Jade and Cattle, also belated. 5/6/07

[leticia]

Brian says "Okay. Quick recap of what happened over the last two weeks. It should have been more, but as y'all may have noticed, this last week pair 'twere not much fun for I. As it were. >_< But! There was danger! There were grand assaults! Fire burning over and into Phoenix Maiden's army! A clash of thousands! Wounded People and Legionnaires alike-- to the point where Phoenix Maiden's valiant forces have been cut in half. On the other hand, those who attacked her have been nearly dekamated (as opposed to decimated), with few left alive and a carpeting of corpses covering the fields between her and her foes. They attacked her, and, indeed, some pushed past the lines of her spearmen. But none survived unscathed, and another unit has broken upon the terror of her battle standard and the devastating counterattacks of her superior strategy."

Brian says "IE, a bunch of attacks on PM which she counterattacked. Most of them were blocked (and then ripped to little pieces) but enough got through for a magnitude loss."

Brian [to Aidan]: You face powerful dragon-blooded on the field now; the sorcerers you have chosen to assault are not without other means of defense, even if their magics have been rent asunder by the mighty sorcery of Bitter Cricket. Concentrating the wind-essence that is required for any who would master the Emerald Circle amongst their kind, the Terrestrials launch a spiritual attack that cuts across the world at you, a barrage of hurled phantom-chakrams that blaze around you like a hurricane of death.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Charm boosted flurry, how many attacks?"

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Also, they have to roll Valor to even think about attacking me, IIRC. :D"

Brian [to Aidan]: I know. :)

Brian [to Aidan]: 3 attacks, each charm-boosted to be able to attack you and to gain extra dice.

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <3 5 10 10> for 4 successes.

Brian [to Aidan]: they can attack you, yes.

Brian [to Aidan]: You using anything on defense? Also, how many dice do they lose to your aura?

<<OOC>> Aidan says "+2 DV via the core rulebook, and -5 dice via AISW."

<<OOC>> Aidan says "I hadn't been counting the +2 DV for aura in any other combats, I completely forgot. I just re-read it just now."

<<OOC>> Brian patpats.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "They lose two more dice to Between? Or is their charm enough to negate that?"

Brian [to Aidan]: Charms that can cross the boundaries negate that defensive effect, yeah.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "My DV is 13, goes up to 15 with 3rd MA, and they're minus a bunch of dice and not specialists. I'm just gonna let it fall to Parry, I think."

Brian [to Aidan]: Yes, but there are other considerations. They've got Might 4 and magnitude on you. You certain?

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Bah. Stupid mass-combat."

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden notes those things give auto succs...

<<OOC>> Aidan says "I've still got nearly 50 essence to burn, actually. I'll just SSE three times and laugh at them."

Brian [to Aidan]: ... Bastard. Pose it. :P

The Hunter flickers in and out of existence, his quick leaping dodges seeming almost as teleportation. His enemies' attacks are thwarted almost effortlessly, as essence protects him. "Your attacks are pathetic and weak, dragons! You cannot hope to prevail! Flee, or fall before your rightful masters!"

Bitter Cricket . o O ( GM: My mighty horde of DB soldiers approaches! Prepare to die! Players: *kill mighty horde* )

<<OOC>> Aidan chuckles.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Essence refund for stunt pose, yes/no?"

Brian [to Aidan]: Only for rolled, alas. You effortlessly ghost through the phantom chakrams, but there's something wrong. Their usual brief lifespans seem to be prolonged by some infusion of essence and they are still whirling about you like angry hornets from a disturbed nest.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "*Weird*. Oh well."

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Cathak Raizana, the first fire-blooded to attack you has slid back and out of the way for the others to gain room. Warned about the deadly effect of charging into your spears (and mostly absent of Essence, she nevertheless presses the attack on you, hoping to either distract you or find some lucky way to penetrate your defenses now that a good deal of your army has been pushed back. Swords out and soldiers set grimly she advances with a steady pace against your spears, blades falling upon the first lines in an attempt to hack through the defenses and reach you.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Unassisted, unflurried, no-charge attack.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Nothing but parry."

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Defensive stunt or just flat defense?

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <5 6 6 9> for 1 success.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden will stung.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "stunt."

Phoenix Maiden's army's fervor seems no lessened for the fact that almost half have been scattered or slain; they are still championed by the Zenith who's Essence blazes around and over them, and as she commands, they defend - and again, retaliate.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: 2 dice. Let's see if you actually need to roll... +8, -3, = +5 successes... What's your current DV?

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 19 dice: <1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 6 7 8 8 8 9 10 10> for 9 successes.

Brian says "Well, if it's 14 or over, no need to roll. ^^;;"

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "18; I don't believe it's affected by her mag loss."

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: No such luck for Raizana -this- time, then; slow and steady does not win this race.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "And my counter?"

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Go ahead. :)

<<DICE>> Phoenix Maiden rolls 16 dice: <1 1 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 6 8 8> for 2 successes.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: ... Do you wish to use the Third Excellency?

<<DICE>> Phoenix Maiden rolls 16 dice: <1 1 2 2 2 2 4 4 6 7 7 8 8 8 8 10> for 8 successes.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "STILL plus ...I think 16."

Brian says "... Well, sadly, 20 -is- enough to hit her ri- okay. 26. :P"

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 2 dice: <2 8> for 1 success.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Standard damage +1.

<<DICE>> Phoenix Maiden rolls 19 damage dice: <2 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 9 10 10 10> for 8 successes.

Brian -_-;;

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: While her blades are stopped by your unyielding defenses the same cannot be said of your counterstrike. More and more legionnaires fall, bloodily impaled upon the walking forest of spears from your army.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "That's *really* harsh, when a 2 dice counter is still enough to hit. Ow."

Brian [to Kanfi]: It's your turn now. Another windstorm of phantom Chakrams alights across the battlefield, though not with the same deadly, persistent vengeance as that unleashed against Aidan. Arcing over the heads of your sister's troops the bladed half-real circles come slicing down at you as they try to cut into your ranks.

Brian [to Kanfi]: Flurry of 4 First Excellency boosted attacks.

Kanfi laughs at the chakra, his voice carrying a ripple of disdain. "You think that's enough to kill us? Going to have to try hard than that, my friends." It's not just his physical body that moves, but the Solar one, the giant, flickering aura of leopard-spotted man easily weaving his way between the gleaming blades trying to cut him apart.

<<OOC>> Kanfi says "SSE, I guess."

<<OOC>> Brian says "4 SSEs? *chuckles* Gotcha. Mark the Essence off and we'll move on."

<<OOC>> Kanfi says "Yes, boss."

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: A steady trudge against your spears-- even if they are backed by more essence this time, seems to suit the earth commander Ragara Zusheny just fine. He'd rather take a single, swift attack and make it COUNT than just a thousand blades flashing like a run-away saw. Steady and forceful, his reaper-led troops strike at the point of your formation, trying to hew into your soldiers' hearts.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Noncharge, Essence backed?"

Brian says "And, yes. Building up for a single hard hitting strike."

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <1 3 4 10> for 2 successes.

Phoenix Maiden is a Zenith, a Pillar of the Sun; even the steady grind of earth will not sway her - or her army; as one, they set their spears against the oncoming attack, second rank stepping forward to strike between their companions.

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 24 dice: <1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 5 6 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 9 10 10> for 12 successes.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Does a 17 penetrate your base DV?

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "No. :p 18."

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Bounce again! Counter as you desire.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Stunt?"

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Retain it from your earlier pose; 2 dots.

<<DICE>> Phoenix Maiden rolls 16 dice: <1 1 1 2 2 4 4 5 6 6 6 7 8 8 9 10> for 6 successes.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: What's your bonus to hit again? :P

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "+13, +mag bonus."

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 2 dice: <1 3> for a botch!

Brian says "Well, that sucks for the Earth Dragons. >_< No DV. You get 22 successes over, then; which means base damage +2 despite the huge Earth soak."

<<DICE>> Phoenix Maiden rolls 20 damage dice: <1 1 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 8 9 9 10 10> for 9 successes.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Maiden Another hundred troops expire themselves in the attempt to unpeel the iron and wood wall that keeps your soldiers safe; no blade can cut nor can javelin bite. for their side, anyway; unfortunately, the slow-moving earth troops leave themselves completely open to the somehow still surprising speed or your spearmen.

Brian [to Aidan]: More skyborne chakrams fling themselves at you. Like those who attempted to catch the uncatchable eclipse, these deadly essence-torii do not have the persistent wrath of the ones surrounding you. Nevertheless the hate and zealotry of their wielders seems to be transmitted by the very winds themselves as the green essence pulses in and out of reality in an attempt to silence you ever more, leaping in and between the hovering chakram from before.

Brian [to Aidan]: 4-flurry of First Excellency boosted attacks. Let's see how many actually make it.

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <1 2 4 5> for a botch!

Brian says "..."

Brian says "None. Zilch. Zip. Zero."

Brian says "The skirmishers recoil in horror at the wrathful aura of the Dawn. While they hold their ground and do not flee, they gain no attacks this turn at all."

Brian says "Nor for 6 ticks more, rather than the 4 they'd normally have to wait."

Brian [to Aidan]: The first arcs of essence born missiles sling through the sky at you, but all harmlessly fade away before reaching you, the spirits of their owners terrified into submission before they can even come close to Harmony.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Shouldn't they break and run for Botch? Or at least have to roll another check or something to hold together?"

<<OOC>> Brian says "I'm only doing breaking and running for close combat botches. Ranged ones turn into hesitation instead."

<<OOC>> Aidan says "'saright."

Brian says "Cynis Xian has waited patiently, seeing the devastation inflicted on her comrades. Nevertheless, she feels that she at least has a chance now; the Phoenix Maiden has shown that the majority of her defense lies in close combat. Having waited for this exact moment, carefully taking stock of the rhythm of the shieldmen, she orders her troops to loose arrows, unleashing a sky-blackening barrage of arrows towards the spearmen below."

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Swallow Defends the Nest multiattack charm after aiming; I believe they're at double magnitude on you to attack?

Brian says "Er, plus First Excellency."

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <3 6 6 6> for 0 successes.

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <2 4 5 5> for 0 successes.

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <3 4 8 9> for 2 successes.

Brian O_o

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Yes. Double mag."

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Apparently, the God of Terror is on y'all's side tonight. The fearful aura about you so disturbs the archers that only one of their volleys is on target enough to threaten you.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: One charm-boosted attack, then.

Phoenix Maiden ...smiles, at the sight of the missiles arcing towards her lines; With a shout, she, like her troops, lifts her spear as they watch the sky to strike down the feathered rain before it can strike them.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Sticking with my standard parry + third if needed."

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 28 dice: <2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 10> for 16 successes.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: 21 to hit.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Do I get a stunt?"

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden can block that with 3rd, but COULD conceivably get 3 succs on a stunt.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: 2 dot, si.

<<DICE>> Phoenix Maiden rolls 2 dice: <5 8> for 1 success.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Oh well. third."

Brian says "Xian's archers conquer their fears on the third attempt and manage to send the core of their fluttering bolts into the midst of your army. At the last second, though, your spearmen whirl and turn, shields going high and moving out of the path of some of the larger clumps, all seeming to react to the unheard commands as a single person."

Kanfi runs a hand through his hair, laughing brightly. "You can still surrender," he points out brightly, although the skycutter gleams in his upraised hand. He signals to his archers with the other hand, grabbing Seven and using the great automaton as a boost to throw himself into the air, skycutter in one hand, and throwing dagger in the other. "Set down your weapons before it's too late," he calls, looking like nothing so much as a gold-limned shadow above the fray. He sends his weapons towards the skirmishers, the release of the great, shining skycutter the cue for his archers to release their barrage of arrows.

Brian <to Kanfi> chuckles. "What's the current Magnitude and ranged combat bonus of your troops?

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "They're mag 3, Ranged 6, Ranged damage 4, Might 1."

<<OOC>> Kanfi says "I love you, sis."

<<OOC>> Kanfi is bad with numbers.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Same as mine only mag 3. :p"

Brian O_o at the ranged bonus. Okay. 2 dot stunt, wind shields, they have a larger magnitude... You're at -2 dice to hit, and +4 successes. What charms are you using?

<<OOC>> Kanfi says "First Thrown Excellency, Second Dodge Excellency, Joint-Wounding Attack, Shadow Over Water, are the Charms in the Combo I'm using."

<<OOC>> Kanfi says "I think I'll toss in another 6 motes for First Thrown, and then the Joint-Wounding..."

Brian [to Kanfi]: Actually, you can use that without your combo, and thus save the willpower, unless you want to; all of the reflexives are free use. Are you making a flurry, or just a regular attack?

<<OOC>> Kanfi says "Kay. Regular attack, I think."

Brian [to Kanfi]: Alrighty. Roll at your regular attack +2 dice, and add 4 successes to the total.

<<DICE>> Kanfi rolls 17 dice: <1 1 2 2 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 10 10> for 11 successes.

Brian says "So that's 15 net successes... Let's see, what can Shareen do..."

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 2 dice: <6 8> for 1 success.

Brian says "Not much. ;)"

Brian [to Kanfi]: Confident in the protection of their windborn essence and charms, the Air-bloods have been hurling attack after attack at you without any thought of defense. As a result, when Silken Strike splits the sky in a golden thunderbolt, there is little they can do save go sprawling for cover. Your soldiers' arrows rain down among them, and Silken Strike cascades into Shareen's personal bodyguard.

Brian [to Kanfi]: Unfortunately, they've got a lot of armor, so roll essence minimum there.

<<DICE>> Kanfi rolls 3 damage dice: <6 8 8> for 2 successes.

Brian says "Alright. Skycutter and arrows rake across the top of the skirmishers. The volley is light, but nonetheless batters Shareen's people deeply. Cathak Anyad, Earth-Blooded of a Military House takes a look at the possibilities and frowns. Rapidly signalling to the master of the armies-- such as they have-- amidst the devastated Dragon-blooded squad, he pauses, digging in his shields and preparing his swords."

Brian says "Anyad is guarding."

Brian says "Peleps Jandeen is fleeing, so that doesn't matter..."

Brian [to Bitter Cricket]: Your turn!

Bitter Cricket [to Brian]: Is anyone attacking my elementals and I?

Brian [to Bitter Cricket]: Well, their sorcerers were trying to initially but they're sort of busy with Aidan right now,s o, no, not at the moment.

Bitter Cricket [to Brian]: Keen.

Bitter Cricket [to Brian]: What units are left?

Kanfi has reconnected.

Brian says "In order of "about to be going": Archers, Infantry, Infantry, Eeny-Teeny Dragon-Blooded Fang, Infantry, Infantry, Sorcerers, Skirmishers (hit by Kanfi), Infantry, Skirmishers, and Archers."

Bitter Cricket reaches up with both hands towards the Sun and cups them around the light, then brings them back down to his mouth. He whispers a long something into his hands, then gently blows on them for a few moments. One final whisper, and he opens his hands, giving them a push towards the archers. A brilliant bird, born of the Sun's radiance and shaped by the Sun's sorcerer, soars through the air towards the enemy soldiers, a shrill cry floating from its beak as it homes in on its target. At the same time, the fire elementals surrounding the black-skinned wizard snap their whips and draw back their bows, sending a volley of their own along behind the flaming bird.

<<OOC>> Bitter Cricket says "Brilliant Raptor, plus a volley from my unit. I'm assuming I can do both?"

Brian [to Bitter Cricket]: Si; it's sorcery though. You cast your spell starting now, it goes off on Tick 13 accompanied by a barrage from your fire elementals, and pretty much kills whatever you aim it at.

Bitter Cricket [to Brian]: Ok.

Brian says "Noted for the record: The first half of Bitter Cricket's pose takes about 5 ticks to take effect, so the second half will happen on Tick 13."

Brian says "Cynis Yranna, despite her decimated forces, follows up Xian's shots with an assault of her own, archers loosing a wooden flurry of steel-tipped death into the close-kept ranks of Phoenix Maiden's main army. Having aimed carefully, she attempts to do what Xian could not-- strike home and penetrate the hardy shields of the People."

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <3 5 6 8> for 1 success.

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <1 2 3 9> for 1 success.

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <2 7 7 10> for 4 successes.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: 3 archery attacks, boosted by the First Archery Excellency. However, her magnitude is only 4, so she gains no magnitude bonus on you.

Phoenix Maiden and her warriors are no more intimidated by these volleys of arrows than by any preceding; shields and spears lift, eyes turned to the sky and the missiles illuminated clearly against the early morning sky by their general's anima.

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 25 dice: <1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 10 10 10> for 13 successes.

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 25 dice: <1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 6 8 8 9 9 9 10 10 10> for 11 successes.

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 25 dice: <1 1 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 8 10 10 10 10> for 13 successes.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: 18, 16, and 18. I'm going to take it that means that yet again, you emerge unscathed. :)

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Yes. Do I get any essence for the stunt there? :p"

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Yup!

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "And how much? :p"

Brian says "Er. ^^ 2 point stunt, so 4 or 1 each. :)"

Brian says "Cathak Corderi guesses at the intent of his earth-blooded cousin and holds his wrath for now as well, guarding."

Brian says "Mnemon Busaid is running away like a scared chicken... How undignified..."

Brian says "Cathak Aixlon draws his troops in around himself-- all five of his remaining Dynasts-- and begins to move backwards slowly. He rapidly signals to Cynis Yranna, Cynis Xian, Cathak Corderi, Cathak Anyad, and Cathak Raizana; with Raizan to take the central 'prong' of a trident formation with Anyad and Corderi in an attempt to pinch off the front of Phoenix Maiden's lines while arrows scream at her from above. Aixlon is coordinating an attack; if it is successful (and he is using the First War Excellency here), they will launch a coordinated attack on Phoenix Maiden on tick 14."

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 17 dice: <1 2 3 3 4 5 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 8 9 10 10> for 10 successes.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "What? Is that the roll for their coordinated attack? O_o"

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Yes.

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "The one on tick 14?"

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: Well, to see if they can do it.

Brian [to Phoenix Maiden]: A warning: If the commander is not stopped by Tick 14, all of their attacks will be done with a -5 to your DV.

Brian [to Aidan]: The DB infantry is leading the coordinated attack. The ones who aren't a part are: The infantry itself (they're just commanding), the sorcerers, both skirmishers, Ragara Zusheny (mortal infantry).

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Hmmm. I'm tempted to put up more scene charms and then flurry, but there's not impossible odds that I won't get another turn to attack after that. So. Screw tactics and subtle, I'm going to drop the hammer on the DB infantry commander."

Brian [to Aidan]: Pose it and tell me what you're doing.

The Hunter regards Cathak Aixlon as the commander tries to preserve his troops for a last-ditch effort to break through Phoenix Maiden's defense. "When hunting a snake, strike always at the head. The rest will follow." Aidan steps into a clear space in the battlefield, concentrating for a moment before exploding into action. Talons ignite with solar essence as the Hunter carves a sign into the very air -- the mark of the prey -- before shoving his hands forward to propel the mark as his chosen foe. He flickers out of sight for a moment only to reappear far above the battlefield, falling with all the weight of a meteor strike directly at Cathak Aixlon and his few remaining Dynasts.

Brian [to Aidan]: Actions/charms?

<<OOC>> Aidan says "That's the combo. One moment while I figure out how many reflexives I'm using."

<<OOC>> Aidan says "It's MA+1 attacks from PHS, each with Eagle Eye. Spending the one mote for Prey-swooping, just for the dramatic leap. And I'm going to max out 1st MA on the first roll in the series, just in case he's got a bunch of Soak or something. I can add 10 dice? Or just 9, since MA is limited by War?"

<<OOC>> Aidan says "I need to get the last dot in War, just so I don't have to do math anymore on what's limited or not."

Brian [to Aidan]: Limited, I'm afraid, yes.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "10 dice, then, instead of 11. I have 6 Dex. :D"

Brian [to Aidan]: Hmmm. Okay. With a 2-die stunt, what's your dice pool, then?

Brian is determining whether or not he's going to be -really- mean here.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "28 dice, 38 on the first attack in the series."

<<OOC>> Aidan says "If I have math right."

Brian says "That's ... jeeze. 9 successes he'd have to hit, on 8 dice? No, that's not going to work. 6 attacks? Bah. Okay."

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Combo is *expensive*. I just blew 25 essence and 2 wp on that. But it *hurts*."

<<DICE>> Aidan rolls 28 dice: <1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 9 9 10 10 10 10> for 13 successes.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "17 on 38? Laaaaame."

<<OOC>> Aidan says "PHS gives +Ess to Damage, Eagle Eye gives +3 to Acc. Plus 1st MA, my Form, and the PKB, all of which are just dice."

Brian [to Aidan]: Your enemy trembles at your approach, but he knows his duty. He _must_, at all costs, remain alive long enough to fully coordinate the attack on the main foe. He can be replaced once he is dead, but for now, he must lead, and thus, no expenditure of essence is too great to defend himself. As you leap upon him and his scant bodyguard, they erupt into flame! Fire coruscates around and out of them and _through_ them-- they become living flame, untouchable, unassailable, burning in the wake of your assault-- for a time. Forty-eight seconds pass-- but the essence within a Terrestrial is not as strong as that within a Solar, and Aixlon cannot sustain the defense forever. Still, when the Dynasts re-emerge from the inferno, they are at the ready, reapers poised to interpose themselves (and their bodies if need be) between Aixlon and the horrifying fury of the hunter.

Brian [to Aidan]: Okay. I'd like you to roll 1 die 6 times. Not 6 dice; just one die, six times, to see whether or not razor claws count as "bare handed attacks" on his flaming anima banner.

<<DICE>> Aidan rolls 1 die: <2> for 0 successes.

<<DICE>> Aidan rolls 1 die: <2> for 0 successes.

<<DICE>> Aidan rolls 1 die: <8> for 1 success.

<<DICE>> Aidan rolls 1 die: <2> for 0 successes.

<<DICE>> Aidan rolls 1 die: <7> for 1 success.

<<DICE>> Aidan rolls 1 die: <1> for a botch!

Brian says "Well, the botch would be in your favor, so don't worry about that."

Brian says "Okay, what's your soak?"

<<OOC>> Aidan says "7B/6L"

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 damage dice: <4 8 10 10> for 3 successes.

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 damage dice: <1 4 5 6> for 0 successes.

Brian [to Aidan]: You take 3 levels of damage from his fiery aura; it's -hard- going hand to hand with a Fire-blooded. Okay. You got 13 - 1 successes on that last attack, and he's stunting his defense...

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 2 dice: <7 10> for 3 successes.

Brian says "18 -1 for the penalty for the DV."

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Which means I whiff?"

Brian says "Exhausting all of his internal energies and burning off most of the will within him, Cathak Aixlon manages to remain alive-- and still commanding his forces-- for now; the furious barrage of the Hunter meets only fire and jade and not-- this time-- cutting into flesh. In response, though, the magnificent Dawn is scorched by a heat not born of the sun but of the fury of Hesiesh, the purifier."

Brian [to Aidan]: Afraid so.

Brian [to Aidan]: On the other hand, he's got only the motes he stunt-regenerated-- 4-- left, and all of 3 willpower. :P

Brian [to Aidan]: What's your speed?

<<OOC>> Aidan says "4"

Brian figured. Okay, you go again on tick 13, after Bitter Cricket.

Brian says "Cathak Raizana, as ordered, holds her pitiful force in guard so that she may fully attack next turn."

<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Hey, one of these days we may get to tick 11 and my turn!"

Brian says "Of all of the fighters, only Zusheny is not in the coordinated attack. Instead, he peels back and attempts to envelop the Hunter in the brief minute when the Hunter is vulnerable to outside attack. Grinding and rolling towards the lone monk, the Earth-blood's fighters crash heavily upon him-- knowing that they cannot hope to stop him individually, but hoping to overwhelm him with numbers."

Brian [to Aidan]: Flurried attack on you with First Melee Excellency to boost. The -2 penalty to their dice does apply.

Brian [to Aidan]: What defensive charms do you have up again?

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Can he even get at me, given that I'm completely engaged with the other guy?"

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Form, which activates the PKB, Between, and Rage. Not Flow. But I have fear aura, which activates AISW."

Brian [to Aidan]: Yeah. It'd be a pincher movement, if only Aixlon was attacking you.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "He has to roll valor to try, and he's at -7 dice without an anti-immat charm, -5 with. And I'm +2 DV from aura."

Brian [to Aidan]: Okay. You are subject to onslaught penalties of 0, -1, -2 to DV; what's your current DV?

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <2 3 8 9> for 2 successes.

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <1 3 5 6> for a botch!

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <2 2 4 10> for 2 successes.

Brian chuckles.

Brian says "Okay."

Brian says "The first attack makes it through, but on the second and after he's running away."

Brian says "So he's got one chance with no onslaught bonus to hit you."

Brian says "He does of course have 11 bonus successes from formation and magnitude, though, so... even-odds."

<<OOC>> Aidan says "My DV is only like 12. I have no mag bonuses. So, yeah. SSE."

Brian says "Deadly and precise as he may be, Zusheny cannot catch a shadow on the wind; nor can steel blades find purchase in your etheric substance. Indeed, the sight of your terror-anima-- and trying to _fight_ through it is too much for Zusheny and his troops. Howling about unkillable Anathema, they take to their heels and flee-- just as the incoming mass of chakram-phantoms closes in on you for a second round of attacks."

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 10 dice: <3 4 5 5 5 6 6 9 9 10> for 4 successes.

Brian says "Oops, _I_ jumped the gun there."

Brian [to Aidan]: Though I suspect you have no need to roll or Charm against a 10 dice attack with only 4 bonus successes.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Parry DV is 12, and I'm running low on Essence, so I default to Parry in any case."

Brian says "Well, eh, take the regen. :) The -next- group is the sorcerers, still vengefully insistent on trying to cut you with -more- chakrams. No, not the same hornet's-buzz of a charm as before; they don't have the Essence to sustain that many super-attacks. Instead, they try for a single perfect moment, reaching across the veils of spirit and flesh to try to strike you down and away and expunge the terror of your deadly claws."

<<OOC>> Brian sighs "The" veils of spirit and flesh. >_<"

Brian [to Aidan]: One attack. Let's see if it actually works...

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 4 dice: <4 7 10 10> for 5 successes.

Brian says "The sorcerers are immune to valor rolls for the rest of combat."

Brian [to Aidan]: They don't have quite so much of a magnitude on you, but they are using the First Thrown Excellency in addition to spirit-cutting.

The Hunter's control begins to break, the frustrated buzzing of the chakram clouding around him adding to the pain of the burns endured at the hands of Cathak Aixlon. His parries are forceful and savage, reaching out to attack the incoming missiles; striking them out of the sky and hard into the dirt.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Raw parry, I still don't have enough essence to waste on SSE."

Brian [to Aidan]: Okay, let's see. What's your DV?

<<OOC>> Aidan says "12. Can boost to 15 with 3rd MA, plus stunt."

<<DICE>> Brian rolls 18 dice: <1 1 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 9 9 10 10> for 9 successes.

Brian says "Current total is 14."

<<DICE>> Aidan rolls 2 dice: <1 1> for a botch!

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Yeah, that's about right."

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Paying the essence for 3rd MA."

Brian [to Aidan]: Don't worry about the botch; it doesn't count on stunts for PCs.

<<OOC>> Aidan says "I know. I just thought it sort of... *handwave* thingy, that I just rolled double 1s on that."

<<OOC>> Aidan says "Sorry, I'm being a buzzkill now."

Brian says "A Third would have helped there anyway. :) So! Once again, the Hunter is able to interpose his flashing talons between himself and all of his foes. Though the blessings of the Immaculate Dragons are upon them, it seems that the triumph of the Unconquered Sun is still greater than they can imagine-- and all of the phantom chakrams are stopped cold mid-air."

Brian says "Okay. Anyad is going to Guard again, since the coordinated attack is going on Tick 14 and he has no desire to be chewed up until then. Peleps Shareen continues to hurl her own deadly missiles in Kanfi's direction. This time, she's more cautious, unwilling to leave herself exposed to further fire-- her unit is disorganized now, cohesion lost under the slicing blade of Kanfi's essence. A single volley is unleashed this time, a silent whisper of death heading for the youthful Eclipse and his unit."

Brian [to Kanfi]: Single attack, boosted only by First Thrown.

<<OOC>> Kanfi says "Ha. SSE, yo."

Brian [to Kanfi]: Pose, please.

Kanfi shakes his head at their folly, clucking his tongue. "I keep telling you, don't have to do this. Set aside your weapons and leave unharmed." The words come out a little breathless with amusement as he and his archers dodge between the attack like ghosts.

Brian says "Okay. That's ten ticks done with, it looks like we're about to pause."

Brian says "Phoenix Maiden is first when we come back, then Kanfi."

Brian says "Then one skirmisher unit, then a whole lot of guarding until Bitter Cricket unleashes his Boom on Tick 13."

Brian says "Take 6 xp everyone."