Yakov011001
Archetype of Steel
"Well, didn't think you'd be this easy to find." Spinel remarked to himself, stepping down from the short drop-off of the uneven ground into what was a small valley of sorts. In the centre he found what were assuredly the relics.
Kingdom of Vale - Emerald Forest - The Relic Circle
"I don't quite remember being the first one to show up," He recalled his visions from the night before. Of course, he'd been wrong before on rare occasions, so it was good he was wrong about something relatively trivial in comparison to other episodes. "Well, I guess that means I get first pick. Yay!" He feigned joy, throwing up lazy jazz hands as he approached.
He stepped onto the little cobblestone plaza, looking around to the pedestals on all sides. Chess pieces? Is this some kind of test? No matter. Seeing the line-up, it was easy to decide what it was he wanted to pick up.
Pawns were an easy decision for him, stay away. He'd been on that end. The disposability of what could most politely be described as 'ineffective'. Created only to be controlled and sacrificed as bait for higher bounties. How many times he'd been used like a shill to try and get a Schnee on the guillotine, sickening. Spinel was no pawn, so why identify as one?
Better to identify as someone with at least some modicum of power. Spinel approached the rooks, eyeing them with a form of scrutiny. Yes, a defender. Their impressive movement and extra utility in the form of castling makes them dangerous adversaries. However, their representative nature as a tool for the escape of someone undeserving like the king made him question that line of thinking. Why have all that power if it'll only be hindered by the will of some other entity beyond his grasp.
Knights however, are some other power. Their unorthodox method of movement made them a comparatively unpredictable opponent. Making them a special threat, alarming in a way that arguably not even the queen can achieve. However, even still that comparative unpredictability also lends to comparative susceptibility to traps and the like. While their movement is more interesting than others', it's also much more limited. This creates a glass cannon mentality, and if anything can be said by Spinel's semblance it is that sacrificing your defensive capabilities for an attack opportunity is not a proper compromise--at least to him that is.
This rolls over into bishops, which fall into a similar pit. They are indeed powerful pieces, but vouching for their efficacy is difficult for him when he finds the defensive utility of a rook's castling to be much more appealing. Especially when a bishop's viability as an attacker can be neutered by something as simple as allied fucking pawns. No thanks.
Of course, it comes back to the queen. Why wouldn't it? The queen was the balance of offense and defense, there really wasn't any contest for what was the best piece in terms of importance. Though, there was one--
"How're we doin' lads?" Spinel greeted the two kings as he approached them.
Why would you want to be anyone but the mastermind? To have that kind of power and control, it was something Spinel only wished he had. Really it was down to colours at this point.
"Eeny meeny miney--" His finger danced over the two. "You." He swiped the black king from its pedestal.
The strategic advantage of going second? Only made better when coupled with advantage on stalemate during Armageddon games? There was no competition really.
Though, as he took the piece in his hand, he felt a thought swim through his brain. The visions he saw, there was something wrong with them now. He couldn't see Aue anymore. Spinel shook his head. Ugh, I'm going to need some aspirin after this.
Well, best he wait here for his partner to show up; Aue or not. He couldn't very well show up at the cliff side without a partner.
Kingdom of Vale - Emerald Forest - The Relic Circle
Kingdom of Vale - Emerald Forest - The Relic Circle
"I don't quite remember being the first one to show up," He recalled his visions from the night before. Of course, he'd been wrong before on rare occasions, so it was good he was wrong about something relatively trivial in comparison to other episodes. "Well, I guess that means I get first pick. Yay!" He feigned joy, throwing up lazy jazz hands as he approached.
He stepped onto the little cobblestone plaza, looking around to the pedestals on all sides. Chess pieces? Is this some kind of test? No matter. Seeing the line-up, it was easy to decide what it was he wanted to pick up.
Pawns were an easy decision for him, stay away. He'd been on that end. The disposability of what could most politely be described as 'ineffective'. Created only to be controlled and sacrificed as bait for higher bounties. How many times he'd been used like a shill to try and get a Schnee on the guillotine, sickening. Spinel was no pawn, so why identify as one?
Better to identify as someone with at least some modicum of power. Spinel approached the rooks, eyeing them with a form of scrutiny. Yes, a defender. Their impressive movement and extra utility in the form of castling makes them dangerous adversaries. However, their representative nature as a tool for the escape of someone undeserving like the king made him question that line of thinking. Why have all that power if it'll only be hindered by the will of some other entity beyond his grasp.
Knights however, are some other power. Their unorthodox method of movement made them a comparatively unpredictable opponent. Making them a special threat, alarming in a way that arguably not even the queen can achieve. However, even still that comparative unpredictability also lends to comparative susceptibility to traps and the like. While their movement is more interesting than others', it's also much more limited. This creates a glass cannon mentality, and if anything can be said by Spinel's semblance it is that sacrificing your defensive capabilities for an attack opportunity is not a proper compromise--at least to him that is.
This rolls over into bishops, which fall into a similar pit. They are indeed powerful pieces, but vouching for their efficacy is difficult for him when he finds the defensive utility of a rook's castling to be much more appealing. Especially when a bishop's viability as an attacker can be neutered by something as simple as allied fucking pawns. No thanks.
Of course, it comes back to the queen. Why wouldn't it? The queen was the balance of offense and defense, there really wasn't any contest for what was the best piece in terms of importance. Though, there was one--
"How're we doin' lads?" Spinel greeted the two kings as he approached them.
Why would you want to be anyone but the mastermind? To have that kind of power and control, it was something Spinel only wished he had. Really it was down to colours at this point.
"Eeny meeny miney--" His finger danced over the two. "You." He swiped the black king from its pedestal.
The strategic advantage of going second? Only made better when coupled with advantage on stalemate during Armageddon games? There was no competition really.
Though, as he took the piece in his hand, he felt a thought swim through his brain. The visions he saw, there was something wrong with them now. He couldn't see Aue anymore. Spinel shook his head. Ugh, I'm going to need some aspirin after this.
Well, best he wait here for his partner to show up; Aue or not. He couldn't very well show up at the cliff side without a partner.
Kingdom of Vale - Emerald Forest - The Relic Circle