|
"Oh fine," sighed Elsa, shoulders sagging in defeat. "Ruin all my fun." Further torment of the poor Blue Mage would have to wait.
To be honest, Elsa was looking forward to exploring the Necroanimation chamber. It was probably a bad idea to send two people into the most likely spot for danger instead of entering as a group, but the Dark Knight was okay with that. It wouldn't be the first foolhardy thing she'd ever done, and with a great deal of luck, it wouldn't be the last either. "I'm fine with exploring that room," she said, nodding towards the door Arden was dragging her towards. "Does anyone object, or want to join in the fun? If not, Necroanimation Chamber, here we come." |
CYBERNETICS RESEARCH
Ark and Raltz As the two step into the room they find mechanical limbs of all sorts, robotic eyes, strange tentacles, robotic versions of organs, and weapons that look something like cannons all mounted about the room. However, they are all highly specialized. The cannons lack a function to turn back into hands, for instance, and the tentacles seem to replace entire arms with groups of whipping robotic cables. Upon closer inspection of the objects Ark realizes that they can't be interfaced with a living android--or anyone else for that matter. The standard life or magitek energy used to power grafts would be ineffective. They all seem to be reversed--requiring energy of a more perverse nature. NECROREANIMATION Elsa, and Arden The room, as they step in, is about quarter the size of an entire hospital floor. Beds lie all across, most with corpses that have been hacked open, strange machines placed within the open cavities. Strange metallic tubes connect them to even larger machines. The feeling of shadow energies in this room is stronger than it's been anywhere else, and many of the corpses look like they're in the process of being altered in the same way the corpses in the rest of the city had been altered--though on a larger scale. DATA STORAGE Kole, Jhen, Bello The ceiling in this room is unfinished, ducting and braces being visible, along with multiple magitek power conduits, all leading to a massive computer that seems to use roughly a quarter of this entire floor. Data terminals line the room, and they each flicker on one by one, giving the room an eery green glow, as the small group enters. Placing the disk into one of the drives, 'causes all the readouts to change, data spilling over them more quickly than can possibly be read, and, in a moment, it's over. As the disk is removed Kole, in his nervousness, glances up to see a small collection of metal wires dropping from the duct work directly toward him. In a combination of quick thinking and paranoia, he jumps backward, letting them hit the ground, where they quickly knot up together and leap at him again. The wires quickly wraps around Kole arm and form a sort of drill on one end, which they use to begin burrowing into his skin. --------------- Round 1! Wires- Latched onto Kole. Have done no damage... yet. --------------- NECROREANIMATION Elsa, and Arden All around them the bodies start rising up, tearing themselves away from the machines, they turn slowly turn toward the pair. A single reanimated corpse marches in front of the door, this one bearing a large sword rather than a right arm. More corpses seemed ready to rise at any moment. ---------------- Round 1! Two unaugmented corpses short range from Arden and Elsa, Sword armed one short range and behind them. Five unaugmented corpses in medium range. Five two rounds of, along with two more augmented corpses. Another 3 augmented corpses and 3 unaugmented corpses three rounds away. ---------------- CYBERNETICS RESEARCH Ark and Raltz As they study the objects in the room, the two doors facing further into the area burst open, and animated corpses begin to saunter in. -------------- Round 1 One augmented corpse two rounds off, two unaugmented corpses at medium range. |
As Ark stepped into the cybernetic department, sword and shield readied, his cold robotic gaze were roughly transfixed on the various objects in the proximity. As he scanned through the specifications, the results were pretty clear. The sheer raw internal resource needed to keep these highly specialized grafts could not be sustained by mere technology or from the marginally sustainable life energy of the user. He took a few of those specific ones as evidence.
The Android looked toward Jugan and Raltz periodically, but in Jugan's case, the wyvern remained content to stay in its master's shadow, the atmosphere remaining as silent and chilled as the entire mission had been so far. Then the doors burst open with a few corpses gaiting through toward them. Jugan growled violently as it hobbled to Ark's 5 o'clock position to avoid being caught underfoot. ALERT: NEW ENTITIES DETECTED. LACK OF LIFE ENERGY. CLASSIFYING AS UNDEAD. DESIGNATE AS HOSTILE. AGGRESSION PROTOCOL INITIATED. TARGET OUT OF RANGE. ADOPT DEFENSIVE TACTIC. Ark put himself between the hobbling corpses and Raltz, shield especially at ready to fend off their blows. INCOMING DATA: PROCESSING... EVIDENCE OBSERVED: DANGEROUSLY MODIFIED GRAFTS, PRESENCE OF NECROANIMATION ROOM, MASS AVAILABILITY OF CORPSES IN TOWN VINCITY, ANIMATED CORPSES. POSSIBLE HYPOTHESIS REACHED: SUSPECT AGENCY MASS-ACQUIRING and OUTFITTING CORPSES TO FORM ARMY CAPABLE OF REPLENISHING ITS FORCES BY CREATING MORE CORPSES. WARNING: MISSING LINK IN DATA. CAUSE OF UNMARKED DEATHS UNKNOWN. ADVISED COURSE OF ACTION: DEAL WITH PRESENT THREAT AND REGROUP. --------------- Would it be possible for Ark to have taken one of the hand-cannons and one of the arm tentacles as evidence prior to battle start? Perverse power sources are very suspect! Also, is there any sort of identifying mark like a brand symbol or something like that on them? Defensive formation, in case they suddenly can charge or something. |
Bello's cuteness quickly convinced Kole to quietly accept - the admittedly hastily - drawn up plan to explore this floor. Arden breathed a soft sigh of relief, releasing Elsa's wrist as she did, and motioning for her to take the lead. Between the two of them, the Dark Knight was the one most likely to survive a hit. Formation settled, Arden waved a cheerful farewell to Raltz and Ark, before starting off. Idly, the White Mage's free hand busied itself with her robe, tucking and rolling it into her trade-mark skin baring attire - she'd had enough trying to negotiate long skirts for the day.
After parting ways with Kole and the Taruts, Arden and Elsa made their way down the short hallway that - apparently - would lead them into the Necroeranimation Chamber. Though they met no resistance, Arden's grip on her weapon's handle tightened. The shadow elemental force was strongest here - her finely tuned business sense told her that she might have made a bad call, coming here with Elsa alone. Too late for regrets! The flat chested silver haired mage reflected, shrugging, as she followed her dauntless companion into the Shadow filled room. Bathed in the stark white light of the Hospital, the room she found herself in was large and decidedly more mundane than she expected. Ranks of beds filled the chamber - most had a corpse on them. Unlike the ones they'd encountered earlier, these bodies were clearly damaged - apparently having been ripped over, with cybernetic implants placed within them. They hadn't been sewed up yet - bodies cavities just left open. Like the rest of the city, there was neither the smell of decay, or any signs that scavenger animals had been here. "Definitely Shadow Magic." Arden murmured, "Too unnatural to be anything else." Her green eyes critically surveyed the room. "I wonder if the corpse Raltz found by the gate was sewn up." She continued, mostly talking to herself, "If this is where the bodies get those implants..." A chill swept through her suddenly, as the name of the room came to her with chilling clarity. Necroreanimation. An image of the undamaged corpse they'd discovered at the city's edge filled her mind. Dead Reanimation, Shadow Magic, Dead- "Elsa-" She felt real panic for the first time since they'd arrived. Not poison, not drain spells, but- And that was when she heard shuffling behind her. The screech of metal dragging against the unfinished floor of the hospital basement filled the air, as around them, eviscerated corpses rose haltingly from their beds. Arden didn't need to count them to know they were horrendously out-numbered. She did glance over her shoulder long enough to confirm that, yes, their way out was blocked by a corpse that seemed far more complete. That was bad. "- Death Spells, they were killed by Death Spells!" Arden exclaimed hurriedly, feeling a cold sweat break out on her back. Eyes darting to the only other door in the room - it was only blocked by three of the less complete corpses, which weren't clear of their beds yet. "We have to rejoin the others - there's too many of them here!" If they all start casting... "Move!" Black boots pounding on the hospital floor, Arden darted toward the doorway that - hopefully - would lead to a cleared hallway, and the entrance to the data analysis room. She suddenly wished she'd spent more time training her body - and hoped that the corpses blocking the door were as clumsy as they looked. Damn it, that Blue Mage was right. * * * * * * > Arden tries an Escape from Combat Roll. Aiming for junction in the hallway between the Necroreanimation and the Data Analysis rooms. Not sure how these rolls work. |
As Bello deposited the presumably full Data Disc back into his pocket he heard something like "Tak, whump, Eeeeeee! Dr-r-r-r-r-r-r-r!" He didn't like what he saw when he whipped around.
"Holy body horror, Kole! I'll save you!" Bello whipped his knife out of his sleeve and leaped up at the wires around Kole's arm, grabbing on and stabbing for all his scrawny artist arms were worth. -------------- Bello attacks the drill-wires (5+1d6 dmg). |
We're going to get attacked. We're going to get attacked. We're going to get attacked.
Kole was thinking this roughly every two seconds, which was double the amount he was thinking it in the last room. He was getting really nervous now. Despite getting the biggest group, he was expecting at least four people. Now he was alone with the two Taruts, who by weight only add up to one person. And Taruts hate Blue Magic, so clearly, in Kole's mind, these two must despise him and may be planning to get him killed. Perhaps they were cultist? The blue mage was far to busy watching his back, and front, and every other side to deal with the data. Once the disk was filled, a normal person may have breath a sigh of relief. Maybe the mission would go without incident? But instead of that, Kole decided he needed to check the ceiling. A collection of wires was falling from the ceiling at Kole. Not bothering to even think that they may just be normal wires falling out of a partially built roof, the nervous man jumped to the side to avoid them. He was right in dodging, as the wires then came to life and leap at him. The wires were unfortunately faster than Kole, and latched onto his arm before he could recover from his initial dodge. The wires formed a drill on one end and aimed for his arm. In mostly a state of panic, Kole grabbed as close as he could to the end of the drill and pulled. He couldn't attack the wires as he had a katana and they were attached to his arm, plus it looked like one of the Taruts was about to leap onto his arm. The two forms of friendly fire ruled out the katana. All he had left was to brace for the drill, or try to pull the drill away and possibly the wires off completely. Kole went for the latter. If only he could self-destruct. ----------------- Strength check on wire pulling(?). |
Watching the computer monitors pulse with barely-constrained glee, Jhen clapped her hands together. The data disc ejected itself when it was finished, falling into Bello's waiting hands. Still turned towards the gigantic computer, she failed to notice the animated wiring hitting the floor.
Luckily, the attack wasn't aimed at her - and she was quickly brought up to speed by Bello's yell and Kole's panicked flailing. Not knowing much about magitek, the young Black Mage assumed it needed a control point - either a living controller from a distance, or say, the very large, conspicuous bank of computers at her side... Wincing, and hoping all of the information was safely stored in Bello's data disc, Jhennek whipped her arm out to its full length and pointed a tiny finger at the 'main' section of the console. ----- Jhennek begins to cast Thunder at the large computer. |
Following behind the android, Raltz was content to lazily hold his sword and allow Ark to be the first one to step inside.
"Woo I smell some dirty secrets in here," Raltz said as he took a gander at the assortment of mechanical limbs and grafts. "I wonder how many laws this room breaks. Maybe some evidence gathering is in order? The people deserve the know right?" INCOMING DATA: PROCESSING... EVIDENCE OBSERVED: DANGEROUSLY MODIFIED GRAFTS, PRESENCE OF NECROANIMATION ROOM, MASS AVAILABILITY OF CORPSES IN TOWN VINCITY, ANIMATED CORPSES. POSSIBLE HYPOTHESIS REACHED: SUSPECT AGENCY MASS-ACQUIRING and OUTFITTING CORPSES TO FORM ARMY CAPABLE OF REPLENISHING ITS FORCES BY CREATING MORE CORPSES. WARNING: MISSING LINK IN DATA. CAUSE OR ORIGIN OF UNMARKED DEATHS EVIDENT IN PREVIOUS CORPSES UNKNOWN. ADVISED COURSE OF ACTION: DEAL WITH PRESENT THREAT AND REGROUP. "...yeah what you said," Raltz replied, raising an eyebrow. "Anyways, our employers are powerful guys. We can probably get a hold of one of these and they can figure it out." With nary a second thought, Raltz reached out and snatched one of the mechanical tentavle-whips on the shelf. It had crossed his mind that these things may be valuable, but the android's description gave the impression that there wouldn't a great market for them. Also he is a good guy(?), so no black market sales for him. *Slam* Upon the sound the door opening, Raltz immediately spun around to the sight (and smell) of the now moving corpses. "Oh godsdammit," he muttered, "I was only joking." In any case, it appeared Ark was playing his role as guard well and put himself between Raltz and the undead. The hume dropped the tentacle to the ground for the moment to grip his sword with both hands. INCOMING DATA: PROCESSING... EVIDENCE OBSERVED: DANGEROUSLY MODIFIED GRAFTS, PRESENCE OF NECROANIMATION ROOM, MASS AVAILABILITY OF CORPSES IN TOWN VINCITY, ANIMATED CORPSES. POSSIBLE HYPOTHESIS REACHED: SUSPECT AGENCY MASS-ACQUIRING and OUTFITTING CORPSES TO FORM ARMY CAPABLE OF REPLENISHING ITS FORCES BY CREATING MORE CORPSES. WARNING: MISSING LINK IN DATA. CAUSE OF UNMARKED DEATHS UNKNOWN. ADVISED COURSE OF ACTION: DEAL WITH PRESENT THREAT AND REGROUP. "Mhhm thats nice big guy," Raltz responded, standing his ground. "I'm willing to bet there will be more of them outside the hospital to, so I agree, lets find the others and get the fuck out of this fucking cemetery of a town before Kole's cultists come by. At the moment all I can think to do besides chopping is to heal them. Guess we should hold position?" --- Follows suit with Ark. |
"Ah," said Elsa as the corpses shuddered to life all around them, "Well, this explains a few things."
The room practically oozed dark magic. The sensation she had first felt at the city's gates was stronger than ever here. Of course, the presence of the mutilated and now animated corpses should have been a real telltale sign anyway. "I've never liked hospitals," she grumbled. "I've always figured this kind of thing went on in the back rooms, you know? Funny to find out I was right." Her companion, however, was absorbed in more pressing matters-- namely, the matter of being outnumbered in a room full of undead monstrosities. Hmph. Some people and their priorities. "Death spells..." the White Mage gasped. "They were killed by death spells!" "Hm. Sucks to be them, eh?" Elsa eyed the zombie who had stepped between them and the door. It appeared to be missing an arm, taking a sword on as a replacement limb. Elsa decided to call him Stabby. "Right. I'll take care of Stabby here and we'll exit through the way we came--" She looked back over her shoulder in time to watch Arden make a break for the opposite door, across the room. "Oh. That way works too, I suppose." She shrugged. "No offense, Stabby, but it looks like plans have changed." Not wanting to let the healer out of her sight, Elsa took off after Arden. -------------- Moving to Arden's location. Escape roll? Regular movement? Both? I dunno. Your call, Krylo. |
"I'm willing to bet there will be more of them outside the hospital to, so I agree, lets find the others and get the fuck out of this fucking cemetery of a town before Kole's cultists come by. At the moment all I can think to do besides chopping is to heal them. Guess we should hold position?"
Jugan stood by Raltz in a mixed cacaphony of vicious growling and high pitched babyish babbling as Ark processed the alternative request considering the locations of the various facilities he observed along the way back to the cybernetic room. ALTERNATIVE ACTION CONSIDERED. SURROUNDING FACILITIES NEAR DATA ROOM CONSIST OF: FREEZER ROOM, OPERATION ROOM, NECROANIMATION ROOM. SITUATION ANALYSIS: ALLIES IN OTHER GROUPS IN DANGEROUS PROBABILITY OF BEING SURROUNDED AND HAVING BLOCKED RETREAT ROUTE. REVISED COURSE OF ACTION: NEW PROTOCOL ACTIVATED: RETREAT AND REGROUP. Ark stepped back and ran full distance back toward the entrance, stopping only for an instant to scoop Jugan onto his shoulder. ------------------ Retreat to back toward Data room, since Raltz is following suit with Ark. |
CYBERNETICS RESEARCH
Ark and Raltz Backing out from the room and into the hallway you quickly realize that this isn't going to be as easy as seemed at first. Corpses are spilling out of the morgue and operating room in droves, mostly heading in your direction. The closest few are still a distance off, and unaugmented, but you can see more beyond them that have strange additions added to their bodies. ----------- 25 corpses. Closest are as follows: 2 unaugmented at medium distance, 1 sword zombie and three unaugmented within two rounds. ---------- NECROREANIMATION Elsa, and Arden Rushing forward, the two make to he door on the otherside of the room, though not quite through it yet, as a few of the corpses take swats at the passing pair, one of them even getting his necrotic hands on Elsa, though they, unsurprisingly, failed to penetrate her armor. More corpses are awakening with every moment, though. ------------- Four zombies short range. Mook Zombie- 0 Damage to Elsa. ------------- DATA STORAGE Kole, Jhen, Bello Kole attempts to pull the wires away, but to no avail. Luckily, the small tarut comes up to the rescue, his blade stabbing down through them, leaving only bits of broken wire to fall to the ground. Unfortunately, the blade also cuts into Kole's arm quite deeply. As Bello pulls his knife out (probably with apologies?), more five more bundles of wires fall down to the ground about the room, each too far to attack yet, but they quickly begin to slither toward the small group. Meanwhile, Jhen fires off a lightning spell into the computer banks, overloading and frying the entire system. However, it seems to have no effect on the cybernetic terrors moving in on them. ------------- Kole fails strength check to remove. Bello does 1 damage to wires, killing them. Bello's overflow damage deals 6 damage to Kole. Jhen- Does infinity +1 damage to computer. Computer is dead. 1 wires in short range of the party, 4 at medium range. Kole- 17/23 hp |
Seeing as how the android liked the "run away" idea, Raltz picked up the tentacle he had previously dropped and fled the area with the android and dragon. It would be good to leave with something.
As soon as they left though, Raltz fears were realized. There were certainly more. In fact, Raltz would bet his gil that every corpse in the entire area were going to soon rise up and eat their faces. "Seems we're outnumbered," Raltz noted, pointing towards the larger amount of corpses in the distance. "Well I made the last decision," Raltz decided, "you're turn robot boy. Make it quick though, they're closing in. Do we run more, hide, or make a sort of last stand? I'm cool with whatever so long as our bodies are easy to identify when its all done with." |
"Thanks." Kole gave insincere, but not sarcastic, gratitude towards Bello. Though the little Tarut had just stabbed him in the arm, probably on purpose, Kole tried to stick with the obligatory politeness when it was due. In case his Tarut teammates were actually his teammates who didn't hate him, he needed it to stay like that.
Any moment of calm the Taruts, but not Kole, may have had was shortly lived when more wires fell from the ceiling. Already expecting it, the blue mage had his katana at the ready in both hands to fight them off. The little bard managed to cut the wires on Kole's arm easily, so it shouldn't be to hard to kill these wires. The issue was that they were outnumbered, and destroying them before they drilled into the less combat oriented little ones. Kole took the initiative and slashed at the wires that dropped closest to the group. ------ Attack short range wires. |
"your turn robot boy. Make it quick though, they're closing in. Do we run more, hide, or make a sort of last stand? I'm cool with whatever so long as our bodies are easy to identify when its all done with."
Ark's normal eye suddenly glimmered brightly as his insight as a dragoon melded with the unerring and calculating drive of technology. ENEMY SCANNED: ... ------------- Ark scans animated corpses as an instant action. Will decide whether to attack or flee after you tell me its stats and such. |
"Nice try," Elsa offered to the zombie who was ineffectively trying to claw her arm off. "Not going to work, though." As the corpse relinquished is hold, Elsa readied her scythe.
She winced slightly, hearing movement out in the hallway behind them. It didn't sound like the kind of noise an ally rushing to their aid would make. "Sounds like our escape route is being cut off," she said. Arden's warnings about death spells surfaced again in her mind. Her armor might protect her from zombie claws, but a wall of death-spell-casting corpses wasn't something she felt confident about. Well, if she was going to go down, she was going to go down fighting off a horde of zombies with a glorified farming tool, dammit. She raised her scythe and swung at one of the corpses which had moved in front of the door. "So... do we have any plans aside from hitting things and trying not to die?" she asked. ----------- Attacks zombie near the door. |
Bello dropped down and was about to apologize for stabbing Kole's arm, but the wires dropping from the ceiling proved more pressing. Instead, he pulled out his harmonica in his left hand and played a chord. "DrmmM~?! Blue Mage! Time to run!" At odds with what he just said, Bello started to belt out a tune. "We gotta regroup!"
----------- Herculean Etude is go! |
Silver hair swirling around her face, Arden lithely dodged the slow and clumsy strikes of the corpses near her chosen escape route. Landing with cat-like grace before the door, Arden chanced a glance behind herself - Elsa had followed her, good. The Dark Knight effortlessly tore herself free of one of the Undead's clutches. "Nice try," the armored woman breathed, "Not going to work, though." Her Sycthe's blade glittered wickedly in the chilling light of the Necroreanimation Chamber.
"Sounds like our escape route is being cut off," Elsa observed, gaze fixing on the single reanimated corpse blocking one half of the double doors. Her scythe flashed, a wicked arc of dark steel striking toward the enemy in her path. "We can't get bogged down here then!" Arden called, whirling in place and stepping toward the door in front of her. The white mage's bared arm lashed out, as she threw all her weight against the swinging door before herself, throwing it wide open. Any Undead in the way of that would be sorry. Without wasting a second, Arden leapt into the door-cleared section of the hallway beyond, green eyes wary and alert. "So... do we have any plans aside from hitting things and trying not to die?" Elsa called after her. Arden thought telling the Dark Knight that she was just making this stuff up as she went along wasn't a very Captain-like response. She'd get back to Elsa on it later! * * * * * * > Improvised Attack using the Door on possible enemies outside of the Necroreanimation Room. > Arden Moves into the hallway. Possibly using an Escape roll still? |
"ENEMY SCANNED: STRENGTH AND STAMINA IS HIGH.
ZOMBIES POSSESSING EXTRA ALTERATIONS AS PRESENT BY EXTRA METAL PLATINGS ARE VIRULENT ZOMBIES. HEURISTICS INDICATE POSSIBILITY OF POISON. VIRULENT ZOMBIES CONGREGATING FROM THE OR ROOM. COURSE OF ACTION: DELAY AND THIN CROWD. CREATE RETREAT ROUTE FOR ALLIES. YOU PREPARE ELEVATOR FOR BOTTLENECK SIEGE!" Ark rushed toward the elevator, waiting for Raltz to get in, as he readied himself to mostly seal the doors, creating an extremely tight bottleneck. Jugan merely watched in disturbed silence from Ark's shoulder. -------------------- Retreat to elevator, expecting Raltz to follow him. Mostly close doors, but leave very tight opening to gradually thin the numbers. |
Still wimpering at the apparently wasted destruction of the computer, Jhen watched more - unaffected! - animatronic wires crawl down from the roof. Bleeding from his arm, Kole took a swing at one of the closer ones, trying to avoid getting grabbed a second time.
She raised her hand into the air, light glinting in sparks off her armlets, preparing to launch another blaze of lightning into her foes. Bello intervened before she wasted any mana - suggesting they retreat for now and regroup with the rest of the party. Well, he really said it to the Blue Mage, but Jhen was going to give him the benefit of the doubt! He wouldn't leave out the wonderful and helpful and kind and awesome Black Mage, Jhennek Scriven on purpose! It was just the stress, it got to people. Reaching up on the tips of her toes, Jhen tried to get the only door to the room open, keeping an eye out for more strange wire-things. ---- Escape from combat roll to leave the Data Room and move into the hall next to Necroreanimation. |
NECROREANIMATION
Arden, Elsa Elsa's scythe arcs true, slicing the zombie between her and Arden and the exit from shoulder to hip, cleanly in two. Taking no time to take head of this development, Arden charges directly out the door, kicking it open, and charging out to the sound of a sickening crack as the stainless steel door slammed viciously into the skull of a zombie just on the otherside. Down the hallway, away from the data storage room, he can see a pair of corpses, their bodies a patchwork of flesh and machinery, obviously altered far more than normal. As they see her, they raise their arms, the flesh pulsing and writhing as though something is moving beneath. The sickening display quickening and becoming more grotesque and obvious, appearing as though a colony of large worms are writhing just below the surface--this can't be good. Meanwhile, the rest of the zombies in the room close in on Elsa, their clumsy hands grabbing at the warrior with deadly, if inept, intent. --------- PC Round Elsa- Fuck you crit damage at Mook Zombie at the door. Arden- 5 damage at zombie just outside door. Inside Door Zombie- Reaped. Outise Door Zombie- Come on dude, that was just embarrassing. You got killed by a door. 2x Virulent Zombie, Medium range from Arden. Door to data storage room, short range. Elsa- 25/26 hp ARDEN LEAVES COMBAT! --------- NPC Round Mook Zombie A- 1 Damage Elsa Mook Zombie B- Miss Mook Zombie C- Miss Mook Zombie D, E, F- Moves to Short Range Sword Zombie A- Moves to Short Range All others- Move one round closer. Map- Becomes unreadable because fuck you I'm not redrawing/selecting them all individually. --------- DATA STORAGE Kole, Bello, Jhen Kole's Katana smashes the small bundle of wires to bits with ease, as Bello begins his song, even as he suggests that the group 'exit stage right'. Listening to his, most likely sagacious advice, Jhenneck moves with surprising speed to the door and swings it open to reveal Arden, with a pair of heavily altered corpses targetting the poor white mage with something that can not be good. ---------- PC Round Jhen- Move to/open door Bello- Herc. Etude Kole- 13 Damage, Wires A Wires A- Dead Wires B, C, D- Move to short range of Kole/Bello. Virulent Zombie A/B- Begins 'casting' infection A WILD ARDEN APPEARS! It is short range from Jhen. ----------- SOUTH HALLWAY Raltz, Ark Thinking, or computing, perhaps, quickly, the pair rush into an elevator, forming a choke point. Though they lose sight of most of the undead, they can still hear the shuffling footsteps, and it isn't long until a few come into view. ---------- PC Round Raltz/Ark- Enter Elevator. ---------- NPC Round Zombies, move closer. Distance between zombies and PCs remains consistent. |
Kole didn't particularly agree with retreating. Running is always a good option, but there were only four wires left and despite being alive they weren't any more resistant to breaking than normal wires. If the bard just pulled out his knife instead of playing a song the two could destroy all the wires. Even the little black mage could probably bash a bundle of wires apart with her staff, but she already started running.
Confused on what to do, since one of the Taruts ran but the other remained, Kole wasn't sure if he should stay and cut the wires or just run. He decided to take the middle road by swiping at the lone wires behind the group, and moving as close to the door as he could. ---- Attack wires behind group, move to door as much as possible. |
Elsa admired her handiwork as the zombie's upper half slid free of its lower half. The two piles of flesh and machinery landed on the lab floor with a disgusting squelch of dead tissue.
"Now THAT," she said, "is how it's done, my friends." To her immense disappointment, the remaining horde seemed unmmoved by her victory. "Don't all run away in terror at once," she said flatly. Apparently they were just war machines, as unfeeling as the mechanical devices implanted within them. Well that was a pity. Showboating wasn't fun if there wasn't a decent audience. Well, at least she had Arden. "Well, I'm glad at least you can appreciate the work I put into th--Oh. You're gone." She turned to adress the white mage only to find an empty doorway. A shattered zombie skull which matched a pattern of shattered zombie brains on the steel door was the only evidence that the mage had been there moments before. Elsa looked back at the horde. The zombies had trampled their fallen comrade's grisley remains and were advancing. There were a lot of them. "......dammit all."Elsa spun on her heel and made for the hallway. She wasn't about to be caught without a healer in a room full of certain death. The zombies had other plans. Elsa avoided two pairs of flailing arms, but was caught off guard as a third zombie grabbed her arm. "Augh. Hands off!" Elsa snarled, pulling herself free before it could do any major damage. She took off down the hall, trying to get to Arden before anything unfortunate happened. The zombies surrounding the White Mage looked significantly less friendly. ----- Escape (?), moving to Arden's position. |
Opening the door, the Tarut was tempted to shut it again at the sight of ambulent corpses milling about. Better to stay in a corner than risk getting flanked! Before she could, the door in front of her leading to the Necroreanimation Room slammed open, pulping a zombie between it and the wall.
And who should have opened it but Arden! Overjoyed at seeing the White Mage again, Jhen started to cheer, ignoring the pale, panicked look on her face. "Arden! Arden! We've got the -" Spotting the mostly-mechanized monstrocities looming behind, she cut herself off mid-jubilation. Nothing that twitched and jerked in such an unsightly manner would threaten her pretty Hume! All movement and cheer gone, Jhennek leveled her arm at one of the zombies. Sparks danced around her hair and feet, while her eyes filled with a strange yellow glow. Concentrating, the miniature Black Mage prepared another bolt of lightning - this time, she wanted it to hurt. ---- Cast Thunder at Virulent Zombie B, please. |
Bello wanted to run, but images of Kole learning some kind of drill Blue Magic kept filling his head. Between chords, Bello took a few swipes at the wires.
------ Attacking some wires that Kole isn't attacking because it seems like less of a dick move than running and leaving him alone. |
Steel struck flesh and shattered bone, as Arden landed lightly in the north-most hallway of the basement. Moments after, with a dull thud, the corpse of the unfortunate undead she'd defeated with the Necroreanimation's door struck the smooth hospital basement, where it lay unmoving. Not so tough after all. A triumphant grin spread over Arden's face, as the mage spun-
"Oh, Espers damnit." Two Undead - apparently complete, their bodies a confused mess of grafts and shadow magic preserved skin - stood a short distance away, at the hallway's south end. Arden's smile became cheerfully tight, her foot sliding backwards on the floor, and face paling. "Right, I'll just get out of your wa-" Their arms started to ripple. "Espers damnit!" She made to run! "Arden! Arden! We've got the -" Jhennek appeared in the doorway behind her. If I move then she'll - Growling, Arden's green eyes flashed with pale light. Her legs tensed, hair swirling, as she leveled her gaze on the enemies at the far end of the hallway. Her black boots pushed off the floor beneath her, as the White Mage threw out an explosive burst of speed. Dashing forward, silver mane and cotton half-skirt billowing in her wake, Arden made for the space directly between the Undead Monstrosities. Dimly, she registered the sounds of doors swinging open and armor clanking - Elsa was entering the hallway. She also felt magical energies - Jhen, most likely - stir at her back. But not her front. Even as she neared the undead, half expecting to be thrown screaming into oblivion by one of the darkest spells she knew of every second, Arden carefully tracked the shadow magic saturated air around her. There were no changes - the creatures weren't casting. Has to work. She thought desperately coming to a stop between them. Weight balanced on her toes, the silver haired mage prepared to spring away in a backflip. With luck, she'd avoid getting hit. With a lot of luck, this would make the Undead creatures hit each other with whatever they had up their sleeves. In retrospect, Arden had to wonder if this was the stupidest thing she’d ever done. Probably was. * * * * * * > Arden: Move Medium Distance, end move between Zombies. > Unusual Manuevers: Try to get the Virulent Zombies to hit each other with Infection/Dodge their Attack! Hope for the best! |
DATA STORAGE
Kole, Bello, Jhen, Arden As the two zombies prepare some kind of vile attack, Jhen prepares one of her own, magical energy crackling about her tiny body like lightning. And, as she focuses her spell, Arden dashes past the newly arriving Elsa, sliding to a stop between the two zombies, whom track the dashing white mage with their pulsing fleshy hands. The white mage tenses, and suddenly the creature's arms to either side of her erupt, bundles of wires streaking out. Attempting to backflip out of the way of the attacks, Arden finds herself moving just a fraction too slow, one of the bundles of wires wrapping around her ankle just before it can get out of the way, as the other misses her entirely and wraps itself around the throat of of the zombie opposite of her. Though it quickly unravels itself. Meanwhile, Elsa finds she has her own problems, as a pair of corpses follows her into the hallway. Just as Arden lands, a streak of pure elemental energy rips through the air with a crack of thunder, and strikes one of the zombies near him. The energy rips through the creature, and the smell of burning flesh permeates the hallway, but it somehow maintains its footing. In the Data Room proper, however, Kole and Bello easily dispatch their pair of wires. The last bundle of wires leaps toward Kole, only to have the blue mage sidestep the thing, which falls on the ground nearby. ---------- PC Round Arden moves medium distance to Virulent Zombies. Kole/Bello Kill Wires B/C. A WILD ELSA APPEARS! It is Medium Distance from Jhen and Arden (in opposite directions). Mook Zombie A/B/C/D/E/F and Sword Zombie A- Medium Distance from Elsa, Long Distance from Arden/Jhen ----------- NPC Round Virulent Zombie A/B spawn Wires E and F and Launch them. Wires E- Attached to Arden, prepares to infect leg. Wires F- Thwaps Virulent Zombie A in the face and then falls to the ground. Wires D- Attack Kole, Miss. Mook Zombie A/B, Move to short range of Elsa. ----------- PC Round Jhen- 45 Damage, Virulent Zombie B. Virulent Zombie B- 18/63 SOUTH HALLWAY Raltz, Ark As the pair wait, the zombies move closer. ---------- PC Round Raltz/Ark- Defend. ---------- NPC Round Zombies, move closer. Mook Zombie A/B move to short range. Only one zombie may be attacked/attack via melee. Mook Zombie C moves to medium range. |
Nothing Fancy Here
Landing lightly, Arden growled her frustration, eyes flicking to the Undead struck by Jhen's spell. "Let's see how you like it!" The White Mage snapped, darting forward. Throwing herself in to a quick, vicious spin, Arden's wire-wrapped ankle snapped out, as she launched at kick at the Undead who'd managed to hit her with...whatever the wires were.
Using the momentum of her kick, attack successful or not, Arden threw herself backward, into another backflip. Agilely springing off her hands, Arden landed a short distance away from the pair of Undead. Hopefully, without a mass of wires on her ankle. "Jhen, Bello, Kole! Get the hell out of that room and run!" * * * * * * > Arden makes an Unarmed attack on Zombie B - and an Improvised Attack on the Wires around her Ankle, simultaneously. > Arden moves a short-range away from the Zombies. |
Ark quickly placed down his Remedy on the floor beside him for Raltz to hold.
CONDITIONAL USE: TO BE EXPENDED IF I MALFUNCTION. Ark then slashed powerfully with the intent to try to sever the top torso from the legs, rendering it immobile if not dead. ----------------- Ark makes Remedy available to Raltz. Ark attacks the zombie that is first in entering the bottleneck. |
"Alright, we're cornered now, this has its ups and downs," Raltz said with a forced grin. Ark didn't seem to run, so Raltz figured they'd be best standing back.
CONDITIONAL USE: TO BE EXPENDED IF I MALFUNCTION. "...you can malfunction?" this was not doing much for the Red Mage's situation. Ark shortly after went in for the strike "Alright, I got you then" Raltz said, dropping the tentacle to get the Remedy. Taking a brief step forward, Raltz raised his sword and went for a stab to the torso the moment after Ark's slice was concluded. --- Attacks same zombie as Ark |
The flash of Jhennek's lightening burst through the door to the Data Storage room. Arden's words followed shortly thereafter. It was kind of like thunder and lightening, except the thunder was an angry White Mage yelling at Bello and Kole. The lightening was still lightening, though.
Bello paused his playing long enough to yell, "Forget the wires; everyone's waiting!" He then made his way to the door as quickly as one playing a harmonica can. ------ Bello's headed for the hall. Movement and all that. |
Apparently, there were issues happening outside of the data room as well. Hundreds of dangerous scenarios went through Kole's mind. he narrowed the likely suspects down to evil wire robots, corpse reanimation, or cultist attack.
It didn't seem wise to leave a single wire left, but Kole figured if it became an issue he could cut it apart when that happens. For now he ran with Bello towards the door. --- Run to door. |
Jhennek heard the frantic command from her White Mage friend, but found she couldn't comply just yet. Bello and Kole were still in the room - if she ran now, they'd be stuck behind the zombies without back-up. And that just wouldn't be right!
Shifting her focus away from the zombie she'd blasted before - a sturdy thing, for a corpse! - a stubby finger pointed at the one next to it. As before, shining gold filled her eyes as lightning streaked over her frame, waiting for release. --- Cast Thunder on Virulent Zombie A. |
DATA STORAGE
Kole, Bello, Jhen, Arden Letting out a surprisingly powerful kick, Arden's ankle smashes against the skull of the target of her choice, knocking it reeling as well as shattering the wires off her ankle. Unfortunately, it isn't exactly comfortable for her leg. As Arden regains her footing, she finds a tower of black steel between her and her adversaries. A welcome diversion to be sure, especially as the creatures move to attack their new target. The zombies' attacks remained as clumsy as ever, and were easily sidestepped, but the small bundle of wires proved to be more agile as it leapt from the ground, and quickly squirmed up to the break in armor between Elsa's breast plate and her helmet. She could feel them wrapping about her neck with potentially deadly intent. In the Data Room proper, Kole and Bello ran to the the door way, a small bundle of wires following close behind. They were persistant little things, if nothing else. They all arrived just in time for the flash of light that followed Jhenneck's calling upon the powers of magic once more, shaping them into a deadly bolt with her mind alone, to much the same effect as before. ---------- PC Round Arden- 7 Damage Zombie B, 6 Damage to Self, 1 Damage to Wires Elsa- Move to Short Distance from Arden. Medium Distance from Jhen. Kole/Bello-Move to Short Range from Jhen. Medium Distance from Arden/Elsa/Zombies Mook Zombie A/B- Move to Short Distance from Jhen, Medium Distance from Arden/Elsa/Virulent Zombies Virulent Zombie B- 11/63 Wires E- Dead Arden- 14/20 Kole- 17/23 ----------- NPC Round Virulent Zombie A/B-Miss Elsa like bitches. Wires F- Latch onto Elsa. Wires D- Follow Kole/Bellow. Mook Zombies C/D- Move to short range of Jhen Mook Zombie A/B, Move to short range of Elsa. Virulent Zombie B- 11/63 Arden- 14/20 Kole- 17/23 ----------- PC Round Jhen- 47 Damage, Virulent Zombie B. Virulent Zombie B-16/63 Virulent Zombie B- 11/63 Arden- 14/20 SOUTH HALLWAY Raltz, Ark Hacking with his blade, Ark slashes a zombie directly in half, two lifeless chunks falling to the ground. Its ally moves in to take its place, but coming from over the android's shoulder is Raltz's blade, piercing it through the eye, leaving it too, to fall onto the ground, returned to the sweet sleep of death. But the battle was far from over, as another creature moved against the door, and yet more could be seen gathering further away. ---------- PC Round Ark- 15 Damage Mook Zombie A Raltz- 12 Damage Mook Zombie B Both are dead. ---------- NPC Round Mook Zombie C moves to Short Range. Mook Zombie D/E and Sword Zombie A move to medium range. |
Her ankle throbbed as she hit the ground; Arden felt her balance slip for an instant. Not good. The mage's eyes flashed toward the Zombies - only to find a tower of black-stained bone armor interposing itself between Arden and the undead menace. "Elsa!" Relief flooded the mage - though it was short lived, as she spied motion from the Living Wire the undead had spawned earlier.
"Look ou-" Arden's warning came a second too late, as the device found its way past Elsa's armored case. The White growled again, pupils dilating to slits. "Sorry about this!" She leveled her gun at her ally's wire-coated neck. "I'll heal you right away, I promise!" Gunfire erupted. It was a good thing bronze bullets sucked at penetrating skin. "'ware the doors!" Arden shouted over her shoulder, toward where her allies would be gathering. "There was an Undead with a sword in there when we left!" * * * * * * > Attack Wires F. |
Jugan jumped up and down excitably as Ark and Raltz both made their respective smelly mean bullies fall to the floor in dead clumps!
Ark readied his blade as more zombies approached. "EVIDENCE OBSERVED! RATING OF UNALTERED CORPSES' STAMINA: INFERIOR! PRIOR VISUAL DATA RETRIEVED: UNALTERED CORPSES COMPROMISE THE LARGEST PROPORTIONS OF ENEMY FORCES. NEW PROPOSED PLAN: EXTERMINATE UNALTERED CORPSES. CURRENT FORCES EXIT ELEVATOR JUST PRIOR TO PRESENCE OF ALTERED ZOMBIES. PROCURE EXIT ROUTE FOR ALLIES." Ark swung his blade once again, as his calcuating mentality steered his arm's motor coordination to repeat the performance of the prior attack that had been successful seconds ago. |
Elsa barreled through the growing crowd of zombies, aiming for the White Mage's attackers. If Arden fell, their group was out of a healer. If they lost their healer, there was no one to keep Elsa from dying. And if Elsa died, she couldn't get paid. Elsa liked money almost as much as she liked killing things. Therefore, keeping Arden alive was now a priority.
Oh yeah, and those other folks on her team too, she guessed. The armor-clad woman slid to a halt between Arden and the attacking horde, easily dodging their clumsy attacks. Her face erupted into a wicked grin as her grip tightened on the scythe's haft. "Come and fight me!" she roared. "I'll--Acckhh!" A flash of silver from her left, the sound of steel scraping armor, and Elsa felt something wrap around her throat. One hand flew to her neck as she staggered backwards, feeling her breath being cut off by steel wires wrapping tighter around her throat. Well, this wasn't going well. "Sorry about this!" Elsa heard the White Mage offer an apology. Uh oh. Elsa was getting killed and the resident healer was apologizing for something. This did not bode well. The Dark Knight turned just in time to see the Mage level a gun at her. FFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU---- ------- Defend, I guess? |
Copper-colored curls bristling with static, the young Black Mage looked a sight. Panting, one hand clutched to her chest, Jhen let her arm fall to her side with a jingle of bracelets. Throwing lightning took a toll on her, but didn't seem to faze either of her targets - and more could be seen clambering to join them.
We should go find Ark and Raltz... Fretting wasn't going to do any of them any good, but she couldn't help feel a twinge of worry. If the five of them were having trouble, the duo couldn't be much better off. They didn't have her there providing artillery, after all! Raising her arm again, lightning once again filling the air with the scent of ozone, she pointed a finger at one of the injured zombies. If they couldn't find a path, she'd blast one open for them. Of course, she watched where Elsa and Arden were very carefully! It wouldn't do to accidentally hit them, that would be very painful. Friends don't strike friends! But... What was Arden doing? Why was she sorry? Agast, the Tarut watched as Arden leveled her gun at her Black Knight friend. Jhen's finger shifted - from the zombie. To Arden. To the zombie. To Arden. She couldn't just let Arden fire at her friend! But she was a friend, too! Dropping her arm again, the light and charge of lightning fading away to nothing, Jhennek carefully ran towards the pair. She couldn't bring herself to fire at her friend! But maybe she could go see what would cause such a horrible darkening of heart in the White Mage. As she moved around the mechanized corpses attempting to close in on her, Jhen took a moment to examine them. A pity she didn't have more time! Though, she had so many questions, could time really answer them all? Reanimation sounded like an enlightening experience, at the least! ---- Escape from mooks, to head towards Elsa/Arden, a bit past them if possible. |
Kole's retreat to the door revealed the threat his party faced. Cyborg zombies. All those bodies had to do something. And those of those corpses were standing near the little black mage. Kole prepared to cut one of the zombies in half, but then Jhen took off running again. Not wanting to waste any valuable retreating time, he ran off after the little girl and towards the cat fight with the other women in his party.
--- Run down hallway. |
Not wanting to be left behind in this strange new world of zombies and mega-zombie, Bello hustled along with Kole to join Arden and Elsa's little love-in with the wires.
------ Run down hallway x2. |
DATA STORAGE
Kole, Bello, Jhen, Arden Raising her gun uncomfortably the white mage fired off an amazingly controlled shot, skimming by Elsa's skin and blasting off the collection of wires with not more than a mere scratch appearing from the passing bullet. The two didn't have long to rest however, as Elsa was forced to sidestep attacks from the pair of zombies that had followed her from the last room, and the Taruts and Blue Mage came running in, with their own set of zombies (and another bundle of wires following.) This seemed to be the least of their problems, however, as the two more altered corpses' arms began to ripple and pulse once more, this time with one pointing toward Jhennek and the other toward Elsa. Behind them, more walking corpses spilled from the necroreanimation chamber. ---------- PC Round Arden- 1 Damage Wires F. 1 Damage Elsa. Elsa- Defend. Take 1 Damage from Arden. Kole/Bello/Jhen-Move to Short Range from Arden/Elsa/Virulent Zombies. Virulent Zombie A-16/63 Virulent Zombie B- 11/63 Wires F- Dead Arden- 14/20 Elsa- 24/26 ----------- NPC Round Virulent Zombie A-Begin casting Infection at Jhennek Virulent Zombie B-Begin casting Infection at Elsa Wires D- Follow Kole/Bello/Jhen. Mook Zombie A/B- Miss Elsa Mook Zombie C/D-Move to Short Range of everyone. Sword Zombie A-Move to Medium Range of everyone. Mook Zombie E- Move to Medium Range of everyone Virulent Zombie A- 16/63 Virulent Zombie B- 11/63 Elsa- 24/26 Arden- 14/20 ----------- SOUTH HALLWAY Raltz, Ark They say that a sign of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different circumstances. The logical inverse of this statement was proven true as Ark swung his blade in exactly the same way, and cut down another zombie in much the same manner. Meanwhile, Raltz called upon the powers of holy in this dark place to burn the flesh of the more altered zombie, hoping to weaken it before it could come too close, though it did little to slow it as it continued to advance with its allies. ---------- PC Round Ark- 18 Damage Mook Zombie C Raltz- Cast Cure, Sword Zombie A. 13 Damage. Mook Zombie C- Dead Sword Zombie A- 50/63 ---------- NPC Round Mook Zombie D/E and Sword Zombie A move to Short range. Attackable order-Mook Zombie D, Mook Zombie E, Sword Zombie. Can not attack, either, outside of that order. (Don't kill zombies D AND E unless you want Sword Zombie A to attack you on its round.) |
Bello glared angrily at the wires. "I thought we left you behind. It didn't have to be this way, wires!"
Or, he would've said that, but it wasn't worth interrupting his playing. Instead, he opted to show his disappointment with the stupid wires by stabbing them dead. ------ Use Dagger on Wires D. |
The retreat had to come to a halt when the two cybernetically enhanced zombies started preparing for zombie attack. One was aiming at Jhen, and the other at Elsa. Jhen was a small Tarut Black Mage that Kole felt responsible for guarding, and the other was a potentially cultist Dark Knight. Kole didn't even break his stride to decide which zombie to attack. He gripped his katana with both hands and swung down on the cyber-zombie aiming it's menacing pulsing arm at Jhennek.
And hey, if Kole accidentally got hit by the attack, maybe his Blue Mage blood would react. But the thought to protect his teammates came first, if only by a small margin. --- Attack Virulent Zombie A. |
Elsa let out a sigh of relief, finding that the wires around her neck were gone and she herself was amazingly not full of bullets.
But even so. "Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again." That was as close to a thank-you as Arden would be getting for saving Elsa's life. She hefted the scythe once more, returning her focus to the zombies. One was particularly worrying-- a zombie had pointed a grisley finger at her, the flesh along its arm rippling unnaturally. Well THAT probably wasn't good. Kole flung himself at the wormy-zombie's counterpart, looking ready to slice it to ribbons. Here now. Elsa couldn't let herself be outdone by HIM, could she? "Of course not! RRRAAAAAGHHH!" Answering her inner monologue aloud, the Dark Knight rushed her undead attacker, scythe raised high. ---- Attack Virulent Zombie B |
Jugan's mood was increasingly jubliant as corpses hit the floor. Ark however remained as stoic as ever, the task of survival still very much incomplete. He slashed powerfully at one of the weak undeads trying to force their way in. The Android then took one single step in, blocking the doorway and kept his shield up close to the entrance of the door, fending off the other weak zombie that was also in its comrade's way while preventing Raltz from trying to attack it.
PRESENT OPPOSING FORCES INCLUDE ENHANCED CORPSES! REVISING TACTICS! RED MAGE: CEASE MAGIC CASTING CURRENTLY! PROPOSED TACTICS: REMAIN PRESENT UNTIL SIGNALED! UPON THAT SIGNAL, ATTACK UNENHANCED ZOMBIE! MY SUBSEQUENT ACTION IS TO FORCE THE ENHANCED UNDEAD ASIDE AND SURVEY THE CURRENT FORCES FOR FAVORABLE CONDITIONS! IF TRUE: YOU EXIT ELEVATOR AND ELIMINATE UNENHANCED CORPSES. END RESULT: PREVENT ALLIES ESCAPE ROUTE BEING BLOCKED WITH APPROACHING FORCES!" --------------------------- Ark attacks closest mook undead. Prevents Raltz from trying to attack the other remaining mook zombie (which is preventing the sword zombie from approaching) and advises Raltz to be in defensive position and wait for next turn's action. |
The evil animatronic wire had been mortally wounded by her bronze bullet, and even now, lay still on the floor of the hallway. Beside it, Elsa let out a sigh of relief - one which Arden echoed. She didn't know what those wires did, but when Shadow Magic was involved, it was always better to shoot first and treat mortal wounds right after, questions were for-
"Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again." Elsa growled, turning her attention back to the Undead blocking their path. Following the Dark Knight's gaze, Arden grimaced, feeling herself lose color again. The skin of their cybernetically enhanced foes were crawling again. "No promises." Arden muttered, flicking another bronze bullet into the weapon's chamber. She might have to shoot more of her allies before this was over! Kole charged past her! It looked like he meant business. Arden had wondered if his katana was just for show, the way he jumped at the slightest sound. She hoped for Jhennek's sake that he could manage it. Shrugging, Arden's eyes began to glow with pale blue light. Lips moving in a soundless incantation, the colors of her cotton robes and silver hair brightened and intensified, responding to the Holy Magic that stirred around her. She raised her hand over her head, faint aquamarine sparkles appearing at her fingertips... "Everyone, get ready to run!" Arden called, trying to keep an eye on the Undead behind, and in front of, her at the same time. It was a difficult proposition. * * * * * * > Arden casts Cure on herself. |
DATA STORAGE
Kole, Bello, Jhen, Arden Slashing downward with his little dagger, Bello cleanly ends the existance of the small bundle of wires, even as Elsa's scythe rends through the burnt flesh of one of the zombies infront of the small group, and Jhennek begins calling on the powers of the elements once more. Unfortunately, Kole's strike goes wide, and the zombie's arm continues to pulse. Arden begins to gather the energy to heal her own wounds as the undead horde moves in, swiping at the white mage, its heavy blow nearly breaking her concentration, but the spell still finishes, nearly all of her wounds healing. Meanwhile, other zombies move in on Elsa, Kole, and Bello. The black knight's armor easily deflected the creature's clumsy blows, while Kole was able to remove himself from the path of the strike with ease, but Bello was not so lucky, catching the zombie's hand against his small face. The zombie Kole failed to strike down, meanwhile, gains the chance to launch another bundle of wires, along with a burst of blood, from its pulsing arm, that quickly wrap themselves around Jhennek's arm. However, just as they do so, her spell finishes and her body becomes covered in an aura of elemental energies that spike out and destroy the small creature. ---------- PC Round Bello- Kill wires D Kole- Miss Elsa- 23 Damage, Virulent Zombie B Jhennek- Begin casting elemental spikes. Virulent Zombie A-16/63 Virulent Zombie B- Dead Arden- Begins casting cure. Wires D- Dead Arden- 14/20 Elsa- 24/26 ----------- NPC Round Virulent Zombie A-Spawns Wires A, Launches at Jhennek Wires A-Wrap around Jhennek's arm. Mook Zombie A- Hit Elsa for 0 Damage Mook Zombie B- Hit Arden for 6 Damage Mook Zombie C- Hit Bello for 7 Damage Mook Zombie D- Miss Kole Sword Zombie A/Mook Zombie E-Can move no closer Virulent Zombie A- 16/63 Elsa- 24/26 Arden- 8/20 Bello- 15/22 ----------- PC Round Jhennek Finishes casting Elemental Spikes. Leaving it up to Riin which element. Wires A- Dead. Arden- Cures self for 9 hp. Virulent Zombie A- 16/63 Elsa- 24/26 Arden- 17/20 Bello- 15/22 SOUTH HALLWAY Raltz, Ark With a powerful blow, Ark sends the head of the nearest zombie spinning to the ground, but the next moves in to take its place, its blow coming with surprising strength--enough to be felt even through the Android's heavy armor. Directly on his augmented arm. ---------- PC Round Ark- Kills Mook Zombie D Raltz- Defend Mook Zombie D- Dead Sword Zombie A- 50/63 ---------- NPC Round Mook Zombie E- 0 Damage. Breaks Ark's Heavy Arm graft. Ark suffers -2 Strength until it can be repaired. -2 Dex penalty remains as per graft rules. |
Raltz hung back content to let Ark handle it, and watched as he took the attack. He didn't seem too injured, at least externally, but the attack looked like it may have hurt under the armor. its always good to lend a hand, right?
"Hey big guy, you okay?" Raltz asked, hoping fervently for a yes. "How about I give you a helping hand?" Making his way back to the front lines, he raised his sword and went for a straight horizontal slash across the neck of the zombie. Ark would follow right up with an attack of his own, right? --- Ralts - attack mook zombie E |
Jugan rapidly shifting contanence shifted to a vicious glare as the dragon started scraping its clawed feet against the elevator floor.
"Hey big guy, you okay? How about I give you a helping hand?" POWER ARM SUFFER INTERNAL DAMAGE! REROUTING POWER FROM FULL POWER TO BASIC FUNCTIONALITY UNTIL REPAIRED! Ark then braced his foot against the floor for a briefest moment, holding the shield between himself and the sword zombie. With an unconscious grunt of effort, Ark bolted through the door, throwing his body weight against the weaponbearing zombie in the attempt to push it back, maybe even knock it over. Jugan followed the steel warrior, pumping its arm up and down with excitement, oblivious to how he and Ark were practically playing at being trains. DESIGNATED TACTIC: EXIT ELEVATOR! EXTERMINATE UNENHANCED ZOMBIES. CLEAR EXIT ROUTE FOR ALLIED UNITS! ----------------- Ok, let me explain what I'm trying to do... Raltz attacked the closest zombie (the unenhanced zombie), thus removing another attacker (assuming he didn't miss) but also making room for the sword zombie. Ark is combining his move action and strength check to do a full out charge attack using the shield to push it back and maybe knock it over. Awareness check on surrounding zombies if able. Trying to get Raltz to exit elevator and start attacking mook zombies, or otherwise, clearing/drawing away zombies that would block the exit route of the other group members. |
"Son of a -" Arden bit off her curse, quickly regaining her balance from the surprisingly strong blow. Around her, the faint holy aura of white magic steadied, jostled by the unexpected burst of pain, before flaring brightly. "Cure!" Arden's arm snapped out to the side, motes of white, green and aquamarine energy sparkled, filling the air around her for an instant. Her bruises faded, the throbbing in her leg vanishing entirely, and tenderness in her chest lessening to a dull ache.
There was a break in the ring of Undead around them. "Bello, Jhennek, get on Kole and Elsa!" Arden called, jamming her pistol into the holster at her waist. "We've stayed here too long!" The way the Undead from the Necroreanimation room had surrounded them probably made her point obvious. "I'll try to draw their attention - heal yourselves with potions if things get tight. Make for the Elevator!" Arden added, darting forward. The mage flashed a cheerful salute - which she didn't really feel - over her shoulder, before dashing off, boots pounding a quick rhythm down the Undead clogged hallway. Maybe she'd even survive! Why, she wondered idly, am I doing so many stupid things today? * * * * * * > Escape Roll. > Arden moves a Medium Distance toward the Elevator. |
Clad in a shimmering cloak of lightning, Jhen scooped up a piece of the wires that so recently threatened her. Holding it up towards the steady light above, she squinted at it. I wonder if this section holds anything important..?
And then dropped it at Arden's yell. "Bello, Jhennek, get on Kole and Elsa!" Surprised, the Tarut sized up both potential mounts. Elsa was covered in heavy armor - which if necessary would conduct lightning so very well! It was decided! With a bound and a leap, the tiny mage latched onto Elsa's belt and started climbing her way up to the shoulder. Seating herself securely, Jhennek gleefully pointed after the retreating Arden - "Follow that mage!" --- Do I need to make a roll to climb or escape? Not sure. |
"Right-o," Elsa replied to Jhen, choosing to ignore the fact that she had just been demoted to the role of packmule. Zombies were coming and the white mage was leaving. Time to make an escape with whatever dignity she could muster while running away from a fight with a Tarut on her shoulder.
Breaking into a run, Elsa went for the elevator. ------------- Escape! |
Kole, deeply upset that he completely missed the zombie, had little time to mull over that fact. So he only had a bit of time to worry about it. How the team may now die because of it, regardless of the black mage rendering the zombie attack useless. And if it was obvious he missed to everyone else, he may become ridiculed or kicked off the team. Worse yet, that may have been a spell he could have absorbed, despite it's mechanical nature.
Regardless, Kole grabbed the little bard and ran. --- Pick up Bello and escape. |
"Hey! Wait! What-!" was all Bello could spit out as Kole grabbed him like a sack of potatoes. "Ok, I can roll with this. Time for a change of pace, anyway," he thought before taking a breath and reversing his song.
------ Bello plays Reversed Herculean Etude. |
Dashing down the hall way, the small group of of adventurers struggles through swathes of zombies, and near misses. Only two of the creatures manage to lay hands upon them, despite their numbers. One upon Kole, leaving little more than a bruise, and one upon Jhennek, the weakened zombie's pawing hardly noticeable through her thick robes--though the lightning that traveled back through them was certainly noticeable to it, as it fell to the ground burnt and twitching.
As they ran, they quickly came into sight of their Android and Red Mage companions, who were busy attempting to thin the numbers of the horde, and they had succeeded admirably, surrounded by corpses. The android seemed to have fared with almost no wounds, and Raltz was nearly as healthy, bearing only a few bruises. Seeing the rest of the small group coming, however, they quickly retreated into the elevator, and soon the small box was carrying them up stairs. The doors opened back onto the research lab on the third floor, and nothing seemed out of place. There are, thankfully, no zombies here. ------------- Rolled five athletics rolls for everyone (35 rolls altogether), added together, added combined--and multipled by five--athletics score of the group, compared to target numbers to see how many rounds it would take to get to the elevator (315, meaning an average of 9 on every roll, would have gotten you there in 5 rounds, you rolled 296, so 10), I had you get hit for each critical failure (two), and subtracted a round for each crit success (1, so 9 rounds). I then, because I was rolling them as batches of 14 die at a time, used a random number generator to decide who would be hit. Then I took the number of rounds and used that to guesstimate how many times Raltz and Ark would be open to attack in that time. I assumed all mook zombies, because I'm nice like that. I then rolled the attacks, divied them up evenly (Ark got hit once more than Raltz thanks to losing the coin toss), and applied damage. All damage was applied after the effects of Phil's song. Thank Phil, everyone, but especially Raltz. Who was saved from 9 extra damage. ALSO: I will be considering it 'end of combat' once you get out of this city in so far as effects and what not go. That means that Jhen still has her lightning shield. EDIT: I GUESS I SHOULD POST HOW MUCH DAMAGE WAS TAKEN: Kole- 3 damage Jhen- 0 Damage (zombie who did this is dead) Ark- 0 Damage Raltz- 7 damage (May have tossed himself a cure or something during that if he likes and reduce damage taken to 0 in exchange for 5 mp |
Still under Kole's arm, Bello looked around the elevator and asked with a smirk, "So, did you guys find anything interesting?"
------ I guess the song ended for now. We don't need extra elevator music. |
The Elevator doors closed behind them, their heavy metal effectively cutting the - miraculously alive still - group off from the undead filled basement. Leaning against one of the elevator's walls, Arden breathed a relieved sigh, slumping slightly. I never, ever, what to do that again. She was quiet for a few moments, while the Elevator rose, as she allowed her breathing to calm.
Soon after, she nodded to herself, and straightened, surveying the worst of the damage from the run. Elsa was okay, the Dark Knight might have a bruise or two through her armor, but nothing worth expending magic on. Jhennek on the other hand looked a little fatigued; not so much to be a problem yet, but she'd need to monitor her. If Jhennek ran out of magical strength before this was over, it would be a problem. Meanwhile, the Mage's eyes moved to her other companions. Ark's mechanical arm looked a little off, but her Cure Spell wouldn't work on machines. Raltz looked pretty beat up, but he was supposed to know Healing Magic, so he'd be able to take care of his own wounds. Bello...the little Bard had taken a pretty nasty hit back before they'd run off, but would probably be alright as long as he stayed near the back of the group. With a town likely full of undead to contend with, she'd have to be conservative with her spells. Which left Kole. The Blue Mage was pretty bruised and had a few cuts. She didn't really like him, but they were still a fair distance from the town's exit, and with the threat of Death Magic still present, a Blue Mage might be useful. The profile said he was resistant to lethal magic, Arden considered, nodding slowly. Bello asked if any one had anything to report - Elsa could answer for her. "Kole," Arden stated, "I'm going to heal you, don't move." She began to chant softly... * * * * * * "Cure." Sparkling motes of pale blue-green glittered around Kole, as the Blue's wounds vanished. By then, the Elevator's doors had opened. Nothing seemed to have changed, but... "Ark," The White Mage stated, "please take point. Elsa, Kole, I'd like you both to follow him a pace or so behind him. Watch out for casting monsters - the amount of Shadow Energy around us means Death spells remain a possibility. Raltz, I realize you use a sword, but please try to stay back from the fighting, you're a stronger healer than I am. Bello, if you'd stay at the back near me? Jhennek, you as well." "I'd just like to remind everyone that we're definitely in hostile territory, so our first priority is to get out." Arden continued, "But please be cautious, we found an Orderly on the third floor that had been torn up by claws of some kind. None of the undead below had them, so its a fair assumption that there are varieties of enemies we haven't come across yet." She paused, a thought occurring to her, "Oh, and watch out for the Hospital Administrator. His corpse had a Mana Cannon graft - I suspect we'll encounter him before we escape." Orders - and advice - imparted, Arden nodded to herself, gesturing toward the still-open-doors. "We should get moving. Unless you think its vital, please save further discussion until we're safe." * * * * * * > Arden casts Cure on Kole. Current MP: 15/25 - three spells left. > She exits the elevator at the back of the group. |
Fortunately, before anything else could find Raltz and Ark in the elevator, the party came across them. He had been wounded a bit, but he wasn't in critical condition. "Welcome aboard the party train friends, no going back for quite a while," he said, hitting the up button. Once inside, it seemed they were all safe, several started up chatter and Arden began healing Kole and gave out orders. He had several means of healing at the moment, but he could rough it a bit until it got worse.
"Raltz, I realize you use a sword, but please try to stay back from the fighting, you're a stronger healer than I am." "Believe me friend," the hume responded, "I have no problems hanging back for the time being. Also, Ark and I did find something neat," he said, retrieving the tentacle graft from the floor and showing it for all to see. "It isn't your typical graft as you can tell. I'm not really an expert, but I'm pretty sure most hospitals don't normally have these in stock. Do you guys think I should keep keep lugging it around? The boys paying us might have something to say about it." After his little explanation, he took his position behind Kole in the line, still waiting for a verdict on the graft in hand. --- exits elevator behind Kole, towards the back. |
"It isn't your typical graft as you can tell. I'm not really an expert, but I'm pretty sure most hospitals don't normally have these in stock. Do you guys think I should keep keep lugging it around? The boys paying us might have something to say about it."
Ark then presented the other graft, a hand cannon like Arden was probably thinking of, which he also took from that room. SUPPLEMENTARY EVIDENCE! ACCORDING TO SCANS AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE FROM DEALING WITH GRAFTS, THESE PARTICULAR ONES ARE DANGEROUSLY MODIFIED. AFOREMENTIONED MODIFICATIONS DRAW UPON EXCESS POWER WHICH CANNOT BE PROVIDED BY NORMAL TECHNOLOGY OR BASIC LIFE FUNCTION. PROBABILITY HIGH THAT SUCH GRAFTS ARE POWERED BY MORE ILLICIT MEANS AS DEMOSTRATED BY THE HOSTILES WE ENCOUNTERED WITH ALTERATIONS. SUCH EVIDENCE IS RELEVANT TO CLIENT, REGARDING POSSIBLE ORGANIZATIONS OR OTHERWISE DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL CONDUCTS. Ark meanwhile took the vanguard position as normal, Jugan riding on his shoulder feeling much more at ease now that everyone was together again. ------------- Ark leading the way, awareness check as always, weapon and shield drawn. Keeping the two unusable grafts as presentable evidence. |
"Believe me friend," Raltz replied as the group exited the elevator, causing Arden's eyebrow to arc in slight surprise. She hadn't been aware the Red Mage liked her. "I have no problems hanging back for the time being." He knelt, "Also, Ark and I did find something neat," then returned to his feet, holding something that looked like a mechanical tendril of some kind.
"It isn't your typical graft as you can tell. I'm not really an expert, but I'm pretty sure most hospitals don't normally have these in stock." That sort of graft was probably illegal, Arden nodded minutely. "Do you guys think I should keep lugging it around? The boys paying us might have something to say about it." Raltz had started walking by this time. Slipping from the elevator, a few paces behind the red, Arden opened her mouth to respond. But, at the front of their group, Ark paused and withdrew something from his...Arden suddenly wondered where he'd been keeping that Hand-Cannon, especially while fighting undead hordes. Ask him after we get out of Zombie-Land. She chided herself, now was not the time to wonder about Androids with strange pockets! "Supplementary Evidence!" The Android boomed in his usual emotionless and tone. "According to Scans and personal experience from dealing with grafts, these particular ones are dangerously modified." He really did sound more like a read-out than a person sometimes. "Aforementioned modifications drawn upon excess power which cannot be provided by normal technology. Probability high that-" He sounded more robotic than usual! Maybe Arden just hadn't paid any attention to the mandroid before? She suddenly found herself wondering if Androids really had genders, it wasn't as though they slept around. Could they do it even if they wanted to? "-evidence is relevant to client, regarding possible organizations or otherwise dangerous and illegal conducts." And then he was done talking! "Ah," Arden blinked in surprise. "well, I think the Council of Four already had suspicions of illegal grafting procedures," The White Mage offered, trying to cover up her own momentary zone-out with an opinion, "so I don't think that bringing them the grafts for the sake of evidence would be worth it. However," she shrugged, "if they're unusual, it can't hurt to give them samples. We'd likely get a bigger bonus for finding out how everyone died, and a means to avoid it in the future, though." "But Ark?" Arden added, "In the future, I would like you to better endeavor to emulate our patterns of speech." She absently drew her gun, flicking open the chamber to check that it was still loaded. "Just because you are an android doesn't mean you need to sound like one." She explained, shrugging. "I'm sure our employers would appreciate the effort, at least." And so the group keep walking through the starkly lit corridors. Small talk did ease the nerves! |
As the small group exited the research area they were quickly disappointed to find that there were, indeed, more animatronic corpses about, as the administrator's secretary hobbled out of the room, her back twisted at an odd angle, and her arms hanging limp at her sides with her hair obscuring her face.
Behind her came the administrator himself, standing tall, almost normal, if not for large cannon that replaced his left arm. However, surprisingly it is not that arm which he holds up, but rather his normal one, black tendrils of energy crackling along it like black lightning, gathering into a ball in the palm of his hand. --------------- New Combat, Round 1 Secretary and Administrator are medium distance from Kole, Ark, and |
"Ok guys, this is a song about that rat bastard, Lightening Bolt, and how, no matter where I go, he always steals my Baby away."
Bello played a warm up chord. "It isn't true, by the way," he added, as he started the Lightening Bolt Blues. ------ Performance of Lightening starts. Fry'em, Jhennek. |
Swearing softly, Arden lowered her pistol, Too far. She realized, a shot from this distance would be futile - as likely to hit her allies as her enemies. "We'll need to get closer." Arden stated, glancing toward Jhennek and Raltz - magic wouldn't cover the distance any better than her bullets.
Not waiting for a response, the White Mage dashed forward. Short, thin, lines of crackling energy began to appear at random throughout the hall - likely a side effect of Bello's current song. I'll need to ask him what his spells do. She'd make a point of it once this battle ended. Her green eyes narrowed as she arrived a few paces back from where her more melee inclined allies stood. The black lightning around the Admin's hand was unmistakable. Shadow Magic. Arden realized - it was a little too late for any warning she voiced to help, unfortunately. She'd have to hope the others had recognized the danger already. * * * * * * > Arden moves to Medium Range of the enemies. |
Kole immediately dashed towards the new zombie enemies. Was it to close the distance for his katana? Perhaps. Keeping formation with the white mage already moving behind him? Also likely. Making sure that the threat would have to go through him before his more vulnerable teammates? Seems reasonable. Those reasons were part of why Kole took action, but not the main reason.
The admin was casting magic. Not weird grafting wires like before. This was honest to goodness magic. And maybe this magic was something Kole's blue mage blood would react to. Ignoring all the paranoid thoughts he had about any other outcome, Kole stuck with the possibility of blue magic. His interest in monsters and their abilities always beat the paranoia. --- Move to short distance. |
"We'll need to get closer." So saying, Arden strode forward, intent in every step.
Jhen nodded sagely, in full agreement with her green-eyed friend. Getting closer would allow for such improved observation! Perhaps it could answer the question of why that reanimated Hume had such terrible posture. Moving forward with Arden, the Black Mage swirled her cloak of lightning around her shoulders. It popped faintly, emitting small crackles of energy. Waiting. She could feel the very air around her charge as Bello played a few notes - another few moments to get into position, and this hospital would be shaking with thunder. ----- Follow Arden to Medium Distance. |
Jugan jumped off the android promptly landing roughly on the floor as the dragon knight charged as close as his speed was able to take him. His shield was held protectively in front of him.
HOSTILES DETECTED! DESIGNATED TARGET: CORPSE WITH MODIFIED HAND CANNON GRAFT. Ark's arm still lacked the previous strength that it had before. If one solid good hit could render his arm function null, then perhaps the same could be said for the experiemental graft which powered his magic. ------------------- Move as close as possible to Administrator. Maybe an Athlethic roll or something to move faster. |
As most of the small group moved closer, Elsa began channeling black magic through her hands, targetting the administrator, but still a black beam of concussive 'anti-light' streaked from corpse's arm, and smashed directly into Kole. The beam shattered against him, bolts of black lightning ripping apart the walls, ceiling, and floor in his immediate vicinity.
As the dust cleared, Kole still stood, but his skin was paler, and his countenance darker. He looked hardly any better than the creatures they had been fighting before. Meanwhile, the secretary claws outward, her fingers deflecting painlessly against Ark's armor, even as ghostly chains of light wrap themselves around the administrator, holding his arms tight to his body, and removing the risk, for now. --------------------- PC Round 1 Everyone but Elsa moves closer, going from long to medium, and from medium to short. Elsa-begin casting Lock. --------------- NPC Round 2 Administrator-Fire Necrotic Beam at Kole dealing 17 damage and causing status effect Zombie. Kole- LEARN BLUE MAGIC NECROTIC BEAM: Necrotic Beam (10 mp, 5 hp) Target: Single Type: Shadow Reflectable: Yes The caster raises their arm and black energy begins to crackle around it draining out their very life force into the attack and corrupting it. The energy then solidifies into an orb in their hand before exploding outward in a beam of pure darkness doing (VIT x 2) + 1d6 damage and has a chance of inflicting the zombie status effect. Arden- 17/20 Raltz- 15/27 Kole- 6/23, Zombie Elsa- 24/26 Ark- 26/29 Bello- 15/22 Jhen- 20/20 --------------- PC Round 2 Elsa- LOCK DOWN ADMINISTRATOR |
Kole's sudden desire to feast on his teammates to spread the pain of the attack he just received made him realize he was done with this fight. The especially almost dead blue mage stumbled back as best he could from the zombie enemies he was almost like. Despite that, it was worth it. He could feel his blue magic blood stirring around. Kole could shoot zombies beams now, and this pleased him. Once he was less injured and undead.
-- Move medium range from zombies/short of most party members. |
Horrified, Jhen could only watch as Kole was hit with a blast of dark energy. His attacker found himself bound - for now - with psychic locks from the quick-thinking Elsa, removing him and his arm-cannon from being an immediate threat. Planting her feet firmly, Jhennek took up a spellcasting stance of her own as Kole reeled around, looking wan. For a brief moment, she wished she had the skills of a white mage. Is he okay? That really looked like it hurt.
Ignoring the plight she could not fix, the Tarut resumed her cast. Lightning leapt and cracked around her, her arm pointed stiffly toward the secretary. Best to take out this one while the other is incapacitated. She could feel the energy in the air rise. Time to make this place shake. ---- Cast Thunder on Secretary. |
Between the fingers of her free hand, Arden rolled a slim vial of Revivify. "No." She murmured, expression grave. The recovery item returned itself to a pocket in her robes, "Not just yet." Silver hair rippling, she brought her handgun up with a flourish, training the weapon on the Secretary's hidden face.
"After you go down!" Arden pulled the trigger. Gunfire sounded. * * * * * * > Attack the Secretary |
Noticing the sudden favorable change of circumstances, the android opted to switch his target while the magic was still effective. Ark swung his body weight roughly from the momentum of the run as he twisted this torso and swung his blade at a decapitating height.
--------------------------- Attacking Secretary. |
Spectral chains wrapped around the administrator, holding him in place. It wasn't fast enough to stop him from casting the necrotic beam, but at least it stopped him from casting it again. Now it was time to pile on some damage before he could free himself.
Elsa moved forwards as Kole shambled off to one side. Hmm. The blue mage was a zombie now. That couldn't be good. Well, they'd have to deal with this latest problem when they had more free time. Hopefully it was an ailment that could be easily-remedied. Oh well. First thing's first: Beat the everloving daylights out of some zombies. Hefting the scythe once more, Elsa moved into range. ----- Move to short range |
Bello, in his rush to start his new song, had forgotten something very important: when your audience runs away, you have to to follow them. Chase them to the ends of Ivalice, if need be. Acting on this much practiced wisdom, Bello joined the others in the fray. Or, moved to do so, anyway.
------ Now Bello moves toward the monsters. |
It seemed that good ol' Kole was soon to join the ranks of the zombies he feared so much. He was also banged up quite a bit. Raltz indeed had a revify from their combined search earlier, but he also noticed that Arden had one that she apparently wanted to refrain from using. Maybe they should focus on the enemies for now.
Following suit with the others, Ralts moved in and took a strike at the Secretary's heart. --- Raltz attacks the secretary |
Arden's shot tears through the secretary's flesh, causing her to stumble back a bit, as Ark's sword moves to decapitate her. However, with surprising speed, considering her sluggish gait, the corpse moves its arm to intercede the blow, Ark's sword biting deep into her forearm, a mixture of blood and oil leaking out onto the floor.
Just as the undead frees her arm from the blade, Raltz lances into her chest with a vicious stab that leaves her bleeding, but still standing, as she begins to scream, a bundle of wires wriggling out of her mouth, ready to leap forward. However, the attack is cut short, as lighting races through her body, arcing through her flesh, and up into the lighting and through the walls. Light fixtures through the hallway burst with power, and for just a moment all is dark, before the hospital begins to burn. --------------- PC Round 2 Kole- move to medium range Jhen- Start Casting Thundeeeeeeer Arden- 6 Damage, Secretary Ark- 10 Damage, Secretary Mauve- Move to short range Bello- Move to medium range Raltz- 8 damage, Secretary. Secretary- (-24)/?? Arden- 17/20 Raltz- 15/27 Kole- 6/23, Zombie Elsa- 24/26 Ark- 26/29 Bello- 15/22 Jhen- 20/20 ---------------- NPC Round 2 Administrator- Struggle against bonds fruitlessly Secretary- Begin casting infection Arden- 17/20 Raltz- 15/27 Kole- 6/23, Zombie Elsa- 24/26 Ark- 26/29 Bello- 15/22 Jhen- 20/20 ----------------- Jhennek- 60 Damage Secretary Secretary- Dead Arden- 17/20 Raltz- 15/27 Kole- 6/23, Zombie Elsa- 24/26 Ark- 26/29 Bello- 15/22 Jhen- 20/20 Hospital becomes Difficult Terrain. Athletics checks receive -2 modifier. Hospital is also fire, lightning, and shadow elemental terrain. |
The Hospital was on Fire.
Arden stumbled back a pace; mind quickly making the connection to the undead's spilled body fluids and the resulting blaze. Her instincts ran wild with panic; fire was something they couldn't fight. They had to run before it spread. Her eyes went to the Hospital Administator, bound by Elsa's Black Magic spell, he was harmless for the moment. But...Her mind returned to the crackling beam of black light that had struck Kole. The Blue was wearing warded clothing, stronger than her's, and he'd still taken a bad hit. ...the chains can't last forever. Tightening her jaw, Arden jerked a nod. "Jhennek!" She snapped, glancing toward the small mage, "Cast your spell again, but focus it through mine this time!" Arden thrust her hand out, eyes blazing to life with the pale blue light of holy energy. "I won't have that abomination firing on while our backs are turned!" The cotton in her robes and silver in her hair intensified, burning brightly in the stark light of hospital. "Everyone else, get moving!" Arden shouted, "We'll be right behind you!" Her eyes shut, as she began to focus all her attention on melding her power with Jhennek's own. She had to shape Restore into a field of transformative power to bless Jhennek's Thunder spell. With some luck, she could make this work. Jhennek was a good mage after all - hopefully, the Tarut would pick up on her casting cues. Without her Thunder spell, Restore wouldn't do a damned thing here. But with it... That thing will fry. She needed to stop trying risky things. * * * * * * > Begin Combination Magic, Restore+Thunder! > Blast the Admin! |
"Jhennek!"
At the sound of her name, the Tarut's eyes locked onto Arden's. She was a little surprised by the force of the exclamation - was she upset about the hospital burning? Because it would be completely understandable if so but she really couldn't have known that the orderly's blood would ignite so q- "Cast your spell again, but focus it through mine this time!" Oh! Was that all? She could do that! She watched closely as light coalesced in the White Mage's hand, growing brighter every second. Jhen stood close, and placed her tiny hand palm up next to Arden's. Concentrating, she started to draw lightning from the air around them. When she had enough for a solid blast, she would focus it through her friend's spell as asked. "I won't have that abomination firing on us while our backs are turned!" It was a good plan! --- Cast Thunder to combo with Arden! |
As the structure around them blazed, Jugan waddled as fast as he was able toward Ark. The flames themselves did not scare the young dragon. In fact, the flaring sensation of warmth that exuded from the walls caressed the young wyvern, a comforting sensation. But the explosions of light fixtures, the sudden cut in power and light and the resulting panic of those around him made him uneasy.
More pressed with concern that the administrator might break out of his bonds, Ark rushed toward the Administrator who was locked in place and swung his blade downward, attempting to cleave its head off its defenseless corpse. ------------------------ Attacking the Administrator. Since it is locked, I assume it has some sort of penalty to dodging or whatnot. |
Swinging his blade powerfully at the Administrator, Ark is surprised to find zombie shifting ever so slightly and interposing one of Elsa's chains between himself and the Android's sword--noticed too late for Ark to pull back. Within a moment, Elsa's ghostly chains fade away from the administrator, however, her Scythe finds purchase in his flesh, tearing a weeping wound in his unaltered shoulder as Raltz's blade marks a gash across his chest.
Stumbling back, the creature shows some flicker of intelligence as it realizes it is outmatched and aims its cannon skyward, blasting the burning ceiling apart with a ball of light that explodes with furious force against the roof and brings it crashing down between the administrator and the small group of heroes, tearing through the floor and leaving a gaping hole where once a line of attack existed. Through the hole the second floor of the hospital could be seen, fire spreading swiftly toward the I.C.U. from the fallen parts of this floor. However, the corpse's ploy was in vain as lightning crackled from Jhennek's fingertips with amazing power, and arced directly through the purifying light of Arden's holy magic becoming a bolt of pure heavenly wrath that wrapped itself about the impure form of the undead hospital administrator, tearing and arcing through his flesh and grafts. At first there was only the sizzle and popping of burning flesh, but then he raised his arm once more, and his graft began to whine like a steam kettle... and then there was a ball of fire, tearing apart the hallway, and a concussive wave of force smashed into the group of adventurer's. The sound was followed swiftly by the sounds of explosions below them, and through the hole they could see the fire roaring ever brighter, but this was hardly a concern as the floor began to buckle and warp, the hole spreading, as chunks of the ceiling broke away. The research lab began to sag as though it was about to slide from the building, but the bank of windows, and its slow speed promised a greater chance of survival than staying here and being crushed under burning rubble. --------------- PC Round 3 Ark- Critical Failure. Free the Administrator. Elsa- 12 damage, Administrator Raltz- 7 Damage, Administrator Bello- Move to Short Range of Administrator. Kole- Try to look like someone who doesn't need to be shot. Arden/Jhen, Combo Get Administrator- (-19)/??? Arden- 17/20 Raltz- 15/27 Kole- 6/23, Zombie Elsa- 24/26 Ark- 26/29 Bello- 15/22 Jhen- 20/20 Hospital is Difficult Terrain. Athletics check recieve -2 modifier. Hospital is also fire, lightning, and shadow elemental terrain. ---------------- NPC Round 3 Administrator- Fires... on Ceiling, dropping chunk of the roof between himself and attackers, ripping a hole in the ground. Arden- 17/20 Raltz- 15/27 Kole- 6/23, Zombie Elsa- 24/26 Ark- 26/29 Bello- 15/22 Jhen- 20/20 Hospital is Difficult Terrain. Athletics check recieve -2 modifier. Hospital is also fire, lightning, and shadow elemental terrain. Athletics roll of 9+ required to cross over. ---------------- PC Round 4 Jhennek/Arden- 112 damage to Administrator. Administrator- Blow the fuck up. Hospital- Collapse Collapsing hospital- 3 damage Arden, 2 damage Raltz, 0 damage Kole (crit success), 5 damage Elsa, 2 damage Ark, 4 damage Bello, 2 damage Jhen Arden- 14/20 Raltz- 13/27 Kole- 6/23, Zombie Elsa- 19/26 Ark- 24/29 Bello- 11/22 Jhen- 18/20 |
Diffuse holy energy poured into the air before Arden, faintly green, as the White Mage chanted softly. She called her fist, eyes tightly shut, and willed that power to condense. Her spell casting aura grew in brilliance as the power of restore collected itself into a lens-like form.
Lightning flashed from Jhennek's hand, pouring through the holy lens. Purified and magnified, the spell raced down the hallway, consuming the Administrator at its end in a crackling mass of incandescence. Flesh sizzled, as holy lightning damaged grafts and surged through the man's shadow twisted form. A mana cannon - heavily damage - was thrust from the spell's peak. A high pitched whine reached Arden's ears, wiping away her cocky expression and causing her to stumble backward. Flames, a fast spreading ball of fire, burst from the graft as it overloaded and exploded. The hallway's walls and floor disintegrated, as a solid wave of concussive force raced outward, knocking Arden to the floor. ...which started to fall apart. Cursing softly, Arden pushed herself to her feet - and grabbed Jhennek in the process. She swept the small mage into her arms. "Move!" She shouted - hopefully it wasn't necessary - and took off back toward the Research Lab. The ceiling was collapsing around them - but things looked more stable the way they had come. A chunk of stone fell into her path, spraying jagged shards of tile and plaster into the air. Biting her lip, Arden did her best to shield Jhennek from them with her body. The debris cut shallowly into her skin - it stung. But, she'd reached the Research Area, which seemed to be trembling a little, but, was holding itself together otherwise, luckily. Ignoring the strange vibrations for the moment, she moved deeper into the room. Carefully, she knelt and set Jhennek down. Was the shaking getting worse? And why did it feel like things were slanted? Maybe that blast did more damage than I thought… Putting such concerns aside for the moment, Arden pushed herself to her feet. "Are you alright?" She glanced back toward the hallway to check on the other- The whole lab seemed to be sliding away from the connecting hallway. The hole was spreading. Eyes slightly wide, Arden turned back toward Jhennek. "We should move further into the room." Walking quickly, it was quickly becoming apart that the slanting was growing more pronounced - At least I wasn't imagining it. It was getting harder to stand. Her feet were sliding. Wait, that means... "Grab onto something!" Arden really hoped that she hadn't imagined shouting that. * * * * * * Miraculously, after the dust settled and the shaking stopped, Arden realized that, aside from a dull ache everywhere, she was still alive. More miraculous still, she was outside the hospital, in a mostly in-tact research lab. How lucky. "Is everyone here?" She called, pushing herself - still a little unsteady - to her feet. Arden dusted herself off - moving a little gingerly. |
Along with the other adventurers with blades, Raltz valiantly cut a bitch in the form of the locked up administrator. However, things seemed to go from good to bad when two of his fellow mages decided to be creative and formed a holy lightning bolt of destruction. Raltz was too busy trying to get away from the heavenly blast's target to really see what happened, but some went boom, and he felt the whole area shaking around him. He rose to his feet, stumbling, and tried to run away from the hole in the ground. He felt himself fall again though with an even greater thud as he ran. after that he blacked out for a moment. He wasn't quite sure where he was at the point he heard Arden's voice again.
"Is everyone here?" "That depends, is my hat okay?" Raltz responded a bit feebly as he got back up, feeling around his rather excessive head of hair for his red hat. It appeared to be gone, allowing all of his hair to be shown from the bangs to his shoulders. "Whatever, I guess I'm here," he said despondedly as he searched around for his jaunty headpiece. It wasn't long before he came across it some feet from where he landed. He quickly scooped it up and dusted it off to the best of his abilities. After that, he mounted it once more. "Anywho," the red mage said offhandedly as he tucked some stray strands of hair away, "where is Zombie boy? The two of us found a revify earlier, and if he's still alive I can probably give it to him as an alternative to shooting him in the face." |
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