Ethereal

Darkwood HP: 11/13

Demon HP: 18/20

Now that Darkwood is inside the guard of the beast he decides to take advantage of it before he has to retreat again. He brings his sword up in a fash cutting motion.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[10]

The strike creates a massive gash in the thorax of the demon, dealing huge damage and the force pushes the demon back slightly. The demon gives a bark and tenses its leg to knee the bug.

Demon HP - 2

Darkwood HP: 11/13

Demon HP: 19/20

Darkwood readies himself for a charge at the beast's torso. He runs with all his might towards the monster, sword pulled back to deliver a blow. The monster raises his arm to backhand the charging man.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[8]

Darkwood puts on a last burst of speed as the hand nearly hits him and plunges his blade into the monster. Its many faces hiss in displeasure.

Demon HP - 1

Darkwood HP: 11/13

Demon HP: 20/20

The swing of his sword had managed to sever some of the demon's tongues, leaving a small blindspot where it could not attack. Darkwood assesses the enemy and finds this flaw. He jumps up, slashing his sword towards the opening. The demon retracts its damaged tongues and fires off a few undamaged ones.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[8]

The blow lands nicely, opening a small wound and breaking one face into shards. Darkwood leaps over the demon, batting away the few tongues that could reach that far. He lands at the other side and spins, readying himself for a charge at the torso of the fiend.

Darkwood HP: 12/13 [OOC I leveled up]

Demon HP: 20/20

Darkwood rolled backwards, startled at the sudden appearance of this formidable enemy. He quickly draws his sword and stops his roll with his feet beneath him. He tenses his legs and springs towards the demon, aiming to trike it in its head. The demon counters by opening some mouths to discharge more tongues.

1-5 fail

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[1]

The sheer mass of projectiles that spear their way towards him overpower the assailant, forcing him backwards and away. They punch several holes in Darkwood's abdomen. He screams in pain.

Darkwood HP - 1

A horse-sized demon stood before him. It appeared to be a huge, matt-black skinned giant with huge muscles but the worse part was yet to come. Its head was huge and was composed of many hundreds of faces, some crying out in pain, others grieving while a few laughed maniacally. "OHMYGOD WHATAREYOU" shouted Darkwood in fright. No reply came from the demon, rather it opened a few of its mouths and long, sickly green tongues lashed out. The tongues struck Darkwood in the chest, taking him by surprise. He wheeled over backwards off the rock.

Darkwood HP - 1

"Can I recover a bit first? That fight was intense.." inquired Darkwood.

"No. Your treatment must be done immediately for you to not bear the curse forever."

"That doesn't sound fair, what if I came out with 1 HP?"

"Those are the rites, I cannot change them.

Darkwood grumbled to himself as they neared the pool. The Sage looked at him expectantly.

"What?" Darkwood asked.

The Sage gestured to the stones. "Choose one." he replied.

Darkwood pointed to a smaller, weathered stone. The Sage nodded approvingly.

"Sit on it." instructed the Sage.

Darkwood obeyed.

As soon as he got settled down on the rock he felt a rush of calmness and he closed his eyes instinctively. He seemed unable to open his eyes as his mind cycled through all his troubles and dispelled them in a systematic way. When there was none left he felt a feeling of inner peace consume him. He felt a wave of relaxation and acceptance washed the anxiety and troubles from him. He gasped and open his eyes, staring him in the face was a huge demon.

Darkwood turns to see a man dressed in white robes, the opposite to his own dark alchemic robes. The man looks startled and nervous, quickly darting out of view. "Hey! HEY!" shouts Darkwood, pursuing the person. With his superior speed - even though it was low for that of a player - he quickly caught and confronted the man. "Hey! What's the deal with you running away like that?" he inquired.

"Y.. You bear the Call of the Haunted."

"Wait, how do you know about that?"

"I am the Sage of the Waterfall, the one given the task of removing the curse from those who have proven their worth."

"Waaait, hold on. So I have to prove my worth? How?"

"By defeating the Guardian of the Falls you have proven yourself to me. Now we can begin the remedy. Follow me.".

Darkwood followed in awe, wondering 'This guy just stood there while I was getting beaten to a pulp? Not much of a Sage to me..'. Soon after they had reached a large pool with a glassy, reflective surface, around the pool there lay egg-shaped slabs of grey rock.

Darkwood HP: 8/11

Ape HP: 2/15

Darkwood moves to slash the shoulder of the demon, stepping forwards and lifting his sword. The ape shifts its weight to roll over and get up.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[9]

The final blow lands and splits the side of the ape clean open. It gives one final cry and breaks into a waterfall of shards, that billow over Darkwood. He flicks his longsword and sheathes it. "That was no mean feat, that's for sure." he gasps.

LOOT

1-5: 10 materials

6-10: Mask of Salvation

11-15: Synthesis tool

16-20: Silver longsword

[5]

+ 10 mats

COL

5*5 = 25 Col

He rises to one knee and rises again, once again bringing the longsword down into the heart of the fiend. The ape lifts a hand feebly to push the attacker off of its chest.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[9]

"FINALLY A CLEAN SHOT!" screams Darkwood in triumph. The blade sinks hilt-deep into the monster. It roars in fury and pain, its hand quickly nudging him off the chest. Darkwood hops off.

Ape HP - 2

Darkwood HP: 8/11

Ape HP: 4/15

Darkwood reverses his grip so the blade is pointing downwards and brings it down with all his weight. The ape begins to regain some sense.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[4]

The ape shifts its weight and Darkwood loses his footing, falling before the sword made contact. Darkwood rises to one knee as the ape starts to get up.

"THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS" shouted Darkwood at the ape. "I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!". He rapidly stabs the ape, which is lying on the ground with Darkwood on its stomach.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[8]

The first strike hits. The ape roars as its HP drops and Darkwood cackles in delight.

Ape HP - 1

Darkwood draws his arm back and plows all this strength into a stabbing action into the lower torso of the beast. The ape is beginning to recover but is still bewildered.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[4]

The blade missed and slipped beside the hip of the ape. The ape gasped in shock at the way it had nearly suffered a deadly blow.

Darkwood HP: 8/11

Ape HP: 5/15

Darkwood goes to another attack, am uppercut this time, aiming to cut across the belly of the animal vertically. The animal is so bewildered it cannot retaliate but is paralyzed in shock.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[5]

The blade hits bone and does no significant damage but the ape grows even more confused and helpless, its arms droop by its sides. He goes for another offence, a stabbing action towards the liver.

Darkwood HP: 8/11

Ape HP: 6/15

Both Darkwood and the ape struggle to get up from their respective positions. The recover at roughly the same time and run headon into each other, Darkwood has his sword outstretched to strike the belly.

1-5 fail

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[8]

The sword slices across the exposed belly of the ape and it cries out in pain. It throws its arms into the air in surprise and takes a step backwards. Darkwood jumps forwards in preparation for another strike.

Ape HP - 1

Darkwood HP: 9/11

Ape HP: 6/15

Darkwood moves to spin and retry the attack he just attempted but on the ape's back. The ape is sprawled headfirst in the brush and is trying to get up.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[1]

The ape was faking all along and spins, kicking Darkwood out of the air. He smacks painfully against a tree and slides its length to the floor. "Owww.." he complains and struggles up.

Darkwood HP - 1

Darkwood HP: 9/11

Ape HP: 6/15

Darkwood brings the staff straight down, attempting to smack the ape in its one good eye and blind it. The ape goes to headbutt the stomach of its assailant while he is exposed.

1-5 fail

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[5]

Both of them misjudge distances, for Darkwood is still stunned from his fall and the ape has no depth perspective. Darkwood flies above the headbutt, his staff missing slightly and the ape overbalances and tumbles forwards.

Darkwood HP: 9/11

Ape HP: 6/15

Darkwood swings the staff in a wide arc and feints, spinning it towards the ape's head. The ape bends over to grab the left side of his body.

1-5 fail

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[5]

The ape lunges faster than the hit can land. Darkwood is forced to roll out of the attack and redouble his efforts on the eye of the ape. He jumps up once more. The ape goes for a headbutt.

Darkwood HP: 9/11

Ape HP: 6/15

Darkwood struggles to rise as the ape turns and sprints at him, hoping to crush him underfoot. He puts his hand by his side to get up and feels the smooth wood of his staff, the ape had flung away earlier. He braced himself and lifts the staff into the path of the ape, putting the back end onto the ground.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[3]

The ape sees the staff and stops itself just before Darkwood can pierce it. He gets to his feet swiftly and goes in for another attack.

Darkwood HP: 10/11

Ape HP: 6/15

He falls from the trees, blade by his side, aiming to strike the ape in its good eye. The ape expects this maneuver and tries to throw another punch at the torso of the insect.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[4]

Darkwood has no time to react - he didn't expect the ape to predict his attack. The fist strikes him with force and causes him to fly through the air and land badly on his back. "OOF" he said as the air escaped him.

Darkwood HP - 1

Darkwood HP: 10/11

Ape HP: 6/15

Darkwood decides to jump into the trees and swing his sword at the ape's arms. The ape can now see with one eye and moves to punch him before he can jump.

1-5 fail

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[4]

Darkwood evades the punch but has to pull out of the slash by doing so. He lands in the trees and the ape looks up the see where the bug went, pounding its feet in impatience.

Darkwood HP: 10/11

Ape HP: 7/15

Darkwood steps to swipe the ape in its left thigh, while the ape's vision is still obscured by its fists. The ape senses movement and moves its leg to kick away the bug about to attack its hip.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[7]

The blade connects, opening up a wound that spewed pixels into the air. The ape screeched and followed through with its leg, forcing Darkwood to dance backwards.

Ape HP - 1

Darkwood HP: 10/11

Ape HP: 8/15

Panic rises in Darkwood as he tries once again to free the sword from the eye tissue. The ape howls and brings its fists towards its face to knock him off.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[6]

The blade comes free, but only just. Darkwood falls to the ground just in time as the fists stop just before the ape's face - it realized he's not there anymore.

Ape HP - 1

Darkwood HP: 10/11

Ape HP: 9/15

The ape is now upright and standing several feet above the 6"3 Darkwood. 'Man, that's tall." he admits. He looks around for another weapon and the ape throws the staff away. Darkwood can't see any weapons and decides to try and jump to retrieve his blade from the thing's eye.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[7]

He jumps, evading the paw that comes trying to knock him off course and seizes the longsword. He pulls but it does not come free. The ape howls, affronted, as the jarring of the blade causes more damage.

Ape HP - 1

Darkwood HP: 10/11

Ape HP: 9/15

The ape pushes itself up as Darkwood advances. He brings the staff over his head like a spear and brings it down onto the back of the ape.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[4]

The ape sees the stroke and quickly grabs the staff in mid-stroke. It screeches in delight and yanks the staff from Darkwood's grip. "This is why I hate fighting alone." he proclaims.

Darkwood HP: 10/11

Ape HP: 10/15

Darkwood jumps backwards, off the head to avoid the upcoming paw. He lands on the ground. The ape hears and turns, eyes burning with hatred, it sees its attacker and charges towards him. Darkwood whirls his staff over his head and is about to whip it at the ape.

1-5 miss

6-8 hit

9-10 critical

[8]

The staff strikes the monster in the chest and knocks it to the side, where it loses balance and falls over. Darkwood steps towards the ape menacingly as it starts to get up.

Ape HP - 1