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Post by Serpentarius on Apr 1, 2016 9:47:12 GMT -7
The following is a battle between four example characters. If you're not sure how something works, you can look to see if it's demonstrated here. If this still doesn't make things clear, feel free to PM the staff with any questions. In a real fight, you don't know for sure the exact stats of your enemies (or your allies, for that matter). However, the exact power and immunity levels of the combatants are listed here so you can see how they work. Onmyouji Power Theme: Paper charms inscribed with various effects. Powers: Aggression (Destruction) 5: Explosive charms with power that exceeds C4. Aggression (Confinement) 3: Sealing charms can restrict the target's movements. Interference (Depowering) 3: They can also drain the target's superpowers. Immunities: Maneuver (Field) 4: The sealing charms can drain superpowered effects from an area. Accumulation (Summoning) 4: The explosive charms are well-suited to clearing an area of weak hostiles. Interference (Obfuscation) 1: Position-tracking charms give mental awareness of where the target is. Youkai Power Theme: Manipulating and merging with shadows. Powers: Maneuver (Speed) 5: Move at the speed of light, but only along something else's shadow. Accumulation (Summoning) 2: Craft obedient shadow beasts. Interference (Obfuscation) 5: Deepen darkness and raise shadows into concealing curtains. Immunities: Aggression (Destruction) 4: Harden shadows into a durable armor. Aggression (Confinement) 4: Slip through the shadows to escape any hold. Aggression (Subdual) 5: Shadow-infused biology doesn't respond to trauma in the same way. Cantor Power Theme: Perceiving her allows her to enter one's mind. Powers: Accumulation (Information) 6: Once inside a mind, it may be read with ease. Accumulation (Enhancement) 7: As the battle continues, there are more opportunities to be perceived. Interference (Obfuscation) 7: Erasing perceptions and memories from inside a mind is straightforward. Immunities: Accumulation (Information) 5: If anyone figures out anything troublesome, that knowledge can be erased. Interference (Obfuscation) 7: As long as other people can see what's going on, their minds can be read for that information. Interference (Reversion) 4: It's difficult for opponents to even realize that there's something they need to revert. Chirurge Power Theme: Dissecting people and superpowers and reassembling them, potentially with "improvements." Powers: Aggression (Destruction) 4: Chirurge's power allows her to cut apart the very essence of things with her scalpels. Interference (Reversion) 7: Injuries are just opportunities to be put back together with a more robust design. Interference (Depowering) 7: The very source of a target's powers can be disassembled. Immunities: Aggression (Destruction) 5: Chitinous armor that's infinitely more durable than anything inorganic. Accumulation (Enhancement) 6: Any advantages can be lost in an instant to Chirurge's power. Interference (Depowering) 7: In contests between powers that stop other powers, this one tends to disassemble the other first. |
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Post by PANOPTICON Ver. 3.023 on Apr 1, 2016 9:48:43 GMT -7
PANOPTICON Ver. 3.023 online
Running aberrant conflict search heuristic.
Scanning satellite imagery... clear.
Scanning public security footage... clear.
Scanning private devices... anomaly located. Beginning detailed analysis.
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NPC
Posts 5
Power Level 20
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Post by Onmyouji on Apr 1, 2016 9:50:10 GMT -7
The moonlit construction site was deathly quiet. It was fortunate, Onmyouji supposed, that there wouldn't be any innocent bystanders nearby to worry about, but it was still creepy. She looked over her shoulder to make sure that Youkai was still there, then peeked around the corner. Her heartrate picked up as she saw the squat form of Chirurge among the abandoned equipment.
Onmyouji made the hand motion that signified an enemy spotted. She hesitated. That tall shadow a short distance from Chirurge, was it Cantor? Impossible to tell.
(Admin note: The first round, the players publicly post their introductions to the battle, and then secretly send the latter half of the post, describing their actual actions, as a PM to the admins.)
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NPC
Posts 5
Power Level 25
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Post by Youkai on Apr 1, 2016 9:51:10 GMT -7
Youkai was reluctant to let Onmyouji take the lead here, but she didn't bother voicing her objection. There wouldn't be any point. Instead, she followed closely, frequently glancing behind for pursuit and absently checking over her equipment under her coat. Her footfalls were silent as she drew on a small portion of her power to glide along the shadow of the nearby wall.
At Onmyouji's hand signal, Youkai instantly slid next to her in order to take in the situation for herself.
"Looks like Chirurge is separated from Cantor," she whispered. "Let's do it."
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NPC
Posts 5
Power Level 36
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Post by Cantor on Apr 1, 2016 9:52:32 GMT -7
Briefcase in hand, Cantor strode alongside Chirurge. The retrieval of the artifact had gone without incident, and now it was just a matter of getting some distance from the dead drop before signaling Praetorian, lest anyone locate the residue of the portal and trace its origin.
Then she sensed it. When unpowered people spoke of feeling eyes on them, it was purely an intuitive thing. But for Cantor, it was altogether more reliable. Two minds flashed into her consciousness, located somewhere off to the right, and without even thinking about it, she worked herself just far enough inside the both of them to erase their impression of seeing her. She would have to let them perceive her somehow in order to exert further influence, but visual contact would leave them far too many inconvenient options.
"Chirurge," she murmured with a small smile. "I do believe we're being underestimated."
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NPC
Posts 5
Power Level 36
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Post by Chirurge on Apr 1, 2016 9:53:20 GMT -7
Chirurge's patience was already wearing thinner than usual, and that no small statement. Running fetch errands put her in a murderous mood. And so, Cantor's words only served to make her expectations for the night a bit brighter. As always, though, the anticipation was diluted by a measure of cynicism.
"If you're fucking with me again, Cantor," Chirurge rasped, "I will end you."
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Post by PANOPTICON Ver. 3.023 on Apr 1, 2016 9:59:43 GMT -7
PANOPTICON Ver. 3.023 analyzing combat data... Interference (Depowering) by Chirurge against Youkai results in SUCCESS, +5% combat advantage Accumulation (Enhancement) against Accumulation (Summoning) results in SUCCESS, +10% combat advantage Maneuver (Speed) by Youkai against Chirurge results in FAILURE due to equal-or-greater suppression by Chirurge's Interference (Depowering) Aggression (Destruction) by Onmyouji against Chirurge results in FAILURE due to equal-or-greater suppression by Chirurge's immunity, +10% combat advantage Current conditions: Cantor and Chirurge have Accumulation (Summoning) immunity granted by Accumulation (Enhancement) Combat advantage: Cantor and Chirurge: 15% Onmyouji and Youkai: 10% Current openings: None. (Admin note: Notice that power usage and immunities are reported without the exact level here. Also note that the PM'd posts by the combatants were each made without seeing the others, so each is left open-ended to be resolved following this post.) |
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NPC
Posts 5
Power Level 36
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Post by Chirurge on Apr 1, 2016 10:00:48 GMT -7
A brief flutter of paper was the only warning before the air around Chirurge erupted in a volley of explosions. The sheer force of it slid her along the ground until she could gain traction with her hands, but she was otherwise unconcerned as she turned toward the source, the smooth black armor under her robe shielding her from any real damage.
A moment later, a black streak solidified in front of her, and Chirurge let the scalpel drop from her hand before reaching out with practiced ease, catching Youkai's incoming knife arm. She caught Youkai's other wrist in her other hand to fend up the predictable followup punch, and as Youkai shifted her weight to deliver a punishing kick-
A third arm emerged from Chirurge's robe to catch Youkai's ankle. And then a fourth arm emerged as well, driving a fist into Youkai's gut. For a brief moment as the fist made contact, Chirurge could sense the intersecting lines of space, time, and power that made up the girl's existence. In that brief moment... Chirurge pulled, throwing it all into disarray.
(Admin note: Now that the battle has begun, each public post describes the resolution of the last round's secret actions. The last resolution post can be used to determine how successful each character's attempts were.)
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NPC
Posts 5
Power Level 25
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Post by Youkai on Apr 1, 2016 10:01:35 GMT -7
Youkai only had time for a moment of confusion and a frenzied attempt to salvage the attack before the fist caught her in her midsection. The impact sent her flying, and she tumbled across the ground before hitting the concrete wall, hard.
She coughed, tasting copper on her lips, and when she tried to quickly spring back up to her feet, the world seemed to spin and distort. The singing. She hadn't noticed it at first, but it had begun while she was reeling from the attack. It seemed that Cantor was here after all, and Youkai had a sinking feeling that trying to direct a shadow servant like this would be borderline impossible. On top of that, the punch had done something funny, and now Youkai's shadows were flickering erratically like the last fitful embers of a dying flame.
Youkai began slowly forcing herself to her feet. There was no way she could give up so soon.
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NPC
Posts 5
Power Level 20
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Post by Onmyouji on Apr 1, 2016 10:02:32 GMT -7
"Youkai!" The helpless cry was all she could manage. Cantor had revealed her presence, and Onmyouji was feeling the effects as well. Onmyouji wasn't sure if she could even walk straight enough to arrive at Youkai's side, and even if she could, Chirurge didn't seem to care the least bit about being bombed.
Damn it... There had to be something she could do!
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NPC
Posts 5
Power Level 36
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Post by Cantor on Apr 1, 2016 10:03:32 GMT -7
The failure of the two heroes' initial attack was amusing, but Cantor couldn't help but feel a bit left out. She continued to sing by rote as she stood off to the side, unnoticed. The lyrics were entertaining, describing the capture and ritualistic mutilation of the singer's enemies, but of course they were wasted on listeners of this era. A shame. Cantor idly considered her options as she moved to the next verse.
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Post by PANOPTICON Ver. 3.023 on Apr 1, 2016 10:06:08 GMT -7
PANOPTICON Ver. 3.023 analyzing combat data... Interference (Depowering) by Chirurge against Youkai results in SUCCESS, +5% combat advantage Interference (Obfuscation) by Youkai against Cantor results in FAILURE due to greater-or-equal suppression by Chirurge's Interference (Depowering) Interference (Obfuscation) by Cantor against Onmyouji results in PARTIAL success due to lesser suppression by immunities, +3% combat advantage Aggression (Destruction) by Onmyouji against Cantor results in FAILURE due to greater-or-equal suppression by Cantor's Interference (Obfuscation), +10% combat advantage Current conditions: Cantor and Chirurge have Accumulation (Summoning) immunity granted by Accumulation (Enhancement) Combat advantage: Cantor and Chirurge: 23% Onmyouji and Youkai: 20% Current openings: Chirurge can DISABLE one of Youkai's powers for 20% combat advantage (Admin note: Because Chirurge's interference power resolved before Youkai's, Cantor's immunity never came into play and isn't revealed.) |
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NPC
Posts 5
Power Level 36
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Post by Chirurge on Apr 1, 2016 10:07:58 GMT -7
The wall of darkness that suddenly blocked Chirurge's approach only stalled her briefly. She surged forward the last few feet, reaching blindly, then closed her fingers around the form within. The shape of Youkai's power came into her mind, already slightly distorted, and Chirurge tweaked it again, watching the lines writhe as if in pain.
The darkness vanished as if someone had turned on a light, allowing Chirurge to see her own hand gripping Youkai by the throat. She lifted Youkai off the ground, her other arms slowly sliding out of her cloak to pin the hero against the wall.
"It's over," Chirurge rasped.
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NPC
Posts 5
Power Level 36
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Post by Cantor on Apr 1, 2016 10:08:38 GMT -7
Cantor smiled as she saw her words sink in, the paper bombs fluttering around her like so much chaff. The sudden darkness made her tilt her head in puzzlement, but it vanished quickly enough. She glanced over to where Chirurge had the shadow girl at her mercy.
"Mm, too bad," she imprinted onto Onmyouji's mind. "Looks like your partner went and irritated Chirurge anyway. This won't be pleasant for her."
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NPC
Posts 5
Power Level 25
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Post by Youkai on Apr 1, 2016 10:10:10 GMT -7
As the hand seized Youkai's throat, she abruptly realized her mistake. Stupid, stupid... She had been too concerned about hiding Onmyouji, too disoriented to realize that Chirurge had seen where she landed, and she hadn't gotten away in time. Now she was caught.
Another pulse of Chirurge's power hit her, but this time it didn't go away. Her control over the surrounding shadows faded, and the protection of the surrounding darkness disappeared. She choked as the hand lifted her by the throat up into the air. She felt sick - not from any pain, but from the realization that she had failed.
We got in over our head. We've already lost. We're going to die. Was it Cantor's power that was influencing her to think this way? The singing was still pounding in her head, making it impossible to keep anything straight. Youkai closed her eyes.
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