You're a nervous wreck. You just finished your midterm exams in the college. Even though you were confident going in, you're not so sure right now.
A letter came to your room this morning. It's the grades. You look at it. Music theory, A, intro to mandolin, A, wilderness survival, A, intro to magic, B-, intro to swordplay, B.
You didn't expect to do well in your magic class -- you've been focusing on just physically feeling better after being stabbed. Still, the lower grade in your swordplay class hurts. That's your focus. Training with Miranda during her addiction was a bad choice.
"How did you do?" You ask Miranda.
"I got three C's and two D's." She looks upset.
"Don't worry, you're still passing. You'll do better from here on." Actually, you're not so sure of that. Miranda still hasn't faced any punishment for being involved with the 16th Note. She could get expelled. You sure hope not.
You've been wondering, too, what the man in black was talking about when he stabbed you. What is The Alchemist's Grove? Some sort of cult? You haven't asked around yet.
In any case, today is the day of Professor Miyazaki's fencing tournament. The prize: a strange sword from a faraway land. You want it, maybe because it's so good looking, or maybe because you want to make up for being imperfect in your testing.
What are you going to do before the big tournament, bard in training?

The Rules:
The official QM Twitter is @CitizenCFKane. Watch there for when a new thread starts.

Generally, the most popular option suggested by the people of /tg/ will win for the action taken or words spoken. However, occasionally dice rolls may be used.

Please be respectful of your fellow players and the GM. Don't be that guy.

Pop culture references are allowed, but an over-abundance of them will likely result in a lackluster experience.

The dice rolls will use the AD&D method. If attacking, roll high. If rolling percentage or a skill, roll low. The majority of rolls will be made with d20.

>>36596871
Ask Miranda about The Alchemist's Grove.

>>36596871
>>36596924
this and comfort her on her grades, we can help tutor her

>>36596924

"Miranda, do you know anything about The Alchemist's Grove?"
"Huh? D-don't talk about them."
"Why not? Who are they?"
"They're d-dangerous, Buddy. Killers. I'm s-still worried about them. You're l-lucky that guy didn't kill you. He wasn't even a big player for them."
"How do you know so much about them?"
"That guy, he gave me a scroll to contact them if I wanted to g-get the new password to the 16th Note. He t-told me about them."
"Can I see the scroll?"

She goes into her drawer and takes out a small scroll. You look over it. Yep, definitely a teleportation scroll with a set destination.

What do you want to do? The tournament is in under an hour.

>>36597063
Get rid of the scroll, unless she really freaks out about it for some reason.

Help her with her studies.

>>36597211

You tear the scroll in half. She doesn't seem to mind, but the scar on your gut aches. It's a dull, stinging pain; you've become familiar with it over the past two weeks. Luckily, it has never become a problem other than a bit of discomfort.

"Now, Miranda, do you want me to help you study? You might need some help catching up."
"O-okay!"

You spend a while going over information with Miranda on your Intro to Magic class that you have together. She's a fast learner, probably because she's in so many magic-based classes. Maybe it's some of that half-elf blood doing her a favor, too. If there's anything she's really good at, it's memorizing things. Hell, she even remembered that your last name is Holly, and no one remembers that.

Things are getting better with Miranda. Love like hers will surely come your way. Every day seems a little longer, every way seems a little stronger -- you should write that down, see if she thinks up any kind of tune for it with you later.

The tournament is soon. You'd have to leave now to show up on time.

>>36597430
Go to the tourney. Ask if she wants to come watch.

>>36597430
>>36597512
this, and give her a hug and a peck on the cheek either way

>>36597430
>>36597553
Yeah.

>>36597512
>>36597553
>>36597564

"Alright, that tournament is coming up. I'm heading out now, do you want to come with?"
"S-sure!" She smiles. You give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and the two of you head out.

Professor Miyazaki just finished explaining the prize by the time you showed up. He continues with his explanation:

"There are four competitors here, so there will be 3 fights in this tournament total. It appears that many students have failed exams or are otherwise ineligible to participate. The rules are simple: single point duels. It is my strong belief that it is the first strike in combat which means the most. We will test your skills here today to see who has gained the most from my teaching."

As he talks, you strap on your protective gear and stand next to the other competitors. There's Assandra, the best rapier user you've ever fought against, a saber user, and a guy with a polearm. Assandra is set to fight the polearm guy. He was strong looking, but not nearly fast enough to take down Assandra. That girl has amazing speed.
Then it's your turn. Miranda says "Good luck" as you're called up.
"Buddy versus Lance."
You get up on the stage.
"You're going to get crushed, punk," Lance says. "You're going to pay for what you did to my brother. Even if he's captain of the fencing team, he's not the star of the family. I am. Time for you to pay." He draws his saber.

>Roll 1d20. Aim high.
>May the dice gods be with you.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>36597696

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>36597696

>>36597717
>>36597727


You leap forward. You've got this, he's wide open. Just like his brother, you guess -- just talk and no action. The scar on your chest aches, but you're going to hit him. Absolutely.

Wrong. His sword flips up and parries yours. What was that? That shouldn't be possible. He was way too fast -- he isn't human! There's something wrong!

You stumble backwards and parry a hit from him. Miyazaki yells out "Time!" But Lance doesn't stop. You let your guard down when the professor said to, and you sake a saber hit right to the mask in front of your face. The blade digs deep into the metal wiring, but stops just before hitting your face.

"Disqualification, Lance!" You hear Miyazaki yell. Lance, again, doesn't listen. He takes another swing at you, but you dodge just in time. He doesn't. You kick Lance in the stomach and he falls off of the stage, where he's restrained.

"You haven't heard the last of me, Buddy Holly!" He yells as he's dragged back.
"Why did you call time?" You ask Miyazaki.
"He was using a magical weapon. It's strictly against the rules, and I couldn't be sure until I saw it in motion. If he hadn't been, you would've won that round anyway."

Assandra gets up on the stage.
"Hey, looks like it's just us. Ready to lose?"
"Don't assume I'll go easy on you just because you're my friend!"

>Roll 1d20. Beat Assandra for the sword!

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>36597913

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>36597913

>>36597986
We're just not meant to win this damn tournament...

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>36597913
cmon dice gods, don't fuck us over again

>>36597986
>>36598030
What...

So what does this mean?

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>36597913

>>36597986
>>36598010
>>36598030
>>36598015
>>36598043
>>36598061

The dice gods hate you all. Even the 20 guy. I'm so sorry.

You go in, and Assandra quickly jabs her rapier into your body. The tip hits where your scar is. Suddenly, you feel a shock from at area on your body. The world around you goes black.

When you wake up, Miranda is above you. You're back in the healing station.
"What happened?" You ask Miranda. She's standing.
"You fainted during the tournament. Assandra isn't happy. She's --" Assandra storms into the room.
"I want a rematch! You jerk, you didn't give me your best! You came into the match still bothered by your injury! There's no glory in this!"
"W-what? Assandra, he needs to rest!"
"I'll do it," you say. "After I'm feeling better."
"You'd better not back out. I was expecting your best in there and you gave me nothing!" She turns around and heads out. "Oh, and feel better soon, so I can kick your ass for real."
"Alright, Assandra."
You sit up in your bed. Miranda's watching you.

Anything to say? What do you want to do?

>>36598141
"Well this has been an embarrassing day. Can we just go back to the dorm?"

>>36598141
>The dice gods hate you all. Even the 20 guy. I'm so sorry.
So how do dice work again? I've forgotten, and it would be pretty crap if a 1 overrode a 20

>Anything to say? What do you want to do?
How are we currently? are we in shape for a rematch right now?

>>36598420
>How do dice work again?
While rolling something like a CON or DEX save, you must roll at or below your score in that area. You know that your CON is 15 and your STR is 13. Otherwise, roll high. 1 and 20 are meaningless here other than simply adding to the average.

>>36598388

You are in no shape for a rematch and decide it best to just go back to the dorm room with Miranda. As you're walking, the scar on your gut suddenly shocks you and your vision stops working completely. The image of the man in black stabbing you and trying to rape Miranda flows through your head. Your heart is beating fast. You remember the dagger going into your gut, him talking about how you didn't know who he was. You feel the screaming pain from your gut. You hear Miranda screaming.
Your vision comes back. It's blurry. Miranda is crouching down; you're on the ground.

"Buddy, are you okay?!"

>>36598514
"I don't think so. Go get help."

>>36598514
>Otherwise, roll high. 1 and 20 are meaningless here other than simply adding to the average.
So its average of 3 instead of best? well thats stupid and that 20 should have bumped that average way up

>>36598514
>>36598574
This, describe what we're feeling and try and find somewhere comfortable to sit/lie down

>>36598574

"I don't think so. Go get help."
You're kneeling on the ground. Miranda runs off in the direction of the school of magic. You try to keep your composition and stand up, Your heart is still racing and you still feel pain in your gut. You lean against a nearby tree and look in the direction Miranda ran off to.

"You think you can just go in and play hero?" You hear a voice. Standing ahead of you, there's now a man in all black. He wears a top with a hood and a spiked pauldron . There is a black piece of cloth hanging in front of his crotch, and his pants are tight. Black boots, as well.
"You are a weak man. Surely not hero material. And you will die."
The man in black draws a dagger from his belt.

What do you do?

>>36598673

We're playing by 1e rules where crits don't exist yet.
If you and the other players would like to play with taking the best of a set amount of rolls, I can do that, but you'll need to get the agreement of the other players.

>>36598704
Do we have any weaponry? If so, I guess we get to lose another fight. If not, try to run away.

>>36598744
Best of three is the norm. Would that be okay?

>>36598785

Then I guess we can do best of three, starting from here.

You shakily draw your longsword.
"Do not be so foolish, boy."
The man in black pushes you down to the ground. You can't even fight back. He puts his knee to your solar plexus and brings the dagger to your chest. He carves something into your chest. You pass out again.

When you wake up, you've got your magic professor standing over you, casting a spell on you.
"Professor?"
"Stay still, child. You've been cursed and poisoned. I must be careful so that I do not ruin this spell." The professor continues casting the spell. After a while, it's all finished. The professor turns away to leave. Miranda had been helping during the ritual.
Do you say anything? What is your next action?

>>36598941
Ask Miranda what the hell happened and hug her close

>>36598941
>>36598971
This

>>36598971
>>36598993

You hug her close. She clings to you. "What the hell happened, Miranda?"
"Y-you had a curse. When you were stabbed the first time."
"First time?"
"A-and you were just poisoned again..."
You look down at your chest. Your shirt is unbuttoned. There's some marking on your chest now, it looks like some kind of "A" shaped symbol. And it doesn't look like it's going to go away, like the other scar.

How do you react?

>>36599032
"I wonder why he didn't just kill me."

Test

Anyone still here?