As the one to start the engagement, it's little surprise that Winter Lion is the first to act once the creature is revealed, leveling her guns and waiting for the perfect moment.
(Winter Lion prepares a held attack!)
A second later, Marvelous Fairytale and Spire Cracker both spring into action at the same moment, both using their spells, though on different targets.
(Marvelous Fairytale uses There's No Place Like Home on Crimson Harvest! Crimson Harvest is buffed with Auto Recovery (112)!
Spire Cracker uses Spire Spike!
Spire Spike: 75 Base Damage, No Dice = 75 Total Damage
Thornscale Basilisk: 80 Base Resilience, No Dice = 80 Damage Reduction
0 Total End Damage)
A spike of stone erupts from the ground at Spire Cracker's command, catching the beast in the jaw and snapping its head back. While ultimately not enough to truly injure it, it does prompt the snake to hiss balefully, which in turn starts Fairytale's pet to yapping in a hopefully-intimidating manner. It doesn't work of course, as the little dog isn't even snack sized to the huge serpent, but it
does provide opportunity for Quantum Cheshire to close to teleporting distance and drop onto the creature's back with her spell...
(Quantum Cheshire uses Rending Strike!
Rending Strike: 50 Base Damage, +11 Dice Magebreaker!, +20 From above! = 70 Total Damage
Rending Strike: 50 Base Damage, +11 Dice Magebreaker!, +20 From above! = 70 Total Damage
140 Unified Damage
Thornscale Basilisk: 80 Base Resilience, No Dice = 80 Damage Reduction
60 Total End Damage
Magebreaker Reduction: 60/2 = 30 Final Damage
30 Final End Damage
Thornscale Basilisk: 510 - 30 = 480 Health Remaining
Scales Like Swords! 150 - 13 = 137 Health Remaining)
...A decision she
immediately regrets, as the blade-like scales that armor its hide lacerate her hands as she strikes, dealing nearly as much damage to her as she did to the creature. The snake, even
more pissed off about someone actually hurting it, thrashes violently to throw her off.
Crystal Watcher, meanwhile, focuses power into her scepter, charging it to strike harder next time it's used. Moving backwards, she attempts to take in the entire field with the power of her Gaze, but swiftly finds that the eyes simply can't focus on multiple targets at differing distances and angles simultaneously. Unable to aid everyone, she focuses on the snake and those nearest to it, as they likely needed help the most.
(Crystal Watcher retreats to overwatch position! Heavy Gaze applied to Thornscale Basilisk and Melee combatants. Crystal Crozier charged with Damage!
High Noon takes up overwatch position!)
Beside her, High Noon takes aim at the creature, prepared to strike as soon as it attacks something, which it shortly does! Turning in on itself, the flailing serpent finally manages to dismount Quantum Cheshire and seize her in it coils!
(Thornscale Basilisk does its best python impression on Quantum Cheshire!
Overwatch activates! Intercept (False)!
(Deadeye: 1/6)
Coils: 150 Base Damage, No Dice = 150 Total Damage
Heavy Gaze Reduction: 150/2 = 75 Total damage
Noon Bell: 70 Base Damage, No Dice = 70 Total Damage
5 Difference, Coils win!
Coils: 5 Base Damage, No Dice = 5 Total Damage
Heavy Gaze Reduction: 5/2 = 3 Total damage
Quantum Cheshire: 40 Base Resilience, +40 Dice = 80 Total Reduction
0 Total End Damage
Grapple Initiated! Thornscale Basilisk and Quantum Cheshire are now grappling!)
The heavy gaze of Crystal Watcher robs its attack of strength and blunts the blades of its scales, and High Noon's bullets counteract the momentum of its massive body, but while the combined effort is sufficient to let Cheshire survive the attack, it isn't enough to prevent her from being ensnared by the rending coils of the basilisk.
The snake tightens its grip around the captive magical and raises its head in preparation to strike down at her with its fangs and finish her quicker. And in doing so, it finally gives Winter Lion the shot she was waiting for.
(Rigging: 70 Base Damage, +15 Dice Magebreaker, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto = 140 Total Damage
Rigging: 70 Base Damage, +15 Dice Magebreaker, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto = 140 Total Damage
Rigging: 70 Base Damage, +15 Dice Magebreaker, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto = 140 Total Damage
Rigging: 70 Base Damage, +15 Dice Magebreaker, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto, +14 Full-Auto = 140 Total Damage
560 Unified Damage
Thornscale Basilisk: 80 Base Resilience, No Dice = 80 Damage Reduction
480 Total End Damage
Thornscale Basilisk: 480 - 480 = 0 Health Remaining)
For the second time that day, Lion's guns unleash upon the basilisk. The faux battleship's secondary batteries roar to life in a layered staccato of gunfire, rounds slamming into the snake's neck and chewing a ragged hole through its throat, the supersonic metal unimpeded by the creature's magic resistance. The basilisk sways for a moment, gurgling through the new hole in its esophagus, before collapsing in a heap. Twilight Wanderer aborts her own attack half way through, skipping aside with a yelp to avoid being crushed. Crimson Harvest slows to a stop halfway between the main group and the snake. Quantum Cheshire makes muffled noises of distress from underneath the bulk of the basilisk's corpse as it bleeds out all over her in a final act of spite.
Combat has ceased! Players are victorious!
Please resume normal posting procedures.
