Fantasy Saga of the Seven Sins - The Second Cycle

[WarDragon]

Viktor pauses a moment, and his mouth spreads into a wide, nasty grin, the most demonstrative expression the others have yet seen from him. "You know, on second though? To Hell with alerting them, and subtlety be damned. My hour is at hand. Darian, you wanted to know more of my Exaltation?"


On his forehead, a third eye opens, drawn in crimson flame. Fire spreads across the skin of his face, leaving behind a sheath of ruby scales covering his flesh. His gloves ignite and burn away, showing the flesh of his hands running like wax, reforming into powerful claws. When the transformation is complete, he draws a deep breath, and lets it out with a puff of smoke.


"Aaah... now, I feel more myself."

Spoiler

Activating Hoard-Bound Hide, and Rending Dragon Claws.

 

[Random Word]

"Well, it's been fun, Lotus," calls Opal cheerfully as she steps out of the box, waving, "I think, sadly, all hope of subtlety has just fled. That's my cue." She communes with the primal instincts of her Exaltation, allowing them to momentarily subsume her conscious mind as she awakens the effortless understanding of the essence flows of her own body. Brilliant silver flames erupt around her as she vaults to the top of the box and leaps up to catch a rope hung with flags strung from the edge of the arena to the high pillars about its centre. She curls her legs and swings with her momentum, flying higher still before coming to rest lightly atop the rope and sprinting towards the centre of the arena.


She balances upon the top of the pillar with one leg, the other bent to her knee, arms spread wide, as she turns to address the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen of Gem, I propose an entertaining diversion between matches," she crows, the dread majesty of the raptor perched above its prey plain in the glint in her eye and her hungry smile, "No pushing, now. I'll give you a head start, but I can see every one of you, and I'll devour immediately any who try to slow or abuse the others to speed their own escape. Be good, children, and you might just get to live."


She strains her senses to their limits tracking each an every member of the crowd as they flee, watching for any sign of violence, listening for cries of pain or pleas for help amidst the panicked cries and angry demands to hurry.

Spoiler

Activating Instinctive Dexterity Unity for 12m 1wp, all peripheral. Dropping Sunset Hibiscus. No need to reveal that I can hide my Essence while giving away the fact that I have Essence to hide.


Appearance (12) + Presence (4) + Stunt (2) (Regaining wp) to ensure the crowd is even more terrified of trampling each other than they are of me. Or Viktor.


[dice]6860[/dice]


4m 1st Perception Excellency, 2 recovered


[dice]6862[/dice]

 

[Seeker of the End]

Spoiler

"This could be problematic," the boy sighs, "Why did you not inform my liege that there were powerful exalts here?"


Marlon shrugs, "I have more important matters that I had to attend to. Isn't that why I made a deal with him? The rest of you can deal with them easily." The boy bristles, and in a flash of light an obsidian dagger is pointed at Marlon's throat.


"Know this," he growls, "I only listen to your rabble because my master told me to. If not, I would have killed you thrice over regardless of this contract that you made with that thing."


The knight speaks only then, "Five. Deal with him later, we have company." The boy, strangely named Five, glares at Marlon before he withdraws his dagger. "Very well... Three."


The crowd quickly tries to make itself scarce, frightened by the sudden appearance of the Lunar. Surprisingly, they don't trample each other to death in the process. It is quickly then that the Abyssals realize that they are not the only Exalted that are here right now. Marlon scoffs arrogantly before bringing forward a staff. The handle is made of fine wood but there is a cobalt hourglass filled with jeweled sand atop of it. Opal and Darian quickly realize that this artifact is the source of the distortion. Not only that but Marlon is also radiating the same profound wrongness of the artifact he holds.


Marlon speaks up, "It is such a pity, you drove off all my customers... So much money lost," Marlon chuckles. "Oh well, I have enough fortune to completely take over the city. And then the entire South after that. What did little me do to you?"

 

[WarDragon]

Spoiler

[dice]6861[/dice]


Awareness roll passed!


A contract? Intriguing...


Viktor chuckles, completely ignoring the tides of panicked humanity rushing around him. They are... background, nothing more. Such is always the mob's lot in life. He steps towards Marlon and his escorts... or perhaps stalks would be a better term. Small fires linger linger momentarily in his footsteps.


"The South? Thinking small, as always. You don't even recognize me, do you, you poor, deluded fool? I suppose it has been nearly thirty years since we last met. On that occasion, you insulted my father, the Baron Drakholdt, before half of the nobles in Gem. And now, you commit a second error; you have made the mistake of having something that I want. That alone would have made this meeting inevitable, but adding revenge to the mix will simply make my victory all the sweeter."

 

[Lord-Leafar]

In the blink of an eye the situation was getting out of control, and as strange as the Dragon Bloods were, the presence of Marlon and the group of Abyssals with him, moved Saif into action. Channeling the essence of his anima to all of his body, the Night caste felt his power flowing through every fiber of his being, rushing through the crowd as nothing more than the faintest of blurs, Saif's senses take in the scenery with supernatural detail, locating the sounds and movements of the people around him. With the power of his charms, time seems to slow down while he continues unimpeded, allowing him to pin point details at a speed which would be otherwise impossible, and in this heightened state he looks at every motion, word and gesture from Marlon and the Abyssals, noticing each of the gestures each make as they voice words to each other, allowing him to get a sense of their conversation even from a distance.


Getting an understanding of their talk, Saif rushes towards the group in a flash, eyeing the staff which Marlon holds. With the commotion of the people scattering, and the obvious essence display from Viktor, Saif finds it easy to remain unnoticed as he moves towards the back of Marlon and the Abyssals, although with a certain distance, as he blends in with the scenery he waits, his eyes fixated on Marlon, his posture low yet calm, ready to erupt at a moment's notice.

Spoiler

Spending 4m Personal on Panoptic Fusion Discipline, 1m Personal on Foe-Vaulting Method, and 20m peripheral +1m from Night caste anima power to keep it from flaring into Infinite Melee Mastery.


Personal Essence: 15/25 (10 committed)


Peripheral Essence: 26/46 (20 committed)


Rolling my Per + Awar +2 stunt, recovering 1m peripheral if successful.


[dice]6863[/dice]


Rolling Dex + Stealth once again to remain hidden. 8 sux + the diff to notice me is +4 if moving, or +8 if stationary.


[dice]6864[/dice]

 

[Seeker of the End]

Marlon leers, "Pardon me. It is a bit of a hassle to pull up memories from this head of mine. It's filled with so many things more important than a pennyless nobody like yourself," he gently taps the side of his temple. "But your annoying voice was a definite reminder, now that I think about it. What happened to you? Did you kiss the feet of others for that power? That would be the only way a reject like you could gain power. A spineless worm with cheap jade armor for protection."


The boy with the obisidan visor gazes at Viktor curiously, tilting his head. It is obviously he has essence sight, or naturally perceptive. He pays close attention to Viktor. The knight, Three, notices Five's interest in Viktor.


"A chosen of Malfeas? No, the scales do not belong to any of the Yozis. What are you, precisely? And what right do you have to interfere?" Three asks.


None of them appear to have noticed Saif's movement or presence.

 

[Random Word]

Opal steps blithely along the narrow rope leading towards the pillar closest to the Abyssals, hands clasped behind her head. "I know you kids are new to the game, but this is embarrassing. You had to be told there were exalts in Gem? You clearly haven't the slightest idea what you've just walked into. Do you have any concept of how many chosen there are in this arena alone? That's only half the cast of this little production!" she laughs derisively. "You're outnumbered four to one by celestials who outmatch all of you. As luck would have it, you're the one thing we all hate more than each other."


She stands atop the pillar and stares coldly down at Marlon and his entourage, eyes glowing with disturbing intensity, body wreathed in silver flames, hands clasped and outstretched until her knuckles crack. "So it's your call: Scurry back into the underworld where you belong, or stand up for this snivelling mortal and we find out whether your next incarnations are blessed with more sense than you," she snarls, fangs bared. "Or perhaps we don't send you to your final rest, and simply inform your Master of a choice few of the secrets you spilled while subjected to our tender mercies?" She glances at Marlon with obvious disdain, clearly an afterthought, "You don't get to run."

Spoiler

Since I have Instinctive Appearance Unity and Perfect Symmetry up, I might as well intimidate for fun. Effectively Appearance 12, so their MDV's drop by the difference.


[dice]6873[/dice]

 

[Rykon]

Maxton holds his arm to the side as a shaft of air extending from it began to undulated in an odd rippling pattern. Within a moment Maxton withdrew his hand made Daiklave of Conquest as his anima flared to full blast, a sign of Maxton's limits being removed. Maxton eyed the crew with a blank emotionless expression. "I prefer to make my butchery work quick. Unfortunately for you all, I'm not the one callin' the shots today. Shame your pretense at significance got you into this mess. What with suckling off the teat of an artifact and the leavings from dead losers and all it must just be delusion or brain damage."

Spoiler

Maxton's going to start by activating Infinite Melee Mastery for 24m 1w and then move to Heroism Encouraging Presence and Fivefold Bulwark Stance for 5m each +1w.


Reminder of the errata'd and enhanced effect of the latter charm: Every ally's valor channel adds successes instead of dice, if the action succeeds the willpower used to channel is refunded.

 

[WarDragon]

Viktor waves dismissively at the Abyssals. "Listen to the lady in silver, worms. And be quiet, the adults are talking."


"Jade, Marlon? You truly are an imbecile... or perhaps your eyesight is going? Regardless, I have trod heights of power that you cannot imagine. The Yozis themselves thought to master me, and I burned away their shackles in the fires of my will. I have equalled, and surpassed, the very makers of the world... and still, my ambitions are only beginning," he says with a smile, moving closer to the old man.


"I will make you this offer once, and once only, Marlon." Viktor snaps his fingers, and his three demon bodyguards materialize behind Trasti and the Abyssals, already in their serpentine battle-forms. Viktor's eyes flare with green and scarlet fire, and a menacing hiss enters his voice. "Give me the Sin, and kneel at my feet, and I will allow your House to survive. Make me take it from you, and you will die, screaming, before I exterminate House Trasti to the last. Do not mistake me; I am willing and able to burn this city to ash if that is what it takes to lay hands upon that artifact."

Spoiler

Presence + Charisma roll, including specialty, 2-die stunt, and 1 die from my Excellency (mostly to start charging up Effortless Dominance).


[dice]6887[/dice]

 

[Seeker of the End]

All of the participants are completely unaffected by the intimidation tactics below.


Marlon laughs mirthfully, "Oh that's just adorable. The worm thinks that he can tell ME what to do?" His eyes glow a deep blue as the artifact pulses in hand before he speaks in an unknown tongue that for some reason, makes sense to those who hear it. "I will never hand my fortune over to the likes of you."


The Abyssals don't take the biting barbs from the circle, but the young girl tilts her head. She asks a question in a garbled tongue, a strange combination of forest-speak and sea-tongue. Five turns his head to her, "Ignore the delusional fools below, Eight. They're blinded by life, and cannot understand death."


The girl, Eight, asks another question before Five chuckles hollowly, "I don't know why the Solar has such a large sword. Perhaps he feels inadequate and needs compensate for something? And, yes I do wonder if he realizes that we aren't truly dead."


The moment the three demon bodyguards manifest, Marlon grins maliciously and taps the Sin upon the ground with a ringing echo as the hourglass atop of it begins to turn. A blue wave of energy passes through the surroundings before time itself begins to slow down, pulling at the bodies of the circle and their allies until it comes to a near halt. "Now, now. There's no need to interrupt our wonderful discussion. Shame on you, I would have thought that you might have developed manners over time, but it seems you're just a barbaric savage who kisses the asses of others for power." Marlon states as he and the Abyssals remain unaffected by the shift in time. He is repeating the same words he has used to insult your father all those years ago.

Spoiler

This is not a shaping effect, and it cannot be broken by you.

 

[Random Word]

Opal roars with fury, no less terrifying for the slow motion progression of her transformation into a living weapon of war. Claws and barbs of silver essence burst forth from her fingers, toes, and the elongating tentacles being woven from her hair as her musculature ripples and grows. Her anima blazes brilliantly, an explosion of silver flame drifting lazily through the air, its tentacles wrapped around her protectively.


She hurls herself towards Five, claws spread wide, fangs bared, a slowly falling argent star wreathed in coruscating flame trailing from her outstretched arms. At the last possible moment she twists, shedding her flames to blind him while grabbing onto one of the pillars which line the colonnade with her tentacles, swinging around it to drive her foot into his side, sending him flying into a decorative urn filled with scented water. The urn shatters in slow motion, the torrent of water and fragments of pottery hanging in the air, slowing him nearly to Opal's speed. As the Abyssal struggles to push his way through to escape she presses her advantage, wrapping her tentacles around the columns behind him, claws outstretched, and pulling her entire body forward to drive him into the marble before suplexing him head first into the ground behind her, flipping her legs over her head, and snap kicking him into the far column.

Spoiler

Rolling Join Battle:


[dice]6895[/dice]


Activating:


Claws of the Silver Moon (4m 1wp)


Relentless Lunar Fury (1m+2x6m 1wp)


Deadly Beastman Transformation 5m+2m (Bruise Relief Method - Regenerate one Bashing per Action) - +1 Str/Dex/Sta


Octopus and Spider Barrage (6m, 1wp)


10 Attack Flurry against Three. Each attack has (12 Dex + 6 Martial Arts + 6 Artefact + 5 Accuracy + 2 Stunt = 31) dice plus one success, and deals 9B.


4m recovered from JB, 1 wp will be recovered at next DV refresh.

Combat Data

Join Battle: 9 Speed: 4 [Now 8] (Unarmed)


Charms Active:


Instinctive Dexterity Unity (12m 1wp) (Scene) - 6m Discount on Dexterity Excellencies


Evading the Spider's Eye (5m 1wp) (6 Days, 3 Remaining) - Outside Fate


Claws of the Silver Moon (4m 1wp) (Scene)


Relentless Lunar Fury (1m+2x6m 1wp) (12 Actions Remaining)

• Golden Tiger Stance - Negate 3 points of DV penalties
  
• Becoming Water's Envy - First use of Flowing Body Evasion each Action is free (One of the most broken Charms I've ever seen)
  
• Wasp Sting Blur - Attacks have -1 Speed
  
• Greedy Mosquito Bite - Attacks repeat steps 7-10
  
• Secure Cat Stepping - Launching Attacks does not incur DV penalties
  
• Steadfast Yeddim Meditation - Ignore Wound Penalties
  

Deadly Beastman Transformation 5m+2m (Bruise Relief Method - Regenerate one Bashing per Action) - +1 Str/Dex/Sta

• Tentacles (4)
  
• Toxin (Toxicity 4, Penalty -3, 5L Damage)
  
• Impossible Joints
  
• Elemental Adaptation: Water
  
• Changing Coloration
  

Unarmed Attack:


Accuracy 5, Damage 9L, O(2)


Dodge DV: 15 [17 vs MA] ((7 Dex + 6 Dodge + 6 Essence + 6 Dex Ex + [3 if vs Martial Arts])/2 + 2 Stunt )


Parry DV: 9


Soak: 10/7/5 Hardness -/-


Essence


Personal: 4/26 (10 Committed)


Peripheral: 24/59 (31 Committed)


Anima Flux: Iconic


Willpower: 5/10


Health Levels:


0 [ ] -1 [ ] -1 [ ] -2 [ ] x 18 -4 [ ] INC [ ] DY [ ] x 8

 

[WarDragon]

Rage.





Though he is not entirely of Malfeas, Viktor has lived a life that well acquaints him with anger. Insults large and petty, thwarted so many times by those so far beneath him... and now this. It will not stand.


Taking their master's expression as signal to act, his szmiya leap forward, the preternatural speed of spirits partly counteracting the effects of the field, and strike as one upon the smaller, male Abyssal, with Karal Ken'ichi barking out orders to them.


In slow motion, fire erupts from his shoulder-blades, spreading through cunningly-hidden slits in the back of his coat, growing into flesh and bone wings that span the hallway. A flap of those wings launches him into the air, shockingly fast even through the temporal distortion. He flies over the heads of the Abyssals, reaching for his enemy... no, his prey to wipe that grin off Marlon's face.


He slams into the smaller man, talons the staff that Marlon refuses to relinquish, and yanking him off his feet, flying away from the fray. He slams Marlon against the walls, slashing and battering at him, forcing words from his mouth by sheer force of ego. Through the slowing field, his voice rumbles even more deeply than usual, like a volcano rising beneath the stones.


"Your fortune? You dare lay claim to Greed, you mortal wretch? I. Am. BAAL-SHAZASH!" His anima erupts in black and crimson fire around them, forming the great wyrm whom Viktor embodies. "I am the Dragon Astride the World! The Wyrm of Avarice! I am Greed and Fire Incarnate, and this!" He grips harder upon the staff, pouring his own avaricious essence into it, a resonating sympathy between Exaltation and Artifact as he seeks to wrest it from Marlon's grasp. "Is! MINE! By! Right! Creation itself will be but a bauble in my Hoard!"

Spoiler

https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6896/view
I get 9 successes on Join Battle, thanks to All Things Betray, going just before Opal.


I reflexively activate Unfurling Wings of Fire, gaining a flight speed of three times my normal movement (one and a half, I presume, in the slow field).


For my action, I unleash Prey-Scything Swoop, using the "grapple and carry off" version on Marlon. Channeling Valor, which is converted into successes by Maxton's charm, and dumping 8m for +9 dice on Excellency. And forgive me if I'm being presumptuous, but for all that, I'm including a 3-die stunt.


Grapple attempt, 20 successes: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6897/view


First attack against grappled target, 7 sux: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6898/view


Second attack, 7 sux: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6899/view


Third attack, 12 sux: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6900/view


Fourth attack, 10 sux: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6902/view


Attempt to disarm staff, 17 successes: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6903/view


Second disarm (regular attack if first oneworked), 11 sux https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6904/view


Final disarm/attack, 10 sux: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6905/view


Base damage of a hit before bonus dice is 13L/2. yes, I remember from last time this won't kill him. If he is somehow still conscious and in possession of Greed after all that, Opal can drop him into a portal with my blessing.


The szmiya attack the little-boy Abyssal, unloading all eight stored actions, with 16 dice each, with Karal rolling war to give them a coordinated attack. Shall I roll all those out as well?

 

[Lord-Leafar]

In a fraction of a second Saif springs into action, it's unseen body dashing through space, although at a lower speed than usual, still fast enough to appear right behind Marlon before he can react to the Night caste's presence. In a flash 'Incandescent Will' appears into Saif's hands, trailing an almost invisible golden path as the blade transverses space in not one, but several curved slashes coming from all directions and seemingly occurring simultaneously, Saif's speed too fast to follow with regular senses alone, he is never at one place, and for most onlookers, he is simply not there, the only evidence of his passing are the slashes left behind by his weapon as the hurricane of blades disappears as quickly as it appeared, leaving no culprit behind but for a faint blur as he passes past Marlon, leaving sizzling marks and wounds on his armor and skin.

Spoiler

Spending 3m on Flashing Vengeance Draw, JB roll gets +6 successes from FVD and from Flashing Draw Mastery's permanent effect and drawing 'Incandescent Will' reflexively.


[dice]6910[/dice]


15 sux to my JB. If I get the highest JB roll, my first attack is automatically unexpected, but if not, I should have one unexpected attack from me hiding earlier. Also, if I beat Marlon and the Abyssals at their JB roll, I get one free reflexive attack for each of them, which should be 4, which I'll save for later.


Awarding myself +2 dice stunt, making a flurry of 9 attacks Speed 4, if I were to deal enough damage to kill (which I doubt), the killing blow instead will be a maiming blow, hoping to sever the arm that carries the staff as per the maiming rules from the Core book pg 152. I repeat, I don't want to kill Marlon, but maim him.


I dunno why but the dice roller made a couple of rolls twice, so I'm using the lower of the rolls on the attacks that were doubled.


Spending 1m on the first attack for Hungry Tiger Technique.


1st Attack (Unexpected + Hungry Tiger Technique) 15 sux: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6911/view


2nd Attack 17 sux:https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6912/view


3rd Attack 11 sux: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6913/view


4th Attack 15 sux : https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6916/view


5th Attack 11 sux: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6917/view


6th Attack 6 sux: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6918/view


7th Attack 6 sux: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6919/view


8th Attack 6 sux: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6920/view


9th Attack 10 sux: https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6921/view


Also, since I'm not actively hiding after the 1st attack, it requires a reflexive Diff. 4 Per + Awar roll to notice Saif to be able to attack or target him after this.


Attacks have a base damage of 17L/3, and deal Aggravated damage to CoD (in case it applies to Marlon), if defended with mundane weapons/armor, special rules come into play, but I doubt that will be the case here.


Personal Essence: 11/25 (10 committed)


Peripheral Essence: 26/46 (20 committed)

 

[Rykon]

Maxton gives his Daiklave a good turnabout in the air, reacquainting himself with the weight and balance briefly. Dashing forward behind his new patron, Maxton took position behind Viktor, holding his sword up as an absolute, impassable aegis over them both as Viktor clawed for the staff. The motion of the majestic daiklave whipped arcs of dust into the air whirling about into what would seem like a desert hurricane.

Spoiler

[dice]6927[/dice] Note: this makes the final successes 15. 7m spent on Awareness Excellency. Stunt recovers valor channel and success on the roll recovers the willpower spent to channel through Heroism-Encouraging Presence.


First intended action: Defend Other on Viktor.


And as an addtional note these effects from the Daiklave come into play:


From the Text:


When used in battle, the daiklave glows with a bright, unearthly light. As long as this daiklave


is unsheathed, all opponents and other hostile individuals within 10 yards of the bearer must make a


Valor roll at +1 difficulty or flee in fear.Those who hold their ground lose a number of dice from all


attacks (even those not targeting the wielder) equal to the bearer’s Valor score.


So long as the bearer is using this weapon in combat, friendly troops fight with improved morale


that gives them one bonus die to all combat-related dice pools. They also automatically gain one


success on all Valor rolls. In addition, all opponents suffer a -1 internal penalty to all combat-related


dice pools and receive a +1 penalty to the difficulty of their Valor rolls. Both of these powers affect


combatants within one mile of the Exalt wielding the daiklave. These bonuses and penalties do not


apply to civilians or neutral soldiers.


So...


All the opponents have to make a difficulty +1 fear check, (I'm assuming we're all in 30 feet of each other if we were within reasonable speaking distance, and in a viewing box room) or flee the scene.


All opponents are taking a total of -5(valor + plus the 1) dice to all actions and an additional -1 success to attacks (due to anima flare)


All allies gain 1 dice to all actions and gain 1 success to all valor rolls (in addition to converting dice to successes for valor channels from prior charm activation)

 

[Seeker of the End]

Saif makes the first attack upon Marlon, but Three's daiklave, cloaked in an unearthly black light that roils with power, parries the first blow and counters each following blow that was made by Saif. (-2 DV from Abyssal version of blade-lair discipline. 14, 23, 15, 17, 18, 12, 19, 25). Three's pitch black essence begins to roil around him like a black miasma as he remains guarding Marlon.


Five's visor glows with dark blue light as he materializes several knives in his hands, with flick of his wrist, he throws them with deadly precision as the knives become flickering bolts of black essence. (2 attacks to each of you. 19,14. They cannot be dodged.)


When the Szmiya attack Five, he simply seems to vanish. A millisecond later and he reappears with a wave-cleaver daiklave in hand. That second one of the Szmiya falls to pieces instantly, the armor it was wearing cut through like a knife through butter. When Opal attempts to grapple him, he fades into nothingness again before reappearing on the other side of Opal. With a swing of his sword, reality itself shatters as seven different echoes of the same attack strike Opal simultaneously. (15, 11, 18, 16, 17 sux)


When Viktor strikes to take out Marlon, Three stands in the way of the attack with an titanic effort, defies the clinch. Five throws two knives at a seemingly ordinary spot in Viktor's armor (calling a shot to shatter Viktor's Hoard-Bound Hide, (18, 13 sux, cannot be parried). A second later, Three strikes twice with his unearthly daiklave, which begins to sing in a haunting chorus of a thousand souls trapped within the soulsteel daiklave. (13, 11 sux, valor check to not run away in fear).


Marlon grimaces, "You owe more for this, you damned zombies. You better pay me back twicefold!" he raises his staff and slams it down into the ground. There is flow of essence between the artifact and the Abyssals, fueling their power and essence reserves.


Eight turns to the last remaining Szmiya as she tilts her head in an almost innocent fashion before she brings up her scythe to attack Karal (16 sux).

Spoiler

6- Maxton, Saif


7- Eight, Five, Three


9- ???


12- Viktor, Opal

 

[Lord-Leafar]

As Saif unleashed the ravage of blows against Marlon, he could feel himself trapped in a moment of impending doom, surrounded by darkness and unable to move a muscle, he saw a giant blade of dark steel slowly falling upon him, and on it's dark edge, he could slowly discern an image reflected in it, and in it he saw his own death in a brief vision of things to come. Yet as the blade neared Saif's head and brought his inevitable death, from the depths of his own Exaltation he heard a voice, not Saif's voice, but the voice of Saif's ideal in the flesh: 'The Shadow Sentinel'. And in such powerful and loud voice he said:.... "No"


In a flash of light that erased the darkness of his mind, Saif's senses returned back to reality, perceiving just in time the black sword of the Deathknight as he retaliated with incredible speed. Empowered by his own Essence and Will, Saif found the strength to match each blow, both blades colliding faster than the eye could see, igniting sparks of black and golden essence that matched the ferocity of each attack. Having tested the strength of his weapon, Saif dashed once more, but this time a slightly familiar warm sensation flowed into his actions, the powerful energy coming from the other Solar, invigorated Saif's own actions towards this common enemy, as such his body flowed in mercurial fashion and speed, fading from view once again as he blinked into existence from one space to another, until his blurry shape materialized exactly behind Three, and proceeded to unleash a barrage of simultaneous attacks, each one marked by the crescent slash of Incandescent Will's blazing hot edge.


And as fast as it happened, it ended, the hardly seen unknown entity seemingly blinking out of existence like it was never there to begin with, for the exception of the trail of destruction left in it's path.

Spoiler

Since I'm still invisible, all opponents have -2 external penalty to attack me, so all counterattacks would have 2 sux less for a total of 12, 21, 13, 15, 16, 10, 17 and 23 successes. Spending 3m personal to reflexively activate Protection of Celestial Bliss, adding +2 to my weapon's defense, increasing my DV by 1. Spending another 1m personal to reflexively activate Final Sunset Stance, increasing my DV by 1 for a whole tick which does not count as dice added by a charm, and finally spending 5m peripheral (+1 to hide essence spending with my Night caste power) on Bulwark Defense, to ignore any penalties to my DV until my next action. Which would be after this. So my DV stands at 17, +2 from my defensive stunt giving me a 19DV, and it won't go down with onslaught or with his charm effect, therefore the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th attacks are parried normally, each giving me a free reflexive attack, so adding +4 attacks to reach the max of my reflexive attacks (Dex +3) for a total of 8, which I keep stored for now.


Now, with the dice added to my Melee pool from Infinite Melee Mastery earlier, I'm gonna roll a defensive excellency to add to my DV, at the moment I have +2 DV that counts as charm bonus from Perfect Blade Aegis, so I can only add 6 dice to my defense roll, instead of 10 due to the cap on adding dice. So I'll roll twice to defend against the 2nd and 8th attack, spending 1wp on the second roll against the 8th and last attack for an extra sux.


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6971/view Def #1 +4 sux Brings DV to 23, so the second attack is parried.


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6972/view Def #2 +3 +1 sux from WP, brings DV to 23, so the last attack is parried as well, barely.





Sorry Seeker, I'm gonna make things a bit complicated now. Last action I forgot to add the +3 Aim bonus to my attacks from Panoptic Fusion Discipline, and I'll add the +1 dice from Maxton's daiklave as well. As part of a 5 action flurry, I'm rolling to re-establish surprise Dex5+Stealth5+Specialty1+Armor Bonus4+Foe Vaulting Method+4+1from Maxton's Daiklave+2 stunt-5 from multiple action penalties=17 dice.


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6973/view 8 sux on hiding +4 diff to spot Saif from armor effect.


As I finish hiding I'm unleashing all 8 reflexive attacks on Three, each with 40 dice to attack (thanks to a basic pool of 24, +2 stunt, +3aim bonus, +10infinite melee mastery, +1 from maxton's effects).


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6974/view 23 sux (Possibly unexpected)


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6975/view 22 sux


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6976/view 19 sux


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6977/view 19 sux


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6978/view 14 sux


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6979/view 17 sux


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6980/view 21 sux


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6981/view 23 sux


As all 8 reflexive attacks are resolved, I deliver three additional attacks as part of the flurry, at 34, 33, and 32 dice.


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6982/view 20 sux


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6983/view 25 sux


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6984/view 13 sux


And finally, as the last action in my flurry, I'm rolling once again to re-establish surprise at 12 dice.


https://www.rpnation.com/dice/6985/view 6 sux to hide again + 4 diff from armor to be spotted.


All in all, speed 5, after all effects come into play, so I should act again on Tick 11.


Personal Essence: 11/25 (10 committed) (+4m to recover next action if successful on stunt)


Peripheral Essence: 24/46 (20 committed) (+4m recovered from stunt)


Willpower: 9/10

 

[WarDragon]

I will not be denied!


Furious at the foiling of his attack, Viktor flies out of reach of the Abyssals, just over Maxton's head to give himself a clear line of fire. Literally.


He draws in a deep breath, and opens his mouth, an orange light glowing from the back of his throat, as he exhales a massive gout of flame, engulfing Trasti and his Abyssal allies. The dragonfire roars with the heat of Viktor's anger, burning into the very stone beneath his enemies' feet as it seeks their flesh. Even after his outburst ends, the flames linger, burning everything within.

Spoiler

If, after Maxton's defend other and my own Dodge DV of 6 I'm still hit, I have soak 15L/16B. If I take any damage, I'll activate By Pain Reforged.


Scouring Inferno Breath, with another Valor Channel, assuming 2-die stunt, and 7 dice from Excellency (6 of them free). Targets all of the enemies I can without hitting allies in between them (not counting Saif, because I don't even know he's there).


Total of 11 successes, which probably won't do anything. https://www.rpnation.com/dice/7037/view


Use External Heart Firestorm to make it linger as an environmental hazard, Trauma 6. The hazard will follow Marlon if he moves out of it. The initial attack and follow-up hazard both have 26L damage.

 

[Rykon]

Maxton presses his shield firmly into the attacks, forcing their trajectories into the empty space of the room. His blade lashes forward like golden lightning in the process attempting to bite in to every offenders flesh without mercy. The force and thundering his speed of his motion continuing to whip up a dusty storm in defiance of the time altering effects at play.

Spoiler

Against the fear check from the Three's Daiklave, Dawn Anima makes Maxton immune to fear.


Maxton Reflexively activates Protection of Celestial Bliss for 3m increasing his DV 1


PDV is 12 +1 +6(for the excellency) +2(for the anima) = 21 for the scene + 5 (if valor is channeled)


Soaks are 8 for B/L and 7 for Agg with hardness of 3L/3B.


Against the unblockable attacks against Viktor, Maxton pops 2/3 charges of protection of celestial bliss to perfectly parry them


Onslaught does not apply, so all attacks against Viktor and Maxton fail


In addition, Maxton spends 5m to activate Ready in Eight Directions Stance to get a counterattack against every attack against Viktor and himself. No supplemental charms for the attacks, just straight rolls with the Excellency


6 attacks against Five (17, 15, 15, 12, 9, 21 successes), 2 against Three (19, 23 successes):






[dice]7258[/dice]


[dice]7259[/dice]


[dice]7260[/dice]


[dice]7261[/dice]


[dice]7262[/dice]


[dice]7263[/dice]






[dice]7264[/dice]


[dice]7265[/dice]


Note: Opponents are only facing a -1 external penalty from Maxton's Anima presently


Next Action Maxton continues Defend Other on Viktor (action speed is 5, but enhanced with Gem of Perfect Mobility to make it speed 3. Due to Greed effect, should be Speed 6)

 

[Seeker of the End]

Five fades once more into the shadows, breaking the flurry that Maxton sends his way and reforms a distance away. Three on, the other hand chooses to go with a more direct approach, and parries the strikes with a corona of flaring essence, having realized that Saif was capable of retaliating against his own attack, much like he could.


Five strikes out at Maxton, the visor his bears glowing in an unearthly light as his blades fade into pure necrotic essence. He slashes thrice at Maxton before sending a black knife directly at Maxton as well, the knife for some reason targeting his Daiklave directly. (three attacks with a called shot with the knife. 13, 19, 23 and 23 sux for the called shot)


Three sets his daiklave ablaze with dark essence and sends two shockwaves of energy towards Viktor, all of them screaming with necrotic essence that was most likely deadly. (two unblockable and undodgable attacks. 20 and 23 sux)


Eight, on the other hand watches the battle and tilts her head with an almost innocent gesture... had she not been covered head to toe in blood of course.


You can feel your body begin to slow down in movement. It appears that Marlon's staff is growing more powerful in its powers. You need to end this quickly.

Spoiler

The battle has dragged on long enough and should end relatively soon. Sorry for the delays all.






9- ???


10- Eight, Five, Three


11- Saif


12- Viktor, Opal, Maxton

 

[Random Word]

Opal soars high through the air to avoid the rain of blows, inverting to survey the battlefield. Her heart stops she she sees blades flying through the air at Viktor and she screams in fury, grasping one of the nearby pillars with her tentacles and driving her leg into and through it. Wreathed in silver flames and tipped with claws of searing essence, her leg drive up out of the ground under Three, striking him in the chin after his swing completes.

Spoiler

Acting on Tick 12


Activating:


Lightning Stroke Attack (7m, Undodgeable/Unblockable)


1 Perfect Attack against Three. (12 Dex + 6 Martial Arts + 6 Artefact + 5 Accuracy + 2 Stunt = 31) dice plus one success, and deals 9B.


[dice]8521[/dice]


4m recovered at next DV refresh.

Combat Data

Join Battle: 9 Speed: 4 [Now 8] (Unarmed)


Charms Active:


Instinctive Dexterity Unity (12m 1wp) (Scene) - 6m Discount on Dexterity Excellencies


Evading the Spider's Eye (5m 1wp) (6 Days, 3 Remaining) - Outside Fate


Claws of the Silver Moon (4m 1wp) (Scene)


Relentless Lunar Fury (1m+2x6m 1wp) (12 Actions Remaining)

• Golden Tiger Stance - Negate 3 points of DV penalties
  
• Becoming Water's Envy - First use of Flowing Body Evasion each Action is free (One of the most broken Charms I've ever seen)
  
• Wasp Sting Blur - Attacks have -1 Speed
  
• Greedy Mosquito Bite - Attacks repeat steps 7-10
  
• Secure Cat Stepping - Launching Attacks does not incur DV penalties
  
• Steadfast Yeddim Meditation - Ignore Wound Penalties
  

Deadly Beastman Transformation 5m+2m (Bruise Relief Method - Regenerate one Bashing per Action) - +1 Str/Dex/Sta

• Tentacles (4)
  
• Toxin (Toxicity 4, Penalty -3, 5L Damage)
  
• Impossible Joints
  
• Elemental Adaptation: Water
  
• Changing Coloration
  

Unarmed Attack:


Accuracy 5, Damage 9L, O(2)


Dodge DV: 15 [17 vs MA] ((7 Dex + 6 Dodge + 6 Essence + 6 Dex Ex + [3 if vs Martial Arts])/2 + 2 Stunt )


Parry DV: 9


Soak: 10/7/5 Hardness -/-


Essence


Personal: 8/26 (10 Committed)


Peripheral: 24/59 (31 Committed)


Anima Flux: Iconic


Willpower: 6/10


Health Levels:


0 [ ] -1 [ ] -1 [ ] -2 [ ] x 18 -4 [ ] INC [ ] DY [ ] x 8

 

[WarDragon]

Viktor does not diminish his dignity by trying to block the unblockable; he merely holds his ground, and lets the energy blasts dissipate against his invulnerable skin. He spares the deathknight a contemptuous glance before returning his attention to Marlon.

Spoiler

Perfect soak on both attacks. Not sure what you mean by "damage resolve rolls," though.