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Senna
Awakened Player
Posts: 150
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:28 pm

Post by Senna » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:12 pm

It was beginning to startle Senna how very surprised one could feel when they tried to do something and it actually occurred more or less as they planned.

Such was the case now, as her spell – oversized though it was perhaps for the task at hand – neatly wiped one of the blades out of being with a crash of ice and metal. She blinked in surprise, spear halfway to the ready point. That was it?

Not that she was sure what she expected really, if not that.

The move seemed to have come at least somewhat in time, not only blinking the one blade out of existence but also reorienting three of the other blades, drawing them away from the Freedom Fighters actually dealing damage and toward her.

With her normal old speed, there was little she could do save react. The blade of her spear came up at a slight angle and hooked back, knocking the first blade off its course. A blessing that, since that particular blade was aiming to put a furrow across her face – or through it. The second and third came in at likewise high speeds and direct courses, one cutting twin furrows deep across the top of her right arm and the other digging along her ribs on the left. Breath hissed between teeth as she fought the urge to just drop.

How do they do this? she marveled, unsure if she was thinking about Zan and Dien and the others or the relentless assault being put forth by the blades. Both, perhaps. Both were examples of a determination she was fairly certain she didn’t have. She was fairly certain most people didn’t have it, to be honest. It seemed a little… unnatural. Or maybe that was just the female mentality in her talking.

Natural or not, she now had a set of very active opponents to try to face off against. She was grateful that Zan and Rayo continued occupying some of them, leaving only the few to come after her.

It turned out to be a blessing she hadn’t cast a second time – a glance down told her she was just now back to the SP level where she could have cast another 20-SP spell, despite the respite from before. Smaller spells were the order of the day now, she thought as another Repth washed over her, unable to completely heal her wounds but soothing them somewhat. At the same time, she stepped toward the direction the blades had come from, putting another few feet between herself and them as she turned to face them.

Zan’s Flashmail arrived just as she parried another attack and took digs from its brothers again. the Ichigou was in her hands now, the stats on it more useful to her than some of her higher-level weapons. The fact was, this was like trying to swat sparrows no matter what size the targets actually were, and with the business end of her weapon at the end of a six-foot pole, her class was at a distinct disadvantage. While she could get a great deal of power and speed into a swing, her reaction times were obviously limited. Her natural agility, which often served her well in close-quarters combat, was likewise useless – when she could dodge, they could follow, and when she ducked or spun, they came around like boomerangs or homing weapons of some sort, intent on the kill. Between reading bits of the Flashmail, her fight continued. She, like Zan, was not sure if she was actually hitting the opponents or if the force of her swing was just enough to upset whatever balance the blades employed to move the way they did and caused them to veer off course.

As she might have expected, Zan’s plan was a good one, but Again her own concern about her own weaknesses was working against her. Another Flashmail came, but was for the moment ignored. Could she DEAL with three of these things much longer?

Well, as it turned out, it seemed she didn’t have to. A decision of a different sort presented itself instead, in the form of words from above. God? No, but Canti, who was looking a little more demon-like than she was used to players looking in this ga… this world.

"Senna, duck!"

She heard the words of a spell following that, and nearly did as he bid just out of habit, but something stopped her. Briefly, true, but she didn’t follow his instruction. He was taking the time to cast a spell her way instead of Zan’s. Since these didn’t just take damage – they had to be tasting blood before destruction could occur – it would be a waste of his spell to get out of their way, wouldn’t it? So she eyed the room as fast as she could. One.. two… where was the third? No time. A spell. A spell… Hold… wait for it…

"Juk Kruz." she stood straight in the path of the two she could see, hoping her timing would be as good this time as it was previously. If she could hit the one as it hit her, there would be another gone, and if Canti’s spell was enough, it might take out the second. In fact, if she were sure the Rom spell would have enough juice to take the segment out despite not being narrowly targeted, she might have spared the SP for a heal. As it was, another Health Drink gone. Almost out of those too.

After the flurry of activity, at least things would die down a bit, she supposed. But before she could catch her breath, or even start to, there was a strange mix of sensations from behind her – a biting line of pain, a push, a wash of cold air, a familiar voice. The third?

Wide-eyed, she whirled around to face it, but there was no metal disk. There was Dien, casting a spell that she felt a moment later, seeping some ease into her torn muscles.

"Sorry if that hurt, but that’s the only way to get ‘em," he said, sounding almost apologetic? Apologetic? That thing was about to blindside her from the feel of it. She shook her head.

"No. Thanks," she managed to get out, weariness keeping the feeling from her voice but a half-smile quirking her features. Then her eyes were again on the move. If all three of the ones that had been around her were gone, it was time to get to helping the others.
Senna, level 33 Long Arm (710 HP/180 SP)
Most common kit: Ichigou, Racoon Earcaps, Air Bracer, Snow Panther, Winter Coat, Graceful Book
Spells/Skills: (Critical Hit/Death) Repulse Cage, Ap Corv, Ap Vorv, Rai Rom, Rue Zot, La Repth
Click for full equipment and items
14300 (1/23)

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Nighthand
Master of Games
Posts: 1265
Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 9:23 pm
Class: Bladesmage
Location: ...Tracking...please wait...

Post by Nighthand » Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:40 pm

So far so good, eh? Attack after attack landed on the floating chunks of metal; some dealing their damage, some missing the timing by a hair. Still, when all was said and done, the dust settling, and the attacks winding down, the group could see just how much damage they had done.

Of the fourteen remaining pieces, only nine could still be seen. Those still attacking people stopped, abruptly, and flew back towards the central boss figure.

One by one, the four attackers and five defenders snapped into a circle around Primal. Something akin to electricity began to arc between them as the circle slowly rotated. Akin to electricity... for it acted just like electricity, but was all the colors of the rainbow. This was no elemental attack, this was pure magical damage in visible form.

Primal's gaze turned upwards, it's armless body rigid. The ring of what was once it's arms flew into the sky, high above them, until nothing more of it could be seen against the blue digital sky.

There was a pause.

With little warning and no time to dodge, the pieces began to crash down. One after another, each of the nine struck the floor of the room, erupting in explosions of magical energy equivalent to a level 4 Don spell. The damage was magical but lacking in element; just force.

When the onslaught ended, everyone in the room found themselves devoid of hit points. One by one, their ghosts formed. Even Nighthand; even Nall. What.... what was going on? They should have hit a game-over by now. They should all be dead.

Why weren't they?

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Marionette
Elevated Player
Posts: 29
Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:24 pm

Post by Marionette » Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:42 pm

Watching, yet unobserved, Marionette saw the attack of his servant decimate the party.

A pause.

And then... a lifted hand.

thiS iS noT hoW yoU diE.
whaT happenS wheN thE puppeT pullS thE stringS?

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Nighthand
Master of Games
Posts: 1265
Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 9:23 pm
Class: Bladesmage
Location: ...Tracking...please wait...

Post by Nighthand » Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:52 pm

Another bomb dropped. A tenth bomb, an attack that was not part of the attack. A white light enveloped them all, and when it cleared...

They were alive again.

Not just alive. They each had full HP and SP.

What... what just happened?

Nighthand didn't know. None of them knew. Even Nall was looking around, upwards and down, frantically searching for the agent of their resurrection. Those who knew him well would note an emotion on him that he rarely displayed. Fear.

Something powerful was out there.

Divine intervention aside, Primal was once more on the attack. Each of the nine pieces of metal lanced out in a different direction, taking up positions along the outer wall. Their mode of defeat was the same; their mode of attack had changed.

One by one, the pieces shot across the room. They targeted a random player and sideswiped them, streaking across the room to rest on the other end. There was only a brief moment when they were vulnerable; a moment they would have to take advantage of. Only two, the head and tail, would be impervious to their well-timed attacks.

It was only a matter of time now.

Phoenix512
Exalted Player
Posts: 304
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 10:42 pm

Post by Phoenix512 » Mon Mar 19, 2007 2:36 am

After attacking Primal with Gan weapon based skills, Phoenix was hit with the dragon head from Primal for the inconvenience. Compared to the other counterattack, his was the least gruesome. Some of the others died in a very painful way before Nall managed to figure out its weaknesses. Phoenix was thinking that this form of Primal was like a banshee that could only be hit when it was attacking but hitting it any other time would result swinging in air. It was easier to hit a banshee since they are larger than the shards along with the window of opportunity to hit them. Before he could think once again, he gets a flashmail from Rayo suggesting that he should be a pin cushion while the rest of the group bombed him.

To Phoenix, it did not make much sense to bomb the wavemaster whose spells could easily destroy a group of shards. Also, a physical fighter could take more damage while the others are waiting to cast their spells. This was not a good plan to Phoenix which it took the others some time to realize this and change their tactics according. He tried to contact his pet so he could help them with the effort but he was not able to contact her at all. He figured that the poison from the previous form of Primal was still affecting her strength. As for the blademaster himself, he did not have any powerful area effect spells to help them out. So in the end, he decided to be a decoy if necessary as some of them would like to beat the hell out of him for whatever reason that satisfies them.

After destroying six of the fifteen shards, the shards suddenly stop attacking the group and began to rotate around Primal in a circle. This was a beginning of a very deadly attack that kill everyone in a flash even the mighty Nall. At least, this death was not as torturous and gruesome as some other deaths that Primal managed to afflict in battle. Phoenix thought that they failed Marionette’s test and proved themselves not worthy to grace the presence of him but something unexpected happened. The entire group was resurrected with full HP and SP by the test examiner himself.

Phoenix could not figure out why he did this as his actions are very hard to read. He thought that no one could figure out Marionette’s motives but one thing was certain and ever confirming. Marionette was something unique in the World. With the massive reset, Primal’s tactics changed as well. Previously it was a small group attacking while the rest defend Primal, now all the shards attack one at a time at the group. It was a very smart idea by Primal to attack in this fashion. With the shards quickly attacking a random player one at a time, it did not allow one person to become a pin cushion for the others to eliminate more than one shard at a time. There was no easy way for Phoenix and the others to destroy the shards.

It either we scatter around the room and destroy them individually or circle around each other and try the pin cushion idea again. I’m thinking the latter might be more successful than scattering around hoping to destroy the shards in that fashion. But the problem would be that the pin cushion would have only one instead of bunches.

Flashmail
To: Everyone
From: Phoenix

I suggest that we formed into a circle or at least paired up so we could deal with the shards better instead of trying to fight them off by ourselves. If anyone has a better idea to deal with them, suggest it now.

End Flashmail


After sending the flashmail, Phoenix went towards the blue mage and said to him, “If I have a shard in me, use your spells on me. I’ll do the same for you.” Phoenix was constantly scanning the battlefield for shards coming towards him and Rayo. He hoped that he was fast enough to destroy them for the little opening that they were vulnerable.
Phoenix
Level 48 Blademaster
Equipped Skills: Vak Revolver, Gan Revolver, Dek Vorv, La Repth, Juk Kruz, Rue Kruz, BiVak Rom, GiGan Zot
Other Skills: Rue Kruz, Rip Synk, Rip Saem, Crack Beat, Rue Slash, Ani Slash, Gan Crack, Gan Revolver

Wish List: Phoenix's Fire, Gold Necklace
EX-Spheres: LV 3 - Overdrive, LV 3 - Curative, LV 3 - Elemental Breath

Rayo
Exalted Player
Posts: 485
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2003 7:21 pm

Post by Rayo » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:17 pm

Already being one of the dead, Rayo was able to fully witness the massacre that took out the entire party. Had they been so unprepared and arrogant that they’d finally been beaten down? Despite their quick revival, it did point out their inherent weakness as those following the system rules to a great extent. If any enemy is strong enough, that’s all that matters. Anyone capable of hacking had the ability to upgrade powers to such a level that they couldn’t hope to win. Dissatisfying, wasn’t it?

“Ap Corma.”

The matter of knocking out Primal was still yet to be completed, so the mage didn’t both thinking any further about the complete absurdity of attempting to beat any such monster. If all of the floating segments were taken out prior to returning to Primal, then it’d be wide open to some attacks. His revived body wasn’t too close to anyone in particular, so physical aid wouldn’t really be available. The lack of melee help didn’t mean there weren’t still a few within his spell casting range, totaling up to three as Phoenix closed in enough while offering a pair up. That would work out just fine anyway, that afforded the wavemaster a trio of targets to home in on. Based off all of their positions and the varying distances from Primal, that meant that even though the pieces were arcing to take them on individually, their formation only meant to divide the party.

His preparations didn’t take long, besides powering up his magic and choosing Gaia’s Staff as his useable item there was nothing else to do. The strategy against the pieces was becoming simple, hold and then fire. The first condition for the would be met by either a spell working on a delay or if the first attack held the target in place long enough for a second to deal the significant damage on impact. Spells generally slowed down their intended victims somewhat, and would allow for the second to make it in time. The Rom style of spells would be very suitable for delaying the escape, while Don and Kruz types would deal all of their damage in one hit before the target could escape. Perfect.

With eyes tracking the movement of the chunk of boss smoothly coming around to Zan, the wizard threw up a Rue Rom around his body as one of the remaining nine closed in. A pair of Rai Kruz spells were also cast, slamming into the tornado to deal the heavy shots. If the water geyser helped extend the reach of the charges at all, the many orbs should pound plenty of damage on the segment.

Spinning forty-five degrees to face Senna, a similar scenario was set up. A lightning vortex rose around her as the basic Rai Rom was activated, hopefully trapping the incoming threat before it would be able to pop in and back out. Duo balls of fire descended onto the scene, smashing down with all of the force he could muster with just two uses of Vak Don. Senna’s level didn’t seem as high as some of the others, but if she ended up dying he would just revive her after he was done with his three selected counterparts.

The blademaster was the final player to center his plans around. GiGan Zot beckoned chunks of earth and dirt to rise, surrounding both the player and enemy. If the spell was too slow for his intended plan, one pillar should still get in a scratch as it disengaged itself. If luck was really with him, then the bladed segment would be clipped as it just made contact, saving his teammate health points. If it fell anywhere in between as planned however, the rock formation would only serve to wedge in the piece and prevent it from leaving a state of damaging Phoenix.


“OrGan Don!”

The level three boulder would effectively crush the pair, and anything with that much power backing it should be able to clear away the goal with just one hit. The mage worried less about Phoenix dying, as long as the swordsman hadn’t switched weapons from when he last observed a scuffle with Primal he would be somewhat shielded from the elements all around him.

His own attacked zoomed in by this point, getting a clear attack from whatever angle it chose. Whether or not it got away would depend entirely on someone else.
Rayo
Lv.47 Archer 745HP/311SP
Bell, the Silver Grunty of Thunder
Skills/Spells-Shocking Arrow of Voltage(30), Arrow of the Burning Stars(10), MeRai Rom(40), Rai Kruz(10), La Repth(20), Rip Maen(40), MeRai Kruz(20), GiVak Kruz(20), MeRai Don(20), Rig Saem(15)
Weapon/Armor/Book-Golden Royal Bow/Thunder Torque, Thunder Cloak, Able Ring, Ivory Greaves/Thunder Magic
Wishlist: YL Fukuoka, Stormlore, Winter Stone, Silver Grunty

Zan
Exalted Player
Posts: 206
Joined: Sat Jan 22, 2005 10:28 pm
Contact:

Post by Zan » Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:55 am

Zan was immersed in the chaos of his plan coming to fruition, Rayo aiding him as he had requested in the flashmail. They were taking the segments down, there was no doubt about that, but the lycanthrope could only hope it would be quick enough. If Primal was like any of his other forms, their continued damage on its body would come with one hell of a counter attack. The only thing that kept the Heavy Blade from thinking on the topic too long, from being paranoid at the prospect of something that powerful, was Nall and Nighthand. Primal was strong, sure, but they were stronger. At least, that was what he assumed, watching the fight ensue at the same time he participated. Nall was a little out of it right then, sure, but even weakened he couldn't just go down. He was an Ex-Elite. Nall was one of the forces of sheer power incarnate. No simple boss like Primal could take all of them and him out, right? Nodding to himself, attempting to bat away another segment, Zan was soon lost again in the battle and chased away from his thoughts.

Until it happened.

There was warning of the storm of pain and absolute mental defiance that was about to arrive. Zan had, luckily, never been in the presence of a normal level four spell. Everything he had faced, for the most part, had used the lessers. Perhaps one of the Elites in Mac Anu had used it on the group and (being so caught up in the fury of that particular war) the Heavy Blade might have ignored it. If there had been any curiosity left in his mind as to what something that powerful looked like, Zan soon lost such ponderings. The remaining pieces, the lycanthrope too tired to count just how many, lofted into the air with a stir of warning. Was this it? Was he about to see just how strong Primal's counter attack was? Bracing himself, expecting pain but not defeat, Zan watched as one by one the segments fell and unleashed what could only be described as Hell on earth. Or Hell in The World, anyway. Oddly enough, there wasn't pain in any of it, even as the force of several level four Don spells erupted around without mercy. No, his flesh was too busy being concussioned off, limbs liquefying and leaving him nothing more than a ghost. It was okay, Nall would....

Nall was dead. Nall. Was. Dead. Glancing at their leader's ghost, Zan felt that cold bubble of sheer dread stir and groan in his stomach. This was it, the Elites had finally won. Something like Primal had taken away their lasts hopes of freedom and would be at the heart of their capture and slavery in Yamiyo (or whatever the hell the place was called, Zan too unnerved to recall such a trivial piece of information). The lycanthrope had always imagined the deed would be completed by something like an actual Elite, not a lackey. Though Primal was strong, that's all it really came down to. It was a lackey. A goon. A toady. The Freedom Fighters, one of The World's only real hopes against the tyranny of the Elites...were wiped out. Would they be able to get out enough flashmails in time, recruiting some last minute people with the frantic seconds they had remaining? Somebody was needed to further the cause. Was there no one else? Too numb to be the one to put this plan to use, Zan could only numbly watch on as he waited for the arrival of their dreaded enemies.

And instead he got light. Not the proverbial white light at the end of the tunnel. Not the light that promised salvation and the arms of God. A part of him was sure that's what it was, entranced by the intensity of it until he felt air begin to draw into his lungs again. Blinking, opening eyes he didn't remember closing, Zan took a gander around to see what in the hell had just happened. All of the Freedom Fighters, every last one of them, had been resurrected with the last attack. Err? Was this some odd plan of Primal's to prolong their agony? That was a mildly stupid attack, dumbass. Yet...that seemed off. It seemed like they were here because of someone else, because of something in the shadows and behind the curtain. Did he know anybody that fit such a description? Flashing behind his eyes, clear in his mind's eye, was Marionette's name; the same creature, man, or AI that he had promised help to when this quest was over. There was no time to worry what about the possible payment for the flashmailer's good deed, but he had a feeling it would come in time. Such things always did. Another moment of focus and he realized his SP was in tip-top shape and his secondary virus was kept at bay as if an Ol Repth had hit him without noticing.

Well, so be it.

Zan now realized he was faced with a more frantic set of segments, the things lashing out across the room to screw with each Freedom Fighter in turn. Oh hell no. The weakness and lack of grace the Heavy Blade had found himself with seemed temporarily gone, the healing explosive doing more for him than Marionette could ever know. Or was that simply wishful thinking? Shrugging, he simply jerked himself into a sideways tumble, avoiding the segment that had been so eager to rip him into pieces. He wanted for his zooming piece to take a break only one, and let off the first of his MeRue Rom retaliations. The spell whipped around that segment and anything close to it (though, he knew, it could have been hitting nothing but air with the way it was moving). Assuming it was dead, perhaps foolishly, Zan looked for another stilled segment. Come on...come on...just stop for a single second. As if hearing him, curious about Zan's mental order, one did indeed stop. A second MeRue Rom was fired off, hoping to consume a potentially damaged piece of the boss in a sweep of ice and magical pain. He had just enough to give that one-two round another go. He was going to clear himself out, that was for damn sure.

The search for another, different stilled segment was under way, the lycanthrope running in gusts of speed and bizarrely graceful evasive maneuvers, the segments seeming unable to do all but the most superficial cuts over his flesh. Such cuts were starting to add up, doing a mountingly significant total, but that was okay. Zan was going to use this patched up version of his data, data that was almost exactly like his before the second infection, to its fullest before he ghosted. If/when he died, he still had faith that Nall would remedy that. Ideally, Primal didn't have the power in it to counterattack again after such a strong ability. By the time it had mustered up what it needed, ideally it would be too late. A third MeRue Rom found a third target, one that had stopped moving for but a bat of an eye. That was all Zan had needed, unleashing what attack he could and hoping it did the necessary amount of damage. If it didn't, maybe some of the attacks of his fellow Freedom Fighters would end up doing the job. A fourth (and last, because of his lacking SP at this point) ice spell was culled to life around another target, crags of ice and swirling, bitter-cold water attempting to do away with the segment of the boss. When it had finished, his health points almost half drained with the damage of his running through the war zone, Zan paused in the middle of it all, sword out. Already beginning to swing away, he could only pray the end was near.

They wouldn't survive Primal again.
Lv. 50 Heavy Blade
Wishlist
Special: Levels, GR Sendai, PL Sakai, Darklore.
W: Tonosama Sword, Mineuchi, Jundachi.
A: Samurai Helm, Able Hands, Rare Greaves.
I: Holy Sap, Treebane, Cooked Bile, Nightbane.
EX: Elemental Summon (Lv. 2), Overdrive (Lv.1), Elemental Attacks (Lv. 2), Enhance Dark, Elemental Breath (Lv. 2).

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Senna
Awakened Player
Posts: 150
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:28 pm

Post by Senna » Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:50 pm

Too much was happening all at the same time, and Senna couldn’t seem to keep it all straight in her mind. Spells, attacks, shouts, the muted whir of the weapons Primal had shot at them all mixed into a cacophony from which her ears could extract nothing useful. It was like being at a sporting event, not in the stands but down in the action – but there felt like there was little sporting about this fight. Either Primal had the upper hand at a given moment or their group did. It was all a matter of knowing the weaknesses of those you were facing and exploiting them.

Domination, as a good if old song proclaimed, was the name of the game.

But with domination, with vicious and targeted attacks, there always came the backlash from the creatures in this dungeon, and this time was no exception. But this time, the revenge was total. This time they were all down, every last one of them, at the hands of this creature. Fitting, she thought as her spirit manifested, as she waited for the Game Over. It was surprising to find that now that the worst had happened, she had no fear of what was coming next. What would Game Over mean for her now? Time to find out. Maybe it would let her out of here, one way or the other.

But that was halted. Instead of Game Over, what came next was rebirth, not just back t life and motion but to full SP and HP. It was something akin a miracle.

Her mind was alight with possibilities. From the fact that they’d ALL been ghosting, she could only assume no one in their group had brought them back to life. That meant an outside force had done it – either Marionette or some as-yet-unannounced semi-benevolent and very powerful person.

Ockham’s Razor. All things being equal, the simplest answer is usually the most likely accurate. In this case, the simplest answer was that Marionette had done it. They knew it was watching them and they knew it had a good deal of power at its disposal. Two of the three features of their savior, the final being the will to save the group from its mass-death.

Something in her railed against this, against taking her life from Marionette like a scrap handed to a starving dog. It was playing them, all of them, and while she still didn’t think it meant their destruction or ill-will, it was also the one who’d set them against Primal in the first place, from what she could tell. And that meant it had given Primal that power, to wipe them out. It had trapped her here. It wasn’t trustworthy, and it was making them dance for some purpose none of them was privy to. It made its miracles. Well, she wasn’t going to say she wasn’t grateful for the save, but she certainly didn’t see it as anything that indebted her to it or made it a more palatable thing to be taking orders from, however roundabout those orders might be coming in.

In other words, she’d take the handout, but she didn’t intend for a single moment to forget they were being toyed with, and her resolve to never trust Marionette was doubled. That might change if they later found someone else had orchestrated their recovery, but for now…

For now, it was time to focus on the task at hand, which meant forgetting the source of their newfound strength and instead using it to beat the living daylights out of Primal’s little metal attack minions. Once those were gone, there would be time enough to try to work out the rest. Overthink it, more likely.

So, back into the fray, or into the breach if you prefer. Nine targets were left. They needed to wipe these out quick and get to the main event. They needed to take Primal down.

Others had wasted no time in getting back into the fight, and she joined them, relishing the power she now had as a result of the SP fill-up. The metallic pieces were running sprints across the room, and that meant nothing good for the group – the speed of their unchecked charges would mean a square hit could do even more damage, and might not even halt the attacking piece all that much. Just great. Still, she had full HP for the time being and intended to use it to the utmost. The Rom spell Canti had cast… had that worked? Had it been enough?

Well, no better time than now to find out. She brought her spear around as one came darting at her. Staring it down, she invoked a Rai Rom.

The spell seemed far more powerful than it should have, however. Lightning crackled through the air, them across and around her in a vortex of light. She lost sight of the thing, and couldn’t tell if it or any others were hitting. Lightning again. Lightning hurt. Someone else had cast at the same time as she had. Maybe if one spell wasn’t enough, two would be.

And then came fire. Despite it all, a smile touched her features. Making sure? Well, no way to blame for that. Better to be sure. She just hoped she’d still be alive at the other end of this to try to put at least one decent hit on their tormentor.
Senna, level 33 Long Arm (710 HP/180 SP)
Most common kit: Ichigou, Racoon Earcaps, Air Bracer, Snow Panther, Winter Coat, Graceful Book
Spells/Skills: (Critical Hit/Death) Repulse Cage, Ap Corv, Ap Vorv, Rai Rom, Rue Zot, La Repth
Click for full equipment and items
14300 (1/23)

Lord Canti
Exalted Player
Posts: 300
Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 3:58 pm
Location: In da' plains of hell, natch.

Post by Lord Canti » Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:43 pm

(So far as he knew, in his fly-by run, Canti had smoked him some flying dragon parts, or at least damaged them. The point of the exercise was to make life a little easier for those around him, especially the latest addition to the team. Canti wasn't sure how, but he somehow felt that this was partially his own fault, amongst other things. He didn't know how to do alot in his life, but ruining other people's lives was never something he wanted to excel in. Suddenly, in mid-flight, somethign happened. He wasn't sure how or why, but a blaze of light and energy abruptly ended his character's health bar, ended it like an Armageddon switch. Canti didn't even see that it was because of the nine remaining dragon-chucks, or rather dragon CHUNKS...)

((Hmmm... Dragon-Chucks... Heh heh heh heh...))

(But in any case, The World suddenly ended. Or...did it? For some reason, as he watched everybody being dead and in spirit form, they weren't finished. Canti was paralyzed by the thought of it being all over, though he wasn't sure what it was that made him want to live so badly. Then, without warning, another bomb struck, and...Canti felt revitalized. Not just healed. He felt good. Why? He didn't have a cl- No...scratch that. There was a possibility, and the answer existed on Nall's face. He was looking for what was not there: Marionette. Canti wondered...what was he up to now? Well, the best way to find out...was to ask.)

TO: Marionette
FROM: Canti
SUBJECT: Why?

Why all this, huh? Fighting your guardian, resurrected by your hand. You seem to be preparing us for something worse, but can the Elites be as tough as this? The guys here had already killed a couple before I came here. Are we in so deep that it gets worse than them?


(With that done, he didn't have time to waste. The battle was on again and Primal was still quite switched on. Canti was restored to the state he was in before dying, only at full, so he was still in flight, a random chunk of dragon going after him here and there. He deflected and dodged, even kicking off of a chunk. Until he had some sort of real plan of action, he wasn't gonna try to hurt these yet, especially not the ends. Then, almost as if his mind had been read, a message sent to all the party members came in.)

Flashmail
To: Everyone
From: Phoenix

I suggest that we formed into a circle or at least paired up so we could deal with the shards better instead of trying to fight them off by ourselves. If anyone has a better idea to deal with them, suggest it now.


Canti: Good planning. Think I'll do that...

(Swoosh! Another chunk flew by and Canti smack/dodged it, sending it on its way. Now then... Who was paired off already? Phoenix himself had already gone to help Rayo. That was good. Magic AND fighting power always worked. Rayo was, in turn, casting spells to aid others, such as Senna and Zan. Hmmm... Those two were still out on the boondocks, so to speak, and so was Dien. It seemed to Canti that small groups that looked after one another would be the right ticket here. Hmmm... Alright, we'll go for that. Canti called over to the Blademaster...)

Canti: Hey, Dien! Get your rear over here!

(Suddenly, he felt an apprehensive prickle on his neck and looked behind him. Good thing his battle instincts were alright, there was a big ole' dragon's mouth heading for him!)

Canti: Whoa!

CLANK!

(Being in mid-air was already a rough gig. Being there and dodging bits of dragon-body was harder. Doing all that and then calling out to one of your comrades required that you abandon your attentions for a little bit, and that can cause trouble. In Canti's case, the mouth of the beast had been closest, so it zeroed in on him and tried to take his head off. Fortunately, what it got was a pair of blades in the mouth, wedging it open by sticking into its jaw-line. It was pushing and pulling and struggling, and so was Canti. The only problem was that this sucker wasn't getting hurt. Oh, damn it all... The Twin Blade tried to think of something as they both held each other at bay in the air. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw another problem. The OTHER end was homing in on him!)

Canti: Oh, for the love of...

(The winged knife-wielder ducked, using his movement and weight to fling the head over at the tail as he released it and hit the ground. Hopefully, they'd hit each other and lose their bearings long enough for speedy-him to beat feet out of their perceptions. In any case, the idea on Canti's mind was to head over to Senna's location with Dien also following him if he listened. He zipped over there now, casting Gan Zot at the nearest chunk. Pieces of rock were flung at at as Canti held up his blades in defense, back to the Long Arm.)

Canti: New members like us should stick together.

(He paused, looking around, then...)

Canti: Also, if you see Zan in trouble, lemme know.
I'll have a doozy of a sig later, I swear. It'll reflect ".hack//CODE" an' everything.

Hey look! A profile! It's got items and stats and things! Cool! If it isn't fully up to date, it will be, so don't worry 'bout it.

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Dien
Exalted Player
Posts: 226
Joined: Fri May 12, 2006 1:59 am
Class: Blademaster
Location: The "Who's Online List," Stalking People...

Post by Dien » Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:18 pm

Cold steel cut through not-as-cold steel, and the weakness was proven to Dien. As the piece of metal faded, the blademaster heard the thanks of the longarm who’d just been nearly cut by his attack. However, it wasn’t over. No, not by a long shot was it over. Primal pulled back the hunks of metal, and prepared to attack. As though giving charge to them, each one arced in a full elemental spectrum of energy to the white creature to whom it belonged. Then, they went up, and as physics dictates, “what goes up must come down.”

And come down it did.

One thought reverberated through Dien’s mind as the bombing commenced, and one thought alone: you cheap bastard. It was Primal’s “ultimate attack” against them that completely obliterated the party, including Nall with the cape he now wore was stripped of his body. Apparently, whatever super power it gave him wasn’t enough to protect him from the obliteration attack of their enemy. Worse than the fact that they had been killed, though, was the fact that it had been done by some cheap freaking trick. It wasn’t that they had necessarily been overpowered, but that what had been done was low, and broke every law of civility. It was, for the most part, primal; evading the betters assigned civilized life by the people in it. No, that probably wasn’t the worst part of it. What was worse was the sudden realization that their entire party had died. By mechanics, this meant that they should be getting a game over soon and be logged out…

If only they could be so lucky. No, apparently it was the will of the puppeteer that Marionette save them. Another flash of light, and everything was returned to them. It was interesting, Dien thought, that Marionette would ask them to fight Primal and then help them along when the thing pulled an ace out of its hole. Okay, so Primal was most probably male in gender, but there was no real defining evidence to that end. Marionette had saved their lives, at least for now, to keep them going in the game.

“Thanks for that,” Dien said aloud, obviously directed to their observer, thought not entirely sure he’d wanted to be resurrected. There may have been an opportunity for escape in those moments, however harmful it would be to all of their mental health in coming so close to a far more permanent death. Whatever, get back to the task at hand. The room had changed again, or rather the behavior of its inhabitants had been redone. Instead of swarming and dive-bombing in short arcs, they were now participating in gorilla warfare, drive-by shootings, side-swipes; it didn’t matter what they were called, it was just that they were being extremely effective in cutting down time of vulnerability. There had been nine before the dropping of the bombs, hadn’t there? That was right. Turning about the room, the blademaster tried to count them to keep track of them. Six, seven, eight…where was the-

“Omfgh-gnhe!!” Okay, so that’s not exactly what he said, but it’s as close of an onomatopoeia as I could generate to the noise Dien made when one of the chunks of steel broadsided him. At least one rib had been broken, and another pulled out of joint with the chunk of flesh that now lay on the ground. Clenching his teeth, he muttered the words to the healing spell that would at least set the pain to rest and give him back his side. Well, one could only hope.

“La Repth!” Blue waters descended, and for the umpteen millionth time, their work was completed. The injury was nothing more than an unpleasant memory, and the player sighed, stretching out tired muscles in preparation for some action.

There was one way and one way alone to fight these heaps of metal by one’s self, and that was by taking the fight to them. According to Nall, these could only be hurt when they were hurting people, so to bring it, Dien would have to force his target to drain his HP somehow. That wouldn’t be too hard, at least; the thing was covered in blades. All he would have to do would be to keep in touch with the thing and he’d be able to nail it with a skill. So at arm’s length, put your finger on the edge of the knife until it bleeds, and then slam your sword into it. Simple stuff, right? Unfortunately, a quick glance showed the resting places of the chunks of metal to be too high for even the exaggerated jumps of the game to reach. Maybe someone like Nighthand would be able to deal with them, in this way, but as it stood, they were too high.

It was in staring at one of the opponent’s blades that he noticed it start its course. Was it seriously flying at him—and in plain view no less? How barbaric. Glitter was exchanged for Zanzamas, and Ap Do was called so that at the last moment Dien could jump out of the way and avoid skewering…or did he want to do that? A quick check of his inventory revealed nothing to soften the blow, but perhaps a Warrior’s Blood would be able to help him stop the thing in its path…or at least take the pain of it a little better. Vial was pulled out, cork popped, and the liquid contents of the thing were poured into his throat. Well, not quite the effect he’d hoped, but it would have to do. Once again his primary sword was called forth, and he faced off with one of the chunks of Primal. In that very intense moment, though, the ping of a flashmail resounded in his ears. Great, he thought, what now? Subject line blank, so he would have to open it to see if it was important or not.
From: Phoenix
To: Party
Re:
Message:
I suggest that we formed into a circle or at least paired up so we could deal with the shards better instead of trying to fight them off by ourselves. If anyone has a better idea to deal with them, suggest it now.
The paper was discarded almost as quickly as it had been formed, and a glare was thrown at Phoenix. Not only did he disregard the fact that they were under attack in leaving the subject line blank, but he suggested complete ignorance of that which Dien had just been about to participate in. However, The World had not stopped for a flashmail, and the blademaster was reminded of this upon being skewered. Shit, he thought, looking down in reflex at what had just happened, wait, NOW!

“Rue Crack!” He shouted, and the skill activated. The target was the chunk of metal in front of him, and as he was hoisted into the air along its path, his sword was torn downwards, blistering cold energy once again surging through the steel that left a gaping hole. Only when the clangor of the impact resounded through both pieces did he feel the pain of just what was happening, and he gasped. In a sudden moment, the thing stopped, leaving Dien to continue the path with his momentum being only countered by gravity and then the wall that he hit. It wasn’t quite as bad as the last time he’d flown into a wall, but it still hurt. The biggest difference between this time and the last was that he wasn’t stuck to the spot by his own sinew. Just the thought of that made him wince. Of course, the timing of that wince was remarkably close to the wince one would assume to have been made from contact with the wall, so there really is no saying for sure why he winced, but I digress. His form bounced off the wall, and then fell to the hardened ground below.
__________

Hey, Dien! Get your rear over here!” The voice was Canti’s, and it awoke him from what sleep had found him in his state of gore. A groan, and he picked up his head to look at the twinblade who was somewhere close to the middle of the room. For whatever reason, what few chunks weren’t being taken care of by others had decided to home in on him, if only for now. Did they not see the perfectly good body of a blademaster lying on the ground completely defenseless and ready to be killed? Then again, Primal was probably more focused on attacking the bigger threats. With a hole in his stomach, broken ribs, vertebrae, and a fractured skull, Dien doubted he posed much of a threat, but there was always:

“La Repth,” Ah, much better. Waters bubbled over him again, and Dien sat up. Cell by cell the flesh in his stomach grew back to its former position and healed as best as it knew how. It was the spell’s magic that drove his body to recover like that, and without that magic he would’ve been screwed over in every fight they’d been in thus far. Without getting sidetracked or distracted, his thoughts briefly visited the idea of removing repth from their inventory. That would prove disastrous for all of them, and yet Repth was not something needed in the real world.

In the real world, when people fought, they had to spend more time worrying about blocking and evading – something that he hadn’t done very much of in the past few fights. It wasn’t even something he was sure he could do, but even attempting to do it would be helpful. In duels he was better able to do so; better able to read the opponent and block or even evade their attacks. He needed more experience, more practice in fighting. That was all it really broke down to.

Something else he noticed as well, standing now. None of the metal chunks were attacking him. Shrugging, he leaned back against the wall, his Ap Do slowly wearing down its effect as he waited. He could regroup with everyone into one central circle, but that would just make it easier for Primal to mow them down. One well-placed attack from a dragon fragment (dragment? fragon? idk…) would be able to slaughter them all…again, and at the very least Dien didn’t want this happening. Besides, he was still a little pissed at Phoenix for having screwed him over. Then again, if it hadn’t been for the flashmail he probably wouldn’t have been skewered, and his attack of the dragment wouldn’t have been nearly so successful. Ah well, no point in wasting an ap.

Eyes scanned the room, finding the pieces that remained flying about before he ventured forth. There was just one problem: one of the unattended pieces decided to target him again, and this time it was coming in low. Sparks shot up where the metal dragged on the floor, and Dien turned to face it. Rather than taking the hit this time, though, he figured it would be smarter to run. If by some off chance he could get it to slam into and get stuck on the wall, it would be much easier to eliminate.

Granted, the Ap Do could only do so much for his speed, which was still a great deal lower than the fragon’s. Feet carried him forward, running towards the far wall much faster than otherwise possible, but the metallic pursuer was gaining on him. No twists or turns – those could only hurt his velocity, and with the thing already closing in, he couldn’t afford that. The opposite wall grew closer, and he looked over his shoulder so as to locate the piece that was following him. It would all be over soon.

One foot pushed hard off the ground, launching him into the air as the other landed on the wall, pushing him upward as momentum stuck him to it. Another step was taken, and then a third pushed him off in a flip so as to land on the ground below. The one problem with this method, though, was that the Primal part hadn’t been so close as he’d thought, and in midair he located it by the tip of its blade slamming into his arm—his sword arm.

“OW! DAMMIT!” he swore, before being jerked from his path to follow the enemy that threatened dismemberment…and slamming into the wall with it. Mind too focused on the severed limb, he didn’t realize the opportunity he had here. HP was dropping off him like mad as the thing couldn’t think to back up and so kept him pinned by a dislocated shoulder into a wall. The pain was unreal. Not quite as unreal as the hideout experience, but unreal enough to be called unreal. It wasn’t until his mind thought to heal that he realized it.

This thing was vulnerable.

Frantically he checked his SP bar, hoping to still catch this stabbity piece of metal with a mind of its own in its vulnerable point. Laughter loudly leaped from his lips, leaving onlookers wondering if he’d lost his mind. It wasn’t that, though; he had enough to attack.

“Rai Rom!” Well, as gleeful as the shout may have been, the mass of sparks that erupted served the double purpose of freeing his arm and dealing damage to the chunk of metal. There was no power left for another repth, but that’s why they sold in bottles. With his left hand he dug through his bag and pulled forth a large vial.

It was probably the tastiest health drink he’d ever drunk.
Image
Image|||Level 35 Blademaster (+200 EXP)
Wishlist: EXP, Ends of Earth, Armor with Status Effects

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Nighthand
Master of Games
Posts: 1265
Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 9:23 pm
Class: Bladesmage
Location: ...Tracking...please wait...

Post by Nighthand » Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:42 pm

Nine chunks of metal zipping about the room, and nine people they could target in the attack. It was almost poetic, in a sense. Or at least, a poem could probably be made out of it. After they survived, that is. Unless it was a tragedy...

Rayo's Rue-based assault on the shard attacking Zan resulted in it's demise, the piece of metal simply disappearing. His attack on a segment slicing into Senna resulted in similar circumstances. Seven left. Or, rather, make that six, as the earth-based attacks took out a third attacking Phoenix. As if Rayo hadn't done enough already to draw attention to him.

Zan, meanwhile, was taking a different approach; one less effective. His spells sought the segments as they paused by the walls. A good choice, had those pauses been damaging someone, but as it stood now, the spells did little. Still... Only six left.

Dien seemed to have caught on faster, though. He managed to get off a physical skill, an accomplishment targeting these things. First one, then a second of the fragments was destroyed by the blademaster.

Four left, and two of them were the 'special' pieces. Not much longer.

Nall and Nighthand, both still stunned by the sheer amount of power behind the attack that had wiped them all out, were finally jarred into action. Almost at the same time, the two remaining 'normal' segments zipped towards each of them. Taking the method Dien had managed to use so effectively, they allowed the segments to strike them and used their own attacks afterwards, to deal the damage necessary to destroy them. A rue crack, from Nall's end, and an ani don, from Nighthand's. The Nightblade took it's toll from the spell, but it appeared that the final segment had either already been damaged, or was fragile to begin with.

The final two segments ceased their attacks immediately. They flew to hover around the central figure of Primal. A figure that, now, changed. Another form? No, something less dangerous to all of them. Where once had been a dragon, now there were a pair of arms. They were bare, pale, and decidedly human.

The draconic head seemed to cave in on itself as it hovered, for a moment, and then it's form resolved; it was the perfect size and shape for a shield. As if to predict everyone's sudden guess, the dragon's tail sprouted a handle and became a vicious-looking blade. The arms grasped each, and what stood before them now was an imposing warrior in a very odd uniform.

Nighthand and Nall, being the fastest and most foolhardy of the party, were almost immediately there. Nighthand brought his sword down at the boss's head, while Nall slashed at it's side. Each attack was blocked; Nighthand's easily with the sword, and Nall's with the shield.

Still they attacked. Nighthand and Nall continually swung, but each blow was fended off by either the sword or the shield. Suddenly, Nall's eyes widened and he jumped back. Nighthand followed a moment later, wondering why their leader would pull back.

In that instant, Primal's blade pulsed a pure white and he slashed, right where Nighthand had been.

”That blade is even more dangerous now. It's attacks hack at your character data, not just your HP. Be careful.”

So. A sword that, when it cut you in half, left you in half. Swell. Still... no one had recently accused Nighthand of using too much common sense at a time, and he seemed to have used up his allotment for now. He dove back in, trusting his reflexes, Nall's warnings, and a slightly speed-shifted body to keep him safe.

Nall soon joined in again, and their strikes continued to resound around the room. Now and then one of them would land a blow, but they were always superficial. Primal seemed to have gained an ungodly amount of talent with his weapons.

Without warning, from Nall or Primal, the dragon-head shield opened up. The mouth widened and a blast of fire enveloped Nall, tossing him away. Seizing the chance of damaging Primal while he was working on Nall, lunged.

brightlightblindingpainohgodblack.

-----------------------------

Clutching his left hand to his face, Nighthand stumbled back. Blood seeped through his fingers and splattered on the ground. His left eye was black, his right eye watering. Vision obscured, pain clouding his judgement. Part of him recognized an Ol Repth being cast on him by someone, but it did little good. The blood didn't stop, the pain didn't lessen.

Enraged, Nighthand dropped his hand to his blade and attacked. He attacked the only thing there was to attack.

With each blow, he shifted a little more towards strength. With each clash of sword and sword, sword and shield, it took a little bit longer for Primal to recover. With each resounding crash, the boss was forced back a step. Until, finally, putting everything he had into a blow, his sword finally broke through.

Primal's shield dropped to the ground with a clang, half of a severed arm attached to it. Primal didn't lose a beat, his sword flashing white and slashing at Nighthand, but the blade found itself blocked. Nall had returned to the fight. Nighthand barely noticed; his sword slammed home again, and Primal crashed into the far wall, a gash in his side. Nighthand followed, stumbled, and stopped. The pain was getting to him, and besides, Nall was already there.

”Time Slash!”

For some, it was the first use of the skill they had seen. For others, it was a common occurrence and a familiar attack. A streak of white appeared across Primal's form, and in a burst of data, he was gone.

Or, rather, mostly gone. A ghost remained, a pale-blue tinted human, clothed in little more than a loincloth. The ghost sank to its knees, head bowed and hands on the floor. Then, it disappeared entirely.

All that was left of Primal was the shield, now, which Nall quickly placed in the one remaining slot in the doorway. Just like with the others, a bright flash of light signaled proper connections made. This time, though, a low rumbling filled the room as the great stone block moved to the side. It revealed a small doorway into a well-lit room. One by one they filed in, Nall first, Nighthand last, the heavyblade propping himself on the doorframe and trying to focus through the pain. This was almost done. They should do what they came here to do.

The room was small, no more than two dozen feet across, and circular. Every couple of feet along the wall was a glowing crystal, covering the room in pure white light. In the center of the room was a hole, a pool, a whirlpool, taking up half of the room. What swirled violently in the center was not water, however. It was liquid, an unearthly vivid blue color laced with shocks of white. This was their hub.

Drawing a cherry-red sphere, seemingly made of crystal, from his coat, Nall held it above the hole. It was time to end all this.

He dropped the orb, and in fell into the whirlpool without a splash.

For a moment, nothing happened. Could they have failed? Could Raine's tool have been ineffective? Just as doubt began to seep into their minds, they noticed a change. The white was no longer in the pool, and the violence of the swirling was receding. Soon, it was nothing but a perfectly blue flat surface that, as they watched, froze over and hardened completely through.

Nall, SWORD still drawn, reached out with it and tapped the icy plane.

With a musical chime that reverberated through the room, the ice shattered and disappeared into the air. The hub was destroyed.

”Let's get out of here.”

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Nighthand
Master of Games
Posts: 1265
Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 9:23 pm
Class: Bladesmage
Location: ...Tracking...please wait...

Post by Nighthand » Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:43 pm

Nighthand-> +0 Levels, +Samurai Helm, +Masamune Armor, +Able Hands, + Rare Greaves, +1 Nightshade, +1 Plasma Gale, +1 Jungle Rage, +1 Hellstorm, +1 Absolute Zero, +1 Cosmic Truth, +2 Resurrects
-----------> Your Golden Orb Glows Reasonably Red
Zan-> +8 Levels, +High Forger, +Holy Tree Mail, +Forester Helm, +Hands of Wood, +Green Guard, +5 Holy Saps, +3 Treebanes
----------->Your Golden Orb Glows Reasonably Blue
Rayo-> +5 Levels, +Earth Staff, +Saint Cross, +Gold Necklace, +5 Sports Drinks, +3 Lightbanes, +5000 GP
----------->Your Golden Orb Glows Strongly Blue
Phoenix-> +3 Levels, +Bloody Pain, +5 Resurrects, +3 Healing Potions
-----------> +1 Ex Level, +[Lv.2 Ex Sphere: Elemental Tornado]
-----------> Your Golden Orb Glows Reasonably Red
Dien-> +7 Levels, +7 Star Sword, +Fireman's Coat, +5 Burning Oils, +3 Firebanes, +2000 GP
-----------> Your Golden Orb Glows Slightly Red
Canti-> +6 Levels, +Slayers, +Ice Hunter Cap, +5 Healing Potions, +3 Cooked Biles, +1000 GP
-----------> Your Golden Orb Glows Slightly Red
Hijinx-> +2 Levels, -.333 Levels, +5 Healing Potions, +3 Resurrects, +1500 GP
Senna-> +5 Levels, +Dhampir Lance, +Fire Lizard, +5 Healing Potions, +3 Hunters Bloods, +2000 GP
-----------> Your Golden Orb Glows Slightly Red

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