Since literally no one has voted while I was gone. Relying on new powers is probably a bad idea, but I'm curious and have very little confidence in my other idea.
[x] Plan Laser Kite
-[x] Charge the Stardust Striker with its new power while staying at range, deflecting attacks, and avoiding melee combat with the Naga. When heavily charged, dart in and strike it with Arcane Slash. Withdraw and repeat until it dies.
-[x] If possible, ask Lu to cover you when you close.
EDIT: Fixed the weapon name. I don't think Naron is going to be that strict on wording when the intent is clear, but @Naron tell me if I actually need to clarify that. Not sure about the case of it failing, but I really doubt that will come up, with Supremacy in play.
Since literally no one has voted while I was gone. Relying on new powers is probably a bad idea, but I'm curious and have very little confidence in my other idea.
EDIT: Fixed the weapon name. I don't think Naron is going to be that strict on wording when the intent is clear, but @Naron tell me if I actually need to clarify that. Not sure about the case of it failing, but I really doubt that will come up, with Supremacy in play.
I would like to focus on it's soft and weak-spots.
[x] [EXP] Plan Laser (1660 EXP)
[X] Plan more Hit it's weakspots
-[X] Ask Lu to employ hit and run tactics on the Naga from behind it.
-[X] Hit it with a Arcane Slash whenever it tries to turn to Lu
-[X] Aim any arcane slash on it's long neck
-[X] Charge the Stardust Striker with its new power while staying at range, deflecting attacks, and avoiding melee combat with the Naga. When heavily charged, dart in and strike it. Withdraw and repeat until it dies.
--[X] When the possibility presents itself it the with Stardust Striker.
---[X] Whenever Stardust Striker pierces through it's scales switch to Stygian Tempest
---[X] Sacrifice Aetheric Tide if that means that you can stab it in the face
-[X] If Rage Against Fate triggers charge it with everything you've got And Sacrifice Aetheric
Tide And Stygian Tempest and try to hit any soft-spots it may have if that means survival.
It's unfortunate that the Naga will probably recast negative space when we walk back to it.
But the having clothes on would be nice.
maybe, like this unless we are fast enough.
What about this?
I'm hoping to kill it on impact and using Aetheric Tides on purpose so that the Naga counts as the trigger of Rage Against Fate instead of Lu who dropped us.
@Naron can we use Voyage to re-aim our fall if the Naga tries to dodge, or is Voyage too slow for for that?
[x] [EXP] Plan Laser (1660 EXP)
[X] Plan nuke it with Dignity
--[X] Ask Lu to drop you from very high on the Naga. And to after you in case that it is alive after this.
---[X] retransform and recast conundrum while falling down.
---[X] Flash conundrum if it dared to look at you while you were dressing.
---[] If it tries to dodge use Voyage to be above it again.
---[X] employ Aetheric Tides Multi-Slash to open with a Arcane slash before and Stardust Striker Lasering down before the impact and turn switch to Stygian Tempest after the weapon has pierced into the Naga.
-[X] If you are still alive, then try to ride on it's back and get as many hits with Stardust Striker as is possible.
-[X] Sacrifice Aetheric Tide if that means can negate an attack aimed at Lu.
-[X] If Rage Against Fate triggered charge it with everything you've got And Sacrifice all the weapons exept Stardust Striker and try to hit get as many hits as is possible.
I would make some kind of comment, but I have none this time. I will say I am glad there were actual votes, though; I was getting worried when nothing happened for several days.
Adhoc vote count started by Naron on Feb 25, 2020 at 3:17 PM, finished with 27 posts and 4 votes.
[x] Plan Laser Kite
-[x] Charge the Stardust Striker with its new power while staying at range, deflecting attacks, and avoiding melee combat with the Naga. When heavily charged, dart in and strike it with Arcane Slash. Withdraw and repeat until it dies.
-[x] If possible, ask Lu to cover you when you close.
[X] Plan nuke it with Dignity
--[X] Ask Lu to drop you from very high on the Naga. And to after you in case that it is alive after this.
---[X] retransform and recast conundrum while falling down.
---[X] Flash conundrum if it dared to look at you while you were dressing.
---[X] employ Aetheric Tides Multi-Slash to open with a Arcane slash before and Stardust Striker Lasering down before the impact and turn switch to Stygian Tempest after the weapon has pierced into the Naga.
-[X] If you are still alive, then try to ride on it's back and get as many hits with Stardust Striker as is possible.
-[X] Sacrifice Aetheric Tide if that means can negate an attack aimed at Lu.
-[X] If Rage Against Fate triggered charge it with everything you've got And Sacrifice all the weapons exept Stardust Striker and try to hit get as many hits as is possible.
I would make some kind of comment, but I have none this time. I will say I am glad there were actual votes, though; I was getting worried when nothing happened for several days.
Eh, there were only three votes, and they were late. Simplicity is worthwhile, but not that much of an issue. FWIW, I was going to go over them and see if there was anything I liked. As a quick summary of my thoughts on them now that it's too late:
Nuke it is an enormous gamble that the mid-air transformation works, that dropping doesn't kill us, that we get in the air, and more. If we can get up that high, we could just withdraw, retransform, and return, which would be much safer. Also, if we retransform, we get reaper's will back, and can use that instead of the striker. I also don't really like the after-landing parts, but don't feel like specifically reviewing them.
For weakspots, we do not want to hit it whenever it turns to Lu - we want to full charge before risking a hit rather than just firing them off casually, especially because we don't want it's full attention. The rest is mostly decent ideas, though I'm not sure about the neck.
Also, the Rage Against Fate will not save us if we kill it. The resultant heal still auto-kills us.
Well, time to see if this gamble works.
Eh, there were only three votes, and they were late. Simplicity is worthwhile, but not that much of an issue. FWIW, I was going to go over them and see if there was anything I liked. As a quick summary of my thoughts on them now that it's too late:
Nuke it is an enormous gamble that the mid-air transformation works, that dropping doesn't kill us, that we get in the air, and more. If we can get up that high, we could just withdraw, retransform, and return, which would be much safer. Also, if we retransform, we get reaper's will back, and can use that instead of the striker. I also don't really like the after-landing parts, but don't feel like specifically reviewing them.
For weakspots, we do not want to hit it whenever it turns to Lu - we want to full charge before risking a hit rather than just firing them off casually, especially because we don't want it's full attention. The rest is mostly decent ideas, though I'm not sure about the neck.
Also, the Rage Against Fate will not save us if we kill it. The resultant heal still auto-kills us.
"This is actually just the second one I have ever seen, the first one having attacked my battlegroup's outpost right after I was stationed on this world. I can not really remember any specifics aside from them being fiercely territorial and prone to expanding their territory without warning."
No information, great. "So that is why they went extinct?" You just get a nod while the two of you sink lower, toward a good hiding spot distant from the Naga. It has not spotted you yet. "What happened to the first one you saw?"
The answer is short and concise: "Gabriel happened to it."
The Naga remains motionless while Lu's hand lands on your bare shoulder. "Gabriel mentioned that. What this being just did is invert all healing powers aimed at you. Do not use your spear, under any circumstance. I will aid you with this one."
Since I've actually taken time to read through the last few pages, something to point out.
Gabriel is really impressive here - I'm assuming she wasn't nearly as powerful as when Heidi first met her, and more to the point, War Angels in general and Gabriel in particular are built to take damage and heal it away - something that Negative Space handily turns against them. That means Gabriel has been running against the Naga with an integral part of her kit being made worse than useless, and still won.
Stardust Striker
Level 15
Base Damage: 1,125
Magic Modifier: 840
Affinities: Interference
Ability: Modifier Save | Supremacy
New Ability: Laser (Can charge up any number of actions into a single, powerful attack; main downside is that the charging requires time)
1,660 EXP spent
16 remain
[] Plan Laser Kite
-[] Charge the Stardust Striker with its new power while staying at range, deflecting attacks, and avoiding melee combat with the Naga. When heavily charged, dart in and strike it with Arcane Slash. Withdraw and repeat until it dies.
-[] If possible, ask Lu to cover you when you close.
Stardust Striker has not seen battle yet, at least not really. Perhaps your magic wants to give you a nudge to use it already, though it always felt like more of a spellcaster's weapon.
Then again, what your instincts tell you sounds like fun. "Hey Lu, remember that thing where I get growth spurts?"
The Naga is forgotten for a moment as she gives you an incredulous look. "Again?"
You just grin at her while the blade in your hand lights up. "Yyyep." The turquoise ray casts long shadows over your face and probably makes your grin look a tad more nasty than intended, but Lu probably does not care.
The Naga, in turn, has paused and eyes your glowing sword. You hold it up and wave smugly at the creature. While you do, you tap your friend's leg with your foot. "Keep it off me until I've charged up a little."
Lu nods and steps forward while you step back, leaving the stage to her. A surge of thrust from her wings and she is off, charging the monster without hesitation. It roars a challenge and jumps.
...this might be the first time you actually get to see Lu fight without being busy.
(Naga's Maw: +1675 Base Damage, +1243 Auto Max Charge, +833 Ramming Speed, +5025 Hegemony of the Food Chain = 8,776 Total Damage
Attack Negated
Riposte! Cost of the Crown: Lucifer heals 8,776 damage (now at 38,993)
Bloodsoaked Cross: +5000 Base Damage, +11777 dice = 16,777 Total Damage
Naga: +900 Base Resilience, +360 dice = 1,260 Total Damage Reduction
15,517 Total End Damage Large Enemy (50%): 7,758 Final End Damage
Naga Health: 80,000 - 7,758 = 72,242)
The Naga goes airborne for a split-second, powerful jaws snapping for Lu in an attempt to rend her asunder; she only twitches her winged arm and the change in thrust makes her sail right past the creature's assault. Another twitch turns her around mid-air and a single, long cut is drawn over its hide as it passes her by.
Lu completes her turn and now has the creature between the both of you, readjusting the grip on her cross minutely as you watch.
You did not have the eye for it before, but...
(Naga's Tail: +1625 Total Damage, +1637 Auto Max Charge, +50 Follow-Up, +5025 Hegemony of the Food Chain = 8,337 Total Damage
Lucifer: +50 5 Base Resilience, +4400 dice, +2084 Rolling With the Blow = 6,489 Total Damage Reduction
1,848 Final End Damage
Lucifer Health: 38,993 - 1,848 = 37,145)
...yep. She never actually used her full skill in your spars. Not even once. You can tell she took that hit on purpose and rolled with it in mid-air, managing her acceleration so carefully that you doubt it will leave more than a nasty bruise despite having slammed into her waist at speed you only barely could have reacted to.
An actual strike like that could have broken bones, yet she mitigated it both with her own actions and the strength of her innate magic.
From there her dance continues while the Naga turns back in a fluid motion, claws tearing the ground open in its haste to get at her and mana continuing to spark in its natural weapons. She is not even back on the offensive again, merely adjusting her trajectory minutely so the creature simply sails past her.
You could do all of this too, maybe. But it would be hard, every single action, and she does it effortlessly. Her mastery of the heavens is not genius, not instinct. It is experience, plain and simple. Lu knows exactly how she has to move in order to get the most out of every single shift and thrust.
It is mesmerising, now that you can see it properly. No movement wasted, an efficiency even you could only dream of. Where magic makes you push past her by removing the limits of the possible, Lu dances with every single one of these limits. Stretches them as far as she can. Thrives.
(Over three attacks, Lucifer took 1,834 damage in total due to good rolls
Lucifer Health: 37,145 - 1,834 = 35,311)
The Naga is getting frustrated with her too, but it is still faster than her and she knows it. You know it, too. You keep pushing mana from within yourself into the sword, making it shine brightly and hum an aria, but it has not been that long yet. You need more time.
Lu takes that moment to meet the monster again as it tries to bite a chunk out of her.
(Naga's Maw: +1675 Base Damage, +2,034 Auto Max Charge, +833 Ramming Speed, +5025 Hegemony of the Food Chain = 9,567 Total Damage
Attack Negated
Riposte! Cost of the Crown: Lucifer heals 9,567 damage (now at 39,600, full)
Bloodsoaked Cross: +5000 Base Damage, +107 dice = 5,107 Total Damage
Naga: +900 Base Resilience, +510 dice = 1,410 Total Damage Reduction
3,697 Total End Damage Large Enemy (50%): 1,848 Final End Damage
Naga Health: 72,242 - 1,848 = 70,394)
For a moment it appears as if she just flies into its open maw, but your friend once again adjusts her thrust minutely while also hammering the butt of her cross into its jaw. The result is a missed bite and Lu almost sliding right over the scales on its side with how close she is. A thin, faintly bleeding line follows her where her cross passed.
She adjusts again when the Naga's tail starts to swing for her at incredible speed once more, rolling with it and mitigating some of the damage.
(Everyone go home, she rolled a 12,464 for dice)
The rest, you see a moment later, is buffered by a powerful surge of magic protecting your friend. Instead of stopping however, the Naga uses the momentum of its tail to throw itself around and gore Lu on its horns; this time she is too slow to react at all.
(Naga's Horns: +1675 Base Damage, +1,611 Auto Max Charge, +19,800 Straight Through the Heart, +5025 Hegemony of the Food Chain = 28,111 Total Damage
Lucifer: +50 5 Base Resilience, +3113 dice = 3,118 Total Damage Reduction
24,993 Final End Damage
Lucifer Health: 39,600 - 24,993 = 14,607
Ow. Lu is bleeding badly)
You flinch over the sight; blood splatters and coats the Naga's head crimson, Lu's chest torn open with a wet noise you can hear from where you are. Her skin just... parts. As does the flesh beneath, and some of the organs below that.
The right half of her chest is just gone, torn off by the large monster's strike.
Yet she remains in the air while you stare at her wide-eyed. Despite the constant drizzle of angelic blood she sends down onto the ground below, your friend does not even make much of a face.
Is... that about how you looked to her earlier?
The hand around your sword's grip tightens, knuckles turning white as you pump more mana into it. She is not going to survive another hit like that and you won't get another shot at charging up.
But you trust her, so you wait.
Lu took distance from the Naga to gather her bearings while the monster looks at her carefully; then however, its eye flicks to you and the creature turns; the last step of its motion already flows into a push off the ground, to charge right at you.
You cock your hips and wait, but the show of carefreeness does not make the thing reconsider.
And with your blade charging up power you are not sure you can hold in if you use it, you are definitely not going to deflect it normally. Instead of that, you grasp the horn aimed at your throat and flip yourself off the ground, holding steady while glaring into the monster's large eye. Not yet, not yet.
It can do nothing to stop you from using its own momentum to swing over backward and land on its neck, then slide down from there. The Naga shakes itself and you use the opportunity to leap off of its side.
Still, this is going too slowly. There is already a good bit of mana in your sword, but nowhere near enough to hurt as much as it should. This thing is smart enough to not let you charge it up again.
So you seal your spear, useless as it is with the buzzing magic in your core. The burst of mana that follows and normally speeds you up, you send straight into your sword; its gleam grows brighter, stronger, a little heavier.
(Aetheric Tide sealed. ApT reset and put into another 6 charges for Laser.)
Right as you do, Lu rushes past you and slides off the Naga's tail fin on her cross; the appendage makes your hair flutter in the wind as it passes you by in mid-air.
(Lucifer suffers from Bleed:
Lu Health: 14,607 - 3,960 = 10,647)
(Naga's Tail: +1675 Base Damage, +1,579 Auto Max Charge, +5025 Hegemony of the Food Chain = 8,279 Total Damage
Attack Negated
Riposte! Cost of the Crown: Lucifer heals 8,279 damage (now at 18,926)
Bloodsoaked Cross: +5000 Base Damage, +2950 dice = 7,950 Total Damage
Naga: +900 Base Resilience, +211 dice = 1,111 Total Damage Reduction
6,839 Total End Damage Large Enemy (50%): 3,419 Final End Damage
Naga Health: 70,394 - 3,419 = 66,975)
You felt it coming, but her interference makes it easier to focus on your sword, so you let her. No words are exchanged, but she knows you trust her with this.
What surprises you is something else, now that you really see it: the moment Lu moves to retaliate, her magic knits her back together somewhat. Flesh regrows in parts, bones reset, it is not pretty and moreover not done yet, but her body no longer looks like it was halfway torn off around the middle.
She leaves another bloody gash in the creature's body, prompting a growl while it turns back to her.
You land on the ground in a roll that ends in a crouch, blade held outward so as to not trigger its charge early. It is a little weird to roll on one hand, but you manage thanks to your superhuman flexbility. The edge of your sense tells you that the Naga is focussed back on Lu, fool that it is.
Or maybe it is smart, you think to yourself while watching her rolling with a bodycheck that does nothing due to her magic flaring up.
(Seems the dice still think Lu is Best Girl; 11,933 this time, what is it with these near-max rolls?)
Nonetheless, Lu is the faster of you two and visibly the stronger one in terms of striking power. But she is not strong enough to wittle this thing down before it can land another horrific blow like before. One more, maybe two, and she is done for.
If it was an actual battle one on one, this creature would actually be able to defeat her on tenacity alone.
(Naga's Maw: +1675 Base Damage, +1,874 Auto Max Charge, +5025 Hegemony of the Food Chain = 8,574 Total Damage
Attack Negated.
Riposte! Cost of the Crown: Lucifer heals 8,574 damage (now at 27,500), Bleed removed
Bloodsoaked Cross: +5000 Base Damage, +7361 dice = 12,361 Total Damage
Naga: +900 Base Resilience, +1061 dice = 1,961 Total Damage Reduction
10,400 Total End Damage Large Enemy (50%): 5,200 Final End Damage
Naga Health: 66,975 - 5,200 = 61,775)
It tries to snap for her again, but Lu simply repeats her earlier motion of sliding past and slamming the butt of her cross into its jaw. This time however, her own magic surges strongly and she leaves a much nastier cut right over the shallow one she left the first time she used that maneuver.
Moreover, her body keeps healing and knitting itself back together. A last spurt of blood, which you only now realise turns black a few seconds after leaving her body, and the hole in her chest seals shut. She is still missing some flesh and skin and one of her breasts, though. Urgh.
It is still not a pretty sight and you really hope you can forget it.
Another pulse of mana is sent into your sword while you watch Lu get batted away, but she... would not even have needed to roll with it. Her magic surges to protect her again.
(...12,076)
You can not help but grin at the sight; it seems her innate power is as determined to stay alive as she is.
The Naga is still faster than her though, and this time you can see how your friend is pushed toward a bad position really soon. So you push your mana faster, as fast as you can while still keeping a hold on the existing charge.
Another attempt to bite Lu...
(Naga's Maw: +1675 Base Damage, +1429 Auto Max Charge, +5025 Hegemony of the Food Chain = 8,129 Total Damage
Attack Negated.
Riposte! Cost of the Crown: Lucifer heals 8,129 damage (now at 35,629),
Bloodsoaked Cross: +5000 Base Damage, +8943 dice = 13,943 Total Damage
Naga: +900 Base Resilience, +402 dice = 1,302 Total Damage Reduction
12,641 Total End Damage Large Enemy (50%): 6,320 Final End Damage
Naga Health: 61,775 - 6,320 = 55,455)
Ends the exact same way the previous two did, except that Lu flies higher to dodge the tail as it attempts to slap her out of the air. She probably saw the thing shift its posture earlier and adjusted to it. Her body finishes healing up, more or less; at least you see no more outward injuries from where you are.
But that still leaves her in trouble if it tries to retaliate. This has to suffice. "Lu! Take distance!"
Your call is heeded immediately and she retreats higher, out of the Naga's next attempt to tear into her with its horns. The moment it is in the air, you use to push a trickle more mana into your weapon. Then you seal Stygian Tempest as well, just to be safe. Mana makes to rush into your body from within your weapon, but is once again redirected.
(Stygian Tempest sealed. Another 5 Laser charges)
You then step forward, once, twice, and break into a run from there. The Naga already turns, but you have its side to you still and are too fast for it to face you fully. With a roar, you raise your gleaming blade and bring it down the moment you get in reach. "Arcane Slash!"
It does not even know what hit it.
(Stardust Striker: +1125 24750 Base Damage, +840 dice, +1200 Arcane Slash, +23 dice = 26,813 Total Damage
Echo: 2; Echo Triggers!
Stardust Striker: +1125 Base Damage, +251 dice, +1200 Arcane Slash, +15 dice = 2,591 Total Damage
Echo: 2; Echo Triggers!
Stardust Striker: +1125 Base Damage, +286 dice, +1200 Arcane Slash, +50 dice = 2,661 Total Damage
Echo: 2; Echo Triggers!
Stardust Striker: +1125 Base Damage, +166 dice, +1200 Arcane Slash, +15 dice = 2,506 Total Damage
Echo: 2; Echo Triggers!
Stardust Striker: +1125 Base Damage, +389 dice, +1200 Arcane Slash, +26 dice = 2,740 Total Damage
Echo: 2; Echo Triggers!
Stardust Striker: +1125 Base Damage, +503 dice, +1200 Arcane Slash, +175 dice = 3,003 Total Damage
Echo: 2; Echo Triggers!
Stardust Striker: +1125 Base Damage, +169 dice, +1200 Arcane Slash, +45 dice = 2,539 Total Damage
Echo: 2; Echo Triggers!
Stardust Striker: +1125 Base Damage, +827 dice, +1200 Arcane Slash, +114 dice = 3,266 Total Damage
Echo: 1; No Echo
Mana Nexus: All of this is magic damage, so it is absorbed and heals the Naga Supremacy, bitch!
46,119 Unified Damage
Naga: +900 Base Resilience, +937 dice, -900 Expected to be Immune, -450 holyshitwtf = 487 Total Damage Reduction
45,632 Total End Damage Large Enemy (50%) Negated by Defy the Rules.
Naga Health: 55,455 - 45,632 = 9,823
Ouch. The animal cruelty is back.)
Time seems to slow to a crawl and you can see clearly how not just mana cascades from your blade. You see the shroud around the Naga attempt to absorb both it and your spell, but it is repelled and broken past by Stardust Striker. That is the first surprise; this thing is apparently immune to all magic, not just spells.
The second surprise is the wave of energy that roars out of your sword the moment it impacts the Naga's hide, washing over its shoulder and flank while disintegrating layers of scales and flesh beneath.
The third surprise is your slash's echo. It surges once, twice, thrice, and you lose count. Every single one tears the fatal wound open further, both the magical shroud and the steel of your replicated blade alike.
You quickly vault back and watch the titan collapse, one leg almost completely separated from its body and bleeding a small river. It's scream is not one of anger this time, but of pain.
Then it is silent for a long moment.
(Naga is bleeding:
Naga Health: 9,823 - 8,000 = 1,823
Hegemony of the Food Chain: Supremacy on Stardust Striker and Defy the Rules are sealed.)
The juggernaut breathes heavily, eyeing you with palpable hatred. Purplish blood continues to soak the ground where it fell, apparently unable to get back up again. Magic still races from it and sinks into you, too fast to evade and following your movements to boot; your magic sight fizzles out, it grows more quiet than it has been for you in months. And your sword's gleam weakens, as if something was missing from it.
Your eyes widen and go to the downed Naga, but it remains as it is. You would step forward and end its misery, but it would probably try to bite you. Lu lands by your side and looks over your handywork while the monster goes through its death throes.
"That was a considerable amount of power. We shall look at this later."
She has a point. As great as this new power boost is, you will have to give it a good look. Before you can agree with your friend however, the Naga's eyes begin to gleam.
You ready yourself as it opens its maw, but what comes out is not a roar or a beam... but song. A beautiful, serene melody that echoes through the empty plains. You can see streamers of mana gather and flow despite your vision being returned to normal, but they are not aimed toward you.
Lu realises it too and both of you quickly turn around to find what the dying creature is doing.
Its magic sinks into the mutilated monster you killed earlier, casting a growing net over the large body as if embracing it. Torn flesh grows back between instants, blood spurts out of a few slowly closing wounds, scales that were broken become whole again.
Then it stirs, and the one eye you can see slides open.
(Restoration: Bazelgeuse was revived)
The song ends and you can only watch in shock as the thing you killed earlier comes back to life, as good as new. It gets to its feet with a low growl, eyes still on you and Lu. One shaky step is made before the revived creature finds its balance, then it shakes itself roughly.
The Naga behind you lets out one last hum of content, no, spite before it falls silent; moments after, the thrum of magic returns to your ears. The buzzing power it anchored within you remains, though.
Meanwhile, the monster before you spreads its wings, still eyeing you carefully.
Then it pushes itself off of the ground and turns around to- hold on!
"Argent Star!"
Four silvery spheres form and shoot out, followed by another four, but the thing is already taking up speed and begins to outpace them; they keep following, but its contours become fuzzy and it makes no attempt to turn around.
The little shit is running away!
You clench your teeth in a surge of anger, but Lu puts a hand on your shoulder. "Leave it be, we have what we came for. I do not feel like fighting another Bazelgeuse."
She is right, but still. You let out an explosive sigh, take another deep breath, and slash for your friend a few times. The attacks are haphazard and easily deflected, the same happening to her counters.
Within a few moments, Lu motions for you to stop, now fully regenerated. "Thank you."
"No problem."
And with that, the excitement is over. You have a partly disintegrated Naga to dismantle and bring back to your base. Ugh. At least its stupid anti-healing thing starts to disperse.
. . .
IDENTIFIED BREAK LINE . . .
Your everything hurts by the time night falls. With Lu doing some sorting ahead of time, before she started to transport the Naga in parts, you actually managed to finish the job within that one day. Yet you can not help but groan about how pitiful your body feels. Your scars itch a little, your muscles burn in places you did not even know had muscles, you are exhausted, and having a bed of leaves to poke into your back in various places does not help any of this.
A single glance at Lu makes you shut up, though. She sits quietly, looking up at the full moon despite the excruciating pain she is apparently in. It really does not look that way.
How can she even sleep with how she is?
Does she sleep at all?
You want to ask but also not ask, unsure whether she would be willing to talk about something like that.
Well, you muse, at least she managed to make herself new clothes out of some Mimic Stalk leather she made last week to pass the time. You are at a point where you do not care much about it, but there will be a time when you return to Sharon's Keep. She should be presentable then, if just for your peace of mind.
You rub your side again and sigh, but then realise something. You rub again and then huff as you find something else you did not notice before now.
In the end, you do speak up, if only because you want to share your new wisdom. Might as well make the best of it... and pull a fast one over your friend. "You know, I see one positive about having my skin burned off and healed back repeatedly."
Lu turns her head to you, expression cast in shadow by the moon's green glow. She does not say anything, but you know you have her attention; which is why you show her a thumbs up and laugh. "My new skin is now as smooth as a baby's and I don't need to shave, either."
Apparently, only the hair on your head grew back. That is at least a silver lining over the other stuff.
Lu snorts and shakes her head, turning back to look at the sky. "Get some sleep, you will need it after today."
You do not disagree, but the hollow aches in your body continue to throb, leaving you unable to find rest until deep into the night, long after your friend went to bed.
. . .
IDENTIFIED BREAK LINE . . .
The next day is spent mainly recuperating in your case while Lu begins with the actual dismantling of the Naga parts. She has a lot of work ahead of herself, but does not appear concerned about it.
During your time off from the actual training, you idly consider Stardust Striker. Some focus exercises teach you that once it goes beyond a certain amount of mana, the strike turns from just being stronger to actually creating a wave of mana. It actually grows in size the longer you let it charge, that might be quite useful.
Despite it all, you manage to get some practice in too... though not in the way one would expect. Lu decided to test your skill in regard to holding the charge and kept peppering you with bits of bone and scales while she worked.
Suffice it to say, your sword's calming property on magical flow made that quite easy... although you did slip up a few times at first and released clouds of concentrated mana that quickly dispersed. Lu was not amused; apparently, while a little of it is good for giving others a boost, taking in too much of the stuff is actively bad, up to being poisonous for an organism.
You are just... not going to use that as a weapon unless you absolutely have to. It feels a little too close to poison gas for your liking.
That aside however, your practice continues uninterrupted for the rest of the week, if slowly. It will be a while until this works well enough.
-------------
Food: 29 Completed Practice: 25 / 60
[] Plan for the week
-[] Action 1
-[] Action 2
-[] Action 3
Hunt small critters
(secures food for 3 days, auto-success)
Foraging
(secures food for 3 days, auto-success)
Hunt medium-sized critters
(secures food for 7 days, may turn into a combat encounter)
Hunt large beasts
(secures food for 14 days, combat encounter)
Hunt the biggest and baddest
(secures food for 30 days, boss encounter)
Practice
(adds between 2 and 3 days to the training counter; 7 days if all actions are this)
[] EXP-Plan
-[] Write-in what to buy
-[] Save it
=====
+600xp Killed a Naga
+50xp Circumstances Conspired For An Easier Fight
+100xp Brought a Species to Extinction
+50xp Long Live Bazel!
+20xp Bazel Booked It
EXP gained: 820 Total EXP: 836
=====
(Soft Mechanics updated)
(new Soft Mechanics Exploits available)
Unlocked Soft Exploit:
-Hold Laser-charges active even while swinging Stardust Striker to negate attacks, or while casting spells
=====
Naga
The Last of its Kind
Stats
Health: 80,000
Base Damage: 1,675
Base Resilience: 900
Magic Modifier: 1,100
Large Enemy
-Nagas take 50% less damage from smaller enemies.
Arcane Overflow
-If a Naga does not cast a spell in a turn, all of their attacks carry Auto Max Charge in the next turn.
Mana Nexus
-Magical damage heals Nagas instead.
Hegemony of the Food Chain
-Any powers which circumvent a Naga's powers are sealed after the turn they first did so; when attacking a smaller enemy, Nagas deal 300% additional damage against them. A Naga may sacrifice all of their actions at the start of turn to inflict Negative Space on an opponent.
Actually, have we finished training the previous exploit? I think we should all focus on a pure training week this time, but i'm kinda curious about that. And learning how to dispell debuffs by sealing weapons now seem like a really good idea.
So... in hindsight, I realise that making milestone upgrades irregular was a bad idea. I can not really change it without seriously messing with the expected progression anymore, though.
So I decided to leave it as is. I will, however, give everyone some food for thought.
Out of everything on Heidi's sheet, only Arcane Slash has gained all of its upgrades.
Furthermore, only Reaper's Will has gained every upgrade before its ultimate one; every weapon except The Handle has one such upgrade at level 35.
In addition, everything on Heidi's sheet except Aetheric Tide and Conundrum is within five levels of its next upgrade.
And, lastly, with exception of the final weapon upgrades, every weapon and spell on her sheet will have reached its final state at level 25 at the latest. Some earlier than that, but I am not saying which ones.
Actually, have we finished training the previous exploit? I think we should all focus on a pure training week this time, but i'm kinda curious about that.
So. The idea did not work, but the plan did. I don't think that exploit makes it work, either. A pity. Unless there's another exploit that wasn't revealed, I guess, but that seems unlikely, considering I directly discussed it. @Naron just confirming, but there's no exploit to have echo replicate the Laser attack, right?
Pretty impressive Echo chain, too. And I was very surprised by the Naga's spell.
So... in hindsight, I realise that making milestone upgrades irregular was a bad idea. I can not really change it without seriously messing with the expected progression anymore, though.
So I decided to leave it as is. I will, however, give everyone some food for thought.
Out of everything on Heidi's sheet, only Arcane Slash has gained all of its upgrades.
Furthermore, only Reaper's Will has gained every upgrade before its ultimate one; every weapon except The Handle has one such upgrade at level 35.
In addition, everything on Heidi's sheet except Aetheric Tide and Conundrum is within five levels of its next upgrade.
And, lastly, with exception of the final weapon upgrades, every weapon and spell on her sheet will have reached its final state at level 25 at the latest. Some earlier than that, but I am not saying which ones.
The safe way to avoid wasting levels is to level things by 1 each update, ideally several at once, but I'm fairly neutral on that. We can do it if we have enough EXP and a string of safe updates.
The handle we should push to 18 (next APT level) as soon as possible. Its abilities will apply regardless of our weapon. If the ability isn't there by then, we can push it the rest of the way. If you're paranoid, we can check 19 before going to 20. (Also, by the time we're at 20, 21 is close enough we should probably pick it up.)
Stardust didn't get an upgrade yet despite that leveling spree, so it's next one is going to be very significant. I feel we should go for that soon. On the other hand, excess levels on it are comparatively wasteful, as the damage is minor, the EXP cost is high, and there doesn't seem like there'd be another ability soon thereafter. We should probably level it by 1 each update till we get it.
Stygian Tempest's next upgrade is blatantly juggernaut, which, to be fair, would be very useful, especially with stringed attacks. I'm not nearly as interested as I am in Stardust or the handle, but we know what it is and it would be very useful. We don't mind overlevelling it, so we can feel free to just get some exp in reserve and spike it by 5 at need.
Aethyric tide and Conundrum are at least 5 levels away from something, leave them where they are for now. Reaper's will has everything but the lvl 35 already.
Argent Star...I don't really know what this would get, but it's theoretically our sheer damage option, and neglecting it is probably unwise. I feel like the upgrade is at 12 or 15, because 13, 14 and 16 are awkward numbers, but that doesn't actually mean anything. Overshooting isn't fine for ability reasons, but raw damage on it scales better than it does on anything else, so it's not that bad either.
Arcane Slash...feels like it does everything we need from it? More damage would be nice, sure, but we get that from weapons. Defense piercing abilities we can get from weapons. I'm not really sure what it could give that I'd prioritize. (Which itself makes me want to check, but I can resist that.)
So, a couple EXP plans while @Naron figures out whether the exploit is actually done and people decide what action plan they want to see.
[] Plan Slow and Steady (340 EXP)
-[] Stardust Striker 15->16 (150 EXP)
-[] Stygian Tempest 8->9 (80 EXP)
-[] Argent Star 11->12 (110 EXP)
This plan is just slowly leveling things towards milestones. Each future plan would try to look much the same, though dropping things when they get the milestone. I left the handle out because we can "safely" spike that to 18 and keeping exp in reserve to catch the other milestones as quickly as possible is more important for this plan. This plan uses our exp most efficiently, but probably doesn't give our milestones soon if we need them.
[] Plan Foundation (740 EXP)
-[] The Handle 15->18 (480 EXP)
-[] Stardust Striker 15->16 (150 EXP)
-[] Argent Star 11->12 (110 EXP)
This plan is leaning on my hunches/priorities. Stygian tempest isn't important to level by ones, while Argent Star feels like it might just be 1 level away and the Handle has an auto-milestone for APT. Each future plan would level Stardust Striker by 1, but the rest would be more flexible depending on our EXP and whether milestones show up. This plan deals better with approaching threats but accepts some risk of later overshooting.
I prefer the second plan, but am waiting for responses before I actually vote.
EDIT: oops. missed Arcane Slash being done. Revised plans.
So. The idea did not work, but the plan did. I don't think that exploit makes it work, either. A pity. Unless there's another exploit that wasn't revealed, I guess, but that seems unlikely, considering I directly discussed it. @Naron just confirming, but there's no exploit to have echo replicate the Laser attack, right?
Pretty impressive Echo chain, too. And I was very surprised by the Naga's spell.
Uh. Naron, did we somehow finish the last one already?
The safe way to avoid wasting levels is to level things by 1 each update, ideally several at once, but I'm fairly neutral on that. We can do it if we have enough EXP and a string of safe updates.
The handle we should push to 18 (next APT level) as soon as possible. Its abilities will apply regardless of our weapon. If the ability isn't there by then, we can push it the rest of the way. If you're paranoid, we can check 19 before going to 20. (Also, by the time we're at 20, 21 is close enough we should probably pick it up.)
Stardust didn't get an upgrade yet despite that leveling spree, so it's next one is going to be very significant. I feel we should go for that soon. On the other hand, excess levels on it are comparatively wasteful, as the damage is minor, the EXP cost is high, and there doesn't seem like there'd be another ability soon thereafter. We should probably level it by 1 each update till we get it.
Stygian Tempest's next upgrade is blatantly juggernaut, which, to be fair, would be very useful, especially with stringed attacks. I'm not nearly as interested as I am in Stardust or the handle, but we know what it is and it would be very useful. We don't mind overlevelling it, so we can feel free to just get some exp in reserve and spike it by 5 at need.
Aethyric tide and Conundrum are at least 5 levels away from something, leave them where they are for now. Reaper's will has everything but the lvl 35 already.
Argent Star...I don't really know what this would get, but it's theoretically our sheer damage option, and neglecting it is probably unwise. I feel like the upgrade is at 12 or 15, because 13, 14 and 16 are awkward numbers, but that doesn't actually mean anything. Overshooting isn't fine for ability reasons, but raw damage on it scales better than it does on anything else, so it's not that bad either.
Arcane Slash...feels like it does everything we need from it? More damage would be nice, sure, but we get that from weapons. Defense piercing abilities we can get from weapons. I'm not really sure what it could give that I'd prioritize. (Which itself makes me want to check, but I can resist that.)
So, a couple EXP plans while @Naron figures out whether the exploit is actually done and people decide what action plan they want to see.
This plan is just slowly leveling things towards milestones. Each future plan would try to look much the same, though dropping things when they get the milestone. I left the handle out because we can "safely" spike that to 18 and keeping exp in reserve to catch the other milestones as quickly as possible is more important for this plan. This plan uses our exp most efficiently, but probably doesn't give our milestones soon if we need them.
[] Plan Foundation (740 EXP)
-[] The Handle 15->18 (480 EXP)
-[] Stardust Striker 15->16 (150 EXP)
-[] Argent Star 11->12 (110 EXP)
This plan is leaning on my hunches/priorities. Stygian tempest isn't important to level by ones and Arcane Slash's milestone isn't important, while Argent Star feels like it might just be 1 level away and the Handle has an auto-milestone for APT. Each future plan would level Stardust Striker by 1, but the rest would be more flexible depending on our EXP and whether milestones show up. This plan deals better with approaching threats but accepts some risk of later overshooting.
I prefer the second plan, but am waiting for responses before I actually vote.
