11th January 2011
The tension in the air was palpable as Krieg, the ruthless lieutenant of the Empire 88, stood at the head of his assembled capes. He opened his mouth to give the order to attack but froze immediately.
Lost 2 Willpower-> Now at 5 / 7
Krieg could only stand, frozen in horror, as Danny's transformation unfolded before his eyes. The once-familiar figure of Faust began to change, his form contorting and shifting until he stood before them as a robed figure, his cloak billowing around him in an unseen wind.
Things moved under the robe, writhing and squirming in ways that defied logic. Tentacles, tendrils, and other, more alien appendages twisted and turned beneath the fabric, giving him a monstrous and otherworldly appearance.
Krieg felt a chill run down his spine as he realized the full extent of Faust's power. This was no longer the hero he thought he had known. This was something else entirely, something beyond human comprehension.
As he watched, Krieg could see the tentacles under his robe extending, reaching upwards like the arms of some eldritch horror, raising a hammer that seemed to be made out of screaming souls. Fear gripped Krieg's heart, but he knew that he could not show weakness. With a shaky voice, he tried to muster his courage.
"What... what are you?" Krieg stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Danny's glowing eyes seemed to bore into Krieg's soul as he spoke, his voice deep and resonant.
"I am the guardian of this city, the protector of the innocent. I am the one who stands against the darkness that threatens to consume us all. I am Faust, and you will not harm another soul while I still draw breath."
As he said this, Danny's anima banner flared, a brilliant green light erupted from his body, illuminating the entire area with a blinding intensity. The light seemed to bend and twist, forming intricate patterns in the air above him. Suddenly, a giant image manifested above Danny, towering over him like a celestial being.
The image was that of a mighty demon, clad in flaming armor and wielding a sword that gleamed with a nuclear hatred. His features were monstrous and fierce, the eyes blazing with malice. Around him, a host of demonic figures appeared, their forms ethereal and radiant.
The sight was awe-inspiring, and even Krieg, who had been cowering in fear, looked up in wonder at the manifestation above him. The anima banner's power was unlike anything he had ever seen.
The Empire 88 capes hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. They had heard rumors of Faust's demon form, but seeing it in person was another matter entirely. Krieg, however, was undeterred. Embarrassed with his hesitation, he reacted with a snarl of rage and bellowed the order to attack but it was far too late.
The scene around Danny twisted and warped, the roof beneath his feet buckling and warping obscenely. Chains circled the building like serpents, and eldritch machinery assembled itself before him, each piece whirling and unfolding into a nightmarish parody of a factory floor.
A mob of blood-red apes appear around them and an Ape in a flat cap and Forman's uniform stood behind Danny
"What can we do for you, boss?" it asked, its voice a low, gravelly rumble.
Demon Workers: Urge: To Work.
Danny turned to the blood-red ape and the other demons, a plan forming in his mind. "The reason you're not able to work is because of the Empire 88 capes," he said, pointing at Krieg. "If you can help me deal with him, then you'll be free to go back to work."
The ape's eyes gleamed with a mix of malice and excitement. "Consider it done, boss. Those fu**ers won't know what hit 'em."
As the Demon Ape army surged forward, Danny's power twisted the very fabric of reality, forming a maze of walls and barriers that encased Victor in a trap. The Empire 88 Cape struggled to break free, but each attempt only seemed to tighten the grip of the mystical prison around him. His eyes blazed with fury as he realized the extent of Danny's power.
Desperate, Victor lashed out with all his might, unleashing a barrage of strikes against the walls around him. But Danny was relentless, his control over reality strengthening with each passing moment. With a final, defiant roar, Victor launched himself at the nearest wall, hoping to break free. But it was too late. The walls closed in around him, sealing his fate, his prison sinking into the floor.
As this was going on, Krieg, determined to turn the tide of battle, unleashed a devastating barrage of attacks on the demon army. He called forth bolts of pure motion, torrents of kinetic energy, and waves of force, directing them all at the advancing horde. However, despite the ferocity of his assault, the demons seemed unaffected. They shrugged off the attacks, their thick hides and supernatural resilience rendering Krieg's efforts futile.
Frustration and desperation gnawed at Krieg as he realized that his powers were useless against the demon army. With each failed attack, the demons drew closer, their malevolent eyes fixed on their target. Krieg knew that he had to find another way to defeat them, or all would be lost.
Recognizing the futility of attacking the seemingly impervious demon army directly, he shifted his strategy. Instead of launching a frontal assault, he focused on disrupting their unity and creating chaos among their ranks. With a wave of his hand, he sent a shockwave rippling through the ground, causing fissures to open up beneath the demon army's feet. Though he failed to do damage, he at least bought himself valuable time.
Immediately coming out of their stupor, Fenja, Menja, and Rune, the towering members of the Empire 88, launched themselves at Danny, their movements swift and coordinated. Fenja swung her massive axe, Menja lashed out with her spear, and Rune launched a massive boulder, all aiming to overwhelm him. However, Danny's reflexes were as quick as his powers were formidable.
With a graceful motion, Danny used his hammers that deflected Fenja's axe, Menja's spear and absorbed Rune's projectile. Effortlessly, he countered their attacks, his own strikes calculated and precise. With each parry, Danny seemed to gain a deeper understanding of his opponents' tactics, turning their own strength against them.
Fenja, Menja, and Rune, realizing that they were outmatched, regrouped, their expressions grim. Danny stood ready, his eyes locked on his adversaries. The battle was far from over, but Danny had proven that he was more than a match for the Empire 88's fiercest warriors.
Lost 1 Willpower-> Now at 4 / 7
As Rune gathered herself another attack, Danny's senses honed in on the source of her power. With a focused effort, he attempted to disrupt the flow of energy, aiming to usurp her control over her platform. However, Rune's mastery over her abilities proved too strong, and the energy continued to build.
But Danny timed it so he acted just as Rune was making her attack. Thus, Danny's disruption took effect at the best possible moment. The platform bucked and shuddered, its energies rebounding and causing a backlash. With a startled cry, Rune was thrown off balance, tumbling backward and colliding with a nearby obstacle. The impact was enough to knock her unconscious, her powers temporarily subdued.
Despite the small victory, he knew that the battle was far from over.
As Danny focused his attention on Fenja, he launched a series of precise strikes, aiming for vulnerable points in her armor. However, to his surprise, his attacks seemed to have no effect. Fenja's armor held firm against his blows, and she barely flinched under his assault.
With a roar, Fenja retaliated, swinging her massive axe at Danny with all her strength. The blade crashed down, but Danny managed to evade the brunt of the blow, his agility saving him from serious harm. Menja joined the fray, her spear whirling through the air as she aimed to impale Danny and leave him vulnerable to Fenja's attacks.
Despite their combined efforts, Danny remained unscathed, his hammer parrying all the attacks. With a deft movement, he disarmed Menja and sent her sprawling with a well-placed strike, doing no real damage as she was already getting up, reaching for her Spear. Fenja, seeing her sister fall, redoubled her efforts, but Danny was ready. He countered her attacks with ease, his movements fluid and precise.
AS they fought, they all heard a distinct sound, one that they all recognized. Armsmaster was nearly there. As the sounds of Armsmaster's approaching motorcycle grew louder, Krieg, Fenja, and Menja exchanged wary glances. They knew that facing the Protectorate hero along with Faust would be a battle they might not win. With a silent agreement, they turned and fled, disappearing into the shadows of the city, their retreat a strategic decision to fight another day, leaving behind Victor and the unconscious Rune.
CHOICE:
[] Go after them
[] Wait for Armsmaster but not before telling Wei to run.
So, how did the rolls go? Fairly good. Strategically taking out Victor netted you the biggest advantage, as did sending the Demon army to bog down Krieg. Rune, Fenja and Menja could not get past HGD but you could not harm them either.
What happened to Rune? She was flying in the air and you tried to use Counter magic. While you failed to get the Target Number, as she was using it to fly, it disrupted her control and she failed the Atheletics roll to not fall off.