E|\|7er Th3 W0rl|) &hr0*gH t|-|3 Yamiyo 5e|2\/%R.

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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Nighthand » Sat Feb 15, 2014 6:21 am

Nighthand wrote:Because post requirements are so light, I’d like to get one post per person per week. The idea is that you’ll be able to bang out a post in a few minutes, so everything can move fairly quickly.

Let’s try not to make this fight take another 28 months. Any questions, let me know.
(OOC: Well so much for that ideal.)

Canti takes longer to recover than expected, and can do nothing but defend against any potential incoming attacks.

Next up: Sekai

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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Sekai » Sat Feb 15, 2014 7:00 pm

It didn't matter how she'd gotten there, nor how things had come to be the way they were. With three very different, very headstrong personalities currently fighting one another within her soul- an extremely unsettling, exhausting thing that made her wonder what she'd been thinking when she'd decided it was a good idea- Sekai watched the... encounter take place between Nall, Xenobia, and the rest.

And, as always, it always came back down to fighting.

She sent a particularly vexed glance in Maoh's direction before the entire mess began. Could only imagine what he'd done and returned her attention to the battlefield as a whole. Her eyes studied the spots the crystals had vanished, mind whirling in between snippets of arguments and alternating pressures. Yeah, no, this was uncomfortable as hell. She'd have felt more comfortable if they'd been yelling above/around her, not in her.

She swallowed hard, her person the next target. What should I do...? Attack, and submit to an attack in return. Should she attack Nall, Sheena, Nighthand, or Demorian, where the crystals had struck them? Or, did she go after the places on the Willow man instead, and hope that any crystal shattered would mean that their more powerful members would be able to attack with the rest of them?

No.

Not yet.

She removed an item from her bag; a pale, green-gold bit of amber and focused on it. Light flared emerald, disappearing and temporarily illuminated Takua's form first, boosting his defenses against the element she herself was fond of- and that in which Willow, supposedly, and Xenobia for certain, embodied themselves. Strengthen, then weaken, and then she would see what happened next. Would they repeat the move? Would they attack all out? Go on the defensive?

Sekai wished, just for a moment, that she had an ability that could scan for weaknesses and resistances like in the old world RPGs.
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Name: Sekai
Level: 54
EXP: 0000/1000
Class: Archer
Clan: Army of Darkness
HP: 835
SP: 347

Currently Equipped:

Einherjar: Kira, December, Zorya

Head: Bat Earrings (Ola Repth 40, Rip Maen 40)
Body: Saint Cross (Rue Zot 10, RaJuk Zot 30)
Arm: Protect Ring (Ap Vorma 15, MeJuk Kruz 20)
Leg: Ninja Anklet (BiVak Rom 20, GiGan Zot 30)
Add-Ons: Forestlore, Wood Magic (permanently raised Wood Offense/Defense by +3 total)

Wishlist: Levels, Summon: Wood, Archer Weapons, Light Armor

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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Nighthand » Sat Feb 15, 2014 7:15 pm

Sekai's use of the Holy Sap item on Takua is unobstructed. Takua gains a temporary buff to Juk attack and defense. A smart buff against a foe made of wood.

Next up: Talal

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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Talal » Mon Feb 17, 2014 5:35 am

Why hadn't they listened to her? Did they not read the flashmail warning them not to come up the stairs? Although, they had arrived rather quickly after she hit send which means they were most likely just a flight or two of stairs beneath her when she sent it. Now it had come to down to another battle. One of both braun and brain. It was another puzzle, but Talal hadn't put all the pieces together yet. What could she do to help? She had little to no buff or anti-buffing items or skills. She could fight but would her lower level weapons be of any use against such high level magic?

Talal was frozen in her fear of Xenobia and the still fresh memories of their first meeting but as she glanced around the room at her friends, she knew she couldn't let the fear win.... let Xenobia win. When all was said and done and the crystals had vanished, it made the Twin Balde think. The crystals were the source of all of the armor, they were full of power. Power gives off energy. Most energy gives off sound. If she could hone in on where the crystals had disappeared to then maybe.... Of course her whole thought process was dependant upon the crystals still being in the room somewhere, maybe in a pouch on Xenobia's person or maybe they were simply shielded or cloaked from their view? The thought got Talal started on a path she couldn't let go of so she tried to focus on the sounds in the room, separating them, grouping them, identifying them and eventually with luck, locating the source of each sound she could hear. A difficult task for someone so new but she was the only one aside from Shadow that might be able to hear anything beyond the voices and movements in the room. It had played to their advantage before, maybe it would again.
Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Walk beside me that we may be as one.
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Level 39 (0/1000 EXP) Twin Blade

Weapons/Armor: Mukuro (Swirling Dark, Dark Dance), Ice Hunter Cap (Repth), Wristbands (Juk Rom), Fishing Gloves (Rue Kruz), Wyrm Hide (Gan Don), Snow Panther (Ap Vorv)

Wish List: Scrolls, Tarot Cards, and Armor higher than level 30.

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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Nighthand » Mon Feb 17, 2014 6:04 am

Talal, knowing her level was below the average for the Freedom Fighters, thought outside the box with her hack. Sound powers are relatively unorthodox for The World -- few hackers even think about the game audio, let alone specialize in it -- but Talal had found a way to put it to use. Focusing on the sounds in the room, she isolated them one by one and eliminated them from her attention. If the crystals made a sound -- and she could hear a very faint ringing, too faint and obscured to pinpoint yet -- she would find them.

(OOC: It'll take a couple of turns to pinpoint the crystals, if they are indeed what's making the faint ringing you hear.)

Next up: Demorian

Demorian had expected some kind of trap from the mistress of control, and he was not disappointed. He could, perhaps, utilize some of his lesser known abilities to circumvent her control... or perhaps they wouldn't work and he would simply show his hand. As yet, Xenobia seemed to be giving their party the initiative, so he decided to hold any potential trump card back.

Unfortunately, the vines that encased himself, Nall, Nighthand and Sheena were thick and strong, restricting his movement. He found, in fact, that their restrictions dug beyond the physical and into his inventory. He couldn't even cast a spell or use an item, not while they encased him. All he could do was struggle and test their strength. Perhaps Nighthand, putting everything he had into it, could break himself free. Demorian, on his own, could not.

(OOC: Demorian, restricted, is unable to take an action.)

Next up: Canti and Shadow.

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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Lord Canti » Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:42 am

(How did it come to this? How did they ever get in a jam like this, when they were so brilliant and capable before? The Hydra had been such a complex monstrosity, and yet they had whittled down its heads, from so many to so few, and fought it six-to-three, essentially. Well...four if you include Shadow. The demon dog had been an invaluable asset to Canti from day one. And even though he himself had gotten badly hurt - poisoned, near-dead, and with a broken leg - they did perfectly well...especially when he decided it was easier to die and be resurrected than to deal with a such a leg. And when they'd gotten it down to three heads and the serpent heads wound together with a charge-up phase, had he not struck it just right with a Chaos Spell because he said that he'd seen that episode? Saved all their butts a helluva lot of trouble, deflecting that! They'd done so well together, beating that monster, and then...they had fallen right into a trap.)

“Xenobia.”

Canti: Well...this is the pits. I suppose you're all wondering why I called you here...

(The gang was all here, it seemed, or enough of them. His group, Sekai's group, and Nall's group. They were now in the presence of the Juk Elite, the hacker who was responsible for his coma, Talal's coma, Sekai's coma... If it weren't for the fact that he simply could not do anyrhing right now, Canti would gladly detonate the room for all the stuff that Xenobia had done, and that included the whole Suraisu issue. He wasn't exactly paying attention to what Nall was doing. He was seething, jaw set and black eyes filled with menace...had anyone taken a moment to look. However, the Elite and the former Elite were dealing with issues on their own level, and Xenobia had - unfortunately - everyone else in a bind. Nall had decided, given the situation, to take upon one final test for the audience with the owner of this tower. It was kind of shrewd of her to force this, but then again...that was almost to be expected. Now, what it boiled down to, it seemed, was that they were stuck in a Turn-Based-Combat battle with this Willowman. And apparently, Canti was actually first. So...he started to calm down and get to figuring out what he wanted to do...)

Shadow: Master, you're moving my paw.

Canti: What the- Why's my leg moving?

Shadow: I have an itch.

(The Twin Blade grumbled.)

Canti: Hey, you've got our circuits crossed! Fix that!

(Whoops. Yeah, Canti and Shadow were uncoordinated for their first turn, and were thus in defense until the next one. The situation appeared to be that they had to risrobe the Willowman - which sounded wrong - by finding and probably breaking the now-hidden crystals. He noticed that Talal was listening for them. Perhaps if something big disrupted the area, she would get an idea of where they were faster. Feeling that things were back under his control and properly functional, he prepared as soon as it appeared to be his 'turn' again.)

Canti: Well, I am a bit at a loss, so...when in doubt, nuke the board and see what happens.

(There were a number of ways that he could go about such an undertaking. Perhaps an item, perhaps a black flame attack, or even something else... Canti took a third option, thus calling up a double-action between him and Shadow. They both set upon their Overdrive, Catastrophe, centering it on the Willowman's area. Why? Well, yes, the crystals were the keys to his items and the ties that bind their heavy hitters. Well, this non-elemental power compresses the area, drawing in solid objects around the blast site like an implosion in progress, then makes an EXplosion. If the crystals were near enough to the Willowman, they would be drawn in and - if all went well - affected by the attack. At the very least, something would happen to allow Talal to pinpoint them. It was unexpected, and that was the point.)
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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Nighthand » Mon Feb 17, 2014 12:24 pm

Canti and Shadow's specialized combo attack is a sight to behold, and today he had a captive audience -- literally. As a first move, a first attack for the battle, it's certainly a hell of an opening move. Xenoba on her throne looks on unimpressed, but then, she hardly seems to be paying attention. The Willowman, on the other hand, recoils from the blast as though slapped. He, too, is bound by the rules of this game, and had no defense prepared for any attack, let alone the power of such a unique one.

(OOC: Talal's eyes wince slightly, then widen -- after the sudden sound of the explosion, she does indeed hear the ringing increase. Not enough, not yet, but closer than she was before.)

Next up: Takua and Vesica

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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Takua » Mon Feb 24, 2014 7:00 am

After everything that had happened, Takua didn't know why he bothered being surprised when things abruptly, horribly, went south.

Really, he should have expected it. Trying to chase down Maoh after he'd taken off without them, so of course they had burst into Xenobia's room...and right into her trap, since she had clearly been expecting them. And this was exactly the kind of thing he'd been frightened about. Stripped of his control, taken prisoner once again by her vines, everything that he did not want here in this game come to pass in a swift moment.

...no, not everything. But something akin to it. His unseeing face looked out across the room, Vesica beside him, and he wondered what she was thinking right now. That he'd gone and fucked up everything again, that he'd dragged her into a situation that, if it went south, there would be no escape? Was there no escape already? He heard Xenobia's words, mixed in with other words, voices, sounds. Another test for their lives? Once, he had dreamed that playing games for all of his life would be the most awesome thing since sliced bread. Now, he only wanted to escape the game that had become his life and his prison.

As he watched everyone begin their turns, he had to wonder. It was obvious that she wasn't going to be playing fair. If this was a battle of strategy, there was hardly going to be things played straight. But if he was going to play it straight at all...the first move went to an Ap Do upon himself. When he had felt Sekai cast a Ap Juka on him, Vesica had been affected in the same way. Stood to reason that a buff to him then affected her as well...and boosting the speed of both of them was better than merely attacking. Plus, if his own speed was increased, he could buff the rest of the party swiftly. A moment later, and Vesica cast Dek Do on the enemy. Although it was hardly likely to succeed, if it did ever succeed, then the woodman's effectiveness would be vastly reduced.
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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Nighthand » Mon Feb 24, 2014 7:15 pm

Ap Do, as Takua had so astutely noticed, affected both himself and Vesica. He could feel a slight, almost intangible feeling of release, as the vine controlling him slackened ever so slightly. It didn't give him more free will, but it gave him the sense that it would allow him to act more regularly.

Vesica's cast of Dek Do, surprisingly enough, actually seemed to land on the Willowman. The faint swaying of his frond-hair slowed, and while his first turn would not be delayed, future turns likely would. Whether this would have negative repercussions, as per many gimmick bosses in The World and other RPGs, remained to be seen.

Next up: Maoh

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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Bane » Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:29 am

Upon recieving a blow to the head soon after looking into the throne room, Maoh found himself floored. At least that's where he'd found himself after he regained consciousness. The rest of the party had seemed to catch up, a few unfamiliar faces but all seemingly facing off against the same thing; which truthfully made figuring out where to stand that much easier. Maoh stood up, checking that everything he had on him, weapons included, were still on his person before taking up arms alongside the rest of the team.

Before him stood a man made of willow, or had funky hair that resembled that of a willow tree's hanging branches. Charging up to the guy seemed like a bad idea, and he didn't have any fancy items to buff either himself or the rest of the team, so spells would have to be the choice for now. Motioning in the direction of the willow-man, Maoh called out his spell of Vak Kruz, wondering if plants burned the same in here as they did in the real world.
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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Nighthand » Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:43 am

Maoh, as one of the weaker members of the group, has little to offer in sheer power or unique abilities. Vak Kruz may not be the most powerful spell, but it's an attack, and it does demonstrate one important thing: the Willowman has no innate resistance to fire. Fireballs converge upon his stationary form and he can do nothing to evade or block. Unfortunately, his wooden flesh does not ignite.

[Next up: Nall]

Nall acquiesced to the battle under the assumption that it would be difficult, though not impossible. He had confidence in the team he had built, however few members remained at this late stage of the game. Unfortunately, per the rules of said game, he could do nothing to act. The vines that held him, keyed to a crystal that had disappeared behind the Willowman, were tight. Moreover, they contained elements of Xenobia's control. He felt her primary control release for his turn, but the vines held him, keeping him from moving. He could do little but prepare for any potential incoming attacks.

Next up: Canti and Shadow

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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Lord Canti » Sat Mar 01, 2014 5:13 pm

(Hmm, this turn-based strategy thing was actually working out rather well, in fact. It allowed them to speed up and put the enemy's stats down a notch, and Canti noticed that one casting of Ap Do had caused both Takua and his pet to increase in speed. Canti nodded at this, then turned to Shadow.)

Canti: Alright, you know what to do. Shadow, cast Haste, please.

Shadow: You mean Ap Do?

Canti: ...yes.

(Nodding, the Bogie-dog did so, more-or-less coming to the same effect it would with Takua and Vesica is all worked out right. With that in mind, the Twin Blade also noticed that fire was effective enough. Not the guy's weakness, but no worries about that. He flew at the Willowman and attacked him with Fire Dance, returning to his place once it was over.)

Canti: Talal, anything I can do to make those crystals appear?
Last edited by Lord Canti on Sun Aug 03, 2014 9:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Nighthand » Sat Mar 01, 2014 7:37 pm

Ap Do, of course, took effect with no issue on both Shadow and Canti. Xenobia's control rules treated pets as one entity, it seemed, which had interesting implications. Canti and Shadow took simultaneous turns, and buffs affected them both. Damage, presumably, would affect them both as well.

There was a moment of uncertainty when Canti dashed in for his Fire Dance. Would the Willowman be able to counterattack or defend against a physical strike? The answer, as it turned out, was no. With no defense prepared -- indeed, no chance to act so far -- the Willowman could do nothing but stand and accept the fiery slashes.

Next up: Sheena

Sheena found herself in much the same predicament as Nall. She, however, found she could potentially break free from the vines. Her strength was immense, such that little in the game could stand against it when she put her mind to it. That, however, spoiled the spirit of the challenge. What good would it do to break free now? She strained against the vines, listening to them creak and groan and stretch, but she left off before they snapped. Perhaps it could buy her a free action later, but for now, she would let it be.

Next up: Nighthand

Nighthand felt the dunce for walking into Xenobia's trap, and he felt fury when he saw her sitting so calmly upon her throne. He wanted nothing more than to shout, to scream, to demand that she reverse her tampering with his data. Few knew that it was her intervention, a side effect of an attack so long ago, that disrupted Nighthand's power and made it fickle to control. He could be an elemental god without that corruption, and now, in the very chambers of the woman who caused the problem, he was ready to explode.

Like Sheena, Nighthand strained against his bonds with all his strength. Unlike her, however, he did not have the strength to break them. Nor did he have the capability to do anything else, save coldly ignore Silverblade in the depth of his rage.

Next up: Willowman

Starting off late, the Willowman had a distinct disadvantage. His complete subservience to Xenobia kept him from so much as flinching in the face of the attacks against him, at least no more than the physical repercussions of those attacks caused. When at last it came his turn, however, he was prepared to come out fighting. Immediately, his wooden eyes turned to Canti, the one responsible for the most punishment.

Clenching gauntleted wooden fists, the Willowman dashed forwards to Canti. His strikes were quick and brutal, attacks on joints and soft tissue, five in all. Each strike had physical pain associated with it, yes, but Canti could feel an additional weight of some illness, some unease that carried along. On the final strike, a knuckled jab to the solar plexus, the Willowman leaped backwards and into his place once more.

Canti, meanwhile, felt the pain of each blow. A third of his health was gone, and what remained was tainted with Dek Vorv, a critical weakness in his physical defense. The unease behind the strikes became clear. Canti, ever the aficionado of old-school RPGs, might liken it to the Bad Breath attacks of yore. Random status effects applied on strikes.

Shadow, though not the target of the blows, felt the pain of each one and suffered the same debuff. For better and for worse, the two were treated as a single entity in this battle.

Next Up: Sekai

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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Nighthand » Thu Mar 13, 2014 9:07 pm

Sekai, perhaps lost in the chaos of her own internal voices, perhaps simply not aware of the loosened restriction that signified her chance, missed that chance entirely. The onus of action passed on.

Next up: Takua/Vesica

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Re: The Journey’s Next Step: Yamiyo In Chaos

Post by Takua » Sun Mar 23, 2014 12:59 am

Were there rules on healing and resurrection here? That was the only thought in Takua's head at the moment as he watched the Willowman act. If he could only move one at a time, the only threat was that their healing supplies would run out before they could kill him...so there had to be another catch. Like, being unable to kill him unless other conditions were reached. That was what this strange 'condition' meant to Takua, that this was somehow a battle of the minds instead. But when he went looking, he couldn't see anything with anyone else's vision. He'd have to keep looking, but for now...

For now, Takua equipped the Cosmic Staff, the weapon rotating easily into his hands, and then he pointed it directly at the monster. It was the highest level summon he had as he spoke easily, “Yarthkins Rf.” The Earth based summon phased into view before lobbing giant boulders at the Willowman. The only Gan spell that was higher than that was PhaGan Don, but as a single strike of massive power there was a good chance it would break past its magical defense.

Beside him, Vesica switched from one ability to the other as she opened her mouth. In front of her jaws came a searing blue light that coalesced into a giant ice spear. It hung there for a split second before dashing for the Willowman in a burst of ice that sprang outward like a small nova in front of her.

(Yarthkins Rf, Level 2 Overdrive: Rue Javalin)
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