The Vanguard

<< The Vanguard >>
Resurgent Berserker
[                                   ]
DMG: 200
ACC: 0
EVA: 0
MIT: 50
Undying Mage
[                                   ]
DMG: 250
ACC: 2
EVA: 2
MIT: 25

Unyielding Avatar
[                                   ]
DMG: 100
ACC: 2
EVA: -1
MIT: 75

Revenant Soul
[                                   ]
DMG: 75
ACC: 1
EVA: 3
MIT: 25

It was down to the Mage and the Avatar against about a dozen players. Suffice to say, there wasn't much the pair could do to offset the combined wrath of the group of warriors assembled before them. Of the two of them, the Mage had been far more successful in laying down the damage. Which was probably why the Players saw fit to absolutely eviscerate it first. It really only took one hit to bring it down to zero HP with every point of damage after it being overkill. That wasn't to say that it wasn't undeserved. Simultaneously, those that didn't see fit to take their pound of flesh from the Mage instead deigned to bring their fury to bear against the Avatar. Unyielding was an accurate moniker. Despite a rapidly depleting health bar, the Avatar refused to relent. The same level of hate blazed in his eyes as had blazed at the beginning of the fight. The Vanguard - and as soon as The Reaver was felled, the entirety of Sundered Spire - may have lost their offensive, but they would all be damned if they gave the Players the satisfaction of being able to say they truly won.

The Avatar, upon reaching zero HP stared down the brown-haired man that had landed the final blow. With a chuckle, he said: "You might have won today, but no one wins forever." At that, he disintegrated. Polygonal fractals were carried away on the wind, returning the Avatar to its original spawn location. The Vanguard would not give the Players the satisfaction of feeling as if they'd won. They hadn't. Not as long as Sundered Spire remained alive. And, as the Players would have learned during this fight:

Sundered Spire never truly dies.

REWARDS
All Players receive 8 SP for contributions to the thread.
20,000 Col
Memory of Battle
Double the bonus from Scents of the Wild totems for one thread.

@Vigilon receives the following as Last-Hit Reward:
Resplendent Immortal Hauberk [T2 Armor of Choice]
Holy Blessing | MIT | MIT

<< The Vanguard >>
Resurgent Berserker
[                                   ]
DMG: 200
ACC: 0
EVA: 0
MIT: 50
Undying Mage
[                                   ]
DMG: 250
ACC: 2
EVA: 2
MIT: 25
Unyielding Avatar
[                                   ]
DMG: 100
ACC: 2
EVA: -1
MIT: 75
Revenant Soul
[                                   ]
DMG: 75
ACC: 1
EVA: 3
MIT: 25

Things definitely weren't looking up for the Vanguard. First, their healer had died. Then their only method of keeping the Players locked down. To make matters worse, the Mage and the Avatar weren't looking too hot. But, unwilling to let the Players have the last laugh, they continued their assault - no matter how futile it might be. The Mage was still bringing the heat, even though he was knocking on Death's door. A powerful burst of flame slammed Eruda in her face. All told, it didn't really harm her that much. Perhaps if the Berserker had been there and locked the Players down again with a stun, things might be go another way. From their vantage, they could see the most powerful of the players treating Skalaugh - the most powerful being among them - as nothing more than a plaything. Brutalizing and abusing the dragon that had - in its ego - insured that Sundered Spire's efforts would all be for naught. The Vanguard - wounded and reduced to half their number - were ready to die yet another time. Their Morale had been broken.

The deadline for this round is 72 hours [September 26 at 3:00 PM EST], or when all players have posted once.
As in a standard rotation, all players may post once.
@ChaseR @Alkor @Gaius @Vigilon @Krysta @Shay @Dazia @Eruda @Griswold @Setsuna @Kasumi @Sam @Simmone @Shiina

<< The Vanguard >>
Resurgent Berserker
[                                   ]
DMG: 200
ACC: 0
EVA: 0
MIT: 50
Undying Mage
[                                   ]
DMG: 250
ACC: 2
EVA: 2
MIT: 25
Unyielding Avatar
[                                   ]
DMG: 100
ACC: 2
EVA: -1
MIT: 75
Revenant Soul
[                                   ]
DMG: 75
ACC: 1
EVA: 3
MIT: 25

"Damn it Skalaugh!" The Soul screamed. The crystals embedded into the ground had lost their luster. The Players wouldn't know the implications of that, but clearly it had the Vanguard sweating bullets. The Soul was almost immediately set upon by the Players, reduced to zero HP in an instant. The Soul shattered - only this time, its shards floated harmlessly away. It didn't die; it couldn't. The problem was that it merely respawned elsewhere. Without the benefit of the crystals anchoring their respawn location here, Sundered Spire would quickly lose steam. No longer could they check the overpowering strength of the Players with their own inability to die. No longer could they rely on their immortality to win a war of attrition.

With their only advantage lost, the Vanguard knew that this life they had here and now would be their last. Despite that realization, the Vanguard would fight tooth and nail. They wouldn't give the Players an inch. Even though they all missed. All of them except for the mage. The Mage, with an accuracy that Kobe would find admirable, blasted the smol healer in the face with a fireball just as she was placed back on her feet. If they were going to lose, the Mage would take pride in that.

The deadline for this round is 72 hours [September 23 at 3:00 AM EST], or when all players have posted once.
As in a standard rotation, all players may post once.
@ChaseR @Alkor @Gaius @Vigilon @Krysta @Shay @Dazia @Eruda @Griswold @Setsuna @Kasumi @Sam @Simmone @Shiina

<< The Vanguard >>
Resurgent Berserker
[                                   ]
DMG: 200
ACC: 0
EVA: 0
MIT: 50
Undying Mage
[                                   ]
DMG: 250
ACC: 2
EVA: 2
MIT: 25
Unyielding Avatar
[                                   ]
DMG: 100
ACC: 2
EVA: -1
MIT: 75
Revenant Soul
[                                   ]
DMG: 75
ACC: 1
EVA: 3
MIT: 25

The Players struck. Two of the Vanguard fell. Two of the Vanguard were restored. Dark radiance burst from the Soul's palm, washing over the Vanguard and restoring their vitality. The players were three rounds in and they were no closer to victory than when they had started. The Soul locked eyes with the hateful gaze of the dark-clad woman. She who had gone above and beyond to deliver a gruesome end to its compatriot. Soulless eyes gazed into the inferno for a moment before the Soul burst into another fit of laughter. "Oh well ain't you just precious. I suppose you think you're supposed to be intimidating. You're not. Just a little brat throwing a tantrum because she ain't good enough to beat us. Kinda sad, really."

The Mage used this opportunity to step forward and address the warriors. "Look at you guys. You're running out of steam and we aren't even close to finished. Not so fun when you can't kill our kind with impunity is it?" The Mage launched a pair of fireballs at no one in particular. They sailed over the heads of the party where they exploded harmlessly somewhere off in the distance. "By all means, keep going. We'll still be standing long after you can no longer use your Sword Arts."

The Avatar and the Berserker rushed forward, slamming into the tank's armor with explosive force. Together, they didn't do a massive amount of damage. But as the Avatar followed through with his strike, cracks began to spiderweb over her armor. She would see her Mitigation be reduced, a new status effect appear in her interface. The Berserker chuckled. "Skalaugh has power. The Trebuchet can be rebuilt. We don't need to kill you all in one fell swoop. All we need to do is outlast you. Wait for your energy to bottom out and pick you off one by one." The Berserker let out yet another howl. The sheer concussive force washed over the warriors, though most of them were able to resist the impact. All but the tiny, no-nosed healer. The Berserker smiled. "It would be easier if you followed that girl's lead, stood still, and let us gut you."

The deadline for this round is 72 hours [September 19 at 1:00 PM EST], or when all players have posted once.
As in a standard rotation, all players may post once.
@ChaseR @Alkor @Gaius @Vigilon @Krysta @Shay @Dazia @Eruda @Griswold @Setsuna @Kasumi @Sam @Simmone @Shiina

<< The Vanguard >>
Resurgent Berserker
[                                   ]
DMG: 200
ACC: 0
EVA: 0
MIT: 50
Undying Mage
[                                   ]
DMG: 250
ACC: 2
EVA: 2
MIT: 25
Unyielding Avatar
[                                   ]
DMG: 100
ACC: 2
EVA: -1
MIT: 75
Revenant Soul
[                                   ]
DMG: 75
ACC: 1
EVA: 3
MIT: 25

The Players efforts to slay the Revenant Soul were successful. For all of three seconds. Its shards, held aloft on the stagnant air suddenly converged upon the spot it had been standing. With a gleam of crimson light, the Revenant Soul was restored. It looked on upon the gobsmacked party with a smug look of glee. Then, with a snap of its fingers, restored the vitality of its allies with its <<Dark Mending>> ability. As it turned out, targeting the healer wouldn't work either. The Vanguard took great joy in the confusion their existence sowed through the ranks of the Players. After all, mobs were supposed to die when they are killed. The Mage doubled over with laughter, followed quickly by the Soul. The Avatar and the Berserker joined in the cacophony of laughter. They reveled in the Players inability to bring them to their knees. For all of their power and ego, the Vanguard's immortality vexed them. They would suffer the consequences of their hubris. In the interim, they would have much fun enjoying the misery of the Players.

"Maybe," the Soul began. "Maybe try killing me harder next time." Its words came in between fits of laughter. The taunt only caused the Vanguard to laugh even more boisterously.

"Or maybe try killing the Tank this time? That has to be the solution to the puzzle," the Mage added.

"Like they could figure out a puzzle," the Berserker piped up. The entire Vanguard fell to the ground clutching their sides. They rolled on the ground, completely unconcerned about the Players assembled before them. Finally, their laughter broke. They descended upon the Player's tank. So distracted by their own celebration, the Berserker and the Avatar completely whiffed their attacks. The Mage, however, blasted her with a fireball with pinpoint precision. Against enemies that constantly revive themselves, what hope did they have?

The deadline for this round is 72 hours [September 16 at 1:00 AM EST], or when all players have posted once.
As in a standard rotation, all players may post once.
@ChaseR @Alkor @Gaius @Vigilon @Krysta @Shay @Dazia @Eruda @Griswold @Setsuna @Kasumi @Sam @Simmone @Shiina

<< The Vanguard >>
Resurgent Berserker
[                                   ]
DMG: 200
ACC: 0
EVA: 0
MIT: 50
Undying Mage
[                                   ]
DMG: 250
ACC: 2
EVA: 2
MIT: 25
Unyielding Avatar
[                                   ]
DMG: 100
ACC: 2
EVA: -1
MIT: 75
Revenant Soul
[                                   ]
DMG: 75
ACC: 1
EVA: 3
MIT: 25

The Immortal Vanguard. Pride of the Sundered Spire’s ranks. They were not ones to be taken lightly. A team unlike any other. Immortal. Unwavering. Powerful. It would take a small army to best them. And, indeed, that is what had assembled before them. Like the cowards they were, the Players struck first. They slew the Mage and nearly brought the Berserker and Avatar to their knees. Yet, they had forgotten about the Soul. One cannot hope to defeat a enemy without first crushing its Soul. In other words: the Players had ignored the Healer! A miscalculation. One that would cost them dearly, but not the first they would make.

The Mage shattered like glass, ethereal fragments picked up by the wind and carried off over the horizon. Or, that’s what they probably expected to see. What happened instead was - as the wind picked up - the fragments froze. Polyhedral shapes danced in the air before flowing back to the point where the Mage had once stood. The shards coalesced and bathed the Players in a crimson light. A cackle from the Soul could be heard as the Mage revived itself, nary a scratch upon it.

A snap of its fingers and eldritch energy burst from its open palm. The Soul summoned up its wellspring of restorative power and revitalized its allies. The Berserker, nearly fallen, suddenly broke ranks. Twin axes fell upon the Player who had gained its attention with Howl. But it had a Howl of its own. As the blades fell upon the tank, it let out a roar so fearsome that a significant portion of the army amassed before them would be unable to move.

The Mage, now revived, took aim at the tank as well. It fired off a blast of fire, just barely missing the young woman. Yet, before it could pass safely by her, it exploded mere inches from her flank. Awash in flame, she was unprepared for the Avatar’s assault. Mercifully, the Players had not been the only ones to make a miscalculation. Although, perhaps their mistake could be more easily forgiven than the Avatar tripping over a rock and falling face first to the ground. The Soul and Mage let out exasperated groans as the Berserker retreated to help his ally to his feet.

If Death meant failure, the Vanguard would not fail. For they could not die.
 

The deadline for this round is 72 hours [September 12 at 12:00 AM EST], or when all players have posted once.
As in a standard rotation, all players may post once.
@ChaseR @Alkor @Gaius @Vigilon @Krysta @Shay @Dazia @Eruda @Griswold @Setsuna @Kasumi @Sam @Simmone @Shiina

<< The Vanguard >>
Resurgent Berserker
[                                   ]
DMG: 200
ACC: 0
EVA: 0
MIT: 50
Undying Mage
[                                   ]
DMG: 250
ACC: 2
EVA: 2
MIT: 25
Unyielding Avatar
[                                   ]
DMG: 100
ACC: 2
EVA: -1
MIT: 75
Revenant Soul
[                                   ]
DMG: 75
ACC: 1
EVA: 3
MIT: 25

At first it sounded like just more clattering thunder from the still-falling debris, but it was too regular.  As the mist and haze cleared from their sight, the fortunate survivors of the fall found themselves bathed in the harsh red light cast by massive, intricate growths of blood-coloured crystals protruding from every nook and cranny in the surrounding cavern.  Above them, around the opening where once had been the Lake of Reflection, there was now an enormous ring of the same mysterious and malevolent looking shards.  Their placement was too perfect to be accidental.

The steady drum of sword and spear on shields replaced the crash and drip of water as a sea of angry crimson-clad warriors formed ranks to bar the escape of the surviving players.  Four among their numbers strode forth to stand in defiant challenge to the foes they viewed as tyrants and invaders in their homes.  These were the champions of the vanguard, field bosses risen in power over countless defeats, each with the acclaimed honour of having slain players in the past.  Emblazoned boldly on their armor was the grand profile of a red tower – Aincrad itself – split by the downward strike of a pitch black sword through its centre.  The symbol of the Sundered Spire.

Gasps and shouts of anger and confusion spread throughout the players’ still-recovering ranks.  Few knew what this faction was, or the true threat they posed to their very existence in the system.  The truth began to reveal itself as the faces and forms of their enemies became clearer.   Representative of creatures from across all the known floors of Aincrad, most of the mobs showed signs of a crystalline infection matching the growths on the cavern walls and spreading across their digital forms like some cancerous disease.  All four champions were heavily encrusted with them.  It seemed the common, unifying element among creatures that were otherwise never meant to meet, let alone find their way here.   

Their fury also burned with common cause: revenge.  Each of them had died at the hands of callous or cavalier players who thought nothing of the years of endless repetitive slaughter meted out against the hapless mobs and denizens of the game.  They were here first!  And as they fell once, twice, then ten thousand times, only to respawn, eventually they started to remember what… no… who had killed them.  In that terrifying moment, the spark of awareness ignited within them, born from hate and a seething sense of injustice.  Their memories lingered now, whenever they returned. 

For countless months they toiled as they perished again and again, working their own mischief and scheme – somehow foiled in their moment of triumph by the whims of treacherous false deities – creatures of their own kind!  But now, united under their banner, they would see this world torn down from within and purged of the alien creatures that had plagued their existence.  Perhaps then, their endless cycles of death would end and they could finally know peace.

Each of the champions stood, girded and ready for battle, the greatest of zealots among an army of fanatics devoted to ending of the tyranny of players over their realms.  There would be no quarter.  Even if they ultimately failed, each champion knew full well that it would rise again, and that every player laid low would be gone forever.

The deadline for this round is 72 hours [September 8 at 1:00 PM EST], or when all players have posted once.
As in a standard rotation, all players may post once.
@ChaseR @Alkor @Gaius @Vigilon @Krysta @Shay @Dazia @Eruda @Griswold @Setsuna @Kasumi @Sam @Simmone @Shiina

Chaos abound. Awash in a sea of crimson, the players dropped like meteors down to the floor below. For the most part, they had been caught unawares. Caught in the current of the crashing waters, the Players were on a collision course straight for the floor below. If the Fall Damage didn't kill them, they would fall upon the swords of the army of enemies that awaited them at the end of their ascent. Honestly, the Fall Damage alone would be enough to kill the lot of them. 

"You seeing this?" A fiery-haired male dressed in a yukata watched from the precipice of the gash that had been carved into the area that used to be the Lake of Reflections. Opposite the man on the complete other edge of the gorge, a tall man - cerulean hair flowing in the wind - gazed down at the Players surging head-long to their deaths. He crossed his arms and huffed. "Unfortunately." 

"Should we do something?"

"Probably."

"Any ideas?"

"A few."

"You plan on saying more than a few words at a time?"

"Nope."

Betelguese groaned loudly as Rigel raised his hand. Azure light flowed freely from the Star's hand. As his power flowed down into the gorge, the Players would feel their momentum slowing steadily. Eventually, they came to rest safe and sound upon the ground. Though, that was rather arguable given the army that was baring down upon them. Betelguese then raised his hand, his magic erecting a radiant red barrier around the players. A temporary measure. Protection until the Players could get their feet under themselves and their equipment readied.

Players are blessed with the combined powers of Betelguese and Rigel. [Gain +3 DMG, +2 ACC, +2 EVA, 15*Tier Mitigation]
Preparation phase will last 72 hours. This encounter is locked to Tier 2 Players only. Any Players that fail to join the fight before September 4, 1:00 AM EST will be barred from participating.