Tiigra is Next

As the crowd celebrated Baer's victory, Tiigra was thinking about this morning. Her mother was getting her ready. Tiigra didn't like the leather armor. It was too tight. Her mother simply smiled while her daughter complained. "Sorry, Tiigra. Unfortunately you are taller and more full figured than I was at your age. It does fit well enough and will protect you."

"Besides a snug fit will please the audience." She smiled at her a womanly smile, not her normal motherly smile. "You need to remember that being entertaining is a benefit to a Gladiator. While you don't want to attact a husband you do want men to toady you"

Tiigra blushed. It was true, in both cases. She had chosen to be a gladiator because if she stayed the Settlement Leaders would decide who she would marry. She would still be trained to fight but she would also have to marry.  When she becomes a Gladiator, no one will decide who she married other than herself."

Tiigra made a frown when she saw the leather skull cap. Her mother had adorned it with decorations. Tiigra wanted to argue against wearing but she knew what her mother would say, "Even your thick skull needs protecting and an attractive Gladiator gets better matches than an ugly one".

She took her quarterstaff and prepared to leave. She didn't see sadness in her mother's eyes.  Women in the Barresh Settlements were expected to be Warriors too. There was regret. She knew her parents wished to have been able to give her a spear as well to fight with. Unfortunately her Father's hides were only able to bring enough coin to get the quarterstaff not a spear.

"Don't worry Mom. You taught me how to fight with the spear. This quarterstaff is close enough. I just have to remember that there isn't a point. Wulf will make sure I don't forget."

As she walked toward the door, her Father showed up. She hugged and kissed her parents goodbye, leaving to join her friends.

Tiigra heard the Troupe Leader call her name.

The Troupe Leader then call the name of Braighel. A female Silver Elf stepped forward. She was shorter than Tiigar and the Elfess was carrying 2 Hand Axes.

They both step into the Dirt Arena moving toward each other.

Tiigra moved first.

Tiigra arrived at the center first

The Silver Elf moved to the center. The match officially started.

The Silver Elf maneuvered for an opening but Tiigra used her quarterstaff to prevent her from finding one.

In a frenzy Tiigra attacks head on but the nimble Braighel sidesteps the attack. Tiigra rushed past and is knocked to the ground when the Silver Elf struck her on the head with one of her axes.

Her skull cap prevent Tiigra from recieving anything other than minor damage

I use the Heroica Battlepack to track damage. A single disc is used for each point of strength. There are columns for both legs, arms, belly/lower back, chest/upper back, and head. Here is my removing 1 disc for the wound recieved. Red tiles will be placed on top of the column if a bleeder occurs.

Quickly Tiigra gets up and backs off to catch her breathe. She is relieved to discover she is not bleeding.

Braighel charges to attack head on dual attacking with both her axes. Tiigra dodges and blocks the first swings and the Silver Elf keeps up her flurry of attacks.

Eventually Tiigra battles her to a stand off.

Tiigra reacts first and gains the advantage by hooking her quarterstaff underneath one of the axes forcing her back. She flings it back revealing Braighel's unshielded side. Tiigra strikes the Elfess hard in the unarmored belly. The blow knocks her down.

Here is Braighel's damage: -2

Here is where for the next two turns I forget that Braighel isn't stunned and should get back up and fight. So Tiigra gets 2 more attacks before Braighel gets to attack.

Tiigra's quick reflexes enable her to pursue her attack. She attacks the Silver Elf while she is knocked down striking her on her chest.

Damage is -2

Tiigra follows up with another frenzied attack on her fallen opponent. The slippery Elfess fends of the attack to an even draw. Braighel gets up.

Braighel is exhausted but attacks Tiigra anyway. Axe and quarterstaff strike and counterstike but no opening is found. Both women face each other exhausted but neither is giving ground or quarter.

Tiigra attacks Braighel head on finding an opening in the Silver Elf's guard once again. Knocking her back as she strikes her in the belly once again.

Exhausted and a slight headache, Tiigra breathes a sigh of relief. She has survived her first fight. Braighel is dead.

This was a longer fight than Baer's. While his was 3 rounds, hers went 8 rounds.  I made more mistakes in using and applying the rules. I still had fun and will be sure to include better notes for modifiers to use with the tables.