Hey folks,
So here's the situation: A friend of my two-PC-and-a-slave party, an NPC Dervish (well, he wields two scimitars and dances his foes to death), got himself convicted for an unknown offense in the Romelike nation we're in, but he's promised to tell me the story eventually. (I'm considering making him tell it now, though.)
He got a choice of ten years' prison, ten months' hard labor, and ten rounds in the arena. Damned human, ten months even was too long for him. So he's gone five rounds, done too well, and they're making his next fight be worth five rounds.
Sending him up against the arena champion, an unusually charismatic troll who has been undefeated for the five years since he became it, and that I watched kill another undefeated convict in 30 seconds when we first arrived. Dervish wasn't happy about his chances before I started interfering, and I've already reprimanded him for his arrogance and haste.
What I've done so far: Given him a pair of magic dice, after identifying them. You roll them, and they cast a random spell of the level you roll appropriate to the situation. How my DM's randomizing that, I'm not sure. If it's similar to how divine magic is granted it will probably be more helpful than if it's rolled on some kind of list. They've improved his mood considerably, but I still consider them a bit of a wild card and do not wish to count on them.
Unknown Factors: Why the dervish told us to sit where he did. Whatever it is, it wasn't enough for him to be sure he would survive; but I believe there will be a reason for it. For that reason, I didn't consider requesting to fight beside him.
Setting: Gunpowder is a fair part of the setting but not the arena so far as I have seen. Minor spellcasting is granted by homebrewed feats, and anything with much more casting than a factotum or monk isn't really available in class levels. (Even a swordsage would have to avoid supernatural maneuvers; my DM dislikes Tome of Battle but not in an absolutely prohibited sense. One can beg.) Forget magic crafting. Alchemy's where it's at. We don't really have time to make any of the homebrew alchemical concoctions that might approximate potions though. We've got one day.
What we've seen the troll do:
Troll is clad in metal bands that protect but do not interfere with his movement.
Man charges troll, troll grabs him just before charge is finished and lifts him over head.
Man slashes troll's wrist and manages to free himself, slashes troll up a bit.
Troll claws man, grabs with claw attack, secures hold.
Troll throws man 200' into the air.
Man falls; lands; dead.
Player Characters:
Myself, grey elf factotum 3/cloistered cleric 1/arcane stunt swashbuckler 1. My resources include the ability to prepare one 0th or 1st level spell on the Sorcerer / Wizard spell list one time per day, the ability to prepare 10 magic missiles per day, 50' move speed, and expeditious retreat 6/day as a swift action with duration 1 round. Feats that I haven't time to retrain are: Weapon Finesse, Faery Mysteries Initiate (keying my HP off Con), <Int-based Spellcasting>, Knowledge Devotion, Precise Shot, and 2xFont of Inspiration. +5 intelligence and some skill tricks that are probably not relevant.
Also a longbow and a magic pistol of unknown magic, in the style I favor, but I am pretty sure shooting from the crowd would be frowned upon. (Especially if I'd put a bet on the dervish. I could probably get impressive odds, but I would probably have less leeway in cheating for him.)
A bleu naga bard 5, who in exchange for her spellcasting got full BAB, d8 HD, and a good Fort save. She can Inspire like a mofo (Words of Creation) but I'm unsure whether she can sing very well over the noise of the crowd. Importantly for our preparations, she has accelerated alchemy crafting. She can actually get at least 20gp of alchemy done in a day. Taking 10 on a DC 15 check I can add 2gp to that; Aid Other might be more effective. I'll have to talk with her.
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So ... questions are:
What combination of alchemical items worth a total of 22gp (what we have guaranteed) should we craft?
What spell should I prepare with my 0th or 1st level slot?
Any ideas for further strategies to aid my friend?
Alchemically, I'm considering things like 10gp dust eggshell grenades, 5sp powdered water, and I suppose 10gp bloodflower salve as being potentially useful.
Spell-wise, I could use Launch Item to more effectively throw an egg grenade from the crowd, try to visit with my dervish friend less than three hours before the fight and buff him with mage armor... (... He's been fighting shirtless.) ... or prepare Feather Fall and, erm, try to leap into the arena with my move speed + jump and tumble checks to catch him should he wind up falling 200' I suppose. I'd welcome any further spell ideas. Probably going to be around medium range from the fight.
Help me be decisive about what I want to do here! (If it's something I can do while betting on him all the better. I've got something of his worth 2000gp in case he dies on me anyway, so might as well put a few pounds on the man.)
Edit: My goblin slave is good with dice, but I don't actually think I can sneak him into the match.
