Exhack
We Won't Build The Plane!
- Location
- Montreal, Canada
I don't want to reveal too much of the tiny man behind the curtain, but it's more of a 'how positively do you respond to Avagis' liking you as a master' thing.
Marca Estrella: A Game of Chivalry in the Time of Archengines
- Thread starter Exhack
- Start date
- Original
I don't want to reveal too much of the tiny man behind the curtain, but it's more of a 'how positively do you respond to Avagis' liking you as a master' thing.
- Location
- Somewhere in the LMC.
[X] <<Let's survive to see them.>>
[X] Use a mix of armor, mostly from the slave units and Grifon, to be protected but still maneuverable.
[X] Ask Avagis about Michael's equipment and what you should prioritize for repairs.
[X] Spezzante
[X] Ampio
[X] 2x Pistol-Sabers
[X] 2x Escudo, mounted to the arms
[X] Use a mix of armor, mostly from the slave units and Grifon, to be protected but still maneuverable.
[X] Ask Avagis about Michael's equipment and what you should prioritize for repairs.
[X] Spezzante
[X] Ampio
[X] 2x Pistol-Sabers
[X] 2x Escudo, mounted to the arms
Ridiculously Average Guy
I'm you, but stronger
- Location
-
[X] <<Let's survive to see them.>>
[X] Focus on staying agile and protect just the essentials with Grifon's intact plating.
[X] Take the Spezzante. It's served you well so far.
[X] Take an Escudo. You've been fighting without a mantella this whole time, and it's frankly insane you've survived the last fight without one.
[X] Take the Camouf Cloak. Misdirection is not dishonorable when your parents' lives are at stake.
[ X] (Option available because of your relationship with Avagis.) Ask Avagis about Michael's equipment and what you should prioritize for repairs.
This thing is built for speed if I remember right. So light armor. And, since we've only got light armor, let's take the camo for the element of surprise.
[X] Focus on staying agile and protect just the essentials with Grifon's intact plating.
[X] Take the Spezzante. It's served you well so far.
[X] Take an Escudo. You've been fighting without a mantella this whole time, and it's frankly insane you've survived the last fight without one.
[X] Take the Camouf Cloak. Misdirection is not dishonorable when your parents' lives are at stake.
[ X] (Option available because of your relationship with Avagis.) Ask Avagis about Michael's equipment and what you should prioritize for repairs.
This thing is built for speed if I remember right. So light armor. And, since we've only got light armor, let's take the camo for the element of surprise.
[X] <<Let's survive to see them.>>
[X] Use a mix of armor, mostly from the slave units and Grifon, to be protected but still maneuverable.
[X] Ask Avagis about Michael's equipment and what you should prioritize for repairs.
[X] Spezzante
[X] Take the Camouf Cloak. Misdirection is not dishonourable when your parents lives are at stake.
[X] 2x Escudo, mounted to the arms
The Cloak is an actual cloak that goes around the shoulders, right?
If so...I only have one thing to say:
MAXIMUM CHIVALRY!
[X] Use a mix of armor, mostly from the slave units and Grifon, to be protected but still maneuverable.
[X] Ask Avagis about Michael's equipment and what you should prioritize for repairs.
[X] Spezzante
[X] Take the Camouf Cloak. Misdirection is not dishonourable when your parents lives are at stake.
[X] 2x Escudo, mounted to the arms
The Cloak is an actual cloak that goes around the shoulders, right?
If so...I only have one thing to say:
MAXIMUM CHIVALRY!
Cetashwayo
Lord of Ten Thousand Years
- Location
- Across the Horizon
[X] <<Let's survive to see them.>>
[X] Use a mix of armor, mostly from the slave units and Grifon, to be protected but still maneuverable.
[X] Ask Avagis about Michael's equipment and what you should prioritize for repairs.
[X] Spezzante
[X] Ampio
[X] 2x Pistol-Sabers
[X] 2x Escudo, mounted to the arms (I checked with Exhack, it can be done)
Gonna just post this right before the shabbos.
[X] Use a mix of armor, mostly from the slave units and Grifon, to be protected but still maneuverable.
[X] Ask Avagis about Michael's equipment and what you should prioritize for repairs.
[X] Spezzante
[X] Ampio
[X] 2x Pistol-Sabers
[X] 2x Escudo, mounted to the arms (I checked with Exhack, it can be done)
Gonna just post this right before the shabbos.
Part Uno XIX: The Last Moment Before
Exhack
We Won't Build The Plane!
- Location
- Montreal, Canada
[X] <<Let's survive to see them.>>
[X] Use a mix of armor, mostly from the slave units and Grifon, to be protected but still maneuverable.
[X] Ask Avagis about Michael's equipment and what you should prioritize for repairs.
[X] Spezzante
[X] Ampio
[X] 2x Pistol-Sabers
[X] 2x Escudo, mounted to the arms.
You look down the list, then put the tablet down on the table. Avagis has scooted over to read over your shoulder, allowing for you to speak to him at a low timbre. "Avagis, you know our archegine more than I do. To what should we give priority to in repair? We only have a few hours at most, so I need to decide now.
"That depends on what you want." He leans back in his chair and pulls his legs up. You give a brief glare but he doesn't seem to get the message. "Like any archengine of quality, the armor isn't just dead weight. The parts each improve Michael's performance."
"In what ways?"
"There are supplemental gyroscopes, actuators, magnetic pistons and such. The arms swing harder and more accurately, and the left bracer stows the Quis ut Deus, our side sword. In your language, a compressa. Famous in its time."
"You didn't mention a compressa." You glare again at his feet and clear your throat, but he seems blissfully unaware.
"You didn't ask until now," he smiles and clears his own. You think he might be worried about having offended you. "Moreover… it wouldn't have been any good in the last battle. No time."
"...that is true. And the legs?" You swat his as you say this.
He retreats them beneath the table and pouts just a bit, but you'll have none of it. "It'd give an increase to your comfortable running speed. We could run faster without any armor on, but the leg armor stabilizes movement and allows me to commit less effort to it."
"Is that my fault?" You frown again.
"My mistress is fine as she is, trust me." Your escudero shakes his head and puts a hand to your shoulder, smiling. "You would have to completely change the way you breathe and move to make it easier for me to compensate for your movements, and the improvement wouldn't even be that substantial."
You frown a bit and nudge his hands off with your fingers. "I suppose. But then was there anything else, more than just a small increase to performance?"
"There are anchors to stabilize us when we fire heavy weaponry such as the bellicum, and suspension pads to skim over ground at high speed. Combined with the lower body's output and we can jump a kilometer or more."
"That's impressive."
"It is. But less than being able to fly."
You blink, a bit in awe of the prospect. "Michael... can fly?"
"Angels should be able to fly, don't you think? That was a feature of all machines of this class." Avagis smiles, his expression turning dreamy as he reminisces. "The pinions blaze with a great corona of plasma, tendrils arcing out from the ridges in them like feathers of orange, blue and white. The beauty is blinding… and deadly."
"It's a weapon too?"
"In close range it eats through untreated armor and strains mantella defending against it, and gives us strong defense against heavy projectiles moving too slowly to be intercepted by a mantella. Long range is only possible in space or cold, airless worlds."
"I see. So you think we should go with those?"
"Maybe. I'm not sure, would flying around fit your style? If you prefer, the gauntlets can be prepared." Avagis pats his fingertips together and makes a mock drawing gesture with his left arm. "That would give enhanced control in melee and access to the compressa."
You nod. A compressa would fit your style best of all weapons.
"Then of course, there's the legs. I noticed in the last fight you were struggling a bit with your footwork. With the legs in full repair, or even part repair, that would be easier and you could jump around to your hearts content, which is almost as good as flying."
"I see." You frown, considering your options somewhat gravely. If only you could have all three, then this fight would be guaranteed… "What about the head and torso?"
"What about them?" "Ah, right. The torso's protection is probably better than the alternatives, but I doubt you could get it repaired in time. As for the head… hmm. The improved augurs and optics would mostly be beneficial to me, although they'd give you some mileage as well. And then there's the grases."
"The what? Michael has optical beams as well?" It should come as less and less of a surprise, but whichever ancestors did build the machine really put everything they could into your new machine.
"Yes, in fact. Mounted in the forehead as a third eye. The flash blindness lasts a few seconds, but the range of the laser is extremely good." He laughs and smiles slyly. "I imagine you'd like being to glare at enemies to death."
"That seems useful. Excessive though." Your face tightens, and his widening grin tells you you're probably making the exact expression he was teasing
"To your experience, perhaps. Michael has seen a hundred pitched battles across as many worlds, against an enemy peerless in strength and legion in number."
"Hrmph. Well, in that case…"
What do you order your crews to focus on?
[ ] Prioritize repairing the wings for flight and a short-range plasma attack.
[ ] Prioritize repairing the arms for enhanced melee and a compressa.
[ ] Prioritize repairing the legs for enhanced movement and stability.
[ ] Prioritize repairing the head for enhanced sensors and a long-range laser attack.
[X] Use a mix of armor, mostly from the slave units and Grifon, to be protected but still maneuverable.
[X] Ask Avagis about Michael's equipment and what you should prioritize for repairs.
[X] Spezzante
[X] Ampio
[X] 2x Pistol-Sabers
[X] 2x Escudo, mounted to the arms.
You look down the list, then put the tablet down on the table. Avagis has scooted over to read over your shoulder, allowing for you to speak to him at a low timbre. "Avagis, you know our archegine more than I do. To what should we give priority to in repair? We only have a few hours at most, so I need to decide now.
"That depends on what you want." He leans back in his chair and pulls his legs up. You give a brief glare but he doesn't seem to get the message. "Like any archengine of quality, the armor isn't just dead weight. The parts each improve Michael's performance."
"In what ways?"
"There are supplemental gyroscopes, actuators, magnetic pistons and such. The arms swing harder and more accurately, and the left bracer stows the Quis ut Deus, our side sword. In your language, a compressa. Famous in its time."
"You didn't mention a compressa." You glare again at his feet and clear your throat, but he seems blissfully unaware.
"You didn't ask until now," he smiles and clears his own. You think he might be worried about having offended you. "Moreover… it wouldn't have been any good in the last battle. No time."
"...that is true. And the legs?" You swat his as you say this.
He retreats them beneath the table and pouts just a bit, but you'll have none of it. "It'd give an increase to your comfortable running speed. We could run faster without any armor on, but the leg armor stabilizes movement and allows me to commit less effort to it."
"Is that my fault?" You frown again.
"My mistress is fine as she is, trust me." Your escudero shakes his head and puts a hand to your shoulder, smiling. "You would have to completely change the way you breathe and move to make it easier for me to compensate for your movements, and the improvement wouldn't even be that substantial."
You frown a bit and nudge his hands off with your fingers. "I suppose. But then was there anything else, more than just a small increase to performance?"
"There are anchors to stabilize us when we fire heavy weaponry such as the bellicum, and suspension pads to skim over ground at high speed. Combined with the lower body's output and we can jump a kilometer or more."
"That's impressive."
"It is. But less than being able to fly."
You blink, a bit in awe of the prospect. "Michael... can fly?"
"Angels should be able to fly, don't you think? That was a feature of all machines of this class." Avagis smiles, his expression turning dreamy as he reminisces. "The pinions blaze with a great corona of plasma, tendrils arcing out from the ridges in them like feathers of orange, blue and white. The beauty is blinding… and deadly."
"It's a weapon too?"
"In close range it eats through untreated armor and strains mantella defending against it, and gives us strong defense against heavy projectiles moving too slowly to be intercepted by a mantella. Long range is only possible in space or cold, airless worlds."
"I see. So you think we should go with those?"
"Maybe. I'm not sure, would flying around fit your style? If you prefer, the gauntlets can be prepared." Avagis pats his fingertips together and makes a mock drawing gesture with his left arm. "That would give enhanced control in melee and access to the compressa."
You nod. A compressa would fit your style best of all weapons.
"Then of course, there's the legs. I noticed in the last fight you were struggling a bit with your footwork. With the legs in full repair, or even part repair, that would be easier and you could jump around to your hearts content, which is almost as good as flying."
"I see." You frown, considering your options somewhat gravely. If only you could have all three, then this fight would be guaranteed… "What about the head and torso?"
"What about them?" "Ah, right. The torso's protection is probably better than the alternatives, but I doubt you could get it repaired in time. As for the head… hmm. The improved augurs and optics would mostly be beneficial to me, although they'd give you some mileage as well. And then there's the grases."
"The what? Michael has optical beams as well?" It should come as less and less of a surprise, but whichever ancestors did build the machine really put everything they could into your new machine.
"Yes, in fact. Mounted in the forehead as a third eye. The flash blindness lasts a few seconds, but the range of the laser is extremely good." He laughs and smiles slyly. "I imagine you'd like being to glare at enemies to death."
"That seems useful. Excessive though." Your face tightens, and his widening grin tells you you're probably making the exact expression he was teasing
"To your experience, perhaps. Michael has seen a hundred pitched battles across as many worlds, against an enemy peerless in strength and legion in number."
"Hrmph. Well, in that case…"
What do you order your crews to focus on?
[ ] Prioritize repairing the wings for flight and a short-range plasma attack.
[ ] Prioritize repairing the arms for enhanced melee and a compressa.
[ ] Prioritize repairing the legs for enhanced movement and stability.
[ ] Prioritize repairing the head for enhanced sensors and a long-range laser attack.
- Location
- The Hague
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I really want to go full solar wing, but I think repairing the arms might be for the best. Not so much for the compressa, but for the improved CQC ability - i think it would compensate for the bulk of the mantella on the arms. What do we all think?
- Location
- United States
[X] Prioritize repairing the wings for flight and a short-range plasma attack.
Outside of the coolness factor (which needs no elaboration), flight will address our mobility issue and provides its own form of attack. Most importantly though, it'll be a surprise. Our enemy is, I believe, expecting us to fortify our engine with armor or fix up the legs. The wings will be something he won't be prepared against, as our engine seems to be fairly rare.
Also, as a side-note, the writing in the quest is excellent.
Outside of the coolness factor (which needs no elaboration), flight will address our mobility issue and provides its own form of attack. Most importantly though, it'll be a surprise. Our enemy is, I believe, expecting us to fortify our engine with armor or fix up the legs. The wings will be something he won't be prepared against, as our engine seems to be fairly rare.
Also, as a side-note, the writing in the quest is excellent.
[X] Prioritize repairing the legs for enhanced movement and stability.
Footwork, everything is in the footwork. We don't have the TIME to just master flight for the next battle(3d maneuvering is pretty complex to pick up, especially against an experienced opponent), and the laser, while cool, is not exactly a decisive move. The melee augment is good, but we have other melee gear as well, and did pretty well with melee so far.
But the feets is where we can get screwed
Footwork, everything is in the footwork. We don't have the TIME to just master flight for the next battle(3d maneuvering is pretty complex to pick up, especially against an experienced opponent), and the laser, while cool, is not exactly a decisive move. The melee augment is good, but we have other melee gear as well, and did pretty well with melee so far.
But the feets is where we can get screwed
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[X] Prioritize repairing the legs for enhanced movement and stability.
Wasn't our Fiance also basically a Boxer? We need to be able to keep our balance and footing, though the arms are a close second. Very close.
Wasn't our Fiance also basically a Boxer? We need to be able to keep our balance and footing, though the arms are a close second. Very close.
Ridiculously Average Guy
I'm you, but stronger
- Location
-
[X] Prioritize repairing the wings for flight and a short-range plasma attack.
It's unexpected, an ultimate attack, adds maneuverability, and allows us to execute a diving slash.
It's unexpected, an ultimate attack, adds maneuverability, and allows us to execute a diving slash.
- Location
- The Hague
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I'm feeling pretty convinced by footwork.
[x] Fix the legs.
[x] Fix the legs.
Cetashwayo
Lord of Ten Thousand Years
- Location
- Across the Horizon
[x] Fix the legs.
Without legs how can we dance
Without legs how can we dance
Ridiculously Average Guy
I'm you, but stronger
- Location
-
Part Uno XX: The Duel
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[x] Fix the legs.
You walk back to the hanger, Avagis and Aina in tow. Various workers are moving around, preparing the archengine as much as it can be prepared. "We concentrate on the legs." You turn to Avagis. "You'll show us how to do this?"
"Us Milady?" Avagis raises an eyebrow. "You intend to help with the work too?"
You notice the workers have appeared to listen. Decisively, you pull off your jacket and pull on some work gloves. "My parents lives hang in the balance. I will not spare my labour merely for some noble fancy." You look around at the men and women of the crew. "Will you, Good Sirs and Mistresses, give your pardon to see me in such a state?"
"For your Lord Father and Lady Mother? We should give you a thousand pardons Mistress." Thomas touches his forelock. "Back to work, all of you!" He calls.
After a moment, you see Aina pull on an apron and grab tools to work beside you. Only Avagis stays back, sitting atop one of the boxes, leaning back as if relaxed and answering any question put to him about the structure of the archengine's legs. You work hard, until Aina almost physically pulls you away and sits you down. She runs off almost as quickly to go fetch you something to drink.
"You must leave some work for the others Milady, or how will you have strength to fight?" You hear Avagis speak to you from behind.
"I need working weapons to fight just as much!" You complain, realizing even as you do the twisted knots in your back muscles and blink as you feel strong, supple hands dig into the most painful spots, weaving away the pain like a potter smoothing clay. Briefly, you mouth that he must be a mind-reader to know all your sore spots so easily- before you remember that he is one. Given that you are sore and he is not displeasing to the eyes or repulsive in personality, you decide to let this continue a little while longer.
"And what of your hands? Your back? Your eyes?" He asks. His fingers trace over your neck and to the top of your face, finding a points of tension along your sinuses.
You sigh, your muscles releasing as he rubs. You feign some annoyance to deny him the satisfaction of being right, at least by appearances and huff back. "I have all of those things, Avagis. And I feel fine."
"When tired hands grasp a sword, it's just as well as if the hilt was mounted loose. You fence, don't you? I imagine it's happened at least once."
"It has." Your flex your fingers, finding them just a bit sore. "You have a florid way of telling me to rest."
"I don't intend to ever dissuade you from acting as yourself, but I hope you'll come to think on what I've said. There's such a thing as working too hard."
"You sound like the caricatures father makes of city nobles."
"I sound like an experienced escudero."
"And what is my experienced escudero saying?"
"To rest for a few moments before we set out, now that your work is done. You're no good to either of us distracted and full of aches."
"Fine." You slump forward, propping your elbows onto your thighs and holding your chin up with your hands as you take a slow breath. Exhale. You feel a little better, and your escudero is continuing to get the soreness out of your limbs. "Enjoying yourself? Few people have permission to touch me, let alone do what you do."
"While your myriad expressions are amusing, this is my duty. I must keep you in a stately order, after all."
"Comparing your play to maintenance, are you? And what if your hands get tired? What then?"
"The archengine may be a very fine weapon, but it is you who will win." Avagis's hands make small tender circles. Over time you begin to lose track of exactly what he's doing, only that he was careful not to put his hands anywhere inappropriate or attack your ticklish ribs. Just as you begin to relax and forget yourself a little, his hands tap your back.
You follow the direction of his gesturing, to your returning lady-in-waiting. A glass of wine is presented to each of you and Avagis, as well as the thick quilts of your arming doublet and hose emblazoned with the house emblem and colors. You toast briefly with your escudero and look up to the completed Michael, clad in piecemeal armor and a veritable panoply of weapons. The staff have hastily painted the salvaged additions in house colors, the aged greaves standing out against the newer parts.
Avagis breaks the silence and puts a hand on your shoulder. "Put on your sword and jacket. It is time for us to war."
--∴--
And so you go to war, crossing the great continental plain, the Michael's massive strides crushing scrap and sand underfoot. Ahead of you the terrain stoops lower towards the aquifer sinkholes, brass pipelines glittering in the afternoon sun amid vast fields of alternating wheat and stubble. You stick to the roads as much as you can, not wanting to crush some farmers crops.
Ahead of you is the di Gano estate, a vast complex of buildings built around the sinkhole itself. The structure was once an ancient mobile fortress of white diamond-marble, its many articulated sections arranged in a massive U shape that surrounds the vital aquifer on three sides. There are turrets and artillery up there, but they face every direction but this one. Perhaps Balduino really does intend a fully honourable duel.
The Murgleys waits for you at a crossroads, arms crossed before its solid, black armoured torso. It is armed as before, though the left arm carries a tall shield emblazoned with the di Gano heraldry, of a cavalier in white armor on a black horse carrying a red cruciform banner. You see four great black javelins fixed to it, heavy things with fins to stabilize them in flight.
"So, here you are." Balduino sounds almost sad, though there's an eagerness to him that there wasn't before. "The field of honour." He gestures expansively. "You see here, the fields around us are unplanted stubble. No farmer shall go hungry because of our duel. I swear that should one of us step beyond the circle, they will forfeit, if you should swear the same."
You nod, bringing your spezzante to port arms. "I so swear."
"Very well then." He paces forward to stop four arms lengths in front of you and salutes with his compressa. "Then shall we begin."
"You've really missed this, haven't you? The duels of honour on the field of combat?"
He laughs, flattered and curious. "You read about me?"
"On the way here. I actually hadn't cared to look you up until today." You had some awareness that your former fiance and opponent was a famous duelist, but what you discovered was more grandiose than your imagination. "Not many people rise to the 49th rank in the Empire as a whole."
"And not many would accept the challenge of such a man. Yet here you are."
"I'm not intimidated by your titles. I came for my family."
"You'll find, Mireia, that this is true of many people in our position. Yours. And mine."
"And what exactly do you mean by that?"
"Something from a lifetime ago. That is behind me now, a mere dream." He extends a hand, the wind whipping the corn behind him. "This, then, this is the reality."
How should you approach the fight?
[ ] Try to reach an immediate decision, striking with maximum aggression and giving di Gano no time to breath
[ ] Cautiously probe your opponent's defense before trying to launch a decisive strike.
[ ] Feign a lack of finesse, try to draw him into overcommitment, then punish him.
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