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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Nov 6, 2021 0:53:36 GMT
"It is an outdated word for a warrior-leader. A lord to whom you serve with loyalty and honor. Not like the politicians of this time, but a man who lead many from the front. Unparalleled fighters, who ruled justly, and fairly.". Kou said as though such a thing were the only answer, from rote.
"Rule, and battle are no longer determined by human bloodshed, from our understanding. Now men hide behind Pokemon, bid them to fight so that governance can be won by the hands of another.". Umi added with some disappointment.
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Post by birdy51 on Nov 6, 2021 1:07:52 GMT
"Yeah. They seem real hung up on their square battling." Muku adds bitterly. After a moments reflection, she backtracks. "They don't seem to be all bad though. Chuck, a human who I've had some bonding with, is by no means a bad person or a trainer. But he's so old he hurts himself often just trying to do the right thing. And this other guy, Morty. He seemed to have a pretty close bond with his Pokémon. While it might not be the rule that every trainer is a good one, maybe it's just because the very idea of training has become commercialized. Nearly every person I met seemed to have some kind of Pokémon with them. And, while I can't say all of those relationships were better, I don't think it's because they are wrong."
She shifts uncomfortably for how deep the conversation was getting. It was much too out of her depth. Still, that didn't stop her from adding hastily, "But also. Also. I don't even think most humans have to fight. They all seem so comfortable it makes me angry. They don't get it that everything they love can go up in flames in an instant and unless you're fighting to put that fire out, you're going to get burned alive by change outside of your control! And yet they still just sit there and act like nothing is wrong! I hate it! Graaah!" Her nostrils flare bitterly as she hisses. Stupid nurse. Should have just let her fight the bug. Maybe she wouldn't be in this mess if she had bold enough to actually use those muscles on something other than a patient.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Nov 6, 2021 16:43:30 GMT
Baku laughed, warm and hearty, the first big expression of self he'd made since Muku's arrival. "A fine choice of words to use before the three of us. Sometimes it is they most willing to burn, that save the rest. You are young yet, consider that a fighting spirit and a strong arm can benefit from the wisdom of years and other views. Johto did not come about in an afternoon, nor will its downfall." He stated with a kind fondness.
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Post by birdy51 on Nov 7, 2021 2:44:36 GMT
"Yeah. You're probably right." Muku says as she turns away, lying to herself as much as she was lying to her as her strange companions. Sure. Thel probably could save Johto in the afternoon. Probably. She could reasonably hope that he was on his way now. No. Surely he was already fighting that horrible red haired man this very instant; rescuing the endangered Pokemon with grace and aplomb. And besides. It be hard to ruin a person's life in a day, right? It took a few weeks at least to completely break Muku and turn her into a fleshy human monstrosity. Atrocities take time. Time and effort.
A comfortable thought. An uncomfortable thought. Didn't matter. It was out of her head now. Head empty. Dreams wide.
"Moving on from that, what's a good way of avoiding trouble here. Mostly just like... Don't ruin people's day? Don't go around attacking people? The basics right? I can also avoid looking at anyone, because frankly I hate looking at people anyways."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Nov 8, 2021 20:09:50 GMT
"Courtesies change, time to time, but respect and space will take you far. I have heard rumor that evoking powerful emotions in our charged changes the nature of their place here, and in the future. It may not hurt to seek allies in your travels, should you find yourself tolerant of others.". Umi rose slowly and made for the tower doors, up along the winding walkway.
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Post by birdy51 on Nov 9, 2021 0:47:07 GMT
"I'm perfectly capable of being tolerant." Says notably intolerant Pidgey-hater Muku. She was very much unfazed by most of this conversation. Of course strong emotions made the dream weird. That was only sensible. That she needed others... Well. She wasn't looking forward to that honestly. Muku was bad at making nice with most things. She could at least thankfully, be respectful. At least, as long as others were respectful to her.
Umi, was respectful to her. Therefore, Umi, Baku, and Kou deserved to respect. She followed after Umi with as much calm as she could muster, before asking, "Actually. I guess it's worth asking, if this is a dream, do I need rest at all?"
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Nov 9, 2021 2:59:00 GMT
"This place knows you as you were when you arrived. Your injuries and ailments will fade at dawn, but you have no need for food nor sleep. You will find yourself tempted by such things, temptation is a danger here. No longer wishing to leave is the same as death. Steel yourself, friend.". Umi pressed a hand against the doors and they swung outwards, revealing tiered buildings that seemed to flow into themselves from opposite directions. Hovering grassy stones, and rivers to the east of town that seemed to have no regard for gravity whatsoever, nor did the fish within them.
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Post by birdy51 on Nov 9, 2021 21:02:05 GMT
At last, Muku was fazed by what she had seen. Many of her dreams were often quite weird. This dream took the cake. Buildings were not supposed to build like that. Rivers were not supposed to run in the sky. The sky doesn't sky like- actually, no. Nevermind. The sky was fine. The sky was simply the space in which things existed. That things that weren't supposed to be existing in the sky did not change the fact that the sky was still normal. Sky equals fine. Muku is ok.
Kind of. She stumbles lightly against the frame of the door, her head reeling from the sensory overload and brief sense of overwhelming vertigo that came with seeing and having to actually deal with unreal sights. Her eyes so keen and sharp made out every wrong or weird detail with crystal clarity. Yes, it would be logical to say that might have a bit of an effect on her. But she steels herself. She has to steel herself because Umi said so. And because if she didn't, then bad things could happen. She straightens, muttering to herself, "I'm fine. This is fine. This is something I can deal with for Xatu. I'm fine. I can deal with this. Breathe. I am breathing. This. Is. Fine."
And like that, a breath. Sharp. Deep. With each one that follows, the point dulls until it is just below the surface. A flesh wound breath. Hardly noticeable. Maybe still deadly. But for now, fading.
"I think I'd like to head inside for a bit. I can't deal with this today. I've been dealing with a lot of things today, and I've decided that this will not be one of them."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Nov 10, 2021 2:20:05 GMT
"As you wish.". Umi drew the doors closed and took his slow walk back down beside the fire. The inside of the tower goes upwards forever, but never gives way to another exit. The trio are content to sit by their fire, and occasionally ask the girl questions about the world of today. They don't often have visitors.
During long periods of quiet they seem intangible and surreal, less solid then they do when their personalities express themselves.
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Post by birdy51 on Nov 10, 2021 2:31:57 GMT
Muku obliges, kindly, talking about this and that without really having the capacity to get into the details. It's in those moments she feels most guarded, unable to adequately answer questions about the modern mundanity. So eventually, she quits the place to rest alongside Monolith.
She loses herself in time, but eventually comes to. Was it dawn now? Maybe. Either way, she was getting restless. "Ok. I think I'm ready to go. If I stay here any longer, I might get tired and want to stay. And this isn't where I'm willing to stop. You ready Monolith?"
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Nov 10, 2021 19:52:59 GMT
Monolith gives his assent, but once outside makes no effort to spread his wings, and gently rebuffs Muku's attempts to mount him with a nudge of a wing, or a butt of his head. On inspection, the injury is gone as Umi had said it would be. The problem lay with her partners mindset.
To the far end of the courtyard, above the large gate, several purple plumed birds performed haunting dances with one another and greeted the moment. The haze of a foggy midday hanging perpetually over this place.
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Post by birdy51 on Nov 11, 2021 1:02:35 GMT
“It’s alright, you don’t need to fly.” Muku says in her most comforting manner. “Today, I’ll be the wings. You just rest up, alright?”
She gives her ancient companion one last head bop, and then returns him to their Pokeball. Her eyes, drawing up to the gate and eying foreign birds sharply narrow. She didn’t like them already. It would be good to quit this place quickly, lest she be overcome by a sudden bout of bird on bird hatred.
So she runs. No, not like that. Stifling the urge to outstretch her arms like wings, she runs the way Chuck tried to teach her. Even strides. Opposite arm to the trailing foot extended. No rush. Just a jog. A jog for as long as her body could take it.
Pulling her coat around her, she grins impishly. Her body could take a lot of punishment. Let’s see how far it could go today.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Nov 11, 2021 1:23:14 GMT
The strange buildings and courtyards from different eras that seemed to fold back onto themselves infinitely gave way to a broken plane of rolling hills, each with their own subjective gravity. Rivers and tributaries criss cross through the air, and jumps from one point to the next become increasingly more common the further from her base camp Muku gets.
The Pokemon here are docile and content to while away their days simply being. Living sand idly chews on a spiky black and purple creature in a section of sand. Proud hooved creatures in many shapes and sizes graze, birds of many kinds flit through the air, and an pink elephant sleeps.
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Post by birdy51 on Nov 11, 2021 2:02:19 GMT
All the while, Muku runs. While her even strides continue, her eyes watch, looking on with mild disdain at all these lazy, lazy creatures. What was wrong with them? Couldn't stand a bit of cardio? Lazy elephant. What kind of elephant is pink anyways? Stupid birds. Just chilling in the air, don't even care. Where was the thrill? The chase? Didn't they understand that life was more than just being idle? Well. Maybe they weren't being idle persay. Most weren't. But she didn't feel any particular urge to bother any of them.
So she didn't.
Except. Her pace slows just as she was about to pass it. That stupid sand thing. Why did she have to look at that. Her eyes glance over to where the living sand pile seemed to be working over some other small creature. What exactly was going on here? Hunting maybe?
...Did the small creature need help? Ugh. Why did she even care? This was all a dream anyways, right?
And yet, here we are. She's fully stopped now to investigate the scene from a safe distance. Ugh. This had better not take up much of her time.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Nov 11, 2021 2:19:06 GMT
If it was a hunting moment, the prickly potato shaped creature didn't seem remotely bothered despite the fact that it had been mostly consumed by parapets and retaining walls of the sand castle monster. Not bothered, but not capable of escape either, for it lacked any arms or legs to speak of.
It was as though it's sole reason for continuing to live its best life was to make sure the creature eating it went hungry.
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Post by birdy51 on Nov 11, 2021 2:32:54 GMT
Muku stared dumbly at the listless, uncaring creature as the sand castle apparently tried to eat it. She didn't care about this creature. She didn't want to care about this creature. This creature held no value to her and was objectively dumb for not being able to move. It was like an egg. A sweet egg potato that didn't deserve to die. A low hiss escapes from the back of her throat. "Uuugh. Muku. It's fine. It's just a dumb Pokemon that got dumb and got. You don't have to help Muku. In fact, you shouldn't help. You should be running down the road because that's what you're here to do. Run. And that's fine. Just get up and-" She takes a step. Stops. At once, her hand pulls through her hair as she fights the urge to pull it out wholesale. Another groan issues forth, louder this time. Why was this a thing?! Why was she like this?! At once, she was suddenly made aware of Talon at her side. She looks at the sword. The sword looks at her. She sighs. "Fine. Ok? Fine. As long as we both know this is stupid and ridiculous."She pulls Talon from the sheathe. Tracing her foot against the ground, she twists the blade around her, allowing Talon to gather ki and momentum. If she struck hard enough, this'd be over in an instant, no second strike needed. Muku does a dumb and gets ready for combat. Talon dances the dance of their people, gaining 2 ATK stages.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Nov 11, 2021 19:11:07 GMT
The sand, as though sensing murderous intent, shores up it's walls and inhales sharply, the sea potato disappearing inside of it with a noise. Its probably perceived as a frightened noise but it could have been anything really.
Palossand has Stockpiled 3.
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Post by birdy51 on Nov 11, 2021 20:24:07 GMT
"We strike! Prepare yourself!" Muku screeches. She dives forward with vicious ferocity. In a befuddling, quick swarm of moves, she swirls sand all about her cloak and dives over the sand castle, screeching into it's ears and preventing it from properly defending itself. As she lands, Talon takes two quick pokes, one, two into the Palossand's exposed back before preparing to strike again. This time, with priority! Muku uses both Burst of Speed and Multi-Tasking. Burst of Speed is a Free Action allows another full turn at Init 10. Multi-tasking is activated this turn in order to give Muku the ability to move twice. Splashing!
Talon is going to act on Initiative 1.
For her first two moves, Muku is going to use two Maneuvers, Low Blow and Terrorize. Low Blow drops Pallosand's Init to 0 and leaves them Vulnerable for a round. Terrorize leaves Pallosand only able to use At-Will moves. Low Blow is an Acrobatics Contest, Terrorize is an Intimidation vs. Focus/Intimidation.
On Init 10, she uses Leer. If it hits, she'll activate Fearsome Display to extend their crit vulnerability by 2 ticks in addition to the standard, lose 1 DEF stage.
Low Blow! AC 2 - xf2csQCf1d20
Acrobatics! - 6d6+3
Terrorize! AC 2 - 1d20
Intimidation! AC 2 - 6d6+4
Leer! AC 2 - 1d20
---
Talon uses Shadow Sneak on Init 1!
AC 2 - 1d20+3 1d20+3
Damage?
4d6+86
---
Results!
Presumably Muku probably hits with an 8 on Low Blow, rendering the rest of the AC rolls mostly moot, unless this particular Pallosand is uncharacteristically acrobatic. A 26 on Acrobatics and a 29 on Intimidation are also both impossible to beat for this poor, sweet sandcastle. So! Nitty gritty.
Palossand cannot use anything but At-Wills for a Round and is Vulnerable for a Round, as well as being forced down to Init 0. In addition, they lose a Defense Stage and are more easily crit.
Talon doesn't fail their rolls, and thus hits with a 96 Ghost Physical Damage Shadow Sneak, finally ending this turn. 1d20·6d6+3·1d20·6d6+4·1d20·1d20+3·1d20+3·4d6+86
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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Nov 11, 2021 20:50:55 GMT
Muku kicks the bottom of one of the retaining walls and dramatically cleaves off part of the main dome and one of the towers. The window tops angle themselves irritably, and the creature begins a sprint away towards the surf, the chunks that had been sliced away trailing behind it.
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Post by birdy51 on Nov 11, 2021 21:00:17 GMT
"Oh no you don't!" Muku screeches, catching up with the sand castle with relative ease. She throws her arm into to the sand pile the best she can, attempting to forcefully wrap her arm around her prize and prevent the castle with escaping with their prey. Meanwhile, Talon continues to do violent, violent violence, stabbing into the castle the best that they can. Muku attempts to grapple the Pykumuku! Talon stabs the castle with joy. The joy of PAIN.
Grapple! AC 4 - |heJLduY1d20
Athletics? - 5d6+1
Shadow Sneaks! - 1d20+3 - 1d20+3
Damage?
4d6+86
Results!
Talon lands both hits for 103 Ghost Physical Damage. Muku attempts to grapple the Pukey-Muku with a 13, landing a 16 for any contested grappling if she's able to do the hands thing. 1d20·5d6+1·1d20+3·1d20+3·4d6+86
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