[F13-PP] Did You Wake Me Up? Did You Bring Me Here? <<Arabian Nights: Libel>>

[Hirru 0]

Listening intently on the words, the hunter would smile under the helm.  Freyd was finding his own in this world, and that gave Hirru a bit of reprieve.  There wasn't much the hunter really knew about the man, but he was happy to know that there was someone there for him.  He nodded, seeing that the man was settling that talk for now.

"Thought you were just as much a free spirit.  Though, I guess I don't know any better.  It may be more than I thought."

Not to say that the hunter was probably the most grounded in his ways than anyone else.  So far out of his way to work through the world, that he has found his own way to deal with it.  Consistently trying to find the right option to combat an obstacle, but finding the oddest one out of them all.  Not out of necessity, but just because it is what should be.

Stepping up towards the staircase leading upwards, the healer would shrug.

"It's the only way to go, unless you think we can blow a hole through the walls.  They seemed to react a bit."

He would say as he placed his hand upon the archway.  Faux-gothic?  There was another word for the memory banks.  Was it how this place looked?  There were quite a few around on different floors, but mostly in certain areas.  This floor seemed to have it more as a part of the basic infrastructure, that wasn't already ruined.  His touch would make the stairs slightly react, it would be difficult to see with the dim lighting, but they were both no strangers to such formalities.  The stairs seemed to undulate slightly on the edge of the dark.  Hirru would not let that scare him from continuing on.  Taking a step forward onto the first step would set flames erupting in odd sconces along the stairwell.

"I guess they want us to continue."

As they did, the stairs would continue to up and up.  Up and up.  Up and up.  Step by step, the slog of physically scaling the vertical space in a specified degree of diagonal position tracking.  Most of those words that came out of his thoughts would make him feel stupid at times, but maybe it was something else.  Maybe he just was.  Maybe.. the stairs were longer than they thought.  As the thought crossed his head, the ping of several mob markers would ring out all around them.  Where were they hiding?  The walls were the answer, as the walls began to morph into long fingers, then hands, then arms.  Four demonic arms sprouting out of the walls all around them.  This was bad.  They were in a narrow corridor surrounded by these things.

"Well, I should have seen this coming.."

 

Spoiler

(0,0,0,0) Freyd | HP: 1357/1357  | EN: 152/152 | DMG: 26 | MIT: 163 | ACC: 7 (+AA) | EVA: 3 (-1) | BH: 73 | LD: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STC: 40 | PVO | PARA IMMUNE | REC: 8 | DOTE: 2/3 | TRLBLD 
(0,0,0,0) Hirru | HP: 1113/1113 | EN: 108/108 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 110 | LD: 11~14 | BH: 55 | HLY BLS: 45 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76

Malediction's Grasp 1 | HP: 400/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1
Malediction's Grasp 2 | HP: 400/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1
Malediction's Grasp 3 | HP: 400/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1
Malediction's Grasp 4 | HP: 400/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1

 

[Freyd 0]

"Me?  A free spirit?  I suppose I should be flattered if you thought that to be the case.  I try my best to be unpredictable.  But, it's hardly the truth.  There's almost always method to my madness, whatever form it might take."  Parts of his mind sought to shutter the conversation, to reveal nothing of himself to anyone, but Hirru had proven himself time and again. Dawn had risen on the realization that they could not simply brute force their way through Kayaba's trap - and certainly not alone.  Elora was first, but not alone, among those who had taught him the value in people.  The term was apt and deliberate.  Freyd was an appraiser, after all, and the callous machine mind behind all of his decision making had been forced to enter new variables.  People were an irreplaceable commodity in this world, and they were losing too many, too fast.  Better bonds were needed, and could be forged in moments like these.

Drifting back to the present conversation, Freyd noted the Hunter's gaze upon the stone arches and details, peering along to discern what might be lingering.  Sconces lit as they approached the upward spiral, Freyd's fists flexing reflectively at his sides.

"I guess they want us to continue."

"Yeah," he muttered, unconvinced that the spontaneous provision of lighting was in any way a good thing.  He'd have been just fine in the dark.  This felt too much like a pair of giant spotlights telling every foul thing nesting in the nooks and crannies of this dungeon exactly where they were.  Pings triggered alertness in both warriors as the walls and floors began to writhe, then grasp, then claw at everything within reach.  "No way out, save through them," came the Whisper's retort to his companion's self-repudiation.  

Red limbs ending in misshapen and  sinister-looking black talons slashed with more awareness than they should, 'til Freyd spotted the yellow bloodshot eyes lining the seams between sinews along the demonic musculature.  "It couldn't be a plain old deer, or slimy used wagon salesmen, of something equally benign?  No, someone upstairs has to come up with this shit!"  Parrying wildly, the black clad martial artists wove, twisted and dodged impossibly, wreaking what havoc he could as he went.  A final explosive strike sent a shockwave of energy rippling out from the point of impact and seemed to do them in.  Health bars dipped to nothing, or not quite, then instantly the flailing resumed as the Whisper cursed his luck.

"Oh, come on!  That just figures," he grumbled, sliding back to his companion's side.  "Feels an awful lot like the last pin denying us a strike, don't you think?"  Three of the arms still flailed and flopped around, but the slightest breeze might be all that was needed to end each one of them.

***

Spoiler

Post Action | AoE-I (x15, 11 EN, +2 shift, +2/hit): 21 EN - (Rested 2/2; Stamina) = 18 EN.  
Free Action [Item] | Activate Rhino Horn

ID #218756 | BD:2+8-1=9 (hit, Rhino +3).  DMG (15*29=435-60=375) to Malediction's Grasp 1
ID #218757 | BD:4+8-1=11 (hit, Rhino +3).  DMG (15*29=435-60=375) to Malediction's Grasp 2
ID #218758 | BD:3+8-1=10 (hit, Rhino +3).  DMG (15*29=435-60=375) to Malediction's Grasp 3
ID #218759 | BD:10 (Crit +3, Rhino +3, Trlbld).  DMG (15*32=480-2=960-60=900) to Malediction's Grasp 4.  Static triggers, dealing 24 damage to other three enemies.

ID #218760 | BD: 3+1-2=4 (miss) vs Freyd
ID #218761 | BD: 6+1-2=5 (miss) vs Freyd
ID #218762 | BD: 8+1-2=7 (hit); DMG (180-163=17) vs Freyd

(2,2,2) Freyd | HP: 1340/1357 (1357-17) | EN: 134/152 (152-18) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 163 | ACC: 7 (+AA) | EVA: 3 (-1) | BH: 73 | LD: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STC: 40 | PVO | PARA IMMUNE | REC: 8 | DOTE: 2/3 | TRLBLD 
(0,0,0) Hirru | HP: 1113/1113 | EN: 108/108 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 110 | LD: 11~14 | BH: 55 | HLY BLS: 45 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76

Malediction's Grasp 1 | HP: 1/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 (400-375-24)
Malediction's Grasp 2 | HP: 1/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 (400-375-24)
Malediction's Grasp 3 | HP: 1/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 (400-375-24)
Malediction's Grasp 4 | HP: 0/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 (400-900-more)

Loot Malediction's Grasp 4: ID #220325 | LD: 7+9=16 | CD: 8
+2 materials (+2 LD odd)
2000 col (HP[400]*5 - incl. +2 CD even)
T4 Rare Consumable 220325a
T4 Rare Armor/Shield 220325b

Edited March 17 by Freyd

[Hirru 0]

There was nothing that the hunter could do in this situation.  All he could do was raise his shield while lowing himself, so that Freyd could easily attack around him.  It was an awkward position, but it was the only way.  Though, as the shadowed wanderer seemed to split the hands down through their health bars.  There was the sound of crystalline shattering, but by the looks of it, they were still in the fight.  Hirru could only look on at the health bars that seemed to be empty.  How were they still alive?, he would think.  Though at closer observation, they were only a slight blip of health remaining.  Did these things actually live with only a singular point of health remaining?

"Don't seem to like the notion of death, or we're just that unlucky today?  Either or.."

There was no need to do anything here, but the hunter truly wished he could finish off the enemy here.  There was no way to easily do so, though.  The hunter could only use his weapons without the usage of his former build.  That meant that his accuracy was long gone, and his damage was gone too.

"Damn.."

He grumbled under his breath.  There was only so much he could do, and this was one of them.  His hand fell close to Freyd, and gave a bit of his energy to the daring young man.

Action - Energize: +8 EN to Freyd | -10 EN from Hirru

(2,2,2) Freyd | HP: 1340/1357 (1357-17) | EN: 142/152 (152-18+8) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 163 | ACC: 7 (+AA) | EVA: 3 (-1) | BH: 73 | LD: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STC: 40 | PVO | PARA IMMUNE | REC: 8 | DOTE: 2/3 | TRLBLD 
(0,0,0) Hirru | HP: 1113/1113 | EN: 98/108 (-10) | DMG: 1 | MIT: 110 | LD: 11~14 | BH: 55 | HLY BLS: 45 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76

Malediction's Grasp 1 | HP: 1/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 (400-375-24)
Malediction's Grasp 2 | HP: 1/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 (400-375-24)
Malediction's Grasp 3 | HP: 1/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 (400-375-24)

[Freyd 0]

Scrambling for room to maneuver, Freyd flipped perspectives along with himself.  Pressing a hand against stalwart Hirru's shoulder, his darkened form sprung up high.  Grabbing briefly onto a nearby sconce for purchase, Freyd spun and flailed in furious motions that scattered shadows along with the shattered crystalline forms of broken limbs.  Crackling lightning flashed amidst a cloud of indigo miasma, like some sort of brooding thunderstorm was suddenly erupting directly overhead.  Just as suddenly, the chaos stopped and orange snow, like some sort of strange fractal residuum, drifted down around Hirru only to disappear upon contact with the stairs beneath his feet.  

The dark cloud dispersed.  Suddenly still, post-mayhem and looking suspiciously spider-like, Freyd hung suspended above with legs splayed in a painful-looking split that placed a foot on either side of corridor.  One might have half-expected to see eight glowing red eyes to be peering down from below his trademark cowl, but prompting only a low chuckle.  Without a sound, he dropped and landed upright at his companion's side with feline grace, dusting off a sleeve still clinking slightly from various bits of mob lingering in a fold or two of his outfit.

"There.  That ought to do it," he added wryly, the broadest of grins visible at the base of a face otherwise concealed.  "I'm getting a nasty feeling, like we might be in this tower's gullet.  What say we punch our way out through its teeth before it decides to swallow, hmm?"

***

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
Freyd regains 73 HP from BH
CD 10 (+8 REC proc) ID #218856

Post Action | TECH-F (x8, 8 EN, +2/hit): 12 EN - (Rested 1/2; Stamina) = 9 EN.  
Free Action | None

ID #218854 | BD: 1+8-1=8 (hit [AA]).  DMG (26*8=208-60=148) kills Malediction's Grasp 1.
ID #218855 | BD: 9 (Crit +1).  DMG (27*8=216-60=156)  kills Malediction's Grasp 2.  Static proc deals 24 splash damage and kills Malediction's Grasp 3.

(4,5,2) Freyd | HP: 1357/1357 (1340+73) | EN: 145/152 (142+4+8-9) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 163 | ACC: 7 (+AA) | EVA: 3 (-1) | BH: 73 | LD: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STC: 40 | PVO | PARA IMMUNE | REC: 8 | DOTE: 2/3 | TRLBLD 

(0,0,0) Hirru | HP: 1113/1113 | EN: 98/108  | DMG: 1 | MIT: 110 | LD: 11~14 | BH: 55 | HLY BLS: 45 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76

Malediction's Grasp 1 | HP: 0/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 (1-148)
Malediction's Grasp 2 | HP: 0/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 (1-156)
Malediction's Grasp 3 | HP: 0/400 | DMG: 180 | MIT: 60 | ACC: 1 | EVA: 1 (1-24)

Loot Malediction's Grasp 1: ID #220322 | LD: 7+9=16 | CD: 4
+2 materials (+2 LD odd)
2000 col (HP[400]*5 - incl. +2 CD even)
T4 Rare Consumable 220322a
T4 Rare Weapon 220322b

Loot Malediction's Grasp 2: ID #220323 | LD: 18+9=27 | CD: 10
2800 col (HP[400]*7 - incl. +4 CD/LD even)
1x Demonic Shard
Random Dungeon Map 220323

Loot Malediction's Grasp 3: ID #220324 | LD: 3+9=12 | CD: 11
+4 materials (+4 CD/LD odd +2 Roll)
1200 col (HP[400]*3)
T4 Rare Armor/Shield 220324

Edited March 17 by Freyd

[Hirru 0]

"I agree.  We shouldn't be in here any longer than we need to be.  Though, I do hope that you're joking about the teeth part."

He said while dusting his shoulder from the point that Freyd had used him as a springboard.  The hands were vanquished and the stair well seemed much less.. alive, or should the saying be 'more normal'.  Their ascent would take them a few minutes, before an opening would bring the next obstacle into view.  The open stagnant air that would be attributed to the 13th floor would fill the air, almost tantalizing them as the way out was before them.  The only thing that seemed to be the jagged stalactites and stalagmites that seemed to cover the exit.  They seemed to leak water down, but the formation of them seemed off.  Hirru wouldn't be able to pin point it, but the stalactites were not direction above some of the stalagmites.  In fact, they're formation was even odder, as they seemed to be pointed inward, towards the both of them.  The only two that weren't, were two stalactites that seemed to be curved in an odd manner.

"This better not be a gaping maw.."

As he said that, something seemed to slip by.  It was along the periphery of his vision, but it wasn't coming up on his pings.  It was still a mass rippling effect from everything in the room.  Still, they probably wouldn't have to wait long.  The floor seemed to wriggle and writhe a bit before a stalagmite seemed to come alive.  It's body seemed to consist of the same fleshy bits as the hands before.  Mouths slitting thought the entirety of its length, but would seemingly split in two near the base.  It wasn't long to see why.  The being that crawled out of the shadows split down the middle, slick slime coming off from the seams.  Each half would form into a part rock man, part snake hybrid.  They almost seemed like Naga from a certain floor that he didn't want to go back to today.  That is, if the naga were just mouth and teeth all the way down.

EN: 1
Recov?: [ID: 218966][CD: 10] +8 EN

(0,0) Freyd | HP: 1357/1357 | EN: 145/152 | DMG: 26 | MIT: 163 | ACC: 7 (+AA) | EVA: 3 (-1) | BH: 73 | LD: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STC: 40 | PVO | PARA IMMUNE | REC: 8 | DOTE: 2/3 | TRLBLD 

(0,0) Hirru | HP: 1113/1113 | EN: 107/108  | DMG: 1 | MIT: 110 | LD: 11~14 | BH: 55 | HLY BLS: 45 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76

Malediction's Utterance 1 | HP: 700/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1

Malediction's Utterance 2 | HP: 700/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1

Edited February 11 by Hirru

[Freyd 0]

"I swear that they're just using AI art generation rejects at this point, you know?"  By the time Hirru would turn, he was already gone.  Having closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye, Freyd caught their would-be assailants off guard and turned the very same tactic against them.  Snaring the nearer naga-thingy by the edge of the cleft of its malformed figure, he barreled high into its chest knocking it prone on its back.  Then, using his momentum, he summersaulted over top of it grabbing onto its shoulders and used his own momentum to launch the startled mob right at its partner.  All of its mouths screeched in horror as the bodies collided, the impact dazing the launched and smashing the impacted into a hundred different fragments.

"Hah!  I wondered if that would work."  A quick screech from his wrappings and flurry of follow up strikes left the lone remaining mob badly beaten with a whole slew of extra holes that hadn't been there just moments before.  "Does this feel like fighting plaque?  Maybe tartar build-up?  Shouldn't we have some PSA music queuing in the background, or something?"

Despite the bizarro nature of their circumstances, Freyd actually seemed to be enjoying the moment and having a good time.

***

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
CD 7 (+8 REC proc) ID #218971

Post Action | AoE-I (x15, 11 EN, +2 Shift, +2/hit): 17 EN - (Rested 2/2; Stamina) = 14 EN.  
Free Action | None

ID #218967 | BD: 8+8-1=15 (hit).  DMG (15*26=390-120=270)  PVO applied.
ID #218968 | BD: 10 (Crit +2).  DMG (15*26=390*2=780-120=660).  Blight applied.  Static applied (24 splash damage).  PVO applied.  Also... so totally dead.

Malediction's Utterance 1 is paralyzed.  Paralyzed fades.

(2,3) Freyd | HP: 1357/1357 | EN: 143/152 (145+4+8-14) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 163 | ACC: 7 (+AA) | EVA: 3 | BH: 73 | LD: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STC: 40 | PVO | PARA IMMUNE | REC: 8 | DOTE: 2/3 | TRLBLD 
(0,0) Hirru | HP: 1113/1113 | EN: 107/108  | DMG: 1 | MIT: 110 | LD: 11~14 | BH: 55 | HLY BLS: 45 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76

Malediction's Utterance 1 | HP: 406/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 | Paralyzed (700-270-24)
Malediction's Utterance 2 | HP: 0/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 (700-660-32-40)

Loot Malediction's Utterance 2: ID #218972 | LD: 14+9=23 | CD: 3
+2 materials (+2 CD odd)
3500 col (HP[700]*5 - incl. +2 LD even)
T4 Perfect Trinket 218972a
T4 Perfect Weapon 218972b

Edited February 11 by Freyd

[Hirru 0]

Hirru didn't know what any of that meant, and probably for the better.  If it had anything to do with being in a giant mouth, or not, was still not what was on his mind.  The Utterance that was left seemed to be stunned, no.. paralyzed by the excessive power that Freyd could enforce.  It's twin had been removed from their connected self, as if a part of it was no longer there.  It didn't know what to do.  It would be much easier for the hunter to attack it now, if he could.

He wished he could.

"Probably wouldn't sound more off putting than anything we've heard before."

Hirru took the mouth motif and worked with that knowledge.  Anything in the mouth would be really odd.  Even more so when there is some weird music playing around it.  Although, the hunter didn't know what PSA meant either.  Must be more jolly than deep, dark and dank.  He really had to ask Shield what any of that meant.

EN REgen: +4
NO actions

(2,3) Freyd | HP: 1357/1357 | EN: 143/152 (145+4+8-14) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 163 | ACC: 7 (+AA) | EVA: 3 | BH: 73 | LD: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STC: 40 | PVO | PARA IMMUNE | REC: 8 | DOTE: 2/3 | TRLBLD 
(0,0) Hirru | HP: 1113/1113 | EN: 108/108  | DMG: 1 | MIT: 110 | LD: 11~14 | BH: 55 | HLY BLS: 45 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76

Malediction's Utterance 1 | HP: 406/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 | Paralyzed (700-270-24)
Malediction's Utterance 2 | HP: 0/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 (700-660-32-40)

[Freyd 0]

"Yeah," Freyd replied, weaving around the thing's jerky movements as it regained elements of control over itself.  "All bark, no bite, I guess."  The mob opened its many mouths as if to protest, giving him the perfect opportunity to kick it in the teeth several times over.  By the time he was done, there was nothing left of the last Utterance, its polygons dissolving into nothingness  "We should be near the exit, barring whatever other parts of Malediction will try to stop us next.  My money is on 'Malediction's nose hairs'... also.. eww."  Grimacing as he spoke, Freyd winced and stuck out his tongue at the prospect of doing battle with such a thing.  

"You and I find the weirdest places."  Pausing to steady himself before they resumes their climb, Freyd looked over at his companion to make sure that everything was fine.  "Looks like we hit a bit of a gruesome one this time.  All good there, vice-commander?"  Taking but a moment to tug at the wraps around each hand, he couldn't have them slipping off at the wrong moment and attempting to devour one of his own fingers.  That would definitely be bad.

***

Spoiler

Freyd regains +4 EN
CD 4 (No REC proc) ID #220320

Post Action | AoE-II (x18, 14 EN +2 shift, +2/hit): 18 EN - (Rested 1/2, Stamina) = 15 EN
Free Action [item] | Activate Rhino Horn

ID #220319 | BD: 9 (Crit +2, Horn +3).  DMG (18*31=558-120=438). Dead... and also paralyzed, spasming and rotting, but still mostly dead.

Freyd | HP: 1357/1357 | EN: 132/152 (143+4-15) | DMG: 26 | MIT: 163 | ACC: 7 (+AA) | EVA: 3 | BH: 73 | LD: 8 | BLGT: 32 | STC: 40 | PVO | PARA IMMUNE | REC: 8 | DOTE: 2/3 | TRLBLD 
Hirru | HP: 1113/1113 | EN: 108/108  | DMG: 1 | MIT: 110 | LD: 11~14 | BH: 55 | HLY BLS: 45 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 76

(5,0) Malediction's Utterance 1 | HP: 0/700 | DMG: 280 | MIT: 120 | ACC: 2 | EVA: 1 (406-438)

Loot Malediction's Utterance 1: ID #220321 | LD: 11+9=20 | CD: 4
+2 materials (+2 LD odd)
2000 col (HP[400]*5 - incl. +2 CD even)
T4 Perfect Consumable 220321a
T4 Rare Trinket 220321b

Edited March 17 by Freyd