Final Fantasy J

[Caros]

The harsh clank of metal striking ground brought a grin to Kyo's face, his opponent down one of his weapons. While that would me more crippling for a styled fighter, this one was certainly rough around the edges, and he improvised extremely well, spinning around Kyo, slashing at his leg as he went. The wound brought a brief cry to Kyo's lips, his stance already swinging about, pivoting to follow the threat the man presented.

And again they were at each others throats and for the first time in years, Kyo seemed truely alive, his body active, swinging out of line with deep thrusts, parrying the flat of that shortsword off to the side and retaliating with a flurry of his own blows. A fight like this had no place for Kyo's moral questions, his fears about right and wrong, and it showed on his face, that innocence he held as a young boy reborn.

"You're good I'll admit, for someone without formal training." He smirked, wading in with an impressive series of blow, forcing the single bladed mercenary back before him. "But I'm better."

"You mean we're better. Having fun?"

Kyo stopped, backpeddling two steps, blad held out before him in a defensive stance, his head shaken once as if to clear it, a soft whisper echoing from his lips before he lunged forward again, no longer playing, his eyes alight with color, shining once more as they had in the inn not so long ago as he struck. The blows were fast, slipping past his opponents guard, but not necessarily striking home.

[sblock=attack] AC 29. HP 56/90.

Expertise for +2, giving me an additional 1d6 of damage via cunning defence.

Attacks are 29, 27. For 20, 25 Damage.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Listen DC 20]Believe thats the DC to hear whispers at this distance. Kyo said. "Not now."[/sblock]

 

[Guest 11456]

Leita moves to Frida's side as she whispers into her ear. "Hidden crossbowman on either side of us and a single mage over there." As she tells about the mage she discretely points in his direction. Then she moves to Mikken and finally Aluf, telling them the same thing while pointing out the position of the mage.

 

[Jemal]

Kyo and the bandit exchange several more blows, though Kyo easily shows he is the superior fighter, and soon the bandit is backpedalling, clutching the side of his head with one hand. If Kyo's sword were not wooden, he'd be dead, and he knew it. He came in at Kyo once more, attempting another feint, though this time Kyo was prepared for it and easily parried the blow. At this, the bandit stopped and backed up, face scared as he saw Kyo's glowing eyes. He sheathed his sword and opened his mouth to surrender, but all that came out was blood as an arrow burst through his throat, dropping him to the ground.

A laugh came from the surrounding forest.

"PATHETIC. Bested by a child in so few exchanges. No matter, he has paid for his arrogance, as shall you." At that, a swarm of dark blue streaks flew from the treeline, arcing towards Kyo(30 damage, Empowered Magic MIssile), and a swarm of bolts flew at the caravan guards and the party(Thanks to Leita's warnings nobody's flat-footed. 1 hit on Aluf, 4 damage. 2 hits Frida, 3 and 8 damage). At the same time, the strongmen standing near the tree pull weapons and rush forwards.
Pulling out of his shock, Mikken speaks a few words and everyone feels their feet grow lighter and their movements quicker (Haste as per Mikkens readied action).


[sblock=ooc]
What, you expected them to stand by one man's honour?
OK, NOW we need initiative from everyone (Kyo, reroll for basically new combat.)
Mikken's readied action went off, so you're all hasted. The majority of the 'bandits' will be engaged with the few caravan guards you have, so it's the Party vs 6 burly men, the mage, and another half-dozen bandits.
Kyo is 30' ahead of the rest of you & the caravan, the burly men are 20' from him. The mage and 6 bandits are 30' to his right, 10' deep in the forest, though you can see them now that they've stopped hiding.
[/sblock]

 

[Caros]

Kyo's earlier smile was faded even as he slipped his weapons around that bandits guard, one blow striking the arm, forcing it down while he circled about him, even with the impaired foot he managed to slip up behind him, striking a brutal pair of attacks at chest, and then the blow to the head that sent the bandit king stumbling back.

He watched the man as he wavered before him, leaning to one side as he darted in, then quickly tumbling around. It was not going to work this time, Kyo driving the point of his bokken down onto the hilt guard of his opponents weapon, smashing it into the dirt and nearly following up with a finishing blow. His eyes were glowing fiercely now, leaving briefly shimmering trail in the air as he turned, advancing even as the man sheathed his sword.

Kyo did not look like he was ready for the fight to stop just yet, lunging forward even as the man's life was ended.

He halted at the words, turning just in time to throw his blade up, trying and failing to block one of those powerful blue bolts, being driven back a step, blood coughed from between his lips. They were outnumbered of course, And like a hydra this beast seemed to have more than one head.

"You'll never save them all without me."

His feet were restless as a result of Mikken's spells, his eyes wavering between the mage and the burly men rushing him. A moment of uncertainty passed through him, the two choices obvious and exclusive, before he finally called out. "Mikken! Uncle! Deal with these six, Protect Frida and Leita!"

Then in a flash he was in motion, a quick, fluid line towards the mage, springing up before the man much faster than he should have managed, speaking as he swung. "Pray. Now!"

[sblock=Combat info]Hp 26/90. AC 31.

Init = 10 Rawr @ slowness.

Attacks = 22, 28, 19

Damage = 27, 23, 21

Please don't kill me with more magic missiles! [/sblock]

 

[Arkhandus]

Mikken, HP 75/75, AC 17 (18 vs. dodge target)

Mikken curses, thinking worriedly 'I could handle the mage, you're the awesome swordsman, why don't you start taking down the big guys?!?'

As he curses, though, Mikken urges his chocobo to move a bit, positioning himself a few feet in front of Frida, and his free hand pulls out some spell components before he stops. "Stay behind me girls!" Then he's chanting again and making swift handsigns, invoking another spell....

A moment later as his chant finishes, large hailstones materialize above the gang of big bruisers, raining down hard to pummel the goons, shattering on the ground and spreading a frigid spray of ice. The hail continues to pour down on the area for several long seconds, materializing out of thin air.

[sblock=ooc]Mikken's initiative is 18.
Initiative versus 12 bandits and mage (1d20+4=18)

Mikken stops 5 feet away from Frida, in front of her, using himself and his chocobo as meat shields for his friend. Mikken keeps an eye on the big thug furthest to the right, and thus closest to where Kyo's headed, as Mikken's Dodge target, in case he needs to move in to intercept and help his coz.

He casts Ice Storm , centered on a point 5 feet closer to him than the middle of the 6 big bruisers, so as to cover a decent swath. 20-foot wide cylinder, 40 feet high. Movement speed is halved within the area of effect.

Damage rolled for the bombardment is 8 bludgeoning damage, 7 cold damage, so not very good, but the movement reduction should be kind of helpful for this round.
Ice Storm's bludgeoning damage first and cold damage second (3d6=8, 2d6=7)

Would have preferred Kyo to move in against the bruisers, but I dunno how healthy he is right now.... Mikken's Ice Storm could probably have kept the mage and lesser bandits preoccupied for a round instead, then he coulda moved in to catch them with a Lightning Bolt or something... [/sblock]

 

[Sound of Azure]

She nods at Leita's warning, even as two arrows fly in her direction. Almost automatically, her arm flies up, attempting to deflect one of the arrows, but she is too slow.

Frida stumbles, reeling in pain as two arrows pierce her side. She manages to retain her balance as Mikken moves in front of her. Smiling a little at his heroic attitude, she takes cover behind his chocobo.

The breathes out deeply, concentrating on her link with the world, as she channels positive energy through her link with Kyo. She calls out, "Curaja!", and blue energy envelops him, healing most of his wounds.

She then concentrates, gathering her healing reserves.

[sblock=ooc]
Frida HP: 38/49
Initiative: 5 Initiative, Battle with the Black Bandits Uh, slow... Invisible Castle's finally failed me!

Deflect Arrows (1d20+5=16)

Frida 5-foot steps behind Mikken's Chocobo, and casts Cure Critical Wounds, and makes use of her Magic of the Land feat (DC 19, for a 4th-level spell) (Free action while casting). Kyo is within range of her Divine Ward feat, so she can cast cures at close range to him.

1d20+14-> [17,14] = (31) Magic of the Land DC 19 Knowledge (Nature Check)

4d8+12+8+8-> [1,6,3,6,12,8,8] = (44) Cure Critical Wounds, so Kyo gets back 44 hp.

Frida's Curaja

Frida's final action is to spend a turn attempt (as a swift action) to activate Sacred Boost. A cure spell she casts on the next round will be maximised.
[/sblock]

 

[Arkhandus]

((OOC: Deflect Arrows doesn't require a Reflex save in 3.5. It's just automatic now, once per round, unless flat-footed.))

 

[Sound of Azure]

((OOC: Deflect Arrows doesn't require a Reflex save in 3.5. It's just automatic now, once per round, unless flat-footed.))

OOC: Thanks, I realise that. However, the description of the Arrow Deflection ability for armour/shields still requires the DC 20 Reflex save. Frida can only deflect arrows due to her defensive item (+4 Bracers of Arrow Deflection), so I went with that item's described effect. Thanks for the heads up, though.

 

[Guest 11456]

Leita aims her bow at the mage and waits for him to make the first move, then she tries to disrupt his action with her own attack.

[sblock]Initiative: 12; Attack: 23; Damage: 7.
Delay action until the mage's turn and try to disrupt his spell or just attack on his action. If the mage's initiative if before hers then she'll delay her action until next round and act on his initiative next round.[/sblock]

 

[Jemal]

*REmaining PC's have aprox 12 hours before I update.. Thaedrus, this means you (And Brother_A if he's back by then). Otherwise I NPC.*