Degenerates vs Silver Dragons [Page 5]

Five

There would be no way for Grakav to pull short on his attack; he was invested, and it was all gravity at this point. The Reptilian came down, planting his feet for the swing…

And his legs buckled.

Pain flared up his injured back like a wave, and dropped him to his knees; the arc of his blade cut short as the downward hook embedded itself into the floor. Omi had excused himself from the fight, and so he would not be there to see the Serpentine warrior at his worst. It had taken a few seconds, but the shock and rage had given way to reality.

Grakav was not finished, certainly, but he would need a moment to lift himself from the ground. With his weapon already set, he pushed against it with his muscular arms; half dragging, half pushing, his bulk to a stand once more. Unknown obscenities hissed from his open mouth, and he snapped his jaws open and shut with loud clicks. But, Grakav managed to get there; leaning heavily on his massive blade as he eyed first the door, and then turned to regard the hole in the ceiling.

Snakes did not give chase.

Besides, he was in no shape to pursue his quarry; needing very much to take a few moments, and realign his bones to something close to normal. So, using his sword as an impromptu crutch, Grakav worked his way back across the apartment to stand amongst the bits of shattered glass; serpentine head cast skyward as he peered into the fog above.

“Vissssssss-chk! Vissssssaahhhh...”

The ongoing protests of the human at his back were entirely ignored, so lost was the Reptilian to his chant*. He swayed his body; slowly at first, but with increasing tempo. Grakav loosened his achy joints, and alternated tension to his muscles. First one -pop-, then another...and another.

But, all around him, a green light began to coil; taking shape even as his body appeared to bulge, and his scales hardened. An enormous, albeit entirely visual, snake effigy having formed around him like a translucent cocoon. The behemoth snake mirrored its summoner’s gaze; head tilted up toward the heavens.

Grakav crouched low, and prepared to leap.

“Haelikor” Wrote:

Stance - Coiling Threat / Zealot

Devotion - 1 // -6(Viper’s Reply)

Gullet - Intestines

• Appendix

show spoilerhide spoilerZealot :: By fully embracing a particular Stance, Grakav can enter his Zealot state; locking out access to Stance switching, and the abilities in those Stances, in favor of stronger variants of the abilities within his Zealot state. While each Stance gains individual benefits from the Zealot state, there are certain features that remain static across all schools.

Throne of Vis'st - Usable as long as Grakav is within the Coiling Threat stance, this ability summons an effigy of Vis'st; his giant, ghostly, green body coiling around Grakav like a transparent cocoon. The visual effect is purely theatrical, but extends out 5ft in all directions around him; topped by a weaving, hissing, serpentine head. Physical objects may pass into the effigy, but small projectiles are slowed by 50%. Magical/supernatural/energy/elemental effects however treat the effigy as though it were completely solid; granting Grakav total protection from such effects so long as he is within the Throne of Vis'st. Any ongoing Magical/supernatural/energy/elemental effects (such as the ground being on fire, or a sheet of ice) are pushed out to the edges of this effect upon its activation and may not pass through the barrier while Throne remains active. If a creature has active spell-like abilities on their person, or if they should attempt to activate such abilities within the active throne, they(the character) are immediately pushed outside of the Throne‘s area..This ability costs four(4) Devotion, and remains active for only one round; vanishing immediately if Grakav attempts to move himself in any direction.

Viper's Reply - Usable only while in the Zealot state for the Coiling Threat stance, this ability generates all the effects of Throne of Vis'st; while also pairing it with a sudden strike attack. During the first round, treat this ability as though it were Throne of Vis'st; but, at the start of the following round, the effigy uncoils in whatever direction Grakav chooses. He need only be facing the direction he wishes to strike in, and when the effigy moves he will be thrown forward by up to 30ft. The ghost snake will continue to provide the benefits of Throne of Vis'st during this attack, but will in no way deal additional damage to an object or creature targeted by Grakav. Typically, he pairs this ability with either a strong swing from his Fullblade, or a bash attack with his Tower Shield. This ability costs six(6) Devotion, and has a duration of two rounds.

Fortress of Scales - When Grakav enters the Zealot state for Coiling Threat, he becomes one with the unyielding armor of Vis'st; his natural defenses becoming even hardier. Grakav's Scales undergo the following changes: Any use of Shed is immediately reversed, Shed becomes unusable, Bone-tough scales become plate-mail tough, leather tough scales become chainmail tough, any previously skin tough scales become leather tough, Slippery provides no benefit, and any instance of Anointed that has already been lost is NOT regained. Grakav's weight increases by 50lbs, and his strength traits increase by 25%. In exchange, his speed and jump traits are reduced by 50%.

Out-of-Bounds 2/6

LeeRoy Brightmane Wrote:

Namine could probably average well over 45 m/s on her slings with her 50" leverage, certainly not up to David's 100 m/s talent, but respectable. It was strange that Yancy was perceiving lobs as underhanded throws, but ... I guess he couldn't really see.

Turns out that Namine didn't even really need to test Yancy's armor. He'd backed up near a ledge, sliding his feet across ground covered in grease. Surprised that he hadn't already fallen to his demise, Namine ripped a ball bearing out of the exposed vent, her tendril blistering from the heat, and whipped it full-speed at the side of Yancy's most committed knee.

After launching her attack, Namine dashed forward and jumped down to the wall connecting her to the original building, and tore away at her lower robe, dividing it into 4 pieces of long flowing cloth.

Blade Theory Wrote:

[6]

Unfortunately, Grakav would be doing his dance upon the rooftop of that poor man's home alone. At least for the time being.

You could logically break down the routes most warriors could take in the flow of battle rather easily if you stopped and give it any thought. Perhaps not the minutia thereof, but certainly the meat of a particular route..

Going down the branches of this tree:

That green beast and Omi had their brief altercation.

------- 1. The monstrous humanoid would give chase.

------- 2. He would remain in the ring-out zone until better opportunities presented themselves.

------- 3. He would return whence he came.

Those were the probable choices, each one housing their own variants; perhaps he had some supernatural power to render himself hard to spot when exiting the home covertly, or perhaps he could attack from inside the home without exiting it, and so on. Yet, his combat style, the rhythm of his chase, did not support such an indirect fighting style. No. In not triggering those melee cobras who acted as strings of fate to bind the two men, the essence of the Degenerates participant as a warrior was weighed by the eerily confident red snake like the currency of his soul dropped into merchant's scales. Though this calculatory measure of his foe could never reach a 100% certainty, it edged ever closer.

The verdict became more and more steady: a weapon morphing close to mid-range combatant with overwhelming force that felt more comfortable in linear yet open hunting venues. Even if he had say, a projectile --- through a spell or from a bow -- that wasn't what was "natural" to Grukav. That wasn't his signature. That wasn't really him. Such a halfhearted measure wouldn't have the commitment needed to handle Omi. Not at all. No, to dictate the flow of combat, Grukav would need to be atop the Serpentine Artist, to actuate further momentum.

**However. Omi was not this way!!**

His signature, his subterfuge overlaid pattern, was one born not from controlling the flow of combat. Rather it was of ruining that flow entirely, until nothing made sense. To throw the conventional and prevailing wisdom of combat to the wayside. To discern what's still sane of an insane series of gambits; yes, his was to make even the most adamant and logical of combatants break and crumble into saliva drooling simpletons and shake with fear like cowards!

His hands began to nimbly dive into his pockets, his jaw lowering open with a bizarre intensity-- and tongue flopping out over his lips. Then, in a frenzy, he began to plop these snake symbol objects all over himself, gauntlets patting and slapping at his own body manically.

Sticker Generation: +1 per turn. (3 to start.)

(Inactive) Doorway Stickers [2]: Melee.

(Inactive) Tongue Stickers [3]: Ranged.

(Inactive) Left Arm Sticker [2]: Impact, Melee.

(Inactive) Bar Mace [1]: Rubberization.

8/8 Stickers placed.

His tongue retracted into his mouth whilst Barsait's gaze stayed locked onto the adjacent building for the slightest sight of movement or green beast's outline emerge -- gauntlets digging into the thin road's opposing building's wall to begin his new ascent.

Time-Out Timer: 2/6

It was soon time to fire, fire, fire..

Blade Theory Wrote:

> Unlike Omi, the Man-snake did not labor over the intricacies of what his foe should do...or even -could- do.

And that was why this wasn't a battle worth laboring over as much as a foregone conclusion of victory for the crimson serpent.

No doubt Grakav was strong. Powerful, or what have you. But this wasn't gladiatorial combat in a cage between two unarmed warriors wrestling one another. Strength was only a piece of the puzzle, and if you didn't have some kind of insight into your opponent -- call it intuition or perhaps instinct -- then ... simple solutions were oft simple failures.

Snakespeed Dash!

1 token expended, 2 turn cooldown.

Omi's body suddenly lurched out of the path of the brick avalanche right and upwards, his grip tightening firmly the second his lower tier dash's five foot trajectory sideways ended. This is of course, assuming Grakav's release had the trajectory to cross their small building gap, the red snake hoisting his way up the building across their little roof parting and all. But the launch presumed to be "successful."

And this wasted effort gave Omi the opportunity to make his own ledge touch down, ending his ring out timer once again with a hoisting to his feet onto the nearby rooftop -- a dangerous air coming off from his strangely relaxed posture.

Grakav would very much see Omi.

Arms at his side, slouched, eyes narrow like a man who had just gotten out of bed.

It was hard to mistake the body language, even for their clashing social norms.

Apathy.

[7]

Scalar Warfare Wrote:

> Touching down to the street with a bare foot for a single step, the symbiote shot forward from even that paltry impulse, gliding above the street like a frictionless skater, her full leg power moving a 14 pound weight against nothing but the resistance of the air itself. In a moment she was upon the homunculus' prone form again, ending the bizarre hover, and stooping to grab a fistful of his fancy tunic with her left arm, while the right cocked back, palm out, ready to strike or fend 'ere he drew a weapon. Her knee would sink into his stomach painfully, pinning him to the ground.

You know what Kae needs? Clothing. She should buy clothes.

As the woman performed her physics-defying trapeze, Ammiel looked to his sheathed blade from the corner of his eye. The spell drinker failed to react towards the stunt much as it had the rest of her impressive albeit vomit-inducing repertoire. As expected, she's not a mage... I'll have to watch out for that abomination dwelling within her. Admittedly, the magus would have been more impressed if he wasn't too busy criticizing her choice in outfit (or lack thereof).

Ammiel began to breathe deep, taking in a considerable amount of air in a continuous inhale. It would be as though he were about to sigh dramatically, but instead continued to take in air dramatically without ever exhaling.

Still in a kneel, Ammiel arched his body forward, placing his right hand over the hilt of the elven longsword and his left over the opposite side of his waist. As Kae rebounded off the ground into her hover, Silmacil was drawn with a resounding ~SHEEN. A flash of brilliant silver moonlight could be seen in the magus' free hand, which performed a weapon unsheathing motion in a similar fashion--

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Silver Radiata Wrote:

> Silver Radiata > > Base Cost: 10 mana > > > > Silmacil focuses lunar energy through Ammiel's body into his free hand and condenses it, creating an emulation of itself in the process. The emulated weapon functions identically to Silmacil in every respect. Whenever a spell-like ability is activated by Silmacil, it is activated through the emulation as well for no additional mana cost. Silver Radiata lasts for three posts, until either weapon is disarmed/dropped, or Moonblade willingly dismisses it.

The rune-engraved elven blade had flooded the magus with its magicks, condensing a solid replica of itself into its master's free hand. While the real blade was drawn with his right hand to strike at Kae's floating midsection (and would meet her knee on an advance), the left was flipped back and overhead, poised to retaliate or follow-up against the symbiote.

The addition of a second sword might seem odd, seeing as the magus preferred to leave a free hand for spell-casting purposes, but having an extra weapon with which to keep the harlot out of arm's reach could prove invaluable. Was it practical for taking on large beasts, other sorcerers, or battlefield style combat with multiple opponents? No. Was it suitable for dueling a levitating harlot with little armor? Absolutely. The double draw motion was unnecessary, but --much like with everything else he did-- Ammiel was a fan of flashy theatrics. He would later comment that the added twirl of the summoned blade as he materialized it overhead was a nice touch.

The visual shenanigans might hide the fact that both weapons had a low-level lunar enchantment on them, adding about two inches to the effecting length and width to the blades. If Kae was foolish enough to assume this light was merely special effect, she would be in for a rude surprise when it cut into her. Given that the swords were already nearly four feet long to begin with though, this seemed like an unlikely mistake for the seasoned harlot-warrior to make.

The constant air inhaling was still a thing though; one would be forgiven for missing it were it not for the fact that Moonblade hardly ever stopped talking s**t long enough to be quiet.

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Character Status Wrote:

> Mana: 19 (14 + 5 Natural) > > Silmacil: 0 (15 - 10 Silver Radiata - 5 Silver Eclipse) > > Lun-Dransil: 0 (New Moon); sheathed > > > > -Moonblade is inhaling (1st post). > > -Silver Eclipse is active (2 posts remaining). > > -Psylocke Barrier is active (2 posts remaining). > > -Impact Shield is recharging (1 post). > > -Mystic Wings is available.

7 / 20

Out of Bounds: 3 / 6