File: darkopimage9.png (169.3 KB)
ANTON PEAS: that’s your name… don’t wear it out! Feels like it’s been ages since a botched summoning ritual brought you to ZORAL: a fantasy world shrouded in perpetual darkness… but you’ve really only been here for a few days–and BOY have you been busy!
Your memories? Foggy! A way home? Uncertain! People trying to kill you? Very Yes! To say this new world is treacherous would be an understatement, to say the least, and to make matters worse, an archdevil who calls himself ’RED’ is your best chance at remembering who you were!
His price? Slaying THE FOUR LORDS: a kooky quartet of tyrants and beasts who jealously rule their slice of Zoral with an iron fist… or claw… or whatever they have! Having just put an end to the overdue reign of ARCHMAGE TRIER in the never-sleeping city of UMBERAL, your aggressive altruism freed none other than KNODD, Earthmother and god of the land!
Juiced up on divine powers and named the first ’CHAMPION OF THE GODS’, your new status attracted the notice of several high-rung folks, chief among them THE STAR-CLOAKS: a clandestine cadre of mages devoted to maintaining order in Zoral, no matter the cost! Weirder still was when you met their Guildmaster: VOLKIR! Volka’s adoptive father and curmudgeon par excellence, the old coot didn’t waste much time in tossing a new crisis your way: per what you heard from Trier, there’s a SIEGE headed to CROSSROADS! Who’s planning it and why? The details are foggy, but who better than you is there to help save the day?
Having just acquired several Emergency Supply caches for the city from a pair of Spice Cartel Holdouts, you turn your heroic attention towards your next task: investigating a group of HEDGE MAGES holed up in one of Crossroads’ many parks… and maybe even recruiting them to your side! With the trade hub bursting at the seams from civil unrest and outside influence, you can use all the help you can get your mitts on… something tells you this ain’t gonna be easy!
Making your way across a rapidly-deteriorating city, THIS is where your story continues…
NEW DIVINITY-POWERED THREAD THEME!https://youtu.be/p4Z96WwZrL0
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File: downhilljam.png (91.3 KB)
You’re not too keen on letting this curious crusader dip into the night, but when an aftershock rattles the forest floor at your feet, you opt to take them at their word, shaky though it may seem! Realizing that you aren’t going to detain them, your new pal and what few eyes of theirs are visible fade into the darkness leaving you and your ranger buddy alone in a clearing that reeks of blood and battle…
“Anton!” Morook sputters as you scurry over to where the smell of blood is at its freshest, “We need to go!”
One second, you retort, trying not to grimace as your hands meet your missing squad’s corpses, just give me a moment!
You’re done long before Morook can follow up–while you don’t bother relieving any of the troops of their soiled armor or weaponry, you DO collect the pendants hanging from each of their necks–the simple baubles engraved with what you can only hope are their names! Joining Morook at the edge of the clearing, you’re met with a hasty, albeit approving nod!
“Good thinking. Let’s be off.”
He doesn’t need to tell you twice!
“... I wasn’t planning on it, bu-”
Let’s MOVE!
Turns out you don’t have to tell Morook twice either–at your suggestion the Chytree bolts into the woods, eyes a-glowing like a pair of runaway lanterns! You follow as best as you can, but the steep grade and the debris-strewn trail leaves you a bit flatfooted! You’re about two seconds away from begging Morook to carry you when the solution hits you like…
… Well, a rock to the face!
Gathering up some earth by its invisible strings, you bite your lip and try not to freak out as you take a leap–or a step, rather–of faith… and find purchase on a freshly-raised bed of soil! A relieved sigh leaves your lips, but only a small one–the hard part comes next, after all! Hopping aboard, you cautiously take the slab of soil’s strings in your hands like those on a sleigh…
And usher it FORWARD!
You didn’t know Morook could look so flabbergasted, but hey, you learn new things every day! It’s a good thing the guy catches on quick–you’re too busy screaming atop your out-of-control conveyance to help him aboard, but he manages with a well-timed hop!
“I’ve heard of landslides,” He mutters, birdlike talons digging into your shoulders as he finds his balance, “But THIS is ridiculous!”
He’s not wrong! Your divine intervention only helps your ride gain momentum… and before long your terrainsportation is crashing past smaller saplings and fungal blooms like an out-of-control ice cream truck!
“Impressive!” Morook remarks as a low-hanging branch gets intimately-acquainted with your face, “How do you know where the boulders and trees are?”
That’s the neat part, you answer, accompanied by a nervous laugh, you don’t! The Chytree’s eyes bore into you like highbeams on the interstate.
“... Ah.”
>CONTD.
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>>6421571
>Roll me 1d100+3 (+3 GEOMANCY, +2 Ring of Echoes (Hey remember that), +3 Morook Help, Kinda? -5 VERY FAST!) to not crash on the way down! Best of 3!
Aaaaand we're back, folks! Might have a few more slight delays this week, but nothing as wild as this last one. Sorry for the wait and thanks for your patience!
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File: sendit.png (9.8 KB)
https://youtu.be/EYp-i_SDOw8
You take control of the ill-thought out situation with the usual class and composure. Screaming like a little girl trapped in a rat convention, your white-knuckled hands clutch your sod sleigh’s phantom strings close to your chest as you desperately try to avoid hitting a tree. In a forest.
Yea, it’s about as easy as it sounds. Fortunately your erstwhile companion Morook doesn’t jeer or critique your performance–whether that’s due to his polite nature or just an assumption that this is how humans work remains to be seen, but whatever the reason the only feedback he gives is when he senses an oncoming obstacle that you can’t!
Which, as you might imagine, happens quite a lot!
“Oh!” He exclaims after you swerve away from a fungal tower full of critters that shriek indignantly as you speed by, “Add some reeds or branches to the front!”
You tug a thread and just BARELY skirt around what you assume is either a really squat tree or a really wide boulder! Y-you’re a little busy, man!
“They’ll warn us of what’s ahead! Like a Reedmaw’s barbels!”
Oh! Neat! Yea, hang on a sec! You move to hand off the ‘reins’ to Morook before remembering who the DIVINE CHAMPION is here. Snatching up a few vinelike growths from the plants you manage to pass, you add them to your ‘ride’ and use their ensuing bends to guide your way through the hilly forest!
Your peat-aided plunge only becomes more perilous, however–the hill growing steeper with every swerve–but as your feeler-armed ferry rumbles over a cluster of semi-buried stones, you feel a familiar weightlessness build in your stomach as your wild ride goes airborne!
“Ah,” Morook observes in his usual clinical tone as you cling to him screaming bloody murder, “This will help us avoid the underbrush at the foothills. Lucky indee-”
Before the Chytree can finish remarking on how lucky you are, your grassy go-kart hits the ground with a muffled ‘PLOT’ before bounding off the hill like a wayward tennis ball! A few lazy arcs later send you CRASHING into a clearing where the scent of mountain-dwelling trees no longer stings your flared nostrils!
Collecting your splayed-out self off of the ground, you can’t help but rejoice a bit when your arms, chest, and everything else come up muddy! MOROOK, you exclaim, barely able to stop yourself from cackling with delight, we… we MADE it!
“Anton…”
And perfect timing, too, you sigh, taking a moment to bask in the swampy scents, just gotta head back to CROSSROADS and see what’s going on with that earthquake or whatever-
“Anton.”
>CONTD.
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>>6422191
It takes a moment before you smell it–the unmistakable smell of freshly-burned flames… distant, but pungent even where you lie! What’s worse, from across the muddy expanse you hear a smorgasbord of sounds you’d rather not hear: faint, panicked shouts, clattering artillery, muffled magical explosions… all coming from the direction of the city you sought to protect!
Morook, you mutter in a near-breathless voice, are… were you too late, or?
“ANTON.”
It takes even longer to realize Morook is concerned with more immediate concerns: namely the fact that you’re sitting smack-dab in the middle of what could easily be mistaken for a yellow eye convention!
… or a Tusk Meetup.
No, you don’t think those exist, but–look, you get it, right? The eye’s owners stare you and Morook down with a mixture of confusion and menace–their number easily above twenty!
The most uncomfortable silence you’ve ever endured (yet) blankets the clearing as neither you nor the Skogs move to break it! Thankfully a metallic squawk emanating from one of the tusked terror’s pockets does it for you!
“ALL GROUPS: SEISMIC DISTURBANCES SUGGEST FUUXI ACTIVITY IN THE OPERATION AREA. THE CITY IS BREACHED, DEFENSES IN TEMPORARY DISARRAY. ACQUIRING STRUCTURAL WEAKPOINTS NOW–AWAIT BREACHING ORDERS.”
The announcement fades with a final hiss of static before leaving you, Morook, and the Skog squad you’re currently surrounded by another uncomfortable silence–way more uncomfortable than the one above! Easily!
Exchanging a glance with your Chytree companion, your thoughts turn to your friends still in Crossroads–the worst case scenario, you realize, has come to pass: it wasn’t the magic-nullifying FUUXI planning a siege, nor the vicious SKOGS...
It was BOTH. At the same time. And from the bewildered look in the invader’s yellow eyes, you can’t imagine it was planned!
… man, you HATE this dark, dumb world!
What do? You get the sneaking suspicion a BIG PERSPECTIVE CHANGE is on the horizon here…
>ATTACK!
>BLUFF!
>RUN!
>STAY SILENT!
>WRITE-IN!
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File: welcometorecruitmentbitch.png (33.5 KB)
The stage is set and all eyes fall on you–each pair adding to the overwhelming pressure pushing down on your comparatively-scrawny body! But are you worried? ANTON THE UNDYING? LORDSLAYER? DIVINE CHAMPION?
… yea, maybe a little, but everyone gets pre-show jitters, right? And you’re nothing if not a performer! So while the Skogs decide what to do with you and Morook, you loosen up your vocal cords a bit… and just when the tension turns thick enough to stick a knife into, a fresh voice escapes from the Skog’s pocket from before!
‘hey lookit me its breaker tartar not gonna lie fellas this siege just got a little crazy so everybody gets to go home last one outs a rotten egg haha lookit me’
Your words–or BREAKER TARTAR’s, for that matter–percolate for a few uncomfortable moments. Long enough to shoot Morook a forced–and definitely panicked–grin! You’re about two seconds away from bolting into the bog when one of your new pals speaks up…
“Heyooo! Here for the RECRUITMENT DRIVE?”
The girl’s big, yellow eyes take you in with a cheery grin you don’t tend to see often on a Skog. The air around you is thick and moist–ripe with sweat and booze courtesy of the roaring crowd you hear just past the half-cracked door to the BATTLE’S END TAVERN.
“Just look at ‘em, Volk. Course they are~”
The owner of the sultry voice sitting next to the Skog gives you an appraising glance with her lime green eyes. A Durher.
“Pretty good gig, not gonna lie!” She continues in a singsong tone! “Soldiers, Spinners, Spellcasters… Shopkeepers! Plenty of bells ta’ go around for everyone!”
“Yup-yup!” Nods the Skog girl with undisguised enthusiasm! “Still got a little time before the TOURNEY and the TALENT SHOW! But all-told, I think we’re just gonna take whoever! Haha!”
“They… don’t need to know that…” The Durher coughs as she shoots you an apologetic smile! “What my friend here is TRYING to say is that there’s plenty of opportunities to go around–but you can’t put a price tag on GLORY and CAMRADERIE, can ya’, pal?”
Several bell tolls before the earth erupted beneath Crossroads… before the air grew thick with the roar of Skogs and sorcery… you were here. Another volunteer lured in by the promise of wealth, duty, and glory. But who ARE you, really?
“Between you and me?” Hisses the Durher as she leans in closer with a conspiratorial glimmer in her eye, “This might be the easiest gig you’ll ever have, friend–walk a few laps around the ramparts, shoot the shit with some new pals, then boom: you’re relieved of duty a few bells heavier! Not to mention you can say you served with the CROSSROADS IRREGULARS!”
She had a point. What did you have to lose, really? You were volunteering, after all–it’s not like this little diversion was going to turn into some kind of…
SIEGE OF CROSSROADS MINI-SKIRMISH!
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File: darkchooseurraceskirm.png (155.2 KB)
>>6422675https://youtu.be/SZNbabKjKpA
Welcome to a stupid little diversion I’ve been cooking up for the last month or so! Anton’s cool and all, but why shouldn’t some other pricks get a shot at the spotlight for once? For this MINI-SKIRMISH you’ll be thrust into the boots of a CROSSROADS IRREGULAR of your own design! Will they survive The Siege of Crossroads? Only you and your comrades can decide!
YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE FOLLOWED THIS DUMBSHIT QUEST TO PLAY! This skirmish will last maybe 1-2 missions… maybe more if it works out! I’ll try to keep things relatively simple, so don’t worry! As for players, well, I don’t expect many, but I’ll give folks time to join anywho. Without further ado, here are
THE RULES:
>-You and your pals will complete missions that will affect the outcome of The Siege of Crossroads. You might die! You might not! Just have fun with it!
>-Roll 2d6 to hit a foe! If it meets the AC, it BEATS the AC! Damage is calculated based on weapons!
>-Base AC is 3. Equipment, Spells, and other stuff can change this!
>-Feel free to roleplay and chat, just don’t be a jerk! If your character is cool enough and doesn’t die I MIGHT have them show up later on!
Races (CHOOSE 1):
>Durher: Tiny (+1 to AC(Dodge)) 4 MOV 4 HP
>Gnok: Weapons Expert (+2 to Melee Damage) 3 MOV 5HP
>Skog: Giant (+1 to Melee Damage, +1 to AC) 2 MOV 6HP
>Chytree: Magickal Savant (+2 to Magick Damage) 3 MOV 4 HP
>Mzz’goe’virr: Skillful Snipers (+2 to Ranged Damage) 4 MOV 5 HP
>Mox: Stout N’ Sturdy (+2 AC) 2 MOV 5 HP
Weapons (CHOOSE 1):
>Slinger: Ranged. 1d8 DMG 4 Range. (Can pierce and hit enemy behind target for 1d4)
>Magickal Implement (You Choose What it Is!): 1d6 DMG (+2 to spell accuracy).
>Blade and Shield: 1d6 DMG (+1 AC)
>Greatblade: 2d6 DMG (Can cleave one other adjacent enemy on-hit for 1d6)
>Maul: 1d6 DMG (Lowers enemy AC by 1 On-Hit for 1 turn)
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>>6422678
Spells (CHOOSE 1. CHOOSE 3 IF WIELDING MAGICAL IMPLEMENT):
>Aid: +2 HP to target. 4 Range.
>Slow: -2 Accuracy on target for 1 turn. 4 Range
>Haste: +1 MOV +1 ACC on target for 1 turn. 4 Range
>Flamebolt: 1d10 DMG. 4 Range. Can ignite shields.
>Ice Daggers: 1d10 DMG. 4 Range. On hit leaves target with -1 MOV til next turn
>Force Blast: 1d4 DMG. 1 Range. Targets everyone adjacent to caster. On-Hit sends them 2 squares away.
>Shock Strike: 1d4 DMG. 1 Range. On-Hit stops enemy from moving for 1 turn.
>Viisla’s Mark: Lowers DC to hit target by 2 for one turn. 3 Range.
>Shield: +2 AC to target for 1 turn. 3 Range
>Biisii’s Bolt: 1d6 DMG. On-Hit target takes a random effect. 3 Range.
>Itchy Aegis: 1 Range. Creates a cloud of PURE ITCHYNESS that deals 1d4 to anyone that ends their turn in the effect area. Lasts 1 turn.
>Blink: Target can be moved up to 3 spaces and still have their movement. Unwilling targets require a 2d6 roll. 3 Range.
>Grease: Creates a ‘cross sign’ of difficult terrain that enemies must make a dex check to cross. If failed, they fall and lose their turn. Lasts 1 turn. 3 Range
>Stinging Swarm: Conjures a 3 square line swarm of irate Swoos that bite anyone that dares to cross for 2d4 damage. Lasts 2 turns. 3 Range
Gear (Pick 1):
>Mox Mail: +1 AC
>Skog Armor: +2 AC, -1 MOV
>Lutza Carving: +2 AC to Melee Attacks
>Trusty Helmet: +2 AC to Ranged Attacks
>Magick Charm: +2 AC to Magic Attacks
>Striili: -1 AC. +1 ACC All, +1 DMG All
>Maakar Skin Boots: +1 MOV
>Dueling Shoes: +1 ACC All
>Arcane Focus: +1 ACC to Magick Attacks
>Sniper Monocle: +2 ACC Ranged Attacks
>Warrior Gloves: +2 ACC Melee Attacks
CHARACTER INFO:
>NAME:
>SEX:
>APPEARANCE (REMEMBER: IT’S DARK! I CAN DRAW ‘EM IF YOU DON’T WANNA!):
>BACKSTORY (Can be a few sentences!):
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>>6422688
Good question. You can cast 1 SPELL per turn--any more than that and you'd... I dunno, burst into flames or something. No limits/spell slots/whatever. I'm gonna be real and say I do NOT plan to take this skirmish super-seriously, so I apologize in advance if balancing gets a little wacky. I'm gonna try, though! Honest!
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>>6422695
Hmm....then I'm not sure if it'll work at all..that's a shame. I was going to do the funny meme of keeping the enemy in a loop of lining up stinging swarm and grease and then sending them backwards whanever they got through with a shocking blast, but given how short they last, it might not work out...
>>6422696
I don't think there's a melee damage spell, is there?
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>>6422678
NAME: Leedle Mizzunzhyne
SEX: FEMALE
APPEARANCE: Dull yellow pupils, chronically bored/disinterested expression, baggy eyes.
BACKSTORY: A disgraced aristocrat who ended up in the CROSSROADS after fleeing from another part of Zoral, thanks to a very, very socially unacceptable incident she was a part of. Mentioning her name around polite company is a sure way of getting your ass booted from a party. Has taken up the art of wielding weaponry meant for someone twice her size out of sheer spite. Intends on getting her former position back by any means necessary.
RACE: DURHER (AC 4, MOV 4, HP 4)
WEAPON: GREATBLADE (2d6 DMG)
SPELL: Haste (+1 MOV, +1 ACC when used)
GEAR: Warrior Gloves (+2 ACC MELEE ATTACK, bringing her hit roll to 2d6+2.)
Is this balanced? No. Would I be better using a Skog or a Gnok? Yes. Is this funny to imagine a tiny furball running around, swinging a giant sword? Yes.
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>>6422678
>Thick 'Scottish' accent
RACE
>Durher: Tiny (+1 to AC(Dodge)) 4 MOV 4 HP
WEAPON
>Magickal Implement (You Choose What it Is!): 1d6 DMG (+2 to spell accuracy).
>The Great Eye of Goomoh, a silver sphere with a diameter of 10 inches that levitates in the air, and follows Angkis around, never straying more than five feet from where he stands. It seems to have a mind of its own almost, but really is tethered to the will of its master, and obeys Angkis' as breathlessly as if it were another limb.
SPELLS
>Blink: Target can be moved up to 3 spaces and still have their movement. Unwilling targets require a 2d6 roll. 3 Range.
>Force Blast: 1d4 DMG. 1 Range. Targets everyone adjacent to caster. On-Hit sends them 2 squares away.
>Flamebolt: 1d10 DMG. 4 Range. Can ignite shields.
GEAR
>Maakar Skin Boots: +1 MOV
INFO
>Angkis MakDoog'ahl, Lancepesade First Class
>Male
>Missing his left arm, left eye, with many scars, and prominent silver right fang, thick 'Scottish' accent
>Grizzled old veteran of four military campaigns as a mercenary, first with the Cold Claw Company, but as a lone agent for the following three after the CCC was disbanded. The last conflict was The Siege of Sark'Rah'Vek, where Angkis spent two weeks helping to lead his battalion up the side of Sark'Rah'Vek itself, a tremendous three-sided pyramid of jagged obsidian. Infiltrating the High Fane of Goomoh at the top, they managed to defeat the terrible wizard once and for all, but Angkis lost his arm in the process. He took Goomoh's third eye as restitution, as he was left handed and knew he would never be able to swing a cutlass again. The Eye, however, bonded with his psyche and became a kind of appendage on its own, allowing him to cast certain spells. Angkis decided to become an adventurer with this strange power, and having become fond of Crossroads since, is eager to lend his services for what may be his last fight.
>I cannot into art
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>>6422739
So, Bones, if I am understanding right my only means of doing damage is with magic.
The Eye has 1d6 damage, but what is its range, and what do I roll to land a hit with it?
Flamebolt is 1d10 and Force Blast is 1d4, with a range of 4 and 1 respectively, but a +2 to accuracy due to The Eye.
My play style is shaping up to be about high mobility and manipulating the movement/position of those around me, I am thinking of Lancer Angkis as being kind of a tactician type that likes to use environmental hazards, quick thinking, quick feet, and teamwork now that he can't swing a sword anymore.
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File: HuxxerVirrux.jpg (22.3 KB)
>>6422680
>NAME: Huxxer Virrux
>SEX: Male
>APPEARANCE: Lanky for a Mzz'goe'virr with a wiry build, the most outstanding feature is his Monocles(?) or are they glasses?
>BACKSTORY: Having finished his apprenticeship, Huxxer is a touch strapped for material wealth. This battle should provide adequate compensation.
>Mzz’goe’virr: Skillful Snipers (+2 to Ranged Damage) 4 MOV 5 HP
>Magickal Implement (Good old fashioned staff): 1d6 DMG (+2 to spell accuracy)
>Flamebolt: 1d10 DMG. 4 Range. Can ignite shields.
>Ice Daggers: 1d10 DMG. 4 Range. On hit leaves target with -1 MOV til next turn
>Blink: Target can be moved up to 3 spaces and still have their movement. Unwilling targets require a 2d6 roll. 3 Range.
>Sniper Monocle: +2 ACC Ranged Attacks
Ends up at +4 to hit with ranged spells and +2 damage.
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>Skog: Giant (+1 to Melee Damage, +1 to AC) 2 MOV 6HP
>Blade and Shield: 1d6 DMG (+1 AC)
>Aid: +2 HP to target. 4 Range.
>Mox Mail: +1 AC
>NAME: Beats
>SEX: FEMALE
>APPEARANCE: Tall and wide for a Skog. Brown eyes. Smiley. Left tusk is bigger than the right
>BACKSTORY: A soldier looking to fund her eclectic interests in taxidermied dogs.
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>>6422678
>NAME: Xuon
>SEX: MALE
>APPEARANCE: Average height and build for a mox, eyes slightly larger than average
>RACE: Mox: Stout N’ Sturdy (+2 AC) 2 MOV 5 HP
>WEAPON: >Maul: 1d6 DMG (Lowers enemy AC by 1 On-Hit for 1 turn)
>SPELL:
>GEAR: >Mox Mail: +1 AC
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>>6422680
Question, is there even any reason to choose Arcane Focus is Dueling Shoes gives the same bonus to ALL? Since the focus only gives out a +1 ACC...
I've got my boy pretty much ready, but I need to choose the item.
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File: hhxaam.png (2.8 KB)
> Race:
> > Mox
> Weapon:
> > Magical Implement (A fist sized rock. Its awfully unimpressive, good thing none can see it because of the darkness.)
> Spells:
> > Aid: +2 HP to target. 4 Range.
> > Shield: +2 AC to target for 1 turn. 3 Range
> > Grease: Creates a ‘cross sign’ of difficult terrain that enemies must make a dex check to cross. If failed, they fall and lose their turn. Lasts 1 turn. 3 Range
> Gear:
> > Striili: -1 AC. +1 ACC All, +1 DMG All
> Info:
> > Name:
> > > Wally
> > Sex:
> > > Male
> > Appearance:
> > > Picrel
> > Backstory:
> > > Wally used to serve under slavers, his main job was standing as bait during hunting sessions, no doubt causing him numerous traumatic brain injuries. He long outlived his life expectancy, so much so that he has also happened to outlive his captors by retard strength alone. He has been wandering Crossroads aimlessly the months past, living on small favors he collects by being perpetually eager to help out where he can. Frankly, its a miracle no one enslaved him again. As for his instrument, he clearly has no idea how to use it, but in an endearing way.
> In character comment to everything going on:
'ello! :)
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>>6423077
Oops, I'm an idiot! I totally meant for the ARCANE FOCUS to give you a +2 to Accuracy with magical attacks. Sorry about that and the wait--ended up dozing off pretty early. I'll keep things open a little longer so you can get your character in, but otherwise I might allow late-joiners once we get started!
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>>6422680
>NAME: Barbaran
>SEX: Male
>APPEARANCE: The Skog equivalent of Melvin Eugene Punymeyer. A big, musclebound nerd, complete with the big silly glasses.
>BACKSTORY: Abandoning his historied family tradition of whacking people over the head with a big stick, Barbaran has chosen to pursue his dreams of studying ancient lore and deep magic! Sadly, no one in Umberal would take him...but it's fine, because he found a sketchy figure selling magic textbooks out of his coat in an alley. Now, armed with the power of whacking people over the head with the magic that comes out of his stick, he is ready to defend this uh...place, this uh city-thing-location he definitely didn't forget the name of.
Also, he thinks flamebolts are lame and overrated.
>RACE: Skog
>WEAPONS: Magickal Implement
>SPELLS: Force Blast, Blink, Stinging Swarm
>GEAR: Arcane Focus
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>>6423115
"Oi! Dune ear, fella... Ded muh fuhzy wee ears mehsleed meh, oar dedja sayh jes now thah flahmbolt'z... Ohver-rayted... Ehnd LAME?"
[Excuse me! Down here, sir... Did I mishear, or did you perhaps contend that the Flamebolt spell is overrated and 'lame'?]
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Uh-oh. They're starting to RP! Means it's probably time to get this ball rolling!
>>6422711
WELCOME, LEEDLE!
>>6422739
WELCOME, ANGKIS!
>>6422751
WELCOME, HUXXER!
>>6422817
WELCOME, BEATS!
>>6422982
WELCOME, XUON!
>>6423100
WELCOME, WALLY!
>>6423115
AND WELCOME, BARBARAN!
Writing now! For any late joiners: feel free to throw in a character for now--once the mission begins, however, you're gonna have to wait! Bitch!
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>>6423137
"EHT SHUR WHEREN'T 'LAYME' WHIN GRANDMASTER GOOMOH YOOZD WUN TA TOARCH ME LIH'EL WEE AHRM TA WEE CRESPY SENDURS! AN' INNIEWAY WHAHT'Z S'BAD ABOOT LAYMENESS INNIEHOO?! AHM LAYME S'THA SKY'Z DAHRK N'AYE KIN STUHL TAHNGLE W'THA WURHST'V'M!!!"
[It wasn't 'lame' when Grandmaster Goomoh used it to burn my arm away! What's the problem with being lame, anyways? I am disabled and still perfectly dangerous!]
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>>6423180
Huh, I thought you said it was the lame wizard or something?...
Hey, have you tried like regrowing it?
I know a skog, he would like do it all the time. He told me he would teach me doing it, but then his head was cut off and i haven't talked to him since.
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File: storiesarelikevines.png (22.2 KB)
https://youtu.be/a4ifdZNy5bU
Stories are like vines.
They all start with a seed–lil’ thing barely bigger than a Veeti’s toe–but with a touch of nourishment, proper soil, and a bit of patience, well… that little seed won’t be so little anymore. Some vines wither. Some vines thrive. Some vines, in all their viney wisdom, branch out into their own separate sprigs.
And this story? Just another branch… but even the smallest sprout can climb a tower, can’t it?
Stories are like vines…
Like most stories, this one started simple enough: In a tavern, of all places–the BATTLE’S END TAVERN. Now this watering hole, if you’ve never been, is by no means any better than its many, MANY counterparts lining the drunken mile… sure, the barmatron’s sweet for a one-eyed old Skog, and her Mox and Durher helpers will always greet you with a smile, but for the first time in a long, long while, the BATTLE’S END chose to stick out.
A RECRUITMENT DRIVE. Organized by a pair of starry-eyed Spinners and some suicidal neighborhood watch, the aim was simple enough: bolster the ranks in the event of a siege on Crossroads, whenever that might occur.
And while there was no shortage of drunken fools seeking to whet their whistles that day, there was quite a crowd of sober fools as well… eccentric folk starved for opportunity.
An exiled aristocrat fueled by spite and vengeance.
A maimed mercenary seeking one last sip of gory glory.
An arcane apprentice–fresh from the proverbial ‘forge’ and eager to ply his trade.
A tusked taxidermist seeking to procure some much-needed pay.
A stubborn soldier with a mace long overdue for a fresh coat of blood.
A slaver’s stooge, now a starving Spinner.
And a Skog sorcerer–a rarity not just among his people, but Zoral entirely.
There were countless more, of course–no shortage of fools in Zoral–but this story’s sprig can only spread so sizeably… and as any good storyteller can tell ya, stories have a habit of moving in swift spurts.
By day our humble heroes boozed, brayed, and battled–didn’t take much more than a signature and a smile to enlist, really–but just when night’s icy arms began to wrap around Crossroads…
The earth opened up.
It began, as most bad things do, rather quietly: a jostled table, a rattled mug, a few shakes here and there easily attributed to the crowd drawn by the recruiters… but when the shakes became rumbles and that group of loud drunks outside disappeared beneath the cobblestone?
Suddenly it wasn’t too easy to ignore anymore.
One quake became several–and as Crossroads itself seemed to rock on its very moorings, a few enterprising bar patrons suddenly remembered they were soldiers again!
“YOU LOT!” Barked a brusque, clear voice, “THIS WAY!”
>CONTD.
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File: ilga.png (66.8 KB)
>>6423199
With tabs unpaid and pub fare unfinished, you stole away into the night as Crossroads crumbled around you–the icy air filled with the distant shrieks of creatures you’d never heard before… or did and wished you hadn’t:
FUUXI. Emerging eyeless from their freshly-bored burrows, their shrill clicks and clacks are only dwarfed by the sound of groaning masonry, shattering stone, and the distant roar of warhorns outside the city!
“THIS WAY!” Growls your guide, not bothering to wait for you to catch up, “IN HERE!”
Your frantic flight leads you into a damp, echoing rampway–a cellar, you think, but whose, well, you couldn’t say. Ushering you all inside, your leader slams the door shut behind you before daring to catch her breath.
“Rest…” She pants, unseen armor clanking with every languished move she takes, “You’re gonna need it… Irregulars…”
Stumbling into the nearest seat, you let the rest of your body catch up with the adrenaline as the sound of clashing steel and beastly snarls seep in through the cellar walls!
Trapped in what might very well be your cramped, mildewy casket, THIS is where YOUR story begins…
Oh, a thousand apologies–who am I, you ask? No one of consequence–just a dull-toothed old Durher with a habit of being at the wrong place at the right time… Not unlike yourselves, hmm?
After waiting for what feels like hours, your de facto leader returns from the hell above with renewed anger in her sharp Gnok eyes.
“Alright,” She sighs, casting a furtive glance the way you came, “Break time’s over. Name’s ILGA, CAPTAIN ILGA, and as luck would have it I’m one of the unlucky bastards tasked with molding you lot into something useful.” Her raptor-like eyes scan you all with practiced distaste. “I won’t succeed, but don’t plan on dying without trying.”
Her face remains cool and composed as she begins to pace the cellar. “I’ll be blunt: we’re cut off right now. The streets are in complete disarray and we won’t be much help without actual orders.” She stops. “We need to regroup. And that means making difficult choices.”
Her golden eyes flit towards the cellar exit once again. “I know of three routes to the BELLTOWER--if we’re going to meet our superiors, we’ll find them there. That said, I did some scouting in advance… and neither route is ideal.” The Gnok’s stony stare probes you all. “In the spirit of being an actual squad, I’m open to hearing your thoughts. Ah. I nearly forgot.”
Clearing her throat, the Gnok’s armor clacks as she adopts a statuelike posture! “As of now, we are ISSVAL SQUAD. Etch it into your memory–if we survive this mess you can tell everyone that’s where you served. Right–huddle up…”
>CONTD.
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>>6423200https://youtu.be/ZJCJPr6TrNo
MISSION SELECT: WHICH ROUTE?
>Follow the canals! (Water present. Wider route. Fuuxi are averse to water, but Skogs…)
>Cut through the shopping district! (Cramped. Could make good bottlenecks? Fuuxi burrows present.)
>Slip through Forge Lane! (Industrial. Sticky Sheckt spills and molten metal detected–hazardous. Fuuxi burrows present.)
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>>6423158
"Burning your arm away doesn't make it not lame...I'm sure you could find a way to deal with it anyway..."
>>6423201
>Cut through the shopping district! (Cramped. Could make good bottlenecks? Fuuxi burrows present.)
"Ay have a reeal cool trick to try. I've been waiting a reeeal long time to do it."
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>>6423201
>Cut through the shopping district! (Cramped. Could make good bottlenecks? Fuuxi burrows present.)
Angkis' good eye, weary though it may be, peers out towards the shopping district. A silver sphere circles his small frame like a vulture anticipating fresh carrion... He turns to the Captain and salutes.
"Aye, s'uh mite nayrow skweez, methinks, buht thah's nayver bin uh prahblum fer yerz trooly, eh? Thah shawpin diztrekt seems arr bes' bet. Ah cood tayk thuh grunt n'elp th'less nemble uh'mungus uh'void th'fooshi..."
[Looks tight, but I have never had trouble with that - we should take the shopping district. If I am to the front of our formation, I can use my speed and spatial magic to help the less dextrous members of our party avoid harm, perhaps.]
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>>6423201
>Slip through Forge Lane! (Industrial. Sticky Sheckt spills and molten metal detected–hazardous. Fuuxi burrows present.)
Let's use Blink to force our foes into being the subject of a casualty report while we block any natural chokepoint.
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>>6423210
>>6423216
>>6423221
>>6423247
>SHOP TIL YOU DROP?
>>6423230
>>6423241
>FORGE A PATH?
Looks like shop wins it! Writing! Got some plans tonight so expect some delays. Oh, and for future reference during combat I WILL try to wait for every player to make their move--I just wanted to get the ball rolling with the mission choice here so yea
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File: miniskirmmission1.png (80.0 KB)
>>6423257
The cellar fills with murmurs and mutterings–a storm of suggestions as to what the next move should be. Listening intently, Captain Ilga cuts the discussion short with a resolute nod.
“Not one for shopping, myself, but we don’t have many other choices, now do we? Came across a FUUXI BURROW when I was scouting the place out–tread lightly. Bastards love their ambushes.”
After loading up on provisions and a few quick team-building exercises and icebreaker activities, ISSVAL SQUAD is ready to rock… and, perhaps, roll...
You’re almost relieved to depart the cellar–you didn’t much relish the idea of waiting for a Fuuxi to burrow into your hiding place, not to mention you’re pretty sure you were breathing mold down there.
You emerge on the surface greeted by the acrid odor of thick plumes of smoke and the distant sound of Crossroads’ booming arcane artillery–a desperate attempt to keep the owner of those warhorns at bay.
Your path to the SHOPPING DISTRICT is paved with thick, fibrous web clusters and countless corpses–some fresh, some… gnawed. Silence covers the once booming market–interrupted every so often by a distant scream or clash of steel.There was no avoiding it now: you’re in the thick of it.
“Right,” Captain Ilga begins in a hushed tone as she leads your tiptoeing troupe through the terrifying terrain, “Place is pockmarked with burrows. Watch your step–you fall down one and we ain’t climbing in after you. Save yer’ heroics too,” She adds with a wary look in her eyes as they wash over you, “We just need to get to THE BELLTOWER.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUAkfPhdFww
OBJECTIVE: CROSS THE DISTRICT. MISSION ENDS WHEN MAJORITY OF SURVIVING SQUADDIES REACH THE EXTRACTION POINT.
ACTIONS: MOVEMENT & 1 OF THE FOLLOWING: (MAGIC, ATTACK, ASSIST, INTERACT WITH ITEM/ENVIRONMENT)
IF A SQUADDIE GOES DOWN, THEY CAN BE REVIVED TO 1HP WITH THE ASSIST ACTION. THIS WILL USE THE ASSISTER’S AND THE REVIVEE’S TURN.
>Place yourselves on the GAME MAP and watch those shadows… you’re not alone! Feel free to talk with your squaddies and ask me any questions you might have!
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>>6423282
"Tsk. A poor welcome. A proper host would have offered their guests a nice cup of tea by now." Leedle languidly points her sword in front of her. "So be it."
>SPAWN IN #5
>MOVE TWO TILES UP, TWO TILES LEFT
>CAST HASTE ON SELF.
"Please, do not make too much noise when we eventually must fight these degenerative, malformed creatures. Meow."
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>>6423293
I'll allow it, but you're on THIN ICE. Bitch..!
Nah yea go fer it I probably won't be able to write out the first turn until tomorrow gomen ne
Also I'll eventually draw all of your dipshits so don't worry friends :DDD
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File: Char.png (11.7 KB)
>Chytree: Magickal Savant (+2 to Magick Damage) 3 MOV 4 HP
>Magickal Implement (You Choose What it Is!): 1d6 DMG (+2 to spell accuracy).
A mysterious cooking implement:
SPELLS:
>Grease: Creates a ‘cross sign’ of difficult terrain that enemies must make a dex check to cross. If failed, they fall and lose their turn. Lasts 1 turn. 3 Range
>Flamebolt: 1d10 DMG. 4 Range. Can ignite shields.
>Aid: +2 HP to target. 4 Range.
>Arcane Focus: +1 ACC to Magick Attacks
NAME: CHY-LEE
SEX: MALE, I THINK
APPEARENCE: SEE PIC
BACKSTORY: A former chef who chose to retire
to the crossroads.
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>>6422678
>Race:
Gnok: Weapons Expert (+2 to Melee Damage) 3 MOV 5HP
>Weapon
>Blade and Shield: 1d6 DMG (+1 AC)
>Spell:
Viisla’s Mark: Lowers DC to hit target by 2 for one turn. 3 Range.
Gear:
>Mox Mail: +1 AC
>NAME: Terrii
>SEX: Yes (F)
>APPEARANCE (REMEMBER: IT’S DARK! I CAN DRAW ‘EM IF YOU DON’T WANNA!): Droopy eyes, dark red in colour. Half lidded, somewhere between half-asleep and sultry.
>BACKSTORY (Can be a few sentences!): Airheaded, distracted, Terrii was a clerk at some sort of comestics store, but spent most of her time polishing her horn (literally, not a sexual innuendo, freak!) and grooming her feathers.
Eventually, she got fired, but not before being called a "retarded bimbo whore" by her employer. Thus, she decided to go rob her former boss' house as revenge for these choice words.
There, she picked up his family heirlooms, a nice sword and shield, and a suit of armor that she hurriedly tried on. Unfortunately, she was caught by his wife as she came home early from an extramarital affair, and beat the fuck out of said wife. Following this, each of his 10 family members trickled inside of the house one by one, where she was forced to teach them a lesson so they'd keep quiet, culminating in throwing her boss from a third floor window.
Still having yet to grasp the consequences of her actions, she left as quietly as she could, avoiding suspicion as local guards questioned her and labeled her "clearly too stupid to have planned all this". She has since taken up odd and violent jobs here and there to keep herself afloat, having found her calling in committing assault. Why is she here? Well, they called for fighting, and she's pretty alright at it, so...
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>>6423282
"Leht's us git dune tae tha task aht hahnd, then, eh laddies?"
[Nothin' to it but to do it, right guys?]
Angkis practically barks, and the speed of that weird sphere with him seems to pick up, as it's orbit stretches into a more elliptical, diagonal pattern. The grizzled Durher flexes the fingers of his remaining hand, and smirks.
>SPAWN IN #6
>Move up four spaces
>INTERACT: squint around for signs of movement
If that isn't a valid use of Interact, I will hold my action and spend it on Blink if anyone wants a boost!
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>>6423282
Barbaran seems to shrink from his excitement when he actually arrives in the field of battle. His years spent reading books and sleeping on warm beds have atrophied his sense of suicidal recklessness.
"Ahhh...ehh..you fighters can go first! With your pokey bits..."
>Deploy at 9, Move Forward 2
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>>6423282
> deploy at 6
All other gear is a passive bonus, so I assume my striili is also a passive, right?
Depending on the answer, I would like to nominate Mr. Xuon:
>>6422982
as the team tank (meat shield) with a passive AC of 7, or 9 while I spam shield on him.
Alternatively, if the striili is an active ability, I will take the punchbag role on me.
>>6423329
I believe the blink should go to the front-line-man. ^^^
>>6423282
I would also like to hear about the rules of over-healing.
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>>6423531
No, sorry, that's my bad--the Striilii buffs YOU, it's just a tiny tradeoff. As for overhealing, nah, you get to your maximum and that's it. Might have a spell that does that later, but we'll see.
Anywho, writing update later today! Sorry for all the delays--should be reaching the end of em soon!
>>6423329
>move up 4 spaces
How very... bold of you, Angkis...https://youtu.be/uJV-pfsx_UM
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File: miniskirmmission1turn1.png (164.4 KB)
Rolled 6, 5, 5, 6, 3, 3 = 28 (6d6)
Oh right, there were a few other jerks too! A Gnok broad and some Chytree that looked an awful lot like a Mzz’goe’virr! Anyways, where was I? Ah yes…
Gurgles and screams filled the smoky air as our stalwart squad was torn limb-from-limb by the bloodthirst-
… Whoops, sorry. Didn’t get to that part yet, did we? Right, right… ahem.
What was once a bustling monument to materialism and excess was now what the free market would no doubt do to it in a few years: dead. Though the sounds of combat and carnage still itched our hero’s collective ears, the brave-ish troops in ISSVAL SQUAD crept through the battered bazaar like Tottas creeping through a Fruum’s den!
ANGKIS leads the charge through the ruins–the fearless fuzzball’s GREAT EYE OF GOOMOH hovering closely at his side.
XUON, on the other hand, hangs back–the meticulous Mox opting to inspect their surroundings carefully before proceeding forward. The caution pays off–circumventing the battered remains of what he assumes used to be an innocent fruit cart, Xuon nearly stumbles into a gaping pit punched out from the cobblestone like a bullethole–its rim slick with freshly-spittled webbing…
Captain Ilga wasn’t wrong–Fuuxi had been here. And there was a good chance they hadn’t left! Joining her Mox matey with a hint of bemusement on her bored face, Leedle tips a chunk of stone into the pit, prompting the squaddies to listen close for the end of its descent.
The sound never comes–due to depth or web is anyone’s guess, but much to their relief, no burrowing beast emerges to return their rock.
As seasoned Fuuxi fighters know, however, the fiends are known for more than their ferocity and magical dampening. Ambushers through-and-through, they wait like grim, eyeless statues in their chosen hiding spots for prey… sometimes even lurking beneath soft ground only to emerge like ground-dwelling leviathans!
Joined by HUXXER and TERRII, the squad’s Skogs stumble upon a few more freshly-bored burrows–their webbed ridges still damp with saliva and gore… barely poking out from beneath some more ruined vendor carts, it was almost as if they were covered up intentionally!
The shopping street grows quiet–deathly so… but the spark that sets off the powderkeg comes from HUXXER–the magely Mzz’goe’virr probing the darkness with a simple flamebolt spell.
The shot barely smacks a distant barrel before several burrows erupt in dust and web!
From the webby depths they come–silent as specters save for the menacing clicks rattling past their chittering, drool-slaked mandibles! One lunges for ANGKIS, no doubt expecting an easy, fuzzy treat! The others scuttle to drag TERRII and HUXXER into their nests–the former barely able to react in time, the latter answering for his sudden spellcasting!
ROLLING ENEMY ATTACKS IN ORDER
>CONTD.
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>>6423745
The Durher’s fast–senses honed through years of warfare–but even the most-experienced soldier knows not to trifle with Fuuxi! Backing away, ANGKIS’ foot catches on a clump of damp web–an amateur error, but one that proves nasty: the Fuuxi drone lashes out with its fearsome claws, raking the Durher’s shoulder with a jagged cut!
ANGKIS -1HP
Distracted and dulled, TERRII too is caught off-guard–the Gnok only reacting quick enough to feel a gnarled claw scrape her hip! Stumbling away from the beast’s attempt at snatching her up, the Gnok prepares to respond in kind!
TERRII -1HP
HUXXER, however, through some magely foresight or mere chance, was expecting an attack! Conjuring an arcane barrier just in time, he smirks beneath his spectacles as his would-be attacker is deftly deflected by his spell!
… That was the plan, anyways. Fearsome to a fault, Fuuxi are well-known for their natural resistance to the arcane–and while other foes might be beaten back by the barrier, the Fuuxi’s claw carves through it like a hot knife through pudding–its serrated edge plumbing into HUXXER’s shoulder!
HUXXER -1HP
They were ambushed, yes, but not beaten, and ISSVAL SQUAD had, for better or worse, coaxed several drones from their dens… but was it worth responding to their attacks in kind? How many more of them and their ilk laid in wait along their treacherous path?
That’s the thing about fortune–it applies to everyone.Yes, an enemy attack on a player will usually only deal 1HP damage. Your attacks will do much more! There WILL be foes that can multiattack or hit harder--I'll point them out for ya' in advance, but watch it!
>TURN 2 BEGINS NOW!
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Rolled 1, 4 + 3 = 8 (2d6 + 3)
>>6423745
Leedle lets out a low hiss at the sight of the FUXXI. Disgusting little creatures. Wastes of flesh, made to be cleaved by in half by her blade.
"It is socially unacceptable to attack my associates. Begone with you." The tiny cattethinge skitters towards the target at incredibly high speeds. The power of haste... "Please do not spray any blood onto my outfit. I invested a considerable amount of my fortune to buy this luxurious piece of fabric."
>MOVE UP 2, LEFT 1
>CLEAVE FUUXI DRONE 1 IN HALF (Autohit, but rolling for the sake of transparency.)
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Ok, before I make the move, would anyone WANT Angkis to put a Fuuxi in striking distance? Or want me to try and use Blink to give them some breathing room? I am heavily considering doing a Force Blast to bop both of the ones adjacent, but it would knock one, most likely, closer to a couple of you. I will hold back a bit before I declare so I don't step on toes.
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Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d6)
>>6423758
And her sword found her target. "Please, if you would be so kind, die for me." She silently prays that the blade will cleanly cut the FUUXI in half. It would be a shame if it survived for long enough to dirty her outfit or, god forbid, her fur.
>ROLLING DMG. 2d6 DMG DEALT, let's see if I kill the fucker!
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>>6423763
Very good. I'll be waiting to see what the fellows on my side do...don't wanna punch them out of range before they can get their attack in.I like the art for the crew by the way, but Boy, I really missed with the whole "Barbaran" name. It sounds stupid when you look at it. I should have just gone with some lame ass nerdy name. Or something that sounds like a big scary skog. Instead of a shitty pun. And his introduction was not my best work, either...
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>>6423745
"Huhhhh... You're so mean? I seriously hope you didn't damage my stuff too bad..."
The Gnok prepares to take revenge, but it is skewered by her ally's ice daggers before she can show it what she's made of. "Whoa~ You guys sure have quick reflexes... I'll scout up ahead, okay~~"
>MOVE UP ONE
>MOVE LEFT ONE
>INTERACT
TERRII kicks the Fuuxi drone around, gauging its hardiness and weight. Eventually, she grows tired of it and kicks it right back into the burrow with incredible soccer technique! Could it be she used to play in the Crossroads Soccer Youth club?
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Rolled 3, 3 + 2 = 8 (2d6 + 2)
>>6423746
Ok, no takers, gonna roll for Force Blast!
*Ahem ahem in character voice*
"AYYYGH, KURSE YER SILKE-SPITTLIN' SLAG WHOOR UV'A MUHTHER AN' YER DHIRT-DIGGIN' DAG-HOMPIN' DERTY DHITCH-DWEHLLER DAH, I REH-BYOOK THA DAM'DABLE LOHT A'YUH TA' TH'PITS UH' PYOOTRESSNCE FRAHM WHINTZ YA' CREYP'D AN' KRAWL'D FUR'AYV'R MOOR!"
[Fuck you, your mother is promiscuous, and your father is low class trash, I rebuke you all to the depths from whence you came!]
>FORCE BLAST FIRST
>MOVE FOUR TO THE RIGHT, AND ONE UP
Angkis howls his curses with the ferocity of a whole pack of hunting hounds. The silver satellite at his side changes its movements again, this time to a spiraling pattern with occasional tight loops...
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Rolled 1 (1d4)
>>6423868
(I roll for damage now I think...)
Suddenly, the Great Eye of Goomoh hangs frozen directly in front of the Durher, and its surface ripples from top to bottom like water disturbed by a stone. Beneath its master's feet, the earth vibrates, trembles, and then from just around where he stands a shockwave of mystical force ruptures outward onto the two adjacent Fuuxi!
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>>6423745
Barbaran, watching a drone rises out right in front of him, gives an undecidedly un-skogly yelp, almost dropping his staff. To his good luck, however, the Drone quickly meets the wrong end of an ice dagger! It seems his friends are quite good at the fighting business...
"Oooh, I du not want these these theengs coming up...gitttiout!"
>He decides to move one step forward and cast STINGING WARM into the burrow, to make sure they think twice about getting out of it.
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File: miniskirmmission1turn2.png (170.8 KB)
Rolled 2, 6, 2, 2 = 12 (4d6)
War isn’t that complex, really–there’s order woven into the chaos… rules hidden beneath the blood.
Rule 1 is simple: Don’t Die, and needless to say, ISSVAL SQUAD followed it to the letter! The ambush may have caught some of them off-guard, there was no denying it, but after taking their lumps from the fearsome Fuuxi, the squad dealt them right back… plus interest!
First in the fray is LEEDLE, the diminutive Durher wasting no time in cleaving her greatblade through a Fuuxi in one, decisive slice!
Not to be outdone, HUXXER ‘huxx’d some magic at his would-be devourer! A gamble, to be sure, especially with the beast’s natural resistance to magic, but whether it was a testament to the Mzz’goe’virr’s magical prowess or the positive affirmations the squad had so-enthusiastically participated in before the battle, his frosty blades pierce the predator with palpable power, which, in tandem with TERRII’s well-timed kick, send the felled foe falling into the pit from which it came!
True to her name, BEATS rushes over to ‘BEATS’ upon the remaining drone, but the beast anticipates her clumsy attack and slips beneath it like a malevolent, clicking noodle! Adding a fresh wound to his collection, ANGKIS rushes to the Skog’s aid with a gallant gale that sends the Fuuxi tumbling! Dodge THAT, punk!
Ever the strategist, BARBARAN turns his efforts towards more practical preparations–namely by conjuring a swarm of stinging SWOOS over one of the beast’s burrows! While the magical mites wouldn’t do much to fell a full-grown Fuuxi, they WOULD, surmised the Skog scholar–or ‘SKOGLAR’ as he had taken to calling himself–hinder traffic a bit. Amusing indeed, he remarks to no one in particular, that someone could be HARMED by SWOOS, especially considering how popular SWOOS LOUNGES are!
Anyone remotely threatened by Swoos, specifically the non-aggressive variety–he continues, indulging in a resolute nod, is PATHETIC.
No doubt hearing the commotion, the seemingly-empty burrow near XUON, HUXXER, and WALLY bursts with fresh debris as another DRONE scurries to join the skirmish! And join it does…
ROLLING ATTACK ROLLS!
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>>6424247
The gale force doesn’t slow the Fuuxi one bit–blown into BEATS’ Skog-sized flank, the Fuuxi lashes out with a claw and rakes it across the girl’s sizable and sensitive tail! YOW!
BEATS -1HP
The freshly-emerged Fuuxi isn’t as lucky–no doubt due to them not having their pre-Siege coffee yet! Lunging at XUON, the Mox’s defenses prove even larger than his eyes! Batting the blow aside with his maul, his wide-eyed stare bores into the beast with quiet fury… almost as if to say something along the lines of ‘That was shit. You’re shit. Get out of my sight, you freaky thing, you’.’
XUON -0HP! MISSED! HAHAHAHA WHAT A MAROON
>TURN 3 BEGINS NOW!
Also I’m tired as shit since I didn’t go to bed til’ past 3 last night, so expect the next (and a far better-written, I might add) update TOMORROW!
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Rolled 1 (1d2)
>>6422678
Is it too late to join in?
>RACE: CHYTREE
>WEAPONS: MAGICAL IMPLEMENT: A BRANCH WITH SOME LEAVES ON IT
>NAME: CAZZ'TAR
>SEX: ROLLING A 1D2 (1=MALE/2=FEMALE)
SPELLS:
>Force Blast: 1d4 DMG. 1 Range. Targets everyone adjacent to caster. On-Hit sends them 2 squares away.
>Stinging Swarm: Conjures a 3 square line swarm of irate Swoos that bite anyone that dares to cross for 2d4 damage. Lasts 2 turns. 3 Range
>Flamebolt: 1d10 DMG. 4 Range. Can ignite shields.>BACKSTORY: NO CLUE I DON'T READ DARK QUEST I JUST LIKE SKIRMISHES
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>>6424247
"Heh heh heh..."
The Gnok seems exceedingly proud of her aim! She's just about to make a dash for the end when she hears a Fuuxi make some more noise behind her. Overflowing with generosity, she decides to instead make a detour...
>MOVE ONE RIGHT TWO UP
>CAST Viisla’s Mark ON FUUXI DRONE TWO
From a chain wrapped up around her horn, a sound full of dangling and clicks travels towards the drone, hitting with a "SCWHOOOOOOM", generating the sound of chimes ringing every few moments from its body.
"Huhhhhh~ Why didn't I attack it straight up? Well, I don't wanna hog all the glory...This is a team effort, riiiight? And I wanted to show off my COOL MAGIC! Don't it look and sound AWESOME? Huuhh, I wonder if it's unique enough... Aren't chimes overdone? What do you think?"
Wait, is she talking to herself, or expecting a reply? Narrator guy, feel free to answer her, too!
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>>6424247
The diminutive cattethinge grimaces as she feels blood splattering onto her fur. Disgusting. Repulsive. The last time she felt this disgusted by something, it was after a conversation with a particularly pathetic man she used to associate with.
To be quite frank, she might actually prefer the blood over this.
>ACTION: PICK UP THE FUUXI CORPSE NEXT TO ME, AND TOSS IT AS MANY TILES UP AS MY TINY CATTETHINGE ARMS WILL ALOW. REASON: LURE OUT MORE BUGS WITH A DISTRACTION
>MOVEMENT: 3 TILES RIGHT, 1 UP.
"I trust that the rest of you are sufficiently capable of killing the rest of them. It is not hard to kill them if you know what you are doing. Please do not disappoint me."
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Rolled 4, 1 + 2 = 7 (2d6 + 2)
>>6424250
>MOVE: DOWN FOUR AND ONE TO THE LEFT (I-14)
>SPELL: FLAMEBOLT AT FUUXI 4
Reaching the edge of the corridor, Angkis slides in, widening his stance, then pivots and heads back down along the wall in the direction he came from, springing over a half-busted crate and somersaulting under a tattered banner, then twists again and comes to a stop. The amount of distance he's able to cover in so short a span is impressive for a mangled old merc like himself.
He points a finger out at the Fuuxi between Wally and Hux.
"WECKED BEEST, OFF'R AHP YER PIT'YUS PRAIRZ, WHOT CAHMS FER YOO NAOW EHZ TH'PERJIN' FYERS UHV RAYCHUS RAT'TRIBYOOSHUN!"
[I am going to burn you to death.]
Bristling with adrenaline, flecks of spit fly from his miniature muzzle, and as if the threat were an incantation, the Great Eye of Goomoh complies by glowing red-hot, it's shape altering to become a silver ring with the same diameter as its sphere-form. The air in the center of the glowing circle quickly begins to shimmer like asphalt in July, and a ball of blue-white flame is suddenly flying from within, hurtling right for the insectoid invader...!
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File: Mzz'goe'virr AppearanceMaybe..jpg (20.7 KB)
Rolled 7 + 2 (1d10 + 2)
>>6424247
"Feels clear that we are gonna get outnumbered if we linger, we need to hurry. Good move with blocking burrows but I think we need to pile up into a pointer shape."
>>6424273
"Chimes are IN right now, it's clunkers like staves that are OUT. But those have staying power because they're a classic. Being a big stick doesn't hurt either"
>Target Drone 4 with Ice Daggers, Move F12 to F9. Rolling Damage because autohit
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>>6424291
Naurrrr u good buffs and healing spells work automatically!
>>6424287
OOH! Been a long time since I saw anyone share their image interpretation of a race! This is a radical Mzz'goe'virr idea here, anon!
>>6424273
Also I love this idea. I'll allow it. Keep thinking outside the box--chances are I'll usually allow it!
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File: RENNY SALADS.png (6.3 KB)
>>6422678
I'm late to the party...
>RACE: Mzz’goe’virr
>WEAPON: Slinger
>GEAR: Trusty Helmet
>SPELL: Force Blast
>CHARACTER
>NAME: Renniah Salads (Or Renny for short)
>SEX: FEMALE
>APPEARANCE: Freckled face with a semi-consitently looking docile gaze. Has lavender colored bright eyes and tends to have an uneasy expression mouth-wise. Is wearing a Morion styled trusty helmet that is loosely strapped on.
>BACKSTORY: Can't remember who she is and most of what's going around her. Only really knows her name. She somehow managed to find herself in the shopping district and knows she needed to get a job done and to help her other fellows... but the details and nuance of it are almost completely lost on her. She's hoping she finds her answers and figure out the mess she got herself in.
QUESTION: Can forceblast push back slinger projectiles? Would that give more AC bonus or anytype of bonus at all? If not I'll change my spell to Firebolt in the hopes that since it can ignite shield it can maybe ignite my projectiles or some grease too
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>>6424305
Welcome to the shit! Love this character design! As for the question, well, let me just say this:
In a turn you get ONE MOVE ACTION and ONE ACTION (ATTACK/SPELL/AID/INTERACT). I say if you wanna use FIREBOLT to like your slinger dart on fire to shoot next turn then I'll allow it--I'll let that shot have the same properties as the spell, how about that?
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>>6424309
Tell you what: I'll allow you to do the same thing with forceblast, but it just knocks your target back. Sound good? Dunno if I wanna go FULL ULTRAKILL with punching projectiles and stuff, but I can respect casting spells on projectiles
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>>6424247
>DEPLOY to : 10
Renniah seemingly emerges from the dark as she peers coyly over the corner. "Gwah... think I'm late... I got lost."
>MOVEMENT: Move up 1 tile [14:J]
Renny frenetically looks around for any threat but notices she's in mostly good company and settles down as she nudges cautiously forward and tags along keeping her slinger abreast.
"...we really swhould get outta here..."
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File: miniskirmmission1turn3.png (212.9 KB)
Funny thing about fighting–causes quite a stir once it really gets going. Good thing, too, because it tends to give the common folk a good idea of where not to go. ‘A battle avoided is a battle won’, to quote an old Durher proverb. Can’t quite recall who said it, but… ah Hells, I’m ramblin’ again.
Anywho, most folk don’t charge towards the sound of battle–most sane folk, at least. Keeps ‘em alive a little longer. From the layer of smoke and dust surrounding the shopping district, however, came two new fools into the fold–a Mzz’goe’virr and a Chytree, if you can believe it. Sounds like the setup fer’ a joke!
“YOU!” Snarls Captain Ilga, eyes wide and teeth flared as she rushes over to redirect the duo, “This area’s dangerous! Go ar-”
“Err, w-we’re here to… help?” Mutters the Mzz’goe’virr, each of her eyes looking more lost than the last! “We think?”
The Chytree merely cooks up a spell in his claws. A traditional Chytree greeting that roughly translates to: ‘Point me towards the foe.’ Flummoxed by the influx of recruits, Ilga merely shakes away the confusion from her head! “Right! You’re with us now. We’re headed for the BELLTOWER. Move!”
The original squad is already well at work by the time their new recruits join in–in a heartwarming and frankly bizarre display of Durher and Skog cooperation, ANGKIS and BEATS tend to the Fuuxi flock with help from HUXXER and TERRII! As the team advances towards their goal, however, the shopping arcade is rocked by a fresh set of shakes!
The street itself shifts beneath ISSVAL SQUAD’S collective feet–enough for some of the team’s veterans to realize what’s happening!
“They’re going to drop the whole street!” Snarls Ilga as she leads the charge towards their destination! “We’ve got to move or we’re SUNK!”
Seeking to bait out any other ambushes, LEEDLE puts her aristocratic brain and her tiny body to use and somehow manages to FLING a fresh Fuuxi corpse further into the gloom! Don’t ask how she managed it–by all accounts the physics don’t add up, but this is a story where some grilljockey didn’t get brutally murdered in the first five posts written by someone who doesn’t understand basic wargame mechanics. Best not to think on it too hard.
The gamble pays off… to a degree. While LEEDLE’s foresight saves the squad from another ambush, it DOES also kick the proverbial Zitzer’s nest: A pair of acrid-scented Fuuxi emerge from a burrow buried beneath rubble followed by something FAR bigger than an average drone!
>CONTD.
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File: conceptartshoppingdistrict.png (2.8 KB)
>>6424681https://youtu.be/VA0e1gXDIs4
Hot, foul-smelling breath. Heavy chitin crunching through loose cobblestone and debris like a hammer through pottery. The veterans knew exactly what was coming–a mountain of menace: a FUUXI DEFENDER!
A despondent sigh leaves Barbaran’s tusked mouth. “Is that all? How disappointingly jejune...”
The jury’s still out on whether or not Fuuxi can communicate with Zoral’s more sentient races, but something must’ve heard the Skog–emerging from beneath the cobblestone street with a belligerent bellow comes ANOTHER DEFENDER--this one from the center of the street!
No doubt about it–the noose is tightening around the district. The Fuuxi have many advantages–chief among them numbers... and the tide would only rise and the terrain would only sink if our stalwart heroes tarried!
ROLLING ATTACKS!
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Rolled 4, 5, 4, 3, 5, 6, 3, 2 = 32 (8d6)
>>6424683
>Roll 1&2: Fuuxi Defender 1 [ATTACKING TERRII] (Does 2 Damage if hits!)
>Roll 3&4: Fuuxi Defender 2 [ATTACKING HUXXER] Does 2 Damage if hits!)
>Roll 5&6: Fuuxi Bilerender 1 [ATTACKING LEEDLE]
>Roll 7&8: Fuuxi Bilerender 2 [ATTACKING HUXXER]
>>6424345
Oh by the way lemme know what gear you picked so I can give you a bonus or whatever
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>>6424685
The first Defender charges at the team's sole Gnok (not counting the Captain) like she owed it money! Though TERRII moves to dodge, her boot catches on a poorly-placed piece of putrid produce... and that's enough hesitation for the Fuuxi to deliver a bone-crushing swipe to her ribs!
HIT! TERRII -2HP
Not to be outdone, the OTHER Defender charges upon one of the squad's most eminent spellcasters! Engaged with finishing off the drone, the Mzz'goe'virr moves to divert the beast's charge with a barrier, but the action comes too late! A claw--no, a tail--swipes at the sorcerer and delivers a blow that rivals what TERRII suffered just a few feet away!
At least they'd have something in common to chat about, should they survive.
HIT! HUXXER -2HP
Long after this mission, Huxxer would later find the reason the Fuuxi were so incensed with him: yes, they didn't quite like his propensity for striking them down like some six-eyed weed-whacker, but he ALSO happened to have some MUUSP JERKY in his pocket! Fuuxi LOVE that stuff!
Anywho, it's no surprise, then, that one of the gurgling Fuuxi ahead spit a wad of hissing, steaming venom his way! If the poisonous projectile was aimed at any other race it would've missed, but with Huxxer's SIX eyes? It was like hitting a dart board the size of a Skog Matron! YOW!
HIT! HUXXER -1HP!
Their counterpart wastes no time either--LEEDLE's a small target--there's no denying it--but she was not small enough to duck beneath another splash of venom from the second bilerender! Blood on her fur was bad enough, but VENOM? That's not gonna wash out any time soon...
HIT! LEEDLE -1HP!
>TURN 4 BEGINS!
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Ok gang, Angkis here - I am tied up for a bit but I think we should start to really push instead of letting ourselves be held up on the front end. I am gonna use my 5 MOV to jump straight up to where Terrii is when I move, then I'd like to use Blink to give one of you less mobile/tougher guys a boost up ahead and slightly to the middle; in chess terms it'd be better for us to have some control over the middle and side of the board than get bunched up on the edge.
So, HUX, BARB, LEEDLE, BEATS? Do any of you guys want me to rocket you up with a teleport? If you get hurt I can use my mobility to catch up to you and spend my action on an assist to heal it on my next turn.
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Rolled 3, 6 + 2 = 11 (2d6 + 2)
>>6424710
(Already pretty mobile so I'm good.)
>>6424681
What a disgusting creature. All Leedle wants to do, all that she cares to do, is to carve the creature right next to her into tiny little shreds. But, no, she has a better idea. Or at least a slightly better position she can get into.
>MOVE 1 RIGHT, 2 UP, 1 RIGHT
>SLICE FUUXI'S DEFENDER'S HEAD CLEAN OFF. (rolling to hit...)
"It is socially acceptable for you to die a slow, painful death."
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Rolled 6, 5 = 11 (2d6)
>>6424759
And rolling for damage.
"Perish. For your own sake, please do not make any noise that would agitate my headache."
(To clarify to my other skirm chuds, I'm attacking Fuuxi Defender 1, the one right above Terrii.)
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>>6424681
Getting hit by the big Fuuxi, TERRII goes flying, catching herself with a roll on the floor!
"Grgrgrrrrr... You're going to ruin my coat! I'll show you what I'm made of!"
Feeling Beats' healing magicks rejuvenate her, she changes direction all of a sudden to try and outspeed the creature!
Except... The Durher already decapitated it, jumping in from the shadows!
"Buh.... Mah revenge..."
Dejected, TERRII jumps onto the deceased Fuuxi with both feet, and uses it as a jumping pad to reposition herself.
>MOVE UP TWO
>CAST VIISLA'S MARK ON FUUXI BILERENDER 1
"I'm still in the lead~ Follow in my footsteps, okie~?"
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>>6424690
(Alright in that case..!)
>MOVE: FIVE SPACES UP
>MAGIC: BLINK ON SELF TO GET TO H7
No sooner than he flame-blasts the frontline Fuuxi, Angkis is whirling about to move back towards the other end of the corridor. He vaults a dead bug and power slides between the trunk-like legs of Barbaran and to his other side as the DEFENDER's emerge from the scuttling darkness below... He exchanges a glance with Terrii, offering her an understanding nod once they're even, and then the Great Eye of Goomoh morphs once again into a large ring - this time thinner, and wider, directly above him. It drops, and as it passes over the Durher's slight figure, he vanishes, as does the ring itself when it hits the floor. Up and to the left, in less than an instant, the ring rises from the ruined, rubble-strewn floor, and Angkis along with it until it's above his head once more. Then, it reforms into a sphere and circles around him quickly, almost defensively. The merc shifts his single-eyed gaze from the Defender to the bilerender...
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Rolled 4, 6 + 4 = 14 (2d6 + 4)
>>6424690
>Flamebolt Targetting Defender 2, then move to J10. (Something titled Defender probably has a shield.)
After receiving the harm and subsequent aid, Huxxer Materializes a gout of flame towards the Defender as he makes distance ending up between Barbaran and Terri
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File: darkquest-contextualizer.png (8.1 KB)
Rolled 4, 6 = 10 (2d6)
>>6424963
Thanks Huxxer-anon! I liked your interpretation of the Mzz'goe, maybe bonez will give us a definite answer someday
>>6424681
Renny notices all the commotion and tries psyching herself up to push forward.
>MOVEMENT: MOVE UP 1 TILE, 2 DIAGONALLY UPPER LEFT AND 1 UP [11:H]
Catching her breath she realizes that she was too late to cull the immediate threat to the team. Renny nervously holds her grippers close to her mouth as she starts thinking of what she could do to bide her time.
>SPELL: USE FORCE BLAST
>ROLLING: FOR FUN
"I-I really hope this shworks..." Renny murmurs as she cocks back her mitt and pulls power from within, conjuring a concentrated blast towards one of her ready-to-go darts.
Somehow it seems like the concentrated gravitational power is latent inside the singular dart it was carefully net into. This could prove useful. [Or maybe not! May have misunderstood if this was a thing. If not, it's fine and she just randomly pushes a dart nowhere]
[Made a little contextualizer for recap purposes. Need to organize it a little better and add enemy values but it's whats happened so far in my turn at least.]
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>>6425015
HOLY RIGATONI, ANON! These look incredible! Love what you did with it especially when we've only had such a short time to get to know everyone! Excellent work on the expressions!
>definite answer
Can't confirm or deny, but I've dropped a few hints at certain features over the last few threads. Always love seeing people's interpretations, though--it's part of the reason I went with the whole Darkness thing in the first place! What? No, I wasn't too lazy to draw...
Really though, if y'all are jumping into the thread for the first time in the skirmish, I definitely recommend reading through the other threads! There's quite a lot of ground to cover now, but you'll have a better idea of what's going on and maybe--and this is a BIG maybe--you might actually enjoy it!
>>6424771
Seems fine to me, yep! Welcome back!>>6424748
Thanks, I'll add that bonus to your character blurb on the Turn Play-By-Play. Remind me if I roll an attack on your character and don't remember that bonus!
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>>6424681
I hate to be missing on all the RP fun...but I just haven't been able to catch up...I hate it, but I'll try to get up to speed as soon as I can.
As far as I'm aware though, I should be able to move close enough to cast stinging swarm on those bilerenders.
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>>6425042
Well Anton can do it with TT, so surely BEATS could manage! I'll have to think of any damage that might occur depending on who's being thrown, but for now let's say that yes, it's possible.
>SKOGS CAN THROW EVERYONE BUT OTHER SKOGS UP TO 2 SPACES AND DURHERS UP TO 3
>MEDIUM-SIZED FOLKS CAN THROW DURHERS 2 SPACES
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