No.712863
>>712860"Toasted!" Cinder cackles, then immediately catches herself. That goat was a person before it was a blight. She tries to act more respectful as she inwardly gloats.
She turns in time to see the visage of Moonlight. "Lady… Moon…" Cinder doesn't even finish the name. She is agape. This is far from the Guiding Moonlight she has seen. She takes a step back. "Guys… I think something is wrong here…"
No.712864
>>712857>>712859Dalliance follows behind dutifully as you set out of Moonhollow and towards the farms outside. You can see even from a distance that they are quite poorly; what little livestock you can see are malnourished and wan, and the crops are barely growing, many of them wilted and shriveled. Dalliance looks perturbed as you walk, looking for someone to talk to.
Eventually, you come across a farmer, an old mare with her mane in a bun, with a hard, lined face like a prune. She is reaching up, picking hard, withered apples off of a tree, and looks over to you inquisitively, nodding silently in greeting.
No.712865
>>712862>>712861"We might not be out of the water just yet boys!" Cinder cries out to the team.
>>712860"Lady Moonlight! If you can hear me, stand down! We are not here to hurt you!" Cinder's bad feelings are often on the right-ish side, and right now she's got a doozy.
No.712866
>>712860Jesse blankly stares at the Unicorn. He slowly takes off his hat in respect. He relaxes but keeps a firm grip on his weapon.
No.712867
>>712863>>712865My face blanches and I take another step back. "I'm sorry. Something wrong?" Those are never good words to hear, especially when someone you've been searching for is acting creepy.
No.712868
>>712864distraught at the sight of the dying plant life, Rainy perks up upon seeing one of the farmers, waving a hoof before flowing over to her.
"Greetings! We're with the guild and saw your notice. How can we help?"
No.712869
>>712859>>712864Voleurz looks over to Dalliance and Rainy, hanging back as they approach.
"*I don't do well with old hags, as evident with the fireball. You two can take care of this.*" She whispers, snickering.
No.712870
>>712861>>712862>>712863>>712866Moonlight's gaze moves slowly from one of you to the other, lingering on Cinder for a moment. You notice that her left foreleg drags limply, as it it had suffered some terrible blow.
As the Blight turns to dust, wisps of smoke rise from it, rushing up the glowing sword and into her body. She shudders as it does so, breathing heavily and groaning; then, with an inhuman bellow, she rushes towards you, swinging the glowing sword with her good leg.
[1d10+2] Cleave: Cinder, Talon
Roll #1 2 + 2 = 4 No.712872
Jesse readies his gun and fires at the now hostile mare.
[1d10]
Roll #1 1 = 1
No.712873
>>712870Correction: Cinder, Platinum
No.712874
"How sad." I take to the air to attempt to dodge the blow. With the distance, I form a trap to hold the blight amidst the group.
Trap: recharge 1; Starting next turn, first enemy to attack is helpless for 2 turns.
[1d10] dodge
[1d10] trap
Roll #1 6 = 6 / Roll #2 9 = 9
No.712875
>>712870I stumble backwards and squeal as my horn lights up, sending a bolt of lighting at the attacking mare.
[1d10+1][1d10+1]
Roll #1 7 + 1 = 8 /
Roll #2 7 + 1 = 8 No.712876
>>712869Dalliance frowns a little, but obeys.
>>712868>>712869"Three blessings upon you," says Dalliance in greeting. The crone looks a little perturbed by Rainy's appearance, but nods respectfully nonetheless. "Aye, we've been having trouble. A terrible beast's been coming out, killing our stock, killin' the farmers… I seen it with me own two eyes. Great big wolf. Or summat like it. Black, with eyes like coals, and a 'orrible yellow mouth… We've tried followin' it, but it's smart. Smarter than any animal I ever seen. 'S been plaguing us for near a week now. We can't even stay out after dark cause of it. It's the curse of Moonhollow, I tells ya."
No.712877
>>712870The kirin yelps and dodges out of the way.
"I don't want to hurt you, Moonlight!" Cinder shouts. "…I don't get paid unless you make it…" she charges up her hind hooves with hot, blue jets of flame, "to MOONHOLLOW!" She kicks!
Dodge [1d10]
Unarmed Attack (Elementalist: Fire) [1d10]
Roll #1 8 = 8 /
Roll #2 3 = 3 No.712878
>>712872She swings her blade around in a backswing, slicing you across the chest before you can react. The blow sends you toppling backwards, blinded by the pain.
>Jesse takes 5 hits, helpless>>712874You bring some rubble down, impeding her movements for a moment.
>>712875She only narrowly misses her swing. You hit her with a lightning bolt, but she seems to simply shrug it off.
>>712877You tumble out of the way and kick her in the armor, sending her staggering backwards for a moment.
>>712872>>712874>>712875>>712877Moonlight tries to charge forward, but is impeded by the falling rubble from Talon's trap. As she struggles madly to free herself, her horn lights up, and her sword hovers in midair, as if possessed by a will of its own. It slices through the air, targeting Cinder specifically.
[1d10+2]
Roll #1 6 + 2 = 8 No.712879
>>712878I order my doubles to pin her, and each of them rush and attempt to wrastle her to the ground.
[1d10][1d10]
In the meantime I regret giving my rapier to the double I sent with Voleurz, Dalliance, and Rainy. I wonder how that's going. Surely they haven't figured out he's not me yet with Voleurz not even talking to me at the moment. My horn lights up as I fire a non elemental burst of magic.
[1d10]
Roll #1 1 = 1 /
Roll #2 1 = 1 /
Roll #3 3 = 3 No.712880
Jesse is flung back from the blow and left to lay in a pile of rubble and a large gash on his chest. Blood paints the corners of his mouth and he glares at the mare
[1d10] recover
Roll #1 9 = 9
No.712881
>>712878Correction: Talon's trap hasn't triggered yet. She is brought to a knee by Platinum's bolt, but still retains control over her sword. Combat continues as before.
No.712882
>>712878"Holy Fr*ck!" Cinder leaps again, trying to stay one step ahead of the telekinetic sword while avoiding the rubble, which is everywhere, including *APPARENTLY* falling from above her head.
She tries again to send a flailing kick toward Moonlight.
Dodge [1d10]
Unarmed Attack (Elementalist: Fire) [1d10]
Roll #1 2 = 2 /
Roll #2 10 = 10 No.712883
>>712876"Oh no, how terrible!" Replies Rainy, looking concerned.
>>712871"This sounds serious! We'll really need the others to help safely." she adds, rotating her head behind her to face you.
>>712876Spinning back around, Rainy taps her head with a hoof in thought, water splashing onto the dirt.
"Hmm.. Which way does the creature run away to? We might find some tracks if we look.. Maybe even follow them to it!"
No.712884
>>712883>>712876Voleurz nods, pitching in to help the goo,
"All it do is bite and pounce like a wolf, right? No hypnotic eye lasers or turning invisible or anything?"
No.712885
>>712878I narrow my eyes seeing the blight still attacking and aim a shot at the creature myself.
I load my crossbow and take aim shooting for the head.
Surveyor: passive; You have keen eyes when flying on high. While flying you can give either an ally or yourself +1 to ranged attacks and skills
[1d10+1]
Roll #1 8 + 1 = 9 No.712886
>>712879She rams into one with her shoulder and kicks the other, sending them both stumbling backwards and promptly vanishing. Your magic burst pings off of her armor harmlessly.
>>712880You pull yourself back up, determined to fight.
>>712882You kick her in the head, blowing back her mane and revealing her face for a moment. She is covered in scars and wounds, bleeding black dust. Her eyes glow yellow, not just colored yellow like a normal Blight but fully glowing, like the hypnotic radiance from the monster you fought before.
In the effort, you fail to stay ahead of the sword, and with one graceful swing it slashes you across the chest, narrowly missing your throat. You are blinded by the sudden searing pain, but manage to power through it.
>Cinder takes 3 hits>>712885You shoot her right in the head. She flinches, but it only seems to make her even angrier, bellowing again and redirecting the sword towards you for a quick slash.
[1d10]
>>712880>>712882>>712883>>712885Recovering from the blow, Moonlight stands up, lunging to attack but being impeded by Talon's rubble trap. Nevertheless, her sword keeps flying through the air, lunging at Platinum.
[1d10+2]
Roll #1 4 = 4 /
Roll #2 2 + 2 = 4 No.712887
>>712885Watching the bolt fly through the air, Cinder has time only to shout "Don't go for the kill! We can still save her!" At least we hope we can, she doesn't add. She thinks of Solar Flair, lying unconscious in the basement of a defunct chapel, with a beak-masked 'doctor' hovering ominously overhead.
No.712888
"I…have had just about enough of you" he breathlessly says and once again fires his weapon at the unicorn
[1d10]
Roll #1 9 = 9
No.712889
>>712886>>712887"We just have to wear her down and knock her out!" I call out. I try to avoid the sword as my horn lights up again, sending a lightning bolt sparking at her.
[1d10+1][1d10+1]Magic bolt, Elementalist:Lightning
Roll #1 6 + 1 = 7 /
Roll #2 2 + 1 = 3 No.712890
>>712883She shakes her head sadly. "Couldn't tells ya. It doesn't leave no tracks. No footprints, no hair, nothin'. It's from beyond, I say. 'S a ghost. A curse. This is a damned curse, I keep tellin' em. Old Grizzy's revenge, or summat like it. They don't listen. They ne'er listen. What would I know. Eh?…"
>>712884"I dunno. Only e'er glimpsed it. Too old to be chasin' wolves. It's what I'm tellin' your friend 'ere, it's not sumfink natural like. You hunt it, you'll see. Ne'er seen a wolf like that afore. All black and yellow. 'S 'orrible…"
No.712891
>>712886I flap up to avoid the swinging blade.
"How does one restrain a unicorn, do we break their horn?" I tilt my head as I plan to attempt to swipe at the blight.
[1d10] dodge
I go and tackle the blight and attack the horn.
[1d10]
Roll #1 7 = 7 /
Roll #2 5 = 5 No.712892
>>712886Cinder takes the blow silently, disbelievingly. She doesn't think it will hit her right up until the moment it does. "Oof," she remarks, the pain now washing over her. She has never gotten used to feeling pain.
It makes her
real mad.
Her eyes darken, ringed with flame. Her horn glows brightly. Her mane, already flaming, grows higher. She screams as fire pours out of her, already forgetting her own warning to the others to hold back.
Storm Bolt 5 [1d10](Crit fail 5-)
Roll #1 10 = 10 No.712893
>>712890>>712884"Aw, no tracks? Hmm.."
"We'll just have to wait for it to appear." states Rainy. "When the sun sets, we can hide and face it when we see it!" concludes the goo, nodding sagely.
>>712884"I know! I can shape myself into a calf, as bait! Nopony gets hurt, and we can ambush it when it hunts."
No.712894
>>712890>>712893"You sure you want to do that darling? You'd be putting yourself in danger. We need a healer if we'll be ambushing it you know."
>>712889Voleurz looks behind her at the Platinum clone behind them,
"Couldn't we use one of these buggers instead?"
No.712895
>>712894I give her a small smile and wave.
No.712896
>>712888You shoot her in the broken arm. She flinches and flails it disturbingly in your direction out of sheer rage.
>>712889You hit her with another lightning bolt. You notice her breathing start to slow, but she is still brimming with energy.
>>712891You dodge the sword and go for a divebomb, but are forced to dodge to avoid her goring you with her horn.
>>712892In a flurry of blows, you strike her with blow after blow. She recoils and screams horribly as you pummel her with fire, burning her to cinders.
>>712888>>712889>>712891>>712892As the smoke from Cinder's final assault clears, you see Moonlight standing there, scorched all over, down on the ground but still just alive. She reaches out feebly, and the ashes of the dead Blights start moving towards her like before, like she's absorbing their power. Her body begins to glow slightly as they do, and she hunches over and groans hideously. Her sword clatters to the ground, but also begins to glow, a pale greenish blue like the light of the moon. You see her wounds starting to close.
No.712897
>>712894>>712893"I could act as a decoy," Dalliance suggests. She seems to regret it as soon as she brings it up, but keeps talking. "I-I mean, you'll have my back, right? I could stand about, get its attention when it appears, then… then we all jump it! How about that?"
No.712898
>>712896"Well that just ain't fair"
He runs up to the mare and places the barrel of the gun as close as he can get it and fires
[1d10] roll for success
Roll #1 4 = 4 No.712899
>>712896"Should we do that again?" I tilt my head with my crossbow in hand.
No.712900
>>712894>>712897Rainy shakes her head, sending more droplets into the soil.
"The monster is smart, something pony-shaped might keep it away! A tasty calf will be easy prey, until i melt away and escape!" she adds, laughing bubbly.
"I'm much harder to hit than one of you, and you'd be put in danger if i don't do this.."
No.712901
>>712896It's slowly seeming more and more like taking her alive isn't an option. "Well, Ms.Fabrie, what do you recommend?"
No.712902
>>712896"Oh h*ck, what do we do? What do we do!!" Cinder starts off softly and picks up volume as she watches Moonlight performing her one-woman show of Terminator 2.
Her eyes alight on the sword. "The blade!!" she cries. "Break it!!"
She flies forward in a flurry of flaming fury. [1d10]
Roll #1 4 = 4 No.712903
>>712902Right. Well, I've never been much for aim, but I'll give it my all. I hold my breath and fire a ball of magical energy a the sword.
[1d10]
Roll #1 3 = 3 No.712904
>>712897"Out of the question darling, you're much more important than a piece of eye candy for a wolf, even if you'd be tempting bait."
Voleurz grins, before pointing at the illusionary merchant's son again,
>>712895 "Loot the twit, it'd be
peeerfect bait. No one
real gets hurt."
>>712900Voleurz rubs her chin, "Didn't the hag say farmers were dying too? Should go back and ask her how that was happening. I reckon as long as the bugger's acting like it's sleeping, the beast won't discriminate."
She shrugs, looking at Rainy with the rare look of what very well could be genuine concern,
"Just don't want you getting hurt darling, that's all. That wolf sounds like a real bloody danger after all. Could we atleast try the illusion first?"
No.712905
>>712898She twitches, lashing out and striking you with her limp arm before you can shoot her. You notice that it doesn't seem to be healing like the rest of her.
>Jesse takes 2 hits>>712902Moonlight's horn glows, and the sword twitches, slicing you lengthwise across the foreleg. You stumble and lose your balance from the sudden blow, falling again.
>Cinder takes 2 hits, helpless>>712903The sword, now glowing like the moon that is her namesake, swings about elegantly, deflecting the magic orb.
>>712898>>712899>>712901>>712902Moonlight, now fully recovered, stands back up and reaches out with her good foreleg, the sword flying over to her. Her mane blows back, revealing her scarred face, eyes glowing like lamps. She brings the sword up, and for a moment, she looks like the noble figure she once was; then, the corruption overtakes her, and she bellows once again, leaping into the air and plunging the sword down on Cinder.
[1d10+3]
>pausingRoll #1 9 + 3 = 12 No.712906
>>712900"Oh. I suppose that's true. Well… I'm here if you need me!"
>>712904"I'm not an old hag, I'm 37!" the apple picking mare says indignantly. "People these days…" She shuffles off indignantly with her basket of apples.
No.713260
>>712904>loot*
look at>>712906Voleurz face scrunches as the mare hears her from a distance, heading back towards town and muttering to herself, "
Oh grandmother, what big ears you have." She adjusts her hat, "
Cunt."
She clears her throat, looking to the two with her, "In any case, darlings, we can't do anything on this end but traps, and I'm only good at dodging them, not making them. We'd best start heading in the way the others went and see if we can meet them halfway."
No.713261
>>712905My stomach drops as I see the blade descend on Cinder, and I leap toward her to try to push her out of the way.
[1d10]
Roll #1 1 = 1 No.713262
>>712905"You sunnova-"
He is cutoff by his own gunshot
[1d10]
Roll #1 9 = 9 No.713263
>>712905Cinder feels the biting pain in her legs and suddenly the world goes sideways. She thuds to the ground ungracefully, the breath knocked out of her. As she lies there wheezing, her eyes widen, watching ghastly Moonlight bearing down on her with intent to kill. Gathering what little wits she has in her dazed state, she jerks her body to the side, trying her damnedest to get 4 hooves on the ground again.
Get The H*ck Up: [1d10]
Roll #1 2 = 2 No.713265
>>712905I dive down after cinder to attempt to grab them out of the way from the blights attack from my place above them.
No.713266
>>713265[1d10]
Roll #1 2 = 2
