10/29 --- Δ Haggard Traveler’s Reprieve?????

[gluttoning]

Who: ??? & you!
What: Something's starting...
Where: Δ Haggard Traveler’s Reprieve (Twilight Shoreline)
When: Sunday, 10/29
Warnings: Will be added as needed.

( Perhaps intrigued by the mail allegedly sent by CC Corp, perhaps visiting the Shoreline by chance, gating into the Area goes as it always does, until the music stays cut for longer than it should, and the black, liminal transition screen lingers for a little too long. The seconds tick on. They near turn to minutes. You can't struggle, you can't argue— you can only simply be, and it occurs to you that maybe you'll be trapped midway here, conscious, for maybe forever.

And then you hear static. Your vision warps; pixels strain into words, blurred and unstable. You see them combat for your attention; you see— )



( And then you load in. )

( POST NAVIGATION )
( Sign-in Comment (Mandatory) • How to Play • Mechanics

Phase 1 • Round 1 • Round 2 • Round 3 • Round 4 • Round 5 • Round 6

Phase 2 • Round 7 • Round 8 • Round 9 • Round 10 •
Round 11 • Round 12

Epilogue )

Comments

CORE USE 1/3

[tinged]

[ oh, the pieces of his heart -

their hand reaches out only to stop short of catching any. weeks ago, they would have tried. for these two, they would have collected all the shards, felt each piece pierce their skin and felt only love. but that, they think, would not have helped either of them. and they are not the one who needs to put love and rage back together again, to pull from shadows the people that once were - and still is, deep down. they do, even after all this, believe. ]

Morgan, Mithrun. When you come back, you will be loved, I promise. And you will love.

[ and it won't be from the meat scraps of a heart so bruised and shredded that it has forgotten the human sound of heartache. that it would break so easily at the shock of it.

they gaze at macha, watching as attacks rain down on his limp figure like sorrow. waiting until the very last person goes, and suddenly their attention is on tarvos. they turn to him then. ]

You. You are going to overflow right now as you watch this. And I... am going to make you watch. [ they activate their data drain type D, stunning him for mere seconds that should feel like years as he's forced to watch what befalls macha - his morgan. their eyes are wet as they do this, but they will not cry. not until this is over. ]

ROUND 8 1/2

[gluttoning]

[((CORE USES REMAINING
HANI - 2/3
and because i forgot it last round ORIA 3/4))

DETO is now AWAKE.

---

With Macha downed and prone, Tarvos tries to charge into the space now between them as damage starts to rain onto the immobile phase. Reaper's Touch misses, though the words do not, the screams from Shoka echoing in his ears, bringing his hands up to cover them. Lotus Flower passes by as nothing more than a wisp. But the fire of Vulcan scorches, as do the multiple hits of GiVak Rampage, leaving behind the acrid, burning smell of plant life, of material that used to be alive that now slowly rots and burns under the heat.

It's when STUN is used that "try" no longer applies. Hani's arm outstretches, and Tarvos freezes before he ever can reach Macha. With that freeze comes the sudden cracking sound, sharp and agonizing, down the length of Tarvos's face. His mask starts to crack, bits slipping away. An eye that's far too black, skin that's far too grey and hollowed.

Hair still as red as fire.

It's ten seconds, but his eyes don't leave Macha. Furious. Furious. Furious in a way that morphs so quickly with distress, with a burning, putrid hatred cast at Hani.

The second all of the assaults against Macha are finished, Piercing Heaven is aimed directly towards Hani.

Twice, it misses. (2, 8)

With teeth that grit so hard that all he can do is scream in a howling madness, Heavenly Rage is cast blindly into the crowd instead. If he can't hit who he hates, then let his hate travel. Leo, Michel, Nanashi and Noe will all take earth damage from above, that seems to hit much, much harder than usual. Relentless, though the damage it does to them will not be much different.]

ROUND 8 (2/2)

[tablescraps]

( Deep within Macha's cool caverns, Deto rouses...

Levi clears the way for Sinclair, Oria, Noé, Michel, and Haru to rain down injury with all their sentiment, and every hit lands. Though Macha is that much larger than you all in scale, he seems small as he does not struggle, each hit landing, each hit beating him down. His elbows sink and split into the meat, each hit laying him a little lower, closer to the ground, his head bowed low, his halo flickering.

Every strike knocks his HP lower in a tangible way. The amount missing from his HP is atrocious, after every heavy hit and critical. The split across his torso rips wider. You will make quick work of him yet.

To Macha, though, this battle may as well not be happening at all.

The Wave will flood Fragment, and it will drown its people, and it will let the misery sink, and it will let joy float break surface, and they will all be together, and they will all be happy. And then— )

. . . I won't be . . . alone anymore . . .

( His voice is sharp raspy, as if the split that cuts through him has ripped his vocal chords in two. )

I will be loved . . . is that a promise? If you love me . . . why wouldn't you share my pain, too?

( And then an anguished scream from the caverns of Macha's split chest cuts through the battlefield with a chill that rushes down your spine— a lover scorned; a heart in agony. It's reflex, the way your head snaps up toward the source, your skin pale, sweat clung to the curve of your jaw, as if haunted by some phantom.

Your gaze is caught in the bright light of Macha's halo-lure as if caught in a vice. It bathes him in a sharp white light, hellfire gone cold, his visage a captivating terror. The thrill that runs through you skips your heart's beat and churns your stomach; you taste iron in your throat. This love is too aggressive. This heart is too heavy. You feel like your head might burst. But you can't just leave him alone.

Macha has cast Suspicious Seduction! See this comment for details and how to dispel the status effect.

Oria, Ganymede, Hector, Haru, Swallow, Nanashi, Hani, Michel, Leo, and Tylor are dizzied and disoriented by this overwhelming affection for Macha; you are now charmed by Macha; your eyes go black, and black halos like Macha's frame your heads, not unlike what had happened to Kara a round ago. You pull yourself from your allies and pivot on your heel. You are convinced he is someone you want to protect, even if it costs you your life. You will now fight for Macha as if he were your ally! This charm is not automatically dispelled by being struck— please read the info post linked above!

Ramiel, Dehya, Levi, Kara, Deto, Miharu, Noé, and Sinclair find themselves overwhelmed by Macha's disorienting passion, and though it lingers in their chest like a suffocating fever, you know you can't lose yourself here. You raise your weapons firm; you can shake off this dread affection and keep your head in the fight.

Characters who are charmed prioritize attacking those who have shaken off charm. Failing additional, uncharmed targets, they will begin attacking each other. This will last until they meet the damage threshold.

Since this round will be open overnight, I included everyone. If you're going to be unavailable to play for whatever reason, feel free to exempt your character as normal. )

[aphonik]

[ The scream shreds him out of his stupor, makes his heart jumpstart into a furious beat. He tastes blood in his mouth, and his head feels poised to explode.

And shit happens- all over again.

The halos are black and ominous, and he is NOT dealing with this shit again.

That being said, after all last...

His head whips around, and his hands peel off his scythe to sign quickly at Sinclair-

<< HEAL THESE DIPSHITS NOW. >> ]

[insinning]

[Sinclair catches Dosei's sign in turn and signals back]

<< on it >>

[justonezero]

...?

[That's weird. Why was he so sad just a moment ago?

The one he loves is right here. Yes, that's right - this is the person he cares about most. He has to make sure to protect him.

After all, how could he live with himself if anything happened to the one he loves?

With a faint smile, he raises his staff - casting MeiRai Don (19) with 100% attack magic bonus on the uncharmed members of the team, a great lightning bolt striking a whole chunk of the map.]

[insinning]

[This whole seduction thing? Definitely makes Sinclair mad. He gets hit by the lightning bolt and hisses in pain, his HP dropping a good chunk. So he charges at Nanashi with a triple wield (18 13 20)]

Wake up Nanashi!

HEAL CORE USE 1/3

[insinning]

[Oh, well. Crap. This is what Shoka warned him about and it doesn't look good. He grimaces at that feeling that almost overcomes him and shakes it off, activating his Heal Core instead, Data Drain Type H to give everyone at least 25% of their HP and SP back.

Hopefully they get their healers back soon???]

ROUND 8 [PATCH NOTES]

[tablescraps]

( Boss discussion: characters can take multiple actions this round (so, technically, multiple "rounds") to scrap with each other to resolve the charm! Consequently, the bosses will also have the opportunity to regroup and/or engage in multiple actions. Have fun! )

[threatmewted]

[Fun fact, Ramiel isn't the only one capable of sending a whole wave of water crashing over everyone!

In fact, Shoka will take the opportunity to leap in front of Macha protectively, swinging her scythe at everyone uncharmed and unleashing a Typhoon Sweep (18) sailing everyone's way!]

[dissimulative]

[ The eyes go black and he finally has matching eyes with his hair. Being thoroughly charmed by Macha means he's in this state again, but what's different this time is Sinclair's existence on the battlefield. Of course Oria would go for him. Even though he's thoroughly charmed, he still loves Sinclair.

Even if it's very twisted right now.

Oria shoots Juk Doom at Sinclair, 3 wood shots (13, 17, 11).

Now's not the time? It's always the time. ]

[aphonik]

[ Ok. He can work with this.

It's not that he's worried, no- but he'd rather not lose, and the more hands, the better.

Which means he's not gonna regret doing this, probably. Especially with the attacks that bounce off the shields and defense buffs, making him grit his teeth.

Dosei's health peaks, green and full...and then promptly plummets into near empty. It hangs in the edge of red, the precipice, and the taste of iron on his tongue gets worse. But it's fine, he thinks. It's fine.

He gives off an unnatural gleam, like a mirror shining, before he promptly raises his scythe. Similar to before, back on the beach, water swirls around the blade, before he swings it forward to catch Macha, Tarvos and the halo-bearers in the wake of a Typhoon Sweep (11)...except you'll find it hurts, hurts, hurts far more, the cut 200% of it's normal strength.

He hurts, too. But it's fine, because as the health depletes from the others, Dosei's rises, as if draining their vitality for himself. No longer red is he. ]

charmx5! she's choosing violence

[rebelles]

[ This time when she slips under charm's sweet embrace, it's not calm that grips her but anger. Haru shakes at the sight of Mithrun badly injured, the enchantment protecting him gone— but not to worry, dear Mithrun, Haru has enough love for you.

She fires without warning. Turning her gun in an arc as she lets Juk Doom fly indiscriminately at any unfortunate soul caught in her path (13). She can't forgive those who have pointed their weapons at Mithrun. Most of all, she can't forgive herself. ]

the meatlocker

[tablescraps]

( Deto awakens in a cool and slick and wet place, his cheek pressed against the raw, meaty walls that make up Macha's insides; enough space for him to fit, but not enough space for him to fit comfortably. Blood and meat juice soak the walls and seeps into his hair and armor, and the sound of liquids dripping are that much louder than the sounds of the raging battle.

The Area is dark and rainy, save for those grungy pulses of red light and the sound of that echoing heartbeat, and it's darker still in here, where Deto is. With the amount of damage Macha's taken that's split his opening much longer vertical, it wouldn't be hard to wrench his arms out and push it open further horizontal to hoist himself out to freedom, onto the heart-flesh sea.

For a brief moment, a faint light crosses Macha, washing over his body, inside and out; stuttering data, flickering out as soon as they'd come; a sign of Haru healing him up with her Core. Where Macha's body had sagged and laid on its stomach, Deto can feel Macha shifting a little more upright on his elbows, and, slowly, begin to push himself up into a sort of sit, weight resting on his palms.

It probably just makes Deto feel all the more squished in there. )

elder gay pvp

[secondthoughts]

[ The fall, the heartbreak hurt.

But when Hector pulls himself to his feet, he feels surprisingly better about it. He doesn't notice his blackened halo and eyes, of course. All he can think about is Macha, Macha, Macha.

He whirls to face the "enemy" in closest proximity to him: Dehya. He needs to get rid of her. Make room for Macha so he can go heal him. He's fragile, you see.

He whirls his staff and presses the tip of it, the sharp ends of elegantly twisted metal, housing clinking dog tags, hard into Dehya's solar plexus. ]

Stay back. And I won't have to hurt you.

[ Hector's health is currently at 90%. ]

[aphonik]

[ Now that he's free for the moment, Dosei has to (attempt) to deal with a very obvious problem. Who let boss healing be a thing. Probably Lily, honestly.

Dosei, however, is going to take advantage of all the brawling and dart right back over to Macha. He has too much health for his liking, and he wants to change that.

So, he steps back, only to rear forward with another branded Reaper's Touch, aiming for another crit (19). Even if it hits without, his hp is still below 50%, so the damage slips up to 200% regardless.

The HP that fills his bar after hitting drags him over the edge, and the buff promptly disappears. Farewell, space cowboy..]

[tinged]

[ they had already said their goodbyes, they had already - they… were prepared to face something like this, they thought, since they know themself enough. kind cruelty was always in the cards.

physical damage doesn’t faze them, but in their lucid moment, tarvos’ hatred cuts sharper than all the shards combined. they’re cracking too, you see, it’s just not visible; though how convenient if everyone’s pain could open like a giant maw on their chest to share with the world. would love and rage understand them better then?

it very quickly doesn’t matter, however, once they’re charmed. this love for him is just a different shade of their usual. but they’re a person who is all white, never meant to be stained by something so black. the black eyes stand out as stark as bloodstains on white bedsheets, making you wonder what happened to the body that once lay in it.

… there was… a question their beloved asked…? ]

We have been… here the entire time willing to share your pain, two then three then four. But you… You let us go first. We were the ones who didn’t want you to leave - from the… very beginning, and yet we were never enough for you.

[ doesn’t it hurt to not be enough? they draw out their staff to love him properly. to make others love him properly.

who will be their target first? ]

[ganymed]

[ Ganymede hasn't gotten a chance to act but with the flying AOEs and easier to breach damage threshold due to his class, he doesn't really get much into a scrap with anybody.

It said something about multiple rounds available to them so here he is. He's going to dance, and throw a La Corv positive physical attack buff for all allies who are able to attack their enemies. ]

...It's not over yet.

We can regain what we've lost.

core uses 1/3

[userunfriendly]

[ When the PVPing to break the charm effect subsides, Winter will very rationally be dropping Data Drain Type D: Blind on Tarvos. ]

CORE USE 1/3

[trashtier]

[The rain of core attacks on Tarvos isn't over. Leviathan follows up Winter's core usage with one of his own: Data Drain Type D: Stun. The less interjection from the phases during the player vs charmed player scuffles, the better.

But he also has something to say to Tarvos, now that he's recovered from the initial shock of the battlefield transition. He invokes Misteaks's real name again- the one Mithrun and Hani both spoke of. The more he says it, the more familiar and real it feels to him too.]

Are you finally listening to us now, Barrett?! I get it now...I get how much you've been struggling. But you've gotta finally let go and let us help you! Both of you!

[His fire is very much still alive.]

[legendofthelion]

Barrett! [Shortly after knocking sense into Hector, Dehya pivots to rush Tarvos with a Vak Maxima attack (14). Eat fire!]

Do you see everyone?! We're all here for you! You and Morgan! And we're not gonna leave either of you alone, no matter how long it takes you to remember that!

[curvaceous]

[ After smacking sense into Shoka, Kara sees that Macha has been healed. Not good. She has yet to repay him for possessing her, too.

She'll switch her attention to him and go for a King Hammer (6). ]

[murrmoire]

[ Macha, you are so lucky Haru healed you. Time to whittle your HP back down again with Dragon Strike (7). Memoir is going all-out, but the part of him that's afraid of killing Macha for good holds back a little damage-wise. ]

[secondthoughts]

[ Free of charm, Hector whirls to face his big bug son again. His jaw is set, eyes hard, lips pursed.

Through his own throbbing headache and uncomfortable swirl of negative feelings, he speaks low, not really caring if he can hear him or not. ]

Lily saw your weakness, exploited it, and now he's using you. Why didn't you ever see that?

[ He raises his staff. ]

Enough of this, Misteaks. Come back to us.

[ And he casts MeRai Don (16) on Tarvos. ]

Re: ROUND 8 1/2

[threatmewted]

[Shoka is continuing to swing and miss when it comes to actual enemies and not friends (Reaper's Touch, Tarvos, 4) but that won't stop her from yelling anyway.]

Don't think you can just cover up your ears and ignore us! You always reached out a hand to us - if you won't come to us for help, it's our turn to come to you!