Hal Henderics

Keith goes on Overwatch, preparing to shoot anything that dares make itself a target for him. -- False Cobalt is thrown into the canyon below by the strange masked figure, after his sword is blocked by it's near impenetrable armor. Cobalt is prepared to get the hell out of dodge. The Shadowbug Mass has transformed into Lairon! The hulking beast roars out. Aelius uses Fury of Sky, dealing 0 damage (Syn V Syn) (4, 2, 2, (1 Hit)) (6!, 2, 6! 6! 6! 4, 4, (6 Hits)) as the Lairon is neither moved or even scuffed by the powerful attack! "We need to leave now!" the masked figure comments. "There will only be more of them, the longer we stay here!" -- Azurian Equips his Iron Knife. Shanks, Meanwhile, uses Omen Slash, Cleaving one of the Cataguard in two, they fall apart into shattered parts and clean cut armor. One Cataguard begins running away, the other one, the one missing it's armor, begins to spin frantically! Dumb Robots, Whoever made these needs to go back to robotology school. -- Gnarls sees a strange metal animal fall down as he climbs up. Poor thing. Combat Log

"I suppose I would be willing to teach it to any who would learn."

"Oh, also, the main thing about Mundanus Extremus is that magic can spoil one to it, since they may end up using magic by mistake, if they are normally accustomed to not doing hard work manually and physically." "Demons in my world gain power based on how much they are owed. So the strongest demons have the largest debts. The imps did not like this, so because they are already at the bottom of the power ladder, they could simply put themselves into debt to buy mercenaries to kill and subjugate the hellscape. Or so the stories go. There are no more of the Legendary Demon Kings, and there are now laws against amassing too much debt, so I suppose there may be truth in that origin story."

"Our world has a dimensional barrier characterized by it's gelatin-like composition over a solid barrier. The strongest things in my world are Hope's End, a black hole of lethality, the dangers of my world are defined by their distance from it. It is also a trinity of dimentions, the Hellscape, a world of demonic burocracy, ruled by imps who hold dominion over the proper demons of the realm, The Divine Planes, a dimension of floating islands where the Deities and Divine beings manage various things in return for power, and Earthrealm, the world of Mortals, who sacrifice eternal life for impossible power." "If you were to see a trio of worlds which radiates magic and absorbs the objects of the void rather than repels them, you would have found my world, possibly." "As for the absolute strongest beings of my world? That would be The Ancestors. The Divine Planes have Gods, who have incredible power and immortal life, The Hellscape has the Demon Lords, who used Altruism to receive immortality and their own impossible wealth of power, while in the mortal realm, Mortals who have achieved ultimate power compress their lives into a few precious instants, instants in which they assume the power of a near-omnipotent omniscient being, who creates races, worlds, and new things within Earthrealm, before allowing themselves to die and be reincarnated so as to participate in the world they have created. Ancestors are above Gods and Demon Kings as a God is above an ant, but only for the brief and fleeting instants they allow themselves to exist in their impossible power and knowledge."

Laver, who had been standing there silent, suddenly reveals why he had the funny look on his face. He promptly vomits on the floor. He backs up, apologizing profusely. "S-sorry, I-I just. I'll get a mop." He shudders, turning around, and walking to get a mop. "Saw the squirmbage in the back, oh god." One might hear him mumble as he walks off, to places where the sights he saw in that room are merely a memory.

"In my world, I've heard it said that there is no true limitation to skill growth. Many groups forgo magic and science for simple experience, taken to an impossible level. They refer to these individuals as Mundanus Extremus. My own abilities ARE enhanced with magic, but not to the end of allowing it to happen. I use unconscious and trained magics to enable my cracking ability to extend to things normally intangible, such as energy or magic." "There is no required aspect of magic involved. Merely an anomalous level of skill. In my own world, if you spent your life practicing carpentry, you would not help but to go beyond what is possible. I was very nearly killed by a Mundanus Extremus who had created a non-magical device from nothing but cloth and thread, a massive humanoid vehicle, whose canvas wrapped fists could crush trees." Mar responds.

"What a sad tale." Mar says. "My own people were once simple savages, nomads, wandering to all four corners of the earth, and doing whatever it is our people chose to do, however, with the advents of technology and magic, our ancestors feared losing our way of life to conveniences, which lead to the Orcish Arts, through spite and heart, we developed the traditional ways of our people such that no technology or magic could compete." "The Earthrist Qi, masters of animals, being herders and trainers in their past, they found agricultural machinery to outperform even their own animals, by simple virtue of them having superior organization and the ability to record and receive information freely. Earthrist responded to this by training dogs, their most loyal and smart animals, to perform intense thinking, executing arbitrary commands in the same vein as their competitors Arcane Calculators, After all, if you can teach a dog to fetch, could you not teach him to guess next year's crop yield, or to count this year's?" "The Mucked Prince's Guard, once the masters of plants and herbology, found that the new medicines of the present age would very soon render their arts obsolete, their culture a curiosity at best. the Mucked Princes left for the swamps of Prince Seratone, not much is known or shared, but when they had returned from the swamp, they had learned a way of chewing things in such a way that their chemicals recombined, creating impossible substances from simple plants and minerals, medicines and poisons that would boggle the mind." "The Terrible Friends, the most warlike among my kind, it is irony that they seem to only have this mantle in spirit now. As the nature of warfare evolved, the simple act of invading and taking a land by force was no longer an option for them, due to advances in technology and magic, what was once a salted wasteland could be rejuvenated in a matter of days. It was during one such invasion that they eventually found something odd, something many would consider an insult, and it likely was. The Terrible, as they were known then, found that the more they invaded a country, the less seriously the country took it, no amount of destruction would seriously hinder anyone, due to the abilities provided by wandering mages, the people being invaded became complacent, even cordial, after all, invasions always happen on Tuesday, no point getting bent out of shape about it. There was no doubting The Terrible's Military might, but in these strange times, their leader decided to cleverly exploit this strange power they had over the populous, eventually becoming close allies with the country in question. Their tactic has been refined for thousands of years since then, invading in the name of diplomacy, becoming the worst marauders of all time." "Lastly, my own tribe, the sister tribe to The Terrible Friends, my own tribe served as the primary source of weapons and tools for all other tribes, and still do today, we were once humble flint knappers, turning stones into arrowheads, into axes, or simple knives. But with the discovery and refinement of... Metal..." Mar eventually shrugs, smiling to himself. "My ancestors were forced to adapt. Our tribe was the first tribe to suffer the attacks of the modern era, with nearly every metal being superior to every stone. Many of the tribe left entirely, becoming what are now the Urban Orcish Tribes of the world. Those that remained doubled down, becoming more and more skilled at the art of working the stone." "It was with the first Perfect Fracture that everything began to change. An orc had discovered that a single blow to a single stone had somehow created a single arrowhead. It was an anomaly, an impossibility, but this Orc worked in secret, attempting to figure out what had caused this, he began to see things, objects around him coming into more and more clarity, until eventually he saw the faults in everyday objects. He came before his tribe's elders, and with a single blow, cracked the symbol of Orcrist Chi into the stone below them, a 20 meter wide plane of stone, carved instantly and perfectly, with nothing but chunks to be removed." Mar chuckles "Needless to say, he had gotten their interest and attention in a single blow." "From that day forward, our kind was taught to see the faults around us, to gain the ability to know the faults around us, to the point where without magic or science on our side, we could do this." Mar takes a rock, and hits another rock, a chunk of obsidian, with it. The second rock falls apart, like a withering fruit in fast motion. Inside the stone, a stone rose sits perfectly carved. It's bud slowly opens, almost impossibly organic in movement. He plucks a petal from the rose, and using it, cuts a long gouge into the original stone. "Monomolecular edges." "And it is only limited to what I can strike with something. Even things like cloth, magic or metal can be cracked in this manner."

"If prior explanation is to be believed, they are monsters that consume reality and assume it's form." Mar summarizes. "What history do the Orcs of your world have? I might share some of my own."

The Masked Figure jumps down, sliding down the slant of the cliff face, leaving Keith behind as he goes to try and help his friends. -- A masked figure suddenly slides down, a flurry of blades rending the remaining False Aelius to shreds, it's Low Health caving easily to the strange figure's Spiked Sword. "There is little time to explain, we must get your friends and regroup away from here!" He says in a vaguely Spanish accent. False Cobalt uses Harden, raising it's Defense! The real Cobalt uses Metal Slash, attacking his clone, and dealing no damage (1d100=33). False Cobalt 2, 3, and 4 have melded together into a mass of shadowbugs! Metal Plates begin to poke from the shadowy surface... Aelius uses Combat Medicine on themselves, restoring (1d2+2) 4 Health! -- (Skill v Skill) (6d6 = 6!, 4, 4, 6!, 5, 3, 5, 3, (6 Hits)) (1d6 = 1 (0 Hits)) Azurian steals the Cataguard Helm! This is his final turn of Stealth! The heavy helm causes him to fall flat on his rear as he yanks it free of it's owner. Underneath the helmet, A glowing Siren Light blares warnings about it's current status! Shanks advances closer... Closer... Closer...... The Cataguard are panicked and confused! One of them has the bright idea to fire into the ventilation shaft, dealing (1d6+3=6+3=9) 1 Damage... Combat Log

"I do not believe we have time to stop there, or I would leave a portal there to enable us to return."

"Intriguing. I believe I have a tool in my possession that would allow me to utilize a computer." Mar takes out his boomerang. "This boomerang has an enchantment on it that grants me temporary mastery over language, which allows me to communicate verbally with anything I target with it." "If you could bring me a computer of some kind, I could attempt to create a program within it."

"I do not. Could you explain? What I am attempting can be done without magic?" Mar sounds intrigued.

"I seek the ability to scan and store information using my magic, and of some way that information could be read, decoded, and leveraged to control other magic under it's governance." "I mostly require only ways to make my magic that much more precise, as right now, every work of magic I perform is akin to using a hammer to beat words into mediums I would much prefer to write in. For things pertaining to information and autonomy, my raw and brute mana will not suffice, as it is."

Keith smashes his weapon into the Primid's leg, smashing it into shadowbugs, which disperse. The Strange figure slashes the other one in two. "Where? We need to get them out of here before the shadow bugs gather their strength!" -- False Cobalt 1 seems to be fully aware that it can't hurt the real one, and, using it's intelligence, attacks Aelius with Endeavor, bringing his health down to 3! Cobalt Attacks False Cobalt 1 with Metal Claw, Dealing no damage (1d100=39). False Cobalt 2 is doing something... False Cobalt 3 is doing something... Shadowbug Swarm 7 transforms into Aelius! False Cobalt 4 is doing something... Shadow Bug Swarm 8 transforms into Aelius! Aelius attacks Aelius Clone 1 with Sonic Blade, dealing (1d2+1d4+3=2+1+3=6) 3 Damage to it, killing it instantly! All Enemies take 1 Damage! Azurian Stabs one of the Tanks with a shiv made from solid magic ice, dealing (2d2+2+2=4+2+2=8=10) 1 Damage!... But it's Enough! The tank suddenly creaks and several snapping noises are heard as fragile pieces of machinery are jammed and shred each other. It seems it's internal strength was sacrificed for a high outer defense... Shanks ominously advances into the vents, leaving the remaining Cataguards confused and curious. They crowd around the vent, but don't seem to understand quite how to get at the little creature inside. Combat Log

FIGHT THEME: BATTLEFIELD; VER. 2 Keith fires on Primid 1, dealing (1d2=1+3) 4 Damage, and pushing it back somewhat. They both Descend on Keith, attacking for (1d2+3=2+3=5, 1d2+3=2+3=5) 6 Damage! Keith's bruised body does not appreciate these things slugging him repeatedly. All enemies take 1 damage from the sandstorm! One Primid drops dead from exhaustion, collapsing into bugs. (9, 3) It leaves behind a laser sword, putting the count of things on the ground at 1 Apple and 1 Laser Sword. 3 Primids come from around the corner, and more! (5, 3) Suddenly, a purple and white figure crashes out of the ship, a flash of gold kills the 3 new primids before they can join! It looks to be some sort of mask wearing balloon with bat wings... It turns to face you quickly, speaking in a vaguely Spanish accent. "Go, run now, I will hold off these creatures!" He shouts, brandishing his sword, some sort of gold looking thing with spikes on the blade. -- FIGHT THEME: BATTLEFIELD; MELEE Shadowbug Swarm 1 Finishes doing something, it is transforming, the bugs combining together to form... Cobalt?! Shadowbug Swarm 5 attacks (1d2=2) Aelius for (1d2+3=) 0 Damage! Cobalt uses Metal Claw, dealing (1d2+3=1+3=4, 1d100=20) 4 Damage to Shadowbug Swarm 5, Killing it instantly as it is forced to disperse! The Remainder of the shadowbugs do similarly, either attacking either Cobalt or Aelius, but being unable to pierce their defenses, or finishing the transformation into a Fake Cobalt. Shadowbug Swarm (6-8) begin transforming as well! Aelius instantly kills Shadowbug Swarm 6, using his sonic blade to disintegrate them! All enemies take 1 Damage! The False Cobalts however... You can't tell if the sandstorm is hurting them. -- FIGHT THEME: BATTLEFIELD Azurian tries to slip into hiding, (1D100=96+3=96%!!) he blends into the wall seamlessly, going into stealth for (1d2+2=1+2=3) 3 turns! Shanks ominously advances towards the enemy... The room seems to get 1 degree colder... The Cataguard turns and plods down the hall, before seemingly noticing Shanks all of a sudden. Behind it, another Cataguard mindlessly ambles out of the hall, helm and lance at the ready like the others. Behind THAT one, another one follows. This happens one final time. Combat Log

"I greet you, I am Mar, of Stonerist Chi." Mar says to the lady kindly. She would note that this hunched over old guy looks pretty frail for a supposed warrior. His kit looks impressive though, A Glaive and Boomerang held to his hip by strange chains.

"I do not know who is currently driving the castle, unfortunately. And yes, previously I was meditating, seeing the ways my magic interacted with the world around me, and with itself."

"I've broadened my magical ability, and believe I may have stumbled onto part of the solution. I can now create tiny magical devices that feed on blood and are guided by my intentions. I will later attempt to purify a piece of Psychocite with those nanomachines." "I have generally gained several new types of magic. One of those may yet hold more to discover, but my impure starting ingredients taint all further development down the line of Psychocite itself, and the mental magics it grants." Mar nods.

Indeed she does find Mar in a second, for Mar finds himself pacing the halls, thinking deeply and generally making himself known by proximity. She might spot him walking past. "Yes?" Mar says to Mot, who caught him pacing.

FIGHT THEME: BATTLEFIELD; VER. 2 (Skill+Synergy) (5, 2, 2, (1 Hit)) (10 Needed) Keith Fires his gun, as the entity has Zero intention of doing as he says, sniping it in the head for (2+2+1+1d2=6) 6 Whopping Damage! it is blasted into bugs, melting down into the little creatures. (9, 10) 2 more come out, having heard the noise. (9, 18) The fallen primid drops something on the ground. it appears to be an ordinary apple. If one were greedy enough, they could try to grab it by running straight in the same direction as the two new primids, and take the loudly playing gun with them for added anti-stealth. He hears thwacking noises from inside the ship, and *shwing*s sort of noises. All Enemies take 1 Damage from the Sandstorm! -- FIGHT THEME: BATTLEFIELD; MELEE A shadowbug swarm plows into (1d2=1) Cobalt, dealing (1d2+3=) 0 Damage! Cobalt hardens his defense further, increasing it by 3! The remaining shadowbugs all attack (1d2=1) Cobalt again, Dealing (1d2+3=) 0 Damage! Strange, the bugs seem to be doing something else now... Aelius begins preparing his Sonic Blade! More bugs flow out of the ship, as the bugs from before start squirming over each other... All Enemies take 1 Damage from the Sandstorm! -- FIGHT THEME: BATTLEFIELD (Strength) (2, 5, 1, (1 Hit)) (1 Hit Needed) Shanks easily pulls the grate open, waddling out. They both hear something grinding, a tank with a large helmet and lance rolls out of the doorway, more following behind it... Combat Log

Keith is in fact heard, he just shouted really loudly, after all. One of the Humanoids gets out to investigate, Spotting a lone gunner. It begins sprinting towards Keith. A sandstorm suddenly is whipped up out of nowhere... FIGHT THEME: BATTLEFIELD; VER. 2 -- (Synergy) (2d6 = 4, 6!, 4, = (3 Hits) (1 Hit Needed) Cobalt whips up a sandstorm of dervishish proportions, blowing away the purple bugs before they can do much. Pride would be the appropriate reaction, if not for one of the humans at the top of the cliff shouting about getting away from the ship. Maybe there are bugs up there too? (Synergy+Strength) (3, 6!, 2, 4, 4) (3 Hits) (2 Hits Needed) Aelius's Spear shoots out a crackling web of lightning, frying the scattered bugs without mercy, until no more emerge from the crack. (7, 9) However, moments later, they REALLY start pouring out, forcing the Aron and Human to back up, startled. It seems you certainly got their attention with that trick... FIGHT THEME: BATTLEFIELD; MELEE -- (3, 19) (Strength) (3, (0 Hits)) (1 Needed) Azurian pulls as hard as he can, but that grate ain't budging. He stands by the wall, and opens the door, a lot of very angry noises sound surprised, and he don't have an out... Combat Log

Entering the Ship, Azurian finds themselves in a well lit hall, tilted just barely askew. Doors line both sides of the hall. The doors appear to be made of some durable metal. Red Lights above the doors indicate that they are in fact locked. One door is completely destroyed, allowing entry to someone small, resistant to sharp scrap metal, or flexible. Another door is Green, indicating that it is unlocked. There is a Vent near the floor, blocked by a grate. -- Cobalt's Metal Slash cleaves through the material- -- Keith's shot punches a hole in the material- -- The ship begins to rumble, tiny minuscule purple bugs are beginning to amble out of holes in the ship, they glow with purple light, and smoke ominously. -- Several hundred of them begin to coalesce, forming into a strange humanoid where Keith saw the movement previously. More noises like the one that spawned it seem to be coming from inside the crack in the hull. -- Cobalt sees some purple stuff coming out of the spot they clawed open, like tiny bugs. -- Azurian feels the ship rumble.

(Skill+Strength+Condition) (6d6 = 4, 2, 6!, 1, 6!, 2, 1, 1, (3 Hits)) (1 Hit Needed) Cobalt easily leaps from rock to rock, making their way to the top. (2, 19) Taking a sniff, Cobalt discovers those walls aren't even metal! It just looks like it. No substance or strength to be found here. There are some supports in the shredded wall that are made of aluminum, but even that... (???) (???) (???) Keith scans around, aside from the plumes of smoke rising in the distance, he also spots something move inside the fallen ship through one of the cracks near him. Something purple.

The pile of rocks seems extraordinarily easy to climb, even if all Aron has is musculature. (Check for climbing the rock pile is Skill+Strength)