Avatar RP IV, Discussion VII: Seven comes great after six [Archive]

Arhra

12-11-2006, 10:03 AM

Well, here's the profiles for the new enemy batch. May you have as much fun fighting them as I did cooking them up.

Name: Mysterious Float Fish
Class: Grunt
Appearance: A well known variety of enemy to adventurers, this is a brightly coloured, odd looking fish that possesses the mysterious power of levitation. No-one knows why this is so, for they are very mysterious. They seem able to breathe air and, even more inexplicably, have never been sighted in water.
Abilities/weapons:
Levitate: This fish seem to swim through water as easily as they do through air, althouhg they seem to have trouble going any higher than about chest height.
Ram: Mysterious Float Fish mainly attack by ramming enemies.

Name: Kill Tortoise
Class: Logical
Appearance: An offshoot of the Kill Turtle and Kill Terrapin, the Kill Tortoise retains several common features. It has a heavy, spiky shell, a vicious looking beak and claws much larger than what you'd expect to see on a tortoise. It plods along in a cloud of dark vapour, a murderous glint in its beady eyes. A large reptile, Kill Tortoises are about the size of a Galapagos Tortoise.
Abilities/weapons:
Death Gas: Strangely enough, Kill Tortoises naturally release a toxic gas out of vents in their shells. This hangs about them in a deadly cloud. Its very corrosive and painful to be caught in. Fortunately they aren't as surrounded by their cloud of death when moving at high speed (jumping or sliding), but they do leave it in a short lived trail behind them, dissipating in a few seconds.
Slide: Oddly enough, a Kill Tortoise's under-shell seems to be virtually frictionless when it wants it to be. Kill Tortoises can retract into their shells and slide around at high speeds, rather like deadly pinballs.
Leap: Much like the Leaping Tortoise and its larger cousin, the Crush Tortoise, a Kill Tortoise can jump great distances. It generally does this to cover distances quickly, crush foes and get at things it couldn't normally or two or more of these things combined. They usually retract into their shell before landing.

Name: Giant Enemy Crab
Class: Crazy (Brocoli)
Appearance: Much like a regular crab, this beast is armoured in segmented chitin, with a flattened body and two large claws. Unlike a normal crab, it is ten feet tall and three thousand years old! It enjoys eating samurai and indirectly brought about the rise of the Shogunate.
Abilities/weapons:
Crabby: The Giant Enemy Crab is very good at doing crab things like snipping things in half with its giant enemy claws, foraging and walking sideways. It is also ill tempered, thus neatly encapsulating all possible meanings of the word.
Armour of the Crustacean Lord: The Giant Enemy Crab's heavy carapace is very hard to damage. Most attacks bounce off it to little effect.

I'm quite sure people know the crab's vulnerability. Battle as a whole is Easy as Pie. Encounter ratings info is here (http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showpost.php?p=421096&postcount=14) if you need to check it up.

Addressing some things from the last thread, yes, a spell that makes you drown would, unsurprisingly, be a water spell. And Tarrin, don't worry. Anything I may or may not be up to has been going on for quite some time now.

And mild point of correction to avoid potential confusion. These are Temples of Law. They're still mostly intact, they're just starting to have weirdness happen because Chaos is seeping through despite the Seals. Its the Gate itself that's been phased into the future - the Seals maintain that.

PhoenixFlame

12-11-2006, 12:54 PM

And, for my first summon of the game... They're powerful, because Phoenix isn't.

Name: Aryali, Queen of the North
Class: Summoning, Elemental Circle (First of Three Circles)
Appearance: A tall, lithe feminine form, made of ice, and clad in armor of blue ice. She weilds a dual-pronged sword and a shield of katabatic frigid air.
Abilities/weapons:
Physical: Being from the North, Aryali is a stoic melee combatant, though it's not her forte. Regardless, her physical attacks are Ice, Wind, or Physical element, depending on the target and method of attack.
Zero-Sum Environ: Immediately casted upon summoning to build Aryali's "MP" reserves, this spell immediately revokes the ambient heat energy within 30 feet of the summon, converting it into MP. This also serves as a sort of roundabout attack.
Concealing Mist: Aryali is surrounded with a mist of chill fog. Not only does this deflect physical ranged attacks by drawing them off target, it also gives her concealment and deals minor frost damage over time.
Teeth of the North: Multiple-Target Ice attack. Aryali summons stalagmites of ice from the ground around her, damaging nearby enemies.
Clenching Frost: A powerful single-target attack, this seeks to slay the enemy by removing the heat from their bodies.

Like most Frost Elementals, Aryali absorbs ice but is weak to fire.

Aha. So the law bits differ from the chaos-bits. Well, it makes sense, I suppose.

Arhra

12-11-2006, 07:48 PM

Hmmm, there seems to be something of a thought going around that those tortoise shells are made of an alloy of tissue paper and some other really fragile substance I can't be bothered to think of right now.

Needless to say, this is wrong. It takes quite a bit to crack open a shell like that. I thought "Tortoises have very hard shells!" was obvious enough to not have to mention it explicitly. They're called Kill Tortoises for a reason you know.

Similarly, people seem to be neglecting to mention the cloud of acid the tortoises vent. It comes out fast enough for them to have their cloud back up a few seconds after they leap or stop sliding. It makes them quite dangeorus up close. They're called Kill Tortoises for a reason you know.

On a side note, they can leap with enough accuracy to hit airborne targets.

I'm quite surprised no-one's tried to hit the crab's more commonly known weak point yet.

Hmmm, I see some manner of robot monkey. I do not recall giving approval for a robot monkey. And so I have to ask myself, why is there a robot monkey?

mammothtank

12-12-2006, 09:35 AM

Similarly, people seem to be neglecting to mention the cloud of acid the tortoises vent. It comes out fast enough for them to have their cloud back up a few seconds after they leap or stop sliding. It makes them quite dangeorus up close. They're called Kill Tortoises for a reason you know.http://bobandgeorge.com/Archive/index.php?date=010124

If that isn't accurate, I don't know what is.

Steel Shadow

12-13-2006, 08:57 AM

Ok, it's the end of the semester right now, so I kinda have to get to work. Since I "suddenly" have so much to do I'm probably not going to be around to much in the RP for a week or so. Feel free to use my character as you want, just remember the golden rule: The universe hates him.

Great Cartoonist

12-14-2006, 11:03 AM

Is it too late to sign up for the RP?

Arhra

12-15-2006, 08:55 AM

Well, the RP is a considerable distance in, so you would have to do a bit of catching up to understand what's going on. But, if you really want to be in, I don't see why not. We're not having a problem with too many people. Just put a profile up for approval

Incidentally, going by posts, Flare's currently human Lumaes. Lamia aren't too hard to identify: "....the chief characteristics of the Lamiae, apart from their thirst for blood, are their uncleanliness, their gluttony, and their stupidity" (Yay Wikipedia! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamia_%28mythology%29)). They also eat children and are half snake! Uh, the bottom half is snake. That would look quite ludicrous otherwise.

While I think of it, why do you use the first person speech Flare? Forgive me if I've asked this before. It just feels jarring to me. Go on, conform! Everybody's doing it!

mammothtank

12-15-2006, 10:47 AM

Might I inquire as to what exactly Lumaes is, as well as his combat capability?

Also, because I feel like it and it's probably warranted anyway, I'm going to post a short bio for my character 'cause he's changed since you last saw him.

Equipment: Two-handed Sword, Unknown Armor, Cloak, Half Gloves, Knight's Greaves
Skills: Stolen Swordsman/Knight abilities from Ragnarok Online.
Magnum Break - Area damage and knockback, centered on user
Bowling Bash - Damage and knockback. Causes splash damage if the target collides with another enemy
Concentration - Boosts user's physical attack and accuracy at the cost of decreased defenses
Aura Blade - Magical weapon enhancement
Endure - Allows user to take a few hits without flinching (does not prevent any damage however)
I've lost the few white magic spells I had awhile back due to neglect (never used 'em).

All this cool with you guys? (and by 'you guys' I mean Arhra, the one running this gig, but hey)

Great Cartoonist

12-15-2006, 11:19 AM

I guess the RP is very convoluted at this point, so I probably won't be joining in (unless someone starts a whole new plot). But just in case, here's a small profile:

Name(?): GC
Race: Unknown (human?), Ethereal
Appearance: Average, young human male with casual clothing.
Background: GC lives the life of a lone wolf with his companion Doll, coming and going as he pleases. He constantly struggles with his inner balance between good and evil; between sanity and carefreeness; between devotion and obscurity. He has been known to show emotion on certain occasions. Some believe that this is his inner child struggling to escape.
Abilities/Skills:
-Physical presence on this plane is tied to his mana energy. (Mana is linked to health.)
-Immune to mind status effects.
-Can use skills that has been observed some time ago (has a rate of being forgotten that increases with time).
-Can absorb a targeted source of mana.
-Able to use anything as a weapon with a certain rate of proficiency.
-Ability to create a random effect with a rate of success for causing a desired effect based on how much concentration is put into using this ability.

Oh, by the way, I kinda like Flare's first-person narrative. It puts a (obviously) different perspective on the story.

Bailey

12-15-2006, 11:56 AM

Well GC, the next one of these things is supposed to be run by me and will involve forumites split into two groups fighting each other, but will in all likelyhood be somebody leaping to the front of the line with another holiday saving thingy.

Flarecobra

12-15-2006, 01:06 PM

It's the way I write. It's just easior for me to write in first-person when I'm just controlling one character.

And Arhra, to counter your "Selling points" for the lamia:

Diodorus Siculus (xx.41) made of Lamia the daughter of Poseidon and Lybie—no more than a personification of Libya—and a queen of Libya herself, whom Zeus loved, Aristophanes tells (in Peace). Hera either turned her into a monster—if she was not already one of Hecate's brood—or when Hera killed all of Lamia's children save Scylla, the grief turned her into a monster. A paternalistic embroidery on this archaic mytheme is that this gift was the gift of Zeus, and by a further explanatory improvisation, that Lamia was "cursed" with the inability to close her eyes so that she would always obsess over the image of her dead children.

Many lurid details were conjured up by later writers, assembled in the Suda, expanded upon in Renaissance poetry and collected in Bulfinch and in Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: Lamia was envious of other mothers and ate their children. In Renaissance emblems she had the body of a serpent and breasts and head of a woman, like the image of hypocrisy. She was usually female, but Aristophanes suggests her hermaphroditic phallus, perhaps simply for monstrosity's sake (Peace l..758). Blood-drinking female vampire-spirits were called Lamiai: compare the medieval succubus.

Arhra

12-16-2006, 09:23 AM

To answer your question Mammoth, look here (http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showpost.php?p=432447&postcount=15). Also, that profile looks fine. Ka-approval!

GC, notihng in that profile looks particularly problematic to me, although some skills seem a little vague. I 'm a little more nitpicky than most GM's though, so if you're planning to join the next one, it would probably get accepted as is.

Finally, I don't think that helps your cause Flare. Hermaphrodite or no arms?

Flarecobra

12-16-2006, 11:35 PM

Well, not all lamia are hermaphrodites. After all, some have to be female. And notice how you never see a male lamia?

Arhra

12-17-2006, 07:37 AM

Ah, the time honoured problem of breathing underwater. Thankfully, I'm sure you lot will find a means of breathing water that doesn't involve killing someone (for example: Syttulg (He's expendable remember! We've had this talk before)) and making crude aqualungs by inflating their organs. You know what I'm talking about.

phil_

12-17-2006, 07:08 PM

This occured to me shortly after I made my post. I'm making this post now (as opposed to then) because I had to go back to work.

Anyway, MT and my posts both assume that the coming hall is big enough for a small sub or a chibi tank. Is this so, Arhra? Or does it appear to be so from our perspective?

Tarrin

12-17-2006, 09:32 PM

oh god no!!! I'm getting visions of me pulling some Kevin costner water world stuff....

If i do Kill me please Arhra :D

Bailey

12-18-2006, 02:48 AM

If you must kill Syttullg, please do so in the fire temple, where he'll be least helpful.

Electric and Grass type powers are helpful in a Water type dungeon!

Arhra

12-18-2006, 09:27 AM

You know Newb, that logic is far less useful than one might think.

I am wondering if most people are going to end up getting crammed in a submersible. That could be problematic. You know, several NPFers crammed together in tight confines. I really can't see that not going wrong. And that's not even counting the dangers of a hull breach.

Will the NPFers find a solution? Will it involve submarines? Will it they be yellow? Will organ aqua-lungs turn out to be viable? Will Skyshot simply turn up and cast Breathe Water. Or will we resort to GMly cop-outs? Find out next time!

Also, I think someone doesn't know the inherent problems involved in, y'know, not dying when subjected to a highly pressurised environment.

Bailey

12-18-2006, 11:58 AM

Well, I can probably go without breathing for a little while, and I could even form my hands into bubble helmets and clean the air inside the bubbles to be breathable again.

The problem here lies in battery life.

If one of the people I'm grouped with can provide me with more energy somehow, whether it be by electrocuting everything in the water or by casting Sunny Day, (No idea how that would work indoors underwater. But, hey, it's magic!) then I can get two people safely across.

Also, seeing as how Arhra still hasn't bothered to kill off my Magikarp, I could probably rig up some sort of harness and use the Magikarp's high Spd stat (every other stat is useless, but the Spd stat is decent. Go figure. Heck, it even doubles when water is involved) to move through the water fast enough to keep even with the submersible.

Bailey

12-18-2006, 05:21 PM

The thread is over 100.

Should we all just assume that we're all in the frog, somebody trigger-happy got the primary weapons systems, and Lumaes insulted us in a manner that took far too long for our short attention spans to pay any mind to?

Cause that way we don't have to post in a thread that's over the limit anymore, and Arhra has something to work off of when s/he starts the new thread.

Tarrin

12-18-2006, 06:33 PM

Also, I think someone doesn't know the inherent problems involved in, y'know, not dying when subjected to a highly pressurised environment.
That's why we have Dolphins , their ability to operate under extreeme pressures is an ability that i feel will help the situation.

Arhra

12-19-2006, 09:02 AM

New encounter-ness!

Name: Swarm of Deadly Sea Animals.
Class: Individual creatures in the swarm vary from Grunt to Logical
Appearance: A roiling mass of assorted sea animals, this is quite an eyeful. Their numbers seem limitless and they even occaisionlly prey on one another, adding to the chaos.
Abilities/weapons:
More obstacle than man: Being a seemingly endless swarm of assorted animals that stay within a certain area, it is very hard to actually decisively kill the swarm. Fortunately, once through the chamber it won't follow, for terror of what lurks there.
Varying Consistency: The swarm is not a single creature, instead being composed of various cruel and unusual forms of sea-life. This includes, but is not limited to the following:
Slaughterfish, Murdercod, Trout of Death: Well known varieties of murderous fish.
Barbed Maiming Squid: A approximately man sized squid, armed with hooks on its body and tentacles. Enjoys maiming.
Laser Sharks: These frickin' sharks have frickin' lasers attached to their heads. Evidentally someone felt they deserve a warm meal.
Harpoonfowl: The harpoonfowl is a species of penguin, recognisable by its streamlined shape, long, straight, wickedly sharp beak and its penchant for impaling people on this beak. Its said it can even pierce through solid steel.
Ninja Starfish: This stealthy and enigmatic species of starfish is skilled in the art of silent death. It can fling itself at high speed, slicing with its razor-sharp edge.
Man'O'Warmageddon: A deadly variety of jellyfish. Has schemes.
Kill Turtle: Related to the Kill Tortoise, this is a turtle named for its viciousness and sheer killing power.
Dolphin: Never trust anything that smiles all the time.

I'd place the encounter difficulty at about an Apple A Day. You just have to get through the swarm after all. Encounter rating info is here (http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showpost.php?p=421096&postcount=14) if you need it. In case its important, there is an air pocket at the chamber's top.

mammothtank

12-19-2006, 01:30 PM

Since we were hurried along before such decisions could be made, should I assume that no one chose to squeeze into the tank? I suppose there's no reason why the sub couldn't be large enough to carry everyone (including me for that matter). Would anyone have chosen the tank over the sub or some other means anyway? I just want to know more about it before I post.

phil_

12-19-2006, 04:22 PM

Since Arhra's swimming, you could fit. I didn't see anyone volunteering to go in the tank, so if you decide that you went in the sub, we can probably assume everyone was ok with scrunching to make room (except Lumaes, who isn't ok with anything).

I mean, we can ride in your tank any time. Frog sub is once in a lifetime (especially because I have a feeling it isn't going to be dismissed in one piece).

Might I add that I love how my goofy little frog has somehow become an engine of aquatic devastation? Because, really, PF and Newb have really added so much to the sub's appeal.

Arhra

12-20-2006, 09:30 AM

Hmmmm, it would seem someone's run a little too far ahead of the others. There's someone waiting up ahead. For you alone Hawk, the battle is a Long, Dark Teatime of the Soul. Words can not even begin to adequately describe how much trouble you are in. You jumped out of the frying pan and into the Sun.

Monster profiles! The Dark Merman and a twelve strong harem to be precise. Unfortunately, the people who weren't in the second Avvy RP will miss the reference, but I thought I'd do it anyway.

Name: Dark Merman
Class: Minor-boss
Appearance: Back from the dead and ready for payback, the Dark Merman is a sexy merman. His long, black hair and dark eyes shine with charisma, and his bronzed figure is a picture of perfection. His voice is heavenly. Below the waist he is a sleek, sinuous fish, with scales of silvery darkness.

Abilities/weapons:
Minor trident: The Dark Merman has kept his magical weapon. It packs a punch and does some mean water-based attacks.

Staff of Gender Inversion: No-one is quite sure how the Dark Merman came across this potent magical artifact, but he seems hellbent on using it to build himself a harem. The staff, at its wielder's option, changes the gender of any creature it touches to a specified gender. It is also capable of firing rays that have the same effect. More advanced manipulation is possible - adjusting characteristics associated with feminity or masculinity. As this is based off the wielder's preconceptions of gender, it can have some... unusual results on non-humanoids.

Command underwater creatures: Like Aquaman, except not useless, the Dark Merman can command the loyalty of aquatic creatures, be they whale or shrimp (however, an army of shrimp isn't really useful). All sea-creatures under the Dark Merman's control immediately rise one difficulty class from their previous.

Charismatic Smile: A single-sex enchantment. The Dark Merman can concentrate so much charismatic power into his smile that he can turn feminine-oriented creatures to his side. Fortunately, it generally takes more than a single smile to work, but those affected find it harder and harder to fight him. The most effective way to break the enchantment is to kill the Dark Merman, but first they have to get through the women...

Speed, strength, agility, constitution: Like other minor bosses, the Dark Merman can draw upon his surroundings to heal himself from even fatal wounds. He is fast, strong, agile, and relatively resistant to most elemental and magical attacks (well... you have to get your own accuracy right or you'll never hit him. Damn his good swimming skills!)

Loving Kiss: A close-encounter manoeuvre, the Dark Merman places sexy lips upon the victim and causes them to fall into a deep, dream-haunted coma. There is no cure for this. The previous sentence is a lie.

Name: Dark Merman's Harem Girl
Class: Logical (Crazies - see Dark Merman's abilities)
Appearance: The Dark Merman's harem is composed of several kinds of water-based creature, all possessed of seductive beauty. The mermaids have the top half of a woman and are a fish from the waist down, wearing ornaments of shells and coral. Nymphs are long legged, slim creatures, with skin a pale green or blue, elfin features and wear silken garments of silver and blue. The rusalka are the most humanlike, having pale skin, green hair and green fire in their eyes. They wear sheer, white robes and their touch brings a numbing chill.
Abilities/weapons:
Agility: They move with unearthly grace, being very hard to hit with any attack, especially since their seductive nature makes them hard to fight.
Fascinate: Their siren song is well known, used to fascinate people and lure them to their deaths. Can you hear their singing? This attack is less effective against females.
Seduce: These creatures love to entice people to them, letting them drown in their arms. Being close to them is dangerous, for they have powers to aid in accomplishing this.

Encounter ratings are here (http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showpost.php?p=421096&postcount=14) if needed.

Bailey

12-20-2006, 10:32 AM

I just hope the frog sub survives long enough to blast the merman once. Bastard caused a civil war in my head last time we fought him.

Oh, and if he blasts Syttulg with that gender bender thingy, there may be... Unexpected results.

Flarecobra

12-20-2006, 02:25 PM

Heh..You know, I'd love to see my Lamia Charm ability go agenst his Charismatic Smile. Though minor question. Since I'm bi, would that cause the Facanate skill to be a little more effective on me or something?

And Newb, you just gave a VERY bad mental picture.

Bailey

12-20-2006, 03:07 PM

What? Last time we fought him all of my personas were in one body and were taking turns.

When he used his smile thingy the female personas attacked the male personas and I had a civil war in my head.

Flarecobra

12-20-2006, 03:18 PM

No, I ment Syttulg with boobs. THAT was disturbing. Remember this ability of his:

Staff of Gender Inversion: No-one is quite sure how the Dark Merman came across this potent magical artifact, but he seems hellbent on using it to build himself a harem. The staff, at its wielder's option, changes the gender of any creature it touches to a specified gender. It is also capable of firing rays that have the same effect. More advanced manipulation is possible - adjusting characteristics associated with feminity or masculinity. As this is based off the wielder's preconceptions of gender, it can have some... unusual results on non-humanoids.

Bailey

12-21-2006, 09:27 PM

I'm not going to be on until after christmas

mauve

12-22-2006, 02:15 AM

The Dark Merman? Hell. Where's Krylo when you need him?

Arhra

12-23-2006, 07:49 AM

I don't know if Krylo would be that much help. He obviously didn't get it right the first time. I don't care he tore the Dark Merman's lips off with his teeth and then pounded the sexy bastard's head into a bloody mass of pulped flesh and shattered bone with his bare hands, he screwed up somehow!

Just checking, but no-one's waiting because of my 'one post' statement are they? We can safely throw that out the window due to those little complications that have unfolded. Still, feel free to post getting past the swarm in your post if you want to. I'll probably be getting to the Merman fight in my next post myself, and be including any stragglers.

The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk

12-23-2006, 12:04 PM

Yeah, I know, filler. But come on! How was I ever going to be able to take HIM on??!! This is all becuase Arhra hates me.

PhoenixFlame

12-23-2006, 01:45 PM

Oh hey, I wonder how beam-resistant Mermen are...

The last time I hit a Merman with a PAC, well... I didn't find the pieces. ;)

Bailey

12-23-2006, 11:44 PM

Oh hey! I got the chance to post!

I didn't expect this!

And since Syttulg was locked in a cage by women last time the Merman showed up, he definitely remembers him.

Arhra

12-26-2006, 09:15 AM

Apologies for the delays everyone. 'Tis the season to be lazy I'm afraid. Some writer's block didn't help. Had an idea of the general actions I wanted, but not the filler.

I must admit, the universe certainly does seem to be conspiring against you Hawk, even when I don't consciously choose for the universe to do that.

For the people in the sub, I should probably remind them it is difficult to bring yourself to attack the haremites - its a bit of the seduction ability. While I think of it, I don't believe there's anything to stop people opening sub hatches from the outside, although its probably got the double door with the airlock, so you're safe from flooding.

This fight has mind influencing effects galore so don't forget about them people!

The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk

12-26-2006, 10:03 AM

even when I don't consciously choose for the universe to do that.

Why don't I believe one word of that?

Conveniently though, neither of us stated which corners we were reffering to, so I can choose to completely disregard Murphys law this time around!

And I think it's about time I asked; since when have hawks been a source of emergency food?:shifty:

Flarecobra

12-26-2006, 02:24 PM

I think that was a nod to Excel Saga...

And just so you know, my plan is to use the missile's warheads as grenades, then detonating them via fire or lightining. If it doesn't kill any of them, I'm sure it'll at least make people deaf.

And for those who don't know Greek history, Odysius defeated the siren's song by having the crew's ears plugged.

The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk

12-26-2006, 05:12 PM

Continuing his scan of the area he saw the sirens and heard their singing, however being a spiritual person the sexual urges that these musical minxes sent forth had little to no effect on hawk.

Is that supposed to be your name there Tarrin? Either way I think that list would still apply. That's a damn fine list, that can't possible be ignored!

Oh and I had an idea for interupting the merman and Arhra which is now ruined! I was hoping I might get Arhra to lay off me a bit if I saved her life. That, and I was going to use the old Yu-gi-oh "REJECTED" line for comedy affect. Oh well.

Arhra

12-27-2006, 09:08 AM

Since when you ask? You obviously haven't been paying attention!

"If you have nothing more to add may I suggest you increase your overall worth by finding a convenient oven and ROASTING yourself for our amusement and culinary delight.""Silence you presumably tasty bird! Lumaes makes a number of valid points." Arhra said, pausing for a moment to mutter something along the lines of, "Mmmm, roast talking bird. The sapience makes eating it deliciously wicked.""...Let's find a good place to rest for a bit." Arhra after a long pause. "You all brought food, right? We might have to get creative otherwise." She sat up, looking at Hawk speculatively.Rei had leapt over the summoned train to attack, Flare had gotten over there somehow, the bird Arhra considered a possible emergency food supply was running off on his own and Hydra was charging there too, towards that hydra, seemingly having forgotten that a weaker hydra had been kicking her ass before. Arhra sighed. Run screaming at the enemy it was.
As you all may have noticed, the Dark Merman is a smug jerk who loves toying with people!

This battle certainly seems to be going interestingly. Plans are made to be broken! Still, by the looks of things, we just hit the Darkest Hour. Things can only get better from here, probably!

Bailey

12-27-2006, 09:51 AM

The sirens are now trying to sing over Barbie Girl.

I feel bad for them.

Flarecobra

12-27-2006, 03:07 PM

At least it's not Numa Numa. Then I think both friendly and enemy would be on you, looking for blood.

The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk

12-27-2006, 04:53 PM

Hmmm, I wonder what would happen if a genderless Newb was suddenly gender inverted?:shifty:

And for that matter, Flare, what happens if a lesbian suddenly becomes a man??!

You know, just for shits and giggles, I might just try that!:D

Tarrin

12-27-2006, 05:03 PM

Hope that last post works for you Arhra!
I think someone may need to get Arhra rebreather and place it back into her mouth before she drowns.
looks at Hawk

Flarecobra

12-27-2006, 05:25 PM

It'd mean we'd be having some Blackened Hawk for dinner.

And I'm not a lesbian. I'm bisexual.

phil_

12-27-2006, 10:21 PM

Hey, Flare, did you think about how you're going to breathe now that you're out of the sub? I mean, water's nice, but it doesn't exactly work well with lungs in the respiration department. Also, what about the baddie in the airlock? Kinda ignored that, unless you hopped out the window or something.

Tarrin, I don't think a high-pitched squeal is going to do any more damage to the sub than being thrown into a wall did.

Phoenix, it's my sub, darn it, not Newb's!

Bailey

12-27-2006, 10:28 PM

Well, for all we know it might belong to one of the many personas that make up The Eternal Newb, but it probably doesn't belong to Syttulg. He just did the equivalent of reading the instruction manual when Phil_, well, didn't.

And I think inverted genderlessness would be hermaphrodism.

Tarrin

12-28-2006, 12:02 AM

Hey, Flare, did you think about how you're going to breathe now that you're out of the sub? I mean, water's nice, but it doesn't exactly work well with lungs in the respiration department. Also, what about the baddie in the airlock? Kinda ignored that, unless you hopped out the window or something.

Flare shouldn't have much problem as the water should bubble and boil forming superheated air bubbles.

Though i'm imagining breathing superheated air might not be the best for anyone else?

Bailey

12-28-2006, 12:10 AM

Flare shldnt have much problem as the water shld bubble and boil forming superheated air bubbles.

Tho i'm imagining breathing superheated air might not be the best for anyone else?
...

Translation time!
Flare shouldn't have much problem. Her fire element should make the water bubble and boil forming superheated air bubbles.

Though I'm imagining breathing superheated air might not be the best for anyone whose element isn't fire.

Yes and no. I can't imagine that breathing steam would be any more effective than breathing water.

mauve

12-28-2006, 02:40 AM

In case anyone's wondering, I totally haven't been offline for the past three days because I got FF12, Guitar Hero II, and the entire Key To Time series of Doctor Who for Christmas. Nope. Not me.

Anyway, I wanted to post before the Merman fight was over, but I wasn't sure what to have Mauve do. So I kinda tried to help Phil and MT. I left the outcome up to you guys. Mauve's confused with merman charm right now, so if you want to snap out of it, that's cool, otherwise, just shove her out of the way or ignore her.

Arhra

12-28-2006, 09:20 AM

Wow, the Key to Time eh? With that assembled, that means there's no such thing as free will in the universe! Kind of like what's happening now.

As to the hatch issue, one would assume there's more than one way in or out of the sub.

I planned the staff to be a little more complex to operate than simply willing it. More hijinks that way. The basic function of gender switching is simple enough though. Fiddling around with certain characteristics like Hawk was trying to is a little more complex, even if you have the manual.

Myself, I believe a genderless creature would become a hermaphrodite (although you could choose to turn into a male or a female if you wanted to).

Male or female, the Mer...person is still enchanting! To women!

I'd have written a little more fighting, but I was tired after writing all that. If you want a lot of hack and slash and parry and all that, do it on your own time (which you should be doing anyway).

It looks like we're reaching the turning point in the battle, which is good.

Finally, as you may have noticed, Arhra's dreams are really weird. I'm not sure if this tops the time she beat up an electrical sheep god in her sleep. Or the time she killed everyone.

Flarecobra

12-28-2006, 10:05 AM

Flare shldnt have much problem as the water shld bubble and boil forming superheated air bubbles.

Tho i'm imagining breathing superheated air might not be the best for anyone else?

Yeah...at this point whoever catches my eye is being burned. And it's called rebreathers.

Though I think it'll be time to try out the new form....

Can anyone say "Horrible Vine Rape Time?"

Bailey

12-28-2006, 10:24 AM

Seeing as how I'm the other plant-person in the group, I don't think anybody wants me to.

Otherwise I could totally say it.

PhoenixFlame

12-28-2006, 01:53 PM

If Flare wouldn't have it, part of the sub has to explode sometime. It's in the script.

And remember kids, in the hands of a Technomage, the crowbar is a formidible melee weapon that deals lethal armor-piercing damage to alien lifeforms.

Flarecobra

12-28-2006, 02:43 PM

Well, it couldn't be the missile, as the detonator was destroyed....

I'll blame it on random explosion due to a short from wet circits.

The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk

12-28-2006, 04:41 PM

Sorry guys, it had to be done! And screw the consequences!

Flarecobra

12-28-2006, 05:23 PM

Thank god for meat shields. (And like hell I'm being gander-swapped! I don't mind speices-swapping, but Gender-changing ain't my thing.)

The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk

12-28-2006, 05:35 PM

Grrrr, cursed meatshields! The bane of mono-directional projectile weapons they be!

PhoenixFlame

12-28-2006, 05:41 PM

XD

Also, if Hawk points it at Phoenix, she's not above pulling a Gordon Freeman on you. After all, Hawk-beings are just as vulnerable to powersuit-clad, crowbar-weilding scientists as anyone else.

mammothtank

12-28-2006, 06:55 PM

Can I get a check on the current status of the sub and those inside? For some reason I'm not exactly sure what's up in there at the moment, what with people climbing out and such. Are the airlocks working, or is the place now flooded, or what?

Bailey

12-28-2006, 07:42 PM

The place was flooded, but then the door got stopped up with wax and the pumps got the water out.

phil_

12-28-2006, 07:54 PM

Flare, Newb, and Phoenix have left the sub. The airlock is closed, as is whatever Flare exited by. However, a random explosion has turned on all the red lights in addition to causing the place to be more brokenish. In other words, the frog is dead in the water and we're lucky we can breathe.

I think the current occupants are MT, Mauve, Hydra, and myself, as well as anyone lagging behind and not posting who wants to conveniently show back up.

I'm basing Newb's outside status on his fight with the sirens, as they are very much outside the sub. However, he never said he left the sub, so oddities could arise.

Tarrin

12-28-2006, 08:21 PM

I'm a bit confused i thought the Nymph had managed to get into the sub?

she was at the inner hatch at one stage.
Have i read someones post wrong or has it just been ignored?

Arhra

12-28-2006, 09:15 PM

Firstly Flare, if you had a rebreather, you should have mentioned it. Thus, it will be assumed you do not have one.

I also am giving you a godmodding warning. I'll just reiterate my policy of one official warning and then doing something like that again and you're out.

Now your case hasn't been one of blatant godmodding - there's no been screaming to the skies "I am invincible!". However, you've been persistently ignoring certain effects and attacks throughout the RP, which essentially amounts to the same thing. There hasn't been anything serious enough on its own to warrant a warning, but this is more a case of the straw that broke the camel's back.

To highlight the latest case, I see a distinct lack of mention Flare being impeded by a swarming mass of nymphs, mermaids and rusalka, I see nothing about what they are doing to her and, in fact, I see no mention of them at all!

Now, of course the entirety of that harem isn't attacking Flare, I believe its a little over half a dozen if the number hasn't been explicitly mentioned but, as the ratings clearly show, said numbers would be able to overwhelm her on her own. There is no show of this.

Hawk, I feel there is a degree of this in your actions too. You seem to be slipping out of attacks too easily for my liking. I may have to hand out a warning if you continue.

As an aside, I should mention that water pressure would actually make it more difficult to sustain a bubble. All those problems with bouyancy and such.

Newb, you're suffering from the problem of not mentioning what the sirens are doing back. It's just all "I slash at them." They're not helpless you know.

Also, pay attention to your surroundings people! Flare, there is no way you could phyiscally attack someone inside the submarine while swimming around outside without there being a hole in the hull! Thus, there is no dead nymph. Newb! How on earth did you get outside? One moment you were doing something inside, the next slashing at sirens.

With this installment of GM Iron-fistyness over, I return you to your regular programming.

EDIT: Yes, there's a nymph in the sub.

Bailey

12-28-2006, 10:39 PM

I thought the sirens got inside and that the sub had flooded...

We'll just assume Syttulg is under the confusion status effect again, shall we?

After all, if he's slashing at the plumbing that would explain why it isn't attacking back.

Also, I thought the sirens were GM controlled creatures.

Arhra

12-28-2006, 10:58 PM

It's a slightly complex matter, as they are and they aren't.

Essentially, players are quite free to control them, as long as they have them act appropriately. It is actually encouraged, as I can hardly spare the time to have an elaborate battle sequence written out for each player, every post in every battle. Just have to make them behave as they should, and keep in mind their level of power. This is one of the purposes of the monster ratings and descriptions - gives the players more of an idea of what to expect.

Generally, outcomes should be left increasingly open to the GM the more powerful an enemy it is though. This tends to apply more to major attacks though. Also, I tend to orchestrate the more overarching plans of the enemies, like how they decide to attack, although players can also do this.

Flarecobra

12-29-2006, 11:48 AM

I climbed out, I had a post about it, as stated here:

I jumped back in surprise when Hydra fell on the missile, fully expecting it to go off. "Hey, you ok? I asked it in a serpentine language, and checking over the damage, and seeing that the detonator was sheared off, thus making the warhead unable to explode. "Damnit." I said, and decided to go for my second plan. Let the Fire sort things out. I started charging up my Mega-Flare, then lept out of the sub, firing on the loestest set of heram girls. "Sorry girls, but I'm already got a girlfriend." I said with a smirk as I looked for my next target, my spear at the ready.

Though I admit, I thought the room had air....so I'm going to have to completely re-write everything, hence my two deleted posts.

Bailey

12-29-2006, 12:06 PM

I kinda thought the room had air too.

Bailey

12-30-2006, 10:16 AM

Are people already doing the Merman's bidding at risk for this newest attack?

PhoenixFlame

12-30-2006, 07:17 PM

Pesky laws of physics! Randomly shooting people should be responded in like manner.

Oh well. I'll glomp the mermaid with my melee weapon, and deal with randomly shooting at Hawk later. ;)

Arhra

12-30-2006, 08:50 PM

I must say, I am a little saddened to see you saying that Flare, after I said to pay attention.

Yes Newb.

Ah crowbars. Even birds need to get wasted sometimes. I hear they're some manner of special iron rod too, but that's crazy talk.

Speaking of birds, a certain one's future isn't looking too bright. Still, despite what is going to happen, you're better off than if you'd tried to snap the staff Hawk. Basic rule of magic: powerful rings undo things they've wrought when destroyed, powerful staves explode when snapped. I doubt a hawk could snap a staff anyway.

Anyway, I edited my last post slightly, there were one or two little things I wasn't happy with. Nothing major.

The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk

12-31-2006, 01:52 PM

Why does everyone want me dead?:(
I mean honestly, you don't have to get hit by the blasts, and I'm not firing them anymore, except at the harem.

Basic rule of magic: powerful rings undo things they've wrought when destroyed, powerful staves explode when snapped. I doubt a hawk could snap a staff anyway.

Ahh, but what about the "rings" on the end of the staff itself? They're kind of rings!

As for snapping it, well there's always the stone walls, floor and ceiling of the chamber, not to mention the metal sub to smack it over. Failing that, Pheonixs' mighty Crowbar of Pummeling +1 should do the trick.

Flarecobra

01-01-2007, 05:17 PM

Ok, thought of a way that would end up taking me out of the battle, at least for a little while, and at the end, might have me in a bit of an aukward position.....care to hear it Arhra?

PhoenixFlame

01-01-2007, 08:28 PM

Why does everyone want me dead?:(
I mean honestly, you don't have to get hit by the blasts, and I'm not firing them anymore, except at the harem.

As for snapping it, well there's always the stone walls, floor and ceiling of the chamber, not to mention the metal sub to smack it over. Failing that, Pheonixs' mighty Crowbar of Pummeling +1 should do the trick.

Well, you didn't have to fire wildly at everyone. Last time I attended firearms ettiquite class, my coordinator said it was rude to suddenly open fire on a group of allies. I mean, you could hit someone! *Pouty face*

Also, snapping it? No. No, no... You're not using my crowbar to snap a remarkably wondrous object of great use (TM) that will explode if damaged. Power armor or not, I ain't standing near an exploding staff.

Explosions next to your face (Melee weapon) are BAD!

phil_

01-01-2007, 09:17 PM

Oi! Arhra, what of those torpedos that Mauve launched at the merman (and, by extension, you)? Those should've hit something by now. Like you. Or a wall. Or Peahen.

Oh, and I forgot Hydra. Oops. Seems that's worked out ok, though.

Tarrin

01-01-2007, 10:23 PM

Also, snapping it? No. No, no... You're not using my crowbar to snap a remarkably wondrous object of great use (TM) that will explode if damaged. Power armor or not, I ain't standing near an exploding staff.

Explosions next to your face (Melee weapon) are BAD!

Also add the awesome shockwave that would knock out everyone in the blastwave, which would mean
1. You'd have no bubble to hide in and be unconsious- meaning that you would drown Hawk

2. anyone outside the sub without gills (ie anyone but me) would drown due to not being able to keep rebreathers in their mouths.

3. the blastwave may force phill to smash himself into being knocked out thus unsummoning the sub and drowning the inhabitents.

Wow talk about a bad idea or a bad chainreaction.
But that's all speculation.

phil_

01-01-2007, 10:51 PM

Addressing points one and three here. One: Peahen has already lost her bubble, so moot point. Three: being unconscious doesn't dismiss my summons. This may seem overly advantageous, especially right this second when I am actually unconscious already, but I think it's balanced by the possibility of something I summon knocking me out and going on a rampage, with no way to dismiss it. Anyway, double moot point.

Rebreathers are probably an issue, though. However, I think Peahen's current concern should be breathing instead of whether or not to kill us all somehow in a magical explosion.

PhoenixFlame

01-01-2007, 11:05 PM

2. anyone outside the sub without gills (ie anyone but me) would drown due to not being able to keep rebreathers in their mouths.

Let's not forget those of us in self-contained hazardous enviromental suits. We might survive! Maybe, even if the automated medical system didn't try to revive me to conciousness immediately... Or anything.

It's entirely feasible. You know, I suddenly have an urge to create an awesome shockwave...

Steel Shadow

01-02-2007, 03:51 AM

*tries to look innocent* Howdy folks! Remember when I said I'd be gone a week for work reasons, then didn't come back for a month? Yeah, thing about that was I decided to spend the holidays back at my parents place, but I forgot to bring my compuer along. By the time I'd sorted out the crappy old one I was forced to use so I could actualy get onto the internet I was already in one of those holiday bordem slumps. You know, where you can't be bothered to get out of bed in the morning?

So, long story short, I forgot about this 'till now. But I'll try to post today.

Arhra

01-02-2007, 07:37 AM

For future reference, given that events generally move quite fast, it is generally better to simply ask about something you want to do rather than asking if you can ask, Flare. Use a PM if you'd prefer to keep it a mystery.

Phil, to tell the truth, I did see the frog torpedo launch but wasn't quite sure about what Mauve wanted to do about them, so I didn't really mention them. However, a thought did occur to me for working them into the finale.

Speaking of that, we're very close to the end of this battle. I was even considering wrapping it up in my next post, but given the submariners are up to something I thought I'd best defer. Still, I'd say I want to get this finished in two more posts of mine at most.

Seeing how we're a little over half way through the Water Temple (one monster encounter until the Caryatid), I thought it would be a good time to enquire as to how many more temples people want to do. This RP has been quite long after all.

Streamlining the Water Temple has been working very well and the other Temples should take even less time. Still, I saw from the start that doing all five temples could be a little much and prepared a way for removing some if necessary. Planned order is Fire or Shadow next, with Wind last.

So, simple little poll: Three temples remain after this one, how many do you want to do?

Bailey

01-02-2007, 09:43 AM

I want to do shadow and wind.

The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk

01-02-2007, 01:00 PM

I second wind, for obvious reasons!

But that's not important right now, 'cos now I'm in a bit of a sticky situation.

Barring the outnumbering enemies I'm now faced with, you do realise what popping that bubble means Arhra? All of that air has to go somewhere, and physics determines it will pool at the top.

Air pocket creation imminent!

I'm assuming that's ok? Because if so I'm not sure how big of an air pocket it may create, because I'm not sure how big this chamber actually is.

And yes, there is a LOT of condensed air in that bubble! I'm talking masses of cubic metres.

mammothtank

01-02-2007, 01:07 PM

Dynamite says he wants to join the next one, so I wouldn't mind only doing a couple more temples. No reason to rush though.

Bailey

01-02-2007, 01:25 PM

Wouldn't that bubble suddenly popping create a massive shockwave, considering the pressure the bubble was under?

The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk

01-02-2007, 02:12 PM

Probably, but all that air still has to go somewhere, that's why I'm asking, I'm not really sure where to go with this in my next post.

Flarecobra

01-02-2007, 04:30 PM

Fire or Wind. And I just wanted to know of your interest...

PhoenixFlame

01-02-2007, 04:43 PM

Probably, but all that air still has to go somewhere, that's why I'm asking, I'm not really sure where to go with this in my next post.

Bear in mind that a wet peahen will have a very difficult time swimming. *Chuckle* Not to mention the sudden change from "several" pounds per square inch to the room's ambient pressure.

It's probably going to take someone else rescuing you. I wonder who'd be up for that task?

Bailey

01-02-2007, 04:47 PM

Also, it should be noted that peahens are mostly brown with not much of an interesting pattern.

It's the peacoks that are sexy.

Flarecobra

01-02-2007, 04:56 PM

FYI: I'm going to be rather...um.."busy" for the rest of this fight.

Tarrin

01-02-2007, 05:11 PM

I'd go Shadow and Wind, Fire might be a bit had for me to swing any forms for. Haven't runinto and natural creatures that have any helpful talents for fire, though if we run into any unnatural creatures i may be of help in a fire temple.

Bailey

01-02-2007, 05:31 PM

So the general consnesus is that we all want to do wind, right?

Perhaps the fire temple can burn down before we get there and the shadow temple can be tackled at midday or midnight when the entire thing is a casual stroll?

The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk

01-02-2007, 06:51 PM

Most likely as the air explodes outwards, a vacumn will be created at the epicenter. So yeah, that could be painful. After the explosion though all of that air is gona have to rush to the surface and displace a fair amount of water. Perhaps I'le just end up unconscious and floating on the surface for a while, and the mermaids can mistake me for being dead.

Yeah, that's all I've got.

On the bright side though I've got the little peahen problem sorted out...;)

Arhra

01-02-2007, 08:50 PM

You know Hawk, while physics are not something that should be scrutinised too closely in RP's like this, that level of psuedo-science really can't be ignored.

Firstly, pressurised air is bad for you. In fact, a smidgeon of research into dangers of high pressure puts five or six times atmospheric pressure (which 'masses of cubic meters' easily covers) as causing serious impairment of judgement, loss of focus and, after longer exposure, dizziness and nausea. Ten times atmospheric pressure can cause convulsions, hallucination and unconsciousness.

Secondly, explosions don't create vacuums, at least as far as I know. An explosion is a rapid equalisation of pressure essentially.

Finally, water, for most cases, can be considered uncompressible. The escaped air can be assumed to displace the same volume the bubble did.

Now, I dislike getting excessively involved in physics when we have magic all over the place, but I felt it really needed to be pointed out. Anyway, on to the air!

A generous estimate of the volume of air enclosed in the bubble is five cubic meters. This would be a bubble a little more than two meters across. A conservative estimate of the area of the room's ceiling is 200 square meters. That would be about 20m by 10m or some variation therof (about 60ft by 30ft for you imperial minded sorts). There is an entire sub in the room after all.

Even these generous assumptions give the height of air at the ceiling as being half a centimeter. In other words, about the height of this letter I. We can consider it effectively unbreathable.

Perhaps I should clarify about the Temples. They would be dropped in the reverse order they're listed, as this is their level of development. Thus, Wind would be dropped first. The reasoning behind an early fall is the remaining Seals collapse under the strain.

EDIT: Generally Flare, I'm fine with pretty much anything as long as it fits.