>>5321803>1Agno shuts his eyes, too clever to be thus fooled… But no so for your assembled audience, who are unprepared for the sudden mental push. You hear groans and cries of startled pain and stiffness as every kobold in the audience—and the Novice Fleshweaver and Translator—stare down into the pit. The basilisk casts its gaze about, sputtering and spitting at the sudden attention, demanding food, and dozens of observers double over or go stiff, grimacing in pain as their muscles seize.
You cringe. This is… Less than ideal for your reputation here. There will also be no denying that you tried to win this duel by arguably-dishonourable means? Does your natural presence count as magic? It certainly doesn’t count as noble strength-of-arms.
On the other hand, the dozens of agonized reptiloids DOES provide a perfect distraction, which Agno CAN’T ignore. He opens his eyes, looking around in confusion…
>20And you swing your head down towards the platform, hard. His grip loosens and he tumbles over your head, only to be sandwiched between your thick, horned skull and the rusted metal and splintered wood of the makeshift arena. You feel his ribs crack, and he lets out a truncated squeak as the air is forced from his tiny lungs. The impact is such that it shakes the platform, and for a moment you are afraid that you will both tumble down into the pit, buried by wreckage and beset by the basilisk…
>2But you are not. You rise once more to your full height, head still spinning and ears still ringing, and survey your vanquish foe. Well… Not vanquished, but also not conscious. His eyes are rolled up, leg twitching amusingly. You look around at the crowd, too gripped with pain to even notice who won and who lost. Your victory: hard-won and unnoticed! But, well… That is your won doing, you suppose.
With a sigh, you heft the beaten kobold high, holding him aloft so all can see. It takes them a few moments, but the crowd eventually takes in what has happened. Still, there is no cheering; the Translator and Novice are not the sorts for such jubilation, and the kobolds take in your victory with a grave solemnity. You can sense something of their mood: your victory came through trickery, and Agno put up an impressive fight against such a powerful foe; how can they condemn him? But, well… They are reptilian of mind and spirit, and whatever the nature of your victory, it WAS a victory; if Agno could not best you, nor the Dragonwrought before him, then how can they hope to rebel, even if they wanted to?
(You kind of wish Glowie was here. SHE’D cheer you on.)
