FrivYeti/SolarsVsLionChallenge2
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ROUND TWO: THAT DOESN'T BEND THAT WAY!
Before anything else, we get initiative for Round 2. Invincible Sword Princess is completely tapped out, and the Lion knows it (no Essence from Varan's Ruin last hit), so he doesn't bother triggering comboes - yet. Initiative: Lion 44, Princess 27, Ninja 25, Boy 18, Eater 12
The Lion spun, ready to eviscerate the foolish Solars who thought they could challenge him. He was moving too quickly, his sword beginning to become a blur as dark energies surrounded him, and he smiled grimly at the thought of the devastation to come. But then he frowned, for Starry-Eyed Boy was opening his mouth, and the word that he had begun to speak filled the Lion with sudden dread.
The Lion is going first, and ready to attack... but Starry-Eyed Boy knows that a lot of folk are likely to die in a moment, so he takes the plunge and activates Rune of Singular Hate. Normally, that would be a lot of death in the face for the Lion, but fortunately, he's got the Spell-Shattering Palm. He triggers his Infinite Plentitude of Dark Destinies combo and prepares to try and stop this.
Starry-Eyed Boy began to speak a syllable, a single word so horrible that it could flay even the soul of a Deathlord. Sound curled around him as the power of the Essence gathered behind him. The Lion spun to face him, the iron chains curling backwards like a cape in the wind in the face of the sorcery. Curling his hands around, he slammed his fist into Varan's Ruin, creating a wall of wailing sound in the instant that Boy spoke. "I will not be humbled by these cubs!", the Lion thought viciously to himself, forcing his frustration into a wall of sound that shattered the spell before it could finish forming.
The Lion makes a reflexive, unarmed martial arts attack against the spell. Normally, this would be 24 dice (Dexterity 18 + Martial Arts 5 + Stunt 1), but the Lion spends a Willpower to channel Conviction; he really wants this to fail, and better safe than sorry. He rolls 18 successes - well, well in excess of the eight that he needed to break the spell.
Starry-Eyed Boy screamed in pain as the spell turned back upon him, scarring him to the depths of his soul. Inwardly, he quailed, for that was to have been his last resort.
Starry-Eyed Boy has still cast the Rune, even if it got blocked; he loses 1 dot from every Attribute and Ability, and he can never cast it again. Also, he's down 10 motes and 3 Willpower.
The Lion grinned savagely, turning his attention to the injured Solar. "Is this how you think to defeat me? Allow me to show you the truth." His sword ripped savagely towards Starry-Eyed Boy... and twitched harmlessly off his skin, violet and golden energy turning aside the force of the blow as Starry-Eyed Boy staggered back a step. Undeterred, the Lion swung his sword overhand, in a vicious sweep that sent shards of moonsilver and starmetal scattering across the arena, and then stabbed through the unprotected Solar with a single dark thrust. Starry-Eyed Boy sagged to his knees, golden metal rippling across his body as it tried vainly to repair the horrific slash across his chest. He looked up, horror in his eyes, as the Lion slammed Varan's Ruin downwards, driving through his skull and throat before extending from his back.
The Lion starts his attacks against Starry-Eyed Boy. He splits each of his three actions four ways. On the first set, he starts spending 6 motes per attack for doubled successes for damage and perfect attacks without perfect parries. Starry-Eyed Boy decides that he has Willpower, but no Essence, and triggers his Combo. The first- attack rolls 14 successes, for a damage total of 53L; Starry-Eyed Boy reduces it to 10L with Iron Skin Concentration and takes 3 levels of damage, which he reduces to nothing with Death-Parrying Stroke. He does lose his last mote of Essence to the Lion, however. The second attack rolls a stunning 21 successes, for base damage of 67L - reduced to 53 by his soak. He takes 22 levels of damage - he's alive! Then attack #3 rolls 12 successes for a net damage of 26L. Starry-Eyed Boy takes another 10 levels of damage and dies. In total, the Lion regains 32 motes of Essence.
The Lion drew his sword out as the lifeless body of Starry-Eyed Boy collapsed to the ground, already covering the distance to his next target. Invincible Sword Princess drew back as he approached, prepared to give her all in defense, but her Essence was spent and the Lion overwhelmed her with sheer energy. Contemptuously batting aside her daiklave with a fist, he slammed his sword into her. Her Essence-fortified body spared her from death, but ribs cracked and blood sprayed from the blow. Spinning, the Lion delivered a long cut across her torso. Her sword falling from nerveless fingers, Invincible Sword Princess collapsed to the ground.
The Lion still has nine attacks - bad news for the team. He goes after Invincible Sword Princess, who is, unfortunately, completely defenseless, with no Essence or Willpower left after Round One. His attacks are still enhanced as before. Attack #4 gets only 9 successes, for 43L base damage (25L after soak). The Princess takes 8 levels of damage. Attack #5 gets 18 successes, for 43L post-soak. Damage rolled is a pathetic 13, which incapacitates her. The Lion isn't really content with that, but it'll do for the moment. With seven attacks left, he turns his attention to Eater of Kindred. The Lion regains another 21 motes.
Eater of Kindred gaped in terror at the speed with which his companions had been slain. Gritting his teeth, he braced himself for the Lion's charge... which came with impressive speed. Leaping forwards, the Lion spun his sword into a whirlwind of destruction, sending rock chips spraying into the air as it carved gashes through the arena's stone floor, every strike slamming with deadly precision towards the Solar. But attack after attack fell short... until, finally, one did not. Bone and muscle exploded outwards as the Lion slashed across Eater's shoulder and chest, leaving the ground red with its passing, and Eater grimaced in agony.
The Lion easily passes his Valor check and makes seven perfect attacks against Eater of Kindred. Eater has a lot of Essence left, and Seven Shadow Evasions' the first six. Number seven, he can't block. The attack, at a total -12 dice (taking it down to 20 dice), rolls 11 successes, for a base damage of 47L (31L after soak). Total damage is 12 levels, leaving Eater alive (but Essence-less). Still, the Lion's turn is now done, although he regains 12 more Essence.
The wind picked up, and the Lion turned from his victim, just as a scythe of air sliced towards it. Stunned, he quickly deflected it, but more came to take its place. Growling quietly, the First and Forsaken Lion swirled his sword around him, knocking blow after blow aside to slam into the arena walls.
Ninja Man wishes he could use his spell-storing cord, but that plan has failed; the Lion hasn't had to use enough perfect attacks. Instead, he slams forth five Wrathful Winds Manuevers, trusting that this will overcome the Lion's defenses. Unfortunately, although all are perfect attacks, the Lion can refresh his perfect defenses with the Charm use for his second action, and he does so with gusto, blocking everything.
Eater of Kindred stood, raising his bow, and, retreating with all the speed he could muster, fired a single shot directly at the Lion's back. Spinning, the Lion brought up his sword, tilting it sideways to slice the arrow in half as it flew towards him, the metal tip spinning harmlessly to the ground.
Eater of Kindred makes an Archery attack, and the Lion uses his persistant defense. Eater of Kindred rolls only 8 successes. The Lion rolls 15 successes and bats it aside. That's it for the round.
Overly Combative Simian: Dead
Invincible Sword Princess:
Willpower: 0/7, Personal Essence: 0/2 (20 committed), Peripheral Essence 0/29 (22 committed). Health Levels: 0/23 (Incapacitated)
Starry-Eyed Boy : Dead
Ninja Man:
Willpower: 2/8, Personal Essence: 3/13 (10 committed), Peripheral Essence: 11/36 (18 committed). Health Levels: 23/23 (OK)
Shrouded In Body And Mind, 2 turns. Hurricane Combat Method, 3 turns.
Eater of Kindred:
Willpower: 0/8, Personal Essence: 0/8 (15 committed), Peripheral Essence: 0/38 (16 committed). Health Levels: 11/23 (-2)
First and Forsaken Lion: Willpower: 4/10, Personal 0/5 (77 committed), Peripheral 93/187 (31 committed). 8 perfect defenses remain.
