Meara was about to reply to Gwydion with an affirmative when everything went wrong.  Seeing the horror before her eyes and and hearing her Aunt's voice give the command in a frightened panic, Meara almost hesitated.  Anger welled up within her.  They couldn't lose King Arthur.  They couldn't.

So, instead of an affirmative, she let out a cry of furious anger and fired everything she had.  Her own blasters, the Dark Lance, and a hate so focused it would set lesser beings on fire.  The scream was primal, emotional, and full of frustration as she held herself back for everyone's sake.

Every part of her was demanding she enter the fray, but she had to do the job assigned to her or even more people would get hurt.

09:20, Today: Meara rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 1, 0, 0.  Blast +2, Ichaival Blaster +2 (yes, she's firing in tandem).
Spending two FATE points to invoke The Fury and Synchronized Targeting Data (so the free invoke is open for Gwydion to use) for a +4.
Spending a FATE point not to ruin everything.
Spending a FATE point to invoke "Bright Lance" Sensor Decoys for +2
Spending a FATE point to invoke In Position for +2
Spending a FATE point to invoke Princess of the People for +2
Invoking Target Lock for +2
Invoking In Position for +2
Also using the free invoke of Capacitor Charged to fire the Dark Lance (another +2).
That's 6 FATE points, and a total of 20 to shoot the damn thing.

Targeting Legs, priority systems are Underbelly Armor and Reinforced Skeleton.  If enough to completely shut down that section, then hitting the Body and hopefully targeting Vast Wingspan.

War is BULLSHIT Shattered Innocence is definitely going to be compelled at some point, too.  SO much mental stress will be had is compelled for two hits of two stress!  That's two FP back and Meara's having a really bad day emotionally!
One 2 hit taken directly and one mild mental consequence (Fear of Loss) obtained.
Net FP spent: 4
I had entertained thoughts of what it might be like to go in close and now I'm very glad Meara isn't in range yet.  She is, too, although if they win she'll be the first to charge in to search for survivors and then come back an empty shell.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:47, Fri 08 Dec 2023.

[Oh I do wanna roast it, but using the biggest guns mankind has available. It wants to play with fire, but it has no idea what that means. Humanity number one, baby! Giving up a Fate Point to resist that particular compel. That brings me down to 8 FP.]

Flames lit up and signals went dark, just as Gwydion had imagined. It was his recurring nightmares come to life. For a brief moment, the prince froze entirely. Uncle John had disappeared into the beast's wrath, what hope was left? What purpose? He knew exactly what he'd have done had he not been put on the Darklance, exactly the same as his father had done before. And he'd be just as dead. And Ember-Rend would never see its heart torn out.

Auntie Val's voice cut through Gwydion's tears and brought back the fact that he was holding the trigger on the most destructive force in Man's arsenal, locked with his cousin's own weapons and targeting data. And her screams. Total synchronicity.

I'll show you fire.

[12:28, Today: Gwydion rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, -1, 0.  Blast +4 to OBLITERATE.

That's 5.

Free invokes: RTFM/Charged (2 Free Invokes, +4), "Bright Lance" Sensor Decoys (2 Free Invokes, +4), Synchronized Targeting Data (1 Free Invoke, +2)

Paid Invokes: Young Prince of Avaluna +2, The Skies Burn +2, The King Engulfed +2, Louder Than Words +2, RTFM/Charged +2, "Bright Lance" Sensor Decoys +2, Synchronized Targeting Data +2

Total: 29
FP Remaining: 1

I'm taking Thanos's advice and targeting the head. Napalm Launcher > Armour Gnashers > Auxiliary Flame Projectors > Bloodscent Target Lock

Be consumed by my righteous hatred.]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:11, Fri 08 Dec 2023.

Vengeance burned hot.

Vengeance burned true.

A dozen lances, nearly invisible against the darkness, tore into Ember-Rend, though two among them dealt the most grievous wounds. One ripped into the belly, tearing away armored scales and exposing vital systems. The other caught the beast in the gullet as it prepared to unleash another torrent of Dragon Fire. The resulting detonation tore Ember-Rend's head from it's body.

A cheer went up over comms.

Elation.

The cries of joy soon turned to those of dread.

The beast was not vanquished. It fought on, headless and grotesque. Maimed, but not defeated. Crippled, but not dead.

Hellish light emanated from what remained of the beast, and it's mangled form turned toward the lances which had smited it. Beyond Death, the Dragon hungered.


Aspects in Play
L4-NC3-L07 is Missing
The Skies Burn
Capacitor Charged
RTFM/Charged
"Bright Lance" Sensor Decoys
Synchronized Targeting Data
In Position

Initiative
Meara
Gwydion
Brun
Ember-Rend

Host of Avaluna and Mars
Evasion: +3
Coordination: +2
Stress: [x] [x] [x] [x]
Consequence: The King Engulfed

Dark Lance Platform
Stress: [ ] [ ]
Destructive: Blast Attacks gain Weapon:4, but can only be attempted when invoking a Capacitors Charged aspect. This can be created using Create Advantage with the Smithy skill.

Ember-Rend, Bane of Knights, Slayer of Geraint
Siege Aspect: Legendary Monster
Siege Aspect: Gargantuan Size
Siege Aspect: Armourbane


Head Stress: [ ] [ ] [x]

Jaws of Death systems
Napalm Launcher (Gullet): Blast +4

Auxiliary Flame Projectors (Glands): When you succeed with style on a Blast attack, reduce stress by 1 and sacrifice your boost to inflict a 1-stress hit on everyone (friend or foe) besides yourself in your target’s zone.

Bloodscent Target Lock (Snout): +2 to attack with Blast against targets that have suffered a physical consequence.

Armour Gnashers (Teeth): Melee +4

Superstructure Pylon (Neck)

Body Stress: [ ] [ ] [ ]

Great Wyrm systems
Adamantium Scale (Body): Vigour +4

Vast Wingspan (Wings): Zeal +4

Motorised Sweeper (Tail): +2 to create an advantage with Melee when you knockback opponents in your zone.

Molten Fuel Dispenser (Heart): Once per conflict, when you mark a stress box, inflict an equal amount of physical stress on an enemy in your zone automatically.

Superstructure Pylon (Spine)

Leg Stress: [ ] [ ] [x]

Shredding Talons systems

Rending Claws (Fore Claws): +2 to Melee against armour with at least one shut-down System.

Shredding Talons (Rear Claws): +2 to Melee when two or more enemies are in your zone.

Armoured Underbelly (Belly): Armor: 4 vs. All Attacks.

Reinforced Skeleton (Bones): Armour +4

Superstructure Pylon (Legs)


                      Severed Head
                        /  |   \
Wyrmgate -- Battlefield-- Body -- Martian Atmosphere
                        \  |   /
                          Legs


This message was last edited by the GM at 01:58, Sat 09 Dec 2023.

Brun and Euryleia watched as the Host broke up in its near panicked retreat.  Ember-rend's plasma-flames burned across the void and swept over the King.  And into his mind.  He remembered the flames...  He could smell the burning, melting metal.  Feel the intense heat.  The ship was burning...   They were cutting through...  They were coming for him again.  He was alone and they were coming.  He had to run.  Hide.  Survive.

No.  No!

Not alone.  He was not that useless princeling anymore.  He was a Knight.  His House served...the King.  And it would even now.  He could feel Euryleia's pride that he brought /himself/ around this time.

They heard the queen's call.  Euryleia quickly dampened the sensor feeds against the blinding return fire of the Dark Lances as it roared past them at the beast.  Nearly tearing it apart!

The hidden thruster ports slid open along her Armour'd back and legs, glowing as they spun up, "For the King."  Not a question.

"For the King," Brun agreed, activating the thrusters and calculating their flight path straight at the beast.  He didn't call for anyone to join.  They'd come or they wouldn't.  It didn't matter.  They were together and they were going.  The cones of the thrusters burned away from Euryleia like wings as she roared towards what was left of Ember-rend.

FP to deny Compel.

Brun/Euryleia are charging towards the Leg Zone.  I assumed we were on the Battlefield?  So one zone move is free?

Trying to create a defensive Advantage as I go.  Call it Swift Wings.

CA Total +4 (Used Armour in place of Zeal using Artemis Thrusters)

21:53, Today: Brun rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 1, -1, 1.  Create Advantage - Armour +4.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Sat 09 Dec 2023.

Euryleia blazed across the Martian Sky burning brighter than even the glowing-hot wreckage caused by plasma-fire. Her shining pinions were the fer-de-lance as others began to surge forward in her wake intending to finish the dragon once and for all time.

But the Dragon Lashed out, keen to add yet more lives to the death toll.


Zone Location
Meara -- Battlefield
Gwydion -- Battlefield
Brun -- Legs

Aspects in Play
L4-NC3-L07 is Missing
The Skies Burn
Capacitor Charged
RTFM/Charged
"Bright Lance" Sensor Decoys
Synchronized Targeting Data
In Position
Swift Wings (Brun, 1 Free Invoke)

Initiative
Meara
Gwydion
Brun
Ember-Rend

Host of Avaluna and Mars
Evasion: +3
Coordination: +2
Stress: [x] [x] [x] [x]
Consequence: The King Engulfed

Dark Lance Platform
Stress: [ ] [ ]
Destructive: Blast Attacks gain Weapon:4, but can only be attempted when invoking a Capacitors Charged aspect. This can be created using Create Advantage with the Smithy skill.

Ember-Rend, Bane of Knights, Slayer of Geraint
Siege Aspect: Legendary Monster
Siege Aspect: Gargantuan Size
Siege Aspect: Armourbane


Head Stress: [ ] [ ] [x]

Jaws of Death systems
Napalm Launcher (Gullet): Blast +4

Auxiliary Flame Projectors (Glands): When you succeed with style on a Blast attack, reduce stress by 1 and sacrifice your boost to inflict a 1-stress hit on everyone (friend or foe) besides yourself in your target’s zone.

Bloodscent Target Lock (Snout): +2 to attack with Blast against targets that have suffered a physical consequence.

Armour Gnashers (Teeth): Melee +4

Superstructure Pylon (Neck)

Body Stress: [ ] [ ] [ ]

Great Wyrm systems
Adamantium Scale (Body): Vigour +4

Vast Wingspan (Wings): Zeal +4

Motorised Sweeper (Tail): +2 to create an advantage with Melee when you knockback opponents in your zone.

Molten Fuel Dispenser (Heart): Once per conflict, when you mark a stress box, inflict an equal amount of physical stress on an enemy in your zone automatically.

Superstructure Pylon (Spine)

Leg Stress: [ ] [ ] [x]

Shredding Talons systems

Rending Claws (Fore Claws): +2 to Melee against armour with at least one shut-down System.

Shredding Talons (Rear Claws): +2 to Melee when two or more enemies are in your zone.

Armoured Underbelly (Belly): Armor: 4 vs. All Attacks.

Reinforced Skeleton (Bones): Armour +4

Superstructure Pylon (Legs)


                      Severed Head
                        /  |   \
Wyrmgate -- Battlefield-- Body -- Martian Atmosphere
                        \  |   /
                          Legs

Brun is the first one to reach it, so it doesn't get its bonus for multiple combatants though some will arrive next turn.

09:51, Today: MerLN, for the NPC Ember-Rend, rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, -1, 0.  Legs Melee +2 since it's teeth are gone vs. Brun. Total: 1

09:56, Today: MerLN, for the NPC Ember-Rend, rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, -1, 0.  Body Melee +2. +2 from Tail Stunt to push Brun back into Battlefield Zone. Total: 3

Brun Roll defense vs. 1 to avoid damage and defense vs. 3 to avoid the Knocked Back CA and be pushed back into the battlefield zone.

With the literal belly of the beast exposed and the head obliterated, the fact that Ember-Rend continued to operate was terrifying in and of itself.  However, the fact that they had accomplished so much so quickly, and at such a cost, meant that there was no way to back down now.

As such, Meara once again had Brunhildr charge and fire the Ichaival Blaster, beams of energy streaking out of the sides and stomach and arcing towards Ember-Rend.  Now that there were significant holes in the armor, even her Armour-based weaponry should be able to do something.

After all, she still had no idea how she actually got the Dark Lance to charge.

14:52, Today: Meara rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, 1, -1.  Blast +2, Ichaival Blaster +2.
Total of 4, targeting the Legs again.  If I somehow luck out to take out a system, I'll go with Shredding Talons.

The thing was still fighting, even as a vaguely-dragonoid wreck of metal and fire. This wasn't over, and Gwydion wasn't about to let the monster's death throes take any more of his loved ones. With the Darklance still locked onto its target, the prince once again opened fire.

[19:47, Today: Gwydion rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, 0, 1.  Blast +4 to Fire The Cannon!

Invoking RTFM with my last FP to allow use of the Darklance and also get a +2

Total 7 +Weapon:4

Targeting its legs this time, aiming to take out the Reinforced Skeleton. Let's see it fight without being able to dodge.]

Euryleia blazed towards the writhing wreckage of the King-slayer.  Flares and blasts from the angry host shot past as the remaining knights loosed their grief.  She twisted and dove through the fusillade till she finally got within range.  The impossibly huge claws struck out.  She spun, gliding her sparking foil along the claw deflecting it gently around her.  The other foil slashed in at the joints  , grinding in at the weak spots.  She dove past, marking the rents and tears...a place to further the damage...

She felt a sudden, forceful nudge from Brun's controls, shifting her from her intended path... just in time to duck and glide under the lash of the tail.  She sent her grateful touch to him and felt a spike of increasing tension.  She let her sensor awareness expand and spotted it, even as Brun voiced it, "The Dark Lance is firing again.  Full thrust, vector 345."  He diverted power to the thrusters again and Euryleia spread her wings.

As they rocketed out of the likely firing lane, Euryleia set her sights on a hole in the hide of the beast at just the right angle.  For Brun she highlighted it.  He took the hint, feeding the targeting date into the missile systems.  A pair of missiles seemed to fall away from an opened rack on Euryleia's back as she flew away.  They reoriented themselves then rocketed off back towards the doomed beast.

Melee Defense vs. 1 - Total 7.  Succeed with Style, 2-stress hit returned to the Dragon via Disruption Foils.
Armour Defense vs. 3 - Total 4.  Success.

Attack with Blast +2 (Rondel Missles, +2 vs Target with Damaged Systems; spending FP on Chief Armorer since these are based on his old pirate designs) - Blast Total +6

I would like to use my "move" to make sure Brun/Euryleia are not in the firing lane/zone of the Dark Lance attack.  Just in case.

13:18, Today: Brun rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, 0, 0.  Attack - Blast +4.

11:50, Today: Brun rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, -1, 1.  Defend - Armour +4.

11:48, Today: Euryleia rolled 3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 1, 0, 1.  Defend - Melee +4 vs. 1.

The continued assault on the Dragon weakened it further. Euryleia and Brunhildr struck vital systems before another Dark Lance round tore away one of the dragon's remaining legs.

Euryleia followed up her foil strike by dashing backward and unleashing a swarm of missiles at the dragons body, which it shielded with its great wings. Other knights that followed her charge began to arrive and strike blows of their own.

The baleful glow from within the dragon grew brighter, almost blinding.


Zone Location
Meara -- Battlefield
Gwydion -- Battlefield
Brun -- Battlefield

Aspects in Play
L4-NC3-L07 is Missing
The Skies Burn
Capacitor Charged
RTFM/Charged
"Bright Lance" Sensor Decoys
Synchronized Targeting Data
In Position
Swift Wings (Brun, 1 Free Invoke)

Initiative
Meara
Gwydion
Brun
Ember-Rend

Host of Avaluna and Mars
Evasion: +3
Coordination: +2
Stress: [x] [x] [x] [x]
Consequence: The King Engulfed

Dark Lance Platform
Stress: [ ] [ ]
Destructive: Blast Attacks gain Weapon:4, but can only be attempted when invoking a Capacitors Charged aspect. This can be created using Create Advantage with the Smithy skill.

Ember-Rend, Bane of Knights, Slayer of Geraint
Siege Aspect: Legendary Monster
Siege Aspect: Gargantuan Size
Siege Aspect: Armourbane


Head Stress: [ ] [ ] [x]

Jaws of Death systems
Napalm Launcher (Gullet): Blast +4

Auxiliary Flame Projectors (Glands): When you succeed with style on a Blast attack, reduce stress by 1 and sacrifice your boost to inflict a 1-stress hit on everyone (friend or foe) besides yourself in your target’s zone.

Bloodscent Target Lock (Snout): +2 to attack with Blast against targets that have suffered a physical consequence.

Armour Gnashers (Teeth): Melee +4

Superstructure Pylon (Neck)

Body Stress: [x] [ ] [ ]

Great Wyrm systems
Adamantium Scale (Body): Vigour +4

Vast Wingspan (Wings): Zeal +4

Motorised Sweeper (Tail): +2 to create an advantage with Melee when you knockback opponents in your zone.

Molten Fuel Dispenser (Heart): Once per conflict, when you mark a stress box, inflict an equal amount of physical stress on an enemy in your zone automatically.

Superstructure Pylon (Spine)

Leg Stress: [x] [x] [x]

Shredding Talons systems

Rending Claws (Fore Claws): +2 to Melee against armour with at least one shut-down System.

Shredding Talons (Rear Claws): +2 to Melee when two or more enemies are in your zone.

Armoured Underbelly (Belly): Armor: 4 vs. All Attacks.

Reinforced Skeleton (Bones): Armour +4

Superstructure Pylon (Legs)


                      Severed Head
                        /  |   \
Wyrmgate -- Battlefield-- Body -- Martian Atmosphere
                        \  |   /
                          Legs

13:57, Today: MerLN rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, -1, 1.  Dragon Zeal +4 defend vs. Meara's 4 Total: 2. Meara does 2. Takes 1 stress on box. 1 left over. Shuts down rending claws.

14:03, Today: MerLN rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, -1, 0.  Dragon Zeal +4 defend vs. G's 7. Total: 3. vs. 7 + 4. The Rest is gone.

14:12, Today: MerLN rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, -1, 1, 1.  Dragon Zeal +4 defend vs. Euryleia's 6. Total: 5 Body takes one stress.

The Body uses its action to do...something.

Glowing is generally bad.  Like, really bad.  At least, glowing at the scale Ember-Rend is currently glowing.  Meara did not like this glow.  She especially did not like the fact that several people she liked (and some she didn't have feelings for one way or another but were still worth saving) were near the glow.

Things shouldn't go critical near her friends and family.  That tends to end poorly.

As such, she wanted Ember-Rend to shut down before it, well, possibly exploded violently.

So, to ensure it died and nobody else did, she once again charged the blasters, focusing everything she could on the wings.

12:09, Today: Meara rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 1, 0, 1.  Blast +2, Ichaival Blaster +2.
Spending my last Fate Point on invoking Target Lock for a +2
Total 7 to shoot the body, if I get a system, EAT IT WINGS, LOSE YOUR LAST BIT OF DODGING

Brun left the flying completely to Euryleia again as he saw the glow begin at the dragon's heart.  Fingers flew as he brought up all scanners and focused them there...  He had a feeling he knew what it foretold.  If it was that, he needed a very fast idea of how far that bad might extend and if it could be stopped...

Smithy Total +7.  May Brun also guess at size of detonation and how many would he caught in today sphere?

10:20, Today: Brun rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 1, 1.  Overcome - Smithy +5.

Brun took scans even as his fellow knights continued to waylay what remained of the fearsome beast.

The readings that came from the deep within the dragon were odd indeed. Power levels were spiking rapidly, but the data wasn't consistent with a reactor breach or even an intentional overload. Something else was happening...

A wave of unsettling light expanded across the battlefield and where it reached, scrap and wreckage disappeared. Suddenly the wave collapsed, and the light ceased. Sensors indicated that the beasts wounds were healing. Alloy and superstructure knitted back together not unlike flesh and bone. The dragon's head which had been obliterated by a Dark Lance began to slowly reform upon the titanic beast, piece by piece.

Was there no way to end this horror?


11:19, Today: MerLN rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, 1, -1.  Dragon Zeal +4 defend vs. Meara's 7. Total: 4. Three stress. Checks its three box, but no harm to systems.

Brun, you still have an action. The scan was a passive thing.

Gwydion, you're up too.

Then the Dragon is up and it will begin to HEAL!

"It's repairing itself...," said Brun, with horror and wonder at the idea of such technology.  He repeated it more firmly across the comm network, "It is repairing itself!" He set to scanning deeper, trying to gather more data to determine /how/ it was doing it.  What was it using?  How to stop it?  How can I build that.....

Euryleia was less interested in solving the puzzle, "Then we must hurt it faster. She preferred direct approaches.  She rocketed back in close to the writhing damaged body if the beast.  Her foils danced and struck as she swept around the beast.  She was targeting every tear and rent she could, slashing through repair structures.  Trying to keep the wounds open.

Melee CA Total +4 - Open the Wounds

07:56, Today: Euryleia rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 0, 0, -1.  FP for Reroll - Tagging Knight.

07:55, Today: Euryleia rolled -3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, -1, -1, 0.  Create Advantage - Melee -4. –

Charging the weapon between each shot was taking too long. If the creature was healing while they watched, they'd need to keep the pressure on rather than giving it a chance. Gwydion abandoned the Darklance and charged forward in a burst of speed, heading straight for the creature's chest.

"No! We won't let it!"

[If there is any chance at all I can use free invokes of Brun's Open The Wounds aspect, I would love to. I'm all outta FP.

Moving forward into the Body zone.

15:26, Today: Gwydion rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 1, 1, 0.  Melee +5 From Hell's Heart I Stab At Thee!

Total 6 (unless I'm allowed any free invokes for +2s)

Targeting the Body, aiming to take out the Heart.

If I Succeed with Style, I'd like to reduce my shifts by one to create the situation aspect "Bleeding Heart" with a free invoke.]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:30, Tue 12 Dec 2023.

Despite the assault, the beast continued to knit back together with unnerving speed as though affected by some dark sorcery.

Queen Valerie and the rest of the regrouped first line fell upon the beast and the Queen's furious assault was a whirlwind of annihilation. The Lady's Honour gashed the beast with what should have been a pair of mortal blows, but even the cold rage of a grief-driven Valkyrie was not enough to overcome Ember-Rend's twisted healing ability.

"All Knights, fall back to the Wyrmgate. We must regroup," the Queen ordered.

"YOU WRETCHED BITCH," a voice cut through the comms. A bloodied face appeared on screen. L4-NC3-L07. IFF data showed that Slave Alpha was mangled, barely functional. "You left him to die! Now you do the same to Mars! Was this your plan all along? Answer me, you cowardly cu--"

L4-NC3-L07's insult was cut off as Ember-Rend gave a tremendous roar as the baleful glow relit in it's hellish eyes.

Zone Location
Meara -- Battlefield
Gwydion -- Body
Brun -- Body

Aspects in Play
L4-NC3-L07 Returned!
The Skies Burn
Capacitor Charged
RTFM/Charged
"Bright Lance" Sensor Decoys
Synchronized Targeting Data
In Position
Swift Wings (Brun, 1 Free Invoke)
Open the Wounds (Gwydion uses the Free Invoke)

Initiative
Meara
Gwydion
Brun
Ember-Rend

Host of Avaluna and Mars
Evasion: +3
Coordination: +2
Stress: [x] [x] [x] [x]
Consequence: The King Engulfed

Dark Lance Platform
Stress: [ ] [ ]
Destructive: Blast Attacks gain Weapon:4, but can only be attempted when invoking a Capacitors Charged aspect. This can be created using Create Advantage with the Smithy skill.

Ember-Rend, Bane of Knights, Slayer of Geraint
Siege Aspect: Legendary Monster
Siege Aspect: Gargantuan Size
Siege Aspect: Armourbane


Head Stress: [ ] [ ] [x]

Jaws of Death systems
Napalm Launcher (Gullet): Blast +4

Auxiliary Flame Projectors (Glands): When you succeed with style on a Blast attack, reduce stress by 1 and sacrifice your boost to inflict a 1-stress hit on everyone (friend or foe) besides yourself in your target’s zone.

Bloodscent Target Lock (Snout): +2 to attack with Blast against targets that have suffered a physical consequence.

Armour Gnashers (Teeth): Melee +4

Superstructure Pylon (Neck)

Body Stress: [x] [x] [ ]

Great Wyrm systems
Adamantium Scale (Body): Vigour +4

Vast Wingspan (Wings): Zeal +4

Motorised Sweeper (Tail): +2 to create an advantage with Melee when you knockback opponents in your zone.

Molten Fuel Dispenser (Heart): Once per conflict, when you mark a stress box, inflict an equal amount of physical stress on an enemy in your zone automatically.

Superstructure Pylon (Spine)

Leg Stress: [x] [x] [x]

Shredding Talons systems

Rending Claws (Fore Claws): +2 to Melee against armour with at least one shut-down System.

Shredding Talons (Rear Claws): +2 to Melee when two or more enemies are in your zone.

Armoured Underbelly (Belly): Armor: 4 vs. All Attacks.

Reinforced Skeleton (Bones): Armour +4

Superstructure Pylon (Legs)


                      Severed Head
                        /  |   \
Wyrmgate -- Battlefield-- Body -- Martian Atmosphere
                        \  |   /
                          Legs

18:47, Today: MerLN rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, -1, -1, -1.  Vigour +4 to resist Brun's CA. Total: 2

Brun succeeds by 2. Creates Open the Wounds with 1 free invoke.

19:58, Today: MerLN rolled 3 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 1, 0, 1, 1.  Zeal +4 to defend vs. Gwydion. Total: 7 vs. Gwydion's 8 after using Brun's invoke. Ember-Rend takes 1 stress and is forced to check his 2 box on the Body.

Ember Rend's action is to heal one system on each part. He brings back Armoured Gnashers on the Head Portion as it regrows and Armoured Underbelly on the legs portion. No Parts to Heal on the Body section at this time.

You guys are up again.

A tactical retreat would be the most sound option.  But that would also allow Ember-Rend to, quite likely, fully restore its systems.

That could not be allowed to happen.

So, closing her eyes, Meara did something she never once thought she would do.

Directly disobey her aunt.

She wasn't quite sure how she did it the first time, but she hoped she could get the Dark Lance charged again.

19:05, Today: Meara rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of 0, 0, 0, 1.  Smithy +0
Attempting to add a free invoke to Capacitor Charge.
Will succeed at a cost, shutting down my Head section to remove my +2 initiative bonus from Reflex Enhancers.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:20, Wed 13 Dec 2023.

Its armored hide reconstructed itself. That was the secret to how it survived the first time. Ember-Rend was special indeed. It couldn't be allowed to escape this time. This plan couldn't come together again without the King, without the Host. It had to fall here and now. The Prince, for he wasn't calling himself King without a body to prove that Uncle John was truly gone, dashed away from the beast and back toward the Darklance, running the combat computer for firing trajectories again. It was the only weapon capable of piercing that armor.

[Hi hello yes this is fine. I would like to Compel Young Prince Of Avalune to reject the Queen's command, and Louder Than Words to leave Brun to fight the thing directly while I go back to firing the BFG 9000.

19:18, Today: Gwydion rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice with rolls of -1, 0, 0, 1.  Mark +4 (Targeting Computer Crest) Create Advantage.

Total 4 to Create Advantage, putting another free invoke on Synchronized Targeting Data.]

Euryleia swung back around on fiery wings.  Another pair of missiles launched ahead of her, cutting into a large tear in the quickly repairing hide and blasting it back open.  Another salvo followed, tearing the hole deeper.  And another.  Euryleia herself followed in their wake.

"We're not falling back," said Brun, not really a question.  Not really a statement.  He switched off the comm.  It wouldn't help now.  He set the next missiles for point blank ranges.

"We are not," answered Euryleia.  Her foils tore into the wreckage left by the missiles.  Hacking her way into the beast.   The next missile explosions scorched her plating in the enclosed space.

"You tried to eject me."

"You stopped me.  You tried to think how to save me too.   Great minds."

"You can't do it without me."

"Never could."

The last external scan showed Meara's Lance powering again.  Gwydion returning to his.  Brun set Euryleia's beacon to it's highest setting, casting it to both of them so they could easily lock onto it, even from within the beast.  He didn't turn the comm back on.  It still wouldn't help.

Euryleia continued to burrow her way in.  Internal defenses began to respond to the invader.  Blasts and smaller automatons began to tear into her.  Her blades sang.  Missiles exploded.  Brun turned his countermeasures into an offensive system, cutting away any attempts to repair around them.  Any attempt to stop them.

By the time they had cut their way into the void near the repair node, Euryleia was torn and ragged.  Sleek plating was torn away and scarred.  The empty missle racks had been ripped away leaving sparking, overloaded cabling at her back.  Burned out point defense weaponry wreathed her in smoke.  But she stood, shakily, and raised her foils as she looked over the space.

The cockpit reeked of burning wiring and fire suppressant.  Brun was bleeding from beneath the neurohelm.  He couldn't remember why.  His screens flickered as he looked over the repair node through Euryleia's eyes.  A series of machines....  Not one thing, but a meshed system of...  Dr. Locke's machine?....  How...

Euryleia didn't have time or care for hows.  Her foils crackled and she began wrecking them as fast as she could manage.  Defense drones began pouring in.  She danced through them, but remained focused on destroying as much of the repair network as they could.

She was right.  As always.  Brun went back to rerouting power around damage.  Coaxing her faltering reactor for a bit more time.  He checked the beacon, boosting it with whatever he could spare.  Including life support.  It wouldn't help now anyway.  But the lock-on signal had to get out...

The cockpit dimmed around him, "I love you.  My Lady."

"I love you.  My Knight., answered Euryleia, letting him feel her touch across the interface.  She held him till there in his mind till it was over.

The beacon was lit.  GONDOR CALLS FOR AID Meara could see it clearly.  On instinct, she locked onto the beacon, primed, and then initiated the firing sequence on the Dark Lance.

It was only after the Dark Lance was in the middle of launching its projectile that she registered what the beacon was - and what it meant.

Her comms didn't light up when she screamed, but anyone who could see Brunhildr could tell that the pilot was in agony.

Not like this.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

Before the round had even reached its target, Brunhildr was boosting off the Dark Lance towards Ember-Rend with its left arm stretched out towards the destruction, as if trying to reach out and pull Brun and Euryleia from it.

This was it, the last possible moment. The Host was in retreat. Mars burned. They'd carved their way to the beast's heart and still it clawed its way back from the brink of death. If they left it now, there would be no stopping its rampage. They'd lost half of their fighting units. They'd lost the King. This was it. The last chance.

Targeting beacon detected.
Processing telemetry.
Targeting computer locked.

What in blazes was that? Euryleia's comm system. They'd found it, they'd found the deepest part of the fiery monster. Ember-Rend's healing was coming from this spot. Good work, friends. Now they just needed to thrust away at the right moment and victory would be theirs. The people really would stand in awe of Euryleia after a stunt like this. This was it. The right target.

Transferring data to Darklance system.
Transfer complete.

Calibrating magnacoils.
Optimum firing power achieved.

Firing microthrusters.
Darklance firing vector achieved.

If he and Meara could manage it, the spikes colliding within the creature, right on its nigh-magical repair system, would cause destruction the likes of which hadn't been seen since the bombardment of Earth, since the strikes that caused the city of twisted glass the expedition had walked through. This was it. The last shot.

Firing sequence in 3...

2...

1...

"I want my father back, you son of a bitch."

Firing.

...Where was the thruster signal? Where was Brun? His Lady? The spike was on its way at a significant fraction of the speed of light, and yet Gwydion felt like he was watching it in slow motion. Were they still inside? But that couldn't be. It couldn't take more from him. Not now.

This was it. The last straw.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:18, Thu 14 Dec 2023.

Like the dream of a united humanity, Ember-Rend shattered.

The twin lances reduced the nightmare to little more than dust and memory.

The same was also true of Ser Brun of House Stjernevolde and his miraculous Lady Euryleia. They, too, perished upon that battlefield in the burning skies above Mars, their sacrifice a wall holding back annihilation.

Compassion, Equality, Valor. These were their watch words.

As they had been His.

The King had also fallen in defense of his people. And along with John Arthur went the promise of Avaluna.

Grief filled the hearts of many, but they were not united in their pain. Those that loved him best were torn asunder in the wake of his loss. Though the day did not end with knight turning against knight, the host of Avaluna withdrew back to Earth bitterly for L4-NC3-L07 declared Mars a sovereign domain and one no longer welcoming to Valerie La Guin or her people. The Morning Star Queen returned his enmity.

Avaluna found itself low on supplies, its defenses depleted, and its heart filled with grief.

The people gathered together some in their homes, some in the streets, many at the hangar that had once belonged to the edge-knight turned champion. The people gathered and they wept.

Upon confirmation that Brun, Euryleia, and Arthur had all died in the battle, Meara walked around like an empty husk, her eyes lacking their shine and her face without expression.  She had cried until she could no longer cry while piloting, and had to be helped out of Brunhildr upon docking.

When she returned to Irina, she could barely speak.

"Gone.  They... are gone."

It would take a full week before Meara would do more than the bare minimum to fight off death.  During the worst of it, she was like a doll, at best going through the motions.  She could offer no words until, finally, she spoke a word besides acknowledgement that she was being asked to do something.

"Iri... Iri... Iri!"

Finally, she could feel again, and the first desire she had was to hold her fiancée.  Now that she could feel again, she could finally start to heal as well.  And, more importantly, help others heal.

Dyrnwyn scoured the battlefield for any signs of life after the final shot. Survivors to rescue, to be sure, but also some evidence of the King's survival, at the very least. Brun and Euryleia had been the very targets of the massive attack, but perhaps they had thought of something clever, as they always did. They were the smart ones, after all. They'd find a way to make it out alive. Even just a scrap of the Lady's memory core could be used to revive her, couldn't it?

Nothing. No bodies. No Armours. Nothing. Something in Gwydion shifted. Broke? He came away from the battle a different man. Gone was his boyish charm and playful grin. His deep blue outfits were replaced with the black of mourning. The King's nephew could hardly look his aunt in the face without bawling like a child, and had done so extensively in private. Dinners with her were mostly quiet, because almost each time he tried to speak, he had something to say to Uncle John, who he quickly realized wasn't there. The shadow of grief pulled him ever deeper. The public only saw a stoic and determined replacement for their Prince. Well, when they saw him at all.

Val and Iliza were starting to see much less of him as well. He was spending more time in the Armoury than before, with Rose and often with Irina, when he could get her. The people spoke of illicit meetings and infidelity to his betrothed. Those were the fun rumours, the ones people liked to toss around to lighten the mood. The alternatives were far more worrisome. Whispers with words like "experiments" and "obsession" were spread across Avaluna. No one wanted to say the word "necromancy", but that was the implication on everyone's mind. Was this their future king?

During those times he was checked in on, Gwydion was almost never seen without a datapad. Gwydion had begun to study something that took every scrap of his attention. He managed strained smiles with Iliza, and still professed his love, but the adoration in his eyes was mixed with a newfound anxiety. Terror. When he held her, it was always protective and trembling. He talked about feeling alright now, knowing she was safe. Yet he was still distracted by whatever was on those datapads. It would all be alright, he said, once his project was ready. It was going to be alright. He just needed time. Just more time.

---

The dark circles under his eyes were soon impossible to hide, or else not much effort was put into hiding them. Gwydion had begun a focused effort, an obsession, with expanding his understanding of physics to encompass quantum physics as well, the foundation for study of the Wyrmgates. Dr Locke had accomplished something impossible. Gwydion wanted to do it again, deliberate, focused on his new and only priority. He was going to get his uncle back. He simply had to enforce his will on the universe itself. Now that she had shown him it could be done, he wasn't prepared to let the laws of physics get in his way.

The young Knight was constructing an entirely new Armour for this. He couldn't protect anyone with shields if they didn't let him close. Instead he'd need to simply shred the enemy before it had a chance to attack, and ensure nothing could be recovered from whatever he left in his wake. He couldn't lose anyone again. He'd just have to destroy every enemy before it knew what hit them. Rose was calling it the Phantom, though the Broadsword frame was yet to be officially designated. "Experimental" was putting the design mildly, as every standard component save the energy gunblade had been stripped out and was to be replaced with the potential results of their research into Dr Locke's ghost. It may not have even been a plausible design, but Rose was less worried for her lord's mental health and more interested in the extent she could take the design of weapons to use against the hated MerGN-A.

It was clear to those close to him that Gwydion was lost in some madness he'd taken with him from Mars.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:58, Thu 14 Dec 2023.

Thames was there as the forces withdrew.  Likely the very last ship from Avaluna to leave.  The Stjernevold livery painted on her bows probably kept anyone from being too pushy about which side they belonged to.   They made a careful salvaging effort.  Concentrating on known Avaluna armors to return to the houses and families.  Very carefully searching for signs of Euryleia.  Their hold filled quickly, but they were left with the certainty that the Lady and her Knight were gone.  After that, they returned to Avaluna to bring what comfort their funereal cargo could bring to the people there.

Thames would make this run often.  If they were asked, the Captain would just explain they were still under contract.  If anyone pushed on the contract details, Captain Smalls would get quieter....and closer....and hold their eyes before slowly repeating, "Thames remains under contract." That mostly took care of the issue.  At least for now.

When docked at Avaluna, crew from Thames, often Captain Smalls himself, tended to the Stjernevold Mural and helped in that Armour Bay.  Asked to or not.  Thames crew tended to just take care of things.  If Gwydion or Meara ever had the ability to note, they might even notice some rougher looking dock types nearby when they went about the station.  With their distinctive homespun silver and black patches.  Not threatening.  Probably protective.

Maybe that's how they heard about Gwydion's desire to get back to the battlefield in now sovereign Martian space.  Thames would smuggle him there if he needed.  If asked, Captain Smalls would explain simply, "Contract covers family." Onboard, he wouldn't be treated like he usually was.  Not as the heir.  Or the nephew to the fallen King. Just a friend of the family that needed a ride.  And an ear, if he needed that too.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:54, Thu 14 Dec 2023.

"I believed in the dream. But moreover I believed in the man and with him gone..." the Mourning Queen said, not bothering to tear her gaze from the window.

"Your Majesty, now is not the time to give in to despair," MerLN counseled.

"You are right. Be grateful you were not programmed with the capacity," she told her advisor.

Silence hung in the air.

"Would they follow the Prince," she asked.

The queen's advisor hesitated. "I do not know," he said at last. "Once, yes, but the Prince has been changed by the loss of the King."

"As have we all, MerLN," the Queen said.

"Yes, your Majesty. But there are rumors..."

"And what do I care for the petty whispers of men who try to tear down what He built," the Queen interrupted. "The Prince needs time to process his grief. He had his Uncle's example, but not his hardships. He is a good man, but not yet fully tempered. When he is, he will be ready."

"You mean to go through with it? Are you sure that is...wise?"

"Tell me, MerLN, what good did your 'wisdom' do for the King? You could not foresee the Dragon, or its targets, or how it managed, repeatedly, to enter our holdings undetected? It wasn't wisdom that saved us. It was valor and blood."

The advisor remained silent.

"And what of the G.R.A.I.L., your Majesty," the advisor asked after a long while.

"Fuck the G.R.A.I.L. It was a fool's hope. Perhaps, if we had not been so distracted by its promise we would have fared better against the monster. It was a vain hope for brighter days. We no longer have the luxury of hoping for tomorrow. We must see our people through today. We must safeguard Avaluna and Venus. Not waste our resources chasing ghosts." Yet, beneath her black veil ghosts were all she could see.

---

Iliza sat beside Gwydion and looked at him longingly, though he seemed more interested in the contents of his datapad.

"Gwydion. Gwydion," she tried but she knew she had lost his attention. She liked to believe that she knew what he was experiencing. She, too, had once been lost in grief and self-recrimination and Gwydion had helped her begin her own recovery. But she couldn't reach him in his time of need. That didn't mean she was going to stop trying. She had to find a way, the right way, to reach him. To bring him back to himself.

---

Irina was there for Meara as much as she could manage. But sometimes Meara was alone. Alone was too hard. So instead of alone, there was Mimi.

"I'm sorry about your Uncle and your friend," Mimi said when she noticed Meara had suddenly lost interest in her brownie. If it could truly be called a brownie with all the rationing. "There's a man at the chapel where my mom and dad take me that says that they are stars now. They are stars that keep bad things from happening to us. Are...are you going to become a star too?" Mimi looked up at Meara with those big, bright eyes and waited for an answer.

---

"And since your ship has, thus far, been tolerated by Mars given its association with Ser Brun, I had hoped you would be willing to be at these precise coordinates at this precise time. Beyond that, I cannot tell you what you may hope to find, if anything at all. I can only tell you that it is important. Will you do it," MerLN asked as he concluded his proposal to Captain Smalls.