My thoughts on the three leads at present:
-Early meeting:
--Pros: Show commitment, other party has less time to research and discuss their decision, and thus is less likely to discover unpleasant details(like being a monster's little sister).
--Cons: Somewhat rude, other party has less time to research and discuss their decision, and thus is likely to seem like we're trying to rush their decision, looking like we have something to hide.
-Help out:
--Pros: Allows our girls to be cute around the place and get known as people rather than strangers, gets more information on their situation so we're better armed on the discussion.
--Cons: Paranoid may consider them to be spying. Friendships go both ways, and its easier to try a hard sell if we don't know them personally.
-Spar:
--Pros: Lets us probe their abilities, more combat experience/ability unlock chances. Allows us to demonstrate that we aren't random scrubs.
--Cons: Reveals our skills and style, makes it easier for them to counter us if they know "never let them do combination attacks" for instance. May seem like intimidation if we win crushingly or too weak to be good allies if we lose the same way. Paranoid may consider them to be spying.
My guess for a spar is we're going to use Baleful Eclipse, Supernova, and basic attacks of everyone except maybe Sun (she packs a punch and we don't know how tough our opponent is).
A basic combination attack would be:
(Moonlight Scepter: 665 Base Damage, +194 Dice, +166 Discipline, +183 Radiant Shine Unbroken = 1208 Total Damage
Happy Trumpet: 750 Base Damage, +463 Dice, +183 Radiant Shine Unbroken, +750 Ray Trigger, +183 Radiant Shine Unbroken, +750 Ray Trigger, +183 Radiant Shine Unbroken = 3262 Total Damage
Alternately, we can get permission for transformation and get 15+ k damage with Juggernaut by having Moon and Ana combine efforts.
Really, unless we can gauge opponent's defenses in a safe manner we'll have to be careful.
@Naron, can we get a combined attack that involves Eva, Rico AND Ana all at once? If yes, how do their combined attack multipliers work? (E+R+A)x2? (E+R+A)x1.5? ((E+R)x2+A)x1.5?
And in particular, can we get a combination attack with both Ana AND Baleful Eclipse?
@Naron, can we get a combined attack that involves Eva, Rico AND Ana all at once? If yes, how do their combined attack multipliers work? (E+R+A)x2? (E+R+A)x1.5? ((E+R)x2+A)x1.5?
And in particular, can we get a combination attack with both Ana AND Baleful Eclipse?
It was -rightfully- brought to my attention that the Item for Godlike Strength is too pricey for the niche-effect it provides. The price was adjusted and should now fit a bit better.
Moon's Overwhelm was also lowered a little bit while I was at it.
[X] Ask to spar with Roaring Heaven for a bit, it is always good to get some training in.
[X] Offer to help out in town while you wait.
It takes a few minutes until you are ready to tell Heaven what you want to do. "If it is okay, could we spar for a bit? I'm curious."
The older girl gives you a measuring glance before shaking her head. Your good mood vanishes upon being denied. "I do not think this is a good idea."
"Aww, okay..."
Maybe it is your crestfallen expression, or maybe she planned to say it this way all along; whatever the case, Heaven's lips quirk upwards while she heads for the door. "At least not with all of you. We will spar once, one on one. Would you mind if I choose my opponent?"
You all shake your heads, making the smile grow a little more. "Thank you very much."
. . .
Line Break Recognised . . .
You have no idea how this happened. In just a few minutes you left the densely populated part of town, entered some kind of crude arena, and Heaven brought several dozen people to spectate. She said something about spars being a great form of entertainment around here... and to be careful not to hit anyone with ranged attacks.
Plus, she chose Moon as her opponent.
Now, one part of you is standing in the arena before Roaring Heaven; the other sits with the other spectators, Ana right next to you. Some people are obviously staring at you in a similar way to how you are staring at them; skin as pale as yours is probably as unusual here as dark skin is unusual at home. Most people around look more like teenagers, though there is an old man and a few other adults scattered throughout. Cheers are coming for Heaven.
You shake hands with the older Magical Girl before both of you step back to your marks on the ground; the arena is surrounded by wooden ranks for spectators, but otherwise it is just normal earth with a few patches of grass. Sunlight burns down on your untransformed forms and makes you sweat a little.
"Ready?"
You nod quietly and raise your scepter; it lost its ability to hover around, but you have a much easier time catching attacks from opponents now. The Sunlight Scepter also no longer produces shockwaves and is now much easier to control.
You take a deep breath before chasing the thoughts away; it is time to focus on your opponent and to exploit the fact you can keep the whole field under observation from above. If she has any mean tricks, you will notice them ahead of time.
Nonetheless, as if on an unspoken command, the both of you begin to move. You are faster and get the first swing, though.
(Moonlight Scepter: +665 Base Damage, +166 Discipline, +665 Superior Perspective, +305 dice, +2100 Rebalanced Existence = 3,886 Total Damage
Roaring Heaven: +500 Base Resilience, +100 Saw It Coming, +58 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 658 Damage Reduction
Echo: 2; Echo Activates!
Roaring Heaven: +500 Base Resilience, +100 Saw It Coming, +344 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 944 Damage Reduction
Echo: 2; Echo Activates!
Roaring Heaven: +500 Base Resilience, +100 Saw It Coming, +170 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 770 Damage Reduction
Echo: 2; Echo Activates!
Roaring Heaven: +500 Base Resilience, +100 Saw It Coming, +137 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 737 Damage Reduction
Echo: 1 2; Echo Activates!
Roaring Heaven: +500 Base Resilience, +100 Saw It Coming, +69 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 669 Damage Reduction
Echo: 1 2; Echo Activates!
Roaring Heaven: +500 Base Resilience, +100 Saw It Coming, +186 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 786 Damage Reduction
Echo: 2; Echo Activates!
Roaring Heaven: +500 Base Resilience, +100 Saw It Coming, +198 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 798 Damage Reduction
Your weapon impacts with Heaven's stomach after your charge, but the other girl just... flickers. As if she was not there for a moment, in a slightly different place. Your weapon gently slides off her belly as she leans aside under cheering from the crowd; you stumble forward and quickly turn around, but she has already drawn her bowstring.
(Heaven's Feel: +1000 Base Damage, +100 Point Blank, +368 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 1,468 Damage
Echo: 2; Echo Activates!
Heaven's Feel: +1000 Base Damage, +100 Point Blank, +97 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 1,197 Damage
Echo: 2; Echo Activates!
Heaven's Feel: +1000 Base Damage, +100 Point Blank, +347 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 1,447 Damage
Echo: 2; Echo Activates!
Heaven's Feel: +1000 Base Damage, +100 Point Blank, +265 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 1,365 Damage
Echo: 1 2; Echo Activates!
Heaven's Feel: +1000 Base Damage, +100 Point Blank, +84 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 1,484 Damage
Echo: 1 2; Echo Activates!
Heaven's Feel: +1000 Base Damage, +100 Point Blank, +279 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 1,379 Damage
Primordial Moon: +750 Base Resilience, dice negated, +1800 Rebalanced Existence = 2,550 Total Damage Reduction
5,790 Total End Damage
Veil of the Lunar Goddess: Damage negated
No damage)
She blurs again, appearing like six for an instant; even though you find an opening in her magic to press down on, six arrows streak your way before pinging off. Their momentum still pushes you back forcefully, down and into the ground for a moment. A cloud of sand is blown into the air from where you touch the soil. A moment later you are reoriented and emerge from the momentary cover, unharmed.
Heaven does not seem surprised, she was calmly watching everything play out for some reason.
You stare at each other for a moment, you wondering how to go at this without actually having to use spells. Baleful Eclipse is unusable without both bodies in the fight and Scorching Sunlight might be too much for her.
You got a lot stronger, but it is still not even close to being enough. At this rate, Moon is still entirely useless for anything but enabling Sun to do more risky things.
A part of you is decidely unhappy about that. What to do? Hm...
While you continue circling Heaven with Eva, you have Rico look up and around; the environment is your only chance of doing anything to your opponent. It makes you sick that half of you is helpless, even the one spell you can use was not hers originally.
Heaven nocks back another arrow, but this time you are prepared. She blurs just as before, letting loose a volley that you meet with gritted teeth.
(Intercept
Heaven's Feel: +1000 Base Damage, +173 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 1,173 Damage
Echo: 2; Echo Activates!
Heaven's Feel: +1000 Base Damage, +303 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 1,303 Damage
Echo: 1 2; Echo Activates!
Heaven's Feel: +1000 Base Damage, +393 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 1,393 Damage
Echo: 1 2; Echo Activates!
Heaven's Feel: +1000 Base Damage, +215 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 1,215 Damage
Echo: 2; Echo Activates!
Heaven's Feel: +1000 Base Damage, +242 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 1,242 Damage
Echo: 2; Echo Activates!
Heaven's Feel: +1000 Base Damage, +368 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 1,368 Damage
Moonlight Scepter: +665 Base Damage, +166 Discipline, +332 Unreal Strength, +665 Superior Perspective, +332 RAGE, dice negated, +1800 Rebalanced Existence = 3,960 Total Damage
3,734 Difference, Heaven's Feel wins
Heaven's Feel: +3734 Intercept Damage, +215 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 3,949 Total Damage
Primordial Moon: +750 Base Resilience, +100 Saw It Coming, dice negated, +300 Rebalanced Existence = 1,150 Total Damage Reduction
2,799 Total End Damage
Veil of the Lunar Goddess: Damage negated
No damage)
You swat half of her volley out of the air with a targeted swing, cold anger at yourself and this situation helping along. Heaven's eyebrow twitches, but she does not say anything. Weird, you can tell there is no sign of your inner turmoil on Eva's face; you made sure to keep it with Rico. The only one who can tell is Ana, but she just squeezes your hand and tries to soothe you with calm and warmth. The cheering crowd does not help.
So you charge again, right up at Roaring Heaven, who carefully steps back.
(Moonlight Scepter: +665 Base Damage, +166 Discipline, +665 Superior Perspective, +133 Ramming Speed, +332 RAGE, +1500 In Your Face, +49 dice, +1200 Rebalanced Existence = 4,713 Total Damage
Roaring Heaven: +500 Base Resilience, +100 Saw It Coming, +106 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 706 Damage Reduction
Echo: 1 2; Echo Activates!
Roaring Heaven: +500 Base Resilience, +100 Saw It Coming, +205 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 705 Damage Reduction
Echo: 2; Echo Activates!
Roaring Heaven: +500 Base Resilience, +100 Saw It Coming, +394 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 994 Damage Reduction
Echo: 1 2; Echo Activates!
Roaring Heaven: +500 Base Resilience, +100 Saw It Coming, +357 dice, +300 Fabled Existence Out of Balance = 957 Damage Reduction
Roaring Heaven Health: 3,000 - 1,351 = 1,649
Heaven's nose is broken)
But for some reason, this time she can not move as fast as before; or maybe it is something else than speed that leaves her unable to dodge the head of your scepter entirely. Even though the older girl leans out of the way, you bowl her over with as much speed as you can muster.
There is an audible crack before you realise what you just did. This is a spar and you hit Heaven right in the face.
Heaven lands on her back with a pained grunt before turning her fall into a roll and getting up.
"I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"
You quickly dash over to where the older girl is carefully feeling her nose and wincing. She throws you a short glance, but holds still instead of continuing to fight. Even the spectators watch with curiousity instead of dread, though a few are wincing over what just happened. This is still a spar after all.
"Become Whole Again!"
(Become Whole Again: +72 Base Heal, no dice = 72 Damage Healed
Her bones gently right themselves under your touch, though the light does nothing to the blood staining her lips and fingers. Heaven gently pats your head while pushing you off after you are done, then sighs. "A healer. I see."
She does not say anything else, but there is excited chatter going around, something about Moon being a sweet girl. You are just happy this was not taken the wrong way and quickly heal her up as best as you can with Soothing Moonlight as well.
(Roaring Heaven Health: 3,000)
Once you are both ready again, she offers you a weak smile before drawing the bowstring taut. "I have a good feeling about this one."
And then she becomes blurry again... no, this time you see it better. It is as if there are several of her at once, all doing the same thing. You can not even count their number before almost a dozen arrows are loosed on you!
You quickly throw yourself out of the way and watch in shock how the arrows punch holes into the ground and burrow deep into it. A small tremor runs through the whole stadium to show just how devastating this attack was.
...that was payback for her nose, wasn't it?
"What are you waiting for? Come on!"
Suddenly, you are not sure you want to continue sparring with her.
. . .
Line Break Recognised . . .
This is how it continues for the better part of an hour; neither of you makes noticeable progress on the other, the few stronger hits Heaven uses are dodged... and for some reason, she never manages more than one really strong hit in some time.
The spectators stop being at the edges of their seats after a while, once it settles in that neither side can hurt the other much. Ludger even starts dozing before it is over.
Eva is offered a mug of cool water after the spar ends, which you take with a smile and thanks; Heaven joins you moments later, her expression still so hard to read. At least she smiles. "That was a nice workout, I would say. There is still a little time left... yes?"
She stops the moment you raise a hand, letting you speak and bring up your other idea; it came to you over the last hour because there was some time to look around. "I was thinking we could help out in town. There is a lot to do, right?"
Another motivation is that at least you can make yourself useful in other ways than fighting. The older Magical Girl seems taken aback for a moment, but quickly regains her composure while Ana pokes you with indignation and warmth. "Of course... I guess? Are you sure?"
"""Yes!"""
"Woof!"
. . .
Line Break Recognised . . .
Well... the work is boring. You help repair rooftops with Sun's flight, Moon carries heavy things with her newfound strength, Ana wanders around to do some errands and others... and Ludger plays with the younger children.
Ana is probably the worst off, though; one of the teenaged girls who watched the spar keeps running after her and chatters about how great Magical Girls are. It is a first for sure, but being constantly asked about your powers and how life is for you and how it feels like is tiring. Ana even went over to just ignoring her, though it strains her patience; Heaven said this girl is often like that, but it will blow over after a while. You hope that happens soon.
"I mean there are lots of different magics and so many different people. Aren't you curious at all?"
"..."
Poor Ana.
You continue until dusk before getting back together. The girl who followed your sister around is still there, though quiet now. Heaven already moves to shoo her away or something, but stops when she speaks: "Um... I... I feel weird."
You are weird.
You poke Ana to chastise her for being mean, even though you agree with the sentiment. Then however, the girl's eyes widen.
"The die has been cast anew, time to deal the cards. I am Magical Girl Hand of Fate."
You can not believe your ears. The girl is enveloped in familiar shine and begins to change shape; everyone is looking now... and the light dies down to reveal a girl you never expected to see again.
"Looks like you get to experience it yourself now."
Ana looks a little smug about what she just said, but she quickly turns around to you; shock and joy are fighting for supremacy as you watch her. How she is checking her now-white hands, flips the cards up and down... the hood covers her face somewhat, but fails to hide the vibrant smile.
Hand of Fate crouches as if to jump, but pauses when she sees your looks. "I-Is something wrong?"
Other people that started gathering begin to look you way as well, including Heaven; you frown, quietly considering what to say. In the end, asking is probably more important than talking about how this is impossible. "Heaven? Can there be several Magical Girls with the same name?"
Her "No" is instantaneous, though you simply nod in response and continue. "Then this should be impossible. The last time I saw Magical Girl Hand of Fate, she was in America."
Ana curiously looks over the new girl again while Heaven frowns. There is some hushed whispering, but no one is forthcoming with any working theory about how this happened. Hand of Fate... Fate tilts her head slightly, the smile wiped away and replaced with curiousity as well as confusion. "Maybe it's like her grace... huh, who said that?"
She looks around to see only confused expressions; nobody but her said anything. Whatever she wanted to say about Forsaken God has to wait, though. Something weird is going on.
Fate blinks a few times, then nods before any of you can respond to her properly. "Okay... I guess? The Court Cometh!"
You can feel the magic in her words and immediately bring up both scepters in case something bad happens. Ana raises her trumpet and Heaven takes some distance just in case.
By Fate's side form two more figures, one familiar and one new. With her vicious scythe forming out of the void, the Queen of Darkness nods at her summoner while the other one starts looking herself over. Darkness' gaze wanders a little until it rests on you; only then does her expression morph into a weak smile. "Not the best reunion one could hope for, but it could be worse. Give those two some time to adjust and come here."
She lowers her scythe so the blade's tip rests in soft earth, then waves you over. Heaven and Ana walk quite a bit slower than you do, though the African girl's expression is carefully unreadable for some reason. Darkness sighs before pointing at the other two, who are still looking each other over. "Hand of Fate's magic finds a new host once she dies and the dead one turns into one of us. That girl over there is the Queen of the Sky; she is the one you met in New York... and the one who died there."
You take another look, trying to understand how this tiny form can be the same person you met before. Her black dress is pretty and shines with golden dust, accentuated by blue hair that was tied into two long braids.
She gently plays with a shining star that floats back and forth between her hands, curiously watched by the new Hand of Fate. It is... weird to comprehend. Darkness just sighs...wait. "So... you were also Hand of Fate?"
"Heh, yes. I'm the first one... and the only one who fought in the war, thus my theme of darkness. Our magic seems to align each Queen with a concept of her story, though I still have to figure out how Sky came to be."
This is both intriguing and a bit horrifying, knowing that girls who died are kept around to fight for the current Hand of Fate. They do not seem to mind it much, though.
Heaven interrupts the chatter by clearing her throat; she has her gaze on the Queens mostly, though it snaps to you once or twice. "I think this was enough excitement for a day. Imani... you should get this sorted out over night and present yourself to her grace tomorrow. And you three". she turns to you at last, "it is getting late. If you would?"
"Oh..." "Okay."
You wave the Queens and Hand of Fate goodbye before following Heaven. The crowd scatters while the new Magical Girl excitedly bounces away.
She is a little weird. But you are tired, so finding sleep will not be difficult. Even though the mattresses you are offered are far less comfortable than those you have in Kibo.
. . .
Line Break Recognised . . .
A Goddess born from the need to protect. Alone in a foreign land.
Faint echoes interrupt the serenity, too quiet to hear.
An Angel sent from hell, constantly destroying and unable to stop.
A recurring power, amassing and rising until the black and white court both are filled.
You do not recall much from your dream and what little remains soon fades as you take in the unfamiliar ceiling. It smells weird, less... clean. And you are all sweaty from the heat.
Spending a few minutes lazily rolling around in your makeshift bed is the only luxury you allow yourself, though. Then you get up and start cleaning yourself, as quiet as possible to not wake Ana. Ludger is already up, curiously watching a trio of ants wander around the wooden floor. He yips when you scratch his ears, but shows no reaction otherwise.
Going by the noise coming from where you think is the kitchen, Heaven seems to be up already. Though maybe you should think about what to do before talking to her.
The meeting with Forsaken God will be a bit later, around noon. You have a few hours left to yourself, so...
Choose one:
[] Time for revenge! Challenge Roaring Heaven again!
[] Spend the time with Ana and Ludger
[] Go look around the town and help out if you can.
[] EXP-Plan
-[] Write-in what to buy
-[] Save it
=====
+10xp No Contest (Only Pris)
+5xp Helping, Soothing (Only Ana)
+25xp Reunion with Hand of Fate (Only Pris)
+15xp Met Hand of Fate (Only Ana)
EXP gained: 35 + 35 + 20 = 90
Total EXP: 1,295
=====
(Level 1 Character Sheet unlocked: Magical Girl Roaring Heaven)
(Unlocked Level 3 Character Sheet: Magical Girl Hand of Fate)
(New Shop Item Unlocked)
This is how it continues for the better part of an hour; neither of you makes noticeable progress on the other, the few stronger hits Heaven uses are dodged... and for some reason, she never manages more than one really strong hit in some time.
So something about boosting our damage as we take damage. Remains to be seen whether its on a per opponent basis, scales with the difference between or ratio of Max HP to Current HP, or if its cumulative over an entire battle (like Absorbing Aegis). Pretty pricey though, so we probably won't end up getting it.
This is how it continues for the better part of an hour; neither of you makes noticeable progress on the other, the few stronger hits Heaven uses are dodged... and for some reason, she never manages more than one really strong hit in some time.
The spectators stop being at the edges of their seats after a while, once it settles in that neither side can hurt the other much. Ludger even starts dozing before it is over.
If we're going to spend EXP in upgrading Moon's offense, then why not go all the way? With my plan Moon gets a major upgrade to her damage, her fourth APT, and she might get a milestone bonus. In addition, her Intercept becomes so much more potent tool because she'll have both Overwhelm and Godlike Strength.
Funny how a stupid and random statement can make such an impact. But I am responsible for this and therefore need to vote for this. XD ........ Why do I have the line "Highway to Hell" in my mind? ... Doesnt matter, I will go there with a smile.
The first is Forsaken God.
The second is Roaring Heaven, I think pitted against the Moon if "serenity" and "too quiet to hear" refer to the Moon, and to her bullshit defenses negating Roaring Heaven's attacks.
The fourth is Hand of Fate.
Who is the third one? It's worrisome if my Heaven vs Moon guess is correct for the second one.
