Persona Flashpoint 8 - Fire Ant Squad

Server started; please wait for map to refresh.
Agi has connected.
Ci Tsukino has connected.

Danjuro:
boom boom boom boom
Phatthrice:
The day after your discussion at the cafe, you can hardly concentrate at school. The day flies by in a flash, and you find yourselves gathered outside the clubroom. Even with Kodaira's confession, you have few leads, but one thing sticks out to you: Nari's behavior. Something like that couldn't be a coincidence, so you head to the back lobby. Like yesterday, it's empty, save for Kei, conducting an investigation of his own. He lets you study the area yourself, thankful for a chance to take a break, and as soon as he leaves, you take out your cameras, delving once again into that phantom world...

Danjuro:
"Guy's gonna check in on us and think we just dipped immediately."

Danjuro:
"Everyone feeling good about this?"

Kaori:
Kaori nods, "As good as I can, yeah. We've got this...!"

Danjuro:
Danjuro pans across the room, setting his sights on the spot where Kaori and Kei had found Nari. . .

Danjuro:
*click*
Phatthrice:
The warped transmission is no less surreal the second time around, but this time, at least, you're prepared for it. When the new reality settles back in, you find yourself not in a prison, nor on a farm... Instead, you're in a deep, lush forest, a small path snaking through the dense woodland. In the middle of the path, just a dozen feet ahead of you, stands a young, familiar-looking peasant woman, her back to you. She's humming a song with an erratic melody, as though you're catching disparate notes from different points in the tune.
Phatthrice:
there's a New Map
Danjuro: (( I recognize these sprites ))
Phatthrice:
It's a fanmade Pokemon map I think
Danjuro: (( Classic Tiled shadowing issues ))

Kaori:
"The heck is up with this place...? It's like it's always different..."

Danjuro:
"Ha, far cry from a prison this time 'round."

Kaori:
"Anywaaaay...we've got company."

Shadow Girl:
The woman notices your arrival, and turns to look at you. She cocks her head, yellow eyes analyzing you. She smiles, speaking in Kansai dialect, "Ahahahaha.... Ya tryna get to the farm? Yer not the first ones to come around here..."
Kaori: (( I love how Kansai dialect always translates to hick in dubbed stuff. ))
Shadow Girl: (( indeed ))
Shadow Girl: (( Here she's mostly just talking really casually and informally ))
Kaori: (( Well she just yee'd her last haw. ))
Kaori: (( Let's beat her ass. ))
Shadow Girl: (( In japanese she's probably talking like you're her inferiors ))
Shadow Girl: (( where'd that b come from ))

Danjuro:
(Is this the same world, then?) "Er, yeah! Well met, or whatever. Lots of people coming through here, eh?"

Shadow Girl:
The woman flicks her hair with a hand, "Ahaha! Nah, just a couple." She grins, a playful smile marred by daggerlike teeth, "They didn't last too long, though."

Kaori:
"Hey, be careful Danpachi-san. Remember that anyone in here that isn't *us* is either one of the bad guys or they're how the bad guy sees that person in the real world."

Shadow Girl:
"Lesee...will ya run like the first fool, or lose yer mind like that girl playin' Conan....? Ahahaha! Well, I don't got the time for you right now...So how bout you play with my classmates a l'il first? Don'cha worry! The farm's right down this way, if ya can survive..."
Kaori: (( Can I roll insight to determine who this is in character ))

Shadow Girl:
Yeah sure but it's probably who you think it is
Kaori: (( Then should I just take 20 ))
Kaori: (( er, ten ))
Kaori: (( I'll take 20 too ))

Shadow Girl:
Yeah

Danjuro:
toofth
Kaori: (( THIS one is Ayumu, right ))

Shadow Girl:
It sure seems like it. She often slips into a kansai dialect when she's pissed or distracted, usually after losing a match. You wouldn't have expected her to be a peasant servant, but...maybe that's how the master of this world sees her

Kaori:
"And you definitely shouldn't trust the Ayumu of this world, Danpachi-san.."

Danjuro:
"No kidding, that's her? Barely took any looking!"

Danjuro:
Danjuro leans forward, and springs in the girl's direction, snatching to restrain her
Danjuro: (( Unless initiative or a scripted escape obv ))

Shadow Girl:
As Dandan dashes forward, a howl sounds in the distance, followed by a low growling and the churning of water. The shadow girl cups a hand to her mouth, then tucks her hair behind her ear again, "Oh, whoops! Time for this Little Red Hood to get ridin'! Hahaha, have fun!" The Shadow Ayumu flickers as you run up to her, and winks at you, disappearing with a fading smile as your hands clutch at air, like the Cheshire Bitch she is

Kaori:
"O-..Oh no! Danpachi-san is possessed! He can't keep his hands off her, even in the shadow world...!"

Takara:
"So that was Ayumu... I...feel like I should know her." Takara flinches suddenly, then yells, "Danjuro! Get down!"

Danjuro:
"H-hey, be serious about this!" he spits out, looking around wildly. "Argh, where'd she go?"
Danjuro: (( we looking at Reflex here or...? ))

Takara:
Yeah

Danjuro:
13
Phatthrice:
A torrent of blue streaks out of the woods on both sides of Danjuro, passing over him in an X-formation. You see only the afterimage of the movement, your eyes lagging behind whatever caused it. Eventually, they catch up. On the right of the path, hidden in the shade of a hardwood, is a demonic wolf. On the left, a wolflike humanoid hangs off another tree some ten feet off the ground, claws sunk deep into the trunk
Phatthrice:
At a glance, it doesn't look very threatening. Almost soft, even. But as it watches you, its head twitches, saliva dripping from its mouth.
Danjuro: (( Updated my saves with shits at the top to calc it out bc MAN they felt wrongly high, had to source shit ))
Kaori: (( Roll init then? ))

Demonic Wolf:
14 Yep

Kaori:
11

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
13

Danjuro:
15

Takara:
14

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
The wolfwoman is about two squares off the ground, if you intend to attack her

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
She's hanging from the tree, claws sunk into the wood

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
megaman zero style

Danjuro:
I'll fall back 1 square and give a Throwing Hammer a chuck

Danjuro:
6 "Here, pup! Bring it back, now!" @Wolfwoman

Danjuro:
oop carry on

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
The wolfwoman snatches the hammer out of the air with her maw of teeth, gnashing the handle to splinters
Danjuro has received initiative.

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
She spits them back at you as the heavy metal hammerhead thunks to the ground

Takara:
"...I don't think we should take these things lightly."

Danjuro:
"Ha... shit, alright. 'sgonna leave a mark."

Danjuro:
Danjuro slams his chest with a fist, and pulls another bat out. "Bring it on!"

Takara:
Takara waves his icy manipulator, casting a chill spell on the tree! 21

Takara:
The area around the wolfwoman freezes into jagged spikes of ice, becoming a slick mess of frozen daggers!

Takara:
this does an entire 6 damage
Danjuro: (( wish there was a way for me to actually Mark enemies...? I'll just plop down a token ))
Tokens dropped onto map 'Down On The Farm' by player Agi (Player)

Takara:
BUT, the slick ice destroys her grip on the tree, and she slips to the ground, vulnerable!

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
taking another UUHHHH

Kaori:
"Looking cool, new kid!"

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
Okay I'm not looking up fall damage

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
10

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
jesus
Kaori: (( Sick. ))

Danjuro:
wew

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
The wolf howls in pain, landing right on the damm hammerhead

Lethe:
cool huh

Lethe:
i see what you did there

Lethe:
i will not forget, nor forgive

Demonic Wolf:
The Actual Wolf, seeing the other fall, runs between you and it, and bites Takara!

Danjuro:
naah you're gettin AoO'd

Demonic Wolf:
I THINK you get an attack of opportunity

Danjuro:
if it hits, you stops

Danjuro:
14 Grappling Strike!

Demonic Wolf:
Oh, from that

Danjuro:
also just from Fighter in general

Danjuro:
tho I think I gave up Combat Superiority

Danjuro:
anyhow, 5 damage, as Danjuro grabs the wolf by the scruff of the neck and shoves it into the ground

Demonic Wolf:
Yeah, you gave up CS but I think you can make regular opportunity attacks

Demonic Wolf:
and not JUST the power that lets them finish their action

Demonic Wolf:
To th eground? Does your power knock them prone?

Danjuro:
no just flavor

Demonic Wolf:
Ah, okay

Demonic Wolf:
Well, in that case, it's gonna bite YOU instead

Danjuro:
yea

Demonic Wolf:
The hand that is fed upon
Danjuro: (( the Layla special ))

Demonic Wolf:
17

Demonic Wolf:
vs AC

Demonic Wolf:
er, Fort actually

Demonic Wolf:
but it misses regardless

Demonic Wolf:
The wolf twists around your arm in a deathroll style, but can't get a solid grip with its fangs! It only scrapes you, dealing half of 5
Danjuro: (( It prrrobably hits? I have a +2 while my offhand is "free," I don't think grappling counts as free, but will check ))

Demonic Wolf:
So 2

Danjuro:
Danjuro loses 2 hit points.

Demonic Wolf:
Check later it's fine lol

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
The wolflady gets up and exercises her right to awoo! 6 vs Will

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
On everybody

Danjuro:
6 is less than 10

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
You all resist the howl, though it gnaws at the edges of your mind, distracting you. You take a -1 to all rolls for 1 round
Kaori: (( On a nat one? >:X ))
Tokens dropped onto map 'Down On The Farm' by player Agi (Player)

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
A nat 1 is still a miss

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
Miss effects still happen lol

Global Effects:
:eye: :eye:

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
The wolf woman claws at your shadows stretching across the forest floor, uprooting flowers and weeds
Kaori has received initiative.

Kaori:
Kaori targets both enemies with Zio! 6 @ Wolf 9 @ Wolfwoman
Kaori: (( Nah, next turn ))
Kaori: (( I'll try again when maptools stops joking around with the rolls. ))

Danjuro:
the grapple from Grappling Strikes automatically ends at the start of my turn, but I'll be going for it again, just keeping the woof at bay
Danjuro has received initiative.

Danjuro:
10 "Down, boy!" Danjuro smacks the dog's hide

Demonic Wolf:
Unless your grapple imposes any penalties to...whatever you just targeted, that's a miss

Danjuro:
the grapple hadst end, we missin'

Danjuro:
moved the mark

Demonic Wolf:
Right, right

Danjuro:
1 also

Danjuro:
er

Danjuro:
*-1 from the Wolfwoman thing is all I meant to do there

Demonic Wolf:
The wolf wrenches free of your grip, unharmed

Takara:
"Gnh...There's no way this is the worst of what we'll face, so I should..." Takara takes a few steps back and fires a ray of ice at the injured wolflady!

Takara:
23

Takara:
look i don't dictate the rolls

Takara:
8

Danjuro:
I do not control the speed at which you get to hit things

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
She howls as ice crawls up her legs, freezing the fur

Demonic Wolf:
So your Mark, what does it do exactly

Demonic Wolf:
Just the penalty to Duders Who Ain't You

Demonic Wolf:
?

Danjuro:
yep that's it

Demonic Wolf:
Right well it's gonna Snacc Attacc you

Demonic Wolf:
18 The wolf lunges for danjuro's legs!

Danjuro:
that's a block unless it's Fortitude

Demonic Wolf:
It's Fort yeah

Demonic Wolf:
It grips Danjuro's pants in its mouth, ripping its head upward to send him falling to the ground!

Demonic Wolf:
8

Demonic Wolf:
And Prone

Danjuro:
Danjuro loses 8 hit points.

Danjuro:
"Whoop!"

Demonic Wolf:
It then retreats, heading for the river!

Danjuro:
"Man, that's playing dirty!"

Demonic Wolf:
look who's talkin kid

Demonic Wolf:
take a shower ur filthy

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
Panting, the wolfwoman scrambles to steady herself, then bolts toward the water as well, yowling all the way
Phatthrice:
Whirlpools form around rocks in the rushing river, humanoid shapes rising out beside them, lounging on the rock. They glance at the wolves, then at you, seeminglyu nderstanding the situation
Kaori has received initiative.

Salty Mermaid:
Though none of them have spoken yet, they seem just as intelligent(if not more so, honestly) as the ogres from the other day

Kaori:
Kaori takes a few steps forward and tries again with Mazio! 21 @ Wolf 21 @ Wolfwoman
Kaori: (( Ness: Okay. ))
Kaori: (( vs Reflex ))

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
Those both hit, even with Danjuro in the way of the wolflady

Danjuro:
cracklin' overhead

Kaori:
6 @ Wolf 6 @ Woman
Kaori: (( Ness: Okay. ))

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
It zips right in between the branches to electrocute the lady in her own blood! She doesn't fall yet, but she sways on her feet, digging into the earth with her lower claws just to keep steady

Demonic Wolf:
The other Wolf forgets that the actual Bloodied status is literally just a dot

Demonic Wolf:
But regardless, it, too, is still on its feet! Its retreat has been slowed somewhat, though
Danjuro has received initiative.

Danjuro:
Danjuro stands UP

Takara:
"Good work! They should fall, soon! The mermaids worry me a little, though..."

Salty Mermaid:
8 As we should

Danjuro:
. . . and pulls his pants up

Briney Mermaid:
9
Danjuro: (( getting up from being prone is basically a whole turn isn't it ))
Danjuro: (( unless there's something within reach when you stand ))

Briney Mermaid:
It's a move action

Briney Mermaid:
So you can still make a standard or trade said standard for another move

Danjuro:
yea I'll advance a little bit.

Danjuro:
hobbling and scooting up my pants as I walk

Salty Mermaid:
The mermaid's eyes flash when you approach, and a whip of water coils around the rock, reaching into the air like a serpent

Takara:
"Water, huh...Well, that isn't so bad for me, usually! I'll pick off the stragglers for now..." 21

Takara:
9

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
The bolt of rime blasts right through the Wolflady, and she topples off the ledge, bursting into a cloud of freezing vapor with a final howl before she hits the water!

Demonic Wolf:
The wolf is PISSED but also kind of scared because this hood dude has just been wrecking face the entire time so he is OUTTA there!

Demonic Wolf:
He runs over the bridge, and immediately, the mermaids move in unison, causing water to swell and swallow the bridge, forming a 2-meter tall wall of coursing floodwater over it!
Kaori has received initiative.

Danjuro:
"Woo, would you look at that!"

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
excuse me that's our word

Hyperactive Wolfwoman:
or 3/4ths of it anyway

Kaori:
"Well this is annoying...!" She decides to blast both mermaids with Mazio! 24 @Briny 24 @ Salty
Kaori: (( Ness: OKAY?! ))

Danjuro:
"Think you can freeze us a wall, chief?"

Takara:
"Hmm...Well, maybe. I could only do it once, though..."

Briney Mermaid:
You hit both of the merms

Kaori:
7 @Briny 5 @ Salty And it's lightning damage so I assume that effects something since they're covered in water/in water

Takara:
"And if I DO, I can't use that against an enemy. It takes a lot of concentration to cast that spell..."

Danjuro:
"Ha, maybe don't worry about it, Kaori's on a roll!"

Briney Mermaid:
The lightning arcs between the mermaids, frying a ton of fish and causing both of them to take the heavier set of damage!

Briney Mermaid:
The only downside to this is that now sparks of electricity arc around in the water over the bridge, as well

Briney Mermaid:
The mermaids look pretty wary about approaching that, and back off a bit, inching closer to the shore instead

Briney Mermaid:
The first mermaid, not wanting to approach the bridge, sings a siren song, pointing its melody at...

Briney Mermaid:
1 1 tak, 2 Dan, 3 Kaori

Briney Mermaid:
17 vs Will

Takara:
Takara is enraptured by the song, and he sways back and forth under its allure. He starts to move slowly toward the water, his eyes...well actually his eyes are pretty much the same as before but you can tell there's something different going on

Salty Mermaid:
The other mermaid does a strange dance, sending a whip of water at DAnjuro!

Salty Mermaid:
10 vs Reflex

Danjuro:
"Whoooaaa, nah-uh, where do you think you're going, chief?" Dan raises up his arm to guard the incoming attacku

Danjuro:
at's a dodgin
Danjuro: (( Can I get in his way and act as blocking terrain? ))
Danjuro: (( T-pose to assert dominance etc ))

Salty Mermaid:
Whose way?
Kaori: (( Grapple him ))
Danjuro has received initiative.
Danjuro: (( Takara ))
Kaori: (( Do what you do best. ))
Danjuro: (( Grappling is too much of an action economy hit ))
Danjuro: (( I can body block and do a ranged attack ))

Salty Mermaid:
You can try to, but I mean, he can probably walk around you
Danjuro: (( Yea but ))
Danjuro: (( AoO (smirk) ))

Salty Mermaid:
It won't cost any actions to aggressively t-pose anyway

Salty Mermaid:
You can AoO yeah lol

Danjuro:
13 Bat toss! @ Briney

Briney Mermaid:
That hits!

Danjuro:
8 hitto

Briney Mermaid:
That ALSO hits
Danjuro: (( and that's it for the turn ))

Briney Mermaid:
The bat CLONKS her on the head, and she spirals into the water, gurgling
Danjuro: (( that's turn ofc ))

Takara:
Takara snaps out of his trance, just before he bumps into Danjuro, "Ugh... What was going on...?"

Demonic Wolf:
The wolf is worried now, and howls

Danjuro:
"She sang a song and you went all walking dead on us! Lucky it wore off so easy..."

Demonic Wolf:
....which is met by another, from off in the distance
Kaori has received initiative.

Kaori:
Mazio! 23 @ Wolf 25 @ Salty
Kaori: (( Crits are max damage right? ))

Danjuro:
you're using up all your luck forever right now you know that right
Kaori: (( I know :( ))

Salty Mermaid:
Crits are max

Kaori:
10 @ Wolf 10 @ Salty
Kaori: (( Yatta ))

Salty Mermaid:
damm

Salty Mermaid:
Both drop, lightning coursing through their veins!

Danjuro:
is the water continuing to flow over the bridge with both of them KO'd?

Kaori:
"I'm not messing around!" Kaori exclaims as she strikes a victory pose and the victory theme plays.
Phatthrice:
It slows down, and eventually stops flowing altogether

Danjuro:
"Ha, that was nuts!"
Phatthrice:
The bridge is still wet, though, and sparking
Phatthrice:
But you got shoes on ull be fine

Wolfman:
Another wolfman BURSTS OUTTA THE FOREST!

Wolfman:
And then sees the carnage you have wrought

Wolfman:
and BURSTS BACK INTO THE FOREST

Danjuro:
Danjuro stabs at the bridge with his WOODEN bat to see about discharging/grounding the last of the electricity before they all cross

Kaori:
"Ehehe, guess I didn't think about that but...I took care of those guys at least..."

Danjuro:
"The two of ya are doing great."
Phatthrice:
The way forward is clear, for the most part now

Danjuro:
"Seriously, you'd think you've been flinging lightning around your whole life. You don't moonlight as a mad scientist, do you?"

Kaori:
"Ehehe, I guess it's just kinda...natural? I dunno. I just sorta 'feel' it out, I guess? Like, I want to zap the things that are hurting my friends, so I guess my Persona just sorta knows what to do from there."
Phatthrice:
The trail's clear, but something's not...right. You can't pinpoint it, but it feels like you're bein' watched

Global Effects:
:eye: :eye:

Danjuro:
"The air here feels heavy..."

Kaori:
"Nyuh? The air in this whole place feels heavy..I think that's just sorta how this world is..first time we were here I could hardly breathe."

Danjuro:
"Yeah. It's pretty unpleasant..."
Phatthrice:
You follow the path, still feeling those eyes. But...nothing happens, and the forest opens up, revealing a cobblestone pathway leading up to a modern-looking building

Danjuro:
"Just trying to look around and imagine what parts of this place are meant to represent the school. You think we're out by the track right now?"

Kaori:
"Dunno. It's hard to keep my head straight in this place...it doesn't look anything like the school at all." She shrugs and continues looking around.
Phatthrice:
It looks like it...could be a greenhouse of some sort? Or maybe a shop? Either way, it's open. The inside is lined with crates of vegetables and supplies
Phatthrice:
sombreromon is not actually there

Danjuro:
that's a shame

Danjuro:
"I dunno, like you were saying, every living thing we see is a 'person' - every place we see's gotta mean something too."

Kaori:
"Well, I think we can safely assume this is definitely Maeda-senpai's world if anything...Ayumu-chan wouldn't make herself a servant girl in her own world...she'd be some stuck-up princess or something..."

Danjuro:
"All these crates... izzit a library? Filing cabinets... an office?"

Lethe:
"Maybe a storage shed...? Does your school have one of those?"

Lethe:
They do not store cats so I would not know

Danjuro:
"Hey, Lethe, any 'Alice in Wonderland' shit gonna go down if I eat the food here?"

Lethe:
"Uuhhh....I-I don't think so? What are you planning to eat??"

Danjuro:
"I dunno, just getting a bit peckish is all..." how about uhhh, he'll snatch a carrot or something, rub the dirt off

Kaori:
"I have like...snacks on me if you were hungry.."

Kaori:
"Beats eating weird shadow world stuff..."

Danjuro:
"Or does it?"

Lethe:
"Probably!"

Kaori:
Kaori scans the area to see if there's anyone or anything in here.

Kaori:
20

Lethe:
"Look, you can't just go ---" The feeling of being watched is back, and right after that, you hear the shattering of a window, and a WHOOSH of wind and flame, scorching the windowsill.
Tokens dropped onto map 'Down On The Farm' by player Agi (Player)
Phatthrice:
A red-eyed woman surrounded in flames appears in the window, as another one busts out, a long, centipede-like appendage crawling through it

Chef Excellence:
you dick
Phatthrice:
yea
Tokens dropped onto map 'Down On The Farm' by player Agi (Player)

Fisherman:
tell me where the freaks at
Tokens dropped onto map 'Down On The Farm' by player Agi (Player)
Tokens dropped onto map 'Down On The Farm' by player Agi (Player)

Dark Sorceress:
"Hey, hey! You breaking into our shop?? That's just rude! And stalking through the forest, too? Don't you know this is private property?!"
Fisherman: (( oh that one was canon ))

Servile Insect:
They are both canon

Danjuro:
"The sign said 'open'!"

Servile Insect:
The centipede-like creature slithers up the windowsill into the room, "Open for US! Not for you!"

Servile Insect:
"Your kind isn't allowed in here!"

Danjuro:
"Not even for a snack?"

Servile Insect:
"Oooh...that's a good idea!"

Servile Insect:
"Now what to serve you with..."

Kaori:
"Gah, these things keep getting in our way...!"

Dark Sorceress:
The sorceress blasts the ceiling with a fireball, setting it alight! "Hahaha! You're damn right! It's the Queen's orders!"

Kaori:
"We should get out of here...!" We'd be fighting at a disadvantage with all that above us!"

Dark Sorceress:
"Running away?! That's just cowardly!"

Dark Sorceress:
11

Servile Insect:
6

Danjuro:
19

Servile Insect:
and we are just slow

Kaori:
5
Kaori: (( I see. ))
Danjuro: (( how's that Improved Initiative treating you? ))

Takara:
13
Kaori: (( It's not, at all. ))
Danjuro: (( Gonna guess climbing up here is at least Slow/Difficult terrain ))
Danjuro: (( Will roll if needed? But otherwise it's time to smacc ))

Takara:
That's definitely slow
Danjuro has received initiative.

Danjuro:
13 At-Will power: Grappling Strike!

Servile Insect:
You grab her! She's still climbing halfway out the window, so you have combat advantage there

Danjuro:
6 Danjuro pins her arm against the wall, halting her efforts to clamber out!

Danjuro:
"We still got plenty of exits!"

Servile Insect:
You pin her, but the legs on her arms(yea) grab into your skin, dealing 6 damage to you!

Danjuro:
Danjuro loses 6 hit points.

Takara:
"Well, if I can fight fire with ice..."

Danjuro:
oh no! My greatest strength is my greatest weakness!

Takara:
6

Takara:
oh no i cannot

Dark Sorceress:
The sorceress waves her hand, creating a wall of flame in front of her to melt the bolt of ice! "Wow you really thought that would work huh?"

Dark Sorceress:
"Here, let me show you how to really weave magic!"

Dark Sorceress:
11

Dark Sorceress:
She BLASTS the area around Takara, and while he manages to partially dodge it, it still engulfs him in flames!

Dark Sorceress:
9 Half of this, and the area around Takara is on fire!

Takara:
"Agh! Damn it...Are you trying to burn this whole place down?!"

Dark Sorceress:
"We can rebuild this place, you can't rebuild your souls! Seems like a good plan to me!"

Servile Insect:
The insect girl doesn't bother trying to escape, and wraps her long, centipedey arms around Danjuro!

Servile Insect:
22 vs Fort

Danjuro:
that uh, definitely hits!

Servile Insect:
The many-legged arms grip into Danjuro, constricting him, squeezing the breath out of his lungs!

Danjuro:
"Whoof!"

Servile Insect:
11 And YOU, my friend, are Grappled, and any time you fail a check to escape, you'll take more damage as the legarms bite into you

Danjuro:
Danjuro loses 11 hit points.
Kaori has received initiative.

Kaori:
"Danpachi-san!" Kaori casts Kouha on the bug girl! 6

Servile Insect:
"Ahahahaha! I'll squeeze the life out of you until you die of heatstroke or I crush you to death!"
Ci Tsukino is disconnected.
Ci Tsukino has connected.

Danjuro:
"Kssh... yeah, alright, looking pretty bad here. . .!"

Kaori:
Kaori stomps her feet and pouts, "T-...there's too much going on...! I can't focus...!"
Danjuro has received initiative.
Kaori: (( So like ))
Danjuro: (( I can jump my ass up about 50% HP ))
Kaori: (( Will it specifically say if shit happens even if you miss? ))
Danjuro: (( it will ))
Kaori: (( I see. . . ))
Kaori: (( Then carry on :V ))
Servile Insect: (( I think so? At-wills don't usually have miss efffs ))
Danjuro: (( So I get a +2 to grab ATTACKS specifically, I don't believe that includes efforts to break a grab... ))
Servile Insect: (( You'd wanna use an encounter or daily power for that ))
Servile Insect: (( And no that wouldn't apply ))
Danjuro: (( uh, just gonna smack then. ))

Dark Sorceress:
"Awww, the poor little baby girl can't FOCUS? Well, we'll seee if I can do anything about that, hahahaha!"

Danjuro:
17 Steel Serpent STRIKE

Danjuro:
10 and the target is slowed and cannot shift until end of your next turn.

Danjuro:
Minor action: Unstoppable Fighter! 8 HP pls

Danjuro:
Danjuro is healed and gains 8 hit points.

Servile Insect:
"Ow! You bastard! I'll kill you!"

Servile Insect:
"My friends are gonna DEVOUR you! Oooh, I should use the fire ants...."

Takara:
"No more fire! Ant, or not!"

Danjuro:
"Please do not use the fire ants!!"

Takara:
Takara looks around him, "Gh...I don't think I can justify getting outta here... I'll just... Try again..." 21

Takara:
11

Dark Sorceress:
This time, the bolt of ice pierces the fire shield, hitting its mark on the sorceress, "Agh! Hey, so you do have a little fight in you, new kid! And here I thought you were just some spineless dweeb!"

Servile Insect:
"Oooh, I can arrange that...."

Takara:
"Gh...Hey! Danjuro, Kaori, bunch them up! They're too far apart for my best spells to work right..."

Danjuro:
"I can't shake this one!"

Dark Sorceress:
"Oh, honey, that's not happening." The sorceress bursts into flame, shooting downdrafts at the floor to fly into the air! "Aaaahahaha! You know, Kaori, if you'd just accepted her, the Queen could have gifted you the same prowess as us..."

Dark Sorceress:
She's flying up in the air now, exuding an aura of fire which I cannot figure out how to work so ull just have to deal for nowdon't get close to her

Dark Sorceress:
She turns a hand toward Kaori, "Here, let me demonstrate a little!" 26

Dark Sorceress:
oh

Danjuro:
hm
Kaori: (( Fuck off. ))

Dark Sorceress:
thankfully this isn't a powerful attac

Dark Sorceress:
c

Dark Sorceress:
12 relatively

Kaori:
"Kyah!"
Kaori: (( Almost bloodied me in one q8^) ))

Dark Sorceress:
She enacts her scorched earth policy, charring the area around Kaori, turning the wooden floor to cinders! You'll have to step carefully...
Kaori: (( The fuck do every single one of these enemies have insane terrain altering attacks :V ))
Danjuro: (( It's been her both times ))
Danjuro: (( she a hoe ))

Takara:
I have them too but it ain't great if I can only hit one thing

Servile Insect:
The insect woman eyes the charcoal floor, her many, MANY eyes glinting with malevolent glee, "Oooh, that gives me an idea...."

Danjuro:
no ideas!!

Servile Insect:
The arms wrapped around Danjuro twist and coil, constricting tighter, building up tension and potential energy....

Servile Insect:
20

Servile Insect:
and then she YEETS YOUR ASS AT KAORI

Servile Insect:
So you HIT, but one of you is gonna wanna roll - either Athletics for Kaori to diminish the impact, or Acrobatics for Danjuro to land more gracefully

Servile Insect:
Otherwise, you're gonna go crashing straight into that charred floor, caving it in

Danjuro:
either way not great...

Danjuro:
my rolls have been middling, MT's, polarizing
Kaori: (( And I have no modifier for athletics ))
Kaori: (( Despite being the athlete :V ))
Danjuro: (( I've got +1 for acro I guess. ))

Danjuro:
"Whooa!" 5

Kaori:
3
Kaori: (( Christ almighty ))

Servile Insect:
Reborn into another world but my die is cursed?!

Servile Insect:
"Yeeeheheheeeee!" Danjuro goes CAREENING into Kaori from the upper level, becoming the baseball he so admires! You both take 9 damage, and the burnt-out floor collapses around you! You fall a half dozen feet through the ashen remains until you hit the cinderblock foundation!

Danjuro:
Danjuro loses 9 hit points.

Takara:
"Whoa?! A-are you two alive? I-I mean alright?? Shit, who are these people..."
Kaori: (( Which state is that one again? ))

Dark Sorceress:
"Oh, this is gonna be fun... I've got my own little oven to fire up!"

Dark Sorceress:
4 injuries
Danjuro: (( Injury4, should rly just be updated to Bloodied tho ))
Kaori has received initiative.

Danjuro:
no! You may NOT move.

Servile Insect:
The fire ants begin to crawl out from under her dress, forming a line that slowly inches toward the pit...

Danjuro:
They're gonna have 5 more feet to walk!

Danjuro:
"Agh... you alright? Sorry about that."

Kaori:
"N-...not really...this sucks...why are these stupid things so strong...?"

Servile Insect:
"Ya know...I've been wonderin', if we catch these three, do we even hafta answer to the queen anymore?? We could be in for a serious promotion, ahyayaya!"

Servile Insect:
"It always did feel wrong calling someone else a 'Queen!' What hive does SHE rule, huh??"

Kaori:
I use Beacon of Hope, 3 burst and we regen 5HP and get +5 to heals for the rest of the encounter.

Dark Sorceress:
"Hey hey, that's traitor talk! Right now, anyway, hehehe...."
Kaori: (( I'm still very bloodied. ))

Dark Sorceress:
You can also slap on a healing word

Dark Sorceress:
since it's a minor action

Danjuro:
"I don't know... figured we'd be FINE, three on two, but.."
Kaori: (( Yeah, I'll do that on myself then. How much is a healign surge ))
Dark Sorceress: (( quarter of your HP ))
Dark Sorceress: (( also subtracts from your total healing surges per day IIRC ))

Danjuro:
Danjuro is healed and gains 5 hit points.
Dark Sorceress: (( which honestly probably won't matter lol ))
Dark Sorceress: (( Plus five, due to the thing you just used ))

Kaori:
18
Kaori: (( Back to full, bby ))
Dark Sorceress: (( yea ))
Danjuro: (( uh, wew ))
Dark Sorceress: (( They do a lotta dammaj but yall got heals lol ))
Kaori: (( Don't worry, only took one and a half attacks to get me down to that :V ))
Dark Sorceress: (( you may as well pop Bless too ))
Dark Sorceress: (( it's also a minor, and if you ain't planning to move you get two ))
Danjuro: (( weave those oGCDs ))

Dark Sorceress:
(you can only use healing word once a round, even if it's a 2/encounter power)
Kaori: (( Yeah, might as well. Y'all get +1 to attack rolls :V ))
Danjuro has received initiative.

Danjuro:
"C'mon, out of the pit before the other one fills it with fire!"

Danjuro:
Danjuro moves to help Kaori outta

Dark Sorceress:
"Oh, nah, you can just stay riiiiight there, actually! Don'cha feel chilly?"

Danjuro:
gonna Second Wind, does that benefit from the +5

Lethe:
No, it only affects KAori's healing powers

Danjuro:
Danjuro is healed and gains 10 hit points.

Danjuro:
this is fine, mostly

Lethe:
"These two aren't small fry... You guys have gotta pull it together!"

Dark Sorceress:
"I was thinking of having a BIG fry!"

Danjuro:
thanks, OWL

Danjuro:
what do you even bring to this party, OWL

Lethe:
I keep a stern eye out for cats

Lethe:
There are none in this room

Danjuro:
what would we do without you, OWL

Takara:
"Not helpful, Lethe!"

Takara:
So what are you doing to get out exactly

Danjuro:
all I have are my MUSCLES

Takara:
not even a gun smh
Kaori: (( My Persona has two ))

Danjuro:
I'll cup my hands and give her a lift

Takara:
You got a bat

Takara:
just knock her outta the park

Takara:
Well, if she's up for that, and is willing to put her skirt-wearin ass directly above your head, you can probably accomplish that without much effort

Takara:
Getting out yourself will be tougher though
Kaori: (( Yeah I'll climb out. ))

Takara:
You gonna try getting out yourself kid
Danjuro: (( well yea. ))
Takara: (( It's Athletics to climb out, but it's kinda difficult because of how fragile the charred wood is ))

Takara:
my mouse keeps fukkn up

Danjuro:
stop that

Takara:
mm

Danjuro:
how the fumnk is Athletics not one of my trained skills?

Danjuro:
oh it is.

Takara:
Anyway it's a DC15 check

Danjuro:
13

Danjuro:
+1 from Bless :)

Takara:
You manage to scramble out, but grab ahole of a burning cinder at the last second, charring your hand and dealing 7 damage to you

Danjuro:
Danjuro loses 7 hit points.

Danjuro:
"Khhhh, ahhnnngh..." had just bouttanuffa this shit

Dark Sorceress:
You still got a minor ac--oh no you used ur second wind

Danjuro:
yeh

Dark Sorceress:
"Awwww, you got out?? Well, that's fine..."

Dark Sorceress:
She floats over, leaving a burning trail in her wake, and STILL blasts the shit out of the firehole, "BACKBLAST!!" 20

Dark Sorceress:
The whole thing erupts into flame, sending a wave of scorching pressurized air blasting out from the makeshift furnace, dealing 15 damage to both of you, 11 to Takara, and knocking you into the far wall!

Danjuro:
Danjuro loses 15 hit points.
Kaori: (( "Hey don't worry, you got heals, also these enemies do 30 damage per hit :V ))
Danjuro: (( No, no, be fair ))

Dark Sorceress:
But with that huge expenditure of power, her flames drop from a blazing phoenix to faint embers, and she falls out of the air onto a crate! "Aaaahhh...."
Danjuro: (( 41 damage ))

Takara:
Huh I forgot to exist temporarily, damn distracting owll

Kaori:
"Grrr...! This is really, REALLY annoying!"

Danjuro:
https://youtu.be/vBgKKPPsZ9U

Dark Sorceress:
"Haaaahh..y-you're tellin' me...I'm all burnt out.... G-give me a minute here...."

Danjuro:
hey isn't she where the ANTS are

Dark Sorceress:
She is but the ants are not trained to EAT fire, just produce it

Dark Sorceress:
arson ants if you will

Servile Insect:
"Well! Those two are practically dead on their feet, so...time to join 'em, wiz kid!" She directs the fire ants into the fire, toward Takara. They might not eat it, but they ARE pretty resistant to it. She commands 'em to attack! 24

Servile Insect:
that was too close for comfort

Servile Insect:
5 And ongoing 3 Fire damage!

Takara:
Wait he still hasn't acted, we'll just say he was waiting for them to bunch up I guess

Takara:
But they did not really....

Takara:
But apparently they're close enough I guess? Fucking Burst 2

Takara:
They might have ALWAYS been close enough for this it's fucking huge

Danjuro:
yea but you still gotta roll

Danjuro:
dumpass

Takara:
10 Well it's a daily so it does SOMETHING even though it's boutta miss

Danjuro:
;

Takara:
13 Half of this....

Dark Sorceress:
"Agh! You're gonna...attack a girl while she's down like that...? Despicable! I'll burn you alive!"
Kaori has received initiative.
Phatthrice:
It DOES do some extra stuff at the start of their turn so it's not entirely wasted

Takara:
"K-keep them in there!"

Takara:
however probably prioritizxe not dying

Dark Sorceress:
They're both looking ragged, especially the sorceress

Servile Insect:
"Oooghf...H-hey! You should totally surrender, you know! W-we gotcha on the ropes! And we're gonna hang ya with 'em!"

Kaori:
Mazio! 21 @Insect 20 @ Sorceress

Servile Insect:
Those both hit!

Danjuro:
how's the uh

Servile Insect:
It is still burning.

Danjuro:
the ceiling/building-on-fire situation yeah.

Danjuro:
okay.

Kaori:
5 @ Insect 9 @ Sorceress

Kaori:
"I've had enough of this!"

Servile Insect:
"Oohhh...Y-yea...me too..."
Danjuro has received initiative.

Dark Sorceress:
"Agggh...i-if I could...just move a finger, I'd...blast ya to cinders..."

Danjuro:
my only useful move takes me straight to ant country

Danjuro:
unless they died from the AoE? One can hope?

Dark Sorceress:
The ants are frozen, but volatile

Dark Sorceress:
You're gonna need an Acro save to avoid steppin on any of em and settin' em off, my kid

Danjuro:
oof

Dark Sorceress:
also hold up

Dark Sorceress:
Kaori's was the last turn, and she didn't use a minor action - she can use Healing Word if she wants lol

Dark Sorceress:
She's only used it once so far this encounter I think
Kaori: (( Oh, yeah, I can. I'll use it on Dandan assuming he can gut these bitches this turn :V ))

Danjuro:
I can gut one (1) bitch
Kaori: (( So he can spend a healing surge and gets an additional 1d6 and also my +5 right? ))
Dark Sorceress: (( Yep ))

Danjuro:
17

Danjuro:
wew

Dark Sorceress:
she's completely defenseless all you needed was a 5 lmao

Danjuro:
Danjuro is healed and gains 17 hit points.

Danjuro:
that was for HP

Dark Sorceress:
Oh okay

Dark Sorceress:
well now you need a 10 smartass

Dark Sorceress:
now I'm just jokin

Danjuro:
Threatening Rush! 19 Just gotta not nat 1

Dark Sorceress:
-w

Dark Sorceress:
Well u definitely hit her

Dark Sorceress:
splayed as she is on the crate/counter

Danjuro:
9

Danjuro:
2 Also: Antcro check

Danjuro:
hhhh

Dark Sorceress:
You beat the shit out of her with your bat for 16 straight minutes, and she falls off the counter, totally defeated! "a-agh....A-alright, I-I surrender! Jus' - jus' hold up! I'll tell you whatever you wanna hear!! Just don't bash my head in I need thatt!"

Dark Sorceress:
oh they blow up on your ass alright

Dark Sorceress:
The ants snap and crackle, but mostly POP as you stumble onto their frozen corpses, like one of those cheap snappers but M80 grade! You take 12 damage!

Dark Sorceress:
i did not rig that my son

Danjuro:
Danjuro loses 12 hit points.

Danjuro:
if this were PTU I'd probably have about 5 injuries by now

Dark Sorceress:
instead uf have stepped on ance

Takara:
"Alright... That's one taken care of, but..." Takara has no choice but to step through the fire if he's gonna properly hit the insect binch, so he just takes it to the face

Takara:
14

Takara:
15 right

Takara:
That uh actaully really mattered lmao

Takara:
Bless u for Bless kaori 9 "This is enough..."

Servile Insect:
"Hah...n-not yet, it ain't...!" But just as she says that, she drops to the floor, shivering, the whirling blizzard having finally gotten the better of her

Servile Insect:
Yay start of turn effects

Servile Insect:
"Ssssshhhhhhh...." Her cold-blooded insect body can't take it anymore, "T-the queen's gonna k-k-k-kill us..."

Servile Insect:
kaori: NOT IF I DO IT FIRST

Danjuro:
stiiill on fire, huh.

Servile Insect:
Oh it is
Phatthrice:
Takara's ice magic is alleviating that somewhat, but...

Danjuro:
right well we established them dying would be a bad thing

Dark Sorceress:
by virtue of one of them being a cutie?

Danjuro:
Danjuro scoops the sorceress up onto his shoulder. "No chance you can DISPEL this, is there?"

Dark Sorceress:
"H-huh?? Who are YOU to talk to--..." She seems to remember she's kinda helpless right now, "Uhhh...i-if you promise not to tell the Queen! O-or...th-- Uh, anyway, yeah... But I still can't move, so give me a minute..."

Kaori:
"Grr, I'm real confused here. Lethe, what's the deal with these ones? Are they all linked to the real person, or just whoever's running this?"

Danjuro:
"Don't you think a minute's too long?? Any of your legs work up there, bugface?"

Lethe:
"I don't know...these Shadows DO seem a lot more...personable than most of the ones I remember."

Lethe:
"If I'm right, and the connection between this world and the real world is getting blurred, then maybe even the minor Shadows here are developing some connection to the real world..."

Servile Insect:
"....not mine...." From under her dress, another colony of ants, blue this time!, crawls out, skittering around perfectly on the ice, carrying her limp body down the ramp

Lethe:
"She even called you by name a couple of times. There has to be something more going on here..."

Danjuro:
"Alright, everyone out, then!"

Lethe:
owl

Danjuro:
owl!

Kaori:
"Ughhh...I'm super beat...but it doesn't feel like we got anywhere..." She stretches once they get out side, "I still feel like I've got like a billion pounds of weight on my shoulders or something..."

Dark Sorceress:
"Ahahaha...heat exhaustion...don't it feel great?! Like that feelin' after a good workout..."

Dark Sorceress:
"R-right...speaking of..." She slowly crunches herself to an upright sitting position, and holds her hands out toward the burning building. Slowly, the fires begin to trail back toward her, absorbed into her palms. She seems a little reinvigorated... "Hahaha!! I feel so much better now!! ...ugh...but I'd still probably lose again..."

Danjuro:
"Overdid it a bit at the end there..."

Dark Sorceress:
"...like you're one to talk." The scorcher looks around the open plaza area, then hangs her head, "...I did say I'd help you out...You wanna know where the Queen is, don't ya?"

Dark Sorceress:
"Don't get me wrong - ya don't stand a chance in hell against her, but hey - gets you outta my hair..."
Danjuro: (( Feel like rolling Insight on either of these? ))
Kaori: (( Sure why not ))

Kaori:
24

Danjuro:
"Yeah. Sure. Might as well orient ourselves here."

Dark Sorceress:
The Sorceress fully believes you have no chance against the Fire Queen, and she knows her fire. She is, however, being grudgingly truthful in upholding her promise - but she's also pretty sure that sending you to the Queen will kind of act to make up for her loss

Dark Sorceress:
She's so sure the Queen will just torch you anyway that she'll treat it like being offered you on a silver platter
Kaori: (( Okay but like, does she look like a girl at school or something? :V ))

Dark Sorceress:
She might look a bit like someone from the girls' soccer team, but, well, the skin color, eye color, AND hair color are all off. Really all you have to go on is the hairstyle and that she really likes fire.

Dark Sorceress:
You don't know of any arsonists at school. This does not mean there are not any.

Kaori:
"She kinda looks like Mami-chan from the soccer team..." Kaori ponders this for a moment, "Alright, well at least we know where find this 'queen'..."

Danjuro:
"Well, 'grats. You put up a hell of a fight, and managed to not die to your own fire. You're welcome. You giving us a head start to find a place to catch our breath, or should we be looking over our shoulders from now on?"

Dark Sorceress:
"Hahaha...like I could chase you right now even if I wanted to! Nah, our job's done..I guess..."
Phatthrice:
We should probably end it off here and pick up next time with yall chasing after the queen

Danjuro:
yea. .

Danjuro:
Find somewhere to take a quick rest

Danjuro:
if not an extended one

Dark Sorceress:
drag the portable campfire along

Kaori:
Yeah I'm dying and out of heals :V

Dark Sorceress:
well healing word refreshes each encounter lol