Complete Main Story (S4 Finale P.2) The Frontline: Hold

[Harper]

175 / 175

Determined, Protected by @Ash Vargold, Vulnerable.

It wouldn't be long after the events in Finweald that Harper would once again find herself in the middle of turmoil, the tigress having taken notice of a rising conflict for a strategic spot. She couldn't deny that she wanted to go after Ronja as soon as possible, but she was rational enough now to remember that it would be suicidal to just dive into the enemy forces by herself. As such, she figured it would be for the best to help build up the allied forces.

Besides, she couldn't deny that she still felt doubt. Would she be good enough to face Ronja again? In any case, beating up a bunch of magia would help her figure it out, or at the very least make her feel better about it. Cleaning up the dissonant magia in the castle was easy enough, but Harper could already hear the sound of siege weapons striking the walls outside and she knew that they would have to deal with the enemies outside soon enough, or else they might end up drowned by the waves coming in from a breach in the wall. As such, she decided to go towards the wall.

To her surprise, she would meet a very familiar face in @Toko , the bunny girl climbing up the wall by jumping up floating bricks. Harper couldn't do anything like that, but she could certainly climb a wall the classic way, using her strength to dig her claws into the hardened stone and pull her way upwards. Upon reaching the top, she would meet the others who were also planning on jumping down, where she also recognized @Ash Vargold and someone she hadn't met in a long, long time.

"Yo! Haven't met you since last summer. How you've been going... Uh... Stacy, was it? Anyhow, I'm here and ready to help." Upon hearing Toko's comment, the beastkin would flex one of her biceps with a smirk. "Good thing I've got a pair of the best trash compactors in the business right here then. Also what are these cards?"

Without thinking too much about it, she pulled a card. Immediately, she felt warm. The type of warmth you'd feel from a hug given by someone you really care about, while they tell you that everything is alright and that if you keep going everything will work out. And after a bit, the card itself disappeared from her hand. Harper herself was definitely puzzled, but she couldn't deny it invigorated her somewhat. Just in time too, as the others started to jump down the wall.

Standing over the border, she watched as Toko and @Fina Drago cleared down the enemies as they landed on the battlefield below. Figuring she could do something similar, she scouted the battlefield before spotting a group of magia setting up a siege weapon to lay waste upon the wall. Perfect.

Jumping onto the border, she would crouch and grab it with her claws to keep herself stuck to it as she leaned forwards, pointing her head towards the siege weapon. Her leg muscles would visibly bulge as she contracted them, the beastkin compressing her own form like a spring before launching herself with enough force to break off a chunk of the wall, spinning mid-air to land feet-first into the weapon, causing a loud impact and sending both magia and dust flying high into the air. For those nearby, it almost looked like the work of a mounted ballista bolt, not an actual living being.

Upon recovering from the sudden impact, some of the dissonant Magia would slowly approach the dust cloud that formed to look. Sadly for them, all they would see was the remains of the large weapon being swung at them like a baseball bat, before said remains were then thrown onto another weapon nearby, neutralizing it. And once the dust cleared, one could see the beastkin standing in the center of the destruction, covered in debris.

"Holy hell, that was RAD! Oh, and watch your six Bugs!" She exclaimed, grabbing a nearby magia by the neck and launching it at an enemy sneaking up on her, knocking both of them out.

Rolls

Roll Result
1d4 (4) = 4
Steph's Deck of Not-many Cards | Harper | 1695C2

1d100 (32) + 50 + 10 = 92

Fortitude Exposed Save | Harper | 1695C2


1d100 (60) + 50 + 10 = 120

Fortitude Leap Save | Harper | 1695C2

(BA) Duelist
+30 bonus damage when you attack an enemy in melee. * 2 = 60 Damage
Reckless Attack
4d100 (22 + 39 + 95 + 25) + 20 + 15 = 216
216 damage * 2 = 432 + 60 = 492 Damage.

Crush Weapons | Harper | 1695C2

Sharp
1d100 (65) + 40 + 23 = 128
128 damage * 2 = 256 + 60 = 316 Damage

Crush Weapons (Idna's Love bonus Non-Special) | Harper | 1695C2

Total Contribution: 808 Damage

The Frontline Hold
▪ Hold: 6831
▪ Harper's Sheet

 

[Darko Ljubicic]

90 / 140

-50 HP from THE MAW
Vulnerable

As the remaining threat within Camp Hope was resolved, Darko then made his way into the palace that once was occupied by those robots that attempted to hijack the Starcalled's UIs and brainwashed the majority of the magia players. As they were, he thought that they were just mere fry that, although they were hard to eradicate, was not that much of a threat to their surroundings except the periodic raids that they did. But what these magia did today in trying to hijack the players themselves was nothing short of inexcusable. There were still other people within this game who only joined just for fun, but these pieces of scrap metal just had to make them live in a gruesome reality. Some debugging had to be made here, and Darko will be one of those who will do it.

As he had reached his destination, he then saw a number of people approach a woman who was holding out cards as if she was some sort of a street magician or astrologer. As he was using the same kind of magic as her, he knew what it might entail if he would pick a card, and he was confident about his chances. After all, he had the same magic, and he should know its intricacies. And so he moved forward and scrutinized the cards that were flashed before him, but oddly enough, he could not analyze his future at the stage that he picked a card. And so he then relied on his instinct instead, and as he drew a card and looked at what it meant, something that looked like a black hole suddenly appeared and then sucked off the forearm that held held the card. A wave of excruciating pain overtook him as he then tried to move away from the black mass that mysteriously disappeared as fast as it appeared. As he then looked upon the others who seemed to have been patched up, he then concluded that he might have picked the wrong side of a coin.

Swiftly leaving the area so that his mouth could stop insulting the person who handed out such a rigged deck, he then moved towards the wall. Noticing that a lot of people jumped down to battle with the magia, he could only sigh as he provided covering fire with his revolver.

Rolls

Roll Result
1d4 (1) = 1
Steph's Deck of Not-many Cards | Darko Ljubicic

Save
1d100 (66) + 40 = 106
Will | Darko Ljubicic | Exposed | 1695C2

Ultra Hinder
2d100 (9 + 49) + [50] + 10 + 5 + 50 = 123
123 SP damage
You are Vulnerable.
Astramancy | Darko Ljubicic | 1695C2

(F) Sharpshooter
+5 bonus damage when you attack enemy at range (+10 if you have Hyper Awareness).
Darko Ljubicic

(BA) Sharpshooter's Aim
+20 bonus damage when you attack an enemy at range.
Darko Ljubicic

The Frontline Hold
▪ Hold: 6984
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Raid Boss]

Special Event

Critical Failure

1

@Nyx, when you drew a card from Stephanie's magical deck of cards, you somehow drew more than one. Although you undoubtedly saw Idna's Love on top, four Maw cards fell from your palm and shattered in the frigid winds.

Maw cards drawn: [ 10 / 10 ]

No harm will come to you, but out there in the world somewhere, the connection has been established. That's a story for another time, however.

"What the? Where did my Maw card go?" Steph asked herself as she shuffled through her deck, looking for the funny-looking monster card.

---

The Maw card can no longer be drawn. Reroll if you get a 1 when you pull from Steph's deck.

 

[Amyl]

150 / 175

- 25 HP from the Deck of Not-Many Cards

A twisting, gnarled tree blooms at Prim's command and escorts her to the parapets of the Ruined Palace. She watches with a singular arched brow as other Starcalled seem to be falling in the opposite direction, jumping off instead of climbing on. It's amusing and she allows herself a small giggle, though she isn't quite sure why she finds the idea of people falling from the sky funny...

Staff in hand, once she is on solid ground, she can finally take a look over the battlefield. And what she finds immediately brings a frown to her face. There is nothing but chaos spread from horizon to horizon, with the sounds of pain and agony and the clash of swords providing the soundtrack.

A tiny sigh grips her as magic manifests in her hand. Forcing her will through it, an ethereal frog manifests on her shoulder. It gives a single croak before bursting into pure essence, swirling around her, and empowering the fall of flowers that waterfall down over another player. Gotta keep you healthy! she calls out, unsure if they can even hear her.

Rolls

Deck of Not-So-Many Cards
1d4 (3) = 3
-25 HP
Steph's Deck of Not-many Cards | Primrose

(BA) Coordinate
Both you and an ally gain 15 to attacks, heals, or buffs.
Summon | Primrose
[ @Chrys gains this buff as well ]

Heal
2d20 EX (15 + 14) + 25 + 15 + 20 = 89 (0 explosions)
+89 HP to 1 target
Nature Magic | Primrose | 1695C2

89 + 15 ( from coordinate ) = 104
[ @Darko Ljubicic heals 104 HP ]

(P) Overheal
When receiving heals or healing others, you or your allies may go 40 above their max HP.
Primrose
[ @Darko Ljubicic gains this effect as well ]

The Frontline Hold
▪ Hold: 7088
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Hanasakura Okami]

95 / 120

-25 HP from Lady Pain's Offer
x2 Movement Count from Rush
Vulnerable

Okami had decided to aid the Ruined Palace's hold. She was rather hesitant to participate. After she learnt what had happened while she had logged off and found herself affected despite not witnessing the event herself, Okami decided she should step up even though there was at the moment, a great suspicion towards the Magia. However if she had learnt anything, the Magia could still be saved and she was not alone in this endeavor. Around her, as she stood upon the walls of the structure and looks below, are the brave souls who decided to maintain this bastion. It reminded her of that day in Fukushima, the day that made her regret living every single day.

She can't help but draw the parallels. Just like back then, she was one of the few left alive from the incident. Those that knew her those close to her had mixed reactions. The worst were the grieving, how they threw slurs at her at why was she the one alive when their own is dead. What made her so special? She received many stares when people connected the dots about her being from that part of Fukushima and wondered if they were looking at a ghost. Therapy had at least, helped to calm the waves, but she never thought a game would resurface memories of the past. Gripping her blade, she looks up before looking down. Below her were not men and women with overpowered skills, but firemen, rescue crew and everyday people trying to pry rumble and save those from the disaster.

And now, she shall be one of them. Taking a step up and drawing a card, she looks at the text before feeling a sharp pang in her gut. It kicked the wind out of her for a moment, but she felt stronger afterwards. Her breathing steadied, and she towards the edge. Energy flowed through her body and in the moment, everything slowed down for her. She saw everything move in slow motion, the tree that @Primrose had grown, the bullets that flew from @Darko Ljubicic's weapon slow enough to touch with a finger. Okami crouches, let's gravity lean her forward, and pushes off the wall.

To the outside observer, a blur of pink had just launched off the castle and descended upon the magia masses, blowing a hole through their ranks like Odysseus shooting an arrow through the rings of axes.

Rolls

Roll Result
1d4 (3) = 3

Steph's Deck of Not-many Cards | Hanasakura Okami

Save(Leap)
1d100 (58) + 20 = 78

Fortitude | Hanasakura Okami | 1695C2

(BA) Rush
Double your total movement count this cycle.
Hanasakura Okami | 1695C2

(F) Momentum
(8 * 5) = 40 bonus momentum damage

Dynamism | Hanasakura Okami

Reckless Attack
3d100 (9 + 93 + 79) + 10 + 10 + 20 + 50 + 40 = 311
311 damage

Slash Weapons | Hanasakura Okami | 1695C2

311 * 2= 622

The Frontline Hold
▪ Hold: 7710
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Raid Boss]

Cycle 2.5

Everyone in this thread may make an optional post without mechanicals to reply to others or wrap up their scene. 500 words max this time.

 

[Ishtar]

125 / 125

Vulnerable

She caught her breath, the euphoria of the card finally fading completely. What the hell was that anyway? The magic in this game had some weird and kind of scary effects, but she supposed that made sense given the realism of it all. She took a few more steps back before her heart finally stopped pounding and she turned away from the scene of the battle. The healing she provided should have done something at least and she needed to get back to where she could provide the maximum assistance for the maximum gain.

She hurried over to the rows of injured and dying and began to work her way up and down the rows of soldiers, providing healing here and directing the magicless medics there. "No one dies here, understood?" She shouted, pointing in one direction after another. The NPC medics hadn't really agreed to have her take the lead but weren't about to argue in a dire situation like this. "That wound will get infected, it'll hurt but cauterize it!" She continued, "Someone get some water over here!" She called, before closing her eyes and holding her hands out, once again using her hymn of healing.

The healing light spread out from her body and washed over like a trickle over the fallen players and npcs alike. She, on the other hand, felt her strength start to leave her. She'd been going for god knows how long and didn't know how much longer she could keep it up. She needed to rest. She ended the latest recitation of her spell and turned weary eyes over the rows of injured men and women. Outwardly, her expression was as serene as possible even as her eyes had bags beneath them. Inwardly, she wanted to scream and throw a tantrum. This was too much!

She flinched at the whiny thought, how was this too much? This was war. She should have expected something like this by throwing herself into a battlefield. It was her own fault for being so arrogant as to think a low-level player like herself could do anything let alone keep up as much as she had. She took a deep breath and steadied herself. She'd let her magic recover a little while she directed the medics while occasionally glancing around to keep track of the stronger players who may have come back behind the walls.

Rolls

The Frontline Hold
▪ Hold: 7710
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Fina Drago]

‎
172 / 175
‎‎ Empowered (+64 [2/3])
‎

Putting all the mechanical bloodshed aside, this operation really was suspiciously easy. No giant spider tanks specifically designed to crush a palace, no god-like magia who could rain death and destruction on half of the battlefield... well, perhaps she should enjoy it all while it lasts.

Unfortunately, the enemy boss did appear after all. Or at least that was the feeling of the aura that suddenly emerged from behind Fina. As she turned around, sweat running down her cheek, she was ready to be terrified... and it was justified as she spotted @Crimson Ruby hissing and scolding. 'T-this might be worse than any special enemy...'

"H-helping the resistance with the magia problem? And hey, there are plenty of supports here! Look, I'm practically uninjured... unlike you; wait, what happened?" Thankfully Fina did not witness Ruby's less-than-stellar landing, so she hurried over to the feline before the healing from others started taking effect.

The Frontline Hold
▪ Hold: 7710
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Crimson Ruby]

183 / 225

Vulnerable

A relieved sigh escaped her lips, and from afar, she gave a grateful yet apologetic look at @Vina Skysong, before casting a serious glare at @Fina Drago.

- Look, I'm practically uninjured... unlike you -

"HISSSSSSSSSSSSSS-!!" Her ears and tails perked up, with a dangerous scowl crossing her face.


The Frontline Hold
▪ Hold: 7710
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Kamala Graham]

‧͙⁺˚･❀･˚⁺͙‧

Adventurers Guild

Ruined Palace, Vintergard

Kamala spent the next few minutes, the remaining time she had left in this scene, to heal and mend those that she could. She wasn't as efficient of a fighter as @Ayna Nietzsche, who was somewhere else at the moment, or as tanky of a defender as @Chrys, who had shielded and defended her and others effortlessly. Healing was what Kamala did best, and healing was what she did to contribute to the effort.

"Don't worry, don't worry, I'm here! Let me help!"

Despite the nagging paranoia, the hot buzzing underneath her elven flesh, Kamala focused on the task at hand, a sweat forming upon her brow, a reminder that something else, something terrible, was bubbling beneath the surface. With Gwyndolainn's grace, however, she managed to pull through, rescuing more than she could hope for despite everything else.

That was when he caught sight of Chrys, who was knocking out as many of the magia as he possibly can.

"Chrys! Is it time? Should we..."

They had a plan. They always had a plan. She had concerns when Ayna decided to split off from them, pursue her so-called puppeteer and take out as many of the puppets as possible. Kamala did not like the idea of hurting the controlled magia, but Ayna had a point: Most of them would be reborn, free from their sins, or at least that was the idea. The greater good was to prevent more innocent landers from dying. The magia could always rebuild their artificial bodies, could they not? Still, we need to be careful not to destroy them... Ayna's still pissed off at getting controlled and Chrys keeps forgetting how strong he is...

---

The Frontline Hold
▪ Hold: 7710
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Langley]

114 / 120

+44 HP from Vashti's heal

One minute Langley was perfectly dry and panicking. The next, he heard a little beep-boopy voice say "Target acquired" and was promptly firehosed in the face with some kind of minty cold goop and... well, to be honest, no less panicking than before.

Sputtering as the deluge of mystery goo finally let up, he spotted a small airborne drone of some sort tucking away a nozzle. With a semi-cheery "Healing dispensed" the drone turned around and began to float its way back towards the base. It looked to be making its way up the wall, returning to the side of a dark-haired fox-eared girl with a gun.

Healing? So this was one of the good robots. Indeed, the worst of the wounds in Langley's arm seemed to be closing up, leaving behind just a few scratches and scrapes. Handy, that.

Seeing no reason to linger on the battlefield any longer, Langley booked it back as well. He made his way back in and climbed up towards the top of the wall, looking around for his mechanically-gifted benefactor. Luckily, she was still up there, so he approached @Vashti during a moment where it looked like he wouldn't be interrupting her sharpshooting.

"Hey," he said. A distracting strand of semi-damp slime-caked hair fell in front of Langley's face. He pushed it away. "Seems like you're one who made the little robots flying around and shooting out healing slime down there? One of them saved me a whole lot of pain, so thanks a lot for that."

"But, uh, not to sound ungrateful or anything but you might want to work on giving them a less ominous notification message or something? Hearing 'Target Acquired' before getting blasted in the face is a heck of a wake up call."

The Frontline Hold
▪ Hold: 7710
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Vashti]

95 / 120

Seems like you're one who made the little robots flying around and shooting out healing slime down there? One of them saved me a whole lot of pain, so thanks a lot for that.

The fox woman turned quickly when someone rushed up the stairs, eyes wide as @Langley began to talk. She hadn't expected anyone to ascend to the ramparts save perhaps for an enemy, so she had stood ready to turn her weapon on the unassuming man. Based on what he was saying, that would undo a lot of the work her drones had just done.

With a ragged breath, she let her heartrate slow as the man continued.

But, uh, not to sound ungrateful or anything but you might want to work on giving them a less ominous notification message or something? Hearing 'Target Acquired' before getting blasted in the face is a heck of a wake up call.

"Uhm... ehehe, sorry about that," she began to reply, calling back the drones from their survey of the surrounding area. "I'm still only just figuring out how to shift between programs and settings with the Magitech. I was able to change the loadout to a healing salve that was pre-registered, but the drones are still functioning on auto-turret sentinel presets."

She clasped her hands neatly into that trademark "pretty please" as she winked an eye and tilted her head slightly, sticking out her tongue. "Oopsie! I'll make sure it doesn't happen again!"

Glancing down to the group below, she looked to see if her drones had done anymore excessive and perhaps shoddy work. The fact that she couldn't immediately see any large piles of ooze boded well... for the moment.

"I'm gonna see if anyone else needs to be treated," she told the other beastkin, still smiling. "Feel free to let me know if you need any healing! The names Vashti! You can call me Vash, tho!~"

She hurriedly made her way down the wall and raised her voice, "alright, gamers!" she shouted, "form two lines, quickly! The healers will make sure you get treated in accordance with need. If you don't need any topping off, help secure the wall. Keep the baddies out so we can work on keeping you all alive! Easy, right?"

She quickly ordered the drones back to her side and began to tinker with the settings, hopefully reprogramming them to function in a less... intense manner moving forward.

"Step right up! Auntie Vashti'll get you right!~"

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

Adventurers Guild

250 / 300

Ruined Palace, Vintergard
 

Chrys...just stood there. Several machines, after he dropped himself down and caused a mild ruckus in a small area, started to go after him. Yet he never moved an inch. All he needed to do was push them back, boot them in the face, use his Geomancy to trip and knock them unconscious, and nothing else. This was pretty much an easy breeze of sorts for him. Just God of Rocks things, eh?

@Kamala Graham calling for his attention, however, interrupted his reverie as another rebellious machine tried to grab at his face, only for Chrys to use his Geomancy to quickly form a wall between them with the very ground itself.

"Hm? Already?"

Chrys heaved a sigh of annoyance before waving a hand and sending that same earthen wall straight into the machine, pushing it away from with the speed of a car before making it topple and crush over the robotic revolutionary. What was it that Kamala had told him? Careful not to smash too much of the magia? Bah. They're just a bunch of pixels! They'll be fine.

"All right then. On my way."

The God of Rocks then made his way to the Verdant Rebirth for a quick reunion before they proceeded to the next phase of the plan. Sigh, @Ayna Nietzsche's really ruining my weekend... I better get a lot of money for this. If only Cessia had not referred to him by name, then maybe he wouldn't be so motivated to show-off for his Guild Master. Impressing a boss should be really helpful for his future business ventures in this part of the game world.

How many magia can I sell this time, hm? Hehehe!

---

The Frontline Hold
▪ Hold: 7710
▪ Play Sheet

 

[Raid Boss]

Transition

In the years where he had reigned over the Starcalled Nation, Astor had grown weary of his duties, shouldering the hefty weight of those he represents and those he had sworn to serve. As a public servant back in the real world, he felt responsible for all players, who, like him, had become trapped in the game world. Whenever a UI-locked died, it was his fault, for not being able to protect them until the MIT make progress in finding a way back to the real world. There was the rift between landers and Starcalled as well, one that he was certain will widen because of Szofrit's hijack. However, they were too far in to stop the machination of war. Things will only be worse if they don't stop her soon.

No matter how strong his front was, Astor's façade always crumbled in @Ilusa Nakhalee's presence. "You have the King's protection, my love. Don't over-extend, however. We don't fully know what the enemies are capable of. A difficult battle is waiting for us ahead," he said.

When Ilusa asked how the enemies were able to distort their UI so badly, a panting Stephanie dashed up to them with Accelerator in tow.

Steph tried speaking between gasping for air, "Hah… It's because of… Hah… the concentration of magic... Hah. Players UI always distort when it's… Hah… close to a deep concentration of magic. Hah… S-sorry, give me a second to catch my breath."

The poised strategist caught the tail-end of their conversation, but cut it short as he beseeched Astor, "A messenger just came back from the Forward team, it's time to issue the command to arm the palace to the teeth with traps and meet up with the Forward team, your majesty."

Astor nodded and turned to Stephanie, "Stephanie, summon the Siren."

"On it!" Steph exclaimed as she stood straight up, producing the magical deck of cards on her palm. The hand that hovered the cards glowed briefly before she opened her eyes and pulled the Siren card. A semi-translucent mermaid emerged from her deck and looked down at her master.

"Miss Siren, please deliver the King's message to everyone in the Palace," Steph commanded her Siren, who extended her hand and put it on Astor's head.

It was at this point that everyone who was still within the vicinity of the palace would hear Astor's voice in their head.

'It's time to execute our plan just like our drills and rehearsal. Rig every entrance, room, and corridor with traps and take the secret underground passage out of the palace and join the Forward team at the invasion point. Whistle guides will take you there. For those who volunteered to join the Skeleton Crew in staying behind to occupy the enemy forces, wait to receive overhealing, buff, and speed. As for everyone else, head out!'

After he finished, the Siren scattered into a hundred specks of light as Steph hunched over as exhaustion was starting to catch up with her. Accelerator grabbed onto her arm to make sure she doesn't keel over.

"Head to the invasion point with Stephanie. Ilusa and I will check in with the Skeleton Crew before we depart. Godspeed," Astor spoke to the two.

Accelerator nodded, "That's my line. Don't expire too early, your majesty. Stephanie, let's go. We've got a war to win."

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, war is bad! Just because we have to fight the magia to protect others doesn't mean this has to be a war! Framing is important!" Steph protested, but only to be met by Accelerator's cold glare.

"War is all the same no matter what you call it. People killing each other and are killed. I'd rather Astorea be on the right end of the sword after the stunts Szofrit pulled. Imagine how the landers feel if we simply befriend those who was responsible for the death their loved ones and destroy their livelihood. Last I check, it was our people who murdered the landers. We have some atoning to do and crushing the magia is the first step to a peaceful resolution. Framing it in a way that best utilize our force's emotions is necessary to end this war as quickly and as efficiently as possible, if saving lives was your concern," Accelerator's voice was stern as if he was chiding the red-head.

Steph clammed up when she could not counter her companion's sharp words as a perplexed expression crossed her face.

Meanwhile, Levi who hadn't arrive at the palace for long prepared to be sortied again. With a group of Lions, he ushered the defenders to the secret passage after they finish their task, "You heard the king. We're heading to the invasion point."

To be continued in Part 3...​