[F27 – PP] A Whisper in the Night

[Dustin 0]

It seemed Dustin had a new enemy, in the form of a raven haired woman. So be it, Dustin's new goal was simply to prove her wrong at every possible turn. Astreya asked if the disguised player really knew what was going on and Nari's take on the current scenario makes Dustin ponder the possibility of Freyd being wrong. The boy would shake his head and scoff. Like he could be wrong... she? T h e y? The young man would immediately become lost in thought trying to figure out if the old Freyd was a disguise or this new one was.

Putting his cupcakes away, he would respond to Nari's comment about the muffin man with a confused look. "They're cupcakes. Muffins are gross." His focus would shift to Freyd as the man in his cool disguise would speak to the NPCs. He hadn't noticed before, but Freyd's disguise definitely held the boy's attention more than even he would like to admit. The man wasn't so bad beforehand, but now he was... distracting. Like the image of Idun herself. Dustin would pull his eyes away from everyone around them and sit down, waiting for something interesting to happen.

Instead of something interesting, Freyd would tell them about parties and groups. It almost sounded like Politics to the kid, which would result in a sigh as he fiddled with a stick he had found on the ground. Dipping said stick in Honey and popping it into his mouth, Dustin would listen to Freyd, both half in and half out. "I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to try and take on someone they already killed. Once you're dead that's it. These Lapis posers couldn't kill a ghost even with those proton packs from that old movie." Dustin's bored indifference would escape his lips, The stick still handing out of his mouth as he notices the four men walking up to the group with weapons in hand. "I stand corrected." He would say, almost excited to finally get a chance to bash someone's skull in, turning to look at Astreya and Nari.

"Party time."

[Astreya 0]

The girl looked from Nari to Freyd and then back to Nari again, blinking as if she were steadily and slowly processing the information.  "Wait, really?" she asked after a few seconds of thought.  Sometimes Astreya played up the fool for ease of conversation, but this was one of the times where her lack of knowledge when it came to games and other fantasy things was certainly causing her issue, right now.  As someone who liked people, studied people and enjoyed picking them apart, the further detached something got from the reality that she was used to, the harder time she had actually understanding it.  She frowned a little as she looked back toward Freyd who was moving toward a fellow who seemed not at all willing to meet him...her...whatever Freyd was doing right now.

"I'm not like, good with mythological stuff or like... games," she spoke, the last word coming out a little flat, even as she couldn't help an embarrassed smile.  "So like, I'll just totally follow everyone else's lead, here," the girl admitted, frowning slightly as she began to move forward, curious about what she might end up finding.

But soon, the panicked fellow that Freyd was talking to departed, and from there, the man began to provide the thoughts to the situation on what had happened.  Astreya's gaze was on him, and as she listened, the young woman seemed to be committing this information to memory, absorbing and contemplating it.  She took what Nari had told her, and meshed it with this information, seeing the Ronbaruans as an entity as a whole, as their people are, rather than individuals.  Normally that wouldn't be something that would fly but given this was a game... it was likely that it would be easier to give them sweeping, consistent traits.

Dustin was clearly not interested in the humdrum or why of it all, which Astreya didn't besmirch- she didn't really care about all the 'video game' reasons for what was going on...but she was interested in the social aspects of it all.  Different people had their own different priorities and that was no problem by her.  Although as he mentioned his own annoyances with people not being able to kill something they already had, she turned a look back over to him.  Hadn't he talked just a few minutes ago about the soul still being alive and killable?  Was he making some...odd reference back toward himself or did he not realize he was contradicting himself??

She didn't get a chance to ask, as suddenly the sound of weapons and blades being drawn echoed around them.  Astreya's features darkened at the view of the bandits as she reached back over her shoulder, and in a single movement, pulled forth the heavy frost-covered blade.  "Okay, like, you guys are gonna need those protopack thingies from Ghostmasters if you wanna fight the ghost," she called to the bandits, before glancing to Dustin, suddenly looking a little less certain.  "It was Ghostmasters, right?" she whispered loudly.

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

Nari was still considering Astreya’s obvious lack of understanding of the basics of game lore, trying to figure out how someone got stuck in a game like this and seemed so…disconnected?...from the standards of game play, when suddenly the sound of arriving individuals drew her attention. She took one look over the individuals – most of the group wielding straight blades of some sort, adorned with armour that signified connections with what she assumed would be some sort of major political party.

It made her realise how little she knew about her home floor – something she would rectify after this was all over. Taking a few steps to put Dustin and Freyd behind her, and bringing her shield up before her body she’ll level her spear along its upper left edge, her left foot pulled backwards as she settled into her ready position.

“Shall we?” She’ll call back over her shoulder, before advancing towards the guards, a whisper of words on her tongue. “Have you made your peace with Death? For soon, you shall face their Judgement.”

Coming face to face with the first of the four, she’ll unleash with her spear, driving the tip forwards towards the chest, the light violet glow of the sword art leaving a trace along the air behind it.

Spoiler

Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 32 | P. 8 | HP: 720/720 | EN: 84/84 | DMG: 8 | MIT: 147 | ACC: 3 | REC: 8 | EVA: 0 | LD: 0 | STH: -5 | THORNS [72 DMG]
Astreya | Level 32 / 11 | HP 740/740 | EN 106/106 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 122 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 | LD: 1 | BH: 37 | Taunt: 1 | Prosperity: 1
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadow | Level: 32; Paragon Level: 110 |HP: 1120/1120 | EN: 146/146 | Damage: 24 (+3+2+1) | Mitigation: 78 (+60-40) | Evasion: 2 | Accuracy: 5 (+2) | Battle Healing: 61 | Loot Dice: 5 (+3) | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV: 32/3| Paralytic Immunity | REC: 8
Dustin | Level 32 | 680 HP | 82 EN | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 5 ACC | 1 EVA | 34 BH

Lapis Assassin 1 | HP: 750/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1
Lapis Assassin 2 | HP: 750/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1
Lapis Assassin 3 | HP: 750/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1
Lapis Assassin 4 | HP: 750/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1

COMBAT START

Round One
Nari-Lanreth
ID205501 | BD: 2 + 3 = 5 | <<Tech-A vs. Lapis Assassin 1>>
| The strike misses! [-1 EN]

Nari-Lanreth | Lv. 32 | P. 8 | HP: 720/720 | EN: 83/84 | DMG: 8 | MIT: 147 | ACC: 3 | REC: 8 | EVA: 0 | LD: 0 | STH: -5 | THORNS [72 DMG]
Astreya | Level 32 / 11 | HP 740/740 | EN 106/106 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 122 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 | LD: 1 | BH: 37 | Taunt: 1 | Prosperity: 1
Freyd, The Whisper in Shadow | Level: 32; Paragon Level: 110 |HP: 1120/1120 | EN: 146/146 | Damage: 24 (+3+2+1) | Mitigation: 78 (+60-40) | Evasion: 2 | Accuracy: 5 (+2) | Battle Healing: 61 | Loot Dice: 5 (+3) | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV: 32/3| Paralytic Immunity | REC: 8
Dustin | Level 32 | 680 HP | 82 EN | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 5 ACC | 1 EVA | 34 BH

Lapis Assassin 1 | HP: 750/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1
Lapis Assassin 2 | HP: 750/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1
Lapis Assassin 3 | HP: 750/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1
Lapis Assassin 4 | HP: 750/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1

Spoiler

Word Count: 214

 

Edited March 11, 2022 by Nari-Lanreth
Dice roll results

[Freyd 0]

As Dustin shifted from passionate volunteer to baking bribe artist, Freyd stifled a smile.  The boy was eager but also seemed to swivel at every shift in the wind.  Adorable, impulsive innocence paired with power over life and death: the power of a player in a game of souls.  It amused that he ghosts were killable one instant, then dead meant dead again an instant later.  Maybe that only applied if they weren't mostly dead.  Things for more complicated from there.

Chipper, bubbly Astreya faltered, if only momentarily.  What lay under all that confetti and behind the pompoms?  Some athletes relied on talent alone, foregoing intellect, but the hamsters churned hard behind that one's eyes.  If Freyd knew one thing, it was how to read people.  Not telepathically, of course, this wasn't that kind of game and the very prospect was terrifying to even ponder.  People were too random and chaotic, driven by chemically unbalanced hormones over reason.  Motives were often more impulsive than rational.  Yet this one stopped to think, and understand.  She tried.  Most didn't even bother.  It was telling, in its own right.  Filed away for later consideration.  The Ghostbuster bobble was a nice touch.  He half-wondered if she truly knew the name and then tossed out some mangled version to throw anyone watching off the scent.  Clever, if true.  Revealing, if not.  For someone so apparently in tune to the socio-cultural scene to have missed such details was odd.  Were they not the stuff of bar trivia games and party banter?

Nari.  A cold fish.  Strangely, relatable.  That little line about death again.  Repeated with obsessive attachment; a need to connect with truth behind her own words.  What did they mean to her?  Why the need to repeat?  Explanations would have to follow.  The thugs had arrived under the guise of guards.

"Who's judgement?" Freyd whispered in her ear.  "You said they, but spoke of death as singular."  It sounded serene and ultra-creepy coming from the lips of an alternate, female him.  The question could be answered later.  A wide whirling of twilight-coloured cloth flashed over Nari's head, as an inverse lure to the matadore's - blue instead of red.  They all looked up, because people do when something moves fast.  The Whisper moved to the shadows instead, where he was most comfortable.

Hands like the space between stars danced around and between the assailant, the keening screech of the void filling the air as the seals around Samael's Pride unleashed the anger within.  Oblivion was ever-hungry and about to feast to the tune of a banshee in the night.  How fitting.  The first was caught completely off guard as his chest compressed and shattered, spilling have its mass into the vacuum appendages, his health plummeting from full to almost none in an instant. A gasp that signaled shock more than pain, but even that was impressive in a game where the latter was rarely felt, especially by mobs. 

The second's eyes bulged wide as a luscious leg spun and caught the side of its head.  Without the cloak, Freyd's full outfit was revealed - a sleek, form fitting black silk dress with long slits down the sides for necessary maneuverability.  The shoulders bare as the top wrapped around the neck for support, all other proportions measure for enticement.  Inky black embroidery in the pattern of some celestial creature wound its way around her slender torso, accentuated by the acrobatic movements.  Heel to face.  Face to ground.  Pivot completed with a fist to the back of the mob's skull with a sickening crunch that broke the back of the skull's mesh.  The screeching void ate the motes before they could escape.

Goon, the third, actually managed a lunge.  Too high and deflected with a backhanded slap.   Spin again and the man was swept off his feet.  A nice touch, until she rose again and smashed him in the chest with a tri-fold flurry of strikes that left glaring orange fractures all over his torso before the last launched him back into the statue at the garden's heart.

"Ah, shit."  A severe breach of decorum for the assumed persona.  Ladira-Freyd stopped and left the last untouched, looking down as a sliver of white light re-asserted itself about her slender hands.  "I think I chipped a nail."

Spoiler

Post Action | AoE-I (x15 AoE, 11 EN, +2 AoE Shift, +2/hit,): 19 EN - (Rested 1/2; Stamina) = 16 EN.  Charge (CD 0/3) +8 EN
Free Action | None

ID #205503 | BD: 8+7-1-1=13 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +16).  DMG (15*51=765-80=685) (CD: 9, ST-B unlocked)
ID #205504 | BD: 8+7-1-1=13 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +16).  DMG (15*51=765-80=685)
ID #205505 | BD: 6+7-1-1=11 (hit, Charge +5, Fallen +16).  DMG (15*51=765-80=685)
ID #205506 | BD: 1 (miss)

Nari-Lanreth | HP: 720/720 | EN: 83/84 | DMG: 8 | MIT: 147 | ACC: 3 | REC: 8 | EVA: 0 | LD: 0 | STH: -5 | THORNS [72 DMG]
Astreya | HP 740/740 | EN 106/106 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 122 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 | LD: 1 | BH: 37 | Taunt: 1 | Prosperity: 1
Freyd | HP: 1120/1120 | EN: 122/146 (146-16-8) | DMG: 30 | MIT: 98 | ACC: 7 | EVA: 2 | BH: 61 | LD: 8 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 32/3 | PARA IMMUNE | TRLBLD | REC: 8
Dustin | 680 HP | 82 EN | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 5 ACC | 1 EVA | 34 BH

[0,0,1,0] Lapis Assassin 1 | HP: 65/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 (750-685)
[0,0,1,0] Lapis Assassin 2 | HP: 65/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 (750-685)
[0,0,1,0] Lapis Assassin 3 | HP: 65/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 (750-685)
[0,0,0,0] Lapis Assassin 4 | HP: 750/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1

 

[Dustin 0]

As Astreya spoke of "ghostmasters," Dustin nodded. "I think that's what it was. Who knows, I doubt it even exists anymore." The boy would say pulling the no longer honey covered stick from his mouth and tossing it to the side.

As everyone reacted to the approaching enemies, Freyd disappeared. Dustin had completely lost track of the player and the boy's eyes would sparkle as he realized what was going on. It was like the boy's dream had come true right in front of his eyes, and Dustin started trying to pull his weight. As Freyd's reappeared, the enemy he had decided was best left alone would pull his weapon up as a threat to the woman. Before he could speak a word of disrespect, the optimistic teenager's attack had started.

Jumping from the ground, Dustin's foot would follow a sharp arch around his body. Slamming into the side of his head, Dustin's other foot would follow the same path reaching much higher than the first one and dropping like an asteroid striking the earth. Before Dustin moved he spat on the man he had kicked into the dirt. "How dare you raise a sword against her?" His hand would fall into the ground as he pushed off to launch himself backwards behind the tanks.

"Just like back in school." He would say with a bright smile on his face.

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

Action Taken: ST-I on Lapis Assassin 4

Spoiler

roll ID: 205518

BD: 2 + 5 - 1 = 6 (Hit)

15 * 23 = 345 - 80 = 265

750 - 265 = 485 HP

Nari-Lanreth | HP: 720/720 | EN: 83/84 | DMG: 8 | MIT: 147 | ACC: 3 | REC: 8 | EVA: 0 | LD: 0 | STH: -5 | THORNS [72 DMG]
Astreya | HP 740/740 | EN 106/106 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 122 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 | LD: 1 | BH: 37 | Taunt: 1 | Prosperity: 1
Freyd | HP: 1120/1120 | EN: 122/146 | DMG: 30 | MIT: 98 | ACC: 7 | EVA: 2 | BH: 61 | LD: 8 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 32/3 | PARA IMMUNE | TRLBLD | REC: 8
Dustin | 680/680 HP | 68/82 EN (82 - 14) | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 5 ACC | 1 EVA | 34 BH

[0,0,1,0] Lapis Assassin 1 | HP: 65/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 
[0,0,1,0] Lapis Assassin 2 | HP: 65/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 
[0,0,1,0] Lapis Assassin 3 | HP: 65/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 
[0,0,0,1] Lapis Assassin 4 | HP: 485/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 (750 - 265)

 

Edited March 11, 2022 by Dustin

[Astreya 0]

Post Action: AoE-I vs Lapis Assassins | 11+(2*4)-2 = 17 EN Cost

Spoiler

ID: 206420 vs Assassin 1
BD: 6+4-1=9 Hit!  11*19 = 209-80 = 129 Damage!  Defeated!

ID: 206421 vs Assassin 2
BD: 3+4-1=6 Hit!  11*19 = 209-80 = 129 Damage!  Defeated!

ID: 206422 vs Assassin 3
BD: 4+4-1=7 Hit!  11*19 = 209-80 = 129 Damage!  Defeated!

ID: 206423 vs Assassin 4
BD: 1+4-1=9 Critical Miss! (1 Hate Generated from Fighting Spirit)
MD: 5+2=7 Hit! 210-122 = 88 Damage Taken!

----
The young woman held her blade at the ready as she looked on against the others, having not fought alongside Freyd in this... new guise of his before, and beyond that, she had never done so with Dustin, either.  There was a lot of uncertainty here- how would they be best to fight and to ally one another to cover one another's weaknesses?  That was the big worry- although she wasn't overly concerned about Freyd's survival- she'd seen the man fight before and (the minotaur aside) he had been incredibly potent in every aspect that she'd seen him fight in.  Similarly, she knew that Nari was even more defensibly built than she was... which just left Dustin as the sole figure she might be concerned for.

The man seemed to be rather... unfettered.  That was perhaps the best word that Astreya had to describe him.  He didn't seem to hold onto anything for very long and danced like a feather upon the winds.  Even still, he had an eerie undertone to him that Astreya still wasn't sure on.  Perhaps the rather flippant and devil-may-care attitude was due to the response he'd given to Nari earlier- if he was already at peace with his own death, then there was nothing to fear.  There was nothing greater than that, so all else simply paled in comparison.

Once more, Nari's words chilled her.  There was more to her friend than she knew and that fact ate away at her, but she didn't comment, merely moving up near the violet-clad woman as the rimefrost sword began to exude its usual chill, and Astreya was about to move in when the cloak suddenly shot skyward and her gaze instinctively, as many others did, moved upward, before a flicker of movement below caught her attention as well, and she turned back in time to see Freyd having put three of the men into the hurt before Dustin had charged forward as well toward the fourth.

She frowned, the hands around her blade tightening.  The cool wind of winter moved with her as the heavy-armored woman shot forward, moving quickly despite her armaments and shifted, the frigid air around the blade seeming to harden, giving it an almost oversized, crystalline appearance as she moved past the manicure-examining Freyd, before bringing her weapon down overhead to the three that her shadowed ally had taken down, leaving the fourth to Dustin as he floored the figure... but it seemed that she had let her guard down a little early.The fourth had managed to scramble to his feet and- with Astreya being the closest target- the man brought the blade to bear against her, causing the girl to flinch in instinctive fear- even as the attack did relatively little in the grand scheme of things.  "Hey!" she shouted, shifted back to face the lone survivor, the oversized blade in her hands still.

-----------
Battle Summary-

Spoiler

 

Nari-Lanreth | HP: 720/720 | EN: 83/84 | DMG: 8 | MIT: 147 | ACC: 3 | REC: 8 | EVA: 0 | LD: 0 | STH: -5 | THORNS [72 DMG]
Astreya | HP 652/740 | EN 89/106 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 122 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 | LD: 1 | BH: 37 | Taunt: 1 | Prosperity: 1
Freyd | HP: 1120/1120 | EN: 122/146 | DMG: 30 | MIT: 98 | ACC: 7 | EVA: 2 | BH: 61 | LD: 8 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 32/3 | PARA IMMUNE | TRLBLD | REC: 8
Dustin | 680/680 HP | 68/82 EN (82 - 14) | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 5 ACC | 1 EVA | 34 BH

[0,0,1,0] Lapis Assassin 1 | HP: 0/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 
[0,0,1,0] Lapis Assassin 2 | HP: 0/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 
[0,0,1,0] Lapis Assassin 3 | HP: 0/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 
[0,1,0,1] Lapis Assassin 4 | HP: 485/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1

 

 

[Nari-Lanreth 0]

‘Well, that didn’t go well.’ The only thought to pass through her head as she took up position beside Astreya, eyeing the final individual still standing. Her first attempt at a strike had been, disappointing. She was determined not to be left behind in this fight though, and as she glanced between Astreya and the lone survivor, she decided that she would do her part.

Relying on the reach of the spear, she locked her shield against her body. A deep breath in, then out and she took her chance – letting the spear fling forward in the hopes of making contact with the assassin. It was a weaker thrust than she had wanted – but remaining in place had its faults, of course. It was, however enough to graze the individual, and Nari watched in joy as the body began to lock up.

“Quick – while he can’t react, finish him off.” The words were spoken aloud before Nari even realised she was giving out commands – something that hadn’t been an intention, but that she refused to take back. This fight would rely on the others, more so than her own ability to damage their opponents.

Spoiler

Nari-Lanreth | HP: 720/720 | EN: 83/84 | DMG: 8 | MIT: 147 | ACC: 3 | REC: 8 | EVA: 0 | LD: 0 | STH: -5 | THORNS [72 DMG]
Astreya | HP 652/740 | EN 89/106 | DMG: 19 | MIT: 122 | ACC: 4 | EVA: 0 | LD: 1 | BH: 37 | Taunt: 1 | Prosperity: 1
Freyd | HP: 1120/1120 | EN: 122/146 | DMG: 30 | MIT: 98 | ACC: 7 | EVA: 2 | BH: 61 | LD: 8 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 16 | TXV 32/3 | PARA IMMUNE | TRLBLD | REC: 8
Dustin | 680/680 HP | 68/82 EN (82 - 14) | 23 DMG | 78 MIT | 5 ACC | 1 EVA | 34 BH

[0,1,0,1] Lapis Assassin 4 | HP: 485/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1

Round Two
ID206433 | BD: 4 + 3 = 7 | <<Tech-A vs. Lapis Assassin 4>>
| 8 x 16 = 128 - 80 = 48 DMG | Stunned

[2,1,0,1] Lapis Assassin 4 | HP: 485/750 | DMG: 210 | MIT: 80 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 | Stunned

Spoiler

Word Count: 194

 

Edited March 19, 2022 by Nari-Lanreth
Dice roll results