Complete Main Story Vintergard (S4) Royal Escort - Team Ego

[Raid Boss]

Team Ego
Day 1: Late Noon (Cycle 2)

Guidelines

• @Jin @Zelrius @Seto Kurama @Ilusa Nakhalee @Schilva Flasch
• Maximum of 400 words, no minimum as long as it's not one sentence (for the times where one's muse does not cooperate).
• 1 reply per cycle unless the Narrator asks for you to respond to a scene.
• This is a guided freeform style of thread, which means you are allowed to do just about anything. However, please follow my lead as I weave all of your actions into a narrative that makes sense.
• Map Scale: it takes roughly 1.5 hours of focused on-foot traveling to get from the camp to the Vintergard wall. If you used the trench, it would take half the time.
• Team Ego's Comms
• Team Ego's Map

With the early morning hours devoted to exploring Camp Hope IV and all of the many services it offered, your team had acquired resources and valuable information that would help you complete your mission (Find and escort Astor back to Finweald).

After regrouping and spending time to theorize, discuss, and debate about how to approach your mission, the party eventually agreed on a plan.

By the time the group was getting ready to leave, the sun had already reach the highest point in the sky and was beginning to descend (late noon). When you all passed through the checkpoint on the way out of camp, the guards called out to the group.

"Hey, if your party is heading down the trench, keep an eye out for any Dragonship Scouts, yeah? A guy got his eye blown out by a single one of those fast and light spider thing, nasty critters, I tell ya."

Fortunately for you, the trench was clear. However, it was deceptively deep. If any one of you had decent spatial awareness in real life, you would have been able to deduce that the trench was about 15-feet deep, that's about one and a half story tall. The sides of the trench was lined with rocks and tree roots sticking out from when the Dragonship skidded along the ground, forming the shallow canyon in front of you.

Traveling beside the trench allowed you to see if any enemy was going to approach from the trench. The entire time, you were able to see the silhouette of the Immortal Heroine as you approached the western hill. The hill itself was grassy and open, and with a shallow incline, it gave you a good overview of the entire area, which included the dense forest directly to the north, the tall capital wall east of that, the trench behind you, and many of the wild life that has been able to thrive thanks to the lack of human domestication in the area. At the top of the hill was the 30-feet tall statue of the Immortal Heroine.

Before before you reach the statue, however, a squadron of seven Sentries zipped across the area, scanning for life signs that don't belong. Fortunately, they have not spotted your group yet.

Here's where your plan will be put to the test. What do you do?

OOC

• If you would like to, your post can cover some interaction during the travel.
• Somewhere within your post, you must perform a single action that progresses the narrative in some way (i.e. initiating combat, using masteries to blow up something, run to x, etc.)
• Player actions are all attempts. The Narrator will tell you the result of your action, which you can respond to.
• The time is fluid in this thread, meaning that some things are happening simultaneously while other things are happening sequentially. An easy way to tell is if a Narrator had written out the result of a character's action, then it's sequential. Otherwise, actions are happening simultaneously.

 

[Ilusa Nakhalee]

The moment they left the camp, Ilusa felt her focus sharpen. This was it. They were going to reach one of the pings where Astor could be.

She would not mind if the other team got to him, as long as they brought him back safely, but she hoped that it was her team that had the right signal.

For moment, she remembered the almost nightmare-ish wild run from out of the Vintergard that turned to ruins and found it bit ironic that now she would be going in instead.

With a plan in mind, they were all as prepared as possible.

Their group travelled beside the trench, keeping eye on the ‘safety zone’ that the statue showed. Ilusa’s ears kept flickering, listening to any sounds and her eyes kept moving here and there, trying to spot possible dangers. She was tense, worried (but also excited, because Astor, Astor, Astor was so close).

They all stilled upon spotting the sentries (seven of those screamers was annoying) and a quick, silent communication via comms created a plan of how to try and deal with them. Ilusa learned from it that the sentries also had vision devices. Thus she decided to add illusions of a group into which will go the heat-signatures that Zelrius would create (it would also let her see someone using Pyromancy from close up, maybe she will make use of it later).

Ilusa took a breath and focused, looking at every party member, focusing mostly on the proportions, colours, depth, clothes and how each different body will move. They would be the base for the group, but the group would not mirror them. A tall faerin woman with greatsword strapped to her back. Twin caenis, short and nimble, with short swords on their belts. And a male elf ‘mage’ with purple hair…

The bracelet noiselessly uncoiled from her wrist, and the pearls disconnected, floating around her.

She barely whispered the words of the spell, so quiet that she herself heard the barest murmur and cast it, in order to create a diversion, a fake group that could trick the sentries.

The energy pooled and then left her.

 

[Zelrius]

Zelrius's fingers drummed for a moment, apprehension rose. His blue eyes went past Jin and Seto - there was nothing to worry about with them. Questionable morals, and plenty of experience made them capabale. Besides, it wasn't them who had the real gut wrenching part of this afternoon to worry about. They settled on Ilusa and Schilva, close together as the five traveled. His plan had been simple, or so he thought. Yet, it put both of them in an extremely dangerous situation. One that relied on a lot of Ifs ands and buts. IF Schilva could make it across the Trench without being exterminated, AND carry Ilusa without getting slowed down. Then he'd need to detonate the bomb and create a distraction. BUT that was only half the work. They'd need to get away and not get caught in the blast radius. Without getting caught again. AND then get to the wall without getting caught.

His heart rate was light in his chest, they could all very well die here. It was a game, that was expected. But it'd still mean failure. And now that they were all there, and given their nod, the sentries began searching around. It was time to begin. He looked to the others, pointing to the Western hill. "We all head there. Once we reach the base, @Schilva Flasch grabs @Ilusa Nakhalee for the distraction plan. Our first target is to reach there, and then split. Jin and Seto can guide us along there, and Ilusa can help the two of them hide once the decoy is set." A reiteration of the plan, chopped down into a little bit sized chunk.

Now it was just a matter of getting to their first objective.

First issue that laid with that plan were the Sentries that patrolled the area. @Ilusa Nakhalee had mentioned something to the effect of using his Pyromancy to give them heat. Which... wasn't a bad idea. "I'll give it a shot." He breathed in, focusing for a moment. This first time using his heart-based fire to not shoot it from his body. The breathing stilled, his heart rate picked up. The heat from his body began to flair out, though without the form of fire. His tensed forearms crossed, and then pulled back tightly. Intent on using that as a way to give those illusions firey hearts of their own.

 

[Raid Boss]

Mid-cycle Update

@Ilusa Nakhalee – The moment your spell manifested in the forms you had created and began moving in front of you, one of the flying Dragonship sentries immediately reacted and swooped down right above the illusions, clearly baited by the visual illusion.

Mastery Check: Illusion Magic | Ilusa Nakhalee | 2d100 (Advantage) (62, 79) + 10 = 89 / DC 55. Success ✓

@Zelrius – Although the illusion alone would not have fooled the lone Sentry, seeing as how it sent out a red ring that descended on the illusion in a conal shape to scan for its heat signature, you managed to heat up the air around the illusion allowing the illusive figures to pass as real people.

As expected, the scanning Sentry immediately signaled the rest of its squadron, which then all swarmed above the illusions and began blasting them with lasers, turning the ground beneath them into swiss cheese.

Mastery Check: Pyromancy | Zelrius | 2d100 (Advantage) (51, 8) + 15 = 66 / DC 55. Success ✓

 

[Jin]

Jin lingered toward the rear watching the scene play out quietly, careful to watch the sentries closely for any deviation. Their course was methodical, which he knew, but robotic AI often deviated based on new and updated information. Therefore, when Ilusa and Zelrius began the plan to distract them, he wanted to be certain that it took before he called for them to continue based on the initial plan.

Contingencies and failsafes. Jin preferred to gamble when he knew he had the winning hand. If all else failed, then assault; but statistically, the likelihood of survival dropped significantly if they had to resort to that. The difference between Jin and a general tactician was that the Bloodsworn was not above sleight of hand. It took only a brief glimpse to confirm the intel that he'd traded with Yugam and discern this type of enemy from others.

The sentries were mindless, programmed to follow a pattern, and wipe out anything that did not conform to protocol.

...and they were defective in a very specific way.


1d4 = 4 Jin successfully recalls information on this enemy.

Exposed Wiring. Attacks made with Magitech or lightning from Aeromancy have a chance to disable Sentries by overloading their sensors. On a 90+ nat roll, the Sentry's LP drops to 0, but will come back online if not destroyed.

He glanced over his shoulder toward Schilva and Seto, and spoke to them. "This type of enemy is of a middling threat level, but they have exposed wires that make them susceptible to electricity," he explained. "Should it become prudent for us to engage with them directly, do keep that in mind. There is a chance that they can be short-circuited through that method."

Frankly, giving them that intel was a shot in the dark. He didn't know his allies well enough to discern what types of magic they might have, but on the off chance one or the other of them were gifted with magic that would be able to exploit that weakness, it was worth making them aware.

If not, well.... they were already working on the evasive maneuvers.

"The first phase appears to have been a success. Get in position and ready to move."

@Ilusa Nakhalee @Zelrius @Schilva Flasch @Seto Kurama

 

[Seto Kurama]

The Pantone Demon

Task: N/A
Emotional State: Normal
State: Normal

Being the most capable of the group due to his experience, he ended up finding himself behind Ilusa, who for the moment, was leading their little rag tag group due to the plan they had devised earlier. As a consequence, he was keeping her close just in case he need to protect her. She was their white mage after all. If she fell, the role of healing would fall to him, which he really didn't want, given the current situation. Regardless, once they found themselves in position after traveling along the trench, Illusa got to work, making illusions based on their appearance before Zelrius added his own handiwork, using his expertise over the element of fire to give the impression that the illusions themselves were actual people and not simple mirages. Nonetheless, as he watched the scene play out similar to how IRCM was used on modern aircraft, he could hear Jin whisper in his ear, citing the drones they had just encountered had a elemental weakness to electricity. Although he nodded, as If he got the message, he still wasn't really sure why he bothered. Robots were robots regardless of what reality they were in, so It would be a given they would be weak to electricity. It wasn't as If they have EMP shielding now, and even if these robots did, there's no way low tier, mass produced models like the sentries would have it.

In any case, once the attack on the illusions came to a end and the sentries would hopefully move on, he would quickly conjure a decent amount of energy to manipulate the time around Ilusa and Jin in a effort to boost their speed while using the last bit for himself. Once he was finished, he would follow with the rest of the team towards the western hills, doing his absolute best to conceal his position. If he needed to though, he be happy to cover their rear If it came to it. With his mastery over the aerial arts, he would at least be able to put up a decent fight If it came to that. He could run decoy as well, being one of the fastest in the kingdom but only If they had no choice. Until they could locate Astor, he wanted to keep his energy usage to a absolute minimum


@Ilusa Nakhalee @Zelrius @Schilva Flasch @Jin

Action: Using Haste on Ilusa, Jin and myself, distributing each H point equally​

 

[Schilva Flasch]

115 / 115

Combat Log:
Identifying Sentry weakpoints

Status:
Weight of Ultimate Shame | -15 Max HP

Looking down over the building-sized drop towards the desolation of the Dragontail's aftermath, Schilva can only imagine how much weight and force had been behind it, ripping through the earth in such a deep furrow.

Yup, that's one big trench alright.

Uncharacteristically quiet, Schilva was on extra-good behaviour; the shame of defeat had humbled him, which was a rarity and a boon for his teammates. Listening in on their comms chatter and observing the situation for once, Schilva decided to leave planning and tactic-crafting to the more theoretically inclined party members. Instead, he jumped to make observations that would aid his practicum, tracking the magitech threats across the length and breadth of the trench.

As @Jin mentioned further that their enemies could be disabled with strong currents, Schilva smirks and makes a confident response, eyes still on the prize.

How fortunate for you. The great Schilva Flasch happens to know a thing or two about commanding such force as we require. Fear not, for if the time comes, I will know...

Drawing a small length of his sword and letting a visibly sparking current flow along its exposed blade, Schilva made it clear to the party that he at least had the tools for the job, should such involvement become necessary.

...exactly what to do.

@Seto Kurama @Ilusa Nakhalee @Zelrius

 

[Raid Boss]

Team Ego
Day 1: Evening (Cycle 3)

Guidelines

• @Jin @Zelrius @Seto Kurama @Ilusa Nakhalee @Schilva Flasch
• Maximum of 400 words, no minimum as long as it's not one sentence (for the times where one's muse does not cooperate).
• 1 reply per cycle unless the Narrator asks for you to respond to a scene.
• This is a guided freeform style of thread, which means you are allowed to do just about anything. However, please follow my lead as I weave all of your actions into a narrative that makes sense.
• Map Scale: it takes roughly 1.5 hours of focused on-foot traveling to get from the camp to the Vintergard wall. If you used the trench, it would take half the time.
• Team Ego's Comms
• Team Ego's Current Location

Fortunately for Team Ego, @Ilusa Nakhalee's illusion and @Zelrius's heat were so effective that the squadron of Sentries scattered, each one flying off in a different direction to chase down the fleeing phantasms. With @Seto Kurama helping the slowest members of the group, there wasn't a need for @Schilva Flasch to offer his blade as a decoy.

Guided by @Jin's knowledge of the local area, the group traveled strategically and carefully, getting them out of the open and under the cover of the dense foliage where they were able to rest for a bit before continuing onward, getting closer to the old capital's daunting wall. (Current Location)

Before the group got too far into the forest, those of you with B+ Hyper Sense or 25+ Awareness will notice that there is a cannon-like Magitech contraption sitting up on a rocky vantage point, overlooking the entire valley like area where the trees are a lot less sparse.

Pick one of the following routes forward by reacting to this post. Do not post until the team has decided on the route.

• Engage the cannon enemy in combat.
  
  
  
• With a bit of memory jogging, @Jin will recall that there is an undergrove that could bypass the cannon. However, the wildlife that lives in the undergrove are highly territorial predator with extremely sharp senses, if the party takes too long here, there's a chance patrol units may run into them.
  
• @Seto Kurama's map shows that circling around is an option, it would just take until nightfall to do so. If this option is picked, we will immidiately jump into Cycle 4: Night and the party will be north of the forest, close to the wall. Keep in mind that Dragonship enemies are highly active at night, breaking camp is advised if going with this route.
  
• If neither of the choices above interest you, this is the free route that allows you to customize your approach.
  

 

[Seto Kurama]

The Pantone Demon

Task: Scouting the cannon
Emotional State: Normal
State: Normal

Through team work and some creativity, he and the others had managed to sneak away without incident, which was a relief to his conscious. Once they arrived on the other side of the hill however, he diverted @Ilusa Nakhalee from her position at the front with @Jin in an attempt to keep her safe. With Jin at his side, using his knowledge of the area, he lead the team to the outskirts of the forest using Jin as a guide. With his help, they made good time, allowing the team to take a quick rest but before they could move on, his sixth sense for danger began going of, causing him to immediately survey the area carefully while he made a "halt" like hand gesture with the palm of his right hand in a effort to keep his team from talking. It took but a few moments before his suspicion was confirmed. He could see a large weapon emplacement in the distance, most likely a defense gun. Without intelligence however, they couldn't make a move so he turned his attention to his group and spoke softly to help conceal their position.

Alright, listen up, there's a weapon emplacement up ahead. I'll go take a look while you four stay here. If I'm not back within a hour, move on without me. I don't need to tell you Astor's life more important than my own. If I can't make it back, I'll draw it's attention away and buy you time. Last thing, @Zelrius, I'll need your hiking equipment(Movement Pack) since it seems to be sitting on a vantage point. I'll let you hold on to my atlas(Vintergard Atlas) while I'm away. If I don't return, I'm leaving things to you. I'm sure you and Jin will manage.

Once the two would trade their voucher items, If they did, he would begin his approach to the cannon in the distance, using his mastery over speed, his reflexes and his awareness prowess to get into it's blind spots and/or keep out of it's sight until he reach the base of the rock It was sitting on. He attempt to climb from the side in an effort to get behind it. If he couldn't or If it was pointless, he simply study it from a safe distance.

@Ilusa Nakhalee @Zelrius @Schilva Flasch @Jin

Action: Scouting the cannon​

 

[Raid Boss]

Special Event

@Seto Kurama – With Dynamism and the assistance of the movement pack, you expertly closed the distance between yourself and the cannon. The first thing you would have noticed is the fact that the cannon rotates at a steady speed, seemingly defending the area assigned to it. The head itself can turn in all direction except into the rocky vantage it's sitting on.

When you got to the rocky vantage it was sitting on top of and climbed up about halfway, you spotted an antennae with an energy sphere enveloping it. You might have tossed a rock at the energy sphere to see what would happen. As expected, the rock was repelled.

You deemed that it was not safe to climb up any further, however, from where you managed to climb to, the cannon covered a large zone and while you alone were able to get close with careful and strategic movement, the rest of the team would have to travel through long distance while sneaking to get past the cannon.

OOC: Time has passed while the group waited for the result of Seto's recon mission. You may post again this cycle. Be sure to react to C3 post before the entire group takes action.

 

[Seto Kurama]

The Pantone Demon

Task: N/A
Emotional State: Normal
State: Normal

Through careful movement and his previous experience in the real world, It didn't take very long for him to reach his objective despite the danger the cannon posed. When he could reach as far as he could without giving his position away, he took as much as time as he could to study the emplacement. At first glance, It reminded him of a FH70 used by his forces in the war and some sort of naval gun employed during the great wars. While It could rotate at a steady speed, allowing it to potentially cover any encroaching area as long as the threat remained within it's line of fire, it was obvious It was no different than any other artillery piece, leaving it vulnerable in close quarters near it's position. Than of course, was the antenna that sat on the top. He could only guess It was used to receive orders but that still left him curious since this was "magic" tech. With this in mind, he chipped off a small rock from the side of the cliffside and threw the rock at the cannon, revealing a protective energy shield. He cussed under his breath. After witnessing the rock being repelled, he quickly came to the conclusion he had gathered all the information he could without doing something drastic and potentially dangerous so he decided to head back to inform the group. Carefully climbing down, he would do the same, using his speed, his reflexes and awareness prowess to keep in it's blind spots and/or keep out of it's sight until he could reach his group were still in hiding. On his return, he would fall to the ground and take a rest against a tree, sighing in the process before turning to his team mates.

So....ugh...yeah, It's what I suspected. The emplacement on that rock formation is an massive artillery platform...and an advanced one at that, boosting even a protective shield. Without prior combat experience and/or the manipulation of certain masteries, trying to approach that thing from nearly any angle is suicide, as It can rotate as fast as a Type 10, giving it a unprecedent level of flexibility, should a threat appear. In short, unless we can get up close in it's blind side and disable it's energy shield, It's best to avoid this thing all together.

Sighing again, he momentarily closed his eyes as he laid his head against the tree he was laying up against before remembering he had Zelrius hiking equipment. Upon remembering, he would offer up his hiking equipment back to him.

@Ilusa Nakhalee @Zelrius @Schilva Flasch @Jin

Action: Returning back to the group and reporting his findings​

 

[Jin]

When Seto returned with news of a turret, Jin lifted a hand to his lips and closed his eyes. He listened carefully to the information, a battlement from the sound of it. Defensive emplacements like this covered a large area, but they were seldom employed all alone. The chances were if they did manage to slip past the cannon, there might be another or several more waiting for them; and by the time that they managed to do so, they would be deep within enemy territory at the time when they were at their most active.

Not ideal.

His crimson gaze returned to settle on their scout. "The route forward poses risks I'd prefer to avoid," he stated flatly. "Even were we able to evade the initial turret, there is no way to be sure that there are not more waiting for us. Time is of the essence, so we can't afford to take lengthy measures just to outflank one turret, let alone reconnoiter the area ahead."

Jin made a gesture. "I propose an alternative approach." He gestured for the rest of the group to follow him. "Follow me, there is another path through the undergrove," he explained without waiting for them to consent. He had no time to waste, and ideally, they would feel the same. "There is some danger in the form of local predators, which are extremely territorial; but if we move with haste, it may be possible to avoid them altogether."

The others had skills he was not entirely aware of, which was less than ideal from a teambuilding perspective, but with his knowledge and their offhand understanding of how to apply their own talents, they could fill in the gaps.

Hopefully enough to get through this alive, at least.

"I'll leave the how of it to the rest of you," he added after a moment, if only as a display apparent of trust. They wouldn't work with him if he didn't seem to afford them at least that much. "But with some luck and a good effort, we should be able to get to the King with daylight left to burn."

@Seto Kurama @Zelrius @Schilva Flasch @Ilusa Nakhalee

 

[Jester]

Spoiler: Yes this is real

What had began as rapid footsteps had very early transformed into long leaps as Jester showed off her Mercury cosplay by using her only mastery to play messenger.

The determined smirk on her face became a grin as she saw an unforgettable assembly of adventurers. Instead of making sure to hang onto a little SP, she closed the distance in a flash. The sudden charge would have been worthy of leaving a dust storm in her wake if she had put anymore effort into it, unlike the way she skid to a stop several meters away from the party, which DID kick up debris.

"Wait!" The elf huffed for air with her hands on her knees for a few seconds, though soon afterwards let out a laugh as she stood and put her fists on her hips. "Great! You haven't charged ahead!"

Spoiler: Jester's condition (trigger warning: blood and wounds)

Jester had bloody bandaging wrap diagonally from her jaw to the upper left of her head covering her right eye, as well as around her upper legs about halfway down, and her waist. There was bandaging that had come loose around her neck and shoulders from her vigorous sprinting, showing what the other bandages were probably covering as well: large, deep gashes which had been stitched shut, though a few had come off with the bandages.

The elf still grinned as though nothing had happened to her at all and gave the party a salute. "And before any of you ask, no one else is dead!"

"My team had found a way to reverse engineer the pinging! Well our signal was not the king; there's much worse news I'm bringing. We used Astral Projection to ascertain this information, but the woman through the vision stirred a frightful situation. We were all attacked, and the others stayed to heal, but..." She gently pulled at a piece of the looser bandages around her neck, looking @Jin @Seto Kurama @Ilusa Nakhalee @Zelrius and @Schilva Flasch each over with an assuring, toothy grin. "With the thought of you heading into the fray, I simply couldn't stay put."

"There's great danger ahead: a magitech egg saw us back through our visions before we were given these nasty incisions, but other than the danger and how great it might be, I didn't really gleam much from what I got to see." She gave an apologetic bow of her head for a moment.

 

[Ilusa Nakhalee]

The mix of illusions and heat worked perfectly; sending them away from them, tricked the group giving them ample time to hurry along quickly.

They walked, moved quietly, following the lead of Jin – for a moment her gaze lingered on him. There was something about him, that kept pulling her attention from time to time. But it was nebulous something that she could not put her finger on, so she left it alone for now.

Seto’s idea was sound, so she nodded to show her agreement and then she and the rest waited in silence for his return.

It did not take that long for him to return; relatively speaking that is.

“Tch.” Ilusa clicked her tongue at the report he came back with. Then she nodded to Jin’s words. “Yes, that route is out.” It was waste of time and resources.

“…Yes, this sounds like the best idea. If we’ll go in fast, we should probably manage to outrun the natural predators. How is everyone’s speed? I am not geared towards speed. Even with Haste. I.. Would have to be carried.” The felis said, looking almost embarrassed at that. She knew how speed was often important in such situations.

They talked here about who can do what; but before they could move on with a plan, the sound of something approaching made her (and everyone else) turn to face it, clearly preparing for eventual action.

It turned out to be an ally; an ally in a rather bad state. Immediately she focused, checking how it was relative to her health-bar. A large chunk was missing; though it was still not that bad. Yet the wounds were rather ghastly. A bandage over jaw seeping blood. Covered eye. Other bandages, some loose, showing the gaping wound as if made by claws or sharp blade.

It had to be painful.

News of their ping being the one was fantastic and her lips curved into a happy smile, even as she focused on healing the bearer of good news. Ilusa spoke smoothly Words of Divine Magic, pale gold symbols blinked over the orbs and the gentle light flew onto the girl, to heal her.

After that, she told the newcomer the plan; to blitz through the undergrove.


@Zelrius @Jin @Seto Kurama @Schilva Flasch @Jester

Rolls

Heal (Single)
1d20 (14) + 25 + 15 + 15 = 69
+69 HP to Jester
Divine Magic | Ilusa Nakhalee | 1235C3

 

[Raid Boss]

Team Ego
Day 1: Evening (Cycle 4)

Guidelines

• @Jin @Zelrius @Seto Kurama @Jester @Ilusa Nakhalee @Schilva Flasch
• Maximum of 400 words, no minimum as long as it's not one sentence (for the times where one's muse does not cooperate).
• 1 reply per cycle unless the Narrator asks for you to respond to a scene.
• Team Ego's Comms
• Team Ego's Current Location

With the majority of the group pushing to get to Astor as quickly as they could, the undergrove was the obvious choice. With the map showing you the way, you and your group descended into the area of the forest that was a good 15 feet below the surrounding elevation. There, you fought against the intricately woven tree roots and overgrown bushes that slowed you down. The undergrove may have been overgrown, but it was spacious enough to accommodate all six of you. Most of the plants here were close to the ground while trees populated the adjacent area, providing you good coverage from the sky.

Although every one of you were getting ready to confront territorial low-grounded beasts that were native to the undergrove, the entire team should have quickly noticed the distinct lack of creatures bigger than a rabbit. The further you go, the more noticeable the burnt scent wafting in the air became as thin scorch marks can be seen occasionally.

When the group arrived at the end of a creek, it was made abundantly clear to all of you that the reason why there was no beast in the undergrove was that most of them were half-eaten and dumped there at the creek. (Encounter Roll 6)

Before anyone among you even had time to react, a line of lightning traveled along the ground and struck @Jester, who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time (1d6=2). The lightning reacted violently the moment it struck her and arced to the nearest tree, boring a pitch-black hole on its shaft.

The moment the lightning struck the tree, a massive lion shrouded by lightning jumped into the middle of the group, making its presence known with a thunderous roar as electricity buzzed around it before it batted at @Ilusa Nakhalee and @Jin, slicing them up with its razor sharp claws.

Cycle 3's Damage Phase

Targets were randomly determined on Discord (1: Zelrius 2: Jester 3: Kijin / Ilusa 4: Schilva 5: No target 6: Seto)

Arc Spear (multiple target)

• This ability jumps from one target to another but stops when it hits the environment.
• @Jester was struck (1d6=2) and it arcs to a tree (1d6=5), ending the arcing. Take 15 damage.

Apex Pounce (single target)

• @Ilusa Nakhalee and @Jin take 35 damage (70 split up)

Thundermane
Apex Thunderlord

❰ 65 / 65 ❱

❰ 1200 / 1200 ❱

Spoiler: Battle Mood

Status:

• [Lightning Resistance]
  • If you have Aeromancy in your mastery line-up (i.e. your build), your attack does half damage.
  • If you have Pyromancy in your build, your attack can be made with advantage.
  • If you have Hydromancy in your build, your attack reduces the enemy's SP by 15 as a bonus.
• [Lightning Mane] When you get into range to attack this enemy, make a Reflex Save (DC 50) to avoid 3d20 lightning damage after you attack (i.e. vuln and prot will counts)
  • Extension Passive bypasses this status
  • If you have at least 4 movements, make the save with advantage
• [Stability] If the enemy's SP is reduced to 0, it will lose Lightning Resistance (and all of its effects) for the rest of this cycle
• Taunt DC [165] activating Taunt will double your roll result for the purpose of meeting this DC.

OOC: For this battle, I will allow all retroactive actions to take place, i.e. if your group member rolled support actions that apply to you but have not post, the support effects will count ahead of time. Make sure that the target is known, however. Also, it's time to commit your play sheet for this battle.

Spoiler: Battle Template

[hp=current]max[/hp]
[status]
Damage recorded here
[/status]

Post here

[action]

[/action]
▪ Thundermane HP: 1200/1200
▪ Thundermane SP: 65/65
Play Sheet Link

 

[Zelrius]

160 / 160

None(?)
Vulnerable

Their plan was decided- the undergrove, rather than engage the cannon directly. Zelrius nodded. He turned to the wounded and now being healed Jester. Guess, she was with them now. On one hand, he was happy to have the rhyming magician-now-with-dark-magic with them. On the other, Her wounds coming in here were not very exciting. Whatever, right? It was just a game, getting hurt was part of the fun.

---

The lack of real territorial animals seemed odd. It wasn't like those adventurers and whistles to lie or exaggerate. Wrong information was deadly. And so was whatever had blasted this area. The smell of charred flesh and fur was something the pyromancer had become intimately familiar with, having caused many creatures to end up in the same state. His first thought were the sentries and other Magitech bots. Perhaps armed with some kind of laser weaponry, or even electric attacks, like those magnetic style Pokemon from the older games.

Then, the crack of yellow lightning. His head snapped to its end points, following as it struck Jester than the tree. Before a thought could even be formed, there it was - the source. Roaring and swatting at the catgirl and his friend Jin. A normal monster, atleast by Terrasphere standards. And not an army of Dragonship defenders.

A moment wasn't wasted, he needed its attention, to wear it out. Something of his signature ability was the first to come to mind. "Get Ilusa out of there!" His instinct to protect the healer, and let the Hemomancer that Jin was use his own blood magic to get a more defensive stance. Zelrius rocketed forward, blue eyes locked onto the way the electricity danced around its form. It was time for this enemy's first test. Now in range, the redhead let the air be strangled by the evaporating moisture. Before both of them were closed in by the spinning ring of fire. That ring erupted into a pillar that encompassed both their forms. Seeing if this creature could stand up to the heat.

Rolls

Ultra Hinder
2d100 (60 + 84) + 15 + 15 + 25 = 100 (Total halved)
100 damage to HP and SP. Gain the Vulnerable state
Pyromancy | Zelrius | 1235C4

Save
2d100 (Advantage) (10, 85) + 15 + 5 = 105
Reflex | Zelrius | 1235C4 | Lightning Mane Save | Adv 4+ Movement

▪ Thundermane HP: 1100/1200
▪ Thundermane SP: 0/65
Play Sheet Link

 

[Schilva Flasch]

115 / 115

Combat Log:
Attacking Thundermane

Status:
Weight of Ultimate Shame | -15 Max HP

There Schilva stood, tapping one heel with the other idly, until the emplacement was confirmed as being a huge automated cannon. All Schilva had to say on the matter was a resigned shrug of the shoulders, uncharacteristically quiet. As it happened, Jin had some observations to make;

"...there is another path through the undergrove..."

Translation: we're taking that one, follow me.

"...I'll leave the how of it to the rest of you."

Or have fun getting shelled to bits.

...at least, that was how he saw it. Aware or not, regardless of his humbledness, Schilva was still chafing under the weight of taking orders and being led around. That line of thinking was put on hold though, as an apparently allied stranger (@Jester) made an unexpected entrance. The more the merrier, sure, but...

The heck happened to you? How are you still...

He was stuck between 'moving', 'standing' and 'capable of holding a pulse'. Listening to Jester's explanation of the peril ahead, he has mixed feelings on their bearings; yes, they were definitely headed the right way - right into danger. But what else could he do but make the best of it?
Gathering his wits gallantly, Schilva pats his chest and...is he trying to flex?

It's a tacit offer, none too subtle, to quite literally carry Illusa. Whether or not she took it up was another matter entirely as the party strikes forth into the undergrove.

---

His gait is nothing like a surefooted steed, but Schilva manages to pick his way through the low-lying plant life all the same. The scent of ozone is heavy in the air, sharp to the nose and keeping him on edge. Where has he encountered this scent before?

As the apex predator crashes through the bush with barely a moment's notice, denying the party a chance to even process the wasteful remains of its predation, it dawns on him. It's the smell of lightning, the very energy that Schilva only recently had learned to harness.

Dropping everything, the instinct to strike takes over. His arm jerks, reaching for his sword, but the order comes:
"Get Ilusa out of here!"
It's sound advice, but he doesn't take orders.

Shit...

Just for a moment, Schilva wavers. Then, he breaks the already broken ranks to scoop Illusa up (assuming he wasn't already carrying her), setting her a safer distance from the conflict before returning to the fight. Too late now...though his first strike connects without reprisal, he has lost the element of surprise.

@Ilusa Nakhalee @Zelrius @Seto Kurama @Jester @Jin

Rolls

Sneak Attack
1d100 (18) + 10 + 10 + 25 = 63
63 damage
Sneak Attack unsuccessful: disadvantage on next save
Dynamism | Schilva Flasch | 1235C4

Save
4+ Move: Advantage
1d100 (43) + 20 + 5 = 68
Reflex | Schilva Flasch | 1235C4

▪ Thundermane HP: 1037/1200
▪ Thundermane SP: 0/65
Play Sheet Link

 

[Jin]

164 / 165

Counterattacking (-10 damage)
70(-10)=60 damage +59 healing from Ilusa= 1 net damage.

The creature appeared and attack before they had any real time to coherently respond. Those with extreme speed were able to respond immediately to the new threat, but it isolated the Bloodsworn and certainly, must have believed him an easy target as a result. When the claws raked his body and the beast fell on him, his hand moved out like a serpent, clenching a vengeful fist alongside the beast's lengthy forearm. The blood that flowed out from his newly opened wound began to swirl rapidly, angrily, violently- and much like that same venomous reptile, wreathed itself around the monstrosity's appendage.

Jin rolled to one side twice, then up to his feet and out of the way of the discharge that splashed along the ground where he had been only moments before. Instead of moving to draw his blade however, the crimson-eyed man recognized the danger for what it was. A blade drawn constituted a lightning rod. Inside its wooden sheathe presented a much safer venue in present company. Instead, he kept his control over the Blood Curse, and with a wicked jerk of his arm across his body, he sent a portion of the viscera not entangling the creature spiking into the earth like an anchor.

Ideally, this would serve the purpose of keeping the Lightning Lion focused on Jin, and the means by which he rooted it in place would serve as a ground. Blood contains a large amount of water and iron- which is why the human body is so conductive- so a lariat made of it would (in theory) be the perfect counter by which to prevent the others from riding the lightning.

He focused on maintaining his hold while the others regrouped and assessed the situation.

Rolls

1d100 (65) + 10 = 75 (Save against Lightning Mane)
Reflex | Jin | 1235C4

Taunting (taunt)

1d100 (84) + 10 + 15 + 15 + 20 = 144
144 damage
Counter successful! 20 damage added. Take 10 less damage
Hemomancy | Jin | 1235C4

▪ Thundermane HP: 893/1200
▪ Thundermane SP: 0/65

Play Sheet

 

[Ilusa Nakhalee]

160 / 160

Schilva ended up offering to carry her and Ilusa of course accepted. It felt a little odd to be carried, but the slight discomfort brought by the sense of oddness was easily rationalised away.

The mac carried her and they moved so fast that Ilusa gasped and actually grasped his shoulders to steady herself. But it was also a rather heady feeling, wind in her hair, the greenery shifting as the group ran, ran fast.

They met no big animal, no monster

-Until a huge lion-like monster stood right before them, forcing everyone who run (not Ilusa) to sharply halt. She saw corpses of other animals around.

Of course, the lightning lion used lighting – it was quick, like lightning and stuck Jester.

Next, the monster was rearing for attack, quick, fast. She heard Zelrius shout to get her out of range and the claws were almost upon her – Schilva tightened his hold on her and extracted her from the danger.

No pain befell her - it fell instead on Jin, who withstood it; his HP bar getting low. From the corner of eye she saw how Zelrius in raging inferno locked the monster, sealing its movement in a tornado of ragin fie. It was beautiful (it made her think of Astor, so close yet so far).

"Thank you." She said to Schilva as he let her down (he was far more gentler than his looks suggested). Standing on her own, and keeping to the back as Schilva ran into inferno to attack the monster, Ilusa could see what was happening much better. The black-haired man taunted the lion when the cage of fire no longer held it, keeping its attention on himself.

In a way in this world, when one was in a party, things defaulted to the three roles: Healer, DPS and Tank.

And thus, like a good healer, Ilusa cast. Keeping eye on health-bars, she cast. Priority: herself first, tank next, DPS last.

Almost melodious words left her, pale gold light fluttered, swirling with each syllable, before it flew towards the youth aggroing the monster, wrapping him in gentle warmth and healing him from the slashed, from the deep gouges, stopping the bleeding.

Rolls

Heal (Single)
1d20 (4) + 25 + 15 + 15 = 59
+59 HP to @Jin
Divine Magic | Ilusa Nakhalee | 1235C4

Player Sheet Link



@Jin @Zelrius @Schilva Flasch @Jester @Seto Kurama

 

[Seto Kurama]

The Pantone Demon

190 / 190

Task: Ultra Protecting @Ilusa Nakhalee , @Schilva Flasch and @Jin
Emotional State: Fine
State: Vulnerable

From the moment they entered the undergrove in an attempt to save time, It was quickly becoming apparent something was wrong, very wrong. The area smelled like an ambush could occur at any moment. In return, this caused him to retake his position at the front of the group with Jin at his side. While Jin fed him and the others directions where to go, he would keep his eyes open for any potential threat, believing he could use his superior spatial awareness and former experience to keep his team alive. Soon enough however, It didn't take long for his sixth sense to prove him right when he began picking up familiar scorch marks littered throughout the area. It didn't help either that there was a burnt scent in the air, something he was all too familiar with. If he wasn't on guard before, he certainly was now, although he couldn't keep himself from pondering on the possible foe that made the area void of nearly all life. By the time he came to the conclusion that they were most likely dealing with an apex predator that most likely used fire or lightning, his body inadvertently moved on it's own, throwing him out of the line of fire as a powerful bolt of lightning came screaming towards them. Once he recovered from his narrow dodge, he looked up, revealing a massive lion shrouded in a veil of electricity, confirming his suspicion.

While his team went on the offensive, he fell back to @Ilusa Nakhalee's position, deciding It was In his team's best interest If he focused on the defensive for the time being. Mustering a immense amount of energy from his own body, triggering a veil of electricity of his own to take shape as bolts of electricity began to radiate from his body, he engulfed Ilusa, Schilva and Jin in a thick golden cloak of their own which in return, would protect them for the time being.

Rolls

Ultra Protect
1d100 (67) + 25 + 15 + 30 = 137
137 damage
Give 3 allies in your zone the Protected status. Gain the Vulnerable state
Guard Arts | Seto Kurama | 1235C4

Character Sheet​