rolled 4 = 4

---

>GOLEM QUEST TEMPORARILY BECOMES KEDDIC QUEST, UNTIL SUCH TIME SHIPMENT REACHES THE ARCANOWORKS OR KEDDIC DIES

Keddic? Die? Surely you jest.

rolled 5 = 5

---

FUCK

YEAH

KEDDIC.

rolled 20 = 20

---

k

>>186340
Hahahawesome

Hell yeah, nat-twenty. That's good, right?

On that note, I suggest saying:

"Well, if your going to be such fear-mongers, then let me put your fears at bay: IF we come under attack that genuinely threatens you, that is to say, that I or Geodiaz here cannot handle unarmed, we will pay you all an additional 25 marks.

If not, you accept that your panicking was unfounded, and settle on the agreed upon price."

Anyway, how long would it take us to go around and how long would it take us to go through?

>>186331
Damn, for 120 marks one would think that we'd have been able to buy ourselves five wagons and ten horses, not merely rent them and a pack of recalcitrant rampallians. Apparently Mordre isn't the only terrible bargainer around here.

Berate them into pressing forward. You've already paid an exorbitant sum for their services.

>>186343
I must admit I love the '4, 5, NAT TWENTY' rolling. I hope we didn't break something before glueing it togeather witha wesome.

Remember: ixnay on the entiencesay, guys.

>>186345
This

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2010/05/31(Mon)23:17 No. 186361 ID: d1210a
File 127537303019.jpg - (30.08KB , 960x768 , Random Encounter 12.jpg )

>>186347
To go around would add at least another two days to our travel. Considering we would be lucky to make it back to the Arcanoworks in three more days, this kind of delay is rather outrageous.

>>186345
"Well, if you're going to be such fear-mongers, then let me put your fears at bay: IF we come under attack that genuinely threatens you, that is to say, that I or Geodiaz there, under Dregas' command cannot handle unarmed, we will pay you all an additional 25 marks."
>"Yeah, that SOUNDS nice... but what if you run into something that gets you killed? What's your promise of money worth then?"
"What horn-swaggle! I find the very notion of us randomly running into such a thing to be preposterous!"
>"Yeah, then why does no one go into the Cursed ruins?"
"Bah, your assertions are inaccurate! I myself have traveled through the cursed lands unmolested several times! Now, do you accept that your panicking was unfounded?"
>"Well, I don't know...."
"Come now, what's the worst that could happen?"

>>186332
>>186333
[first two rolls: 4, 5 both rolls: <10, <7, <6]
Despite the time being early in the morning, with the sun still shining bright in the immediate aftermath of dawn.... the light all about us simply vanishes, the whole world seeming to plunge into perfect darkness.

>>186340
[NATURAL 20, >10, >15, >18, =20]
[AUTO MAGIC RESIST]
But as the darkness settles, leading to shouts of alarm from drivers and screams of fear from the horses, I find myself insulated, my instinctual use of Will and Blood magic to initiate the Way of the Harksburton fighting style insulating me from the brunt of this attack... which I note to most certainly be magical in nature. With the vision that remains to me, I perceive a lone figure walking through the murky shadows now pervading the landscape, casually hefting a knife as he paces ever closer, a scant twenty feet away.....


What should I do?

obviously, we fight.

>>186361
Act like you still can't see, and just when he's about to strike, THEN YOU PUNCH HIS FACE IN.

>>186361
Kill him, obviously.



Oh, yes, we need something more detailed than that. Hrmm... Perhaps pretend the magic has affected you as much as it has everyone else, lure it in, and then attack it, to take it by surprise?

>>186365
hahahah this.

>>186365
This.

>>186365
This.

Oh, we should probably make sure there isn't more than one of them. It would suck if we waited to make our move and it turned out a few more were stabbing our dudes.

Dulu!? maybe? I doubt it...

>>186365
this seems good enough. keep your sense open, though, to make sure no one is going to suddenly appear from behind

>>186361
"Ho-ho! This is a rarety, never before have I witnessed things being darkest AFTER dawn. Never fear my friends; for I, Sir Keddic Harksburton, happen to be a master of navigation! Even in the poorest of visibilities, my innate sense of direction never fails me! This trait has descended to me from a long line of ancestors in the Harksburton family, known and revered for their legendary tracking skills! Why, even th-[Death threat from Jezebel to shut our trap] uh, yes Miss Jezebel. I will... um try to tone down my voice to an appropriate level. Heh heh. *get stabbed by mysterious man* *under breath* Oh boy, you're kiiling me aleady... yep definitely- Oh. You're actually TRYING to kill me! Not the smartest course of action, traveller, but nonetheless a welcome change for once."

>*get stabbed by mysterious man* *under breath* Oh boy, you're kiiling me aleady... yep definitely- Oh. You're actually TRYING to kill me! Not the smartest course of action, traveller, but nonetheless a welcome change for once."

This is the only problem I have with the above post.

Keddic wouldn't be able to know WHO was doing the stabbing, let alone that there was someone else present, and I'd prefer not to get stabbed at all. Who knows what could be on those knives.

>>186444
I agree with this otherwise I like the Ham-ness in your original actions.

First make sure the caravan is all right. See if the golem Geodiaz can navigate this darkness and then confront this stranger. Radiate as much strength and confidence as possible! A Harksburton stands strong!

"Keep the horses under control, ladies and gentlemen. There's no need to panic. Dregas why don't you get Geodiaz ready to keep the caravan safe and sound?"

Look around briefly for other dangers or assailants and get ready to sucker punch this knife wielder before disarming him quickly. He is almost unmistakably part of this magic attack so Keddic can ask questions later.

FUCK
YEA
KEDDIC!!!!

Anyway, I agree with >>186444

Re-posting this here for ease and relevance. Hope yall don't mind

Sir Keddic Harksburton The 4th's Traits and Abilities:
--Heir to the 'Way of Harksburton':
Keddic is the fourth inheritor of the form of combat magic passed down from the founder of the Harksburton line, a magic that is a closely guarded family secret in terms of how it is achieved, fusing Will and Blood magic fuel sources to create a combat magic that has several Arcane traits. To date, no one outside the Harksburton line has learned the Way. Each heir to the style is expected to contribute some meaningful improvement to the style before they can continue the family line.
--Wanderlust Addict:
Keddic is obsessed with exploring and adventure, and goes out of his way to see strange and exotic sights. Has spent several years in the Land of Dragons, far to the south, and gained a basic understanding of their own form of combat magic, one that focuses around the concepts of manipulating mass and the perceived connections between all things.
--Student of The Lined One:
During his travels in the Land of Dragons, Keddic met a native combat magic practitioner who was willing to teach him the fundamentals of Mass Connection, the general name for the form of combat magic they practice. Keddic adapted several theories into the Way of Harksburton, but his training was incomplete: His instructor was a wanted man, and Keddic was forced to flee the Land of Dragons after being labeled an accomplice. He assures everyone it must be some misunderstanding.
--Fight-Addict With Gentlemanly Tendencies:
Keddic is obsessed with the struggle of battle, and actively seeks out areas of conflict in the hopes of finding good opponents to further hone the Way of Harksburton against, as well as finding simple joy in the course of a hotly contested fight. Outside of conflict, he carries himself with the confidence of one born to wealth and respect, and endeavors to stay a cordial individual.
--Harksburton Vendetta:
The Harksburton line has an oath of revenge that they are honor bound to pursue if given the chance, against a humanoid Life Golem by the name of Aurockoth, who not only has slain three scions of the Harksburton line, but more importantly has also stolen glory and accolades that rightfully belonged to the Harksburton line. The Life Golem's location is unknown, and descriptions vague, but the family nonetheless holds hope of one day paying back their grudge.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2010/06/01(Tue)10:51 No. 186564 ID: d1210a
File 127541468532.jpg - (48.72KB , 501x798 , Harksburton Blade.jpg )

>>186365
>>186366
>>186368
>>186371
>>186374
I decide to act the same as the others, and act as if I cannot perceive this shadowed threat that has stolen sight from the others with this oppressive cloud of shadow. I keep my eyes stretched wide as if sightless, waiting as the individual begins to close distance.

>>186396
Just in case, I sweep my faux-blind gaze about our murky surroundings.... and find no less than a dozen individuals, all clad identically, clutching a knife in their right hand as they slowly march towards us. ..Strange, I could have sworn that when the darkness fell, the ONLY visible newcomer was the one directly before us barring our path. As I consider what this could mean, I note that the first of these strangers still marches largely towards me, while the rest of dozen still encircle our caravan, simply waiting. I hear the nervous cries of the drivers, and call out to them in an attempt to calm them, all while keeping my gaze sweeping back and forth across the dimly visible approaching stranger.

"Ho-ho! This is a rarity, to witness things being darkest AFTER dawn.
Never fear; for I, Sir Keddic Harksburton the 4th, happen to be a master of navigation!
Even in the poorest of visibilities, my innate sense of direction never fails me!
This trait has descended to me from a long line of ancestors in the Harksburton family,
Known and revered for their legendary tracking skills across the decades!
Why, even th-"
>"STOP NATTERING ON THEN AND DO SOMETHING!"
"Quite right miss Jezebel! ACTION is what is called for here!"

[+2 HAM points. Total HAM points: 038 Amount required for next reward: 050]

At this point I notice the stranger approaching me is now some twenty feet distant... and comes to a stop, hefting his foot-long blade as I feel magic gather about him. I ready myself to employ the Way of the Harksburton art, to protect my body with blood as strong as steel, while likewise preparing my fist for the upcoming smiting I wish to dispense. ...And I note the stranger and all eleven of his copycats simultaneously recoil as I begin pooling magic. ...What, they're ALL magic sensing types? Well isn't that just great. Still, they don't know I can see them yet, and even if there are several of them, at that distance their knives couldn't possibly-

The one standing before me flicks his knife, and the unnatural pall of darkness laying over the area seems to catch on his blade, a whip made of a shadowed void, an absence of light cracking forth, wire-thin, barely discernible in this darkness. I manage to sidestep it, unsure if I was able to pass my dodge off as me simply wandering about erratically-

-And here a cry behind me, whirling about to see the roof of the lead caravan sliced off as well as shaving some metal from several goods stored within the wagon, along with the driver's upper torso and the top of one horses' head, the severed pieces falling to the ground without a whisper. The surviving horse panics, but cannot pull the wagon it is still hitched to alone, and so it simply panics in place, rearing up and screaming.

I see the eleven other strangers likewise hefting their knives, as the one who attacked earlier mutters some new words, power gathering about himself once more as he readies his knife, still twenty feet distant. For my part, I am ready to go into full battle mode on a moment's notice, and I could likely charge swiftly enough to reach any one or two of these assailants.... but with all readying themselves to attack, I am not sure what to do. When I look to the rear of the caravan, I see Donwick, his eyes screwed shut, haltingly guiding Geodiaz, seeking targets in the darkness that robbed him of sight, some sixty feet back at the end of the caravan, while Jezebel, occupying one of the middle wagons, is only twenty five feet distant from me.

I consider my options:
-Once I fully activate the Way of the Harksburtons, I should be able to leap in excess of forty feet without issue, and my blood will transition from simply reducing damage done to me to actively ensnaring whatever comes into contact with it.
-To gather enough of the winding way (That which I learned from the Lined One in the Land Of Dragons) about myself to strike with the force to unmake life takes me at least half a second, and even somone without magic sensing abilities will be able to discern my location easily if I use it.
-I can gather energy of the winding way about my sword, for a decidedly different effect. The Harksburton Blade I carry, The Proud Lion can displace gathered energy into the environs, and I have learned that the winding way, when channeled through my sword as part of the Way of the Harksburtons, allows me to trade locations with any other living creature possessing a soul within thirty feet of me, at the cost of winding me moderately.
-If I am willing to expend energy at an exorbitant rate, I can actively use my blood as prehensile, fluid whips and tendrils, with a collective range of twenty feet (could be one twenty foot tendril, ten two foot tendrils, or anything in between). While they are still as hard as steel and acceptably sharp, I count the amount of time I can sustain this kind of attack in the seconds.


What should I do?

>>186564


i cant quite recall but does Keddic have a pistol? one would be rather useful in yjis situation.

>>186565
[Nope, You guys had Mordre hold onto them to bring back to the Arcanoworks faster.]

>>186564
Interesting. Gather yourself up, and pull an immediate turn towards the fellow who's actually ATTACKING. Leap.

If he attempts to swat at you with that shadowblade thing, try this particularly nasty trick: Swap places with him using your sword's ability. See how he likes his own little attack.

>>186568
ADDENDUM TO MY PREVIOUS POST: If you're truly worried about hte others attacking, do the plan, but first step so that the opposing group is directly behind you.

Though I suspect some illusory nonsense like that darkness is at play here, ESPECIALLY since you only mentioned sensing power gathering in the one individual, despite ALL of them looking like they're going to attack. Better safe then sorry, either way.

Fully activate the Way of the Harksburtons on them and go kung fu on these yahoos. Attack back and forth if possible. Like furthest and closest back and forth to keep them off guard and wondering where to go. I'm guessing they are not as powerful as you or they'd sense that you're the one powering up.

I have a feeling that those others are simply mirrors of the one you see before you. Beings made of magic, to emulate the actions of their creator, these would be most useful during ambushes or escapes...

In any case, I suggest that you activate the Way of the Harksburtons and turn your back to the one in front of you and dash towards one of the others whilst appearing to head for the caravan, then when you feel that the energy is about to be released, switch places with the one that was in front of you (now behind you) using the ability mentioned earlier then put all your strength into dashing from your new position to strike the that one in the back of the neck. Watch out for counters.

Tell your party to take cover

Move suggestion - KEDDIC UPPERCUT FINISH
Jump 30 feet up above the enemy, swap places in midair and hit them with a full power winding way rising uppercut as they fall down!

However we're best off savig this type of move until we've determined the abilities of our enemy. He seems to have some kind of delayed mirror clone thing going so close range quickly and try to keep him from throwing more knives at the caravan! If he throws at Keddic then just swap places at the last second.

>>186579
Actually, It occurs to me taht we might want top give up one element of surprise for another, considering that we have a bunch of helpless people with us.

"Hey you blokes over there, don't think that I cant see you. Your petty little tricks don't work on me! If its a fight your looking for, how about you come over here."
While saying this activate The Way of Harksburton and prepare to avoid all attacks. We can save the body switching ability for any opportune moment. Also if you decide to use the body switching move, use it on the first one, the one in front of you. As I said before, I assume those things are magical constructs and as such lack souls.

>>186605
Why give up surprise when we can leap 40 feet right now and surprise them?

>>186605
Because if you notice that thing on the Harksburtons being gentlemanly and everything it does sound more like him to reveal that he knows who is what and that he's a better target than the others.

>>186616
Yes this means I've changed my mind about what I said earlier. Keddic is a gentleman and would probably rather slap them/him in the face with a glove and let them/him know he's there rather than massacring them/him outright.

Jesus christ. ALERT EVERYONE TO THEIR LOCATIONS. In any way possible. Like, maybe they can see you so you can direct everyone via pointing or something. Or just say how far away they are from the caravan.

>>186623
It seems to me they are in a trance and unable to move, therefore he's the only one who'll be able to act.

>>186605
I think of many things, ways to covertly and efficiently take out our assailants, ways to minimize risk.... and I find it so boring. Where is the fire, where is the chivalry, WHERE IS THE PASSION!? I shan't stand for it. I round on the one that struck, and point an accusatory finger towards his form, peering straight through this supernatural darkness to affix my unwavering gaze on my foe.

[IT'S KEDDIC TIME]
""You sneaky vagabonds, you opportunistic scoundrels, what insanity is this!?!? You blokes over there, don't think that I can't see you! Your petty little tricks don't work on me!Now come then, all of you, let's have a proper go at it, unless your honor is complete twaddle, your parentage of questionable worth, and your very SOULS lack fire!! COME IF YOU DARE, AND FACE THE FOURTH HEIR OF THE HARKSBURTON LINE!!"

As I cry out my challenge, drawing the eyes of each of the identical assailants (possibly replicas or copies of the original, if my guess is correct), my Will surges through my body... and into my blood, the two fuels intertwining, harmonizing, and forming a greater whole than the sum of their parts. It is the secret of my family I wield, that which let combat magic practitioners stay potent even after the ban on Soul magic. My blood becomes as steel, sub-dermal armor preventing all but the most grievous of attacks from getting any deeper than a layer of skin, my nerves sing as the crackle with amplified potency, time slowing ever so slightly, as veins pulse, muscles heave, and hairs stand on end. As I flood my body with magic, I consider... that this is the only true way to feel alive.

>>186623
While keeping wary of the new attention directed my way, and staying ready to react to any new threat, I call out to the rest of the caravan, informing them of our predicament, and the fact we are surrounded. I see blind eyes casting about, seeking the origin of my voice, and know myself to be the only one amongst our number capable of sight. Still, they heard my warning, and I see people scrabbling, hands glued to the wagons, to get under cover. Lord Dregas, for his part, responds somewhat differently.

"I can't see, but I can hear you! If you can see, direct me, swiftly!"

I note the lengthy reach Geodiaz has between arm and club, and note two of the total dozen assailants... are within it's immediate reach, the opposed end of the trap we are caught in. I consider trying to shout orders back to Donwick-

To find a full dozen places where the supernatural shadows gather, forming up on the blades of each attacker, before being flicked forth, the inky tendrils whipping forth to rend me asunder.

>>186568
I direct my attention towards my sword, now likewise charge in both Blood and Will magic, the same as the rest of my form.... and direct the powers of the winding way, an aspect of Mass Connection magic I learned down south from the Lined One into my sword, while casting forth, and selecting the original assailant to likewise be ensnared. I trigger the intertwined magics connecting us to my sword, and the world explodes into chaos to my senses, as our two forms are transposed. I get the satisfaction of seeing the tendrils they sent to slay me fly straight at his form, too little time to avoi-

The wires of solid shadow simply merge with the assailant's form, and while he drops to a knee to steady himself, I neither see nor sense any genuine injury to his personage. Wonderful, these ruffians have some degree of competency with their craft, enough so that friendly fire is not such a threat. I feel I must upgrade our assailants into full-blown Mages... exciting!

The mages assailing us are still adapting to the abrupt switch I pulled, and so I have perhaps a half second before they respond to my trick, with the nearest of these mages some ten feet away, on my left and right both.


What should I say or do?
[Also, if you have back-story questions for Keddic, go for it, ask him questions in your posts and he'll mentally ruminate. Be forewarned that TOO many questions could distract him from the fight, so pace yourselves. Or don't.]

These foes are nothing compared to Aurockoth. Lose against them, and you will never find that golem. I know you don't want that, Keddic. Use the clay golem to destroy the other ghouls, and tell Jezebel to use her lightning gun, even if it's straight up. The bright flash might overpower the supernatural darkness!

Full-blown mages... did Mordre ever tell Keddick that he needed intact skins?

The sword is pretty long. Try hitting both dudes with it.

They like whips eh? and that other one is just 20 feet away from you eh? How about a blood whip then, eh?

>[IT'S KEDDIC TIME]
No, dad, no!

>>186638
I heave the Proud Lion into motion, becoming a whirling dervish as I send my blade careening forth, seeking the flesh of the nearest mages. My breathing is somewhat erratic as my body is still stabilizing from having transposed itself with my foe's form, but the blade bights into flesh without issue, bisecting both of the nearby targets as I leap forth....

And their forms disintegrate into shadow, as the one that took my place rises, the dispersed shadows of those I struck down flowing into his form, massing about his form as if armoring him in the absence of light. I note the figure of their presumed leader grow more indistinct in my eyes, harder to track with the additional forces he has absorbed. Hm.

>>186639
With the range still appropriate, I decide to kick the Way of the Harksburton into overdrive, and after swiftly drawing the Proud Lion across my palm, I thrust forth my now bleeding hand, magic surging as a tendril of blood leaps from my hand, seeking the heart of the main mage of this assault. As my own attack stretches forth, I see the remaining nine other mages once more readying their knives as shadow wells near their keen edges.... their attention returned to the caravans. Blast. Even worse, the one I strive to pierce with my impromptu blood-based attack flickers, and reappears several feet further away, my attack not able to reach him... as he too turns back to the caravan. With my blood extended like this, I cannot empower myself as ably as normal, I shall not be able to protect the others-

>>186637
-And thoughts of Aurockoth fill my mind, the monster, the man turned into a living mass of blades that has haunted my family... and of how he would laugh, to see a scion of the Harksburton line falter in the face of such an attack. He would laugh at my predicament, he would mock me for being unable to protect these people..... he would view me as unworthy of cleansing my family name of the taint he bestowed.

NO

The tendril of blood, still poised at the extent of it's range, straining to close the remaining distance to my relocated target, surges forth as I disregard the ramifications, pouring more and more of my blood out into the shadowed battleground, the lance formed of my blood leaping the remaining distance to the mage armored in solid shadow as I shout commands to Dregas.

"Dregas, on either side and in range, strike swiftly!"

Even as I see Donwick responding by sending Geodiaz into a vicious spin, the club simply smashing one of the mages into nothing while hurtling onwards towards the other, I cry out another command... to Jezebel.

"Miss Jezebel, if anything you have can make light, now would be the time!"

For once, I hear no biting retort, instead I see her running her hands over the contents of the wagon she sits on as Geodiaz smashes the second mage in range into paste, before Jezebel draws forth a staff with dozens of crimson charge packs installed along it's length, screws her eyes shut, and presses a button while thrusting the staff skyward. I have a brief instant before her invention triggers to note that the mages Geodiaz smashed did not release shadows on death, as the two I slew a moment ago did.

For a brief moment, the supernatural darkness is dispelled, as a light both pure and stark blankets everything as power surges through Jezebel's creation, the charge packs swiftly burning themselves out. In this moment of illumination, I note that none of the mages still surrounding our caravan cast shadows of their own, and all recoil from the intense light, the massed shadows about their blades nullified as their concentration slips.

I also manage to thrust my spear of blood through the shadow-armored mage's gut, lifting him from the ground with the force of my attack, his feet dangling as he hangs helpless from my spear forged of my own blood... though I see him reaching a hand towards a pocket-

-Even as the brief moment of illumination passes, the darkness returning as the last of the charge packs is burnt through.

....I also note that a rather large amount of my blood is outside of my body, and I am rather swiftly starting to feel rather off....


What should I do, and should I shout out any other orders to other members of the caravan?

MOAR LIGHT

Anything is nice. Torches, lanterns, anything, fire, don't care, LIGHT THAT SHIT UP

Also, tell Jezebel she has permission to use the TWINS OF GAVROCK should she find them and line up a shot. As for yourself, PULL THAT FUCKER CLOSE AND SEVER HIS ARM BEFORE HE GETS WHAT'S IN HIS POCKET.

>>186661
Use a little more blood to create barbs on the end of the spear, just enough to ensure he doesn't slide off. Immediately retract your spear and pull the shadow armored mage towards you. Tell Dregas to have Giodiaz strike where our voice is. Punch the mage to disorient him, then fling him at the oncoming club. Recollect all the blood we can into our body, rest for a moment. Move to engage the next closest attacker.

>>186663
THERES NO TIME!

DO WHAT MUST BE DONE! SEE IN THIS OPPORTUNISTIC COWARD A REFLECTION OF YOUR ONE TRUE NEMESIS, AND STRIKE TRUE. HURL THE PROUD LION INTO HIS NECK AND SATE YOUR FURY WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE UNWORTHY!

WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON: LIONS BITE

>>186670
Wait wait I can make it better

PULL HIM INTO THE SWORD WITH THE TENDRIL OF BLOOD, AS LIKE A LION PULLING ITS PREY INTO ITS FANGS

>>186670
Once he's dead, we must preserve our stamina...

BUT NOT WITHOUT MAKING THESE MONGRELS PAY! REFINE THE BLOODLANCES SIDES INTO AN EDGE, AND WHIP IT TO THE SIDE AS YOU RETRACT IT. CLEAVE THE SHADE'S BODY AND THOSE OF HIS MINIONS IN TWAIN, AS YOU BRING YOURSELF BACK TO READY!

WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON - SECOND DRIVE - CRIMSON LASH

Go for the multi-kill c-c-c-COMBO!

Also, Suggesting we name the extended range blood lance:

WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON - FIRST DRIVE - SPEAR OF RED FURY

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2010/06/01(Tue)23:32 No. 186684 ID: d1210a
File 127546033897.jpg - (232.62KB , 500x500 , Bloody Feast Of The Lion.jpg )

>>186678
[Name appropriated, and now made canon.]

>>186663
[666 DEVIL BONUS]
[...Which sadly does not make the Twins Of Gavrock magically jump from Mordre's possession to the caravan]

"Jezebel, any more light you can make would be appreciated! The rest of you, torches, candles, use whatever you can but make LIGHT, and do it swiftly!"

With my orders sinking in and everyone in sight aligned with me now scrabbling in search of sources of light, I turn my attention back to my impaled foe.

>>186667
[666 DOUBLE DEVIL BONUS]
I sprout spikes from the end of my spear of blood, further embedding it in my foe... who oddly shows no pain as I drive my barbs ever deeper, preparing to forcefully reel him in. Instead, I see the shadow armor about his form sinking into his flesh as he starts to pull his hand free from his pocket.

>>186670
Grinning wildly in the darkness at how hectic this fight has thus far been, I pull taut my cord of blood anchored to my foe, reeling him as I set my arms back, muscles straining as I hurl my sword forth, intent on decapitating my foe before they ever reach me. The sword, arcing through the air as it spins with vicious speed and lethality, slices through the mage's neck, parting their head from their body. For a brief moment, I see a smile spreading on their free-floating head as the mage's hand fully exits the pocket, clutching some fell device. Impalement and decapitation seem insufficient to end this foe.

>>186673
>>186674
[DOUBLE DEVIL BONUS: LION'S BITE IS EVOLVING!]

But my attack is not done. As I reel my foe in closer, I whip his body about, sharpening the edges of my lance of blood as I use it to cleave through another mage, slicing him in twain at the hip. As more blood becomes available, I drive some of the spikes penetrating the mage's body father and farther through his form, until tendrils of my blood explode from the veins in the mage's neck, lashing out to adhere to the handle of Lion's Pride....

And swing the sword about, bisecting the approaching mage while flicking the sword past the separating halves of the mage's form, to slam back into my grip as the last of my blood slithers back into my body.... the mage's headless and now bisected form still flying at me. I almost laugh as I once more swing my sword, complementing my earlier vertical slash with a horizontal slice, and the quartered and headless body of the mage flies past me, limp hands falling away from whatever had been drawn from it's pocket.

WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON SECOND DRIVE: BLOODY FEAST OF THE LION!
....Now THIS is how you have a proper fight!

I see one of the remaining six mages still surrounding our group stagger, raising his hands to his head as the other five, recovered from the earlier surge of light, once more begin gathering shadows about their daggers as they turn to attack the caravan. As of yet, no one has managed to produce a lit torch or other source of light, and Dregas is once more calling out for orders. I note that only three of the remaining six mages are within forty feet of myself, while Dregas would need to move his golem forward at least another ten feet to be able to reach another foe. I also note I feel much better with my blood safely back within my veins... but between the transposition and this attack, I have been draining my own magic reserves rather quickly....


What should I say or do?
[And again, any questions for Keddic, now would be the time, as after this Keddic-oriented segment ends, it could be a long time until your next chance to pick his brain directly like this.]

>>186684
I have but one question for you.

WWMD?

Rather, What Would Mordre Do?

ORDER THAT MINION! Direct him as best you can while you move to engage as best as possible!

That device could be dangerous. Better... uh... do something about it.

Leap at the three mages near you and give them a taste of your blade. That one that's clutching its head should be an easy target.

>>186684
Run directly into their line of fire, and place yourself where the five attacks would intersect. If you can your mass connection technique to switch places with the mage clutching his head, do so. If he's out of range, then just switch with the closest attacker.

>>186692
>>186687
We should halt on using too much magic for the moment, as we are running low on reserves. Instead, let us do as Mordre does and begin with the slicing!

A true Harksburton must be AWARE OF HIS SURROUNDINGS AND THE ACTIONS OF HIS OPPONENTS!

I ask you, why would only ONE of the six remaining mages stagger in the face of his allies destruction?

WE SHALL SEE!

ALLOW A THIN LAYER OF BLOOD TO COAT YOUR PROUD LION'S BLADE.

CAST IT AT THE STAGGERING MAGE, MAINTAINING A MINISCULE CONNECTION OF YOUR OWN BLOOD BETWEEN IT AND YOURSELF. WHEN WITHIN HIS LOATHESOME PRESENCE...

ERUPT THE SANGUINE COATING INTO A SHOWER OF UNDULATING NEEDLE PROTRUSIONS.

WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON: MAELSTROM OF THE BLOODY KING

Show him that a Harksburton is not to be ignored!

i agree. the staggered one must have something add effecting him.

>>186702
Pfft. It's obvious. Would you create a construct that has your own frailties? Strike at that one, the one who reels. He commands these creatures, clearly.

Questions for Keddic:
What is your opinion of Mordre? Have you ever felt that there is something he's not telling you?

On Jezebel - You've hinted that she reminds you of your sister. Is that an endearing or annoying trait? Also is any of your family likely to show up? Do you miss them?

>What is your opinion of Mordre? Have you ever felt that there is something he's not telling you?
Shhhh! SHHHHH!

>>186805
BUT MOSTLY FOUCS ON KILLING THINGS WHILE YELLING THE NAME OF YOUR ATTACKS LIKE A TRUE HARKSBURTON, WHICH YOU HAVE NOT BEEN DOING AND IS UNGENTLEMANLY! LET THESE SHADOW HIDDEN COWARDS KNOW JUST WHO AND WHAT THEY FACE! THE TRUEST MIGHT OF THE FOURTH OF HARKSBURTON!

"LIGHT! I MUST HAVE MORE LIGHT!" AND DIRECT DREGAS TO RUSH TOWARDS THE ONE WE SHALL STRIKE THE MAELSTROM OF THE BLOODY KING INTO WITH FURY FOR HE FIGHTS WITH THE HEART OF A TRUE MAN!

>>186687
What would Mordre do? Line up three, Anti-Golem Revolver and then AA the shadow hidden jerks.

>>186806
Why would we think he's hiding something. And why would we think on anything but our respect for that mage while we are engaging in such a noble brawl? Maybe how he would react, yes, or how that Jezebel woman reminds us of our sister and if that grating annoyance is endearing or not as she is actually lending a hand to such a fight, but let us not become distract, Keddic! REMEMBER! A Harksburton must be AWARE OF HIS SURROUNDINGS AND THE ACTIONS OF HIS OPPONENTS! NOT THE POINTLESS MUSINGS OF A PHILOSOPHER!

>>186701
theres a difference between combat magic and arcane magic. combat magic, which is what keddic uses, only affects himself and those things he touches. arcane magic effects only the surroundings. thus, throwing the sword while trying to keep a connection is beyond what keddic can currently do.

>>186704
I really hope you are right on this. If not, we should continue to yell to jezebel to get some damned lights up. It seems like these mages (or this mage) gains power from darkness

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2010/06/02(Wed)13:36 No. 186890 ID: d1210a
File 12755109856.jpg - (149.58KB , 278x380 , Sanguine Maelstrom.jpg )

>>186805
I have found Mordre to be a rather engaging individual to tag along with, he has a propensity to attract violence of delightful quality, and it seems very unlikely he will be seeing peace about the Azelhaedran State for quite some time, as the State still has misgivings about him, and the Mercenary force to the south, along with the mage to the north of his Arcanoworks, both in possession of multiple outposts, shall likely have issue with the removal of Lord Barcho, as it foretells threats coming against them. Then there is the issue of a Core Being to be dealt with, the fantastical creature, Moss, that Mordre found... for one fond of adventure and excitement, I could hardly ask for more. And certainly I feel there are things he is not telling me, what gentleman doesn't have a skeleton in the closet or two, things that do not make for proper conversation, and all that! Thoughts of the riveting nature of service alongside Mordre oddly bring me to think of my sister Kyalora, who never really approved of my 'gallivanting' as she called it, and would promptly... inform me of this every time I have returned home to the family estate in Castilathen. Honestly, I swear her impertinent and cutting tongue is why she is still unwed after all these years... which reminds me of my late wife....

I shake the thoughts from my head as I focus on the battle at hand.

>>186698
There is no point where the attacks would all intersect, they appear to be aiming for maximal spread of damage rather than concentration. With their targets split so, I cannot employ the Winding Way of Mass Connection through the Proud Line to so easily circumvent their attack.

>>186687
"Dregas, charge forward, either side in range! Wide swings!"

As I see Donwick, still blindly shouting orders to Geodiaz, nod as he beckons forth, I sweep my gaze across our camp, and give a final shout before leaping into action.

>>186813
"WHERE IS THAT LIGHT!?"

As I leap forth into battle, I thankfully note the drivers (minus the one slain earlier) have all managed to get out some lanterns and torches, and work to light them. Jezebel pulls forth a bulb of glass filled with wire, and jams a charge pack into the metal assembly beneath it, as light starts to spring up about the caravan, even as tendrils of darkness lance out. The harsh light of Jezebel's creation, already starting to dim but still the brightest light in sight, simply disintegrates the solid wires of shadow as they quest for her flesh, and her wagon escapes harm. The driver of one wagon managed to light a torch and a lantern, and though the tendrils quest close enough he flinches away, the to simply fade away before they can reach him.

The other wagons do not fare as well. Most only managed to get a single light lit, and in their sputtering light, the tendrils of solid shadow manage to snake about, and lash deep cuts into the drivers who cry out in pain at the onslaught.

The final driver did not manage to get a light up swiftly enough, and the unmolested tendril of shadow cleaves him in twain, the horses screaming as gore spills onto them, starting to bolt. Drat.

>>186701
>>186702
>>186704
I belatedly realize I did not cry out the name of my prior attack, and make a mental note to amend such behavior, as I let blood flow from the gash in my hand to coat the Proud Lion in scarlet, a thick layer completely enveloping the whole of the blade.... even as I direct my Will, the power of my Blood, the drive of my soul to empowering the blade itself, imbuing it with the force of unmaking, the unraveling of life. I pour more and more power into my blade even as I intensify the bond with the blood on my blade, still connected to the gash in my hand and through it my beating heart, as I see the staggered mage, the one I leapt at, gather about himself armor made of shadow, the same as the one I struck down earlier. I smirk as I harden the blood about the edge of my Proud Lion while condensing the power in the weapon itself towards it's edge, shattering the roiling shield of shadow as if it were as intangible as it's mundane equivalent. I see the pinpoints of light I presume are the eyes of this darkness cloaked mage widen in surprise as I roar forth the name of my incoming attack, declaring my will to live and triumph over any challenge that comes my way.

"WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON:"

As the blood coated sword slides into my foe, I trigger both sustained magics, the blade vibrating with unearthly speed and force to shake apart my foe, even while I guide my blood to ride the shock-waves.

"SANGUINE MAELSTROM!!""

The mage literally explodes, torn apart from the inside in the blink of an eye at the endlessly writhing and expanding spikes and blades of blood dancing about the blade, shredding his form so finely he outright disintegrates into a mist of dispersed blood and gore, swirling about the crimson blades of blood dancing about the length of the Proud Lion.

An excellent exchange.

As I finally land on the ground, feeling my leap was packed with far too many events I tracked to have lasted but a second, I withdraw my blood back into my body as swiftly as possible as I take a deep breath, whirling about as I hear another grunt. I see the nearest of the identical mages to the object the first had dropped from his pocket dropping to his knees as if in agony...

As his hand shoots out and grasps the ominous object on the ground, and cries out some Words.

"([-()]-][)-()((-][)-()!!"

The shadows, which had been wavering as the number of mages about us dropped, abruptly rebound, the range of each existing light source throughout the caravan dwindling as the darkness intensifies-

And the mages once more number twelve, the new members simply fading into existence, likewise identical to the others. Two of their forms dissolve and blur to the grounded mage, still clutching the object, and as they flow into him his own form distorts, blinking away to take up a distant position some hundred or so feet away, going cross-legged as he stops... and the shadows about him deepen further, as the nine other mages, (now eight, as Geodiaz's lumbering pace means it finally strikes down the nearest mage) once more begin gathering shadow about their blades. I note that the new arrivals have manifested once more surrounding the caravan, with about half of their number within forty feet of me, but spread out enough I am unlikely to catch multiple in a single swing of a sword. Ah, a CHALLENGE!!


What should I do?
[And further questions]

we need to get the item and, regrettably, cleave it in twain.

I believe we have to destroy that damn object somehow, maybe it's the thing keeping them alive.

Keep Jezebel doing light flashes. Keep attentive which of the mages casts shadow, he could be the one controlling them all (or did we already kill someone like that?)

Dammit, we are swiftly losing caravan riders, now we'll never convince them to travel further (if any survive). We are at cursed lands, yes? I guess the Premen town should not be too far off. What would you think if, after the battle, we order the rest to make a camp in a safe place while Keddic turns up his speed to level 11, travels to Premen village for support? It would be hard to communicate though (maybe they also started to learn human speech, but I doubt that), we'd have to use sign language and make them sure that we are ally of Modre, then some of the shamans could soulspeak with Jojo to relay information better....

Anyway, Keddic, what have prompted you to leave your home land, family and relatives for the life of adventure? I can see that you had a wife, rest her soul in peace, did something tragic happen?

Also, tell us more about HARKSBURTONs and the land you come from. Do you guys govern your country ? Do you have any ongoing feuds or wars?

>>186890
"KEEP THAT LIGHT STRONG AS A HARKSBURTON HEART!" THINK ON THE BLOOD THEY HAVE SPILT, YOUNG KEDDIC! THAT BURNING BLOOD FUELS OUR RAGE! USE THAT BLOOD! ATTACK TO DEFEND THESE HELPLESS FOLK! THAT BLOOD IS THE THOUSAND BLADES OF THE HARKSBURTON WAY! STRIKE FROM EVERY DROP OF SPILT INNOCENT BLOOD AND GENTLEMANLY VIGOR WITH OUR BLADES!

WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON: RAGE OF THE KING OF BLOOD!

AND IT IS GOOD YOU REMEMBER TO CRY OUT YOUR ATTACK, YOUNG KEDDIC! LET THEM KNOW FEAR'S NAME IS HARKSBURTON WHEN IT PRAYS UPON THE WEAK! BREAK THEM AGAINST OUR BLOOD!

HOWEVER, WE MUST END THIS KNAVE'S LIFE! FLEEING FROM BATTLE? NOT ONLY AN UNGENTLEMANLY COWARD, BUT HE SEEMS TO BE CONTROLLING THESE MONSTROSITIES!

Lets see how badass your reflexes are Keddic. Throw the sword at one so as to make him try to guard or avoid the attack, then switch places with him and grab your sword. Spin to increase force and then saw-blade throw it through the others, put a little curve in it so you can catch as much as possible.

>>186896
PAH! WE DO NOT NEED TO THINK ON SUCH THINGS YET, YOUNG KEDDIC! PERHAPS ONCE THIS COMBAT IS FINISHED WE WILL HAVE TIME TO THINK ON HISTORY AND PLACE BUT NOW WE MUST FOCUS ON THE PLACEMENT OF THESE SHADOWED ABOMINATIONS AND THE TIMING OF THEIR ATTACK, HAHA!

Does Jezebel have any exploding weapons like grenades? Maybe she can make use of them if we direct her.

>>186904
WHAT! HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN YOUR TRAINING?! ROAR IT'S NAME WITH HONOR!
WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON: JAWS OF THE LION'S PRIDE!

>>186890
AHAHAHA!

HE'S BODY JUMPING! The clever bastard is body jumping! Oh, what a crafty foe. That item is the key behind it, of that I have no doubts.

WE MUST DESTROY IT, BUT I FEAR WE WILL NEED ASSISTANCE TO REACH THE MAGE BEFORE HIS DASTARDLY DOPPELGANGERS UNLEASH THEIR ATTACKS ON OUR CHARGES.

CALL OUT TO DREGAS: I NEED A LIFT! GET READY TO THROW ON MY MARK TO YOUR <insert direction of mage relative to Geodiaz>!

LEAP INTO HIS FIST SHOUTING "NOW" WHILE PUSHING OUT WITH YOUR LEGS. CAST YOUR BLOOD AHEAD OF YOU TO SHEAR HIM AND HIS ARTIFACT (mostly the artifact) IN TWO!

DOUBLE TEAM: SCYTHING CANNON

(THANKS OGGROTH, I'M BORROWING YER IDEAZ)

Destroy that device!

>>186890
Quickly, get onto one of the caravans. Make sure none of our allies are in the way while we attack. Gather your blood about the handle of the Proud Lion, use the sword to extend the reach of your blood tentacle and strike at each of the shadowy mages in turn. Rend the limbs from as many of them as you can manage. Remember Keddic, YOU are the ringleader here, and these fools will dance to your tune now!

WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON: SCION'S REACH

We could destroy it, but considering that it seems they have to touch it, it might be equally effective to simply seize the item. And then later possibly study it and make it our own.

Or not. Whichever, really.

>>186943
I'm just worried about further casualties. As it is, we could probably use Geodiaz to continue hauling, but if we suffer any more deaths, we're in a situation.

Personally, I'd rather not risk it.

Oh right. I forgot to mention this but your greatest asset now is Geodiaz. I have a feeling that his club has some serious runes of destruction on it in varying forms judging from how the shadow beings reacted when hit and from that guys soul being eradicated. If you can somehow get him to keep attacking then your golden.

Other than that, If you decide to get in the caravan to defend, ask Jez to give you a lightning gun (preferably a pistol type)and use that to attack the guy.

>>186896
I left my homeland because of idleness and boredom. After Mosmordre fell and Castiliathen took position as the resident superpower nation, it became distressingly boring, no one willing to challenge us, and with that spark of vitality lost, my interest in Castiliathen and military service therein dwindled, and I decided to invoke the right of the Harksburton heir to seek out a new way to improve the Way of the Harksburton fighting style, and take my leave, seeking out challenges on my own. As a member of one of the Warrior Houses, those raised to nobility for their martial prowess and dedication to Castiliathen, entitling us to receive magical and alchemical augmentations to allow us to better serve, my request to seek a means to 'improve myself' was easily approved. Keddic the 3rd, my father, had little issue with my leave, as his own father,Keddic the 2nd, was constantly hounding him that ever since Soul magic became a crime, the Way of the Harksburton has grown weak. It was practically because of my grandfather that the rest of the family has had almost no issue with my infrequent visits, grandfather only concerned with seeing strength return to the family. With the tricks I picked up in the Land of Dragons, this use of the winding way, a subset of Mass Connection that allows me to swap position with anyone in range as well as connect the fierce vibrations I can incur within the Proud Lion to each and every fiber of a struck foe's body. This principle is actually what has allowed me to improve the unarmed offensive abilities of the Way of the Harksburton without the need to rely too heavily on our knowledge of Blood based combat magic. It is thanks to the winding way that I can cause those I strike when properly infused to crumble, as I invert the winding way (and through it, Mass Connection) to disconnect all about my foe upon impact, causing their body to simply fall apart. ....But still, this as well as the current Way of the Harksburton is still not enough, either to show I improved the art... or to let me reach Aurockoth. Even when Soul magic was part of our fighting style, before the ban, Aurockoth was a monster among monsters, having slain the founder of my family line, the original Keddic Harksburton, quite possibly the greatest combat magic practitioner and warrior to have ever fought for Castilathen. ....My wife had passed during the war, succumbing to a plague that spread briefly in Castilathen, when the war against the Mosmordren empire was still beginning. Now that the war is over, Castilathen is peaceful and bereft of disease.... and as it is bereft of both excitement and my departed wife, it no longer holds appeal.

>>186902
[If I am reading what you post correctly, you want Keddic to try to manipulate the blood spilled about this battlefield. Seeing as Keddic is NOT an Arcane mage, just well-versed in Combat Magic, he can ONLY control his own body... and own blood. And if you are suggesting some sort of omnidirectional attack with Keddic's own blood.... you seem to have neglected taking into account how much blood Keddic has or needs in his body (There is a reason for the rough limit of twenty feet for extruding blood), which would also mean this could not work, unless your did individual attacks sequentially, which would be considerably more time consuming.]

>>186904
>>186907
I heave my sword into motion, flinging it towards one of the nearby mages, who turns to ward off the incoming attack as I link my mass and his, and distort space to transpose our forms, snapping my spinning sword out of the air the moment the chaotic jumble of data assaulting my senses during the transposition clears, turning that momentum into a vicious arc as I leap from my new position, crying out my attack as the blade sings through the air.

"WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON: DIMENSIONAL FANG OF THE LION!!

The blade needs no magic to empower it as it slices through the neck of a mage, his body dissolving into smoky shadow that quickly retreats towards the distant figure of the meditating mage. I don't let my momentum stop as I leap again, continuing my advance along the flank of the caravan as I move towards Dregas. I slash at a second mage as I near him, but now warned to my presence he flickers in the murky pall and is now standing just outside of my reach, his whole attention focused on me. As the driver-less wagon with two horses still to it's name starts to trundle away, building speed as the horses strain to flee, I regret not having realized that as the only person able to see through this murk without the aid of new light sources meant that no one else has noticed the fleeing wagon, and I curse myself for being so stupid, even as I regretfully note myself nearly as distant from the runaway wagon as I am from the meditating mage. Speaking of him...

I note the shadows released when I slew the other of his number merging with the growing well of penultimate darkness building about the figure, slowly obscuring the mage from even my own sight. Thankfully, I also note Dregas managing to smash another mage to paste with his wild swings, no shadows escaping his form to join the meditating mage....

>>186910
...An idea presents itself.

"Dregas, slow your golem, drop your club, and be ready to throw what gets in that hand forward and to the left!"

As Dregas brings Geodiaz to a halt, complying with my commands, I spare a quick glance back across the caravan. With only six mages still proximal to the caravan, and two of their number to dazed or distracted to properly cast, only four tendrils of shadow lance out towards the caravan. Thankfully, those that survived the last assault have not been idle, and have been lighting any and everything they can in an attempt to ward away harm with light... and it works. Despite the intensified shadow (which I note to have diminished again each time one of the mages is struck down), the redoubled illumination manages to push back the tendrils, and only two people even suffer wounds, neither immediately life threatening... one of them being Jezebel, who's dimming bulb of glass sports a smoking charge pack. I hear her hiss in pain as she scrabbles for another charge pack while I leap into Geodiaz' hand.

"NOW!"

The ten foot long golem arm heaves me skyward as I spring from the hand, hurtling across scores of yards at breakneck speed.... and badly aimed, listing heavily to the left of my target, the meditating mage shrouded in growing darkness. But how to-

>>186936
...Heh.

I let my grip on the Proud Lion slacken as I pour blood from my hand, attaching a sanguine cord to the hilt of my blade, and hurl it downward, at two mages about the caravan I am currently passing over. With a crack and hiss, the blade-tipped whip lashes out at breakneck speed.

"WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON: SCION'S REACH!"
[For future reference, this can be used to add a twenty foot length of blood connecting the Proud Lion to Keddic, increasing it's total range to 30 feet, counting the blade and arm length]

Thanks to my manipulation of my own blood to tweak the path of my strike, I manage to part the heads of both mages from their bodies, their forms dissolving to shadow as I reel the blade back in, this action having had the added bonus of correcting my flight path. Only four yet remain about the caravan, but all are preparing to attack the caravan again. I briefly make not I shall have to thank Oggroth for this human cannonball idea on return, as I finally get my hands back on the hilt of the Proud Lion, bringing it down in a vicious vertical cleave as I reach the shadow-obscured meditating mage-

To belatedly realize that not only can I not sense him within the cloud of absolute darkness, in fact I cannot even see through it any more. Where is my target!? ...Think rationally, Keddic, odds are fairly good he is still in the cloud, and judging from it's size.....

""WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON:"


Should I aim to slice down the middle of the area devoid of light where I previously saw the mage manipulating the object, or should I veer my blade of to the left or right (The shadow cloud is big enough you aren't guaranteed to hit a humanoid within it)?
[VOTING TIME: MIDDLE, LEFT, OR RIGHT, CHOOSE ONE]
...And after my strike, what actions should I take?

>>186962
Middle. He was meditating, not dodging, last you looked, and the darkness has been growing steadily deeper for some time- how would be know that his presumed goal of obscuring your sight has finally been achieved?

In the even that you strike and miss, try for an all-around attack using your blood to extend your reach. Your target will still likely be within twenty feet or so.

If that fails as well, go back to where Jezebel was with all speed. She has the brightest light source, and there's no sense flailing about in the dark.

rolled 3 = 3

---

1 for left 2 for middle 3 for right.

Can't we attack horizontally from right to left?

Anyway, Keddic, who's this Aurockoth person? I think you have mentioned him before.
Also, why is soul magic banned? Was too powerful? Do you know if any writings or studies are left of it?

>>186962
You are closer to him, which means you need not expend as much blood on keeping the blade attached to your own form.

Coat your blade Strike at the middle, noble warrior. Let not one more of our charges come to harm while we draw breath.

WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON: SANGUINE MAELSTROM

FILL HIS SHROUD WITH INESCAPABLE DOOM!

MIDDLE

Well, we can retrieve the wagon after the battle's over. No worries. It will just delay us a bit.

Go for the middle of the cloud. He was sitting, so he shouldn't be moving.

Wait, we have the blood on our blade, right?

STRIKE FOR THE MIDDLE, BUT CREATE BLADES OF BLOOD PERPENDICULAR TO THE LION FROM THE CENTER OF ITS MASS.

SOMEONE ELSE GET A NAME

>>186962
If our opponent wishes to hide, we'll smoke the rat out. First, slam your palm against the flat of the Proud Lion's blade and activate the magics within. Use the vibration from your sword in conjunction with the Mass Connection, to mess with the mage's concentration. This will fool the mage into thinking you know exactly where he is and prompt him to evade, then you will have him.

WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON: TREMORSEEKER

After he reveals himself, target the object he holds exclusively. IGNORE THE MAGE, we can deal with him after halting his shadow based shenanigans.

>target the object he holds exclusively

this a million goddramed times.

AdviceNavi.jpg

After you swing your sword, continue to hold down the A button to charge your energy as you step into the cloud. Once you are within the cloud, release the A button to release the secret technique of our ancestors (which happens to be spinning your sword around in a circle.) Be sure to go "HYAAAA!" There may be cool particle effects, and the cloud of darkness will almost certainly be dissipated, in addition to dealing double damage to anything caught in the swing.

>>186989
yes, seriously thousand. daresay a million times

>>186988
Will it work, though? We can't sense him.

:(

And this sounds so cool, too...

IF YOU CAN, YOUNG KEDDIC, STRIKE WITH THE FURY THAT IS THE WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON: SANGUINE MAELSTROM ! AND TO INSURE VICTORY, THE WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON - FIRST DRIVE - SPEAR OF RED FURY SHALL BECOME WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON - SECOND DRIVE - MAELSTROM FURY AND STRIKE WITH BOTH BLADE AND BLOOD! ONCE WE HAVE CLEAVED BOTH LIMBS IN TWAIN, WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON: BODY OF IRON TO INCREASE OUR STRENGTH AND CRUSH HIM BENEATH YOUR GENTLEMANLY FORM! HOWEVER SHOULD YOU MISS, FOURTH OF THE LINE OF HARKSBURTON, THEN YOU SHALL LAND AND ISSUE A NOBLE DUEL TO THIS BLIGHTED CREATURE BEFORE CHARGING TO THIS EERIE DARKNESS TO SLAY THE BEAST IN SIMPLE COMBAT!

>>186973

YES, KEDDIC! USE YOUR RAGE FOR THAT THRICE-DEEP-DAMNAED LIFE GOLEM TO SLAY THIS MAGE! EVERY DEATH TEACHES US A NEW AND THIS DARK MAGIC AND HELPED US LEARN THE LIMITS AND POWERS OF THE WAY OF HARKSBURTON!

>>186980

I ONLY HOPE, I ONLY HOPE.

>>187002
The point of tremorseeker isn't to SENSE your opponent, it is to fool your opponent into thinking you can. The magics inside the Proud Lion allow the blade to vibrate hard enough to make a man EXPLODE. The Mass Connection technique's primary function allows us to switch places with an opponent. However, the Mass Connection technique is being used to amplify the vibration from the sword and spread it through the cloud. While we cannot see him, the mage will definitely feel the vibration and be forced to act upon instinct. However, upon moving to evade our feint, he will come face to face with a VERY PISSED OFF KEDDIC. He might even fumble the object while he's busy shitting himself and trying to blink away, which would make our job much easier.

>>186973
[Nope. Keddic is still descending from a midair transit method, with the sword already aligned to the middle, the most he can do is veer it one way or the other before landing, so a diagonal slash, which would require veering one way then veering twice as hard in the other is unfeasible.]

Aurockoth, the Soul Grave killer, responsible for three of the six Soul Graves that were destroyed, two of them he struck down without support... He was once a man, long ago, a warrior from a rival house of warriors in Castiliathen. But as the rest of the world came to grasp the terror these weapons could bring down upon the foes of the empire, the decision was made amongst the growing alliance to make a Life Golem specifically designed to fight and obliterate Soul Graves. Aurockoth, formerly of house Cazterria, was nominated for the operation, to serve as the base of the Life Golem. One hundred and ninety three times, they fused Aurockoth's body and soul with those of other beings, his soul and flesh both warring for dominance against the newcomers. And one hundred and ninety three times, Aurockoth was able to assume control of each new boon of power grafted to his existence. One hundred and ninety three times, his body, mind and soul were tempered, until the man that was Aurockoth was no more, and monster garbed in his warped skin was left, a quintessence of violence and lethality. Aurockoth, The God Of Blades, The Reaper Made Flesh, The Living Sword, The Soul Grave Slayer is even now touted as being a shining example of what can be accomplished when the nations work together. ....They neglect to mention that in his 'reforging' Aurockoth discarded such things as attachment to his family, or concern for his fellow soldiers, and vanished some time after the war ended. He has been sighted dozens of times, always seeking out battle, as if his own existence demands he fight forevermore. Despite my desire to see him dead, both for slaying members of my family as 'collateral damage' as well as having stolen glory that belonged to those of my family, I admit to having a profound respect for his strength.

Soul magic was banned partly for it's power, but mostly because the Mosmordren empire horrified the weaker-stomached participants in the war with what they could do with Soul magic, discarding morality in search of power. And so the fear-mongers claimed that if Soul magic was left about, others would walk the path of the Mosmordren Empire: The ban did not take long to pass. I know that the Mortal Coil retains several tomes on Soul magic, though as far as I know, only the seven Grand Elder Mages are allowed to study the field, let alone practice it. ...Though I have heard something about a roving library where one can learn about anything, though I know not if it is real. As I recall, it was called the Caemlo Repository

>>186975
>>186983
>>187005
[FUCK MAKING CHOICES, A HARKSBURTON TAKES ALL OPTIONS. HOO-HAH!]

I flood my blood down the length of my blade, tying the empowered blood to the building power in my sword, as the Proud Lion is readied to once more vibrate sharply enough to unravel the making of whatever it strikes. As my blade cleaves into the cloud of shadow, I trigger the vibration while ensuring my blood rides the resultant shock-waves, the massive two handed sword becoming a mass of undulating and razor sharp spikes of blood.

"WAY OF THE HARKSBURTON: SANGUINE MAELSTROM!!"

The combination of vibrating blade, dancing blood and gusts of wind brought by my tumultuous path to reach my target, the cloud veritably explodes, unable to hold itself together, though whether it was from air pressure or the interference of my magic, I know not.

....I also note that there is no one inside the cloud, nor did I feel my blood make contact with anything while it quested for flesh. Where did my foe go!? ..My only consolation is that as I finish my leaping cleave, my blade slams into a discarded object on the ground, which I briefly note to be an obsidian statue before it shatters under my strike-

-And the world abruptly has light restored to it, and as I whip my head about I see the other mages likewise gone, the survivors peering about fearfully whilst still clutching every lit object they could find, as if doubting such an impromptu cessation of danger could be real. And yet....

I turn about in place, looking for tracks, clues, anything to tell me what just happened, but other than the damages done to the caravan and it's personnel, I see nothing, the fragments of the statue I smashed disintegrating under the glare of the morning sun.

...Is it over? ...No matter how engaging the fight, to end so anti-climatically as this... My soul cries out at the injustice! ....But still, who WAS that?

[SECRET BONUS 010 MISSED: SPEEDY SHADOW SLAYER]


What should I say or do?
[And now is your chance to get Keddic speculating about who attacked the caravan, as well as ask other questions.]

Better get that runaway wagon back.

Examine the statue more closely.

>[SECRET BONUS 010 MISSED: SPEEDY SHADOW SLAYER]

Argh, dammit! What did we do wrong?
Cry out for injustice, pledge to avenge the fallen!


Anyway, see how everyone is doing. track down the carriage. See if we have enough personnel to continue journey. If the riders object, remind them that now that others are gone the ones who will stay will get even more money as they will divide 120 marks between them. If the keep protesting offer those extra 35 marks.

So, Keddic, what do you know of this Caemlo Repository ?

Oh, and prepare for further similar attack. Have Jez prepare more light based attacks or something like that, prepare torches and stuff