Kane

Kane's eyes lit up as he dashed forward, hacking at a scorpion's claw before turning and rolling away from its tail strike. "Huh, one of those could work. I kinda like the name 'Heroes for Hire'. Gives a good, succinct definition of what we're all about." As a scorpion flanked him on his left, Kane's hand went to the daggers strapped to his leg, whipping one into the arachnid's eye.

Kane waved the pair over, glad to see that they were okay. "Good, you both made it out alive. Sorry about earlier, I was probably the reason you guys got targeted by all those monsters. Now that we're safe, I can properly introduce myself. I'm Kane, I work as a bodyguard and sellsword on the upper floors. Nice to meet you both."

Kane waited just inside the city walls. His HP hadn't dropped at all during their scuffle with the local wildlife, but he was concerned for the safety of the other members. He mused to himself as he waited, wondering if he should tell them about the guild he was forming. Right now, the only members were him and Trinoko, but the two of them had been taking on a few mercenary assignments throughout the various floors of Aincrad. Swords for Col, that sort of thing. He adjusted the straps on his armor as he waited.

Drawing a hatchet once more, Fukushu spat to one side. "I'm going to kill you both and melt down your weapons for scrap!" Turning, he hurled the axe at Trinoko, aiming for his leg!

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(+1 damage if it hits, -1 to hit)

MISS

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The hatchet hurled through the air, but it landed between Trinoko's feet, as the haze from Smoke's vapor form had messed with his aim.

Kane: 11/21

Smoke: 15/17 (Takes damage when Trinoko does)

Trinoko: 13/15

Fukushu: 15/25

Kane decided to save the potion for if he got hit again by that accursed axe. He was angry that he'd let his guard down. Charging forward, he saw Trinoko throw the knife, piercing the villain's arm. Aiming for that arm, Kane swung hard, hoping to make him unable to use his weapon!

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(+1 to Attack, -1 to Enemy's Attack, +5 Damage)

MISS

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Fortune was not favoring him in this endeavor, as his blade was knocked aside by a kick from Fukushu. He knew he had to withstand the enemy's next attack, or things might not go very well for them.

Kane: 11/21

Smoke: 15/17 (Takes damage when Trinoko does)

Trinoko: 13/15

Fukushu: 15/25

Kane parried a scorpion's stinger away from him, hearing the -CLAAANG- of steel on Mithral. He feinted left, then twirled and smashed his greatsword down on the arachnid's midsection, blade shining with a bright blue sheen. It demolished the creature, and Kane had a second to breathe while he thought. "You're right. Paladin brings to mind somebody we're not. We'd be blades for hire, I can't expect everyone to conform to the same image." Shifting his stance, he blocked a claw-stinger combo from the last scorpion, resisting its charge. "We need an image that evokes strength, honor, and commitment..."

<>

Kane hadn't used his teleport crystal. At his level, he was able to dispatch the remaining creatures with ease once he'd drawn them away from the others. Checking his messages and his HUD after finishing off the last one, he noticed that his allies were attempting to contact him. He sent back a message saying he was fine, and to meet him in Starting City, near the closest gate. Clicking <>, Kane began the trek back to the city. It might be good to know more about these newer Players.

Kane held up his crystal. "I have one, I'm fine! Go!"

Kane kept running, knowing that if he stayed, they'd just be in even greater danger. "Get out of here!" he cried out over his shoulder, trying to get them to retreat. He didn't want the guilt of their deaths on his conscience.

Fukushu realized that his fury was going to lead him into an early grave if he didn't think ahead. Glaring at Kane, he quickly popped the cork on a healing potion. It was a minor one, restoring 3 HP, but it put him at an HP advantage over both of them at this point.

Kane: 11/21

Smoke: 15/17 (Takes damage when Trinoko does)

Trinoko: 13/15

Fukushu: 16/25

Kane had been driven down to one knee by the force of the blow, but he was far from out of the game. Gritting his teeth, he saw Trinoko distract the killer by tossing his weapon back at him. Rising, Kane ripped his own throwing knife belt off, tossing it over his shoulder to Trinoko. "Catch." he grunted, raising his blade to engage the enemy once more. He faked low again, then went high with a thrust at his opponent's torso!

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(+1 to Attack, -1 to Enemy's Attack, +5 Damage)

(4+1=5) MISS

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Fukushu dodged the strike, reeling backwards. Both he and Kane had received quite a bit of damage, and both were wary.

Kane: 11/21

Smoke: 15/17 (Takes damage when Trinoko does)

Trinoko: 13/15

Fukushu: 13/25

Kane's face looked thoughtful as he calmly sliced through another scorpion's leg. "Paladin, huh? That's not half a bad idea, maybe we could call the guild, 'The Paladins'? What do you think?" He leapt high, bringing his sword crashing down through another scorpion's armor, turning as one approached him from behind. He swung at it mightily as he continued, "I'd love to see some armor designs! I think after a couple more battles, I'm gonna need some new gear."

Kane grit his teeth, determined not to see these Players die. Making a run for it, he dashed out again into the open, seeing what would happen if he changed location. Like clockwork, all of the monsters that weren't currently fighting the pair turned. It was like they could sense him. They followed him as he ran, forming a line behind him to attack. Kane called over his shoulder, "I'll be fine! Go now, while they're distracted! Finish off the ones you're dealing with now, then get out of here!"

Fukushu was not having a great day. He had a choice: Drink a healing potion, or switch to his greataxe... His bloodlust got the better of him, and his hands went to the massive blade at his back. By now, his vision had cleared, and he could see Kane's face smiling smugly. Bringing his axe crashing down on Kane, he let out a furious battle cry!

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(-1 to attack, 6 damage)

CRITICAL

12-4=9 damage

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His greataxe bit deep, knocking Kane to his knees. Kane realized he'd underestimated his opponent as he felt his shoulder go cold, a result of the critical strike's biting power. He'd just lost a lot of HP.

Kane: 11/21

Smoke: 15/17 (Takes damage when Trinoko does)

Trinoko: 13/15

Fukushu: 13/25

Kane attempted to keep the pressure on Fukushu, knowing that this battle's momentum could easily swing back the other way if he managed to get a critical hit with that blasted greataxe of his. His sword blazed gold as he followed up Trinoko's ranged attack with a sweeping blow aimed at Fukushu's legs!

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(+1 to Attack, -1 to Enemy's Attack, +5 Damage) +1 from blinded opponent.

(5+2=7) HIT

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Kane's blade bit deep into Fukushu's right leg. It wasn't enough to hobble the player killer, but it was enough to do a significant amount of damage. Hopefully their fortune would continue to improve!

Kane: 20/21

Smoke: 15/17 (Takes damage when Trinoko does)

Trinoko: 13/15

Fukushu: 13/25

Kane realized that Ichiro's bravery was great, but he felt guilty for being the catalyst for this problem. Turning, he arced his sword up and around, aiming at the wolf pack!

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(6+1=7) HIT

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His strike took oen wolf's HP down to zero, as his massive blade did 5 damage each strike. "Then let's end this quickly! Don't die on us, ok?"

When Kane and Smoke were in contact, the world felt different. He couldn't exactly read his familiar's mind, but when the vaporous creature was bonded to his armor, Kane could sense its mood, and its basic emotions. It seemed... amused. He didn't have a lot of time to think about it, however, as the scorpions just kept coming! As he moved forward, one's tail swept his leg out from under him, but he managed to turn the fall into a roll, getting back on his feet. "I like heavy armor, lets me do stuff that would normally get me killed!" he smiled, raising his blade in an arc to slice the claw off another of the creatures. "There's something to be said for style, that much is true."

Kane stepped forward again, sweeping his blade to and fro to ward off the new wolf pack. "I don't know what's going on for sure, but you guys should retreat for now. I'll be fine, I have a high enough level of Battle Healing to survive the mobs." Making his decision, Kane dashed forward into the midst of the wolves, and activated his Battle Healing. It would restore 5 HP per turn, and the wolves could only do one damage per strike. This, coupled with his armor, would let him tank their blows while his allies either retreated, or finished the beasts off. "I'm fine, this is nothing!"

Kane saw Trinoko's maneuvers out of the corner of his eye. "You're getting really good at this!" he called out, using his wide blade to jam the gaping jaws of a scorpion open, keeping it from biting him horribly. "Pretty soon, I'm gonna have to put more points into Throwing Weapons." Shoving the scorpion's jaws aside, its tail crashed into him, striking hard! However, his breastplate stopped the blow cold. Slicing upward, Kane dispatched the beast's tail, sending it backwards, off-balance. Looking down, he sheepishly gestured to his gear. "On second thought, maybe I'll stick with armor!"

Fukushu reeled backwards, gritting his teeth in anger. He wouldn't be able to fight well in his semi-blinded condition. Although there was no actual, physical pain, the knife in his eye felt like static, disrupting the nerve that let him see. He couldn't fight like this, so he gripped the knife tightly, and ripped it out, screaming in anger. His sight would return in another turn, but he had used his turn this round to remove the well-placed blade.

Kane grimaced, seeing the blade sticking out of the opponent's eye. However, remembering what this dirtbag had done to other, innocent Players made his pity evaporate like the wind. "How's that for an answer?" he quipped, raising his blade. Stepping forward into Fukushu's space, he tried to hit the brigand with his signature skill, the <>!

(+1 to Attack, -1 to Enemy's Attack, +5 Damage) +1 from blinded opponent.

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(6+2=8) HIT

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The <> flashed a brilliant emerald as he struck! Once, twice, thrice! Blazing pixels burned into the enemy's skin, sending him reeling backwards.

Kane: 20/21

Smoke: 15/17 (Takes damage when Trinoko does)

Trinoko: 13/15

Fukushu: 19/25

Kane grimaced, realizing what was happening. "I... I think it might be me." he looked over at Daeron, who was apparently minding his own business a long way off. "My level, it's high enough that it's attracting more monsters to challenge me. I'm attracting these things!" Shaking his head, Kane watched as the Gillmen warily moved forward. "We can try and finish them all off, or I can leave and draw them away from you."

Kane was about to have his hands full with a scorpion on his left flank when Trinoko's blade sheared off its tail. It shook its head in a fury, giving Kane enough time to roll to his right, out of the path of the flailing claws. "Nice throw!"

He noticed the gaps in the scorpions' armor, the weak spots that were vulnerable to damage. Say what you want about Kayaba, at least he gave the Players a fighting chance. Bringing his sword up and around, he drove the flared tip home, between the joints of one scorpion's armored plates. It chattered madly for a moment, then disappeared in a haze of crystals.

Fukushu withdrew a few steps, trying to stay out of Kane's sword range. He quickly harnessed his battle axe, and drew a hatchet, aiming at Trinoko!

(Hatchets do +1 damage, -1 to Hit/Smoke)

HIT

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The axe tumbled end over end, striking Trinoko's shoulder! It didn't embed itself in him, but it left a long, angry red line of pixels. Smoke yowled too, feeling the pain. Fukushu gloated, "If you give up now, I'll finish you quickly!"

Kane: 20/21

Smoke: 15/17 (Takes damage when Trinoko does)

Trinoko: 13/15

Fukushu: 25/25

Kane knew he had to do some damage on this punk, fast. Trinoko didn't have the armor to withstand very many of Fukushu's axe strikes, and Smoke's protection would only count for so much. Seeing Trinoko's knife hit the ground in front of the enemy, Kane moved quickly, getting between him and his ally. Brining his blade down in a simple vertical slash, Kane aimed for the killer's leg, hoping to hinder his mobility!

(+1 to Attack, -1 to Enemy's Attack, +5 Damage)

MISS

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Kane clenched his jaw as his opponent moved his leg out of the way just in time. Blast, he's either lucky, or very fast.