Movement: F6 -> F4
Buffs: Overheal : 0/16
Damage Taken: 10 Damage from SUPER Nova + 10 Damage from Lulthien( 4 damage after Overheal). 20 damage from YuRam's Designation - Striker.
Hey, I'm no zebra! And you can betcha all six of your behinds I would eat a lion for breakfast! I'm a bonafide tiger. T-I-G-E-R! Understood?" She'd take a moment to answer @Legion 's odd remark towards her and Mizuki, before paying attention as Null seemed to talk again, followed by the Calculator throwing out some data. As it processed Harper's, the beastkin nodded in agreement. Nothing better than being simple but effective. "Hey, at least I'm not suicidal, hah." She'd note as she threw a sideways glance at @Luthien with a smirk, before feeling her entire body shudder as the Calculator scanned every fiber of her being.
Stomping the ground, she'd point at both it and Null with an annoyed tone, baring her teeth slightly. "Pull that trick again and I'm turning you into a fancy beach ball, you hear me?!" She'd make the threat, but as much as it annoyed her she wouldn't be able to act on it. Instead, the beast decided to resign herself to let out her anger at the level checker. To her dismay, it was no longer there. Instead, the scenario around them shifted once more, this time Harper recognizing it as Vintergard. While she hadn't been there herself, she had been given a tl;dr of it by those in command back at camp. As such, she quickly poised herself for any incoming enemies. And enemies there were.
One could see the grin forming on her face with each one that came out, reaching a peak at her own clone. "Ohoho! Now we are talking! Much better than hitting a pillar!" Noting the general displeasure of the others to their recreations, Harper couldn't help but shrug. "Guess I drew the long stick here, mine came out pretty good! 'Tis kind of a shame I can't just spar with her all day long." She'd start to stretch, getting her body ready for the combat to come. "Unfortunately, that ain't what we came here for. So I'm afraid there's not enough space on this battlefield for two tigers. Let's fucking go-Huh?"
While the others dashed forwards, Harper would stop herself due to @MAI 's group-wide message catching her attention. While she wouldn't open it, the pause would let her notice @Lady N going off on her own. Seeing her as being vulnerable, she'd separate from the others as she'd rush past N toward Legioff. Unfortunately, YuRam had a word or two to say about that. "Tsk!"
After a brief clash and tussle between the two, Harper would manage to trip him to the ground, though not unharmed. Reaching Legioff, she would drive her fist through her midsection before quickly backing off so as to not let YuRam catch her back. Landing by Lady N's side, she'd put her hands behind her head and give her a smile.
"Takes two to tango. Say, I cover your behind while you tell me whatcha just found there. Deal? And thanks for the drones MAI!"
Rolls
Protect
1d100 (83) + 15 + 10 - 10 = 98 Damage
Target: Legioff
Give 1 ally in your zone the Protected State (@Lady N ) Guard Arts | Harper | VBMS31
Replaced Sentry for Mobile passive.
Narrative Highlight: Only describe if needed
Crimson Egg: 500/500 HP | 500/500 SP Legioff: 402/500 HP | 200/200 SP Ash Varsilicon: 500/500 HP | 0/200 SP NAI: 500/500 HP | 200/200 SP Kyaa!: 50/50 HP | 300/300 SP Uno: 200/200 HP | 150/150 SP LARPer: -34/200 HP | 150/150 SP YuRAM: 200/200 HP | 150/150 SP SUPER Nova: 150/150 HP | 100/100 SP Lulthien: 150/150 HP | 100/100 SP Lady M: 50/50 HP | 300/300 SP
-20 HP from Uno (Striker)
-10 damage from SUPER Nova (Global)
-10 damage from Lulthien (Global)
"Overcautious. Protective. Can follow orders."
...yeah, that sounds about right.
There was a lot going on. A rapidly growing horde of faerin. The sudden dump of information from @MAI, which was useful but also slightly overwhelming. And then that sudden sense of being seen, in a way that made his skin crawl, distracting him from the way the world "loaded" into sight. One moment void, the next a city with a distinctly "generated" look to it, and the setup for some kind of arena fight...
And then the crimson egg began to act, and the clones emerged... including one of him that...
Awoooo!!!!!!
...what the fuck. Why is it literally just shouting awoo?
This was... weird. A little disturbing! And then @Lady N leered his way, like she thought this was an accurate representation of him, which was far from true. He glanced back with a bemused smile.
I'm more of a 'barfk barfk' person.
But honestly. It's a weird robot clone. I doubt it's meant to be accurate.
Humor, in this case, was the easiest way to push away the discomfort of looking at 'his' face through a mechanical filter and some offensively inaccurate characterization. This probably felt way worse for the people who just used their real life appearance. At least Ash could think of it like some unwanted fan-art of his OC.
Ugh. There was so much going on. Better to ignore it and focus on the task in front of him; thinning down the robotic horde between them and the enemy egg. There sure were a lot of robot eggs lately
Hey! Get over here!
Hands emerged from his runestone and stretched across the battlefield. Most went towards Uno, grasping her arms and legs and dragging her towards Ash. A few more broke away from the runestone entirely, their cold weight settling around @Yugam into a whispering shroud, ready to murmur warnings about incoming danger.
Ash drew his sword, and as Uno came into view he stepped forward and swung, letting auto-assist handle the rest. It was a good hit, he felt - nothing fancy, but enough to leave a mark and pave the way for everyone else to finish the job.
Rolls
Movement: C6 > C5
Protect (Attacking Uno)
Activating: (Passive) Consistent
50 (Consistent) + 20 + 15 - 10 = 75 75 damage
Give 1 ally in your zone the Protected State (Attacking @Yugam) Guard Arts | Ash Vargold | VBMS31
BA: Using Pull to move Uno from B4 to C5
Crimson Egg: 500/500 HP | 500/500 SP Legioff: 402/500 HP | 200/200 SP Ash Varsilicon: 500/500 HP | 0/200 SP NAI: 500/500 HP | 200/200 SP Kyaa!: 50/50 HP | 300/300 SP > Uno: 125/200 HP | 150/150 SP LARPer: -34/200 HP | 150/150 SP YuRAM: 200/200 HP | 150/150 SP SUPER Nova: 150/150 HP | 100/100 SP Lulthien: 150/150 HP | 100/100 SP Lady M: 50/50 HP | 300/300 SP
+16 HP from Heal (@MAI) [Overheal]
-10 HP from Hunter (SUPER Nova)
-10 HP from Hunter (Lulthien)
Location: D6
Despite her best attempts, Mizuki couldn't find anything in their surroundings that could help her figure out exactly what was going on. As the pillar they'd all been attacking began to spit out a list of data it had perceived from their attacks the luna wolf frowned as it described her as simple. Well, all she'd done was jump up and kick the thing, so that response was pretty accurate.
The scanning that came next, however, was much more troubling. Mizuki's ears went straight up as she blinked, a shiver travelling down her spine with her fur bristling as it reached the tip of her tail. Once the feeling had passed she flexed her clawed fingers, glaring at Null as she backed up @Harper's words with her threatening gestures.
The landscape changed soon after, turning into a warped replica of Vintergard. It clearly was meant to be an imitation, but there was a variety of discrepancies which made the entire thing feel like a dream.
Either this was prepared in advance or we're in over our heads.
If they were facing a power that could actually change the landscape like this at a whim she didn't think there was much they could do to oppose it. The golden egg was a rather curious affair, but Mizuki's attention was drawn more towards the copies of herself and the others. Moreso than the fake Vintergard, they clearly weren't proper copies, but mechanical imitations.
Before Mizuki could act she received a message from @MAI, forcing her to let the others take the lead as she read through everything the drone-wielding magia had shared with the group. The stuff about the LC-Unit she could have guessed, but the much more important information was regarding their new opponents.
By the time she finished reading her allies had already gotten quite busy, taking out Harper's double without giving her a chance to act. @Ash Vargold was also being so considerate as to pull Mizuki's own double closer, which made her own job a lot easier.
Dashing forward Mizuki wove her way through the web of vines that threatened to trip her up if she wasn't careful, quickly closing the gap between herself and the fake. Reusing the same attack she'd used against the LC-Unit she jumped up and spun to launch a kick, intending to behead the copy called Uno while she was still reeling from Ash's manhandling. Instead, the mechanical mimic brought up her arms and blocked the strike, forcing Mizuki to quickly retreat before she found herself on the receiving end of a counterattack.
As she returned to her original position two projectiles drew a high arc in the sky, courtesy of Luthien's and Nova's doubles. As they fell down to strike the denied luna wolf @MAI's drones intercepted them, deflecting one entirely and causing the other to merely graze Mizuki. In response, she turned towards the short magia with a quick nod and a smile.
Thanks.
Rolls
(BA) Maneuver | Metamorph | Ueno Mizuki You ignore difficult terrains and movement-based damage this cycle. Sneak Attack
1d100 (3) + 25 + 20 + 25 - 10 = 63 63 damage Target: Uno
Sneak Attack unsuccessful! Martial Arts | Ueno Mizuki | VBMS31
Narrative Highlight: N/A
Crimson Egg: 500/500 HP | 500/500 SP Legioff: 402/500 HP | 200/200 SP Ash Varsilicon: 500/500 HP | 0/200 SP NAI: 500/500 HP | 200/200 SP Kyaa!: 50/50 HP | 300/300 SP Uno: 62/200 HP | 150/150 SP LARPer: -34/200 HP | 150/150 SP YuRAM: 200/200 HP | 150/150 SP SUPER Nova: 150/150 HP | 100/100 SP Lulthien: 150/150 HP | 100/100 SP Lady M: 50/50 HP | 300/300 SP
Isn't "tiger" a traditionally masculine title, though? It should be "Tigrette!"
But that sounds like Tiger and Regret. There's no way a real tiger would regret stuff...
As the mysterious robot trash can vanished, the pile of Legion slowly toppled on the ground, rolled around a bit, and finally fanned out. Back to irritating people!
Ahaha, see? The robot knows your true self even better than you do!
That's disappointing. I was hoping he was more of a woof.
Wait, did you just meow...?
They didn't have long though, as the robot invasion quickly took their attention.
Woooaaahhh! A new Legion member!
A robot member!? So cool!
I know we've only had her for 10 seconds, but if anything happened to her, I would kill everyone in this room and then myself!
Join us, new member! We have regular potluck dinners and matching capelets!
Uhm... shouldn't we kill the other evil robots first...?
Nodding in unison, roughly half the pile of Faerin ran forward towards a nearby wall and began to stack on top of each other until one was finally able to clamber up to the top. The one on top spread out her cloak, casting a shadow over the creepy Ueno clone.
Behold, the shadow of JUSTICE or something like that!
Suddenly, the Legion by the wall merged into their own shadows, while on the other side, they began to repeated poke out of the shadow of the cloak. They swiped, stabbed with daggers, and even went for a bite here and there, until the creepy robot eventually succumbed to death-by-a-thousand-stings.
Shortly after, they started popping out of the shadow of the egg and surrounding @Nova as she struck from a distance.
It's a good thing you're crazy tall, or this would be super difficult!
Speak for yourself! Protecting her back is easy!
Rolls
Protect
1d100 (67) + 0 + 5 - 10 = 62 62 damage
Give 1 ally in your zone the Protected State @Nova Illusion Magic | Legion | VBMS31
(BA) Coordinate Summon B | Legion Target: @Kyra Vashtana gains +20 extra modifiers to attacks, heals, buffs.
Crimson Egg: 500/500 HP | 500/500 SP Legioff: 402/500 HP | 200/200 SP Ash Varsilicon: 500/500 HP | 0/200 SP NAI: 500/500 HP | 200/200 SP Kyaa!: 50/50 HP | 300/300 SP YuRAM: 200/200 HP | 150/150 SP SUPER Nova: 150/150 HP | 100/100 SP Lulthien: 150/150 HP | 100/100 SP Lady M: 50/50 HP | 300/300 SP Uno: 0/200 HP | 150/150 SP
LARPer: -34/200 HP | 150/150 SP
And thus, combat was initiated. With everyone except @Kyra Vashtana and @Lady N actively participating, most of the group decided to attack the feral trio of Magia-Beastfolk. Each of their steps followed closely by The Calculator, ever watching.
<Beep Boop> Analysing Starcalled Combat Data...
Analyzing decision-making ability...
Approach: Assaulting point of most resistance...
Expected Result: Poor
You vile fiends, I will... Krggh! Arf-...
Varsilicon spoke, though whatever he intended to speak was cut short by @Luthien's interruption of turning him into an ice cube, giving the main force of the group enough freedom to pile onto the others. Namely, @Yugam getting into a short brawl with LARPer that didn't end too well for her... blue blood spewing out of her mouth and the place his blade pierced her.
I... wasn't... kurrrgh... OY! I WILL FRIGGIN PU-
In the short moment that Kyaa's blessings reached LARPer, she died as quickly as she rose to her feet again thanks to a well-placed shot from @Nova . In a way, quite cruel. Cruel enough that Uno's face contorted in rage...
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!
In another timeline, where the coordinated result of the Starcalled did not result in her death, they could have been assured that Uno would have taken Fate into her own hands. But in this scenario, it still took the combined efforts of @Ash Vargold@Ueno Mizuki and @Legion to best her. Just in time for her to not transform into something... scarier.
<Beep Boop> Result of Skirmish: Exceptional T̷h̸i̶s̷ ̴i̷s̷ ̶b̵a̶d̸.̴ Probable cause: [Superb Coordination Ability]
Parsing [Superb Coordination Ability] to P-Value...
Error...
Calculating Starcalled Victory Probability
Result: 87%
Expected Result: 20%
Unexpected probability outcome. Result outside projected parameter.
<Bzzt>
Parsing [Superb Coordination Ability] to P-Value...
Error...
As this was going on, @MAI and @Kyra Vashtana in the meantime were taking on more supportive roles, for very different reasons. Which only left @Lady N, who was being escorted by @Harper.
As the Lady grabbed the thingamajig, the world around her seemed to bug out just a little bit. As if, for just a moment, she had gotten wall hacks, able to see even beyond their battlefield: Somewhere, outside the battlefield. She could see them. The Calculator and <Null>, assuring her that even if she couldn't see them anymore right now, they were still here.
Now she had done it. The other Starcalled weren't unaffected either. While N saw past their world, the area glitched for just a second for everybody. And ever since it returned back to normal, each and every single one of them noticed... things. Subtle, just as before, yet more tangible than ever. Able to potentially grab more of whatever this was if they just desired so.
You're weak.
Legioff spoke to Harper with a perfect poker face as she, and YuRAM, followed closely behind her.
She could hear Legioff's voice, from another direction?!
How about you do us all a favor and just kill yourself?
And a third one spoke!? Yet, unlike @Legion, they all looked the same. Just somewhat smaller. In fact, the entirety of Vintergard seemed to be suddenly full of Legioff's!
Are you bipolar or something? One moment you can let loose, the other you have a stick so far up your ass, you're nearly as boring as the green-haired guy!
So, you're the reason I exist? I hate you. See what you made us do? Going full meme speech would require too much CPU. So instead, we opted for this.
Unlike the cheerful and weird original Legion, Legioff was just a mean bundle of negativity, constantly nagging the Starcalled.
With the appearance of the many Legioff, the Alter-Magia pretty much announced it was now THEIR turn to act.
Hey, SUPER Nova. Wanna be SUPER awesome? All you gotta think about is something you really, really dislike and pretend you're shooting at it!
Really? THAT's easy, well. I SHOW THEM! That one guy did Sister LARPer real bad? Yeah... he's the one who gonna drop...
With these words, and Lulthien's wisdom, SUPER Nova jumped high up into the air, her mechanical arm-wings turning into a giant bow that aimed at @Yugam. "DIE!" With that word, an energy bolt so fast that it broke the sound barrier struck him like a lightning bolt.
Oy! Turry! Stop lazing around, there's an entire MEAL for you!
YuRAM commanded, and the ground below @MAI@Legion and @Ueno Mizuki started to rumble before, seconds after, a mechanical worm rose from the ground. Its countless razor-sharp teeth and bladed skin ripping and tearing whatever was in its path...
Yet, somehow, Turry's attack seemed... lacking? It mostly... missed?
<Beep Boop> Raising damage value of subject: YuRAM...
... Suddenly, as if they had always been there, Turry started to sort-of-glow. Tiny little red dots that then scattered lasers all around it. Albeit still not hurting too much, it also damaged @Ash Vargold@Kyra Vashtana@Lady N and the Egg! The worm disappeared as quickly as it crawled out. The earth its maw chunked away dropping out of his behind, leaving the opposite of a tunnel.
Execute - Interruption Tactics: Drop Database.
C'moooonnn! I wanna do something, too~ so boring...
Lady M speaking: Keep the focus on the false saviors. Hmpf.
Cycle 1 Damage Phase Results:
NAI's Drop Database disabled some of your abilities for next cycle! Check out the Party Window.
(Fluid Time) Each character can make 1 post per cycle. There is no set posting order.
(Comms) Any communication can be done either by making a private comms thread or posting in the event's official comms thread.
(Rolls) All rolls must be done in the #event-rolls channel. Please post within an hour of your roll or you will forfeit your turn.
(Narrative Highlight) There's an area in the action section where you may briefly describe what your character did in their post that may not be covered mechanically, but you want special attention paid to. This is not a guarantee something will happen, but it may help me incorporate things from time to time.
(Threadcode) VBMS32
Battle Map
Weather: Legioff
They. Are. Everywhere. Being absolutely annoying.
It is hard to focus on your main target, this translates into all Alter-Magia having gained 33 HP!
<beep boop> Additionally, their tiny stabs and sharp teeth gnawing at you deal 33 flat damage upon posting this cycle!
Thick walls can't be passed through
Diagonal movement is allowed unless stated otherwise
Enemy Info
Small Strategy Primer
There are a lot of effects going on, but they can usually be tackled by focusing on one group specifically.
Keep in mind Lulthien's and SUPER Nova's global damage.
SUPER Nova's damage grows when an ally dies, this applies to the current cycle, too.
Remember: flat damage is unaffected by vuln and protection.
Starcalled is generally referred to as the party of players.
Alter-Magia is generally referred to as your enemies.
Striker units deal damage to the players for each cell moved through.
Protector units really lock down your movement!
Speaking of movement, keep in mind that thanks to Uno the total movement is reduced by 1
The effects of most Alter-Magia are stopped for the cycle if their SP is dropped to 0 if they got the stunned ability on SP break.
Crimson Egg (D1)
500/500SP
533/500 HP
For each bar of SP left on the egg, it may trigger one of the Alter-Magia's special abilities in the damage phase.
The egg can not be hurt as long as its SP isn't depleted, it serves as a strong shield.
Depleting the Egg's HP to 0 will remove all other enemy Alter-Magia units.
Can not be moved
Something inside is moving...
Legioff (F4)
200/200 SP 435/500 HP
Designation - Protector
Movement of Starcalled is reduced to 1 upon entering any cell adjacent to this unit
Alter Magia in the same zone as Legioff take 100% less damage
Legioff
Delicious: Any health loss also heals to the lowest health Alter-Magia except self.
Singularity: Legioff's damage reduction to Alter Magia is increased
Just One?: - Apply 5d10 stacks of 'Legioff!' to the Battlefield.
SP Break
Stunned: Legioff's abilities are disabled until next cycle
Refresh: SP is set to full on next cycle
Ash Varsilicon (B3)
200/200 SP 533/500 HP
Designation - Protector
Movement of Starcalled is reduced to 1 upon entering any cell adjacent to this unit
Alter Magia in the same zone or adjacent to Ash Varsilicon takes 50% less damage
Ash Varsilicon
Heavy Guardian: Ash Varsilicon's damage reduction applies also to Alter Magia in adjacent zones
Awoo!: If using a bonus action deals HP or SP damage to Ash Varsilicon, make a will save DC 50. On failure, the bonus action does not apply
King of Silver: ??? Can be activated during this Cycle's damage phase
SP Break
Stunned: Ash Varsilicon's abilities are disabled until next cycle
Refresh: SP is set to full on next cycle.
NAI (D2)
200/200 SP 533/500 HP
Designation - Protector
Movement of Starcalled is reduced to 1 upon entering any cell adjacent to NAI.
Alter Magia in the same zone as NAI take 50% less damage
NAI
Reboot: NAI will regenerate to full health at the start of next cycle.
Optimize: Each time NAI is targeted, reduce damage taken by an additional 10 (-10 first attack, -20 next attack...)
Drop Table: Disabled two random abilities of each Starcalled for the next Cycle. Low chance to only disable one.
SP Break
Stunned: NAI's abilities are disabled until next cycle
Refresh: SP is set to full on next cycle
Kyaa! (C1)
300/300 SP 83/50 HP
Designation - Angel
The first Alter-Magia to get killed in battle in a cycle instead survives the attack and is set to 50 HP
Kyaa!
Kyaa!: Kyaa! takes half the damage from female Starcalled
Operation Mode - Reaper: If Kyaa! HP and/or SP is reduced to 0, return the following Cycle as an offensive-orientated unit
Haven and Hearth: ??? Can be activated during this Cycle's damage phase
SP Break
Tears of Sorrow: Kyaa! deals 100 damage to all other Alter-Magia
Refresh: SP is set to full on next cycle
YuRAM (F4)
150/150 SP 233/200 HP
Designation - Striker
Deal 20 damage to Starcalled entering any adjacent, or YuRAM's own, cell
YuRAM
Eye for an Eye: Deal 10 damage to Starcalled attacking YuRAM
Vengeful Corpse: Deal 30+3d20 damage to whoever kills YuRAM
Get em, Turry!: Deal 2d50 damage to a target cell and half the damage to adjacent cells.
SP Break
Stunned: YuRAM's abilities are disabled until next cycle
Refresh: SP is set to full on next cycle
SUPER Nova (F1)
100/100 SP 183/150 HP
Designation - Hunter
Deal 10(+4) flat damage to any Starcalled attacking an Alter-Magia.
Abilities can target the entire battlefield
SUPER Nova
SUPER Newbie: Abilities deal an additional +2 damage for each killed ally
Nestling: As long as there is another Alter-Magia in the same zone as SUPER Nova, HP and SP damage taken is reduced by half
Crow[n] Slayer: Deal 5d40(+4) damage to whoever dealt the highest damage, or the Golden Egg. Tauntable.
SP Break
Stunned: SUPER Nova's abilities are disabled until next cycle
Refresh: SP is set to full on next cycle
Lulthien (F1)
100/100 SP 183/150 HP
Designation - Hunter
Deal 10 flat damage to any Starcalled attacking an Alter-Magia
Abilities can target the entire battlefield
Lulthien
My Beloved!: Deal 20 damage to any Starcalled targeting Yugam
I WILL Hurt You: Deal 2d20 damage to the Starcalled killing Yugam, and every cycle after
Cheeri-o, little Bird!: Increase SUPER Nova's SUPER Newbie ability by 1. Changes to ??? if SUPER Nova is dead.
SP Break
Stunned: Lulthien's abilities are disabled until next cycle
Refresh: SP is set to full on next cycle
Lady M (E1)
300/300SP 83/50 HP
Designation - Command
Reduce the roll results of all Starcalled by 10
Add [inlinecode]-10[/inlinecode] to your roll modifiers
Lady M
High in the Sky: As long as Lady M's SP isn't depleted, HP damage taken is reduced to 0
I Will Survive: The first time Lady M would die, she becomes immune this cycle with HP Set to 1
R.I.S.E. - Rapid Iteration Suit Evolution: ??? - Can be activated during this Cycle's damage phase
Party Info
<<LIMIT BREAK>>
Your Soul starts glimmering in face of your adversaries...
Limit Break 1 achieved!
Passively gain +5 on all your roll results.
Alternatively, you may use Limit Break 1 to grant each party member the use of a second bonus action. In case of disagreement, use will be voted on.
Drop Table: Cure and Haste are disabled for this cycle!
Scenario Info
Nothing seems out of the ordinary, except... <beep boop> Focus on mission target, Starcalled.
This cycle counts as combat, you may use any and all actions like attacking, buffing, healing, etc. as normal.
Victory Condition: Destroy the Crimson Egg!
Losing Condition: The Golden Egg is destroyed!
Apart from fighting, there are some other points of interest:
?̶¿̵?̶ (¿?)
A flicker here, a flicker there. Reality seems to shift ever so slightly. For just a moment, an object of intangible form seems to spawn at the corner of your vision, just to disappear moments later. You may shift your attention closer to this enigma and open a—
<beep boop> Greetings, Starcalled. The Calculator suggests focusing on the Task at hand. Repeated failure of following instructions will result in automatic failure of scenario and extermination of participants.
May be picked up at the cost of your bonus action.
Grants a stack of Binary Impact
Limited to one stack per Starcalled
?̴¿̵?̷ (G1)
At the far end of the battlefield, you notice an ever-so-slight distortion on the walls. A few bricks looked like they were made of but a single pixel.
May be investigated as a bonus action.
Roll an expertise check, Knowledge, Knack, and Awareness get an advantage.
Must be in G1 to do this.
?̵¿̶?̵ (B1)
At the far end of the battlefield, you notice an ever-so-slight distortion on the walls. A door serving as an invisible boundary, like many others. Just that this one was suspiciously flat?
May be investigated as a bonus action.
Roll an expertise check, Knowledge, Knack, and Awareness get an advantage.
Must be in B1 to do this.
Code:
[hp=current]max[/hp]
[status]
Movement: before -> after
[/status]
Post here
[action]
Action Here
Narrative Highlight: Only describe if needed
[/action]
[b]Crimson Egg:[/b] 533/500 HP | 500/500 SP
[b]Legioff:[/b] 435/500 HP | 200/200 SP
[b]Ash Varsilicon:[/b] 533/500 HP | 200/200 SP
[b]NAI:[/b] 533/500 HP | 200/200 SP
[b]Kyaa!:[/b] 83/50 HP | 300/300 SP
[b]YuRAM:[/b] 233/200 HP | 150/150 SP
[b]Lulthien:[/b] 183/150 HP | 100/100 SP
[b]Lady M:[/b] 83/50 HP | 300/300 SP
Binary Impact: 1 (count up if you do this!)
Play Sheet Link
Kyra had to blink. There, before her, were now tiny little version of Legion that appeared...different somehow. For a moment, she wondered what had changed - perhaps another glitch in the system? Maybe she should try jumping from a rooftop - and then the thing before her had spoken, calling her words that Kyra felt awed at.
Well...aren't you a lovely little thing. Not surprised that your mother is tossing you away to the distance, so as not to have to deal with you.
Turning her attention back to those around her, Kyra noticed that damage that had been done by the Alter-Magia's return volley. Her own friends and companions had lashed out viciously, but at a small cost. Which means that I'm up...have to keep these reckless one's alive, after all.
She slid forwards, trying to avoid the small Legioff replicas that seemed to appear everywhere on the field. Annoying, at most with their sharp little teeth and harsh words - but otherwise inconsequential to her overall goal.
I give to you this gift which is given willingly...may it shield you from the horrors of the world...that which defiles, tears away and curses...may it return to you that which was stolen, without right and cause...
She'd begun her casting subconsciously, releasing the spirit lines in a burst as she came to an end. The violet sparkles, which only she could see, seemed to daze her vision for a single second. As it cleared, allowing her to see once more, she turned to Legion, MAI and Ueno with a smile.
I'm really starting to dislike these tiny little you's, Legion...they're not anywhere near as adorable or friendly. In fact...I'd much prefer they be burned alive, at this point.
Rolls
Heal (AoE)
4d20 (9 + 18 + 13 + 16) + 25 + 25 + 5 - 10 = 34 (Total divided by 3) +34 HP to 3 targets (@Yugam | @Legion | @Kyra Vashtana) You are vulnerable. Spirit Magic | Kyra Vashtana | VBMS31
(P) Corruption | Corrupt S | Kyra Vashtana Lose [ ?r Xd20 # Corruption | Mastery MR | Kyra Vashtana ] HP. 1d20(D) 2d20(B) 3d20(S). Gain the roll result as extra modifier. If roll result is even, no damage. (BA) Corruption | Mastery MR | Kyra Vashtana You suppress the corruption. Corruption damage is negated this cycle.
-33 from Legioff Weather
-14 from Super NOVA
-10 from Lulthien
+21 from Luthien
"Okay, one down, a bunch to- woah"
The world flickered as @Lady N grabbed the... whatever it was. He couldn't help but blink rapidly as the world returned looking off. Not flickering or anything, just... weird. And there was something just out of the corner of his eye, just in reach...
Gosh, you're so unremarkable I literally do not know what mean thing to say to display my absolute utter disgust.
Ash's attention was drawn away by a half-hearted insult. He stared at the swarm of... tiny Legioffs that now filled the air. It all seemed very familiar somehow, but he couldn't put a finger on it. Why would getting insulted by a swarm of robot clones be familiar?
Thanks, I'll take that as a compliment-
Oh god they were biting why were they biting-
Ash hissed as he batted away the swarm, turning his attention back to the battlefield. According to @MAI's report, her clone would recover after whatever they counted as a "cycle", so that just left...
...himself. His very own clone, that literally just shouted "awoo" and was about to launch into some kind of speech...
"I know you're some kind of... shitty clone or whatever," he said, pushing through its oppressive aura until he was in range to swing, putting himself between @Yugam and the others. "But if you're gonna howl, at least have the guts to commit to the bit!"
Super NOVA was over there, out of range, and the ghosts around him seemed caught in the simulation's twist. There was a way to catch her attention, but oh, he was going to regret this-
"AROOOOOOO!"
Taunting (117)
...wait, what that how he sounded? He stumbled a bit, looking confused. That had sounded like an actual howl. That had to be a caenis thing or something, right?
"...that was fucking weird."
Rolls
Movement: C5 > B4
Protect
1d100 (9) + 20 + 15 + 5 (LB1) -10 (Lady M) = 39 39 damage (Targeting Ash Varsilicon)
Give 1 ally in your zone the Protected State (Targeting @Yugam) Guard Arts | Ash Vargold | VBMS32
(BA) Taunt Activated # Ash Vargold
Narrative Action: Ash decides to howl as his taunt for some reason.
↪Movement: B6 > B5 ↪Damage taken:
-33 from Legioff Weather
-14 from SUPER Nova
-10 from Lulthien
Total: 57
Nova nearly jumped out of her skin when the @Legion hoard started to pop up from behind her. Hopefully no one had heard the squeal that had escaped her lips.
Oh uhm...thank you, but can you give me some warning before you jump out like that next time?
Suddenly the world around them glitched again. Only for a second, you would have missed it if you had blinked but Nova had caught it. She glanced around quickly, had the others noticed? Everything was back to normal or at least as normal as this place could be. But she was getting more uneasy the longer they stayed here. She just hoped by them being here they wouldn't start glitching out too...
Legioff's comment made her wince a bit. Yeah it had been a bit stupid to jump into something like this so soon. She had known she was over her head before this all had even started. Yet she wasn't the type to back down from a challenge. Regardless of what happened this was a learning experience. She glared at the alter-magia but shook it off. They were trying to get under everyone's skin it seemed.
As if it couldn't get worse - just as Nova was moving forward a literal swarm of mini-Legioff clones invaded the area. You couldn't look in any one direction without seeing one. Suddenly Nova missed the Legion jump scares, anything was better than this.
One of the little things latched onto her ankle, digging their teeth in. Nova hissed, kicking her leg to release it.
Get off get off get OFF!
They might have been small, but damn did they pack a lot of power! Nova's golden eyes scanned the field, the only enemy in range was the Ash clone. He had a ton of HP but chipping away at him was better than nothing she supposed.
Lifting her bow up again at an arching angle, she decided to try something new. Boosting the arrow with some wind from her aeromancy. It seemed to work at first, but as she hadn't tried it before the arrow faltered a bit in the air, wobbling before glancing off not!Ash's shoulder. It did damage, not much, but it did something. Nova scratched at her ear tuft with a shrug. Practice makes perfect.
Rolls
(BA) Auto Assist +15 to attacks, heals, buffs, checks, contributions, and saves (P) Extension | Mastery | Nova | Range: 2
Location: A6 Movement: A6 > B6 > C5 33 flat DMG from ❰ Weather: Legioff ❱
❰ Vulnerable ❱ from Power Heal
"Perfect shot!"
She congratulated @Nova as the owl’s arrow finished off the target that @Yugam had been constraining shortly after ❰ Kyaa! ❱’s revive had restored ❰ LARPer ❱, thankful that the newer player was able to avoid injuring the hunter by accident. Their actions were quick to provoke ❰ Uno ❱’s anger, and a sudden shift in the air caused a shiver to run up Lúthien’s spine, before a sigh of relief escaped as she watched a trio of players put a stop to the alter-magia before she could react.
”Technically, you're so positive I don't even know what to say.” "Uuuh... thanks?" ”So: Screw you for being so positive.” "Huh? Wait, you’re different from the others… tinier too—ouch! Yisus, watch the teeth!"
Taken aback by the words Lúthien hadn’t realized something was different about this ❰ Legioff ❱ until a few moments later, her eyes narrowing as the archer inspected the copy a bit closer. One hand reached towards her, intent on flicking her forehead again, before Lúthien was surprised as sharp teeth gnawed at her—quickly pulling her hand back before the ranger instinctively tried to shove the smaller than usual faerin away by punting her with a boot.
A sudden concentration of magic caused the hairs along the back of her neck to rise, the blonde looking away to spot the charged arrow just before it disappeared right over the wall… right onto the spot she knew Yugam had been at moments before. "Yu?!" A purple streak caught her attention when @Kyra rushed forwards, a familiar healing chant tumbling from the vixen’s lips, before the blonde was quick to join the older woman.
The bow she possessed was quickly snapped back to its instrumental form , hands reaching into her quiver before pulling out the violin bow hidden within. Magic began to flow through her fingertips and right into the stick, causing the hairs to gain an ethereal glow right before they came into contact with the strings of her instrument. A melody began to play, the sound amplified and clear through the expanse of the fake Vintergard they found themselves within thanks to her magic.
Although she hoped to invigorate the party with the chosen song there were three figures that Lúthien concentrated her sight and magic on the most, allowing the music to envelop their forms and cleanse some of the fatigue that ravaged their physical bodies. A persistent tick... tock... tick... tock... continued to softly ring inside her ears, the source of the sound unknown to the violinist before she forcefully pushed it out of her mind to focus on her performance.
It was just at the tail end of her tune that something f̶u̷z̸z̶y̴ by the corner of her eyes caught Lúthien's attention, the elf turning to see an odd shape a second before it flickered out of sight once more. Again it returned, the g̸l̴i̶m̸m̶e̵r̷ at the corner of her eyes once more, but this time the archer quickly reached out as she turned. Her fingers grasped something for a split moment before it flickered away... before an odd icon began to quietly blink in the corner of her UI status bar.
Rolls
Power Heal (AoE)
4d20 (1 + 8 + 7 + 11) + 20 + 20 + -10 + 5 = 21 (Total divided by 3)
+21 HP to 3 targets
You are vulnerable. Harmonic Magic | Luthien | VBMS32
A3
-63 HP - Crow[n] Slayer SUPER Nova +55 HP - Kyra Vashtana +21 HP - Luthien -33 HP - Weather Legioff (Mitigated) -14 HP - SUPER Nova -10 HP - Lulthien
The arrow sank itself right into the Magia's heart, the soft thumping sound causing the body to shudder before Yu tossed the now definitely lifeless corpse to the side, sliding his blade free. Yu looked up at @Nova , giving her a slight nod of approval before turning to move further down the lane, and deal with the Vargold clone.
BOOM!
The lance of light landed at Yugam's feet, exploding violently before he could take more than a couple steps forward. The sparse cloud of dust cleared, slowly revealing the singed form of Yugam, his hair gently smoking as he coughed.
"Hey, you!" The sound of a mechanically distorted voice drew the now very crispy man's gaze. "Do us both a favor and just cut yourself to death. Saves me the work, emo."
Yu squinted at the Magia-Fae incredulously, that was incredibly rude. Yu looked up at @Ash Vargold as he too was insulted by one of the many little Legioffs. "Rude little shits, aren't they? Ow!" The sensation of little teeth biting into his ankle made Yu yank his foot upwards, only to realize there was a strange weight attached to him now, that of the one of very same rude little shits he was talking about before.
"Oi! Get the fuck off me!" the man swore at the swarm of little Legioffs as he shook his leg violently, trying to send the one biting his ankle flying. "I said off!" Blood seeped from his ankle into the mini Legioff's mouth, the metallic tasting becoming sour and bitter all at once as the blood began to bubble and boil before exploding outwards and whipping around Ash protectively.
The Legioff let go reflexively, the poisonous blood doing just enough to will the little asshole to stop gnawing at the man's leg. Yu grabbed the Magia by the scruff of it's neck and lifted it till it was eye level with him, an incredibly annoyed look on his face.
Welp, at least now he had ammo.
Looking at the not!Vargold, Yu figured he could probably nail that shot. Taking a couple steps back, the man held up the not!Legion, got a running start, before dropping the mini annoyance and punting it as hard as he could, right into not!Ash's face. "Field goal!"
Rolls
(P) Charge | Weapon Arts S | Yugam Charging weapon. Current charge: 25 (Max: 125)
Protect
1d100 (84) + 25 + 25 + 25 + +5 -10 = 154 154 damage Target: Ash Varsilicon
Give 1 ally in your zone the Protected State @Ash Vargold Hemomancy | Yugam | VBMS32
Movement: B4 > A3
Narrative Highlights: Got cooked Looney Toons style, punted a mini Legioff into Ash Varsilicon's face, hoping it'd send them both Blasting Off again
Crimson Egg: 533/500 HP | 500/500 SP Legioff: 435/500 HP | 200/200 SP Ash Varsilicon: 287/500 HP | 200/200 SP NAI: 533/500 HP | 200/200 SP Kyaa!: 83/50 HP | 300/300 SP YuRAM: 233/200 HP | 150/150 SP Lulthien: 183/150 HP | 100/100 SP Lady M: 83/50 HP | 300/300 SP
Nope! We give no warning… like an apex predator… or diarrhea!
Ninja! We’re supposed to be ninja…!
Legion watched the fireworks, still crowded around Nova hoping to protect her from… something. Sadly, the big attack completely missed, and instead a big worm sent a couple Legions flying. As they hit the ground, they seemed to melt away into shadows.
Girls… I don’t think I want the robot as a new member… she’s just nasty and mean!
Owwie! Did you just BITE ME!?
Sorry… you’re just so tasty!
Oww, watch out, the robot copies bite too!!
So, you're the reason I exist? I hate you. See what you made us do? Going full meme speech would require too much CPU. So instead, we opted for this.
Nyaaaaahhhh, I hate you too, ya big jerk!
Just ignore her! Focus on our real friends!
With a communal salute, the Legion of Legions fanned out, wandering around and putting themselves in front of all the Legioffs!
Are you bipolar or something? One moment you can let loose, the other you have a stick so far up your ass, you're nearly as boring as the green-haired guy!
Did you know the planet is also bipolar! And one of them has Santa! You’re like the planet; isn’t that neat!?
Suddenly, a strange, miniature copy of Mizuki popped out of her shadow and glanced up at her.
Bork bork~! Awoooo~!
A few moments passed, and then she whispered more quietly.
Psst, it’s me, Legion! I’ll keep ‘em distracted while you go ahead and whack ‘em!
-33 HP from Weather: Legioff
-10 HP from Hunter (Lulthien)
-14 HP from Hunter (SUPER Nova)
-20 HP from Striker (YuRAM)
+48 HP from Heal (@Legion)
Movement: D6 -> E6 -> F6 -> G5
x1 Binary Impact
Mizuki exhaled as she saw her and Harper's copies successfully get eliminated. She didn't know what the two would have done if left alone, but the fewer enemies on the field the better. Of course, that still left all the other enemies to deal with, and from the sounds of it, Calculator wasn't happy with how successful their initial assault had been.
As the entire terrain was suddenly covered in copies of the fake Legion Mizuki regarded them with raised eyebrows. However, she quickly lost interest when they just started spouting insults.
When Calculator said it was switching to low-spec modules I should've expected at least one of you to become an internet troll.
More critical was the rumbling that came from down below. Mizuki quickly stepped to the side, causing the fake Tubby's assault to for the most part miss... until Calculator interfered. As the lasers burned her skin Mizuki growled, quickly shaking the arm that had shielded the rest of her body.
So we can expect Calculator to interfere if it seems we're doing too well. I doubt that it'll be so helpful if we're having trouble though...
Null and Calculator may be acting like neutral parties, but in the end, this was Null's idea of a game.
What the-Whoah!
The luna wolf made a sound as if she'd just been dunked with ice water, along with a shiver travelling across her entire body, when she felt whatever it was that MAI's doppelganger had done wash over her.
Her mismatched eyes went to @Lady N, who'd been working on the challenge from a different angle while the rest of the squad was thinning out the opposition. Whatever that glitchy thing was that she'd picked up, it had made this entire arena look a lot less sturdy than before. Swiftly turning her head Mizuki looked at a distortion that had formed in the corner of her eye. She'd warned everyone to not touch the glitches, but if those glitches could help them break free from Null's and Calculator's grasp... reaching out she swiped her hand through the distortion, the image flowed through her fingers like smoke, only a little bit lingering on her palm.
Well, that wasn't going to get them out of here anytime soon. Back to dealing with the doppelgangers.
Seeing that @Harper was in trouble Mizuki was about to start running when a chibi version of herself popped out of nowhere, quickly revealing herself to be Legion in disguise. Mizuki stared at a pair of eyes which now looked a lot like hers, except larger and shinier, before nodding.
Thank you. I'll go help Harper then.
Dropping onto all fours Mizuki dashed to the side, past Lady N and towards where Harper was together with two of the fakes. The many Legioffs were trying to bite and stab at her hands and feet, but true to her word Legion's... decoy kept them at bay. It was only when she got close enough that Yugam's fake could strike at her that Mizuki finally had to grit her teeth and endure as the magia's sharp sword bit into her shoulder.
Grrrrrr!
She wanted to strike back at YuRAM for that, but she had to prioritise. At the moment Legioff was being a much bigger pain to everyone. Planting her fingers on the ground her skin changed into bark, digits extending into vines that burrowed through the dirt and linked up with the remnants of the network that Mizuki's copy had created before being struck down.
The vines, which had been withering away without their master, were revitalised by Mizuki assuming control. Rising up from the ground they latched onto each Legioff they could reach, wrapping themselves around the doppelganger and her many clones in an attempt to entangle and ensnare her to the point of immobility. As Lulthien and SUPER Nova shot her Mizuki only let out a grunt, mismatched eyes focused on her target.
Movement: No movement
Buffs: Limit Break 1: +5 to all rolls.
Damage Taken: 14 Damage from SUPER Nova + 10 Damage from Lulthien( 4 damage after Overheal). 33 damage from Legioff Weather.
"Ohoho. Little toaster got out of the factory with an attitude! Let's see how long that lasts."
Harper would smirk, but the situation they found themselves in had certainly not improved that much even after taking down two of the Alter-Magia. Yugam had taken a pretty hefty blow, and now there were annoying little dipshits as far as the eye could see. Not only that, the one Alter Magia that was copying MAI had done something that honestly felt like someone had shoved an icicle through her belly button. It was awful, and it left the tigress feeling somewhat sapped, like some of her strength had been locked away for the time being.
But not all was bad. After all, they still had downed two of the doubles, even if Harper wished to have interacted with her own double at least once before @Yugam and @Nova finished her off. Guess she would have to make do by paying him back by taking out his own double for him. But to do that, she'd first have to go through the seemingly non-ending waves of evil miscreants created by Legioff, some of them already stabbing and biting at her ankles and sides. "Oi oi oi! I might be orange and black, but I ain't no goddamn choco-bar! Piss off!" Pushing them away was easy enough, she was certainly strong enough to do that. But at the end of the day, she only had five limbs, and the mass of Legioff's kept rising.
But just as she was starting to wallow about her current predicament, a previously annoying voice turned to cheer her up. @Legion 's comment was rather inconsequential, and not really that inspiring. Still, the tigress couldn't help but scratch her own cheek as a proud smile formed on her face. "Well... Chucks, missy. If you keep saying things like that, I'll have a hell of a mountain to climb up. Not that I won't, of course." Brightening up, she'd slap her own cheeks to get her mind back into the game.
It didn't matter if things hadn't really improved or if they had gotten worse, she just had to do what she did best: Win. And as @Ueno Mizuki dashed past her and got busy with YuRam, the tigress figured it was primetime to give Legioff a good beating for her smack talk. Unfortunately, her eagerness might've proved to be her undoing. In a timing issue with her beastkin companion, Harper would end up planting her feet to shoot for a double-leg takedown on the Alter Magia just as the once dormant vines Uno had laid around were awoken by Mizuki's magic, turning what was supposed to be a blast double into a very awkward and not very effective tackle at Legioff's legs, Harper being caught completely by surprise as she went crashing into the ground afterward, mouth open as a bunch of dirt, vines, and something more on the digital side went inside.
"Blergh! G-Gah! M-My bad, I lost my footing there!" She'd cough out the unwelcome contents from her mouth as she apologized on the ground, though she'd notice that whatever else she had ingested besides the vines and dirt was seemingly gone. Uh oh?
As much as Harper wanted to worry about what happened to whatever that was, she couldn't do that inin frontf the enemy. As such, she would do her best to try and back away from Legioff for the time being as she got back up to her feet. Better luck next time, she guessed.
Narrative Highlight: Harper goes for a double-leg takedown, loses her footing due to the vines moving to Mizuki's magic, face-plants like a dummy, and eats a glitch. Woo!
Crimson Egg: 533/500 HP | 500/500 SP Legioff: 435/500 HP | 44/200 SP Ash Varsilicon: 287/500 HP | 200/200 SP NAI: 533/500 HP | 200/200 SP Kyaa!: 83/50 HP | 300/300 SP YuRAM: 233/200 HP | 150/150 SP Lulthien: 183/150 HP | 100/100 SP Lady M: 83/50 HP | 300/300 SP
Binary Impact: 5? Its a Nat-1 after all, who knows... Play Sheet Link
Things were moving rather fast, possibly because there were quite a few players who were rather speedy and rash to act. Not to mention that most of them opted to just completely ignore her rather helpful message that fully revealed the abilities of their opponents. Knowledge was often the key to victory, yet they just wanted to brute force this. It frankly made her feel a little bit useless... the small magia Legions were not helping either, even if the real one was trying to help.
MAI remained silent in response to the taunts and simply flew in the direction of a Starcalled that appeared to be the most injured. Her drones would get to work quickly to help @Harper. Although, as that was happening... the girl noticed something happening with the area around them. And as soon as she interacted with this strangeness, a glitched message appeared in her UI. Something that she managed to decypher with her machine translation trait, at least partially.
"Opening direct comms to everyone - This unit has partially deciphered the system message in regard to the glitched environment."
"Recommendation - gathering these 'glitches' in a quantity of one per person may remain safe while possibly allowing us to wrench control of this place from the opposing Magia. Gather."
Battle Gear "Type N--" | Energy Supply "Synchronization Poor" | ????"Updates Required" | Body Control "Updates Required" | Core System "Irregularity Confirmed"
| Status | Location
-13 HP from Get em, Turry!
-33 from Just One?
Gibberish,...just wonderful.
It was a glitch so it wasn't completely unexpected, just disappointing. Then came a bunch of passing around whatever the Binary Impact was and Chelsea began to feel like, as always, her good luck had run out in short order The majority of the group was now fending off the enemy and forced into a more defensive position.
A wave of blasts came from some mechanical worm but Chelsea was only grazed. It looked like it had really bad aim. She also had someone decide to cover her even when she said don't. Of course, no one ever follows her instructions in this stupid game!
She.
Did.
Not.
Want.
Help!
"Takes two to tango. Say, I cover your behind while you tell me whatcha just found there. Deal?"
"Tsk... I... didn't ask for help are you de- fine thanks I guess. I don't know what this is but if having it gets us out of this then take it and go punch or claw something...whatever you do."
Honestly, it could just make things worse. Fighting alongside Tiger Seigi here was almost certainly a disaster waiting to happen. And.. well... yeesh what are all these annoying things? It was snowing edgy versions of the other annoying glitch girl this whole place has just become some psychedelic nightmare!
Hmpf. Hmpf. Hmpf. Hmpf. Hmpf.
You know, she makes a compelling argument…
"Could both of you please SHUT UP!! HMPF!"
Frustration was overflowing, and she wasn't getting any answers.
FLOP!
As Chelsea waved away at the storm of Legioff and @Legion s running around (yes both of them), she saw @Harper face down in the virtual dirt.
Sigh...
This was enough, she had to do something, it wasn't right to just ignore all of this... that's not what she wanted either. If only this could have just stayed simple. Her hand went to her bracelet. Hopefully, this would be quick and she could just get out of here... that Null... making a fool of her. Unlike the Dead.naught though, these things, and especially Null might be worth investigating further to understand this game's Magia workings better.
"Come on, get up! You aren't going to hit things laying on the ground!
Using her enhanced strength Chelsea dragged the larger Beastfolk to her feet by the shoulders. Turning her head from right to left she tried again to find ways to undo Null's schemes besides playing this trap to its obviously bad conclusion. Those threats she was given? She was weak and bad with people that she didn't have on her payroll but...
She wasn't running away or obeying this monster.
Not as long as she could help it.
"Okay N-Gear... make this use, worth it. Please be something I've missed...."
If there was anything Chelsea agreed on with these enemies, it was that Magitech was the way forward.
Rolls
Movement: E6->F4
N/A
Narrative Highlight: Pulling up @Harper and scanning as much as she can with her N-Gears investigation mode for more information. @Skyswimsky*.
The party had decided.
Lured by mystery, they sought another path.
Tempted by an outcome much less bland than the mock battle they participated in.
Yet, even as they tried to uncover the truth of this place, they pressed on.
Why decide on one, when you can get both?
But a path was a path. The answer was left or right. Not 'yes'.
The Calculator had warned them.
They didn't listen.
Now everybody would suffer.
It was a joint decision.
Well...
It all started with @Luthien. As she grabbed the shiny, the world cried in unison with her music. And so did those affected. @Ash Vargold, who did his best to one-up his bootleg version. @Nova, who simply wanted to see how such a thing usually went. And @Yugam, who was far too busy babysitting quite a feisty little one. They were all impacted, all infected. And as Luthien's visible notes turned into little ones and zeroes before flickering and shifting in pain, so did those three allies. So did the Legioff in Yugam's hand and the Ash Versilicon that came into contact with her.
W-What is this?! "A most sudden twist of fate? An unknown variable?! An exciting <bzzt> ...?!
<Beep Boop>
<Bzzt> Unauthorized access by ו-level threat detected.
What do you mean by 'Firewall compromised'?! Our defenses should be impregnable!
And so it began... and continued. As @Legion picked up another shiny and effectively spread it through herself, and the entirety of the battlefield. Infecting Legioff as much as herself before every single copy from both of them poofed for just a moment. Leaving the very air behind them drenched in small fissures which seemed to crumble reality itself. Good Job.
Oh my most lovely protagonists of this tale! I'd very much advise you to- <bzzt>
<Bzzt> SU rights to ו-level threat granted.
Error while loading D.E.A.T.H. Protocol.
Overwriting safety protocol...
Thread 5 receiving Dissonant signal...
Deleting system128...
<Beep Beep Booooooop>
Rebooting emergency systems...
Was it already too late? Or was it exactly what they wanted? Their own allies, the very air, and as @Ueno Mizuki connected with the vines around, even the very ground they stood on started to move and shift in strange ways. Every single glitch recovered resulted in breaking the very stage that had been prepared for them!
All this, was, of course, happening quite fast. Thus it came only naturally that @Harper stumbled on the ground, eating something she shouldn't have. Her stomach hurt. Her ears a static. The very air tasted like old copper, and as N decided to lend Harper a shoulder, she too could see her very own body glitching in and out. Distorting in ways not thought possible.
At least it didn't hurt.
All this, however, only reinforced @MAI in her belief that breaking this so-called reality will help. And surely it would... but if reaching the construction materials to build a wall required breaking a wall, was it really worth it? Well, they could always build a bigger and better wall...
And then, it happened. As even the still up-to-now normal @Kyra Vashtana saw the broken world around her taking her in now, too. Each of their senses was fading. Drifting more and more into a sea of pixelated static as something wrote itself on the very core of their soul. Until finally. It all shattered. Like a spider that cast aside its old molt, as a mirror shattered into thousand pieces. Revealing what was behind. A stronger, better, world.
Vintergard, just like before. Sharper than ever. Whatever weird effects, were now gone. Or maybe they had gotten simply used to see in the dark? Yet, just like before, there were still some differences...
No more Ash Varsilicon.
No more Legioff.
No more YuRAM.
No more Lady M, Kyaa!, SUPER Nova, or Lulthien.
Neither an NAI.
Also no more @Harper or @Lady N.
Instead, a shadow was looming over their heads. A gigantic ball-shaped mass made out of metal and corrupt, dark magics. Blocking out the very sky itself. ... Or was it right in front of them? The ground? Somehow, despite it defined shape, it seemed to be all present.
At least it made it easier to hit.
Multiple, red, glowing unfocused red eyes were shifting from one place to the next erratically. As lifeless masks of their Magia doubles adorned its body, void of all color except those that they hadn't beaten yet.
Then, they could hear it. Was it in their heads? Around them? The Calculator's robotic voice. Clear as day and chaotic all the same.
<Beep Boop> Welcome, fallen saviors.
You have been judged.
Verdict: Impractical.
You are Starfallen.
Repent, and rejoice.
Destroy, then improve.
Initiating Erasure of Soul Core Parameter.
You can not escape.
You can not win.
Abandon hope.
Do not resist.
Join us and become Magia.
There was certainly a feeling of dread accompanied by the realization that their now new enemy was no other but a being that could warp the very reality around them. Yet, if that was the case, how come they were still breathing? Living? If it wanted them dead so much?
<beep>
And then it hit them. A small notification on their UI. The Binary Impact status, once a one, now accompanied by an endless symbol. Countless error windows opened up in front of them.
They couldn't know. Nobody told them. Yet, somehow, they did. It came as naturally as breathing air. It was printed onto their very souls. The power to alter Fate itself. If The Calculator was the master of this space, then they were the virus. All they had to do was reign control from it.
Unless....
H-Hey!
A door materialized out of pure light opened up behind them. On the other side, emptiness. Yet, there she stood. Null.
I must very regrettably inform you that there is absolutely no more time! For you see, Vintergard's Magia have long since fallen ill to a moooost terrible sickness! And so now does my dear, dear friend! Aahh, the tragedy! Aaannyyywwwaaayyyy, if ya'll wanna get out of here: Here is your exit! So, hurry up! Before your most favourite host changes her mind.
An exit? A trap? The choice was theirs. Though was it really? Could they actually abandon their friends, @Lady N and @Harper, who were nowhere to be seen? At the very least the party window showed them still as alive. Somewhere above.
It only took a second. Whatever Harper had taken, decompiled her body as quickly as it re-arranged it. Faster than for everybody else and, by proximity, for N too.
As the world was still crying, the two could see clearly. Clearer than anybody else. Their world had become as barren as it was before, the sole exception being the horizon. A sweet, putrid, purple, accompanied by a deep crimson was washing over the stage like a tsunami. Flipping over pixel by pixel, tile by tile, into a more sinister version of itself. Coming closer and closer as only a few specks of normality seemed unaffected.
The process seemed slow, yet quick enough that neither of the two could do so much as an act against it. Or was it, that they simply couldn't move!? Indeed, as it felt like their entire bodies were sinking Harper and Lady N were floating upwards. At first, gentle, then faster. And faster and faster, until both their bodies crashed against the corrupted sky that had turned into an ocean.
With a big splash, they felt like drowning. An invisible liquid robbing them of the very air they so desperately needed. Until they didn't. Like suddenly waking up from a nightmare, the two found themselves in another.
With each of them slightly covered in some sort of sticky mucus that wouldn't get off them, it seemed connected to countless cables that made up most of the floor. For the ground not covered was made out of tainted glass, allowing vision of the battle below. Their companions, still fighting.
But Lady N and Harper? They felt it, they noticed it. They were close. Closer than anyone else to the Calculator. As the mucus on them kept growing and multiplying, they were able to turn the tables. Or they could make their own escape before the Calculator would do worse.
With each line spoken, the world around the Starcalled shook as a wave of corrupted data washed over them, followed by the attacks of bits and pieces of their earlier enemies, disappearing as quickly as they came. It was then that the eyes focused on @Ash Vargold, firing a bundled beam of energy at him.
Cycle 2 Damage Phase Results:
The party regains 20 health for taking out 2 Alter Magia!
Resistance Equals Suffering dealt 36 damage to everybody
Love Equals Hatred dealt 30 damage to everybody
Destruction Equals Affection dealt 111 damage to @Ash Vargold
Because of 7 people being affected by Binary Impact, the initial Binary Threshold is set to 70.
The C█lcula██r gains 637 SP
@Harper and @Lady N gain 4 and 3 stacks of Dissonance each
(Fluid Time) Each character can make 1 post per cycle. There is no set posting order.
(Comms) Any communication can be done either by making a private comms thread or posting in the event's official comms thread.
(Rolls) All rolls must be done in the #event-rolls channel. Please post within an hour of your roll or you will forfeit your turn.
(Narrative Highlight) There's an area in the action section where you may briefly describe what your character did in their post that may not be covered mechanically, but you want special attention paid to. This is not a guarantee something will happen, but it may help me incorporate things from time to time.
(Threadcode) VBMS32
Battle Map
DISTANCE IS ILLUSION
The Battle Map has been disabled for the time being.
Your targets are in the range of your actions regardless of the distance
Harper and Lady N are exempt from this
Enemy Info
The C█lcula██r
637 / 1000 SP 3333 / 3333 HP
Resistance Equals Suffering: Deal [Alter-Infusion amount]d10 damage to the party
Destruction Equals Affection: Deal 2d100 damage to the highest taunter, or highest damage dealer
Love Equals Hatred: Deal 10xCycles damage to the party
Safety !Equals Meaning: Roll 10d100, gain as much SP
Control Equals Power: Break your limits, little Calculator...
Crimson Horizon
100 / 100 SP 400 / 400 HP
Trapped in Dissonance:@Harper and @Lady N may not interact with the party.
Dissonant Foothold: Apply 1d5 stacks of Dissonance to @Harper and @Lady N
Hidden Presence: Gain protection
SP Break:
Lose protection
Gain vulnerable
Crimson Egg
500/500SP
533/500 HP
Somehow, the egg is still around?!
Is it still the focus, though?
The egg can not be hurt as long as its SP isn't depleted, it serves as a strong shield.
Party Info
<<LIMIT BREAK>>
Your Soul starts glimmering in face of your adversaries...
Limit Break 1 achieved!
Passively gain +5 on all your roll results.
Alternatively, you may use Limit Break 1 to grant each party member the use of a second bonus action. In case of disagreement, use will be voted on.
Is it fate? The power of being the protagonists? A bug in the system? Or all part of the design? You don't know, and might not even care. Your body feels wrong, but your mind has never felt more clear...
You may take this as an additional extra action and do the following:
Throw a dice equal to the current [Binary Threshold], the throw is marked as [Binary Balance].
On uneven numbers subtract from the [Binary Balance] counter. On even numbers, increase it.
If the amount after this is higher than the current [Binary Threshold] take half the [Binary Threshold] as damage and reset [Binary Balance] to 0.
Increase both Binary Thresholds' current value by 10%.
After you've done this, choose one of the following actions:
Binary Increment: Change the final result of your primary action this cycle to the next highest number: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1028, 2056
Binary Swap: Your attacks also heal an ally, your heal also buffs your target, and your buff also damages the enemy this cycle
Binary Precision: Treat your primary action this cycle as if your dice landed on their maximum amount, but can not crit or burst. (Also does not count for achievements)
Binary Inversion: You may swap your current health with your missing health, one-time use only.
Binary Nullification: You may remove any status effects on yourself or a target you're healing. Except Binary Impact.
Alter Protocol
Only available to @Harper and @Lady N as long as the [Crimson Horizon] isn't destroyed.
A simplified form of the Alter-Magias power. Now trapped within The Calculator. You may attempt to destroy whatever remains...
You may use your cycle to make an expertise check of your choice with a DC 25 instead.
Imagine hacking into the system, or fighting off generated Magia enemies trying to stop you, ripping away cables, etc.
If you succeed, you may attempt to try again with a +25 increase in DC, or stop. (Repeatable)
If you stop, reduce the amount of [Alter-Infusion] by your amount of successes.
If you fail, nothing happens.
If you manage to reduce [Alter-Infusion] to zero, the party will unlock a hidden potential.
Code:
[hp=current]max[/hp]
[status]
[/status]
Post here
[action]
Action Here
Narrative Highlight: Only describe if needed
[/action]
[b]Crimson Egg:[/b] 533/500 HP | 500/500 SP
[b]The Calculator:[/b] 3333/3333 HP | 637/1000SP
[b]Crimson Horizon:[/b] 400/400 HP | 100/100 SP
[b]Alter Protocol:[/b] 8/8
[b]Binary Impact[/b] -70 | 0 | 70 <-- -[Binary Threshold] | [Binary Balance] | [Binary Threshold]
Play Sheet Link
Battle Gear "Type N--" | Energy Supply "Synchronization Poor" | ????"Updates Required" | Body Control "Updates Required" | Core System "Irregularity Confirmed"
| Status | Location
+20 HP for taking out 2 Alter Magia!
-36 HP from Resistance Equals Suffering
-30 HP from Love Equals Hatred
Instead of gathering any new information, Chelsea would instead experience a serious psychedelic trip. Her stomach churned as the double virtual world, including her virtual body well...
Literally glitched out.
Immediately Chelsea thought the worst as she was dragged through distortions that were moving too quickly to even comprehend. Chelsea was always a girl who was lost in her own head so this... it was just so confusing... she wanted it to stop... what in the world was going on?!!!
The Nexon struggled to focus and with great effort, she tried to pay attention to see where she was being dragged along with the beast player she had helped... foolishly.
Boo...she made the mistake again didn't she? Red Fever all over again!
Finally, things settled down and the twin-tailed tsun had a chance to get her bearings. Her eyes were filled with warning messages from her gear. At first, she thought it was going to be a core issue like usual but no, this time she was alerted that what was ahead was incredibly important to her suits sensors for some reason... well that should be obvious!
So much for a solution that didn't involve her fighting...now...
And... urgh what the hell?! Disgusting!
"Ewww, what is this gunk? Yeesh, why am I always falling into stuff like this... urghhhh.... Tsk.. so annoying. *Grumble grumble*"
Trying to get the slime off of her suit proved pointless so she just decided to leave it and could care less about her gear's alerts right now. It felt like every second there was another thing wrong with it and right now she just couldn't be bothered with it! There was already enough going on to be concerned over every little thing!
This Calculator. was the source of all of this. Chelsea would ignore that Null idiot and focus on destroying this thing from the inside. That was part of her intention anyway... just not exactly like this. Now came the question of how she would do that. Hack it... break it? There weren't any ports or anything to attach anything to? A quick scan showed her little it was all written in gibberish. The stupid with her could maybe randomly punch things... but with this, absolutely useless no doubt.
Then she had an idea. Her face turned slightly red and she glanced at @Harper with an accusing look.
"... Look what you've gotten us into stupid! Sigh, I'm going to try to hack the system ... so, I don't know what you are good for but maybe you can find something that you can do? Hmpf!!!"
Shaking her head she wondered why that came out more hostile than normal even for her... well it didn't matter. Most of this didn't. Time to try her idea and be lucky only a stupid like this was around to know!
As long as people outside can't hear that is...
If Cain could do it, and that Magia could.. then...
This was going to be embarrassing if it failed and even then...
Chelsea R. Nexon did something in front of a player in Terrasphere for the first time since she first logged inn.
She made use of her heritage and her aunt's forced instruction.
She made use of the N-Gears sound enhancement system held little meaning for the normally quiet and reserved young woman.
She calmed her nerves while covered in goop and... she sang.
She sang her frustrations.
She sang her confusion.
She sang because it just felt like the thing to do.
Calculate this!
Pure tsun angst!
Rolls
Expertise Check
1d100 (65) + 25 + 15 = 105 Knowledge | Lady N | VBMS32
Expertise Check
1d100 (98) + 25 + 15 = 138 Knowledge | Lady N | VBMS32
Expertise Check
1d100 (41) + 25 + 15 = 81 Knowledge | Lady N | VBMS32
Narrative Highlight: Lady N uses her suits Harmonics with her innate talent (character background) in an experiment to hack this mysterious dissonant tech.
20 HP restored from taking out x2 Alter Magia 72 DMG from ❰ Resistance Equals Suppering ❱ x2 due to Vulnerable 60 DMG from ❰ Love Equals Hatred ❱ x2 due to Vulnerable 130 HP restored from ❰ Binary Inversion ❱
At first it had seemed like things were going in their favor, and even the made up world around them had seemingly resonated with the melodic tunes of her violin. It had boosted the confidence of the elf, before a sudden shiver ran up her spine as an unexplained sensation of something going wrong creeped onto the ranger. The musical notes in the air flickered, suddenly turning into little ones and zeroes, before her allies and their opponents mimicked the reaction.
"What the—"
The alter magia they’d been engaging disappeared as the very world around them seemed to shatter, revealing a crisper Vintergard than the one they’d been standing on moments before. Hands quickly went for herself, confirming that she was still whole and in one piece, before her eyes scanned around them. A relieved sigh escaped as she noticed @Yugam first, with @Vargold not far from the man. @Nova was present too, and not too far from the elf stood the familiar figure of @Kyra—before her eyes spotted @Legion, @Mizuki and @MAI further in the distance.
A shadow suddenly loomed over them, causing Lúthien to look upwards—or was it to the side? Perhaps underneath them? Somehow it was hard to tell within this space—just as ❰ The Calculator ❱’s voice echoed around them. Its words caused the elf to frown in response, a sense of dread settling in the pit of her stomach, just before the flicker of something made her think she’d caught sight of the familiar tigress for a splitting second. It was gone before Lúthien could confirm, replaced by a multitude of error windows and the pain that coursed through her body as the machine lashed out against them.
"Hey, Null!" Behind them a door of light had opened, the shape of the magia that had brought them here in the first place appearing as she seemed to beckon them all towards a presumably exit. "Instead of yapping so much, how about you do something useful to reign in your little buddy over there?"
Crimson eyes turned to stare down the dual colored gaze of the magia just as the elf snapped her violin back to its combat form. "You know, since you’re our favorite host of this fucking place." The faint tick, tock, tick… that buzzed within her mind was ignored as Lúthien retrieved two arrows from her quiver, nocking them onto her bow before they were fired at ❰ The Calculator ❱ shortly after.
