All Dee vs Mountain [Page 2]

Perhaps he hadn't arrived quite as early as he'd thought... Anson hadn't seen anyone else moving about on deck when he arrived at the ship, and so he went below decks to rummage around. It seemed that half the participants this round had arrived early and they were just managing to miss each other within the slowly rocking maze below decks like a badly written movie script.

The young man had spent a few minutes of his own time opening storage containers in the cargo hold and searching around to see if the ship had any real food stored away somewhere on it. The Wolf spirit gave him little leeway in this area, and it was difficult to concentrate for long periods without something in hand to feed it. And so in those few minutes it had already managed to consume half a crate of hardtack, an entire barrel of pickled fish, two cannonballs, and a pirate cutlass that had been hanging on the wall. Just as he finished sucking down the last of a coil of rope like it was one long spaghetti noodle, he heard the sound of loud, guttural singing coming from on deck.

It looked like the wait was over. Still, he didn't know much about the other team... he didn't even know much about his own team, really. He and Sir Kael had agreed to go in together, but the remainder of the team was going to be formed of the captain's acquaintances and friends. He'd met the man's wife and daughters already at the hotel, and the peculiar woman named Jyuu-knee-kyuu that Celeste had seemed quite fond of that glowed in the dark who was supposed to be the 4th member of their team; however, he hadn't yet met the replacement. Considering that he only knew the other team by the name "Dee" he had no idea if that booming, slurring voice was one of his companions or one of his adversaries.

'Well, may as well check out the new arrivals.'

Wedging the half empty crate of hardtack under his left arm the best that he could manage, the young man from Mountain took another one out and tucked it under the bandanna covering his face before he headed up the stairs, having to turn slightly in the narrow passageway to avoid bumping the walls with the crate he was carrying.

Dumble Dee Wrote:

> OwO Hewwo handsome, Kitsune purred as she realized the form was that of one of the opposing team members.

"...hewwo to you too, ma'am."

Well that wasn't the greeting he had expected; coming up from the lower cargo hold he was called out to by a woman laying in a hammock. She definitely wasn't the one who was singing earlier, and... as the young man cast a glance at the sunlight peeking down from the other set of stairs going up to the deck he saw the feet of another person disappearing out of view.

It seemed this ship wasn't as empty as he had first thought. The bellowing from upstairs was still going on, and he heard four cracks come from above a moment later; three heavy resounding ones and one that sounded a bit more hollow and came from further away. Something was going on, at least.

Dumble Dee Wrote:

> Didn't realize it was already that time. Stretching, the kitsune shot a glance towards the "OFFLINE!" screen, a bit confused.

"It sounds like it might be getting started without us," replied Anson as he stepped forward out of the shadow of the stairway and towards the side of the room where Madison was hung up in her hammock.

Rather than dressed like a pirate, he seemed more to fit the image of a yakuza; blonde hair tied up in a ponytail and a black bandanna over his mouth and nose with a pattern that looked like the teeth of an animal skull. He wore a black jacket with white sleeves and a roaring tiger on the back, and because it wasn't zipped the leather armor he was wearing underneath showed through in the front. On the bottom it was blue jeans with threadbare holes in the knees tucked into calf-high brown leather boots... and of course, he was carrying an open crate full of cracker-like bread squares that he stopped for just a moment to drop to the floor beside the stairs. Though perhaps because he was standing in the dark it was slightly easier to see the white wispy spectral features of the Wolf spirit he had bonded to; translucent and ghost-like ears coming off the top of his head, and a spectral tail that casually swished from side to side as he crunched on the remainder of the hardtack that had been shoved into his mouth between his last statement and the next one.

"So then," he said after a swallow, walking across the room and holding out a gauntleted hand in case the unknown woman needed help climbing out of the hammock, "are you one of mine?"

(( No number yet since I have not dove into the melee. ))

show spoilerhide spoilerBonded: Soul of the Wolf

Aspected: Unaspected

Passive Abilities: Hunter's Sense (wolf, minor), Overwhelm (wolf, major)

Active Abilities: Devour (wolf, minor)

show spoilerhide spoilerDevour stomach contents:

• Hardtack

• Barrel of pickled fish

• Coil of rope

• 2 cannonballs

• Pirate cutlass

arrow Negotiation

Celeste laughed as she tossed down her Gpad to Tellus and received her own jacket back over the shimmery material covering the rest of her torso and corset. Still smiling, she listened while he talked and processed what he was saying. Teeth in the ball, that would be a unique autograph and then kids were already enchanted with the big green guy. She was definitely the money behind the team and showed it, although she was quite happy to join in on occasion.

"They would love that," She said genuinely enjoying speaking to the large beast man. "I'll hold you to that." She was far too used to various forms of resting b***h face to let his natural features bother her. Plus she considered herself a very good judge of character.

"Well, Loppa isn't it?"It had the right kind of simple flare that would seem to suit him. "I like your style, Loppa. We should talk", rubbing her fingers together in that way that humies do when talking about money. Adventurers always needed to have money to fund their various whatevers. She turned slightly back to Rayner. "I believe my husband there is your opponent to start, but he can get tougher if you'd like more of a challenge." She wondered if Loppa was the same. Bigger was subjective, but she liked the idea of something a bit more protective against this behemoth. "After all we can't disappoint the fans." She motioned towards the kids with her sheathed hands before resting it on her sword. From what she knew of orcs, they liked to be the biggest and worst.

"Sponsorship is all about the fans, isn't it? It looks like you just added my kids to the fanclub,"moving out of the way as he'd requesting but taking note of the baseballs and his outfit, she'd figured that his first love wasn't bashing humies. Each time she mentioned a member of her family, she emphasized it just enough to make sure he took note. He seemed very far from the typical 'dumb' orc that she'd read about. She was also a little surprised that he'd tolerate an elf on his team, so who knew what other surprises could be in store. Instead, she gave him all the respect she'd give anyone. "I wonder if we could find you someone even tougher to fight..." she smiled at him, "For the fans, of course."

arrow Fanclub

The kids were super excited by the floating balls, and Serafina used the distraction to hide the credit card. Where? Only she and the dragon knew. Why wasn't Rox streaming yet?!? Kaylee was staring at her ball and easy to get back towards the 'safe' zone by Serafina grabbing the back of her shirt. Kaleb was staring in wonder and horror at the gobs of saliva on his both, unsure if it was interesting or gross.

This short pier was getting crowded.

Supreme Jerk Commander Wrote:

> “ADRINAI!” Rox shouted at the top of her lungs. “COVER ME!”

STRIKER!

(only not really because wtf even is this fight format)

Adrinai was just about to try to find out what was transpiring between Loppa and Celeste when Rox's shout came from above and behind him. Adrinai was no stranger to sudden calls to action; he'd been a Paladin, protecting the helpless from evil, for longer than most humans had been alive. Even as he began to turn to face Rox and see what was going on, he activated his Aura of Coordination, making sure that Loppa, Rox, and Madison could share in the benefit of the aura, so long as they were within 30 feet. Information flooded into his mind as he focused on his connection to Rox, specifically. Although the aura didn't allow allies to share fully realized, coherent thoughts, they shared vital tactical information at an instinctive level. Right now, he was aware of what was most critical to Rox: her situation, her intentions, and what she needed him to do. He knew that she was just landing from a long drop, that she was in combat but was starting to transform, and that her opponent had last been seen up the mast.

Wait, she isn't transformed!?

That bit of information stuck out like a sore thumb. Rox was no weakling, but she was still at a disadvantage against any of her potential opponents if she was in her base form. No wonder she had called for assistance. Because of the information that he'd received from the Coordination Aura, Adrinai was already looking up as he turned to face Rox, and that was when he spotted Ryke just beginning her ballistic descent.

Don't worry, Rox, I'm coming!

Adrinai thanked the Light that he'd opted to leave most of his armor behind for this fight, because there was no way that he could've crossed the distance in time if he was encumbered by even a few more pieces of his plate armor. As it was, Ryke had a bit of a headstart and gravity working on her side, but a slightly longer distance to travel and, besides, without his armor, Adrinai was fast as hell!

He took two quick steps and then leapt forward, arcing across the deck of the ship in a low trajectory. He oriented his body horizontally and put his kite shield up in front of him, bracing the top edge of the shield with his other hand to keep it from smashing into his own face in the event of a collision. And a collision was precisely his intention.

He'd timed his jump and adjusted his speed to meet Ryke on her downward descent, shield first, just a few feet above Rox's head. If he'd judged correctly and they smashed together in midair, he would divert her momentum along his own and send them both crashing to the deck several feet from Rox, hopefully giving her the breathing room she needed to finish her transformation.

Coordination Aura Wrote:

> Coordination Aura: This aura will affect Adrinai and any allies that he designates within thirty feet. Everyone affected by the aura is made aware of the positions of their allies as well as the position of any other creatures that anyone in the aura can see. The allies are also made aware of any significant terrain features that any member of the group can see. > > Upkeep: None (0)

Elven Agility Wrote:

> Elven Agility > > Elves have dexterity and reaction times that would seem supernatural to a normal human. For a trained fighter, such speed would be recognized as being beyond mundane peak human potential, although not by a significant margin. This speed comes at the cost of reduced physical strength and hardiness. He is still stronger than an average, untrained human, but is weaker than an ordinary human fighter and much weaker than the peak human specimens that would enter this fighting tournament, despite having reached the limits of Elven physical strength. Similarly, his bones and organs are more fragile than a human’s. Adrinai's use of heavier armor is considered unusual by Elven standards because it limits his ability to take advantage of his natural agility, but he considers it a fair tradeoff for shoring up his natural lack of durability.

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Active Auras: Coordination (0 upkeep)

Active Wards: None

Active Seals: None

Inner Radiance: Intense (4/4)

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Supreme Jerk Commander Wrote:

Sins of an Angel Wrote:

Dumble Dee Wrote:

Not Jak Okay Wrote:

(quoted my teammates because Coordination Aura allows you all to be aware of everyone else's situation in the fight, so long as you're within 30 feet of Adrinai, even if you're belowdeck or otherwise out of sight)

1: Adrinai to the Rescue!

Quote: Wrote:

> “ADRINAI!” Rox shouted at the top of her lungs. “COVER ME!”

Rox was lucky - there would have been no way for the homing-Ryke-missle to interrupt what was happening, not since she dropped and rolled to safety before calling for backup. That was a new and interesting turn of events. The only other person she had seen around the main deck had been the big green guy but she got the suspicion that wasn’t who was coming to the rescue.

On her downward descent, she watched with very apparent confusion as her opponent performed a peculiar dance routine while ribbons and sparkles exploded from her person, concealing her partially from vision until the transformation was complete.

”Adrinai Telesai” Wrote:

> STRIKER! > > ELF-INCOMING

Ryke spotted who she assumed to be Adrinai, the “not-so-dread-pirate”, arrive on the scene. There wasn’t much time to properly assess the new scene and change trajectory, but the elf’s shield presented an excellent landing platform and subsequent spring-board.

She committed to the action, only having enough time to ensure that she landed feet first. The heavy thud as she collided with the shield reverberated even in her ears (despite the gBuds and music pumping) but it was an especially satisfying sensation as she activate the jets on her boots just to give her a little bit of a push off. This way, her ricochet was a controlled action and she safely tucked and rolled back a ways. About halfway through she righted herself but continued to slide along the wooden deck the rest of the way until she was beside the crate she had raided earlier. Ryke didn’t waste the opportunity given to her and grabbed the discarded cover.

”CATCH!” She hucked the wooden lid right at her now fully-transformed opponent. Of course, the crate lid was only a distraction, because guess who was running full tilt right after it with more bottle of terrible booze in either hand? Oh yeah. This crazy ginger right here.

[3]

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Supreme Jerk Commander Wrote:

As Adrinai flew toward his kinetic rendezvous with Ryke, their eyes met. He discovered that she both knew that he was coming and that she was adjusting her orientation to seemingly kick off of him. It was a risky move, assuming that a surface that your opponent had control of would remain stable enough to use for yourself. Sending her into a careening, uncontrolled drop to the deck would be as simple as sweeping the shield out as she was attempting to kick off of it, which was exactly what he intended to do.

So it was that, just before her feet met his shield, she would hear emanating from the other side of the barrier a triumphant cry of

“Gotchaaaaaaaaaaaaa~!”

that morphed seamlessly into a shout of panic as she activated her rocket boots, the cry changing in pitch as the two bodies flew away from each other.

He never got to sweep his shield out, as it was violently slammed against his body by the force of her boots. It was only because he’d had the foresight to brace his other fist against the top edge of the shield that he avoided having the backside of the shield mash his nose to pulp. Instead, both shoulders, his left forearm, and right elbow flared up in agony as they absorbed the force of the impact and kept the shield from doing serious damage to his face and body. The sudden force, applied above his center of mass, coupled with the unexpected reversal of his momentum, caused his legs to whip around beneath him, and he now found himself sailing back the way he’d come facing the sky.

It was only through his supernatural grace, and at the last possible second, that he managed to turn the backward flight into an impromptu backflip and land on his feet, albeit still with considerable momentum. He stutter-stepped, backpedaling rapidly to try to keep from toppling over as he looked around wildly for something to grab and steady himself on. It was then that his Coordination Aura made him aware of a new, rapidly-approaching problem.

”Supreme Jerk Commander” Wrote:

> allowing the spinning projectile to sail harmlessly overhead and quite possibly ruin someone else's day

Even as he was still trying to recover his balance, he had to raise his shield to catch the wooden disk that Rox had effortlessly dodged. It shattered on impact, and while it did no damage, it further added to his momentum, turning his backpedaling into full-on, arm-flailing staggering as he tried not to fall.

“DERF!” he exhaled unceremoniously as he slammed into something fleshy but still remarkably solid.

He turned to see that he’d careened into his teammate, Loppa, who likely was entirely unbothered by the, by his standards, minimal impact.

“Thanks for being there, big guy,” he remarked as he gave him a friendly pat on the arm, and then turned to face Celeste, who seemed to be the only person on the deck not currently paired off in a fight. He was originally planning to continue to help Rox until someone else needed him, but he’d already seen that not only had she finished her transformation, but that she was in her most powerful form. Ryke was clearly capable of handling herself, but a fully-powered Rox was able to go toe-to-toe with anyone Adrinai had ever met. Ryke would have her work cut out for her, and Rox certainly didn’t need his assistance at the moment.

“Your teammate is most uncouth,” he remarked at Celeste, gesturing toward where Ryke and Rox were facing off. “You and I aren’t like that, though, are we? From one person who knows how to mind his manners to another, would you care to dance?”

As he said this, he raised his arms, prepared to fight if Celeste was so inclined.

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Active Auras: Coordination (0 upkeep)

Active Wards: None

Active Seals: None

Inner Radiance: Intense (4/4)

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Supreme Jerk Commander Wrote:

Sins of an Angel Wrote:

Not Jak Okay Wrote:

Tei kae Wrote:

2: Adrinai from the Rescue!

"Seriously?" he eyed his wife sideways, as she seemed to take glee in exciting the giant designated batter about coming after him, far from sure what her game was- but at least the kids seemed happy. The big guy fixated on him, giving him a once over and Rayner sat and soaked it. He'd already had a gander on this thing, on account of he was expecting company and it was freaking huge, but he still hadn't figured out the rough-shod baseball-murderer theme. But he had gotten a good look at how densely packed its limbs and neck were, not taller than Athan but broader and more packed. Worse, he had plenty of tactics he could turn on the Butcher, but watching the orc fiddle with his growing... tree?... like it was a baton kind of shot most of those right overboard. So--

Not Jak Okay Wrote:

> "Dis one 'ere sez u'ze can get tuffa. So'z. Get. Tuffa. Now."

"Hah! Heheheh," his freaking luck. But he recognized that glint in its eye. He could still have some fun with this maybe. So, time for a test drive.

He stepped around Cel, eyes finally peeling off Loppa as he gave his wife a quick kiss before taking a small circle around the two, so they weren't blocking the shot from the dock, and gave a shrill whistle. Down on the boards, a humie Loppa might recognize as extra-puny for a non-child ran up, hucking an oversized metal briefcase up with more strength than the tiny frame should have had, rapidly retreating out of bounds at double time as the fighting started in the background- Kael's eyes flicking to track Ryke and the other two wome- oh, wait, that one was a guy- starting into the fight as the timer on his FIGHTER kicked in. Go time.

His own eyes were already bloody red, the dark color of the iris becoming sharper as his blood started pumping in anticipation, peeling the jacket off and letting the wind carry it down to the water, holding the metal box up in front of the collection of scars now bared on his torso. Each thumb caught a latch on the side of the black briefcase. He grinned right back, sharp and hungry on his right side, canine bared, the scarred left a slack imitation.

"A'ight Jolly Green. Ya wannit-"

*--CLACKK--*

Each side shot out, latching onto the gauntlets as the briefcase opened up, bottom falling to the ground as he stepped into the two bootprints in it. With a series of loud metallic clacks the case opened up, series of metal plates pulled atop each other and interlocking tight over a glistening black layer of something like fabric spreading before it, folding up over his legs and torso, latching together as he took another two heavy steps forward, boards creaking lightly underfoot, rolling his shoulders and stretching, testing out the suit as the power armor put itself together. It was sleek for power armor maybe- but it added another two inches to Rayner's height, broadening shoulders and limbs alike. Black metal plates with hints of copper trim, tight and functional, except for the thick clawlike ends to his finger tips, and the hefty looking metallic jaw latching into place at the front of the gorget , connecting to the neck and helm growing over him as he held up the faceplate- pressing it against the mask with a hiss as the suit finished connecting and sealed itself, before humming to life, jaw clamping to its upper half and the three eyes on the faceplate taking on a crimson glow.

"You've got it."

Clasping the rail of the ship behind him in one hand, Rayner gave one small grunt as Phobos yanked up hard, wood groaning before splintering lose on one side, then the other, squaring off and raising his own oversized wooden bat, complete with splintered ends.

[1/20]

Well, that plan hadn’t been her most well executed. The two female fighters collided and much unexpectedly, caused a minor shockwave that left Ryke perplexed and scrambling to hop up onto her feet after her fairy-winged opponent performed the most graceful of barrel rolls right over her.

She swatted away the debris and stood up, seeing Rox perform some fancy footwork to regain stable ground some feet away again.

“I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF THIS MOMENT!” I PROMISE TO GIVE YOU A GOOD FIGHT!

Ryke spent a moment to follow in Rox’s example of scoping out their surroundings, seeing potential everywhere she looked. However, she still clutched both bottles of liquor in either hand and the woman - who was radiating light and dripping sparkles took up arms. A mop, to be specific. Well, Ryke couldn’t say it would have been her first choice but she wasn’t going to complain.

She smiled, though it was more of a s**t-eating grin. “Alright then, pixie stix, batter up!” Ryke quickly whipped the right bottle right at Rox and darted to the left at a slight angle where she came across a discarded bucket and soccer kicked it towards her opponent, giving her two problems to deal with at once.

[5]

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Supreme Jerk Commander Wrote: