Lyrica the Werewolf

ID: 59258
MD: 2 (Miss)

As quickly as they had swarmed Xion the wriggling morass of canines scrambled away from Xion and split to the four winds once again. Even as they were dispersing among all the players once again one of their number was eliminated by an attack, reducing the number of white wolves down to seven. Still, there were plenty enough of them left to pose problems for the rest of the players. All they had to do was shake the stubborn nagging feeling that they needed to only focus on attacking the tank. If they ever managed to break away from their programming several players could be killed.

Battle Order:

OOC: Tag @Husky

ID: 59173
MD: 9 (+1 DMG)

The white timber wolves bobbed and wove through the various players, drool and gore dripping from their fangs. Suddenly, as if drawn by some mysterious and unknown power, all of their eyes snapped around to lock onto Xion once more. As one, wherever each of them was, they threw back their head and howled, the eerie chorus of canine voices breaking the stillness of the night. With that as their signal, they converged once more on the blonde tank, burying him under over a thousand pounds of wolf flesh as they ripped and tore at him, completely ignoring the sting of his armor.

Battle Order:

My initial thought was for the lower-level players to work on clearing wolves while the harder hitters went after Lyrica. It didn't quite work out that way, that's fine, but I should have made Lyrica herself a bit stronger in terms of her stats.

This one was also a bit of a live beta test, I will be taking these comments into account for balancing the next one which will work on slightly different mechanics. I'll also fiddle with the rules of engagement on the next one too.

ID: 59132
MD: 3 (Miss)

Slowly, but surely, the players were whittling down the number of wolves that were remaining. Where, seconds before, there had been sixteen of the furious white canines now there half that number. It seemed that, before long, the players would have the force completely eliminated. In an effort to stall the players, and make the hunt take as long as possible, the wolves split up and dispersed themselves among the crowd of players, occasionally snapping at one or two of them here and there as they bobbed in and out of the crowd.

Battle Order:

OOC: Tag @Takneil, They done kilt Lyrica an' hilarity ensued. @Xion's thinking "ERMAHGERD! WERVES!"

ID: 58874
BD: 10 (+2 DMG)

With the defeat of the white werewolf baroness, Lyrica, who fell at the hands of Hydra her wolf army was whipped into a frenzy. Without the guidance of their leader the wolves initially dispersed from a packed together group and rampaged through all of the remaining players, growling and occasionally snapping at the heels of a few of them. Suddenly, the game engine reasserted itself. As one, every remaining white timber wolf locked its eyes on Xion, blood dripping from their canines. En masse, the wolves descended on Xion who was rapidly buried beneath an enormous pile of wolves, each of them biting and clawing at the tank. The players may have taken down their leader, but the wolves had every intention of taking down Xion even as his enchanted armor killed two of them.

Battle Order:

OOC: Getting closer to the end... Lyrica's stats change: Mit=0, DMG=18, AoE attack every THIRD Rd. AoE Countdown: 3/3. All dem wolves though, they all have to be killed. Look at that roll... TYPICAL. @Hydra, you're up.

ID: 58860
BD: 1
MD: 2

As the blows continued to land in solid bunches from the players Lyrica grew steadily more and more enraged. Who did these insects think they were? Did they think they could stand before her might and authority? Pathetic mortals, their insolence would be severely punished. Bounding up to Xion, who still seemed to be throwing mating howls at her, the white werewolf's eyes dilated completely from red to a black darker than the night. Wrapping one clawed hand into the blonde man's half-cloak, she hoisted him effortlessly from the ground. Lowering her face until her snout was nose to nose with Xion, Lyrica threw her head back again and howled. Obediently, another pack of four white timber wolves spawned, bringing the total number of her army up to sixteen. With Lyrica herself, they now almost matched the players in terms of sheer numbers. Drawing her arm back, she flung the tank away from her and moved to lead her troops into battle.

BATTLE ORDER:

Kill Count:

White Wolves 1-4: Nikodemus_Blackwood

OOC: @Xion, you're up in about 15-30 minutes. Quick note: THIS FIGHT DOES NOT END UNTIL ALL THE WOLVES ARE ALSO DEAD.

ID: 58831 (Lyrica & Wolves), 58832 (Stentorius)
BD: 2 (Lyrica)
BD: 8 (Stentorius)
MD: 5

Pushing himself up from the ground, Stentorius surveyed the situation going on with the players that were aiding him in his valiant quest to slay the white werewolf and her army of minions. Then the dark haired leather clad hunter spat out a clod of dirt. His sword, now long gone, was somewhere in the clearing but it would be a nightmare to try and find the sword now. There was nothing else for it, kneeling for a second, the hunter drew a silver dagger much like the one he had used to post the notice about the hunt in the first place as Lyrica and her wolves were gathering for their next assault on Xion. With a bellow, the hunter charged down into their path and plunged his dagger into Lyrica's chest.

Enough was enough, Lyrica would show these pathetic players, once and for all, who the rightful Baroness of this forest was. Snarling at the last player to have stabbed her the white werewolf flung her head back once again and howled a long, eerie note up at the moon. Instantly, four more white timber wolves appeared, bringing the total number of her wolf guardians up to an even dozen.

Battle Order:

Kill Count:

OOC:

ID: 58748
BD: 6 (Hit, Target: Xion)
MD: 5 (Miss)

Lyrica stood tall and proud in the middle of the clearing as the players continued to rush to attack her. More like they were rushing to their doom, they just didn't know it yet. As Husky's roundhouse kick struck her in the side of the head Lyrica stood to her full, and imposing, height towering over the other player as her lips curled back to reveal glistening canines and her head spun slowly to glare deadly red daggers at him. Throwing her head back, once again, Lyrica howled at the full moon high above them and, dutifully four more of her canine retainers joined the fight as another quartet of white Timber Wolves spawned in the clearing.

As her newest set of wolves finished spawning, Croft came running in to attack only to fall flat on his face. The perfect springboard. Moving into action, Lyrica tore off in the direction of Croft. Planting one clawed foot squarely in the middle of his back as the player was going to get to his feet again Lyrica pushed off and flipped through the air over the still prone form of Xion, raking her clawed hands over @Xion's back in the process before completing her flip and landing on the other side of the tank.

Battle Order:

OOC: @Husky, you're up. Good job on the timely posting, everyone. This is moving along nicely and not dragging, I'm sure I'm not the only one that appreciates that. Also, you all should be very glad that Lyrica MISSED.

ID: 58686
BD: 4 (Miss)
MD: 9 (Hit, Target: Xion)

As the fight was progressing between Lyrica and her loyal wolves and the small army of players that had assembled to try and hunt her down the werewolf baroness couldn't help but notice that there was a subtle shift in the general strategy of the players. Rather than focusing all of their attention on her wolves, as they had at the outset of the fight, now they had turned their attention on her completely. Except for the blonde axe man, he was still going after her beloved wolves. No matter, he would get what was coming to him in the end, just as each of the players would as well.

With a few yipped commands to her wolves, she sent them off to attack Xion once again. The first two wolves latched on to the tank's legs as the second two pounced onto his back and drove him face first into the ground before ripping into him with their teeth. That was what happened when Xion used his tankish mating cry. As for Lyrica, she set her sights on Husky and loped off in his direction before making a wild slash at him with her claws, an attack that sailed a hair's breadth over the man's head.

Battle Order

Kill Count

READ SPOILER:

ID: 58653
BD: 8 (Hit, Target: Xion)
MD: 5 (Miss)

Lyrica stared through hateful red eyes as the players continued to rain down abuse upon her stunned form. At least a few of them had the common decency to be properly cowed by her magnificent, regal, presence in the meadow. Takneil in particular missed his attack, no doubt because of the awe inspiring fear that the white werewolf inspired. After being unceremoniously launched into the air only to come down a short distance away from the players Lyrica picked herself up and went into her howling animation again. Throwing her head back, the white werewolf baroness unleashed another long howl and, this time, it was answered by a chorus of howls as four more white timber wolves emerged from the woods. As a single unit, they charged down on Xion and attacked.

Battle Order

Kill Count

OOC: Stunned. Will Fill in RP fluff now, but don't want to hold up the line. @Takneil, you're up.

Lyrica dropped into a low crouch as the next batch of players swung into action to attack her. The first of the bunch advanced on the white werewolf baroness only to fall flat on his face. That was certainly fitting, after all she was nobility and this player merely a peon. Any moment now Lyrica expected the fighter to flop over onto his back and expose his stomach to her in a sign of submission and a request to join her pack. It was a request that Lyrica, in her great kindness, would consider. Right before she ripped out his heart and ate it before his very eyes.

The next player in the line sprang forward and slaughtered the four wolves that made up her pack. Throwing her head back, Lyrica howled in rage and spun to face Nikodemus_Blackwood. Yes, that one would die first. As a result, she didn't see Hakai until the woman raked her own clawed fingers across Lyrica's eyes and snout, leaving the baroness momentarily stunned and blinded. Lyrica howled in rage, but could do nothing as the game system held her in place while the next player slashed at her, rather ineffectually, with a sword.

Battle Order:

Kill Count:

OOC: Lyrica missed, while technically she would also have targeted Xion... for the purposes of RP and story when either Lyrica or the wolves miss there's no telling who they might be trying to run down. Mind you, when they hit they will obey the Hate Rules. Misses, those are RP fluff. @Hydra, you're up.

ID: 58513
BD: 4 (Miss)
MD: 10 (Wolves Hit+2, TARGET: XION [H:3])

Lyrica watched as her loyal pack split into groupings of individual wolves. Then one of the players howled. At her. Was that supposed to be some kind of mating call? Insulting. So, the blonde man with the shield wanted to have a howl off, did he? Well, two could play at that game. Yes they could. The attention of the white werewolf and the four white timber wolves snapped immediately over to Xion. Bounding across the meadow, Lyrica made a bee line for the offending tank, stopping so suddenly before him that he was showered in grass and dirt. Then, getting right in Xion's face, Lyrica threw her head back and unleashed a chilling howl that would have made most players wet themselves.

Her loyal pack knew just what to do, suddenly converging from four different directions and burying the tank under a literal biting, snapping, and clawing dog pile as they swept Xion of his feet and took him to the ground. As her pack made every effort to devour the tank wholesale the white werewolf's ears twitched. Her head snapped around to the edge of the meadow where she spotted what could only be described as...

Snacks. Or, possibly, lunch meat.

Since it was clear to the baroness that her pack had things with the tank well in hand, Lyrica tore off to the edge of the forest. Her red eyes searched through the group of players, finally settling on Hakai as a  rather tasty looking morsel that didn't appear as if she'd be too hard to digest. When she was within fifteen feet of the group the white werewolf leaped high into the air, jaws open and claws outstretched as she tried to grab Hakai.

Of course, the little tidbit would duck and Lyrica went sailing over her head to land in the midst of the rest of the players in the raid group. Throwing her head back, she howled loudly again as her hateful eyes sought out her next target.

Battle Order:

READ SPOILER

ID's: 58502 (Lyrica & Wolves), 58503 (Stentorius)
BD: 6 (Lyrica)
BD: 1 (Stentorius)
MD: 7 (Wolves)
LD: 12 (Used to determine target because everyone has 0 Hate. 1-5: Stentorius, 6-10: Xion, 11-15: Seul, 16-20: Evander)
CD: N/A (Normally would be used to determine group hit, but as Group 1 is the only ACTIVE group for the opening attack they are auto-selected)

"Alright, it is time for us to be off. I want to reach Lyrica's Lair just as the moon is rising tonight," Stentorius announced, his voice being amplified by his program until it sounded like something akin to a drill sergeant, or a pompous politician. "I will be placing you into combat groups for taking on this fight. Honestly, I didn't not expect to find so many valiant and stalwart warriors in this town. Our numbers give me some hope that we can accomplish our task without a great deal of danger."

As the NPC was speaking he wandered in and among the players and tapped them. As each player was tapped on the shoulder in turn a small number appeared next to their health bars. Apparently, the programmers didn't think that low level players were capable of forming raid parties and player groups on their own, at least for this first event, and so the game's engine was going to do it for them. Once the bearded man in the hunting leathers had everyone sorted to his satisfaction he began pointing his finger to people in turn.

"Xion, Seul, and Evander will accompany me in the first group. We will summon the beast and her foul pack. Hydra, Nikodemus_Blackwood, Hakai, and Sierra will be in the second group. Takneil, Ebony, Rain, and Khrysaor will be in the third. Hunie, Avilon, Yamato, and Kroshma_Tokran will be in the fourth. Husky, Shrien, Dracul, and Croft will be in the fifth. Allania, Asteria, Ratatosk, and Gaster will make up the sixth and final group," the NPC commanded, clapping his hands briskly. "Now, everyone get with your assigned groups and let the great hunt begin!"

Suiting action to words, Stentorius promptly grabbed the other three members of his own party and pulled them into formation with himself. Without another word, the hunter set off through the northern gates of the Town of Beginnings and began to march with a steady pace that was neither too fast nor too slow, as he led his charges off through the fields surrounding the town and on into the shadowy forests beyond. Steadily onward the group marched as the sun slowly, but inexorably, moved along its westward march through the skies. Just as the moon was starting to rise, Stentorius raised one of his hands and called a halt to the march.

"Alright, this is one of Lyrica's preferred hunting locations," the NPC said in a quiet tone, not that the volume of his voice would matter all that much since the quest logs of all the players would automatically update now. As he was speaking a lonely, eerie howl split the early night hours. As if that wasn't bad enough a chorus of answering howls were soon echoing through the woods. "Group One will come with me, we will draw the beast and her wolves out and then the rest of the groups will attack one after the next in numerical order."

As he was issuing the final orders to the players a solitary white werewolf entered the forest clearing that they had all been led too. Sticking her nose in the air, Lyrica sniffed in a clear effort to seek out the players. Just as quickly her glowing red eyes snapped in the direction of the players and she threw her head back and howled. Behind her a quartet of white timber wolves emerged from the forest.

"YOUR MOMENT OF JUDGEMENT IS AT HAND! WE MUST PROTECT THE TOWN!" With his feral battle cry, Stentorius drew the weapon at his hip and went charging into the forest clearing as a full moon shone bright above them. As the NPC ran along Lyrica and her wolves moved to intercept him and when his foot became caught in a gopher hole Stentorius went down hard, his weapon sailing away into the darkness. Lyrica and wolves altered their course and they slammed, as a group, into @Seul with the full force of their opening attack. Luckily, Seul was one of the heartier players in the group and the damage he suffered was minimal.

Still, the battle was joined.

Combat Posting Order:

OOC: READ THE SPOILER

Recently, a notice has appeared tacked to the main player Bulletin Board in the Town of Beginnings on the First Floor. The most remarkable thing about the notice is that it is affixed to the board with a gleaming silver dagger. It reads:

I have discovered the Lair of Lyrica, the Werewolf Queen. I cannot slay her alone and require the assistance of any stalwart adventurers brave enough to join me on the hunt. The challenge shall be great, the rewards greater, and the glory greatest of all. If you are brave enough to aid me in my quest, meet me in five days time outside the north gate of the Town of Beginnings at 5 pm. Also, silver weapons seem to harm her more than a normal blade so if you have them, bring them.

-Stentorius the Hunter

Having placed his notice on the main player bulletin board in the Town of Beginnings some five days previously, Stentorius the Hunter stood just inside the northernmost gate of the Town of Beginnings. The yellow cursor hanging over his head indicated that Stentorius was a Quest NPC with special information to share with the players. As for the hunter himself, he stood with his arms crossed over his chest and a gleaming silver bladed battle axe hung from his right hip. The dark haired man stood clad in hunting leathers in dark brown and forest green, silently waiting for any who might assist him in hunting the menace known as Lyrica. If no one showed up, he would fight her by himself because that was what his program dictated he must do.