Complete Main Story Vintergard (S4) Hope in Danger!

[Ashifili*]

Hope in Danger!
Cycle 0

There was one word to describe the weather: miserable.

Thick clouds bundled over the sky, blotting out the sun and casting everything in a dimness that made the ruined cityscape of Vintergard even more desolate at a distance. Droplets splattered intermittently against the ramparts of the hastily-reinforced gates of Camp Hope, the heavens threatening cloudburst, but the storm had not yet arrived, leaving the atmosphere charged. Charged with anticipation, charged with trepidation. And cold. So miserably cold, as if winter had arrived already.

It was a creeping cold that seeped deep into the bones, but no material could be spent on bonfires now. Only through labor was the chill chased from one’s fingers and toes, and the inhabitants of Camp Hope labored infatiguingly. Forges burned so hot that they scorched, pyromancers working with smiths to hotforge blades and barbs, shovels and shields. Merchants and their caravans evacuated all their commercial wares, leaving behind only food, potable water, and medical supplies. Burdenbeasts snorted and heaved against trodden earth, their massive frames pulling forwards greater constructions, while the most fleet-footed adventurers were scrambling in every which direction, delivering supplies to and fro to the sappers out in the field.

Three times. Three times now, that Camp Hope IV had survived the onslaught of the DEAD.naught. Three times too, that they have failed to destroy it.

It had returned stronger than before, evolving with each iteration, and they have numbers greater than ever before as well, with Astorea’s government finally moving towards the reclamation of Vintergard.

This would be the fourth. This would be the last.

“Hammer those stakes deeper! It’d be disastrous if the ballistae became dislodged during the opening salvo! Medical team, where’s the report on our supplies? Lions, get those constructs to the salvage team!”

Levi’s voice carried well through the camp as he strode, calling out orders and observations throughout. The Lions Pride had always been the shield of Astorea, and in this critical moment, he would gladly take the mantle of responsibility here.

Sweat slicked his forehead, and his body chaffed beneath his armor. Between chaos of unexpected betrayals, the troubles that less-scrupulous adventurers have caused, and the near-endless amount of tasks he had to supervise, the man’s mind was fraying at the ends. But it was in this moment as well that he was in his element, even as his eyes burned from sleep deprivation, even as his armor had long lost its sheen, and that fearless smile of his remained.

He was the red-headed devil, the Lord Commander of the Lions Pride, and, most importantly, he wasn’t even the one under the most duress.

"Chin up, Meriam,"

Levi said, eyes glancing over at the untouched cup of tea by the smaller woman.

"What's the report from our forward scouts?"

The faerin rubbed her eyes, letting out a long sigh. Exhaustion was more acceptable for her to show compared to the Lion’s shining paragon, and all this was fundamentally unpaid overtime.

“Not great. Or good.”

The Faerin’s brows furrowed.

“Might be bad. Faster than before. Sporting a triple-barreled tank cannon too. Omni-directional physical shields. Escorted by a detachment from the Ruined Palace, according to the Far Seers. And…”

Levi's gaze remained on that tea cup. The fluid. It was shaking. Minutely, but growing.

“...it’s scorching the earth behind it.”

Meriam winced.

“Won’t be able to flank it from behind like last time.”

“Well, wouldn’t be a challenge otherwise.”

Brave words.

"I trust it's still on course?"

“Through the trench, heading towards the Northern Gate.”

“An AI with a grudge.”

Levi nodded. That was within calculations. For all the futuristic weaponry of the Dragonship’s magitech soldiers, the mechanical titan remained stubborn in its focus of destroying Camp Hope from up close, and it had been due to that nature that they had managed to hold off its attacks for so long. As long as it continued to charge, as long as they continued to charge in kind, the gate would remain.

“I’ll continue on and out then. Keep up the good work, Meriam.”

She didn’t respond. More messages were coming in, frantic messages about how the arrival of that Camp Crushing machine was imminent.

But the two had both been well aware of its advent.

It was the rumble of thunder, where there was no lightning.

It was the smell of ash, where there was no fire.

It was malice birthed from the binary, where there ought to have been but rationality.

“TAKE YOUR POSITIONS AND STEEL YOURSELVES!”

Levi’s voice rang bright, revolting against the oppressive skies.

“THIS CAMP CRUSHER HAS FAILED THRICE. AND TODAY? IT SHALL NOT SURVIVE FOR A FIFTH ATTEMPT!”

The Sword of the Fated Hero sang as it surged from its scabbard, a mirror sheen to reflect its wielder’s peerless valor.

“LIONS PRIDE! TO ME!”

And whether accompanied by fellow braves or alone in heroic solitude, Levi strode forth, towards the thunder, the furnace, the steel.

What Commander would he be, if he led not from the front?

[ … ]​

Meriam groaned as he left.

Heroic speeches were fine and everything, but his voice had certainly blown out at least one of her eardrums. She gazed at the cup of tea once more, the fluids shaking frenetically against the sides of the dainty cup, and drank the cold, mildly-caffeinated fluid down in one gulp. She’d need the energy anyways, to continue coordinating for tho-

The Faerin stopped. Blinked. Then swore in a language that couldn't quite be translated.

Her connection with the scouts had been cut.

 

[Ashifili*]

Cycle 0 - Mechanics

Spoiler: Thread Rules

Thread Rules

• The next cycle will drop in approximately 48 hours.
• We will be using the Playtest Packet 1.1e for this thread.
• Up to 2 characters per OOC account may participate in the event.
• Each character can make 1 post per cycle.
• There is no set posting order.
• Any character can join this story event.
• There is no restriction for joining the event late, feel free to hop in at any time!
• It is not a problem to miss a cycle, write your post as if your character has been there the entire time when you join late or rejoin after missing a cycle!
• Any communication can be done either by making a private comms thread or posting in the event's official comms thread.
• This event thread is focused entirely on progressing the plot. If you would like to take a personal moment with others, you can make a private thread in the regular forum.
• All rolls must be done in the #event-rolls channel.
• Important Links: Spreadsheet Tracker, TLDR Play Sheet Guide, Full Play Sheet Guide, Official Comms Thread

Spoiler: Map Visual (C0)

Battle Map

❰ Link ❱​

Elevated Terrains (Yellow Area)

Yellow squares are elevated roughly 40 feet above the gray squares

• Starting Area. All players may start anywhere in rows 5, 6, or 7 this cycle.
• Movement. Moving from yellow to gray costs 1 movement and 10 HP (fall damage). Spend 2 movements to negate the damage.
• Difficult Movement. Moving from gray to yellow costs 2 movements due to the vertical elevation.

Wall (Orange Area)

This is where the majority of players can be found.

• Starting Area. All players may start anywhere in rows 5, 6, or 7 this cycle.
• Mounted Defense. There are 5 ballistae mounted along the stretch of the wall: 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E
• Defeat Condition. If the DEAD.naught reaches any of the orange area, the wall will be blown, the enemy forces will be deployed and will immediately capture the camp

DEAD.naught
Camp Crusher IV

❰ ??? / ??? ❱

❰ ??? / ??? ❱

Status

• This enemy is currently not on the map.
• SP recharges to the max amount at the start of each cycle.
• This enemy will always target 3 of the highest threats with an attack.

Movement

• This enemy will appear somewhere on row 1 next cycle.
• This enemy always advances 1 space every cycle.
• It can't move sideway, only forward or diagonal.
• ???
• ???

Battle Objectives

Wall [ 600 / 900 ]

The wall represents a place of safety for defenders, granting perks depending on its health. Players don't lose when the wall HP goes to zero, but the wall will be irreparable and defenders will permanently lose access to the ballistae.

Spoiler: Info

Perk Tiers.

• T3 / 600-900 / 30 damage reduction / +30 heal bonus
• T2 / 300 - 599 / 20 damage reduction / +20 heal bonus
• T1 / 1 - 299 / 10 damage reduction / +10 heal bonus
• T0 / 0 / 0 damage reduction / +0 heal bonus

(Perk) Cover.

• The wall provides cover. While in the orange area, you take less damage for the cycle.

(Perk) Field Hospital.

• Supports are focusing on healing the wounded. While in the orange area, you gain a bonus to Heal and Power Heal.

(DM Action) Wall Maintenance.

• The wall is more than salvaged Dragonship platings slapped together to fortify the camp. It goes without saying that maintaining the wall involves more than just fixing the broken areas.
• You must be in an orange space to do this action.
• Make a Contribution Check (Expertise or Mastery - Any) and add that amount to the wall maintenance count. You're free to come up with how you're maintaining the wall or its personnel with your expertise or mastery.
• Add | Wall Maintenance at the end of your rollcode.

Spoiler: Template

[hp=current]max[/hp]
[status]

[/status]

Post here

[action][move]
1A -> 2A  (Action)[/move]


[/action]
[b]Wall[/b]
▪ HP: 600/900
Play Sheet Link

Ballistae [ 0 / 5 used ]

There are 5 ballistae mounted on the wall, which can target the DEAD.naught regardless of its location.

• You must be on 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, or 7E to use them.
• Each ballista may only be used once per cycle.
• Ballistae cannot Taunt.
• If the Wall goes down to 0 HP, you will permanently lose access to these weapons.

Spoiler: Info

(DM Action) Basic Ballista - 7A.

• This ballista has already been set up and tuned, making them easy to use.
• ?r heavy S S # Basic Ballista | CharacterName | Thread Code

(DM Action) Basic Ballista - 7B.

• This ballista has already been set up and tuned, making them easy to use.
• ?r heavy S S # Basic Ballista | CharacterName | Thread Code

(DM Action) Advanced Ballista - 7C.

• This ballista requires some major tuning for it to function at peak performance.
• Make an Expertise Check (Any) and triple your roll result. Deal that damage to the DEAD.naught.
• Add | Advance Ballista Tuning 7C at the end of your rollcode.

(DM Action) Advanced Ballista - 7D.

• This ballista requires some major tuning for it to function at peak performance.
• Make an Expertise Check (Any) and triple your roll result. Deal that damage to the DEAD.naught.
• Add | Advance Ballista Tuning 7D at the end of your rollcode.

(DM Action) Advanced Ballista - 7E.

• This ballista requires some major tuning for it to function at peak performance.
• Make an Expertise Check (Any) and triple your roll result. Deal that damage to the DEAD.naught.
• Add | Advance Ballista Tuning 7E at the end of your rollcode.

Spoiler: Template

[hp=current]max[/hp]
[status]

[/status]

Post here

[action][move]
1A -> 2A  (Action)[/move]


[/action]
[b]DEAD.naught[/b] (Ballista)
▪ HP: 25000/25000
▪ SP: 800/800
Play Sheet Link

Traps

The purpose of the battle is to kill the DEAD.naught before it reaches the wall and finishes its invasion. It's a no-brainer that Levi and Norn would call for traps to be set up on the battlefield to slow the enemy down.

Spoiler: Info

(DM Action) Prepare Trap.

• This is a small group check to set up traps on any gray space on the map.
• When the DEAD.naught enters a trapped area, it will immediately lose 650 SP.
• Make a Mastery Check (Any - DC 50) OR Expertise Check (Any - DC 70) to help your group prepare a trap. You must be in the space to prepare the trap there.
• [ 3 ] Successes are needed to trap a specific gray space.
• Add "| Preparing Trap [Insert Zone]" at the end of your rollcode.

Spoiler: Template

[hp=current]max[/hp]
[status]

[/status]

Post here

[action][move]
1A -> 2A  (Action)[/move]


[/action]
[b]Trapping[/b] 1A (0/3 Successes)
Play Sheet Link

Battle Preparations

Since the enemy isn't attacking the players directly this cycle, use the time to prepare yourself and your allies for combat! Pop a buff, overheal to shield your allies, or position yourself for success. The playtest changes we're using allow you to do just that.

Spoiler: Template

[hp=current]max[/hp]
[status]

[/status]

Post here

[action][move]
1A -> 2A  (Action)[/move]


[/action]
Play Sheet Link

 

[Kamala Graham]

‧͙⁺˚･❀･˚⁺͙‧

170 / 145

+38 HP through Power Heal
+2 HP through Regeneration
Overhealed (25 HP max)
Protect Aura activated from @Chrys
Vulnerable

Kamala was sent by the Adventurers Guild as one of its more dedicated healers to Camp Hope to simply observe, though if necessary, provide necessary medical support relative to the quarantine of the Relaxation Tents. She was already on her way with Tim and Colleen, her two closest friends at the Viridian Fields, when she heard about the rumors of the siege and the explosion at the prison, mostly through the returning folks that they had come across.

Without hesitation, she asked her friends to return under the guise of needing to inform the rest of their folk, even though she mostly just didn't want them to experience the same horrors she already has. The lander siblings tried to argue against it, but Kamala put her foot down, a rarity to be sure, and the pair was too surprised to rebel further.

On her own, she clambered near the wall, hearing a familiar commanding voice ring out, holding herself tightly. The gravity of the situation was not lost on her, but seeing soldiers and adventurers rushing to their positions, to where they were needed, only served to emphasize the heaviness of the atmosphere. But then she saw her friends, and a bright smile replaced all the worries and concern on her hapless face.

"Chrys! Ayna! Over here!"

She waved for them both to come closer to her, and once they did, she did her thing, her only thing, which was to bathe them in glowing green light as she channeled the mending spirit of nature to bless all three of them with an abundance of health, throughout rendering herself unable to move due to the sheer amount of concentration her spell required.

❰ Supplicant Spell of Support: From the Roots ❱

Once that was all said and done, she heaved a heavy sigh and put on an excited smile, though deep within she was still a little nervous with everything that was going on around them.

"Stay close, you two, all right? As long as you're in my vision, I'll be able to keep you out of harm's way!"

She hoped. The old adage rolled into her head, making her a little more nervous, "but who heals the healer?" Fortunately, she can heal herself. Thank nature herself, mother of all. Hopefully, she can heal others as well.

Rolls

Movement: A6 (Power Heal)

Power Heal (AoE) on self, @Chrys & @Ayna Nietzsche
4d20 (5 + 17 + 16 + 19) = 57 + 20 + 15 + 20 = 38 (Total divided by 3)
+38 HP to 3 targets
Gain the Vulnerable state
Mend | Kamala Graham | 1341C0

Regeneration
1d10 (2) = 2
+2 HP to self
Mend | Kamala Graham | 1341C0

Play Sheet Link

 

[Lady N]

160 / 160

Camp Hope In Danger!

A huff escaped a pouting mouth amidst the defenders of Camp Hope hurriedly going about defensive preparations. A girl flipped her scarf over her shoulder and made her way towards the wall with little attention given or taken by those around her.

Chelsea normally had no reason to just throw herself into dangerous scenarios, and the last time she did it almost killed her on top of ruining her only means of combat in this deathtrap. Masteries? Using weapons and magic? Please no.. she had always just barely got by with tinkering around in the earlier iteration of this nightmare and finding the gear she dubbed the N-Suit was the only reward she had gained from it.

It handled her masteries for her in many ways and she understood how to use its interface... even if not entirely...
But now it was also a nightmare, thanks to that Red Fever mess.

Having arrived at the camp's "great" fortifications she learned from the words of passerby that a certain red-headed stupid AI man had run off to get murdered by the approaching army., Chelsea's hand met her face in a facepalm. If what she understood was true, the enemy was made up entirely of Magia and was set to arrive in moments. Chelsea knew without even seeing them that this camp was in trouble. Yet here she was.

If these approaching machines shared anything with her suit, she could learn how to repair it, or better yet, actually, repair it! Was it the fact some of those on her payroll were in danger here and being attacked by a mysterious assassin? No, not at all!

Never the most cooperative of people, Chelsea went about doing things on her own. Unlike in real life, she was not a leader here and had no intention of being one, to be honest. If anyone needed her to help them, maybe, sorta kinda she could help them if only so she could feel safer when the fighting started.

Opening her UI, Chelsea summoned a small scanner and placed it over her eyes. It paled to the N-Suit's since she was the one who built it with the materials available in this backward land. but for now, it would do. She scanned the walls using her now advanced investigation mode to find weaknesses so she could personally avoid being anywhere near them.

Oh and maybe she would mention those weaknesses to someone who asked maybe... if she really had to...

Why did she have the sinking feeling that she was going to have to charge through a mass of killer robots to save some stupid from themselves before this was over? Or considering what happens when she uses the suit at the moment, maybe she will be that stupid this time...

Yeesh.

Rolls

Movement: 7B (Repair)
Mastery Check
1d100 (20) + 25 = 45
Magitech | Lady N | 1341C0 | Wall Maintenance

Wall
▪ HP: 645/900
Play Sheet Link

 

[Chrys]

《⋯《 ⋯ ❖ ⋯ 》⋯》

295 / 270

+38 HP through @Kamala Graham's Power Heal
Overhealed (25 HP max)
Protect Aura activated for @Chrys @Ayna Nietzsche @Kamala Graham

Chrys had been at the Camp for days now, just finishing up a bounty from the Adventurers Guild. When he heard about the explosion at the prison, however, he decided to stay instead of heading back right away, believing that all those escaped prisoners should mean a lot of bounties for a lot of gold. Sure, people could have died, but that was what the funeral parlor attached to his tavern was for. Either way, he could hypothetically gain a lot of gold. It was the easiest decision he's ever made.

Then he heard about the whole siege thing and immediately thought that there could be a lot of gold to be made during this event. From both sides. Especially when a Dragonship was involved since dragons hoard gold and a ship named after gold hoarders should have a lot of gold stashed in it, right? He could either get paid to blow it up and take whatever else fell from its destroyed hull or he could be swayed by whoever owned or piloted the ship for a nice amount of gold. Either way, another easy win.

He continued to think about these things as he stood near the wall, ignoring the impoverished Lion roaring out commands and whatever else. What he could not ignore, however, was the sound of a familiar voice urging him to come to her. @Kamala Graham definitely had those mom vibes going, and if she was like his mom, ignoring her would find his head struck by a flying footwear.

"Coming, mom! I mean, uhh, Kamala!"

Only noticing @Ayna Nietzsche then, Chrys gave her a quiet nod, still burdened by his thoughts to alleviate his current financial status. Even though he owned both a mining company and a tavern, with a funeral parlor attached to the latter, most of it was only afloat thanks to his bankroller who was herself getting impatient each passing day. He needed to make a move himself if he wanted to keep his current mediocre assets and not lose even the figurative shirt on his back. He nodded again to signify his agreement to Kamala's suggestions and looked out into the horizon, seeing a lone man standing tall in preparation for the coming trouble. How does Levi afford to keep his hair that...animated?

And then he just stood there, the peasant that he is, also standing tall in preparation for the coming trouble, with his hair also animated as it danced gaily in the breeze while his Auric Geomancy, which has branched out towards Ayna and Kamala as well, shone intermittently in shades of gold and brown.

❰ Excellent Jade Outshining Eclipses ❱

Rolls

Movement: A6 (BA: Protect Aura)

@Chrys @Kamala Graham @Ayna Nietzsche gains save roll advantage (Protect Aura)

Play Sheet Link

 

[Herculean Drakecon]

180 / 180

Battle preperations

After his first death herculean went into hiding and had been training his hardest not to die again. His had lit up when the camp was attacked and he knew this was the moment where his training led him. A few people had shown up already and started building the wall and healing people and thinking for a moment that he should try to get people ready for the fight to come with battle preparations. Instead then tanking this time around he would pick an instead support backline load out. Before rushing to camp and looking around for a moment to read the room.

"I'm not a high-ranking member of the explores guild but it seems like we have something or something approaching. Everyone is are you able to run then you should but if you can gather your weapons and fight."

He hadn't seen anyone show up at camp yet so he would get to work making sure the people who couldn't fight are able to leave. Despite all this training he had to go thru he had to remember him being gone didn't mean the game got harder. He didn't have time to get lost in his own mental space he needed to be a hero.

Rolls

Movement: 1A -> 2A(Rush)

Play Sheet Link

 

[Ayna Nietzsche]

⋇⊶⊰✦⊱⊷⋇

185 / 160

+38 HP through @Kamala Graham's Power Heal
Overhealed (25 HP max)
Protect Aura activated for @Chrys @Ayna Nietzsche @Kamala Graham

When Ayna responded to one of the alerts she received, essentially a distress beacon, she didn't expect to reunite with old friends. Her presence in Vintergard was more or less because of an Adventurers Guild thing, though should she be pressed to divulge more information, she'd do her best to run around the actual answer. It was one of the many things she was good at in this game: running around.

"Whoa, Kamala! Fancy meeting you here!"

She greeted her favorite Player in the game with a genuine smile and an excited look in her eyes. Then she saw Chrys and her entire mood went down, even going as far as having to cross her arms over her chest. With a scowl and an eye roll, Ayna added an extra disappointed sigh in there to express her displeasure at his presence. Why? If she had time to think about it, she'd probably not even come up with a satisfying answer. Might just be a habit now.

"...Chrys."

After thanking Kamala with a wink, and totally failing, maybe even intentionally, to notice Chrys' own attempt to prepare their trio for the coming storm, Ayna shifted her gaze out into the horizon, noticing Levi with his men readying themselves to take on their invader without any sign of fear or doubt. Now that's a leader you'd follow to the death. Then again, death couldn't even catch up to her.

Rolls

Movement: A6 (N/A)

Play Sheet Link

 

[Siondhe]

132 / 220

100/100

Location: 7B
Ripper Damage: 18 damage over time.

The medical tents could be seen in the distance, but as Kyra slowed her pace, she began to question how useful attending the tents would be. She could see the work being done on the walls, the individuals - some of whom she recognised, others whom she didn't - moving beyond in order to begin setting traps, and other defences.

Her hesitation lasted only a few moments, before she was moving again, heading off in a new directions towards the wall itself. She knew there was more she could do here, than if she were to waste her time getting checked over by people who likely wouldn't tell her anything useful. The wound continued to bleed as she stepped up to the wall - now more an annoyance than any sort of hinderance.

A quick glance over the wall concluded the makeshift design and structure that it was. Solid, but definitely not something that was crafted with longevity in mind - more of a response to a danger, than a well-thought structure that would be expected to stand years from now.

She found herself walking along the wall, running a hand over it as she spotted numerous holes and patchwork pieces. She considered her options, knowing that there was little that she could do physically to fix the wall - she simply didn't have the strength or knowledge. What she did have, however, was magic.

Twitching her tail slightly, she focused on the air around her, bringing the feeling to the tip of her fingers as she traced them along the wall's weaker points. Small jolts of electricity jumped from the tips of her fingers, tracing patterns where her fingers passed as she attempted to weld some of the weaker points together more solidly.

Rolls

Movement: B7 (Arrival)
Mastery Check
1d100 (68) + 25 = 93
Aeromancy | Kyra Vashtana | 1341.C0 | Wall Maintenance

Wall
▪ HP: 738/900

Play Sheet
Playtest
​

 

[Toko]

200 / 200

...Adventurers Guild - Platinum Rank

Movement: E5 > E4 > E3

Requests had flowed into the Adventurers Guild for higher ranking members, the details of the quest assigning them to Camp Hope IV as additional support for those already gathered there. Something about it seemed incomplete however, as if they were missing a decent chunk of information that should’ve been tied to the request, but the lepus had shrugged the feeling off as she’d embarked towards the settlement. She trusted her superiors after all, if Trevis and Caccu weren’t sharing something Toko understood there had to be a reason behind it.

Sensitive ears had risen the hare up from her slumber earlier than usual, the unrest that had begun to permeate through the camp hard to miss before she had snuck out of the resting tents to investigate. The Lions Pride had arrived at some point while she’d been sleeping, the tensions between their members and the guards under Commander Norn’s watch quickly escalating… before the situation seemed to diffuse at long lost with minimal bloodshed.

Any relief had been short lived however as the alarm had been rung, the first sightings of the incoming magitech invasion finally spotted as all capable members were rallied to the camp’s defenses. It was then she’d come across the familiar face of @Erick Styker, the rabbit happily calling out to the friendly face before shortening the distance between them. They had mused over various strategies, their thoughts aligning towards the creation of a trap, before a quick scan to their surroundings identified a possible weak area they could improve upon. Somewhere along the way a third had joined then, the green-haired @Quinn not being someone Toko was familiar with—though he was welcomed wholeheartedly.

"This seems like a good enough spot, right Erick-san?" Red eyes turned to look at the blue-haired man for confirmation, before drifting over to the slightly older male to gauge his own thoughts on the matter. "Alright, time to shift some dirt around!"

The rabbit’s tail quivered in excitement as Toko smacked a fist to her open palm, taking a moment to crack the knuckles on both hands as the lepus prepared for the arduous task at hand. She crouched low to the ground, allowing her fingers to spread against the soil and dig slightly into the surface, before the fighter closed her eyes and focused on gathering the energy around them. The amethyst earring on her ear glowed in response, the gem serving as the hare’s focus as she activated her affinity for Geomancy.

Small vibrations began to reverberate in their area, a rumbling noise quickly growing in intensity as rocks and dirt churned underneath the surface in response to the hare’s will. "Might want to step back a bit…" A small warning was provided to her companions, before sudden pulses of magical energy began to emit from the hare’s palms and stretched outwards.

Manipulation of the element came easy to Toko, like a child playing with Play-Doh, and before their eyes the hare managed to shift the earth outwardly as she created a long and deep trench that spanned a good distance in front of her. A light grunt left the fighter as she stood once more, the sudden drain in her EN bar causing her to shake her head slightly, before a nod was given to Erick and Quinn.

---

❰ Toko's PlaySheet ❱

Mastery Check
1d100 (76) + 25 = 101
Success! [ 1 of 3 ]
Geomancy | Toko | Preparing Trap E3 | 1341C0

 

[MAI]

160 / 160

100/100

Vulnerable

After a few moments of @Kyra Vashtana repairing the wall, a tiny drone would suddenly buzz up next to one of her vixen ears. After letting out a beeping noise, the single mechanical eye resting at its center would turn from green to red before that beeping sound would multiple. A total of five small drones would surround the girl from all sides before they would begin analyzing her in great detail. At the same time, a voice would sound from behind her.

"Oh, you're not looking that well. Hold still so they can get to work, okay? Well, they can work even if you move, but it will be easier if you don't."

If the fox girl turned around, Mai would smile at her as she fiddled around with some floating holo-screens in front of her. Ones that were quite similar to what one would see if they opened up their menu, but these were clearly visible to anyone who would look in the magia's direction.

"Told you we would meet again. That said, my buddies are detecting one nasty wound there. I don't think I'll be able to close it up completely. That meeting of yours you ran off to must have been pretty rough."

Well, the injury could have been from just about anything else as well, but the girl figured she would call back to it just in case Kyra somehow didn't remember the newbie. It was pretty amusing that the fox was the first person Mai had spotted after arriving here. She originally intended to only see what was going on here, as a lot of players were gathering... but seeing someone in such a state, of course, she would help. It wasn't like they were in the middle of combat, so she could focus on the healing - her drones flying around and spraying a cooling mist at the wounds to heal them. Not like she knew what she got herself into here, or how else to help.

Rolls

Movement: B7 (Arrival)

Power Heal (Single)
1d100 (74) + 10 + 0 + 30 = 114
+114 HP to @Kyra Vashtana
Gain the Vulnerable state
Magitech | MAI | 1341C0

Play Sheet Link

 

[Erick Stryker]

175 / 175

Sapper Team "Fatebreaker" (No Guild Affiliation)

They moved out ahead of the main contingent with orders to prepare the battlefield ahead of the assault. Due to the risks taken by no small number of reconnaissance units and saboteurs working ahead in the field, and a staggering amount of sacrifice, they had won just enough time to do this much. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

All of that loss for no more than a few minutes.

If he had the power he wanted to amass... but no. Erick could not deal in things he had no control over. He hated that. There was no way to avert loss of life, and no way to fully turn back the clock. Not at the level he was at now. With a grimace, he swallowed the regret and anguish that threatened to drown his tenacity.

This seems like a good enough spot, right Erick-san?

"Now or never!" he called back. The Lepus was more energetic and positive than he was given their circumstances, but from what he understood, she had a better overall grasp on the situation at Camp Hope IV. Between the two of them, she had a more realistic outlook, and probably a better understanding of the actual cost of this entire operation.

In short, her thoughts would be less cloudy than his, objectively.

@Toko began shifting the dirt and digging it out with her magic, and Erick joined in with his own Chronomancy. He took firm hold of the hands of time around the moving soil and boosted their flow forward, taking a task that should have taken much longer than it did and giving it the wings of Hermes. Between the two of them and their new ally, @Quinn they should have been able to make short work of digging the trap and moving on to the next objective.

Rolls

Movement: E5 -> E4 -> E3 (Arming Trap)

Mastery Check
1d100 (99) + 20 = 119
Chronomancy | Erick Styker | 1341C0 | Preparing Trap E3

Trapping 1A (2/3 Successes)
Play Sheet

 

[Hanno Futaba]

325 / 325

Arriving at D5 and moving to D3 - Lions Pride Knight

Fluttering his wings, Hanno hovered from the walls all the way down to the ground, landing near @Ash Vargold, @Moonsong, and @Fina Drago, with all of them already preparing something to slow down the enemies.

"Alright, these are some big ass dudes incoming, but the bigger the size, the bigger the fall." Hanno said, rubbing his hands and grinning as he held his shield high and shoved it on the ground, sinking it as he called it awake. "Ghast! Let's make sure they won't pass an inch outta here!" He exclaimed.

After a rumble, the Shield's enormous eye blinked slowly, forcing her tentacles to stretch and spread out through the field, slithering and burying through the soil to soon cover as much area as it could, with the tentacles resting under the ground, just waiting for the right time to reach upwards to grapple and entangle on the incoming army.

"We won't fall!" Hanno said, beaming a protective light that wrapped around the three who were near him.

Rolls

Movement: Arrived on D5 and moved to D3

Mastery Check
1d100 (61) + 25 = 86
Guard Arts | Hanno Futaba | Preparing Trap at D3 | 1341C0

@Ash Vargold, @Moonsong & @Fina Drago gains save roll advantage (Protect Aura)

Trapping D3 (1/3 Successes)
Play Sheet

 

[Nyancy]

140 / 140

Nyancy stood on a plot of terrain overlooking what was soon to become the battle scene.

"Well, hea we are. Tha final battle ah whateva. Well, probably not tha last battle eva, but ya know what I'm sayin'. "

Nyancy crossed her arms as a stray wisp of wind blew her scarf behind her dramatically. The small Felis adjusted her hat.

"This new battle suit's the cat's pajaymahs lemme tell ya. Keeps ya wahm in tha wintah and cool in tha summah."

Doing a few stretches to warm herself up, Nyancy watched as the red-headed lion leader began marching forward.

"Guess that's whea the party's gonna be, eh? Suppose, widdle Nyancy should get movin' then. Can't let 'em out pace me now, I'm a Beastlord Champion and all ah whateva. If I'm gonna be ah hero, I'm gonna have to act like it an all."

Having finished her stretches, Nyancy began running along the elevated terrain to catch up with Levi. This was it, the beginning that Nyancy had been waiting for. For too long Nyancy had played the role of friendly but fickly feline. When the game had gone down before she had done little to nothing except play around, nap, and fish. Now things were different. Now Nyancy had a goal. She would become one of the greatest heroes Terrasphere had ever seen and today she would prove herself truly worthy of the title, hero.

"Alright, let's go Nyancy, don't forget ya trainin'! It's time tah be ah hero!"

Rolls

Movement: A5 -> A4 (Action)

Play Sheet Link
(Heavy Attack = Massive Attack)

 

[Ronja Bubblyfoot]

160 / 160

Arriving at C5, moving to C3, setting up a trap

"Ronja... Ronja never will hunt biomagitechnological components on these lands anymore! This is WAY more dangerous than she anticipated!" Ronja complained, with her left arm wrapped around a rifle that had a length that surpassed Ronja's height. Despite the big weapon she carried along, the little Magia hurried through the terrain, tugging @Fiora Di Angelo's hand as they slid down the elevated terrain.

"Huh- There are some people over there setting up some traps..." Ronja's eyes flickered, zooming in to see a rather large team working on some good ways to halt the enemies.

Peeking up at Fiora, she tilted her head.

"Ronja supposes we can try to help on this, while those big guys aren't here yet." Her steps slowed down, and soon she stopped running, resting her gun on the ground and slapping her hands together, materializing her giant wrench with Arcanamancy and using it as a catalyst to summon forth several Magitech contraptions and aid-lings, that shifted and clicked, morphing onto landmines, spike traps, and magitech turrets that resembled to mini, magitech version, of the ballistae they had in the field.

Rolls

Movement: Arriving at 5C, moving to 3C

Mastery Check
1d100 (57) + 25 = 82
Magitech | Ronja Bubblyfoot | Preparing Trap at C3 | 1341C0

Play Sheet

 

[Fiora Di Angelo]

215 / 215

Adventurer's Guild - Platinum

@Ronja Bubblyfoot 's rank earned her a hearty chuckle out of Fiora, who simply let herself get dragged away by the magia. "I dunno it was a pretty fun date to me while it lasted." She added, lips tugging into a confident smile right as they slid down, hopping with one coordinated step to get the both of them down safely. "Besides, where else are you going to find... Whatever that is- Look, when it comes to robot stuff, Vintergard's a gold mine." Just trying to say 'biomagitechnological components' outloud had her tongue twist...

"Yeah that they are." She confirmed. Relative to Ronja's picture-taking eyes, her hyper sense granted sight sharp enough to pick apart exactly what the rest were doing despite the distance. Just then out of a sudden Ronja pulled a wrench that had to be just as big as her sword, probably bigger even, and following up materialized so many traps and gadgets she took a step back just in case any of them just blew on her face out of a sudden. "You can do all that and you can't just create those Biomagithings you need?" Fiora raised an eyebrow, both to her partner and to the very traps set on the floor. The brunette took a second to squat and give everything a good look to make sure nothing was off on them, right before she circled around them and took a fair distance before placing her her knuckles on the floor.

"I'll get us an extra spot over here." And one deep breath after, energy focused upon her the tip of her fingers as she kept pressed them on the ground, before giving a straight one-inch punch against it, the impact enough to crack and sink the terrain, enough to at least slow down whatever comes through it to get the full blunt of Ronja's far more elaborate devices

Rolls

Movement: Movement: Arrival at 5C -> Moving to 3C (Action)

Mastery Check
1d100 (43) + 15 = 58

Hyper Sense | Prep. Trap C3 | Fiora Di Angelo | 1341C0

Trapping 3C (2/3 Successes)

Play Sheet Link

 

[Glamora Dark]

100 / 100

"wher tank?" 0v0;; (?)

"Huh are we late? We're not late, aren't we? I was told there was supposed to be this super cool super huge tank. I wanted to see it..."

Glamdark shielded her eyes and was looking around. She was currently sitting side-saddle on a rather classical looking broom, just a little way away from Nyancy, who she was addressing. It was The Dark Broom. Everything she owned or casted mentioned dark something or another. It was her thing. She saw nothing but a bunch of grim looking faces.

"Well~ if I missed it, I'm going to start blasting things for parts. I know a guy who pays crazy for metal scraps, like DARK crazy. I'll just be chanting over here to charge up. Let me know if you see anything cool Nyancy, I'm always looking for neat decorations for The Dark Parlor..."

Glamdark pointed.

"...So yeah, right over there chanting my spell, just holler."

Glamdark could be heard muttering something as a dark glow emanated from her.

Rolls

Movement: A5 -> A4 (Action)

*
@Plutopia
Buff (Single)
1d100 (17) + 0 + 0 + 25 = 14 (Total divided by 3)
+14 buff to 1 target for 3 posts @Nyancy

Divine Magic | Glamdark | 1341C0

Play Sheet Link

 

[Quinn]

160 / 160

Unaffiliated

The youth was running as fast as he could, but he was a mere shadow of his former self. After he had obtained the magical lamp that summoned forth Zahaadragan, his build was seemingly replaced with something he never thought he would become in the game, a summoner. By all technicality, Aladdin is a summoner with none of the powers truly his own. Quinn wondered whether or not he really had the time to drop a needless exposition about himself, since the count as of this word was exactly 114, that's exactly 386 words left to interact with @Toko and @Erick Styker, the two people who ended up heading in the direction as him.

"Hey! I'm Quinn, I'm a field medic, if you get hit, just give me a shout and my djinni will get you all patched up, alright?" he said.

When they arrived at their zone, and the other two got to work at forming a pit trap, Quinn struck a Jojo pose as he attempted to summon Zahaad. However, in the place of the djinni was a single muscular arm appearing. All it took was a single snap and an illusive field was conjured where the pit was.

"Crap, Zahaad is gone for the day, huh. It must be that infamous djoom meeting I kept hearing about. Did it have to be today, though?" Quinn griped before turning to his teammate.

"Gotta move, let's go!"

Rolls

Movement: D5 (spawn) > D4 > E3 (Arming Trap)

Mastery Check
1d100 (88) + 20 = 108
Summon | Quinn | 1341C0 | Preparing Trap E3

Trapping (3/3 Successes) - E3 Armed and Loaded
Play Sheet Link

 

[Cain Darlite]

145 / 145

Location: 7C

There were reasons for him to show up at Camp Hope IV, of course. He could wax poetic about how this was the frontlines of yet another existential threat to Astorea. About how this was yet another opportunity to see living myths be carved into the stone of fabricated history. About how he was obligated to appear, in order to weave his songs into life, in order to shield others from death.

Those were pretty reasons, but the truth was easy enough to parse out from the questions he had asked around the Camp.

He was looking for a woman. A woman who had joined the scouting mission. Who would return to this same camp in due time. And who, if she saw such a swarm of magitech monstrosities wrecking up the camp, would still be the sort of person to rush in to search for and protect any survivors. Maybe it was the paranoia. Maybe it was just natural stupidity. Maybe she'd be happier if she had ignored TS, if she had the sense to not fall for spite and simply moved on. It really wasn't that fun now, was it?

Carried by momentum alone, Cain found himself here once more, unable to even gather up the effort to socialize, to connect, in the way he had four years past. Held now by obligations, by the threat of death that loomed so closely to those he cared for.

God, fuck this game.

…

"Heave ho, heave ho!"

With rhythm and song, the midnight-haired muse coordinated crews of labourers as they set larger chunks of half-melted magitech parts to segments of the wall that still looked a bit on the empty side. Tangentially, he realized that Lady N was there once more, along with other faces that were familiar. She certainly had a knack for showing up in dangerous times, no matter what effort she expended in ensuring that everyone who did show up knew they were stupid, huh?

Charmed little girl. Even if she was a literal CEO.

Toko, melding ruinous earth into something more, standing at the vanguard as she always had.

Kyra, infinitely more skilful than she was when they first met, melding together metal with controlled bursts of plasma.

Fiora, changed, yet incomprehensibly though, displaying prowess more martial than magical.

Familiar faces, chasing the flame.

"Ha…"

He'll get himself together soon enough. It must just be the weather and melancholy, the cold and the misery.

Rolls

Movement: 7C
Expertise Check
1d100 (29) + 50 = 79
Presence | Cain Darlite | 1341C0 | Wall Maintenance

Wall
▪ HP: 817/900
Play Sheet Link

 

[Nai]

140 / 140

Location: 3C

She had heard that four years ago, the only thing that could wield a gun was a skeleton. It had been a senseless statement before, a strangely artificial rule to impose upon this world when the rest of it was a reasonably seamless reconstruction of a world.

But now, seeing the frenzied chaos of Camp Hope IV, the way a ramshackle shanty town did what it could to mount some semblance of defense against what could only be considered as an American military buff's wet dream, Nai decided that such an artificial rule most likely had a place here. Certainly, against gunmetal and explosives, it seemed foolish to so eagerly rush headfirst with nothing but a sword in one's hand…even if that was exactly what people did, do, and will do.

Stories of Regulators splitting people in half from three kilometers away, stories of Overseers wiping out blocks of adventurers, stories of even Sentries subsuming and assimilating veteran adventurers with numbers alone. Vintergard was a death trap. Vintergard was a lost cause. Vintergard was a localized post-apocalypse.

Vintergard offered answers though, to what had caused a paradigm shift in what players had available, to where these logic-defying machines came from.

And so, it was with the calculated understanding that she could outrun any threat that tried to overrun the camp that Nai strode past the Gates, a flick of her hand casting a cloak of shadow over the terrain ruptured and trapped by Ronja and Fiora. It was a poor job; areas so wide as these meant the shadow became too thin, even in the diffused light of a cloudy day.

Didn't matter too much though. She nodded at the two of them, then set her eyes onto Levi.

Levi, and what laid beyond his sword.

The ground contained to shake, and coal smoke soon mixed with citronella scent.

Rolls

Movement: 5C -> 3C

Mastery Check
1d100 (34) + 15 = 49
Shadow Arts | Nai | 1341C0 | Preparing Trap 3C [Failed]

Trapping 3C (2/3 Successes)
Play Sheet Link

 

[Ash Vargold]

215 / 215

Location: D3
Unaffiliated
Protected by @Hanno Futaba's Protect Aura (Adv. on Saves)

Maybe it was the stress of everything leading up to this point. Maybe it was the lack of sleep. Maybe it was the simple fact that Ash had never been logged in this long. Whatever the case, the result was the same - his stammered words drew no spirits forth, and his etched runes

"Fuckin' hell... feels like nothing's gone right since I got to camp."

He shook his head and scuffed another half-finished rune with his foot. The runestone fell back into orbit around him as he stared in the direction of Vintergard. They'd done what they could to prepare for this, but now that it was here? He hadn't expected this.

There was no escaping now.​

"Hopefully that doesn't carry into this fight. If nothing else, I've got your backs."

Rolls

Movement: D5 -> D3 (Arming Trap)

Mastery Check
1d100 (8) + 20 = 28 (Fail)
Guard Arts | Ash Vargold | Preparing Trap at D3 | 1341C0

Trapping D3 (1/3 Successes)
Play Sheet Link