[SP-F6] Calming the Soul

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood HP: 9/11

Ape HP: 6/15

Darkwood moves to spin and retry the attack he just attempted but on the ape's back. The ape is sprawled headfirst in the brush and is trying to get up.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[1]

The ape was faking all along and spins, kicking Darkwood out of the air. He smacks painfully against a tree and slides its length to the floor. "Owww.." he complains and struggles up.

Darkwood HP - 1

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood HP: 8/11

Ape HP: 6/15

Both Darkwood and the ape struggle to get up from their respective positions. The recover at roughly the same time and run headon into each other, Darkwood has his sword outstretched to strike the belly.

1-5 fail

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[8]

The sword slices across the exposed belly of the ape and it cries out in pain. It throws its arms into the air in surprise and takes a step backwards. Darkwood jumps forwards in preparation for another strike.

Ape HP - 1

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood HP: 8/11

Ape HP: 5/15

Darkwood goes to another attack, am uppercut this time, aiming to cut across the belly of the animal vertically. The animal is so bewildered it cannot retaliate but is paralyzed in shock.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[5]

The blade hits bone and does no significant damage but the ape grows even more confused and helpless, its arms droop by its sides. He goes for another offence, a stabbing action towards the liver.

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood draws his arm back and plows all this strength into a stabbing action into the lower torso of the beast. The ape is beginning to recover but is still bewildered.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[4]

The blade missed and slipped beside the hip of the ape. The ape gasped in shock at the way it had nearly suffered a deadly blow.

[Ethereal 0]

"THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS" shouted Darkwood at the ape. "I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!". He rapidly stabs the ape, which is lying on the ground with Darkwood on its stomach.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[8]

The first strike hits. The ape roars as its HP drops and Darkwood cackles in delight.

Ape HP - 1

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood HP: 8/11

Ape HP: 4/15

Darkwood reverses his grip so the blade is pointing downwards and brings it down with all his weight. The ape begins to regain some sense.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[4]

The ape shifts its weight and Darkwood loses his footing, falling before the sword made contact. Darkwood rises to one knee as the ape starts to get up.

[Ethereal 0]

He rises to one knee and rises again, once again bringing the longsword down into the heart of the fiend. The ape lifts a hand feebly to push the attacker off of its chest.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[9]

"FINALLY A CLEAN SHOT!" screams Darkwood in triumph. The blade sinks hilt-deep into the monster. It roars in fury and pain, its hand quickly nudging him off the chest. Darkwood hops off.

Ape HP - 2

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood HP: 8/11

Ape HP: 2/15

Darkwood moves to slash the shoulder of the demon, stepping forwards and lifting his sword. The ape shifts its weight to roll over and get up.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[9]

The final blow lands and splits the side of the ape clean open. It gives one final cry and breaks into a waterfall of shards, that billow over Darkwood. He flicks his longsword and sheathes it. "That was no mean feat, that's for sure." he gasps.

LOOT

1-5: 10 materials

6-10: Mask of Salvation

11-15: Synthesis tool

16-20: Silver longsword

[5]

+ 10 mats

COL

5*5 = 25 Col

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood turns to see a man dressed in white robes, the opposite to his own dark alchemic robes. The man looks startled and nervous, quickly darting out of view. "Hey! HEY!" shouts Darkwood, pursuing the person. With his superior speed - even though it was low for that of a player - he quickly caught and confronted the man. "Hey! What's the deal with you running away like that?" he inquired.

"Y.. You bear the Call of the Haunted."

"Wait, how do you know about that?"

"I am the Sage of the Waterfall, the one given the task of removing the curse from those who have proven their worth."

"Waaait, hold on. So I have to prove my worth? How?"

"By defeating the Guardian of the Falls you have proven yourself to me. Now we can begin the remedy. Follow me.".

Darkwood followed in awe, wondering 'This guy just stood there while I was getting beaten to a pulp? Not much of a Sage to me..'. Soon after they had reached a large pool with a glassy, reflective surface, around the pool there lay egg-shaped slabs of grey rock.

[Ethereal 0]

"Can I recover a bit first? That fight was intense.." inquired Darkwood.

"No. Your treatment must be done immediately for you to not bear the curse forever."

"That doesn't sound fair, what if I came out with 1 HP?"

"Those are the rites, I cannot change them.

Darkwood grumbled to himself as they neared the pool. The Sage looked at him expectantly.

"What?" Darkwood asked.

The Sage gestured to the stones. "Choose one." he replied.

Darkwood pointed to a smaller, weathered stone. The Sage nodded approvingly.

"Sit on it." instructed the Sage.

Darkwood obeyed.

As soon as he got settled down on the rock he felt a rush of calmness and he closed his eyes instinctively. He seemed unable to open his eyes as his mind cycled through all his troubles and dispelled them in a systematic way. When there was none left he felt a feeling of inner peace consume him. He felt a wave of relaxation and acceptance washed the anxiety and troubles from him. He gasped and open his eyes, staring him in the face was a huge demon.

[Ethereal 0]

A horse-sized demon stood before him. It appeared to be a huge, matt-black skinned giant with huge muscles but the worse part was yet to come. Its head was huge and was composed of many hundreds of faces, some crying out in pain, others grieving while a few laughed maniacally. "OHMYGOD WHATAREYOU" shouted Darkwood in fright. No reply came from the demon, rather it opened a few of its mouths and long, sickly green tongues lashed out. The tongues struck Darkwood in the chest, taking him by surprise. He wheeled over backwards off the rock.

Darkwood HP - 1

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood HP: 12/13 [OOC I leveled up]

Demon HP: 20/20

Darkwood rolled backwards, startled at the sudden appearance of this formidable enemy. He quickly draws his sword and stops his roll with his feet beneath him. He tenses his legs and springs towards the demon, aiming to trike it in its head. The demon counters by opening some mouths to discharge more tongues.

1-5 fail

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[1]

The sheer mass of projectiles that spear their way towards him overpower the assailant, forcing him backwards and away. They punch several holes in Darkwood's abdomen. He screams in pain.

Darkwood HP - 1

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood HP: 11/13

Demon HP: 20/20

The swing of his sword had managed to sever some of the demon's tongues, leaving a small blindspot where it could not attack. Darkwood assesses the enemy and finds this flaw. He jumps up, slashing his sword towards the opening. The demon retracts its damaged tongues and fires off a few undamaged ones.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[8]

The blow lands nicely, opening a small wound and breaking one face into shards. Darkwood leaps over the demon, batting away the few tongues that could reach that far. He lands at the other side and spins, readying himself for a charge at the torso of the fiend.

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood HP: 11/13

Demon HP: 19/20

Darkwood readies himself for a charge at the beast's torso. He runs with all his might towards the monster, sword pulled back to deliver a blow. The monster raises his arm to backhand the charging man.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[8]

Darkwood puts on a last burst of speed as the hand nearly hits him and plunges his blade into the monster. Its many faces hiss in displeasure.

Demon HP - 1

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood HP: 11/13

Demon HP: 18/20

Now that Darkwood is inside the guard of the beast he decides to take advantage of it before he has to retreat again. He brings his sword up in a fash cutting motion.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[10]

The strike creates a massive gash in the thorax of the demon, dealing huge damage and the force pushes the demon back slightly. The demon gives a bark and tenses its leg to knee the bug.

Demon HP - 2

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood HP: 11/13

Demon HP: 16/20

Darkwood sees the knee coming and jumps back to evade, giving one last attempt at a cut to the thing's chest. The demon takes a step forwards and brings the knee driving towards him with significant force.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[2]

The blade misses its mark and the knee finds its mark, sending Darkwood into the air by 3 metres. Darkwood flips in midair, pointing the sword out in front of him like an arrow.

Darkwood HP - 1

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood HP: 10/17

Demon HP: 16/20

At the tip of his path Darkwood alters his path, angling for the top of the demon's head. Gravity takes him and powers him towards his foe. The monster looks up, opening its mouths in preparation.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[4]

The mouths unleash a veritable barrage of projectiles, intercepting the path of the man. This causes him to divert his course away from his intended path to avoid damage.

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood lands on his feet, stepping backwards a few times to lose momentum. The monster turns and faces him head-on, squealing in joy, and Darkwood runs forwards once more, slashing at the fiend's right shoulder.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[9]

The swipe is executed before the monster had time to attack. It landed squarely on the beast. It screams in pain again, bringing its fists down in retaliation.

Demon HP - 2

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood HP: 10/17

Demon HP: 14/20

The fists of the demon comes powering towards Darkwood and he attempts to sidestep. He makes to bring his longsword across the arm of the fiend.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[1]

The sidestep fails and hits Darkwood into the ground. Darkwood wiggles his arms and manages to squirm out from under the fist. The demon thinks 'What is this cockroach?'.

[Ethereal 0]

Darkwood HP: 10/17

Demon HP: 14/20

After squirming out, the demon looks bewildered at this creature's survive-ability and is so stunned that he does not retaliate at the attack that is being directed at his neck.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[5]

As he has just crawled from under the fist of a giant monster, Darkwood is pretty dazzled at what has just happened. He stops his sword in mid-swing and leans on it for a second instead.