The Redux of the Tale of a Falling Empire

[WlfSamurai]

Taeran spurs her horse back around and alongside the massive lizard. With the effectiveness of Nansho’s attack on Steelscale’s foot and the fact that he’s keeping the beast’s attention, she sees an opening. Once again pouring Essence into her throwing arm, Taeran leans out of the saddle out to the side of her horse to get a clear line of sight at Steelscale’s leg.

[Withering attack on Steelscale with ranged excellency. Adding stunt. 14 dice. 6 successes + 2 for weapon accuracy - 5 Defense = 3 successes. Gain 1 Power for hit + 3 Power for withering attack = 4 Power.]

 

[jaydude]

Steelscale snarls and stumbles to the side, as if stung by the bite of Taeran's chakram.

Taeran gets four power, and Steelscale's Hardness is reduced down to 1. Chowlett Random Word and Rykon have yet to move.

Power ratings:
Ferala: 4
Kitava: 0
Manato: 7
Taeran: 4 (Moved)

Steelscale: 5 (Moved)

Spoiler: Steelscale Stats

Primary Pool (10): Combat, Feats of Strength
Secondary Pool (8): Hiding and ambushing in forests or swamps, Tracking through scent
Tertiary Pool (4): Anything else
Health Levels: [D], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
Motes: 9/9
Defense: 5
Hardness: 7 1; Soak: 7

Special Abilities:
Legendary Size: Cannot be grappled by smaller opponents, except through magical means.

Strange Beast: Steelscale has been warped by extensive exposure to Wyld Pockets. This gives it an Essence Rating of 5 and a pool of 9 motes, and allows it to use the Charm Heaven Thunder Hammer. The Tyrant Lizard has also been given the ability to silence and camouflage itself, allowing it to double 8's on Stealth rolls as long as it avoids extensive movement.

Thick Scales: No wound penalties to defence.

 

[Chowlett]

It had been years since Ferala had faced a foe in anger, and already she cand feel herself learning little ways to be a better combatant. With the supernatural reach granted by her lunging Snake Form, she backs still further away from Steelscale before lashing out with the joints of her staff. This time, she lets her Essence guide her blow, and seeks to stagger Steelscale with a series of sharp cracks to the lizard's giant ribcage; but the beast's skin proves too thick and the attack does little to help.

[Spend banked stunt dice to learn Close Combat Excellency. Move to Long range of Steelscale.
Withering attack with Close Combat Excellency, stunted, for 16 dice. 3 successes, miss]

 

[jaydude]

Steelscale doesn't appear to be at all affected by the strikes from Ferela's staff.

Yeah, sadly no power gain this round. Random Word and Rykon left to move.

Power ratings:
Ferala: 4 (Moved)
Kitava: 0
Manato: 7
Taeran: 4 (Moved)

Steelscale: 5 (Moved)

 

[Rykon]

Watching the beast turn away only stoked the flames of the commander's wrath. On his way back to the ground, Manato whirled about in the air, lashing out with an inferno now wreathing both himself and his daiklave to carve a wicked, smoking gash into Steelscale's flank.

Decisive Attack, Close Combat Excellency 1m and Excellent Strike 1m. Spending 7 Power on damage if the attack lands. 8 Successes on the attack.

 

[jaydude]

Watching the beast turn away only stoked the flames of the commander's wrath. On his way back to the ground, Manato whirled about in the air, lashing out with an inferno now wreathing both himself and his daiklave to carve a wicked, smoking gash into Steelscale's flank.

Decisive Attack, Close Combat Excellency 1m and Excellent Strike 1m. Spending 7 Power on damage if the attack lands. 8 Successes on the attack.

Steelscale's Defense is 5; Manato beats it with three bonus successes left over, with Excellent Strike doubling these to six. Your damage roll is thus 13 dice, plus any other dice from modifiers. Go ahead and roll.

 

[Rykon]

Rolling Damage...

Looks like 6L

 

[jaydude]

Manato's downward slash leaves a very visible scar on Steelscale's side, and sends the tyrant lizard staggering a few steps in the opposite direction. Steelscale's eye locks onto the Fire Aspect with a baleful glare, the beast clearly looking to get back at him.

"Hah! He weakens!" Nansho calls out.

Power ratings:
Ferala: 4 (Moved)
Kitava: 0
Manato: 0 (Moved)
Taeran: 4 (Moved)

Steelscale: 5 (Moved)

Spoiler: Mechanics

Okay, so I kinda made a bit of a balls-up earlier. See, Guard Breaking Technique actually drops SOAK rather than HARDNESS (though Manato could still have thrown his Decisive Attack anyway, due to Concentrated Attack penalties). If I hadn't caught that, I would have recorded Manato's Decisive as doing 0 damage. As it stands however, he does 3 damage once Steelscale's reduced Soak is taken into account.

Manato's Power is reset to 0. Also, whatever Steelscale's Hardness was beforehand, it's reset back to 7 now that someone's used a Decisive Attack against him.

Just Random Word left for this round.

Spoiler: Steelscale Stats

Primary Pool (10): Combat, Feats of Strength
Secondary Pool (8): Hiding and ambushing in forests or swamps, Tracking through scent
Tertiary Pool (4): Anything else
Health Levels: [D], [D], [D], [D], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
Motes: 9/9
Defense: 5
Hardness: 7; Soak: 7 3

Special Abilities:
Legendary Size: Cannot be grappled by smaller opponents, except through magical means.

Strange Beast: Steelscale has been warped by extensive exposure to Wyld Pockets. This gives it an Essence Rating of 5 and a pool of 9 motes, and allows it to use the Charm Heaven Thunder Hammer. The Tyrant Lizard has also been given the ability to silence and camouflage itself, allowing it to double 8's on Stealth rolls as long as it avoids extensive movement.

Thick Scales: No wound penalties to defence.

 

[Random Word]

Kitava conceals her disappointment behind an icy dispassionate mask as first her sister and then Ferala fails to harm to beast. This is not the effortless demonstration of righteous vengeance she was hoping for in assembling so many of the blood, but perhaps the audience benefits from a more climactic struggle. Trust a Tepet to demonstrate a peerless mastery of violence. "You are a credit to an illustrious house, Tepet. Finish it."

Spoiler: Mechanics

Harmonious Presence Meditation + Embassy Excellency
Rally
Force 4 + Embassy 5 + Embassy 5 + Stunt 2 = 16 dice + 1 success (HPM); 8+1 = 9 hits, so Tepet Manato gains 6 power.

 

[jaydude]

"Everyone, go for the bit that Manato just struck! The skin will be thinner there now!" Hudia shouts out. Before anyone can take advantage of this however, Steelscale roars and makes a sudden turn, aiming to strike Manato with his thick tail.

Steelscale using a Decisive Attack on Manato, rolling 10 dice and spending 5 Power. Rykon , please declare your defense.

Power ratings:
Ferala: 4
Kitava: 0
Manato: 6
Taeran: 4

Steelscale: 5

Spoiler: Other Mechanics

Hudia has just used a Reveal Weakness gambit on Steelscale, dropping the Tyrant Lizard's Soak by 2 for the next three rounds.

Oh and yeah, everyone regains 1m for the start of a new round.

Spoiler: Steelscale Stats

Primary Pool (10): Combat, Feats of Strength
Secondary Pool (8): Hiding and ambushing in forests or swamps, Tracking through scent
Tertiary Pool (4): Anything else
Health Levels: [D], [D], [D], [D], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
Motes: 9/9
Defense: 5
Hardness: 7; Soak: 7 5 (Three rounds)

Special Abilities:
Legendary Size: Cannot be grappled by smaller opponents, except through magical means.

Strange Beast: Steelscale has been warped by extensive exposure to Wyld Pockets. This gives it an Essence Rating of 5 and a pool of 9 motes, and allows it to use the Charm Heaven Thunder Hammer. The Tyrant Lizard has also been given the ability to silence and camouflage itself, allowing it to double 8's on Stealth rolls as long as it avoids extensive movement.

Thick Scales: No wound penalties to defence.

 

[Rykon]

The commander grins when the beast moves to retaliate. Manato raises Volcano Cutter overhead and plunges it into the smoke ground beneath. Flame exhales into the earth and molten rock erupts around the commander in a thundering cataclysm. A storm of sizzling, soot covered debris presses back against Steelscale from the sudden detonation below it. "What's wrong beastie? Can't take the heat!?"

2m on Portentous Warding Defense. Also spending 2 Anima to spawn an eruption point through "Grand Eruption". Not sure if that also counts as his action for the round, but it's fine if it does.

 

[jaydude]

Manato fends off Steelscale's attack, as Nansho leaps forward to try and strike at Steelscale's injured flank with another powerful blow from his Grand Goremaul. The great lizard manages to shift the wounded area out of the way of the Earth Aspect's overhead blow, before roaring in pain once again as Manato plunges Volcano Cutter into the ground and detonates the land below.

Power ratings:
Ferala: 4
Kitava: 0
Manato: 7 (Moved)
Taeran: 4

Steelscale: 0 (Moved)

Chowlett Random Word and WlfSamurai left to move.

Spoiler: Mechanics

Yeah, I wanted to see if I could hit Manato - and thus have Steelscale use Heaven Thunder Hammer - before making the calculations for Grand Eruption. But with the five additional successes from PWD, both of Manato's Defense values are high enough to avoid Steelscale's attack. Steelscale's Power drops down to zero.

Nansho uses another Withering Attack, dropping Steelscale's Hardness to 6.

I'm going to say that Grand Eruption counts as Manato's action for this round. I can't see anything in the manuscript about what specific Range Manato's Eruption Point reaches, so I'm also going to say that it reaches out to Short Range from his current position, meaning Steelscale - currently within Close Range of Manato - will have to move two Range Bands to escape the eruption point. No-one else is over it besides Manato, and he's immune to damage from the Eruption Point due to his resonance with jade.

Because he's a massive scaly b*stard, I'll use Steelscale's Primary dice pool to determine whether or not he's affected by the Eruption Point. He gets 3 successes against the hazard's difficulty of 3, causing him to take 1 point of damage from it.

Spoiler: Steelscale Stats

Primary Pool (10): Combat, Feats of Strength
Secondary Pool (8): Hiding and ambushing in forests or swamps, Tracking through scent
Tertiary Pool (4): Anything else
Health Levels: [D], [D], [D], [D], [D], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
Motes: 9/9
Defense: 5
Hardness: 6; Soak: 7 5 (Three rounds)

Special Abilities:
Legendary Size: Cannot be grappled by smaller opponents, except through magical means.

Strange Beast: Steelscale has been warped by extensive exposure to Wyld Pockets. This gives it an Essence Rating of 5 and a pool of 9 motes, and allows it to use the Charm Heaven Thunder Hammer. The Tyrant Lizard has also been given the ability to silence and camouflage itself, allowing it to double 8's on Stealth rolls as long as it avoids extensive movement.

Thick Scales: No wound penalties to defence.

 

[Random Word]

Kitava throws her hands up to ward her face against the intense heat as she stumbles backwards, channeling her anima into an icy wind to protect herself from the rising flames until she reaches a safe distance. Tepet clearly has matters well in hand, and this ought to serve nicely as a sufficiently awe-inspiring display of power. [Kitava passes for the round.]

 

[jaydude]

Just Chowlett and WlfSamurai left this round, then.

Power ratings:
Ferala: 4
Kitava: 0 (Moved)
Manato: 7 (Moved)
Taeran: 4

Steelscale: 0 (Moved)

Spoiler: Steelscale Stats

Primary Pool (10): Combat, Feats of Strength
Secondary Pool (8): Hiding and ambushing in forests or swamps, Tracking through scent
Tertiary Pool (4): Anything else
Health Levels: [D], [D], [D], [D], [D], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
Motes: 9/9
Defense: 5
Hardness: 6; Soak: 7 5 (Three rounds)

Special Abilities:
Legendary Size: Cannot be grappled by smaller opponents, except through magical means.

Strange Beast: Steelscale has been warped by extensive exposure to Wyld Pockets. This gives it an Essence Rating of 5 and a pool of 9 motes, and allows it to use the Charm Heaven Thunder Hammer. The Tyrant Lizard has also been given the ability to silence and camouflage itself, allowing it to double 8's on Stealth rolls as long as it avoids extensive movement.

Thick Scales: No wound penalties to defence.

 

[Chowlett]

Ferala can feel the searing heat from the molten rock pouring up around Manato, but she isn't close enough to be harmed by it. Carefully repositioning herself no nearer the flames, she tries keeping Steelscale within range when he inevitably turns to run. She winds the sections of Magistrate's Law back around her arm and forearm before unleashing another strike aimed at Steelscale's back, pushing him into the flames.

With the refreshing effort of constantly drawing on her Essence, her Anima begins to flux dimly as water rises from the soil to lap gently at her feet.

[Move to short range of Steelscale, on the opposite side from the lava. Withering attack with Close Combat Excellency, stunted, for 16 dice. Three motes spent this scene, -> Dim
11 successes, that's more like it!]

 

[jaydude]

Like a slithering mamba, the end of Magistrate's Law shoots and spirals through the air to strike Steelscale in the back, the blow hitting the tyrant lizard with enough force to make him stumble in place within the lava.

Ferala gains 1 power for landing a Withering Attack, and six more from bonus successes. Just WlfSamurai left this round.

Edit: Ferela is at maximum Power at 10; the additional point of Power gained from the Withering Attack goes to Taeran.

Power ratings:
Ferala: 10 (Moved)
Kitava: 0 (Moved)
Manato: 7 (Moved)
Taeran: 5

Steelscale: 0 (Moved)

Spoiler: Steelscale Stats

Primary Pool (10): Combat, Feats of Strength
Secondary Pool (8): Hiding and ambushing in forests or swamps, Tracking through scent
Tertiary Pool (4): Anything else
Health Levels: [D], [D], [D], [D], [D], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
Motes: 9/9
Defense: 5
Hardness: 6; Soak: 7 5 (Three rounds)

Special Abilities:
Legendary Size: Cannot be grappled by smaller opponents, except through magical means.

Strange Beast: Steelscale has been warped by extensive exposure to Wyld Pockets. This gives it an Essence Rating of 5 and a pool of 9 motes, and allows it to use the Charm Heaven Thunder Hammer. The Tyrant Lizard has also been given the ability to silence and camouflage itself, allowing it to double 8's on Stealth rolls as long as it avoids extensive movement.

Thick Scales: No wound penalties to defence.

 

[WlfSamurai]

"Holy, sh—" Taeran yells, but is cut off by the eruption of lava. She wheels her mount and spurs it forward, cutting a wider arc than she had before. Manato certainly wasn't holding back. She smiles as she realizes they may take this thing down yet.

"Yah!" Taeran gives another kick to her horse and keeps her circle going around the best at medium range to keep away from the lava. Letting go of the reins, she draws her chakram back and aims for legs once again.

[Withering attack again, spending a mote again on range excellency. Banking the stunt dice. 12 dice. 7 successes + 2 accuracy - 5 defense = 4 threshold successes. Gain 1 Power for the hit and 4 Power for the successes on withering attack for a total of 5 Power gained.

I'd like to use my stunt dice to buy Reflex Shot Technique.]

 

[jaydude]

Whether the reason be the presence of the lava underfoot, or the realisation of facing superior opposition, Steelscale turns around and runs for the edge of the newly-created lava field. Hudia, still on her horse, rides after the tyrant lizard and lets fly with her chakram, it's impact making Steelscale reel a little. Nansho meanwhile runs and jumps back onto his own horse, before following Hudia towards the tyrant lizard.

Taeran is up to 10 Power, and everyone gets back a mote of essence for the start of a new round.

Power ratings:
Ferala: 10
Kitava: 0
Manato: 7
Taeran: 10

Steelscale: 0 (Moved)

Spoiler: Mechanics

Steelscale uses a Sprint action to move to the edge of Manato's Eruption Point, putting him at Medium Range from everyone. Hudia uses a Move action to stay within Short Range of Steelscale and attacks, bringing the tyrant lizard's hardness down to 6. Nansho meanwhile gets back onto his mount and does a Move action to get within Short Range of Steelscale.

This time, Steelscale rolls 4 successes to resist the effects of the Eruption Point, thus avoiding damage.

Spoiler: Steelscale Stats

Primary Pool (10): Combat, Feats of Strength
Secondary Pool (8): Hiding and ambushing in forests or swamps, Tracking through scent
Tertiary Pool (4): Anything else
Health Levels: [D], [D], [D], [D], [D], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
Motes: 9/9
Defense: 5
Hardness: 7 6; Soak: 7 5 (Two rounds)

Special Abilities:
Legendary Size: Cannot be grappled by smaller opponents, except through magical means.

Strange Beast: Steelscale has been warped by extensive exposure to Wyld Pockets. This gives it an Essence Rating of 5 and a pool of 9 motes, and allows it to use the Charm Heaven Thunder Hammer. The Tyrant Lizard has also been given the ability to silence and camouflage itself, allowing it to double 8's on Stealth rolls as long as it avoids extensive movement.

Thick Scales: No wound penalties to defence.

 

[Chowlett]

The concerted attacks of the assembled Princes of the Earth have left the giant beast reeling and outmanoeuvred, and Ferala sensed the time had come to strike. Swinging Magistrate's Law around behind her before running in towards Steelscale and using the momentum to wrap her weapon around his neck. As she sprints, she draws on the cunning of the serpent whose form she emulates, in order to coil her staff just where Steelscale's most vulnerable pressure points are located; meanwhile around her lithe form water swirls and roils as currents in a strong river, buffeting the ground and trees as she passes.

[Rush-Decisive attack for 10 Power. CC excellency in Step 1, Uncoiling Serpent Aura in Step 3. Fin 4 + CC 4 + Excel. 4 + Acc 2 + Rush 3 + Stunt 2 = 19 dice: 8 successes]
[Ferala is now at Anima 5 - Burning; and at Short range of Steelscale again.]
[Assuming that attack hits, she'll be rolling 10 Power + Threshold, and Steelscale will be at Soak 1, due to Serpent Form and Uncoiling Serpent Aura]

 

[jaydude]

Ferala's attack lands with three successes once Steelscale's defense is taken into account. Go ahead and roll damage.

Spoiler: Steelscale Stats

Primary Pool (10): Combat, Feats of Strength
Secondary Pool (8): Hiding and ambushing in forests or swamps, Tracking through scent
Tertiary Pool (4): Anything else
Health Levels: [D], [D], [D], [D], [D], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
Motes: 9/9
Defense: 5
Hardness: 7 6; Soak: 7 5 (Two rounds)

Special Abilities:
Legendary Size: Cannot be grappled by smaller opponents, except through magical means.

Strange Beast: Steelscale has been warped by extensive exposure to Wyld Pockets. This gives it an Essence Rating of 5 and a pool of 9 motes, and allows it to use the Charm Heaven Thunder Hammer. The Tyrant Lizard has also been given the ability to silence and camouflage itself, allowing it to double 8's on Stealth rolls as long as it avoids extensive movement.

Thick Scales: No wound penalties to defence.

 

[Chowlett]

[Rolling decisive damage: 10 Power + 3 Successes + 1 Weapon Damage. 9 successes - 1 Soak, for 8 levels]

 

[jaydude]

The tip of Magistrate's Law hurtles through the air to pierce through the freshly cauterized - and thinner - part of Steelscale's hide that was created by Manato's blade. It appears to have severely perforated the beast's heart, for Steelscale lets out a loud, reptilian gasp before collapsing to the ground, his earlier momentum just about carrying him out of the eruption point.

The forest, once awash with the sounds of battle and bestial roars, goes quiet following the impact of Steelscale's great bulk against the ground, the silence more potent following the great amount of noise from moments ago. It lasts for but a few seconds before the mortal riders begin cheering, praising both the Five Elemental Dragons and the Dragon-blooded, while also cursing Steelscale.

[Battle over.]

 

[WlfSamurai]

Taeran rides up alongside Ferala.

"Damn, I wanted the kill," she says with a smile. "Nice hit. Impressive. It's been good riding with you. Perhaps you can show me a thing or two sometime." With that, Taeran wheels her mount and gallops to find Kitava. She thought she saw her sister pulling back in the confusion and Taeran wants to ensure Kitava knows the beast has been slain.

 

[Random Word]

Kitava arches one artfully plucked eyebrow at Taeran's report, the thunderous crash of the titan returned to earth and the subsequent raucous cheers having given way to boisterous conversation punctuated by the crackling of flames. "Inform His Majesty the remains are his to dispose of as he pleases with the Realm's compliments, and offer my congratulations to whomever struck the final blow." A gruesome trophy of his father's killer may soothe his soul - and pride, or it may simply serve as a garish reminder of his father's death. If he had no desire to mount its head on a wall, or forge its namesake into armour, doubtless he would award the remains to whoever struck the killing blow, or his retainers, as he pleased. Regardless, the Realm's duty was discharged, justice dispensed, and faith in the might of the Dynasty restored.

"I have been kept away from the capital and the business of the Realm too long," she declares, observing the bleeding earth and the raging fires around it approvingly. "I depart shortly. You may accompany me or remain for the celebrations as you see fit." She sets out at a brisk pace for the farmstead and mounts, freezing the mud underfoot as she walks.

 

[Rykon]

Manato stepped from the smoldering carnage with a long sigh of smoke passing from his lips. He mounted Volcano Cutter back into its scabbard just as a cold tremble set into his arms down to the bone. To have the thrill of battle and tragically fleeting adrenaline high so suddenly cut short was both draining and agonizing. He turned to Ferala, Taeran, and then to Kitava with a tired smile to mask his lack of satisfaction in today's conflict. "It was a good, clean takedown. I'm sure the young king will have no objections to that. Everyone is still in one piece I trust?"

Like any Tepet, the commander calmed himself by attuning air aura through brief, silent meditation. Flaring heat began to dissipate into a warm breeze whirling about Manato's now waning anima. He nodded in response to the satrap's statement. "I'll be returning as well, lady Kitava. Though the immediate danger has been dealt with, I can't leave you without a proper security detail." The smoke in his breath began to fade as he prepared to depart back for the capital. "Sanda, I leave you in charge of the remains. Even if the King seeks no prize here, the spectacle still holds some merit in the eyes of the people."