[X] Do not let Sayaka attack.
-[X] She can start swinging just before the time stop ends, but you don't want to risk pulling this creature into the time stop.
...who has dropped Mami, and drawn that Sword of hers. With a snarl, she throws herself aside and lunges to slash it across the beast's ribs...only for it to hurl itself aside in turn, lashing at her with it's tail. She ducks with unnatural speed, letting out a shout as the Sword flashes again, but she still only manages to nick the monstrosity...
You frown, contemplating it...if she cuts that thing, it enters Time Stop, but only until Sayaka finishes cutting through it. It might be worth it...or it might be a disaster, if the monstrosity gets a hold of one of you.
and it's a double risk to Sayaka with our attacks ready to hit - it will definitely at the very least leave the area the bullets were in. We're better off letting her engage after our hit is out of the way and after Mami is somewhere out of the way. Not as our attack hits, after. I don't have a problem with her fighting it in melee though, just that adding the complication of Time Stop isn't good for that particular tactic.
Here's are three Truths I would like to be confirmed: Berserker has died at least once since his time being summoned.
Berserker would recognize Sayaka's sword.
Berserker can lose more than one life if hit hard enough.
Berserker has NOT died at least once since his time being summoned.
Berserker would not immediately recognize Sayaka's sword, if at all.
Berserker can lose more than one life if hit hard enough.
'A few moments with that thing in Time Stop is already problematic, but if it grabs Sayaka it either gets in here in the long term, Sayaka takes the brunt of my attack too, or I have to stop said attack and exit Time Stop...with her still in it's mouth.'
A part of you wants to just let her try, and then rain bullets on them both if she gets caught, but that part of you can no longer succeed in your quest. It does not matter.
"No. The risk is too high. We retreat and regroup. Come on."
She starts to protest, but you shut her down with a stare and tilt your head away from the beast. She still hesitates, her natural urge to rush in warring with...her good sense? Her trust in you? It's rather worrisome, you reflect, that the latter is more likely.
Thankfully, she does listen, and you quickly escape from the fog, Mami still limp over your shoulder. Turning, you review the scene:
The beast within the fog is about to be bombarded with a substantial arsenal. It is quite quick, though, and might very well be the source of the fog in question. You'll want to eliminate it quickly...hopefully before it gets in range of Mami, and definitely before Sayaka succumbs to the poison. You can heal the damage to her body, but only if she survives.
Above, Mami's apartment has a wall broken out. You can faintly see the "human" monstrosity within, it's back to the open air...you can't make out Nanoha or Kyouko, though. For a moment, a explosion of red light fills your thoughts, but you force the memory down.
'She'll survive...she's strong, and she has some of the best support she could ask for. I have to focus.'
Leaving Sayaka suspended in time for a moment, you step into a nearby building...a drug store, you think...dropping Mami off inside. Hopefully those fumes act like normal ones, rather than passing through walls. You haven't seen any sign to the contrary, but...by this point in your life, you've learned not to underestimate anything.
Returning to the side of the frozen azurette, you pull her back into the monochrome landscape with a touch. She blinks, looking at you, "Huh? What happened to-"
"She's safe. That thing will pursue if it can, as soon as I set time back in motion. Be ready with that sword of yours...I'll see what I can do about finishing it off. Be wary of the poison."
She nods, sword held before her, "Ready. Be careful, Homura-chan."
You raise an eyebrow at that, "Make sure you take your own advice. Alright, time will resume in 3...2...1."
You turn your shield, and the world erupts into chaos. A howl of agony echoes through the streets as the beast within the fog is struck. Simultaneously, above, a massive crimson spear bursts from the apartment building, the hulking grey warrior impaled on it's head as Kyouko rides her serpentine weapon to the ground beneath.
"▂▂▃▃▅▅!"
The inhuman roar that results dwarfs that of the beast you're fighting, a terrifying noise that seems to embody the very concept of rage, you feel your entire body freeze instinctively for a moment. Fortunately, you've heard worse, and regain control in the blink of an eye.
Sayaka does not. Immobilized by animalistic terror, she is entirely too slow to evade as the great hound bursts from the fog, thegaping hole in its throat apparently insufficient to incapacitate it as its claws rake across her body. An all-too-familiar cry of agony rips from her as she's sent tumbling...
The world flickers to grey as you twist the shield again, appearing in front of her to intercept the follow up swipe with your shield.
Time resumes, the creature's other set of claws screeching against your shield...only to stop as the offending limb goes flying, courtesy of Sayaka's sword.
She's grinning, somehow, her wounds only thin scratches in spite your expectations, "Gotcha."
She lunges to follow up, aiming for it's heart, only to strike air as the beast simply vanishes.
Slash: Effective Power = Power * 1.2, Standard Damage
Stab: Effective Power = Power * 1.5, Moderate decrease in Damage
Special Ability:
Progressive: If contact is maintained with the target, the attack's effective Power increases by 10 for each second of sustained contact, assuming pressure is maintained, to a maximum of +100 Power
Adds to or alters the abilities of an object. Different effect have different costs, and must be discovered and studied in order to determine what works and what doesn't. As always, proximity to your natural magical talents lowers Cost and Difficulty.
The costs listed below are the costs to enchant a handheld item. Vehicles cost 5 times this amount to enchant, and larger objects (buildings, warships, etc.) cost 5 times as much as a vehicle (25x the listed cost). All Enchantment Costs are rounded up.
Automation: The object or device will act on its own according to your will. (Cost: 5 EE/Hour)
Increase Power (1 EE/Power point. Max 20.)
Increase Speed (10 EE to double speed. Max 4x Speed.)
Increase Durability (1 EE/Durability point. Max 20.)
Increase Damage (30 EE to increase Damage scale by 1 step. Max 1.)
Enhance Other Ability: Examples include allowing plane to fly freely in hurricane, improving the sight enhancement from glasses, and making medicine more effective. Extremely exotic effects may be achieved through study, experimentation, and practice.(Cost: Varies).
Grant Supernatural Ability: Allow an object to do something that it normally can't. The stronger the relationship between the object and the effect, the lower the Cost and Difficulty will be (Homing Bullets and Auto Reload are relatively cheap. A Homing Cello, on the other hand...)
Homing Projectiles (1 EE/Projectile)
Auto Reload (5 EE)
Flying Sword/Knife: 30 EE
Use Magic to distort the past slightly, averting a single disaster before it occurred. Very powerful, but has limits.
Mild Damage to Arm. -0.5 to Base Strength.
Mild Damage to All Body Parts. -1 to Base Strength and Speed.
Time Stop:
Cost:
1 EE/Second; Rounded Up
10 Sanity/30 Minutes; Rounded Down; Totaled Daily
Shield of Protection:
Negates a single attack entirely.
Cost
X EE
X is equal to the Power of the attack negated.
Magic Blast:
Fire an energy blast from your Shield.
Instant Attack
100% Accuracy
100 Power
Low Damage
Cost
20 EE/Second; Rounded Up
Fairly easy to alter, with a little work.
Enchant:
Adds to or alters the abilities of an object. Different effect have different costs, and must be discovered and studied in order to determine what works and what doesn't. As always, proximity to your natural magical talents lowers Cost and Difficulty.
The costs listed below are the costs to enchant a handheld item. Vehicles cost 5 times this amount to enchant, and larger objects (buildings, warships, etc.) cost 5 times as much as a vehicle (25x the listed cost). All Enchantment Costs are rounded up.
Automation: The object or device will act on its own according to your will. (Cost: 5 EE/Hour)
Increase Power (1 EE/Power point. Max 20.)
Increase Speed (10 EE to double speed. Max 4x Speed.)
Increase Durability (1 EE/Durability point. Max 20.)
Increase Damage (30 EE to increase Damage scale by 1 step. Max 1.)
Enhance Other Ability: Examples include allowing plane to fly freely in hurricane, improving the sight enhancement from glasses, and making medicine more effective. Extremely exotic effects may be achieved through study, experimentation, and practice.(Cost: Varies).
Grant Supernatural Ability: Allow an object to do something that it normally can't. The stronger the relationship between the object and the effect, the lower the Cost and Difficulty will be (Homing Bullets and Auto Reload are relatively cheap. A Homing Cello, on the other hand...)
Homing Projectiles (1 EE/Projectile)
Auto Reload (5 EE)
Flying Knife/Sword (30 EE)
Bargaining:
Use Magic to distort the past slightly, averting a single disaster before it occurred. Very powerful, but has limits.
Cost
500 Sanity
500 EE
Weapons:
Durability: 300
Maximum Number: 1
Attack Types:
Slash: Effective Power = Power * 1.2, Standard Damage
Stab: Effective Power = Power * 1.5, Moderate decrease in Damage
Special Ability:
Progressive: If contact is maintained with the target, the attack's effective Power increases by 10 for each second of sustained contact, assuming pressure is maintained, to a maximum of +100 Power
Durability: Infinite
Maximum Number: 1
Special Abilities
Focus for Shield of Protection}
Focus for Time Stop
Required for Time Reversal
Armor:
Durability: 50
Special Abilties
Multiplies Speed and Strength by 10
Accessories:
Durability: 15
Special Abilities
Contains your Soul
[ ] Fall back to Mami's location. Protect her.
[ ] Back to back defense with Sayaka.
[ ] Attempt to join up with Kyouko and Nanoha
[ ] Time Stop Recon
[ ] Write-In
