Korin vs Evil-Korin

[Merc]

[21:42] <Carthrat> As Korin trudges through the dusty streets of Calimport, he can't help but notice the large blue tent that sits within the merchant district. Seemingly unattended, the opening folds of it lead into darkness, while a few people linger about outside, watching it with a curious eye. "Challengers beware, for here lies the ultimate test of steel!" bawls a loud, confident voice, coming from somewhere within.
[21:45] * Korin grins. He was feeling a bit lucky after that whole mess at the mansion. He still couldn't believe he actually just waltzed into the place without any problems and then waltzed back out. Feeling rather confident, he heads towards the tent to see what it's all about.
[21:47] <Carthrat> The black entrance looms before you, and as you approach, the voice speaks again! "Oho! One willing to take up the fight? The rewards, tomes that increase any aspect of your self! The penalty for failure... phah, some would call it a blessing! To strip your soul and build it up!"
[21:50] <Korin> Why does that trickle at the back of his memory? Shaking the thought off, Korin nods at the statement that greets him as he starts searching for the source of the voice. "Possible challenger here, yes. I suppose I'd like to find out more about your challenge though, first," he comments. "What can you tell me about your ultimate test of steel?"
[21:51] <Carthrat> "Enter here, and you will face a fair challenge, a foe worthy of your time," pronounces the voice.
[21:53] <Korin> "Oh? How do I know it's fair? The only way for a fair fight would be to fight yourself, you know," Korin comments jokingly before realizing what he just said, the earlier trickling memory finally coming to the front of his brain. Wait, hadn't that grumpy half orc fellow said something about this sort of thing?
[21:54] <Carthrat> "Is that so? Then that will be what you fight, surely!" replies the voice.
[21:57] <Korin> "Uh, just out of curiosity, a friend of mine might have gone through your little test and failed. Would I face the same penalty for failure as him? Or something else? If something else is it random?" Korin asks cautiously, fishing for a bit more information about the particulars of the challenge.
[21:58] <Carthrat> "No two people can be remade the same way," intones the voice. "Fail, and your reflection is like putty in my hands, to be re-molded as I wish. It remains to be seen how...
[22:03] * Korin winces. "Can't say I like that..." he mutters. Still, the prize is rather tantalizing, and Thrall did claim the djinn had said he'd recover his strength. Taking a deep breath, he makes his decision. "Very well, I suppose I shall take the challenge. You said I'd be fighting myself?" the swashbuckler asks.
[22:03] <Carthrat> "You said that," clarifies the djinn.
[22:05] * Korin chuckles. "I keep meeting all these people lately that like answering my questions in such a manner. I truly need to learn to ask the right questions," he notes. "Alright then, care to explain the challenge a bit more thoroughly then, rather than me making assumptions? You did say it was a fair fight, and going into a fight blind has never been what I'd call fair."
[22:06] <Carthrat> "I have explained all I will explain," replies the voice. "It is up to you if you accept the conditions. There is no penalty for avoiding an unecessary fight- something many warriors would do well to remember."
[22:09] * Korin chuckles again. "Well, I do prefer to talk my way out of a fight. Though I don't suppose I can talk you into letting me use one of your tomes without going through the fight, correct?" he asks.
[22:10] <Carthrat> "The price is twenty-seven and a half thousand gold, but you do not look the richest sort."
[22:12] * Korin whistles. "You'd be right about that. I don't believe I can afford it. Well, even if it is an unnecessary fight, I am kind of curious, and you did say it was a fair fight. I'll take the risk. What do I have to do?"
[22:12] <Carthrat> "Walk in, and see!"
[22:13] * Korin takes a breath to assure himself he's doing the right thing, before stepping through to see what challenge awaits him.
[22:16] <Carthrat> Korin feels queasy and sick, but the nausea passes in a moment, and he is... elsewhere. He stands on a platform made of crystal steel, facing a huge mirror. Surrounding the platform is a huge moat, filled with hissing and spitting lava! His reflection is perfect in every way... until it leaps out the mirror, standing on the opposite side of the platform! Drawing both short swords, it smirks at you, holding them in a ready position!
[22:16] <Carthrat> OOC: Initiative~
[22:17] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+5
[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+5 and gets 7." [1d20=2]
[22:18] <Korin> "Well...it does seem to be myself I shall be fighting, doesn't it?" Korin comments as he pulls out his own pair of short swords. "Let's have at it then!"
[22:18] <Korin> roll 1d20+5
[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+5 and gets 15." [1d20=10]
[22:18] <Carthrat> OOC: You go first!
[22:21] <Korin> Moving towards his opponent with quick yet careful steps, the swashbuckling tiefling makes a pair of cautious strikes to start off with, focusing on quick stabs at the body that will allow him to pull his swords back to help defend himself once his twin attacks. OOC: trading two points of attack bonus for AC with Combat Expertise.
[22:21] <Korin> roll 1d20+6 strike 1
[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+6 strike 1 and gets 8." [1d20=2]
[22:21] <Korin> roll 1d20+6 strike 2
[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+6 strike 2 and gets 11." [1d20=5]
[22:21] <Carthrat> OOC: You can only attack once!
[22:21] <Korin> ooc: oh?
[22:21] <Carthrat> OOC: You can't make a full attack and move.
[22:21] <Carthrat> OOC: You have to move to close distance with him.
[22:21] <Korin> ooc: Ah, right
[22:21] <Carthrat> OOC: Misses anyway.
[22:22] <Carthrat> Your double deflects your blow with his own blade, countering with a pair of swift strikes! A web of steel is quickly woven between the two of you!
[22:22] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+8
[22:22] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+8 and gets 22." [1d20=14]
[22:22] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+8
[22:22] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+8 and gets 18." [1d20=10]
[22:22] <Korin> ooc: misses
[22:22] <Carthrat> OOC: I have your sheet open, don't worry
[22:22] <Korin> ooc: heh, okay
[22:23] <Carthrat> They both just miss, one making a tiny, but inconsequential cut against your forehead! OOC: Your move.
[22:30] <Korin> "Well, you do seem skilled, so let's take it up a notch," Korin comments as he attacks with a quick stab from each weapon!
[22:30] <Korin> roll 1d20+8
[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+8 and gets 23." [1d20=15]
[22:30] <Korin> roll 1d20+8
[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+8 and gets 24." [1d20=16]
[22:31] <Korin> roll 1d6+5
[22:31] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d6+5 and gets 8." [1d6=3]
[22:31] <Korin> roll 1d6+5
[22:31] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d6+5 and gets 11." [1d6=6]
[22:32] <Carthrat> Your clone lurches back in pain, the two blows cutting into his sides, causing him to begin bleeding freely! Snarling, he comes back with a pair of savage thrusts!
[22:32] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+8
[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+8 and gets 11." [1d20=3]
[22:32] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+8
[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+8 and gets 10." [1d20=2]
[22:32] <Carthrat> But the pain of his wounds causes them to go wide, missing completely!
[22:35] <Korin> "Tsk, and you're supposed to be me? You do seem rather lacking, especially in the banter department. First blood seems to be mine by the way," Korin comments as he unleashes another set of strikes at his body, not letting up on his mirror image as he attacks again with another pair of lightning stabs at his body.
[22:35] <Korin> roll 1d20+8
[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+8 and gets 22." [1d20=14]
[22:35] <Korin> roll 1d20+8
[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+8 and gets 19." [1d20=11]
[22:35] <Korin> roll 1d6+5
[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d6+5 and gets 7." [1d6=2]
[22:35] <Carthrat> Your double cries out in pain, but continues fighting furiously, without heed for personal safety! Is he a fool?
[22:35] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+8
[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+8 and gets 28." [1d20=20]
[22:36] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+8
[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+8 and gets 26." [1d20=18]
[22:36] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+8 crit
[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+8 crit and gets 23." [1d20=15]
[22:36] <Carthrat> roll 3d6+15
[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 3d6+15 and gets 24." [3d6=2, 5, 2]
[22:36] <Carthrat> Perhaps not, as this time, his pair of blows jab into our shoulders! One blade twists and rips free, sending a spray of blood across the crystal floor!
[22:39] <Carthrat> OOC: Merc, can we make this quick? I'm going to have to away shortly
[22:39] * Korin winces and bites his lip at the savage jab into his shoulder. Still seems usable at least. Good. "Of course, perhaps I've been a bit needlessly careless," Korin comments as his eyes begin glowing red as his own temper begins to match his opponent's own. With a growl, he once more lashes out with a combination of strikes. OOC: okay. I shall minimize the fancy prose.
[22:39] <Korin> roll 1d20+8
[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+8 and gets 26." [1d20=18]
[22:39] <Korin> roll 1d20+8
[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+8 and gets 10." [1d20=2]
[22:39] <Korin> roll 1d6+5
[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d6+5 and gets 6." [1d6=1]
[22:41] <Carthrat> Your double counters, right blade coming horizontally to the side, but left blade slashing diagnoally and up, towards your face!
[22:41] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+8
[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+8 and gets 25." [1d20=17]
[22:41] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+8
[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+8 and gets 18." [1d20=10]
[22:41] <Carthrat> roll 1d6+5
[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d6+5 and gets 8." [1d6=3]
[22:41] <Carthrat> OOC: Neck and neck! Your turn.
[22:41] * Korin keeps at it, ignoring the pain as he stabs with all that he's got. 'Fall, you copy!' he thinks in annoyance.
[22:41] <Korin> roll 1d20+8
[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+8 and gets 21." [1d20=13]
[22:41] <Korin> roll 1d20+8
[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+8 and gets 14." [1d20=6]
[22:41] <Korin> roll 1d6+5
[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d6+5 and gets 9." [1d6=4]
[22:42] <Carthrat> "Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!" shouts back your double as one of your blows strikes true, all pretense of stance forgotten as he lunges at you wildly!
[22:42] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+8
[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+8 and gets 10." [1d20=2]
[22:42] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+8
[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+8 and gets 17." [1d20=9]
[22:42] <Carthrat> Both blows miss, just by a hair!
[22:43] * Korin doesn't even reprimand his opponent for losing cool, too focused in the act of combat and the desire to win as he makes another set of strikes, hopefully ones that'll put his mirror self down for good.
[22:43] <Korin> roll 1d20+8
[22:43] <Korin> roll 1d20+8
[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+8 and gets 20." [1d20=12]
[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+8 and gets 16." [1d20=8]
[22:44] <Carthrat> It's not so, the strikes somehow defended against even through his blind fury! His counter is equally wild, but no less dangerous because of it!
[22:44] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+8
[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+8 and gets 22." [1d20=14]
[22:44] <Carthrat> roll 1d20+8
[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+8 and gets 13." [1d20=5]
[22:44] <Carthrat> roll 1d6+5
[22:44] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d6+5 and gets 11." [1d6=6]
[22:44] <Carthrat> You can feel your vision start to dim! Is it over? Not yet, there's still a chance!
[22:46] <Korin> 'Damn it all...whomever hits next will surely win...' Korin thinks desperately. 'I have to hit!' With that thought, he puts everything he has on two savage thrusts of his short swords.
[22:46] <Korin> roll 1d20+8
[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+8 and gets 24." [1d20=16]
[22:46] <Korin> roll 1d20+8
[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d20+8 and gets 13." [1d20=5]
[22:46] <Korin> roll 1d6+5
[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Korin rolls 1d6+5 and gets 11." [1d6=6]
[22:46] <Carthrat> Korin buries his blade into the heart of his opponent! As he withdraws it, his foe teeters back, before plunging into the lake of lava with a terrible hissing sound! The pain to his own body is almost overwhelming... but he won!
[22:47] <Carthrat> In an instant, he stands before a bookshelf, five tomes gathered therein. "Well done!" booms that voice, proudly. "The Tome of Understanding has already been taken by another- but there are still five aspects to your being, one of which you may now improve..."
[22:49] * Korin is surprised and a little shocked as he looks around and down at himself, checking himself for damage first.
[22:49] <Carthrat> His body seems completely intact, as if no wound had ever struck it.
[22:50] <Korin> 'Huh...' he thinks before remembering his prize, and quickly, with a deep grin, walks over to the bookshelf, looking at the titles of the tomes as he thinks what he'd most like to improve.
[22:50] <Carthrat> OOC: There are five tomes, each one a +1 to a stat. All stats are present but intelligence.
[22:52] <Carthrat> OOC: They have fancy names which you can look up in the DMG if you care >_>
[22:56] <Korin> After a bit of thought, Korin finds himself debating between two tomes. Finally deciding that quickness is not something he is in dire need of, he instead goes for the Tome of Health. You can never go wrong with being more durable after all.
[22:56] <Carthrat> As Korin withdraws the book, he feels reality twist around him once again, and suddenly, he's back in front of the tent...
[22:56] <Carthrat> <->

***

OOC Chatting:
==============

[22:48] <Carthrat> It was close, oi.
[22:48] <Carthrat> If you died, I was going to strip you of two-weapon fighting and short swords.
[22:48] <Korin> Ewww.
[22:48] <Carthrat> And replace it with exotic weapon prof: Elven courtblade (and weapon focus: elven courtblade, to be fair).
[22:48] <Hotaru-chan> And what, make him a rapier fighter?
[22:48] <Carthrat> Which is basically a finessable greatsword.
[22:48] <Hotaru-chan> Courtblade? o_O
[22:48] <Hotaru-chan> O_o
[22:48] <Korin> Courtblade? o_O
[22:48] <Hotaru-chan> That's fucked up.
[22:49] <Korin> What the hell is a courtblade?
[22:49] <Hotaru-chan> Finessable greatsword, apparently.
[22:49] <Carthrat> It's an elven sword of ridiculously light construction.
[22:49] <Hotaru-chan> But...
[22:49] <Hotaru-chan> Shouldn't that reduce the damage?
[22:49] <Hotaru-chan> *mind asplodes*
[22:50] <Carthrat> It's D&D

[22:57] <Carthrat> Basically you get +1 constitution after a week.
[22:57] <Carthrat> That's how long it takes to read the book.