( Ganymede attempts to stun Macha! Immune! A white flash washes over Macha, a flicker of eerie green data following in its wake, not unlike the green shields that protected those monsters in Root Towns. It looks like debuffing will not work at this time. Something is protecting him.
However, something strange occurs— the ripple doubles back on its self, and this time, his form seems to stutter and glitch, as if the beginnings of a Data Drain attempt. As his data begins to destabilize, a sharp crack resounds across the Area, and you see the following message: Invulnerable! Too well-loved to be Data Drained! The light from the Core dispels suddenly, allowing Macha's form to slot back neatly into place. It seems there's something special about the Damage Cores Zelkova left you...
Shoka, Haru, Tylor strike at Macha! You all feel your blows land— you feel the force of the impact, and the satisfaction of an attack connected. But as you pull back, you only see the flying text that reads Invulnerable! Too well-loved to be struck! for each blow— a whopping six times total, across all those multi-hits.
Seven of these messages later, anyone in combat can connect the dots: Macha's "Well-loved" buff is an invulnerability buff. It still has no duration. It seems, apparently, infinite. But is it? Playing this game long enough has taught you something must be granting it. For now, attacking him directly doesn't seem likely to get you anywhere.
Macha wheels back into Tarvos's wake—keeping close, always, some ways behind Tarvos and his wingspan—with an entirely unwilling Oria held carefully against his chest.
Once more, it catches your ear; in the midst of the chaos of battle, a haunting and beckoning melody from the caverns of Macha's split chest, one that resounds across the endless oceanscape, one that brushes its soft fingers along the curve of your jaw and tips your chin as if to say, look here, look up.
Your gaze drifts to a bright, beautiful light; one that dances within Macha's black halo, and bathes him in Heaven's light. Your weapon feels loose in your grip; your tension fades from your muscles. You feel at ease around him. You feel calm. That you ever meant to harm him or his ally slips far, far away from your mind.
Macha has cast Suspicious Seduction! See this comment for details and how to dispel the status effects.
Dehya, Swallow, Michel, Leo, and Tylor drown in the full flood of Macha's allure; you are now charmed by Macha. The siren's melody resounds gentle within your chest. Tarvos had his sights set on a singular kill this round, so there's no attack to ram you directly into; instead, he flicks his finger elsewhere. Dehya, Swallow, and Michel finds themselves drifting closer to Macha, as if in a trance; Tylor finds himself overwhelmed with sentiment— he cannot attack Tarvos this round, nor can he move away from him to help his friends.
Ganymede and Haru are only partly lured by Macha's trap; you are now confused. Macha is wonderful; Macha puts you at ease... but aren't these people your allies, too? Why are they fighting one another? Is someone lying to you? Are you safe? Panicked, you can now only attack— and you attack both enemies or allies. (Flip a coin each comment; if heads: your character attacks an enemy; if tails: they attack an ally.)
Nanashi, Ramiel, and Hector brush past Macha's snare; you feel they trust Macha, but know you cannot let mislaid affection distract them from what you're fighting for. Aware of the grim reality of the situation, you can shake off this affection and focus on the fight.
And then there's Oria. Oria has been charmed; one might even judge Macha had been primed to act some other way this round, but altered his course to cast charm again when climbed up. But, unlike the others, Oria does not feel inclined to go where the others have been beckoned; instead, he feels quite content to remain where he is. He's safe here, at the eye of the storm. Or so the sweet tones of Macha's song would have him believe.
And then, he murmurs to a vague and wordless melody; a request for Oria to snipe down his allies that Oria feels obliged to obey. )
. . . These.
( A finger lazily draws a vague circle around the approaching Dehya, Swallow, and Michel, who cannot dodge Oria's attack. )
ROUND 3 (3/3)
However, something strange occurs— the ripple doubles back on its self, and this time, his form seems to stutter and glitch, as if the beginnings of a Data Drain attempt. As his data begins to destabilize, a sharp crack resounds across the Area, and you see the following message: Invulnerable! Too well-loved to be Data Drained! The light from the Core dispels suddenly, allowing Macha's form to slot back neatly into place. It seems there's something special about the Damage Cores Zelkova left you...
Shoka, Haru, Tylor strike at Macha! You all feel your blows land— you feel the force of the impact, and the satisfaction of an attack connected. But as you pull back, you only see the flying text that reads Invulnerable! Too well-loved to be struck! for each blow— a whopping six times total, across all those multi-hits.
Seven of these messages later, anyone in combat can connect the dots: Macha's "Well-loved" buff is an invulnerability buff. It still has no duration. It seems, apparently, infinite. But is it? Playing this game long enough has taught you something must be granting it. For now, attacking him directly doesn't seem likely to get you anywhere.
Macha wheels back into Tarvos's wake—keeping close, always, some ways behind Tarvos and his wingspan—with an entirely unwilling Oria held carefully against his chest.
Once more, it catches your ear; in the midst of the chaos of battle, a haunting and beckoning melody from the caverns of Macha's split chest, one that resounds across the endless oceanscape, one that brushes its soft fingers along the curve of your jaw and tips your chin as if to say, look here, look up.
Your gaze drifts to a bright, beautiful light; one that dances within Macha's black halo, and bathes him in Heaven's light. Your weapon feels loose in your grip; your tension fades from your muscles. You feel at ease around him. You feel calm. That you ever meant to harm him or his ally slips far, far away from your mind.
Macha has cast Suspicious Seduction! See this comment for details and how to dispel the status effects.
Dehya, Swallow, Michel, Leo, and Tylor drown in the full flood of Macha's allure; you are now charmed by Macha. The siren's melody resounds gentle within your chest. Tarvos had his sights set on a singular kill this round, so there's no attack to ram you directly into; instead, he flicks his finger elsewhere. Dehya, Swallow, and Michel finds themselves drifting closer to Macha, as if in a trance; Tylor finds himself overwhelmed with sentiment— he cannot attack Tarvos this round, nor can he move away from him to help his friends.
Ganymede and Haru are only partly lured by Macha's trap; you are now confused. Macha is wonderful; Macha puts you at ease... but aren't these people your allies, too? Why are they fighting one another? Is someone lying to you? Are you safe? Panicked, you can now only attack— and you attack both enemies or allies. (Flip a coin each comment; if heads: your character attacks an enemy; if tails: they attack an ally.)
Nanashi, Ramiel, and Hector brush past Macha's snare; you feel they trust Macha, but know you cannot let mislaid affection distract them from what you're fighting for. Aware of the grim reality of the situation, you can shake off this affection and focus on the fight.
And then there's Oria. Oria has been charmed; one might even judge Macha had been primed to act some other way this round, but altered his course to cast charm again when climbed up. But, unlike the others, Oria does not feel inclined to go where the others have been beckoned; instead, he feels quite content to remain where he is. He's safe here, at the eye of the storm. Or so the sweet tones of Macha's song would have him believe.
And then, he murmurs to a vague and wordless melody; a request for Oria to snipe down his allies that Oria feels obliged to obey. )
. . . These.
( A finger lazily draws a vague circle around the approaching Dehya, Swallow, and Michel, who cannot dodge Oria's attack. )