Turn 6: Swordplay & Status AilmentsI grab a demon and shatter him. If Ochita wishes, he may inscribe ice rune on the demon.
[4+1][Luck 1]. You grab the demon that had swiped at you and attempt to shatter it. Shrapnel Shatter doesn't really work on living things, but that doesn't stop the demon from glowing bright red and exploding as you channel power into it. You are, of course, about as close to it as you can get, and feel the full brunt of the rather impressive explosion.
+3 DestructionNew Spell: Detonatecontrol another demon while making my puppet fight the demons around it
[4][Luck 2] Struggling to seize a second demon without letting go of the first, you manage to enslave another demon's bones, but lose your grip on the first one. [1] vs [5]. Not only does your puppeteering fail to strike another demon, the intended victim simply throws his wayward comrade to the ground and comes for you.
+2 NecromancyDemon [2] vs [3]. You sidestep the demon's attacks.
Rush to Seymore and assume a defensive position.
[1] In your rush to get to Seymore, you don't notice another demon as it blindsides you, knocking you to the ground and then rushing in for the kill. Demon [1] vs [6+3]. You jump to your feet and slash it entirely in half.
+2 SwordsmanTry to cast Cure Moderate Wounds on myself
[6][Luck 3] Not satisfied with your current abilities, you attempt to channel a larger portion of power into yourself. You glow briefly, but the magic is clumsy, and you feel more drained than healed.
+3 RestorationNew Spell: Cure Moderate WoundsWeakenedDemon [1] vs [6-1]. You hammer a demon upside the head with your staff as it tries to prey on you. It stumbles over, but it's clearly getting up soon.
Try to summon a divine being of some discription, which will then heal me
[4+1][Luck 2]. You expertly summon a glowing angel of light, but it simply stares into space. Its glowing expression is unreadable, and you have no idea what it's doing just hovering there.
+3 SummoningNew Spell: Summon Angel of MercyIf there are a number of demons who are not in melee with the defenders yet, I cast Earth Wave to knock them down.
[2+1][Luck 5] You create a not very impressive and rather small earth wave in the middle of the onrushing demons, but it manages to lift a demon up and back enough to disrupt those behind it as they plow into those in front of them.
+3 Earth magicDemon [6] vs [3]. The same demon continues its assault, just as furious as last time. Your reaction is a bit less impressive, and its claws impale right through your armor as the force knocks you back.
Jump down and start slashing demons
[4] You successfully dismount the wall, conveniently after most of the demons had already rushed past it. You find a straggler easily enough, however. [5] vs [3]. The freezing effect gives it enough edge to take off your target's head.
+2 SwordsmanTwo more stragglers rush at you. [6] vs [1], [2] vs [4]. The first one hammers you in the gut with its claws, and your vision goes hazy for a moment as you stumble back, gasping. It's an impressive wake-up call, and you avoid the second one's assault.
There were apparently a bit more than 20, as you now count 19 demons left.
Fire!
[1] Seeing their chance, the archers still on the wall promptly blow it, firing arrows uselessly at the general direction of the demons in the courtyard.
Fire!
[4-1] With the pikemen in their way, the archers on the ground nonetheless try to fire at the backup created by the earth wave. They pick off around 4.
Strike!
[5+3] vs [6], [1+2] vs [6], [3+1] vs [3]. Perhaps biting off more than he can chew, the commander engages three demons at once. He deals a heavy blow to the first's torso, but the second throws him off balance and he gets a weak blow to the third's jaw. [5] vs [4], [5] vs [5], [2] vs [1]. The first demon counterattacks, catching the commander lightly in the shoulder, while the second trades impressive parries, and the third slams him in the thigh.
Strike!
[6] vs [4]. The pikemen slay all 5 demons that made it through, including all but one of those attacking the commander.
Ten demons remain. Five are engaged with various magi, one presses the commander, and three were delayed by the earth wave and now rush to find targets. The last is under Max's questionable control.
Bland, pale, skinny-looking fellow with brown hair and eyes.
HealthyCurrent Location: Courtyard of Wellspring
Apprentice Necromancer (12/20)
Novice Runecrafter (1/10)
Animate DeadScathing TouchRune of NecrosisRune of Necromantic FocusPuppet DemonLinen Robe
Wooden Staff
Minor Ring of ProtectionLeather QuiverLeather Shoes
---
Focused Repeating CrossbowSlightly short man with a long amethyst ponytail and eyes. Medium complexion, birthmark on left hand.
Moderately WoundedCurrent Location: Courtyard of Wellspring
Apprentice Summoner (11/20
Novice Claw User (0/10)
Summon Spirit AllySummon WildlifeSummon Angel of MercyClaw Gauntlets
Reinforced Leather ArmorLinen Tunic
Rugged Leather PantsLeather Boots
---
Camping SuppliesTall, swarthy, long-fingered arabic man with a short black beard and long arms.
Moderately WoundedCurrent Location: Courtyard of Wellspring
Apprentice Destruction (9/20)
Novice Enchanter (0/10)
Lightning BlastFireballImbue Concussion BombShrapnel ShatterDetonateSteel Dagger
Dark Grey Robe
Dark Grey Wizard's Hat
Bone Ring
---
Spellbook
Broad-shouldered man with green eyes and black hair.
Moderately WoundedCurrent Location: Courtyard of Wellspring
Apprentice Earth Magic (8/20)
Novice Alchemist (0/10)
Dabbling Diplomat (3/10)
Earth WaveEarth SlamPotion of StoneskinReinforced Leather ArmorSoft Wool Tunic
Soft Wool Pants
Soft Wool Socks
Leather Shoes
Walking Stick
---
Hand Axe
Knife
Blanket
Waterskin (2)
Dried Beef
Crystalline white stones
Unremarkable looking man with brown hair and eyes.
Moderately WoundedGut WoundCurrent Location: Courtyard of Wellspring
Apprentice Runecrafter (4/20)
Novice Water Magic (4/10)
Dabbling Swordsman (2/10)
Rune of Weeping WaterRune of Water's FlowAir FrostCure Minor WoundsRune of Frozen WaterRobe
Oak Staff
Hooked Belt
Linen Pants
Leather Shoes
---
Frozen LongswordSketchbook+Pencil
Runecrafting KitA short, moderately-girthed man with brown hair, piercing blue eyes, and a short but full red beard. Jolly demeanor, wearing very simple clothes.
Moderately WoundedCurrent Location: Courtyard of Wellspring
Apprentice Restoration (3/20)
Novice Light Magic (8/10)
Major MendingCure Light WoundsEye FlashCure Moderate WoundsApplewood Staff
Brown Friar Robes (includes hood and rope belt)
Brown Linen Pants
Hemp Sandals
---
Backpack
Bedroll
Traveling Rations
Small Medical KitFairly tall, decently muscled, clean-shaven man with black hair and dark blue eyes. Seems a bit distant or distracted sometimes.
Lightly WoundedCurrent Location: Courtyard of Wellspring
Apprentice Swordsman (4/20)
Novice Destruction (0/10)
FrostballSteel Longsword
Bronze ShieldStudded Leather ArmorLinen Tunic
Leather PantsLeather Boots
---
Book of Destruction Magic
Ornamental OrbCopper PoleSunstoneAlso, Irony: You are missing the slash in your end acronym tag on my (worthless) sunstone. It should be "[/acronym]". Not "[acronym]".
Thanks. There's a lot of text to work with, so small errors like that tend to creep in.
P.S. Did my armor help reduce the damage I took?
Not last time; there wasn't enough of it. It did this turn, however.
On a related note, I'm still considering how armor should work, so it might change in the future. I'll let you know, of course.
Melee UpdateMelee combat will now interact with skills a little differently. For one thing, shields will apply like a weapon skill bonus, meaning they'll be depleted with successive attacks.
More importantly, you may make multiple attacks in a round, but each attack (and damaging counter) reduces your bonus like being attacked does. This means a skilled fighter can spread themselves out over multiple adversaries, but their defense will suffer as a result. It also means simply attacking at all reduces your defense, relative to just standing there. As always, your attack or defense can't go below +0 simply from attacking or being attacked, except in unusual circumstances. However, you cannot attack at +0 more than once, since you don't have the skill to sacrifice for it.