Tales of Malaketh: Ritual of the Blood Red Night - Part 1: On The Run

[Xinnidy]

Because I'm in sleepwear. Does he have no shame? Ugh, Alex still couldn't understand vampires. This wasn't the time to worry about these embarrassing things, though, they were in a hurry. "Oh, thank you, Mina. I'll put on my clothes and ask your help with the straps. It takes forever to get my limbs covered." That'd speed them up, thankfuly.

---

And of course, they weren't going to leave without a fight. Kind of a tall request when the whole village seemed rallied against them.

"W-wait, Mina. Don't charge too far ahead, there's more coming. Stay behind me."

Alex to (11,6), rescue Mina

Edited October 14, 2018 by Xinnidy

[Nanami Touko]

Alex plays yoink

"Come on, Almira. Look sharp. This shouldn't be too hard," they said, almost through clenched teeth. The sun was certainly... Overbearing, right now.

Misea to (10,5), wait

"R-RIght!" And while mildly annoying for Almira, nowhere near as troublesome.

Almira to (7,5) equip rapier

Edited October 14, 2018 by SnakeMomMelissa

[scorri]

Seph rolled his eyes as Glen spouted off something about how he'd been right. Sure, that was why they were rushing in the first place, because of these people. It wasn't like he had been alone in being worried about the villagers or the only one trying to move with any speed. But still, when it came down to it, these people were trying to kill them, but they were also humans. Humans that he might have joined a few days ago before he met Almira and the others... He couldn't in good conscious kill them. Growling slightly, he pushed forward, pulling out his tome and aiming carefully. A shot to the guard's weapon first, to blast it out of his hands and then a blast to his knee to knock him to the ground. That should work. And hopefully the man would have enough sense to stay down.

12-6, shade guard 2

[Nanami Touko]

Sephtis isn't a big fan of murder, but knockouts are fair!
(96% 8%)
(46% 40%)
One hit, 6 damage!
Doubling is cool.
(96% 8%)
(92% 86%)
Wew close, but 6 more is one guard down~
Seph gains +66 EXP, +3 WEXP!

[sweet podado]

Hearing the banter between Astrid and the priest had given Mikaela a headache, subtle yet there and nagging him from the back of his head.  He had wished to avoid as much conflict as possible, just like Misea, but it would seem they had no choice now.  He also had a few choice words for the priest, but with the distance between them Mikaela doubted that the other would be able to hear him.  Oh well.

Still though, it was quite impressive how Seph was able to avoid death blows, the boy's precision sharp and hitting their targets right where he wanted them to hit.  In fact, as he watched Mikaela couldn't help but whistle slightly in awe, before going back to the task at hand.  Noticing Alex helping Mina move away from danger, the young man focused on that and went over to help them in a flash.

"Excuse me ladies, I will be...yes, there you go-" and with that he picked up Mina in a princess hold, before winking at Alex and taking Mina even farther away from danger.  Once secured he gently placed the young lady down, adjusting her dress and making sure everything was neat and perfect.

Mikaela to (11,5) take Mina and drop Mina at (12,5)

Edited October 14, 2018 by sweet podado

[Nanami Touko]

Enemy Phase, Turn 1!

Boot Buckle is too scared to attack, but the other villagers don't share his sentiments!

"Die, you monster!"

Villager #5 takes a swing at Astrid!
(50% 0%)
(84,84)
A miss!
What a mistake!
Astrid counters!
(96% 6%)
(68,5)
Ouch!
36 damage fells him in one swing!
Astrid gains +4 EXP, +2 WEXP!

Guard #5 moves to 15,15
Villager #6 moves to 15,14
Villager #4 moves to 9,7
Butcher Bradley moves to 10,8

Villager #3 moves to 13,7 and tosses fire!
(64% 0%)
(61,84)
Burn baby burn~
9 damage to the poor lad!
Dark magic back in this guy's face!
(100% 5%)
(98,79)
Blasted!
6 damage back~
Sephtis gains +17 EXP, +1 WEXP!
Sephtis levels!
73    78    45    75    45    30    2    35
Magic, speed, luck, defense!

Guard #3 moves to 8,5!
"Run along, little girl, you shouldn't be... Wait, you're one of them! Die monster!"
(43% 0%)
(31,14)
12 damage! Ow!
Almira, frightened as she may be, stabs back at him!
(100% 14%)
(30,16)
9 damage!
Again!
(83,70)
9 more damage!
Almira gains +12 EXP, +2 WEXP!

NPC Phase, Turn 1!

Sharena tries to keep calm, and scurries to 20,12

Player Phase, Turn 2!

Stats!

Edited October 18, 2018 by SnakeMomMelissa

[Ether]

"Fool." Astrid noted sternly as the villager took a swing at her, easily knocking the axe from his hands in riposte, turning her own weapon to it's blunt side before bringing down the hammer, a crushing blow to the man's solar plexus causing him to let out a pained squeak before crumpling to the ground, unconscious. Taking a look towards the inn... well, no one had been takem out yet, but with Misea and Almira not operating at maximum capacity, things weren't looking the best for them, either. Both the Princess and Sephtis looked like they had seen better days.

"Honestly, whatever would you people do without me... HEY! If you brainless peons truly think yourselves capable of taking on a vampire, then here I am. Play hero and die, if that's what you really want... you seek glory, no? What is there to be had attacking human escorts like them?" The Countess boasted, moving towards centre stage as it were, motioning for Sharena to keep out of danger. If she could draw some attention away from the others, that would be swell.

Astrid moves to 15,11, equips Steel Axe and uses her hidden Taunt ability

[Moblin Major General]

"Princess!" Glendwr wanted to rush to the aid of the young princess, but then he saw a skinny-looking fellow with a curved blade just behind a villager approaching the group. He looks like trouble. He could gut us like fish if we let him. I won't, though. 

Glendwr moves to 12, 8 and shoots Butcher Bradley with Revolver

[scorri]

"Almira no!" Seph raced towards the vampire, dark magic collecting around his hands as he did. Flinging them out, aiming at the center of the man's body, he was aiming to blast the man backwards, hoping that the armor would prevent the magic from killing the man. A second blast followed up, aiming to knock him out of the fight, and as far away from Almira as he could.

Seph to (9,6), shade axe guard

[Nanami Touko]

Astrid scoots.

Glendwr shoots.

(100% 10%)
(62,90)
Das 10 damage.
Glen gets 11 exp and 2 WEXP

Sephtis is unhappy.
(100% 7%)
(73,50)
Wan more.
(67,12)
Down 'e goes.
Sephyboy gets 61 EXP, and 3 WEXP

The guard fell, Almira clutching her arm, trying to hold the wound shut. "Th-Thanks..." She would've been able to handle things... Probably. But it was nice to have people looking out for her. "I'll be okay. Let's, just... Get out of here."

Edited October 22, 2018 by SnakeMomMelissa

[scorri]

"Take a step back, take care of that wound, alright? I'll go find Mina, see if she can come take care of you. Just... stay out of sight until we clear these next few out of the way, please. I know you can fight but I don't want to see you getting hurt more." He smiled at her, trying to mask his worry as best he could.

[sweet podado]

"Well, that's just uncouth," he scoffs at the villager shooting fire, and quickly zeroes down on him.  With one swift movement he raises his sword, but instead of going for a killer blow he makes sure to knock him out with the blunt end of his weapon.  It would do no good if they killed people here, no matter how dangerous they were at the moment.  Still, he watched with widened eyes as Almira was hit, but didn't worry much as Seph dealt with the perpetrator.  He wanted to let out a sigh of relief, but they weren't done yet.

"If you could be a dear and help Almira when you can Mina, that would be grand," he calls out to the other, looking over his shoulder with a smile before getting back on his guard.

Mikaela to 13,6 with steel sword, goes for a knock out at the fire villager 

Edited October 22, 2018 by sweet podado

[Nanami Touko]

"I-I'm fine, really! Let me help!" It wasn't that bad... She could still swing her sword just fine.

Mike smash puny mage~

(87% 2%)
(67,24)
11 away~
Whoops fire ball.
(85% 0%)
(56,57)
Toasty.
Another swing!
(34,53)
Down he goes, bonk.
Mike gets 37 exp, 3 wexp

[Xinnidy]

Their escape was rousing the attention of more villagers, of course... was that Astrid on the distance? Well, that'd explain where the countess was all this time. At least they could count on her now. Still, there were some pressing matters the group would need to handle on their own, Alex could spot a threat when it presented itself. "Fancy sword. Y'aint getting that anywhere near us, though." It was time to raise her tome again. Alex reckoned she could handle a blow from that sword if the man ever got too close, but some of the others would not appreciate it.

Alex to (10,6), cast fire on Butcher Bradley.

[Balcerzak]

Mina was slightly miffed at Alex when chided her to exercise more caution, but the other girl certainly meant well enough. And she had been on the opposite side of the earlier tousle, so maybe the foreign girl hadn't exactly seen that she wasn't half bad at keeping out of harm's way (...nevermind a significant helping of luck had been involved.) Perhaps it was just general irritation at people wanting to kill her first thing in the morning bleeding over into her mood though. Wilhelmina bit back a barbed reply and allowed herself to be pulled behind the armored woman, for what was objectively better positioning, and that would have been the end of that.

...Except.

"Wha!?~" One thing the teacher certainly hadn't been expecting was being swept off her feet by the relative newcomer, and being carted around bridal style. Words, intelligible words at least, died in her throat as she found herself awestricken at the audacity of some people. Yesterday it was the countess, unable to keep her hands and her lips to herself, and now, today, this fellow? There was too much ambient danger, and honestly, too little time to really think about the matter, so Mina neither kicked, screamed, nor struggled. But if he'd even made one wrong move after placing her back down on solid ground, that would have been a different story.

Fortunately for all involved, Mikaela seemed to actually be much more interested in being a proper gentleman, than in anything untoward. "You... why? Hah? I..." a few more bemused monosyllables escaped, as Mina brought her hands to the side of her head, shaking it in disbelief, but her 'savior' quickly disappeared to go intercept one of the rowdy villagers.

Before he'd left, he'd mentioned something about Almira. Wilhelmina had been too wrapped up in things (his arms, mainly) to have noticed what happened, but casting a glance that way now, she saw Seph had already dispatched the nearby hostile, and the princess appeared at least decently off. Turning back toward their escape route... yeah, no, if they didn't try to at least hold some sort of line together, somebody was going to get swarmed and it wasn't going to end pretty. Glen and Alex had advanced, and that gap between them was a problem, a big one, but maybe if she were there and tossed off a spell or two, perhaps the townsfolk would think twice? It was worth a shot. Once they had a little more breathing room, or if anything suddenly turned worse, fussing over Almira would be the first order of business, but for now, it had to wait at least a little.

Mina to (11,7), lightning Bradley

[Nanami Touko]

Burrrrrn baby burn~

(100% 0%)
(90,72)
Fwoosh, burned, for 5
Alex gains +11 exp and 1 wexp!

Mina scoots along rather flustered... So, as normal?

Zip zap!
(100% 8%)
(82,7)
Mrgrgr
Bzzzzap!
9 damage to bradleby
Mina gets +11 damage and +1 wexp!

"If you're going to be adorable, dearest Mina, save it for when we're safe~" What an amusing exchange that had been, did she truly find contact so foreign? Were Astrid's eyes not set on her, Misea would've thought to take a shot at introducing her to the wonders of it all... And maybe still would~

"Excuse me sir, but I'm afraid you're in the way!"
Begone, Bradderson
(100% 2%)
(35,63)
A swift bash with the shaft of their lance, and down he goes!
Misea gets +14 EXP, +4 WEXP, and a shamshir!

Almira, reluctantly, visits an open house to try and warn the good people inside to stay there.

"Oh, poor child, you're bleeding! No, this wont do, vampires or not those church fanatics always try to stir up trouble where there isn't any. Here, some of the town guard are more heavily armored... This should help you get through them a bit faster."

Armorslayer get!

Enemy Phase, Turn 2!

Villager 2 charges to 13,8 and stabs at Glen!

(60% 0%)
(28,15)
Ouch!
13 damage
Glen fires back!
(100% 13%)
(32,14)
So close!
12 damage in return
Glen gets +11 EXP, +2 WEXP, and he levels!
Glendwr Level 2:
82    7    31    38    6    58    31    39
+1 Strength, Skill, Speed

Town Guard #5 spots Sharena!
"C'mere you traitor!"
He moves to 17,13

The Lazy Owner scooches herself over to 9,14!

"Y-You monster!"
Another villagers thinks they can deal with Astrid, it's almost funny.
(44% 0%)
(96,35)
Alas.
Astrid swings back~
(91% 8%)
(10,7)
Wow she's on a rampage
Donk, more than enough damage.
Astrid gets +4 exp, +4 wexp

Villager four heads to 12,9 to donk Glen one!
(71% 1%)
(29,56)
Ouch! 9 more damage!
Glen fires back!
(99% 13%)
(3,44)
Bang, another hit! 14 damage!
Glen gets +11 EXP, +2 WEXP!

"Go, my followers! Purge these evils!"
The devotes begin to move! Better hurry Astrid!

NPC Phase, Turn 2!

"A-Astrid, just go! I can weather their assault!" The mages, at least...

Sharena moves to 15,12!

Player Phase, Turn 3!

Stats!

Edited October 27, 2018 by SnakeMomMelissa

[Ether]

"Were it only the mages, I would believe you, but that pesky guard..." Astrid cursed through her teeth... they were still too far off from the others, and whilst Astrid herself could escape the sun devouts, if she did, Sharena would surely be swarmed. She couldn't simply allow the girl to perish like that, not when it was the Countess' own meddling that had involved her to begin with. 

"I'm sorry, Misea. I only hope my foolishness does not cause you further peril. Sharena... if nothing else, please live."

Astrid equips Hatchet and rescues Sharena

[scorri]

Seph to (12,7), revolver steel lance villager

[Nanami Touko]

"What-- No! Put me down this instant! Their magic will kill you, Astrid!"

A narrow miss!
(94% 11%)
(98,89)
Sephtis gains 2 EXP, 1 WEXP

Almira carries this new sword to 7,5!

"Gods, dammit all, out of the way!" Misea was no fool to mistake the clothes of the men rounding the corner, just past these townsfolk... Clergy, likely bearing spells. Spells meant to kill the lot of them. And Astrid was fooling about with some girl instead of trying to save herself? How long have you lived to just throw it away now?

Misea dashes over to 13,7 and practices stabbing!
(93% 5%)
(62,67)
One clean hit!
13 damage, down he goes
10 EXP for Misea, 4 WEXP!

Edited October 30, 2018 by SnakeMomMelissa

[sweet podado]

Well aren't they being pesky lil buggers!

Mikaela to (13,9) steel sword at steel sword villager

[Xinnidy]

Mina would have to excuse her previous actions, but these town guards were annoyingly bothersome, as well as the villagers that tried to gang up as well. It was even more frustrating that Seph and Glen took the brunt of hits instead of her, but their positioning really couldn't help it, for some reason. Weaving between enemies was exhausting. ...And great, there was Astrid, some girl she was concerned about, and a bunch of sun loons on her tail. "Ain't no time for these goons... gotta hope our wagon is alright." On the bright side, Alex was getting intimately familiar with the fire tome that Misea had given her. It wasn't her spell of choice, but it was really easy to fling at some unruly villagers, as it were.

Alex to (11,8), cast fire at the steel sword villager.

[Balcerzak]

"Excuse me?" Mina's indignation at the vampire knight's jesting was almost withering, but observers were split on whether she actually managed a glare or if it fell short into pout territory. "...And just whose fault is it we're not safe now~" she followed with a slightly plaintive whine, almost under her breath.

Looking up ahead, she caught sight of Astrid, and some other woman, and her mind was quick to lay the blame there. And then... "...no, I don't believe it," the teacher murmured as the countess grabbed the shopkeep and interposed herself between her and the foes. What exactly was going on there?

But that pair was still a goodly distance away, and Glen's grunts of pain as he became the unlucky filling in an armed villager sandwich wrenched Wilhelmina's gaze back to closer quarters. Yeesh, he didn't dodge any of that, that was going to sting. Thankfully the rest of the companions converged on location and set about removing the threats, allowing her to squeeze in and manage a quick patch job.

"Alright, you lummox. I'd had you pegged for the cloak and dagger type, but here you right in the heart of the fray. This'll help, but I doubt you can take another pair of hits like those two you just did. Consider a more... moderate approach, with room to retreat." Perhaps she was being too harsh, but she was still a little rankled from recent events.

Mina to 13,8 Heal Glen

Edited November 1, 2018 by Balcerzak

[Nanami Touko]

"I'll take the blame without a second thought, and you can have every apology you wish... But being so cute on the field of battle is distracting, please keep in mind~" Misea had been far too busy putting these people out of commission to comment on the validity of her glare or pout, but the rapport was keeping their spirit up, despite Astrid's... Situation. "Feel free to be adorable when we're done here, I'll gladly watch." It seemed that, if they could make it past those upcoming mages, such a future was viable.

Mikaela practices stabminship

(92% 1%)(4%)
(34,63)(57)
13 damage, almost done!
Unfortunately a counter!
(84% 4%)
(45,81)
A nasty counter!
9 damage.
Mikaela gets 11 EXP, 1 WEXP

Alex smolders in next!

(100% 2%)
(85,87)
Burn baby burn!
5 damage, more than enough
Alex gets 37 EXP, 2 WEXP!

And Mina gives Glen a healin'! 11 EXP and 2 WEXP for her, 12 points of HP for him.

Glen then scooches off to 15,10, grabs Sharena, and lets her off behind him!

"No! NO! Astrid!"

Enemy Phase, Turn 3!

The devotes strike where their aim is ordered!

Sun devote 3 fires light at Astrid!
(72% 0%)
(12,30)
12 damage to the vampire!
She strikes back without fail!
(93% 2%)
(28,12)
10 damage! Again!
(14,60)
10 more!
Astrid gets +5 EXP, +2 WEXP

"Press the advantage! We can kill it!
Sun devote 2 tries the same!
(72% 0%)
(85,18)
She dodges! Moon bless!
Hatchet swings back!
(93% 2%)
(68,20)
10 damage!
(87,26)
10 more!
Astrid gets +5 exp, +2 wexp!
Astrid levels! Level 2:
38    69    48    23    49    6    53    15
HP, Skill, Speed, Luck, Res!

"Do not falter!"
Devote 1 follows suit!
(69% 0%)
(65,13)
Ouchie mama! 11 damage!
Astrid swings back again!
(96% 3%)
(29,15)
10 damage!
(90,48)
10 more!
+4 exp, +2 wexp!

"D-Damn vampires! Just die! Begone!"
Town guard 5 steps in to attempt a final blow!
(16% 0%)
(14,52)
Oh god.
9 damage to Astrid!
Astrid enters Bloodrage!
She counters!
(100% 10%)
(28,66)
3 damage!
Again!
(9,38)
3 more!
Astrid gets +5 EXP, +2 wexp!

The Lazy Owner moves to 12,12!

Town guard 4 moves to 7,12!

NPC Phase, Turn 3!

"Astrid!" Sharena rushed forward immediately, applying her staff to those wounds. "You fool! How am I supposed to see the world with you if you go and die minutes before we have to leave!?"

Astrid gets +15 HP! She is still Bloodraged!

Player Phase, Turn 4!

Stats!

Edited November 1, 2018 by SnakeMomMelissa

[scorri]

14-10, revolver devotee 3

Edited November 1, 2018 by scorri

[Nanami Touko]

Guns out lads

(76% 5%)
(36,90)
(94)
10 damage!
Down he goes
Sephtis gains +56 exp, +2 wexp!
Sephtis levels! Level 3:
35    53    14    46    66    88    60    70
HP, Magic, Skill, Speed!

Glen joins the fun of killing clergy!

(99% 8%)
(56,25)
(43)
13 damage, another one bites the dust!
Glen gets +37 EXP, +4 WEXP

Edited November 1, 2018 by SnakeMomMelissa