Cycle 6 - The Fall of Komo-kun
Location: Hell
Time & Weather: ??? and Infernal
@Glamora Dark's remark caught the Princess off guard, but she quickly responded-
"Ah! I-I didn't mean it like that, Little Witch. It was just that your spellcraft was truly, truly amazing!"
As she responded, the group continued to sharply attack Komo-kun, not allowing it to catch its breath back even once-
With its jaws locked inside a gate thrown by
@Toko, fiercely struck by the dragoon attack of
@Lune, and
@Fina Drago's chains tightening gripping it in an immobilizing grasp, all empowered by the touch of
@Rael and
@Vina Skysong
"Komo.... K-Komooo... Krrrhh..."
It panted, weakly, and yet- There was one last attack incoming- With
@Harper's grip on the chains foretelling the swinging, and eventually, the last toss of the giant Komodo Dragon, that could only roar in desperation before it crashed with a thunderous sound, and a trembling on the whole hell they were that even quivered their bones and souls.
With swirling pupils, the Komodo Dragon tried to stand again, trembling its legs, growling and huffing- But eventually, the stance faltered, it tilted to the left and right, growled once more before it simply went limp, knocked out cold.
"K.O. mooo..."
"Komo-kun..?"
As if waiting, three long seconds passed, and with the confirmation that the Komodo dragon was really knocked out, and the Princess cheered up for a moment.
"It is really defeated, and now it is for real!"
As she said it, she frowned, looking around just to make sure nothing else bad was going to happen... And as soon as it really seemed like it was really done, the Princess looked back at the giant Komodo Dragon, that had a big bump on its head, with a slight hint of sadness in her eyes.
"... I know I got upset at it, but now I'm feeling a bit bad for him. Poor thing..."
Before she could lament it further, however, the ground that everyone stood began to falter for a moment, and even the Emerald Greens that were the one safe spot for the group, started to crumble, along with the stalactites from the ceiling, that began falling one by one in a dangerous rain.
"H-Huh, my magic! W-Wait, I need to get us out of here!"
Agitated, the Princess tried to focus her spell, attempting to swiftly teleport the group out of there, pressing her hands together, almost in a prayer...
... A hint of magic flickered in the heart of each Hero, however....
"Nnnnghh--!"
At most, one or another could see themselves becoming vaguely transparent, but never enough to actually disappear from that dire place.
"..."
Shocked, it took a moment for the Princess to register that, yes, despite the efforts of the heroes to save her from the predicament she was, the current lack of magic in her didn't allow her to give them a swift escape, and as the rubbles that served as a ground faltered further, and they slowly started to lower the height, the Princess was overwhelmed by a sense of impending doom.
"I... I can't... I... My energy, my magic... It is too weak now-"
The speed of the fall hinted an increase, and the fiery air from beneath the group stared to become stronger, enough to give them an uncomfortable breath... No matter what they did, they continued to fall, and fall... No wind could push them upwards again, no magic protected them from the incoming stalactites that crashed against the rubbles that were yet to reach their terminal velocity.
"I... I am sorry! I am so sorry! Right at the end, and I- EEEK!"
Her arms grasped the Warrior that was holding her tightly, and the panic was soon set off.
"No... No no no, please, no! Noooooooooooo!"
She panicked as everyone completely lost the sense of terra firma, and gravity slowly began its merciless punishment. The lava at the bottom became closer and closer, rapidly approaching and ignoring any scream, curses or prayers anyone had.
... And soon, the doom had approached, the contact and impact were expected--
But it never happened.
The group phased through the lava, only feeling a quick yet very painful sting of burn before they were engulfed by a darkness, that rumbled in their ears, as if a strong wind was passing through their ears, as if they were free falling from a high height over and over, without ever reaching a bottom, until-
Prologue - The Invincible Heroes!
Location: Grasslands (?)
Time & Weather: Late Afternoon, Partially Cloudy
It was abrupt, just like a hypnic jerk.
The group woke up suddenly, with a feeling as if they had just left a suffocating room, and with a sudden change of pace. They were no longer in that hellish environment... Instead, they were on a gentle landscape, with pink-ish and violet sky and clouds, hinting the end of another day, just while everyone was in your surroundings.
If someone was hugging another in their 'last moments', they were there as well. If theyw ere isolated to scream in panic by themselves, they were a bit more separated. However they were, however, all of them could catch the glimpse of a faerin woman, and a large flickering ethereal key slowly dissipating from the palm of her hand, before she turned at the group, glancing at the Princess, now safe and sound, and everyone else.
"Nice. You guys really managed to save 'Your Highness'. That will save me a lot of trouble... And it seems like you got that big boy to its normal size again. Finally."
* Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z... *
Komo-kun, now in a proper size for a Komodo Dragon, was sound asleep, with no bumps on its head, just like no one else in the group of heroes seemed to have a single scratch on them.
Princess, on another hand, slowly opened her eyes, widening them as she spotted the faerin.
"Forger? You are here! Why are- Ouch!"
The Princess words were interrupted by a bonk on her head, but it wasn't a truly hard bonk.
"Your Highness, do you have any idea of how much trouble you had caused? Your Majesty is very worried, and very mad too."
"H-Huh?! But... But, it wasn't my fault! Why she is mad at me?!"
"Because she saw a jar of ice cream near that lizard's bowl? What else do you think?"
"B-But!"
"No buts, your Highness. Your Majesty has already decreed. No bedtime stories for the next month!"
"G-Guuuhh..!"
The Princess shrunk in sadness, but the faerin gave her no ears. With a sigh, she looked at the group, reaching for her bag and starting to pull bags and bags of gold, one for each, as you vaguely remember reading being the reward for that mission.
"Thank you for bringing her back, safely. And sorry for all the trouble."
She crossed her arms as she handed all the rewards.
"I will also make sure to give you guys a ride back home. It is kinda late."
With a small grin, she looked at the group.
"If anything, maybe after this, at least your Majesty will be a little more open about the idea of asking the help of 'Starcalled' in the future... At least for more actually important matters than simply for entertainment."
She hummed for a moment, trying to think about it.
"Or maybe not."
She chuckled, turning away.
"Well, take your time recovering. It was a tough battle. As soon as you are ready, let me know so we can go... And Your Highness? Be a good girl and thank them. It is the least you can do."
"You don't need to tell me that!"
She huffed, averting her eyes from the faerin, and then slowly turning to the group, fidgeting for a second before facing the group.
"I-I am really sorry about everything bad that happened... And that I couldn't get us out of there. That was so close..."
"But... Thank you for bearing with me, and for saving me despite all the dangers."
"You are my heroes!"
And with a cheerful giggle, the Princess jumped to the arms of those that accepted the tightest hug she could give.
Rewards
CONGRATULATIONS!
You have defeated Komo-kun!
(
Small Errata: since
@Harper has
Crush Weapons Signature, she
ignores Protect condition, thus
all her damage was doubled due to Komo-kun's
Vulnerability).
Komo-kun
-8.424 HP
-612 SP
Total:
9042 Overkill Points
5 Tales Points for every
500 Overkill Points
18*5 =
90 Tales Points for
each participant.
One option of
Bearded Dragon for every
1000 Overkill Points. Each participant may
only choose one of them, and may also immediately spend
30 Tales Points to buy extra
Bearded Dragons. They won't be going to the
Chanlye's Shop, so you must buy it now.
Comfy Bearded Dragon - Dude is just comfy. Its aura strangely calms anyone down.
Once per Challenge, gives
+20 on Will Saves.
Well Educated Bearded Dragon - An smart one, some may even call it a smartass, it advices you even if you don't understand it (?).
Once per Challenge, gives
+20 on Knowledge Checks.
Hero Bearded Dragon - Heroic and altruistic, it is always looking out for dangerous foes.
Once per Challenge, gives
+20 on Awareness Checks.
Knight Bearded Dragon - A loyal and courageous guy, always watches your back too. Once per Challenge, gives
+10 Mitigation when using a Defense Action.
Aloha Bearded Dragon - A very cute fellow that sometimes dance, trying to tell your heroic feats through harmonical movements.
Once per Challenge, gives
3d6 Inspiration when using a Support Action.
Devilish Bearded Dragon - Kind of a brat, and dislikes anyone that isn't its owner. Despite not being naturally hostile, this Bearded Dragon in particular bites a lot.
Once per Challenge,
retaliates everyone that attacked you with 20 flat damage.
Tasty Bearded Dragon - This little boy is almost biting inducing. A big glutton, but it is as much as a prey as it is a predator.
Once per Challenge, you
Taunt without failing.
Shark Bearded Dragon - An angry boy. Can notice a weakened prey from distance, and rapidly goes for it.
Once per Challenge, you
may choose a roll of 80 for an Offensive Action against a target that
is bellow 50% HP.
Wizard Bearded Dragon - A wise one, holding the secrets of arcana and using it to capture crickets to eat from any distance.
Once per Challenge, your
Support Action can reach any Zone.
---
You have unlocked a Quest Line.
You have unlocked a Tales Talk feature (TBA).
Cycle 6 & Prologue Rules
- No word limits for this Cycle.
- There are no posts limits, but you shall not double post.
- The Challenge will be closed completely by November 5th.
- Communication Thread can be used to communicate in more depth.
