Grasp Your Destiny

[Tengu_temp]

The branch gets stuck in the mist! Because it's not mist at all - thin, yet very durable strands of spiderweb are stretched between the trees, almost invisible in the fog and only changing its appearance slightly, until one looks closely. They don't form a complete net and it should be possible to maneuver between them, albeit that'd require caution...

Whatever spinned those webs remains invisible.

[inirlan]

With a swift movement Nagusa jumps of his horse and readies his shield and sword. With a simple mental impulse he activates the essence sight function of his armor, drawing the two motes from the internal reservoir of his armor, before activating the data analysis program integrated in the armor(the +2 awareness boost for 1 mote/minute). First Nagusa begins with a 360° sweep of the surroundings for any trace of essence before concentrating on any traces he found. If he doesn't find any he tries to determine the extent of the spider webs.

Spoiler

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Awareness + Perception + Armor Bonus
(8d10)[4][9][10][5][7][5][2][10](52)
Eventual Stunt dices
(3d10)[7][7][9](23)

[Tableface]

Nonamé parks his swift rider near the entrance to the webbed section of forest, and draws Grassfire. His tongue pokes against the inside of his cheek as he sizes up the density of the webbing, trying to determine if he'll need to pack up his ride to make it through.

"Better go through," he remarks flatly. "Either it's nothing or it's something, and if it's something better we deal with it than leave it for someone else."

[Tengu_temp]

Nagusa doesn't detect any traces of essence around... But he notices something else instead! A large shape is skittering in the treetops above you, barely making any sounds, and it is getting close to the place where Gregorias is standing! It's hidden and you can't see what it is exactly, but it doesn't seem to be humanoid, and several others, deeper in the web-covered area, are following.

You have only a moment to react!

(Nagusa restores 2 motes.)

[Terraoblivion]

After studying the area, Miko turns her head to look at Gihren, a slightly annoyed expression on her face though it doesn't extend to her voice. "I'm sorry, Gihren. I don't know what it is. However, it is not related to any spirits, there are no dematerialized beings anywhere around here." However, before she can say anything more Nagusa springs in action and starts moving closer to the patch of oddly colored mist.

Not wanting to wait until something tried attacking him, she concentrated for a brief moment as a wondrous naginata appears in her hand. Looking more like a showpiece, waves of green snake along its black, wooden shaft towards the massive, filigreed golden blade. Leaving no time, she jumped from her horse and moved towards where Nagusa was standing, looking out for anything that might come from ahead.

[inirlan]

As he spots the shapes moving around them he puts his sword in his left hand and signals the direction of the things he detected with a simple hand gesture, before taking a throwing knife from it's sheath, and slashing in the webs in a way to get a good amount of webbing on the blade without it getting stuck or unthrowable, while using the dragongraced weapon charm to make the sticky webbing burn. Then he throws the knife covered in sitcking fire, in hope of gluing a flamming beacon on one of the shapes to make detection easier for his companions. However since his lack of skill at throwing it would probably only briefly illuminate the creature instead, giving them a clear view of their foe.

Spoiler

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Dexterity + Throwing
(3d10)[10][7][1](18)
Stunt Dice
(3d10)[7][4][7](18)

[Tengu_temp]

The flames on Nagusa's dagger burst when it hits the shape skulking among the treetops - it falls down and crashes to the ground, right next to Gregorias. It's a giant spider, a bit larger than a human, its long legs and carapace covered in brown and yellow fur, forming arrow-shaped patterns. This particular spider isn't moving, the knife stuck right into the middle of its charred head, but three others, which drop to the ground nearby, are! And there seems to be at least one more in the treetops...

Spoiler

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Everyone, roll Join Battle. The spiders move at Tick 3 - you can post your action already if you move faster, or at the same time.
Nagusa will move again at Tick 8.

EDIT: Nagusa's attack was a 2-die stunt, but since he's at max Willpower he's getting motes by default.

[Tableface]

Nonamé's head jerks to the treetops, towards the one spider still skulking. A tight grin crosses his face as an idea enters his head.

(Wits + Awareness)
(7d10)[1][8][9][8][7][2][10](45)

[Terraoblivion]

Miko had anticipated the spiders and so she pushed off from the ground the moment they came into sight. She spun her naginata once readying its angle to point against the spiders in a single fluent motion as she propelled herself towards them. Not even a flicker of an expression went across her face as she sprang into action, seemingly unaffected by the danger she was jumping into.

Spoiler

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Join Battle: (4d10)[1][1][2][3](7)
Stunt (hah, as if): (3d10)[3][1][3](7)

[kamikasei]

Gihren springs in to action as his horse passes a tree near the path. Swinging himself half out of the saddle, his legs brace against the trunk while one hand goes to the hilt of his daiklave. Pivoting on the other hand placed on his saddle, cloak catching the burst of motion, he takes on the aspect of a winged creature stooping on prey for a pregnant moment before his legs flex and propel him towards a pair of the spider-creatures. There's a flash of gold that halos him as he lands, poised, blade held as if ready to begin a duel, cloak only hesitantly settling about him, slightly past his targets.

Spoiler

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Attacking two of the spider-things.
(14d10)[5][3][5][9][2][6][1][4][3][4][7][5][5][9](68)
(13d10)[7][10][5][10][10][6][6][8][10][8][1][5][2](88)
Damage is +10L (over successes).
And for stunts: (3d10)[5][4][2](11)

-2 DV until tick 8 when Gihren can act again.

[Tableface]

The Abacus calmly holsters his plasma tongue repeater, eyes fixed on the spider lurking above. Hardly the worst thing he's fought. Hardly worth wasting a pellet on. Hardly worth the minor risk of being at fault for a forest fire.

Nonamé rises up out of his saddle, bracing himself, and pulls back his left arm, fingers flexing tightly beneath the leather of his gloves. The grin vanishes from his face, drawing into an unpleasant grimace, and the Corona dips at the nose before suddenly rocketing into the treetops. With a triumphant roar he swings his empty fist upwards towards the creature, blasting high above the ground.

(Blowing 1 mote to make the Swift Rider go up)
(Bare Punch, Dexterity + Martial Arts +1, -1 Acc +3 Dam Fierce Attack)
(10d10)[4][8][3][5][7][7][7][9][10][6](66)

[Tengu_temp]

Nonamé's fist slams into the spider, pushing it off the branch it was sitting on - before hitting the ground it manages to latch itself onto the wide trunk of a nearby tree, however.
He also notices that there are two more spiders among the treetops, further away but coming your way!

(2 bashing damage to the spider, one die stunt.)

[inirlan]

Drawing five more motes from the internal battery of his armor, the servomuscles begin to get into full operation and the essence field of the armor takes over the functions of the slugish mortal nerve system of the dragon-blooded. In a blurry flash of red Nagusa steps on the dead spider and uses the bonus elevation from the spider to step on a low branch and going in a squat position for the fraction of a second uses his full force to push against the branch, using it's elasticity to increase the force of the leap and send him higher. However this jump does not directly send him to the spiders but sends him against the trunk of a tree, and the same time he impacts against the tree he strikes against the trunk with both his legs in a stunt that would probably have shattered his shin if he hadn't his armor, and jumped in an arc giving him a clean shot at one, possibly two of the spiders, slashing at them as if it was all one movement. After completing his run however the young dragon-blooded simply falls torwards the ground at a great velocity and the only thing he can do is to brace himself against the impact, be it against a tree, the ground, or a poor deer that happened to be there, realizing to late that he forgot to plan the landing.

"Oops..."

Spoiler

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I use the velocity magnifier engine to make a three action magical flurry with no penalty.
First daiklave strike
(11d10)[7][10][9][10][3][6][2][7][1][2][9](66)
(3d10)[7][7][3](17)
Second daiklave strike
(11d10)[3][10][2][6][8][1][4][10][10][10][3](67)
(3d10)[3][3][7](13)

[Tengu_temp]

(It's not your turn yet - you'll move again in Tick 8. Wait for everyone else to do their actions before that.)

[inirlan]

(Ah sorry, I forgot that.)

[Iry]

Gregorias seems to become perfectly still as he watches the spider fall from the tree-tops in slow motion. A moment passes, and another after that, and finally Gregorias springs into motion! The shimmering blur that is the solar charges right up the presumed corpse of the spider and places one firm foot upon it's head. With a monumental shove, he sends himself sailing up and through the air away from the mist until he reaches a overhanging tree branch and swings once, twice, thrice to catapult himself even further up into the dense foliage overhead! With the grace of the gods, he lands lithely upon a much higher branch and obscures himself from his foes. Gregorias may be many things but the one thing he most definitely is not is the type of fighter who stands tall before his enemies and strikes them down with righteous fury.

Spoiler

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Committing 3 Motes to Graceful Crane Stance.
(14d10)[7][5][7][5][5][2][9][3][8][1][8][2][5][10](77) Re-establishing Surprise.
(3d10)[4][9][4](17) Stunts.

[Fri]

Fu jumps from his horse and pulls the cloth-wrapped thing that's hung behind his back.

In one fluid motion, the cloth-wrapping is completely undone, showing his inticrately designed artifact bow as he flew through the air.

"Ah, the wilderness. One moment you're all lovey dovey, a second later you're all angry.

No need to burn the forest yet!" he says as he gracefully land. He's going to try something simple first, to gauge the enemy. He pulls a broadhead arrow from his sheathe and shoots one of the attacking spider.

Spoiler

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dexterity+archery. (11d10)[1][10][3][3][3][5][5][7][8][3][6](54)

[Tengu_temp]

The spiders Gihren is targetting leap into his direction, trying to pounce him - but, as he moves past them, sprays of blood burst from the deep cuts on their bodies and they fall gracelessly on the ground. One of the arachnids is cleanly cut in two, while the other one scuttles back on its legs, despite its heavy wounds. (One die stunt, the second spider receives 4 lethal damage.)

Another spider moves towards Gregorias, trying to grab him with two of its furry legs - but before it can do that, Fu launches an arrow that severs one of them, letting Gregorias avoid the dodge easily. (2 lethal damage to the spider.)

The spider Nonamé is fighting tries to pounce him, but he moves out of the way without any effort. From the other two spiders in the treetops one skitters towards the battlefield, while the other one seems to be getting away!

Spoiler

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Movement order, in ticks:
Gregorias 4
Miko 6
Nonamé 6
Nagusa 8
Gihren 8
Fu 9
Spiders 9

The situation has changes slightly, so you can change your actions even if you posted already.

[kamikasei]

Spoiler

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I guess most people are in the trees then, besides Gihren and Miko? Well, Fu's on the ground but attacking into the trees...

In that case, I'll have Gihren attack the spider he wounded, and if Miko doesn't finish off the uninjured third one that should still be on the ground (assuming I'm counting right) he'll also attack it. Which means... I think... either a single attack at 16, or a flurry at 14/13... right? So I'll roll 16 and 13 and if the second attack is needed you can knock off the last two die of the first attack to bring it down to a flurry.

Jeez, this game is complicated.

(16d10)[10][4][10][9][2][5][9][5][5][9][4][7][2][6][4][7](98)
(13d10)[5][8][2][3][4][4][2][2][6][3][1][6][4](50)

+10L, -1/-2 DV depending.

"Hnh." Gihren makes a subvocal sound of dissatisfaction, eying the wounded spider with distaste - though it's directed at himself rather than at his target. He circles the retreating creature, carefully noting the movements of his allies in his peripheral vision, before striking. He clears the distance to the spider with one sideways leap, swinging his blade around unexpectedly from its flank, aiming to neatly sever its head from its noxious thorax before spinning him around to stab backwards into the other creature advancing on the spear-wielding exorcist.

[Iry]

From somewhere in the foliage high above, Gregorias calls out. It would take a very keen ear to place where the voice comes from, and like a ghost amongst the trees he begins to stalk the fleeing spider.

"One of them is getting away. He's mine."

Spoiler

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Using my reflexive move each tick to close the distance with the fleeing spider. I'll give him the business end of my weapon when it's my turn again.

[Terraoblivion]

Miko's attempt at springing into action didn't go quite as well as she had thought, instead she stumbled slightly forward disorienting herself. She shortly regained composure to see that most of the spiders had already been defeated by her companions. They were really good, all of them. As expected from anybody like her and even more so from Master Kalat's students. One of them was left before her, however.

Her movements flowing gracefully from recovering her stance into pushing off ahead, she closed the distance to the spider. The butt of her naginata caught its legs, sweeping them away under it and ruining its balance leaving it as easy prey for her. Continuing the movement the blade of her naginata swept down towards the spiders neck, slashing into the weak point of its chitinous covering.

As she looked up from her victim the others saw her white hair and make-up glowing faintly to accompany the half-filled golden dish on her forehead.

Spoiler

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I spend 5 motes on the first melee excellency.

Attack: (18d10)[2][6][3][10][5][4][3][8][9][10][2][4][10][8][8][6][6][3](107)
Stunt: (3d10)[5][5][2](12)

Base damage is 10L

[Tableface]

As the Corona's ascent slowly halts and gravity begins to reassert itself on its Solar passenger, Nonamé delivers a swift kick to the back of the device and uses the momentum to swing his swift rider above his head. He curls the rest of his body inwards, tensing, and begins his descent, focused on one of the remaining tree-skulking spiders. As he once more crosses the treetops, ready to swing his ride back under him before reaching the ground, he drives forward with his feet, aiming to spear the large arachnid with a force-assisted kick.

Spoiler

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An attack against the spider in the treetops that isn't running.

MA + Dex: (10d10)[3][8][9][10][5][8][1][8][4][8](64)
Damage: Base 5B
5 ticks

[Tengu_temp]

Both Miko and Gihren aim at the same part of their respective spiders, and both of them are successful, slashing their targets in two. The separated halves twitch a bit, but that's all the life that's left in them.
(One die stunt each.)

The force of Nonamé's kick sends the arachnid flying - it crashes against a nearby tree and falls down to the ground, upside down. It quickly returns to normal position, however - the attack wasn't enough to take it down yet.
(Also a one die stunt. 4 bashing damage to the spider.)

Apart from the one escaping from the battlefield and relentlessly pursued by Gregorias, there are only two spiders left. Neither looks as if it was about to back off from the fight, however.

[inirlan]

To his dissmay Nagusa observes that his companions already killed most of the spiders and that there wasn't much left for him and sighed. Nagusa leaped torwards the least injuried spider and not bothering to use any of his charms for this weak foe, he uses both arms to stab downwards as he lands on the spider, pinning it to the ground, and then removing with a strong pull directed at about 90° from the entry angle, designed to brutally cleave a gap in the spider's torso.

Spoiler

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(11d10)[9][3][7][3][1][2][4][9][7][7][10](62)
Stunt Dice
[rollv]3d10[rollv]

Damage is 13L

[Tengu_temp]

Nagusa's attack cuts through the spider's chitinous armor like through butter, eviscerating it in a spray of blood and other nastiness.
(1 die stunt.)

The spider Gregorias is folling reaches a strand of the web and starts tugging on it with its front legs erratically. Whatever this bizarre behaviour means, a bad feeling seems to linger in the air around it...

[Iry]

Gregorias knows very well what that tugging means. "Send Help Immediately".

With deadly determination the solar wraps his arm around the nearest massive branch and bends it backwards with all muscles straining to contain the quivering and taut branch. He swiftly positions himself before the branch and lets it go, letting the momentum of the tree combined with his own prodigious leap cause him to go screaming down towards the seemingly unsuspecting spider. As he streaks downwards, Gregorias pulls forth the handle of his Goremaul and presses a single button that causes the shaft to extend to it's normal brutal length. One sweep of his arms carries it up and over his head until he is poised to strike.

Like a comet he falls, whipping through leaves with such speed that it would slice bare flesh if he were not armored from head to foot. At long last it is time to strike! With all the supernatural force he can muster, that Goremaul snaps forward with the combined momentum of his own powerful swing and the velocity of the launch to land squarely upon the spider's back before it can get anything more than a half seconds worth of tug on that strand of web. With any luck, the thunderous impact will generate enough of a concussive blast to shove Gregorias backwards such that he can lithely roll to a landing some half a dozen yards away from the crater.

Spoiler

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(10d10)[7][3][10][3][1][6][5][1][1][10](47) Unexpected Attack Roll.
Damage is 22L, Piercing.

[Fri]

"I wonder whether this is a normal day for this forest or these spiders are something new..."

Fu is curious, but the questions can wait for later. He can feel that there's might be more trouble brewing though.

"It looks like it IS time for some fire after all."

In a fluid motion, Fu pulls another broadside arrow and suddenly it bursts into flames as he launches the arrow. He's going to see whether the web is flammable or not.

Spoiler

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Attacking the tugged web with fiery arrow essence.
(14d10)[6][4][6][4][3][6][4][4][5][9][8][8][8][7](82)

[Tengu_temp]

Fu's arrow hits the web and it immediately catches fire - if the spider really was sending messages that way, than it probably didn't even manage to say hello. It jumps back from the fire, but doesn't have much time to feel surprised - immediately thereafter Gregorias smashes it with his mighty maul, causing the arachnid to literally explode - luckily, the shockwave from the attack throws him far enough not to get all covered in sticky spider innards and fluids.
(Fu - 1 die stunt, Gregorias - 2 dice stunt.)

The last remaining spider, dazzled by Nonamé's attack, leaps into his direction again, but Corona is already in a different place even before the creature jumps.

Spoiler

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Initiative order in ticks:
Miko 11
Nonamé 11
Nagusa 13
Gihren 13
Gregorias 14
Fu 15
Spider 15

[Terraoblivion]

Under the pale, flickering light that shone from Miko the grass took on a strange hue as thin shadows cut across it in strange, unexpected angles, as she ran towards the remaining spider. Without slowing down she caught a fallen branch with the end of her naginata, throwing it into the air and using a quick flick of hand to hit it with the weapon and send it hurtling through the air. The branch bounced off a nearby tree, changing its course to head towards the spider from the opposite direction of her.

The moment the branch hit the spider, knocking it around and turning its focus the other way, a pale golden flash swept up from below. Smiling thinly, almost faintly shyly, Miko stood with her naginata in hand next to the two halves of the spiders corpse having used the opening to cut the creature in two.

Spoiler

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I just attack the spider completely ordinarily.

Attack: (13d10)[10][10][1][10][9][3][5][4][7][3][2][7][1](72)
Stunt: (3d10)[10][2][7](19)

Base damage is 10L

[Tengu_temp]

Miko's blow leaves you with no opponents.
(2 dice stunt.)

The fire from Fu's arrow is still burning - slowly, but steadily, it follows the spiderweb's threads.