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09:14, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

Posted by The Howling DarkFor group 0
The Howling Dark
GM, 1805 posts
Thu 30 Jan 2020
at 22:21
  • msg #195

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Lucifer, go ahead and make a Tactics roll...))

The Exalted enter the tanker as Mountain continues to tank the ships, plinking back at the Bataan in the process.

"You guys are going to have to hurry up,"
  He calls out, "If there's no one left on the ship this is all pointless!"

"We're trying,"
  Mercy whines back at him over the comm.

There.  She's attached her ship like a limpet to the inside of the pressurized tank successfully.  Abaddon can feel the simulation chug as it starts to populate the inside of the Kilroy along with all the dead there.  So far, according to CORE's opinion, the living are putting up just enough of a fight to make it interesting.

"Moving on by..."

Of course.  Kumiho's in first, cycling the airlock and letting Mercy take care of her interceptor.
Lucifer
player, 565 posts
Fri 31 Jan 2020
at 14:35
  • msg #196

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Tactics: 36+5+10(+5 if Leadership specialty applies) = 51/56
Float 8-8))

It was about to get interesting. The Dead presence on the Kilroy was no match for two or three Exalted, rookies as they may be, but the question was not about that. It was about how much damage could be done before their defeat, and whether Mountain and the mortals could do much but plink away at the Dead presence in space around the ship. Time was not on their side.

He peers over to Mercy's ship. Was she going to stay behind there? It wasn't necessarily a tactically unsound decision, but it did provide an opportunity to possibly her into an engagement. The simple thing to do would be to let Kumiho and Adam infiltrate the Kilroy far enough, strike Mercy's shuttle personally, kill her and cut the others off from their ships, then kill them. But that was not Abaddon's objective - while the death of 4 Exodites would be a major achievement in itself, a chance for a decisive strike at the Last Refuge was too good to pass up.

Besides, it was too early to let them die. They needed to feel the terror of the Dead.

For now, a squad of war ghosts snaking past the advance of Kumiho and Adam should be enough to rattle the Mouse.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1813 posts
Mon 3 Feb 2020
at 22:57
  • msg #197

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Leadership DEFINITELY applies))

It looks like Mercy is just handling the docking; with Kumiho in, she begins the next docking procedure with Adam.  Kumiho takes this opportunity to establish a beachhead.  In no time flat, a rather impressive time actually, Adam, Kumiho, and Mercy have boarded the ship.  A squad of war ghosts with handguns have already taken the corridor nearest to the airlock.

"Stand firm!  Save the mortals!"  Mountain announces over the intercom, "The Sun is with you!"

"Moving into the Kilroy," Adam announces...

((Any changes to your plan?  If not, you'll control Minions versus the three Exalts.))
Lucifer
player, 568 posts
Tue 4 Feb 2020
at 22:34
  • msg #198

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Sticking to the plan as set with Fossil - seeing if Dead presence will be cleared in time, appearing inside if not. Fine with fast-forwarding to the decision point if appropriate))

Abaddon bides its time, and so do the Dead - his focus is on bogging down the Exalts' advance with a modest amount of troops while continuing the massacre elsewhere and sending a contingent around them to their ships - regular armaments were surely unable to dent the ships, but other sabotage might be possible in the makeshift dock. Perhaps even detachment of the gas tank Mercy's ship was attached to?
The Howling Dark
GM, 1818 posts
Sat 8 Feb 2020
at 17:36
  • msg #199

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Adam Tactics:  37 + Tactics 10 + AB 10 = 57))

Adam is clearly the tactician here.  As the battle continues, he directs Mercy and Kumiho through the Kilroy.  He's quick to recognize Abaddon's tactics, breaking the Dead line with a focused attack and then sending Kumiho through the lines with her prodigious speed.  Kumiho is then like a wolf in the fold, slaughtering Dead troops that harass the Kilroy's crew, while Adam and Mercy fight their way forward.  Mercy isn't as useless as she could be- the mousy Lunar carries bags of salt which she uses to secure hallways, and in some spaces sketches rudimentary wards to keep them from passing through bulkheads.

Meanwhile, Mountain is having a hell of a time.  The mortals are getting blasted, and he's been shooting it out with the Bataan.  The Bataan is by now beginning to crumble; they're not designed for long-term combat.

"Not much time before reinforcements jump in!  You guys secure the Kilroy yet?!"
Lucifer
player, 570 posts
Mon 10 Feb 2020
at 18:45
  • msg #200

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

Huh. Shows he had a ways to go as a tactician - Lucifer was so used to relying on his own strength that formulating plans for regular troops didn't come naturally just yet. His plan was sound in principle, but he should have hidden it better - unlike him, regular ghosts were quite easy to disrupt. All warfare is based on deception, as the book told.

Kumiho and Adam's efforts in particular were commendable. Now, the resistance was believable enough to not give away the rest of the plan, but nonetheless some more twists were needed to keep the Exodites on their toes. Abaddon would bide his time before entering the fray in a later act, but that didn't mean he couldn't do anything at all yet.

No, it was time to make his first move. Abaddon stirs, clinging to the hull of the Kilroy, and calls to his dark masters - or Fossil in this case.

"They're cutting it close with the reinforcements. Likely means they won't have time to disembark the Kilroy before jumping. I'm going to sabotage their ships while they're mopping up, and if they don't make it back to them before jumping, dislodge the tank they're attached to right before the jump so they're stuck here. Recommend me a way to fuck the ships up in a way that's not immediately visible to the outside. Strength requirements not an issue. Bonus if I can make it look like a specialist team of ghosts snaked past their advance to do it."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:48, Mon 10 Feb 2020.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1823 posts
Thu 13 Feb 2020
at 22:07
  • msg #201

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

"Abaddon - Not hard.  The airlocks are set up to automatically close and preserve air so you can mess with the seal.  All it takes is a bit of a small hole in the right place and you can start the process for an explosive decompression event that'll trigger once the airlock is pressurized.  Can be pretty nasty stuff if you do it right,"  Fossil walks Abaddon through the process, "- And there are explosive bolts to jettison the gas tank if necessary, pretty easy to access from the inside.  A human doing it would be blown to pieces or out into space, I'm sure you can hang on enough to not care."

Meanwhile, the boarding party is actually doing alright.  They've met with the surviving members of the Kilroy and have begun focusing back Abaddon's dead forces.  They're simply no match for a Lunar and an experienced Dragon-Blooded.

This has bought Mountain some time.  With the slaughter stopped, the Kilroy has begun to move again and even fire back.  The living have begun to turn the tide, and now the Bataan is getting the worst of things.

"Thirty seconds until the first Dead ships show up.  Up to you if you want me to drop them in right now, I've been kind of giving them the benefit of the doubt for reinforcement time.  Nothing stretching the usual time range, but on the longer end of the spectrum."
Lucifer
player, 572 posts
Sat 15 Feb 2020
at 17:24
  • msg #202

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

 “Hmh. Bring in the reinforcements. I’m gonna punch holes in the airlock and then jettison the whole thing unless they try and return to their ships before jumping. Which is unlikely as they’d expose themselves and the Kilroy to the reinforcements’ fire for a good while flying back to the ship they came in.”

He gets to work, bare-handedly punching holes in and twisting the airlock’s reinforced frame like it was play-doh, ready to abort and hide himself with an incantation at the first sign of the Exodites’ approach.

“They probably won’t realize they’re stranded in the Kilroy until the second act. Let’s see what they make of it.”
The Howling Dark
GM, 1830 posts
Tue 18 Feb 2020
at 22:50
  • msg #203

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

"Something doesn't seem right about this..."  Kumiho warns them, "How'd they get on the Kilroy?"

The airlock is sabotaged exactly- and it doesn't seem like the Exodites are returning to their ships immediately.  At least not until the reinforcements come in:  several cruisers and two Imperator-piloted ships.

"Jump jump jump!"  Mountain announces to them, "I'm burning back to my ship, get the Kilroy out of here!  There's no point engaging right now!"

"Are you kidding?"  Mercy squeaks.

"We're giving the order," Adam tells Mountain, "See you on the other side of the jump."

None of them make for their ships.  Logical; getting into them and then trying to get to their own ship and jump out is probably only possible for Kumiho.  With the big hole in the side of the Kilroy'stanks, none of them notice the tiny amounts of air leaking out of holes Abaddon punched in:  an explosive decompression event waiting to happen.  He might even have gotten a bit out of hand, as some of the holes are bigger than they need to be.

But hey, why make a few small holes when you can make one fuckbig one?

The Kilroy (and the simulation) lurches as it jumps, just as soon as he hits the explosive bolts.  The tank BANGS off, jolting the Kilroy midway through the jump.  The tank is made to be jettisoned; the ships attached to the airlock are not.  They each explode as they go through the jump, tearing a small hole near the armored airlock.

They're alone in an abandoned area of space.  Presumably Mountain is fighting his way back right now.

"Status report?"  Adam asks.

"Tank was blown!"  Mercy translates from the NPC-Captain's cockpit, "We're still sweeping for undead... we think they're all gone but they must've gotten past us to blow up the airlock!.  Kumiho?"

"I think we need to check the outside."  The Lunar answers them, "We've seen cases of them boarding through some sort of catapult through space before.  It happened in the battle I exalted.  I bet there's still some there."

"Am I hearing a volunteer?"

"Guess you are... but maybe we shouldn't split up."

"Can't leave the mortals alone either.  There's probably more on board."

"Not if I ward up a room with salt?"  Mercy suggests. "I could stay with them."

"Kumiho, you've got the best maneuverability and durability of us.  And Mountain should survive that force.  You should probably go out and check, figure out what's going on with the airlock- Mercy get it all blocked off.  We can't lose more air!"

"It's blocked off, we've got a few bulkheads sealed.  Damage is extensive.  Lost three mortals in the process... I have no clue what happened!  But our ships are definitely gone."

"We'd better hope we don't get more of those fuckers following us here..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:12, Tue 18 Feb 2020.
Lucifer
player, 574 posts
Mon 24 Feb 2020
at 20:55
  • msg #204

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

Were they really letting Kumiho charge ahead alone to scout for enemies? This was the sort of thing that showed they hadn't had experience with seasoned Abyssals.

Well, it was time to see how this would shake out. The good news was that Kumiho's intuition was right about there being enemies still here; the bad news was he was already inside. That and the fact that he was quite a bit worse than a straggler team of ghost sappers.

This was his chance to punish Kumiho's initiative and force the team into a harrowing situation. He would wait near the ruptured airlock and lock her in with him, forcing the rest of the team to let her die or engage as well in a hostile environment. Or possibly just lock her out on the hull of the ship. Or let them come up with something creative.

If he subdued her fast enough, they would have a hostage situation on their hands as well.

He would see. But after a brief incantation, Abaddon is no more than a malicious shadow in the void near the ruptured airlock.

((Float 1
Sheltering Water Intercession to sub Learning for Stealth: Flowed 48+15+10 = 73 ))

This message was last edited by the player at 20:58, Mon 24 Feb 2020.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1837 posts
Tue 25 Feb 2020
at 22:50
  • msg #205

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Kumiho awareness:  9, 9, 9, 7, 6, 4 & 3
*39 + Awareness 10 + AB 10 = 59, nowhere near good enough))

The Lunar is already suited up.  She heads for the airlock deck, helmet on, a long k-bar knife in hand and darting around looking for trouble.  She'd catch most threats, but Abaddon isn't most threats.

"Damage here is extensive.  Airlock blew," She calls out to everyone, "Maybe something hit the tanks and blew them off- Mercy did you leave your ship pressurized?"

"You know I didn't!"

"Alright, I'm poking my head out..."
  She starts moving through the ragged hole.

((Attack at your leisure.  Wulin doesn't allow free attacks- I'm against 'em too- but when you attack take a bonus Laughs OR Fears.))
Lucifer
player, 576 posts
Mon 2 Mar 2020
at 12:57
  • msg #206

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Initiative:
Using Blue Flame Dragon w/ Unarmed
Wave: Jam bulkhead (Might) 24+20+10+5 Laughs = 59
Wave: Waning Metal Protection Spell: 20+15+10 = 45 ; Interesting Times?
FoB: 17+15+10 = 42 / 2 Chi

Initiative: 19+20+10+5 Laughs = 54 ))


Abaddon regards his prey from the shadows and finally moves - but not for her. Not just yet.

The first indication of his presence is two near-simultaneous crashes of metal as he drives his hand through the wall on both sides of the bulkhead, going for the motivators responsible for opening and closing the door and twisting them to scrap in order to prevent escape.

An insidious, subliminal chorus permeates the airlock; an effect of the words of his spell being shut off from the outside but not their effects. The sparks showering him from his sabotage start veering off from him, as if the light were afraid to touch him.

And there he stands, blocking the only way out aside from a dive into the Void. Abaddon.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1844 posts
Sat 7 Mar 2020
at 22:48
  • msg #207

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Kumiho Init:
10, 10, 9, 5, 5, 2 & 1
*5 Chi: Sword-Mindset
*Free:  Dragon in Flight, +5 Speed
*Free:  Sword is also Flexible
*Init 25 + Speed 15 + AB 10 + IKF 5 = 55:  doubles as a Cover Ground
*FoB with 20 for 2 Chi

Attack:
10, 8, 7, 4, 3, 2 & 2
*Break Wave 22 + Finesse 10 + AB 10 + EKF 5 = 47- breaks Waning Metal Protection Spell.  take a Malicious Joss
*Covers Ground past the bulkhead before he can jam it!
*Attack 18 + Strike 20 + AB 10 = 48, his Dodge is -10))

Abaddon is fast.  Kumiho is faster.  Her speed's not just one of natural talent, it is a honed, precise thing, and the moment he moves she's already begun to dart back through the airlock.  In the process she slashes at him with her weaving slicing K-BAR, cutting off ways he might escape her slashes.  And in the process her slashes screech impossibly through the void with a silvery light, disrupting the keening chorus of the Void.  In that moment he can see her with clarity, even through her helmet.  Her eyes are wide and angry with comprehension about just what the fuck is going on.

And then she's back in before he can close it behind her, already in the (barely relative) safety of the collapsed corridor.

"ABYSSAL.  ABYSSAL!"  She calls out, "High-powered one!  Yama-level threat!"

She knows what he is.  And she's- playing along?
Lucifer
player, 577 posts
Tue 10 Mar 2020
at 18:04
  • msg #208

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Defense: 2 Chi on Swinging Bell Defense
Block: 26+15+10 = 51, blocked

Attack: Wash River
Float 8-8-8
Jam bulkhead (while open)
Otherwise irrelevant as target out of range ))


Abaddon - no, Daniel - had seen Kumiho's speed before, but as it turns out he was still unprepared for it. The sudden vision of her through her helmet is the final distraction needed to let her practically waltz past him, his careful preparations undone by merit of sheer blinding quickness. All he can do is block the physical assault, the k-bar doing no more than a rubber knife would.

It would be aggravating if it wasn't so impressive. However, the sudden vision and - connection? - of the freshly Exalted Lunar through her exosuit was something even more remarkable. What was this - a side-effect of her breaking his spell? Maybe, but it seemed more... profound, somehow.

Well, be that as it may, this was only the opening of the act. She was playing along, and he was not about to give up at the first setback. No, this was exactly what he had hoped to see from the Exodites, particularly her.

So Abaddon does what he was doing - jamming the bulkhead, only now in its open position, letting the Void creep its way further into the ship. He stands in the aperture, his gaze fixed on Kumiho through the darkness of his featureless helmet but quite visible to her.

He was impressed, even a little proud. But this was only the beginning. Escaping was the smart thing to do first, but now it was a matter of dealing with an Abyssal before it made its way through the whole ship, breaking seals and joining each room with the Void on the way.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1849 posts
Thu 12 Mar 2020
at 22:05
  • msg #209

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Kumiho Init R2:
10, 7, 5, 5, 4, 3 & 3
*1 Chi: Sword-Mindset
*Free:  Dragon in Flight, +5 Speed
*Free:  Sword is also Massive
*Init 25 + Speed 15 + AB 10 + IKF 5 = 55:  doubles as a Cover Ground
*Float 3-3))

Kumiho glares at him with anger and... disappointment?... as he rips open the airlock, ready to bolt to the next hallway!
Lucifer
player, 580 posts
Wed 18 Mar 2020
at 18:23
  • msg #210

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Init R2: 9, 8, 8, 7, 6, 6, 3 & 1
Vengeful Titan w/ Massive/Ranged
CG to Kumiho's Zone: 26+10 = 36
Init: Flowed 48+10 = 58

Attack: 9, 9, 8, 5, 5, 2, 1 & 1
*1 Metal Chi on Grand Horse Tramples Rice
*1 Solar Chi, 2 Chi on Black Tigers Hunting
*1 Water Chi, 2 Chi on Devastation of Black Ice
*2 Chi on Ice Cracking the Willow
*Flood 8 to ignore armor, Max Chi Aura -1
Break CG w/Might: 21+20+5+10 = 56
Strike: 25+20+20+10+5 Laughs at Duels = 80; Dodge -15, Block -10; Extra Ripple if hit; -10 Toughness if RR
Knockback to starting Zone w/Might: 29+20+10+10 = 69 (nice) ))


Kumiho was indeed fast. But she was about to learn that when Abaddon needed to, so was he.

He should not, could not, take it easy on her. The whole point of the training was to be as unfair and nightmarish as possible.

There is a split-second screeching noise in the depleting air, like a painful glitch in reality, as the Abyssal closes the distance between them.

Then there is the muzzle of a soulsteel weapon of pure malice swinging at the Lunar's midsection, snuffing her forward momentum and hoisting her off her feet.

Then there is a pull of the trigger.

Then there is pain.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1854 posts
Wed 25 Mar 2020
at 17:47
  • msg #211

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Defense:
5, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2 & 1
*Oh lordy
*4 Chi:  Block +15, Toughness +10
*Flowed Block 53 + Block 10 + AB 10 + IKF 15 - Opponent 10 + Laughs 5 = 83 vs 80, BLOCKS.
*Just takes the knockback

Kumiho Attack:
10, 9, 6, 3, 3, 3 & 1
*Nothing Matters Here

Abaddon has init))

Fast, strong, powerful, experienced, unstoppable- all of these words apply to Abaddon, not a single one to the Lunar.  Kumiho can only watch as Abaddon rips into her personal space, gets up close and personal, and then pulls the trigger.

And he finds it hits a blade.

The Lunar has shifted her K-Bar at the very last second, quicker than even the Abyssal could have noticed; perhaps because it was already halfway there.  Perhaps it was a bit of indecision on his part, but the attack merely halts her momentum and sends her spinning back into the broken hold of the ship, unhurt.
Lucifer
player, 582 posts
Sun 29 Mar 2020
at 16:28
  • msg #212

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Init R3: 8, 7, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 & 1

Vengeful Titan w/ Massive/Ranged
Shaping Wave - break/jam next airlock (between current zone and zone Kumiho would've moved to on round 2) w/Might: 27+25+10 = 62
Initiative: 18+10 = 28 ))

There's an actual moment of incredulity as Abaddon hears the clang of metal, realizing Kumiho actually managed to block his attack even as she careens back to the airlock. It may not have been quite the worst he could dish out, but he certainly wasn't holding back either - that was an attack that would've finished some of his usual fights, and she'd managed to block it, however narrowly. Was this somehow related to the sudden vision they had of each other?

He was impressed, to say the least. Still, the fight was just heating up. Keeping his gaze and facing on the Lunar, Abaddon reloads his weapon which emits a breath of black miasma and takes a few steps back, intending to drive his hand into the wall and jam the next airlock to cut off her escape and reinforcements. She was excelling beyond expectations, but how long could she keep it up? That was the true despair waiting to creep up on her.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1858 posts
Sat 4 Apr 2020
at 22:04
  • msg #213

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Kumiho Init R3:
10, 10, 5, 4, 3, 3 & 2
*2 Chi:  Sword-Mindset
*Free:  Sword+Flexible
*Analyze Style Fears 23 + Tactics 10 + AB 10 = 43
*Arrest Zero-G 20 + Finesse 10 + AB 10 = 40

Attack R3:
9, 9, 9, 7, 4, 1 & 1
*Float 1-1
*Flood 1 to extend attack
*Attack 39 + Strike 20 + AB 10 + Laughs 5 + Fears 5 = 79, better dodged, Block is -5))

"Kumiho, report!  Mercy- get started!"  Adam barks over the intercom.

"Get MOVING guys!"  Kumiho drifts back and grabs a spur of metal, arresting her flight backwards as.  "OK, you want some new tricks, you got it."

She's not burning much essence; she's keeping it spare, knowing she'll need it later.  But the essence she is using is efficient.  She winds up and extends her arm, it seeming to artificially lengthen as it's surrounded by cherenkov-blue Lunar essence, the point driving into his chest.  He can see fangs glinting through and over her mask, warped into an angry but not hateful snarl.
Lucifer
player, 583 posts
Mon 6 Apr 2020
at 22:32
  • msg #214

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Defense: 10, 7, 6, 5, 5, 4, 1 & 1
Float 5-5-1
1 Metal Chi on Swinging Bell Defense
1 Metal Chi, 1 Solar Chi on Eternal Temple's God-Armor
1 Chi on Chi Aura if damage >0 after Toughness

Block: 17+15+10+5-5 = 42 vs 79; 2 Ripples + RR. Toughness 35; Will Reply if damage 0.

Attack: 10, 6, 6, 5, 5, 5, 5 & 1
*Holy fucking shit
*ok let's do this
*1 Metal Chi, 1 Solar Chi on Black Tigers Hunting
*1 Metal Chi, 3 Chi on Iron Buddha's Disapproval
*2 Water Chi on Devastation of Black Ice
*2 Chi on Ice Cracking the Willow
*Flood 1 to ignore armor, Max Chi Aura -1

Strike: Flowed 65+20+20+10+5 Laughs = 120; Dodge -15, Block -10; Extra Ripple if hit; -10 Toughness if RR; Damage +50
Knockback to Abaddon's Zone w/Might: 26+25+10+5 = 66 ))


Kumiho's attack is precise, skillful, surprising and altogether too fast for Abaddon to block. The knife slips past his arms when he's barely begun to move and lodges squarely in his chest.

Despite his best efforts at an ambush, she'd gotten in the first blow. No question about it; Despite his high expectations, he'd still underestimated her.

However, it was quite possible it was also her last.

A suffocating miasma ripples out from where the Lunar's knife had struck him as he takes the hit head-on, mitigating it with raw Essence. A rasping, booming voice vibrates through the corridors.

"New tricks?"

The knife, or Kumiho's extended arm, do not retract after the hit. He has grabbed it.

He yanks her with titanic might, intending to slam her into the next airlock with enough force to crack the bulkhead.

While she's momentarily dazed by the impact, Abaddon points his weapon at her point-blank and starts ripping out and pooling Essence. More Essence. So much necrotic Essence that the simulation struggles to keep up; lights flicker, textures ripple and glitch, sounds become clipped and distorted, cacophonic screeches and screams.

"NEW TRICKS."

The resulting blast seems to come at a delay; like setting off too much explosives, the shockwave expands in chopping motions, twisting and breaking everything nearby and absolutely disintegrating the bulkhead behind her along with swathes of the area behind it. It was more than overkill; it was beyond doubt THE most powerful attack he'd ever made. So much so that he wouldn't have even considered it were it not a simulation.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1863 posts
Wed 15 Apr 2020
at 01:35
  • msg #215

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Floods 1 to extend attack

RR on Abaddon:
*16 + Damage 10 = 26 - 35 = 0, Replies can only occur in same zone

R3 Defense:
9, 9, 7, 7, 6, 5 & 3
*4 Chi:  Block +15, Toughness +10
*Block 29 + Block 10 + AB 10 + IKF 15 - Opponent 10 + Laughs 5 = 59 vs 120, 3 Ripples + Roll

RR on Kumiho:
*18 + Damage 15 = 33 - Toughness 0 + Damage 50 - Chi Aura 16 = 83 - 16 = 67, Taken Out.

You can inflict a Major Mental, Physical, or Spiritual condition on her as if an EoB RR.))

Kumiho's eyes grow wide.  She can't stop it.  Likely nothing could.  He pulls her back, slamming her against the bulkhead, and opens fire.  The simulation begins to glitch and he's sure he hears dark laughter that isn't his- or maybe it is?-

And then Kumiho's obliterated.  Gone.  Not even shreds left.  The simulation begins to fritz out as Core starts putting more processing power into the tubes.  Abaddon's sure he hears Fossil screaming something over the comm, but it's fuzzy, uncontrolled.
Lucifer
player, 584 posts
Mon 20 Apr 2020
at 17:53
  • msg #216

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Major Metal Inspiration: Celestial Bond. Bonded with Lucifer, Kumiho finds herself able to draw upon greater reserves of power when in his presence or otherwise drawing on their connection (doing things inspired by him, contrasting her actions to his, etc.). Major Breath Hyperactivity, +1 Lunar Chi))

There's a good while where Abaddon - or Daniel, behind the mask - can do little but feel the overkill play out around him. Audiovisual and tactile, gravity, all input was oversaturated to the point of mixing together. It only then occurred to him that even outside the Longinus he had enough firepower to destroy spaceships from the outside; perhaps going all out here was not conducive to the purpose of the training after all...

Maybe that's why the laughter and Fossil's uncontrolled screaming stand out to him. He holds still, trying to single out and follow the noises and centering himself to make sense of the chaos he'd unleashed.

"...Come again? You're breaking up, Fossil."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:49, Tue 21 Apr 2020.
The Howling Dark
GM, 1870 posts
Fri 1 May 2020
at 19:20
  • msg #217

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

((Can't really have Solar/Lunar Chi bonuses, but noted))

When Core finally gets control of everything again there's some issues.  The first is that there's a giant hole in the ship, spattered with red- everything from that point to the engines have been cored like an apple.  The second is that he's positively crackling with what must be Core's approximation of Abyssal energy, causing the various junk around him to just... wither and die around him.

The third is a completely solid bulkhead in front of him, directly in the center of the huge hole he made.  There's text printed on it:  KINDLY PLEASE DO NOT REPEAT

"I said what the FUCK are you doing!  You're supposed to be pushing them not obliterating them!"  Fossil isn't one to panic, but there's something else in his voice, "And something just got Core really, really annoyed, I just got a message from him on the console telling me the fleet's just starting to get moving!"
Lucifer
player, 585 posts
Wed 13 May 2020
at 19:26
  • msg #218

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

"...Well shit."

Abaddon waves his hand about in a vain attempt to scatter the strange miasma around him before realizing it was coming from him and not actually hindering his sight. Then he regards the rest of his handiwork and gains a slight frown of concern under the anonymity of his helmet.

"Yeah, I might've gotten a bit... Carried away. I thought what happens in VR stays in VR, though? Core getting annoyed can be explained with rendering difficulty, but there's something else going on here. Sinister laughing when diving in and just now, and then this. Should we call it off?"
The Howling Dark
GM, 1877 posts
Thu 14 May 2020
at 22:04
  • msg #219

Arc 1, Thread 2:  Through A Mirror Darkly (Lucifer)

"I don't think so- I mean normally yes I'd be shutting this down ASAP until we got this covered, but Core isn't pulling the brakes.  Meaning he's either content with you moving forward with the simulation or he's trying to figure out what the hell is going on and is looking for more data."  Fossil says to him, "If you're still OK with going, I guess full-up put the fear of the Void in them, but nothing that intense, alright?  If you're not I'll pull the simulation."
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