Adventure: A Sharp Tale, Retold Further

Last time in on 'This is a totally original and unique story about swords. Volume 1. Glitchton Mountain.' the party of five ventured into the broken lands of Ezzo through an underground tunnel to follow the path of a pre-Apoc questline involving an ancient blade. What they found was a half-completed raid against a winged serpent that was forever glitched into combat mode. Through bravery, prowess, and a little luck the group of not-a-raidparty was able to handle the final phase of the fight before getting wiped out. Their reward? A blade shard. The fox spirit accompanying the serpent, Kuroe, seemed to have familiarity with Soujiro Seta as part of his pre-Apoc blade, the Kogarasumaru, a long dual bladed katana. It seems as if they shared a promise together and she had been waiting for him to fulfill his vows. The blade remains unforged and the quest continues on to meet a Werefang Frog named Glenn.

Glenn isn't exactly a Japanese name. Very European. Odd choice, really. However, the Lander they are looking for doesn't even go by Glenn. He goes by Kero. It takes a bit of time to connect all of the dots until they find our where this 'Kero' lives. Not too far from civilization within the Fourland Dukedom. The 'hermit' style personage, this Kero lives in a swamp-like forest that is known for its rolling mists and difficult footing. It is easy to get lost in there, in them woods. Kero lives on the edge of it, getting by with a humble life away from everyone else.

Soujiro lets everyone know where to meet up and isn't too picky on the time. For a former raid enthusiast, he let those sort of details to a different foxy lady. So he is out there in the forest sitting on a log with a bowl of matcha in his hands. It is already empty, but he seems pretty peaceful there waiting for others. Not everything needs to be 'How many thousand pushups can you do' or 'can you run up that tree'. Note: Marks on the nearby tree show he did run up it. This is Souji we are talking about. All the energy of a puppy wrapped in Edo period Samurai clothing. Calm puppy, happy puppy, bowl full of matcha. Previously.

Miho is whistling the wing of time as she joins up with group. "Hey." She waves with her tail along with her right hand. " Go time I take it?"

Not everything has to be about a workout, but it's little surprise that Vertina has been doing some warmups all the same. It's just smart to stretch and limber up before going onto a big adventure. If the dents on trees and rocks around the camp aren't from the samurai, they're from the salamander kung-fu. Until she finally wanders over, stomps the ground once to make a chunk of rock pop out, hammers the top with her fist to flatten it, and sits down. Takes out a water flask and sips a bit from it.

Klein has certainly done his best to make sure he was ready for the next phase of this trip is. Swords strengthened, armor repaired, potions restocked, and extra food. That last part might not be as important as the rest, but Klein knows the dangers of the Hunger debuff and it's the last thing anyone needs for a meeting such as this. To what is likely a lot of people, the name Kero or Glenn likely means very little. But to someone who has fond memories of a certain RPG for the Super Famicom...well, it's likely best to put a good face forward.

Whistling cheerfully a familiar tune, the scruffy samurai's attention is focused entirely on his latest attempt of cooking. Sitting on a fallen log, the redhead is using his lap for a kitchen counter. A simple sandwich, but Klein is carefully placing each slice of meat and cut of tomato carefully in it's ideal place. A final slice of bread to top it off, and he lets out a careful sigh. "If anything was to go wrong, it would have happened by now..." Lifting it up carefully, he goes to take a big bite...!

And of course, everything inbetween the two slices of bread go sliding out, falling onto the grass and quickly shattering.

Still chewing on his twice slices of bread and staring at the disappearing remains, Klein swallows before letting out a deep sigh. "This was still one of my better attempts..."

Viviene while Klein was trying to enjoy the sandwich, once again Viviene has arrived at the camp and was eating those simple, mushy and tasteless travel rations she has carried with her this entire time without even a bit of a complaint, sitting on the branch of one of the trees nearby as she looks down at Klein. "Want a ration? more filling than two pieces of empty bread." she offered, showing her sympathy to his best effort at enjoying a sandwhich. Oh, it'd be known by now that Viviene loves her good food, but can endure the worst if nessesary.

Soujiro is carefully watching Klein in the cooking attempt. He doesn't even breathe during the final moments. When the contents spill out, he exhales. "So close," he says, "next time!" Next time is sammich time. There is a turn to Miho and an affirmative, "It is," as he gracefully gets off of his stump and puts his matcha bowl away.

It is time to visit Glenn Kero von Frogington of Swamp Lake City. Really it is Kero that visits them. It is VERY unusual for him to have any gathering outside of his tree-like house. Kero is a short were-frog with green skin and a rather nice forest pattern. He is unimpressive as far as a Lander goes, though he does inspect as a pretty high level Lander. "I don't want visitors," he croaks rather directly to the group. Adventurers. He knows them. He knows them well. Nothing about this bodes well. "So kindly leave me be," he says. Unfortunately they can't leave him be. The next part of this involves the other half of the blade shards. It comes clear to Kero why they are here when he spots Soujiro. "You never came," he tells them all, but holds no ire in his voice. Its that sound when you are told help is coming and it never does. It sounds. Empty. "And now my friends are gone. You think this is a game," he levels that evenly at the Adventurers. Some have gone as far as to call it just that. "I'll not have you further tarnish their memories and their sacrifice to hold Mune at bay. The blade is all that is left of their valor and of my cowardice. It is well hidden in these woods. Well guarded. Do what you must with me, but you will never find it."

    Soft Method, appeal to his virtues: Negotiation(8), Etiquette(10), Song(7)
    Hard Method, he is broken so apply a bit more pressure: Physical(12), Melee(11)

    Failure: Taking the Long Way
    Partial Success (Hard Method): Taking the Direct Way
    Success (Soft Method): Taking the Direct Way with a Blessing

Miho looks over to klein "If someone named Serge shows up...." The follow up to that game was a disaster. She does go for the food and eats it witho

Vertina reachs over to pay Klein on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I've got us covered if food becomes an issue at some point. Good effort, though." And then it sounds like it's time to get going.

They find their frogman, but it sounds like he's being more of a grumpy old toad at the moment. "I've heard of down in the dumps, but this is kinda too literal." She shrugs, and ambles over. Puts a mug in the frog's hands, and plops down to put an arm over his shoulder. "Missing past friends, huh? Sounds like a cue for a toast and a memorial tavern song!"

She might of been on the right track... but Vertina couldn't carry a tune in a bucket with the lid on, and her attempt at starting an uplifting drinking song falls on ears that probably wish they were deaf.

Miho looks over to kleinl "If someone named Serge shows up...." The follow up to that game was a disaster. She does go for the food and eats it without complaint. Later

Viviene It is quick that Viviene takes in the Lander's words, and her expression becomes both momentarly dark but soft, empathy stricken across her face as she steps up to Kero. "Their memories will not be tarnished. You are not alone in missing friends and even family. No, they are the heroes I sing about on the day to day, when I practice my song, I think of those that I stood among before." she said. It was not about a performance here, but a matter of something coming from the heart. "Kaitlyn, and so many others." Kaitlyn was certainly not a japanese name, though nor was Viviene in fact. She opts to try and pat Kero on the shoulder as she speaks, using her song, and her magic to resonate a hum, that tune that goes out to all future heroes, it was the small, passing show of her emotion put into a small bit of song and magic. "I'm here living in their stead. I will bear another burden like such with pride. You have my word."

Miho would look at the lander "This world is no game.We live here now and want to make it better."

The clear look of distaste on Klein's face is the most direct answer Viviene will get from the samurai, but he shakes his head and waves his two pieces of bread out. "I'm good! Besides, there's still some mayo on these slices, so it's good enough." There's no way he's going to willingly eat those soggy crackers rations. If he's already forced to eat something like that, he might as well just give up now and try again another day. "I wouldn't know, honestly. I remember seeing all the backlash and knew it was best to just stay away from that one."

Thankfully, the appearence of Kero serves as a great distraction from the food problem, even if he is a rather depressing mood. And Vertina's attempt to liven up the mood? There's no way Klein is going to say anything out loud, but the noticable wince and strain of his body stopping himself from covering his ears is a good example.

Stuffing his half-eaten 'air sandwich' into his inventory, Klein stands up before giving a deep bow towards Kero, a somber look on his face. "I may not be able to speak on behalf of the others, but I seen the battlefield where Mune was held at bay. It was only thanks in part of their efforts that we had any chance of victory. And...that's why i'm here." Materalizing the Blade Fragment in his hands, he taps it a few times. "This blade was the key to our victory...and I would rather not just let it rust away now that we have it. I would like to see it fixed, so its' legend can continue on."

Soujiro begins to talk to Kero but he doesn't get eye contact from the Frog. "I can't imagine how you feel right now but," he begins to talk to the Lander, but is cut off with a, "then stop prying." Dead cold. Cold blooded, can't you see? He is a frog amphibian-ly. The hands take on Vertina's mug curiously before wincing at the tavern tunes. This would require him to be drunk. Very drunk. One of his eyes looks off into the distance as the other winces. Make it stop. By the Three Goddesses make it stop. "Clearly," is what Kero says to Miho, giving a performance Snape would be proud of before slipping away from Vertina's ear-assault. Words there pave the way to transition to something different. Something that strikes a chord that doesn't make his ears hurt. It is Viviene and Klein who reach him. Song. It has a way of reaching into the heart and touching it. Saying things without words. Opening it right up for Klein to appease the werefrog's muddy mind. "Then they are avenged," he says as if he, too, must find the courage to change things. "Its dangerous to go unprepared," he says as he takes out a small wooden compass, "take this. It will guide you to the entrance of the glade where I returned it. What of it I could return." He turns with that, going back to his house. He has a lot to think about and needs time by himself to think about it. Further inquiry only provokes an endless '...' response.

Into the woods! Kero was NOT kidding. The fog here is so thick that the party can, and sometimes does, walk into stray branches. If they did not have that compass they would be wandering in here for a long time. "I used to always think these heavy mist areas were ways that the game designers could keep from us from seeing too far ahead." There he goes again, considering it like a game. Souji adds in, "Elder Tales is really a fascinating place. I don't understand how it works, but it never ceases to make you wonder what is around the next corner." Like a branch that he has to duck.

The mist begins to thin at the 'entrance' where the compass starts spinning around like a ghost is possessing it. They have arrived. Sort of. Once they enter the lightly misted area, the compass keeps repeating a pattern. Oh ho. The developers have a sense of humor. The lightly misted area of the forest look similar, almost replicas, with paths going in all four cardinal directions. What pattern does the party have to go that the compass keeps repeating? North, West, South, and then West again. The next 'reused art asset' looking area of the forest changes into the final clearing. There is a calming western wind that blows through it. To the north there is a glade where light pours in through the canopy onto a stone carved as the throne of a sword. Unlike the katana blade, this looks like a magical longsword and provides an Excalibur level of awe. Awwwee yeah, thats your blade right there.

It also provides Excalibur levels of 'Forest Guardian' in the form of two hulking treants standing at the precipace of the glade itself. These creatures are huge and hard to miss, but visually and with weaponry. The problem with them is that they do not permit anyone entrance to the glade itself and have a wicked regeneration ability. The party is in for a battle that will force them to expend many of their mana reserves in Artes along with careful support magic to keep their mana levels up. Who knows what the second phase of this battle will be, but it isn't something they want to be walking into will skills on cooldown and no mana to use them.

    Magical(13), Enchanting(10)

    Failure: Fatigue, Unable to Use Cards in the next Challenge

"Some people are taking things really hard," is all Vertina can really offer when the group determines its time to get back on their journey.

Dense forest wouldn't be too bad. The fog is what makes it annoying. Though the nimble Salamander has little issue ducking branches and skipping over exposed roots as she has little issue divining her way through the thick misty air. Good thing someone else is handling the compass though, she'd be useless actually navigating. She's just following gut feeling.

Eventually the mists are lightening up, enough that she turns to the rest of the group while walking backwards. "Com'n, that wasn't that bad. Just long and obnoxious an--OOF!" she stopped by backing up into a large tree. Except the tree groaned. Not in the creaking wood sort of groan, either. Vertina cocks her head to peer over her shoulder, realizes it's actually a treant she stumbled into, and scrambles back out of the way. "Guess we found the guardians!"

As she skids back to the party position Vertina takes a moment to do something other than just start throwing hands. A mantra and a few hand gestures later a golden white gleam of divine energy is drawn from her and spreading out to coat the group in Sanctuary's comforting warmth. Two can play at the defense and regen game!

Though not being a Support type of class just that is going to be a big tax on her limited reserves, so from there Vertina is very much just going to be throwing hands. Literally. Fortunately the martial artist can throw her hands very hard, but she's got to be sparring with what would otherwise be very useful Fire techniques because she's already pushing her energy to the redline.

"I agree, it almost feels unfair, calling it Elder Tales though. Its its own world, and thats the games name.. maybe it should have a proper name, one fitting of a world." Viviene s notes over to Soujiro. As they come move further into the fog and the terrain, Viviene does her best to watch her footing and navigate as she can, taking glances at the compass where nessesary. When she spots the treants up ahead, she winces, she knows a strong monster when she sees it, and there are two of them. With Vertina having unwittingly disturbed the trees, Vivinene does her best, repositing at high speeds and throwing out a variety of support abilities, hindering or helping her allies, the bardic and supportive part of Viviene's skillset shows here, but she is working her best to keep everyone else going as she can, and while she is no healer, she often manages to force the treats own abilities on cooldown, while rapidly repositioning herself with air magic to keep aggro off her.

It seems as if the party manages to convince Kero, but it have easily gone the other way. Thankfully, they do appear to have the Frog's blessing if the compass they are gifted with is any indication. Klein can only hope that they could have made their way to the sword without the compass in question. If it really was impossible without the compass? Spending hours trekking through a swampy forest isn't going to be ideal.

Holding a branch up so it doesn't smack him in the face again, Klein keeps his eyes on Soujiro's back. The amount of fog in this woods would make it very easy to become lost, and sound can easily lead you more off course once you're out of sight of your party. This realization has Klein peeking to watch the compass' needle spin around, and he lets out a loud groan. "At least we don't need to be constantly listening for background music. That confused me so much as a kid..."

The massive wooden treants are certainly no joke, so it might have seem like a good idea to immediately start throwing out fire Artes to burn the wood away. Perhaps it was due to the thinning fog or some innate magical resistance, but the magical flames are not catching like they should on normal wood. Having spent most of his mana in the hopes of securing a quick victory, Klein is now finding himself panting from exhaustion and sticking to basic thrusts and sweeps of his katana. "Remind me...to pace myself in the future!"

It is not the most exciting fight. The Treants are big and have massive health pools. Sure, they attack, but the attacks are large and Dark Souls esque with such big telegraphs that the real struggle is spending the time to get out of the large attack radius of a downard lumbering arm. Their strategy must be to win by boring Adventurers to death until they give up. Soujiro is hacking and slashing and chopping dat tree. However even he begins to struggle with the damage output. Samurai have some solid burst damage and well rounded tanking, but this feels like a DPS check that would also have needed exploiting some elemental weakness or something. But summoning out all that fire pulls even more MP away. A vicious cycle. Make due with what you have! Vert, Klein, and Miho all give it their all to get fight against the regeneration, but it is taxing. A small degree of respite is given from Viv's interupts of the attacks that spare some energy from the party at large. It isn't enough. Mana is at critically low levels as the health bars crest downwards.

The final phase of the fight starts when the treebros hit the last ten percent of their massive health bars. The party knew it was coming eventually. No fight is just two big hit point beatem-up bags unless they are training dummies. The two tree guardians realize that they cannot endure the onslaught any longer and begin to intertwine their branches. Adorable. They will win by hugging each other. Literal treehuggers. No, wait, this is bad. They are becoming a living wall to the entrance to the glade. Actual guardians doing guardian work, even in death. The party had better hurry to the rapidly closing opening before they are shut out entirely. Strong members can do the heroic 'I shall hold the closing thing open with my stronk arms' while fast members can dash on through. The forest grounds shake as nature itself is against the party, making their invasion known as unwelcome as spore dust mixes with the ever encroaching fog behind them. It threatens to swallow the party whole and add them to the many who get lost in these woods.

    Physical(13), Evasion(10)

    Failure: You barely make it across, but the forest itself has decided your head is where the new guardians will grow. You suffer a lingering injury that requires herbology or farming checks to remove a little tree sprout growing in replacement of a helmet.

Miho misses the background music to be honest. Things turned out well. The plants not so well she gets trashed.

Viviene with the party exhausted from the fight, she grasps the pendant around her neck and begins to focus for a moment, quickly looking around, she begins calling out to the others. "Move quickly, I see bigger openings there, you only got about 3 seconds." she said, it was like she was reacting to things at a much higher rate, processing information quickly as she took out a small blade, with a single edge, some knowledgable might recongize it as a jian, as she does her best to fend the encroachment off, a dazzling display of martial arts and slashes that keep them off, but it just doesn't seem to be enough with how exhausted the party is, and she even leaves herself vulnerable trying to cover for every body else, while it was a good effort, she won't be leaving unschathed. She hasn't even noticed, just feeling an itch at the back of her head.

Big long reaching attacks are a pain in the scales when you're an up close fighter. Even someone quick on their feet has to move more than usual, and that keeps breaking up Vertina's DPS combos every time she has to acrobatically avoid the huge telegraph.

Then the two trees start to mingle themselves together. "I think it's time we get going people!" A wheel to the side to line herself up, and then Vertina makes a high speed dash for the closing gap betweeh the guardians. "Excuse me!" she's at least polite even as she takes a leaping dive between the two, dodge rolling on the other side to clear the gap.

The spores are a different matter, but that's future Vertina's problem. Right now it's just getting this quest finished that's on her mind.

Miho is tired but still up , onward she gogoes.Miho complains about plants and tentacles as well. She will put every thing she has into getting past that wall.

The Forest Guardians are staying strong despite all the damage they are taking, but the party is slowly but carefully emptying those health bars. The slow attacks might tempt someone to take a quick drink of a mana potion, but then they would be left wide open for a trunk fist in their guts. The basic attacks are doing the job, but leave a lot to be desired.

The final phase of the fight comes, but instead of a sudden burst of offensive might, the party has to rush past before they're barred from their goal! "I'm with you there!" Sheathing his katana and holding the sheathe steady in one hand, Klein rushes forward through a narrowing gap in the wooden wall. Twisting sideways to get through the final few steps, he manages to scrape his way through to the other side with only some yellows spores on his clothing. "Everyone okay? We didn't leave anyone on the other side, right?" Taking a moment to make sure that everyone is accounted for, Klein nods to himself after checking on everyone. Now to see what else the forest can throw at them!

And maybe wash his hair after they get back home, his head's starting to itch.

A quickly closing door is exactly the sort of thing that action stars are built for. Souji dashes in to help with keeping the growth from sealing them shut alongside Miho and Viv. It is as much of a battle to pry the opening for people to get through as it is getting through it. Vertina is the first one through, but even by then the fog is so thick around them that it causes coughing. Klein follows next as a blind dash forward and hoping that he isn't about to body tackle a tree. It sends the three holding the wooded line sprawling onto the other side.

The effect is noticible for everyone. A sprout. Right there on the noggin. Two leaves. Looks like going into the new year will have its own kind of blessing. But now they are on the other side.

There it is, Master Calibur, the sword of evil's bane in a stone. Yours for the taking to slot two materia into and Bust on out of here. That is how this works, right? No. Of course it isnt. The sword itself will not budge when anyone puts their hand on it. Everyone gets that shot at it to be the chosen one. No one is the chosen one. With a little experimentation it comes to the group to work together to pull it out. Sure enough, that is the ticket. The hilt of the blade is not large enough for five to ten hands on it, but when everyone comes together they get all the grip they need to start yoinking that thing out of there. The sword does not solely rely on a single aspect of the would-be heroes. It works on a spectrum of virtue from the heat of passion, the endurance of nature, to the purity of heart.

    Light(9), Fire(10), Earth(11)
    You can use Kero's Blessing to apply a +2 to one roll

    Failure: You are not worthy, Next two challenges are hard mode
    Partial Success (3 Total): Your worthiness is questioned, next two challenge are normal mode
    Success (One of Each): You are worthy, next two challenges are easy mode

After that close and very much not clean escape even Vertina has to stop and catch her breath, and let her ki finally catch up from all the use. "We made it this far, despite everything in this forest trying to make us not alive."

This far, and there's the sword. In a stone. How cliche. Oh well. Vertina being the tomboy jock she is strides right up, grabs the hilt, and pulls several times. To no effect. "Yup, it's really stuck in there." She leans down a little to squint at the blade with the eye of someone that at least knows something about blades. "I don't see any visible obstructions, there must be another mechanic holding it in."

Like requiring teamwork.

At least now she's got enough ki built back up she can charge her Light powers properly, channeling the life energy into her hands and giving Souji a nod before regripping the sword. "Time to put that training we did to use."

After managing to charge through the wooden wall and maybe accidently knocking a few of his party over with his hectic charge, Klein starts to notice something a little off. With a sinking feeling in his gut, Klein slowly reaches up onto his head. He can fill it, proudly standing on top of his head is a tiny sapling. A careful tug is enough to make him wince in pain and quickly drop his hands. "Okay...make seeing a herbalist a priority once we get out of here. All of you. I really don't want to see what leaving this alone would do."

Thankfully, the sword in the stone doesn't seem to have any obvious traps. He even tugs on the sword a few times and it doesn't budge in the slightest! "Ugh...don't tell me we need three items from all over Yamato." It's one thing when it's just a game, but he really doesn't want to deal with a wooden wall that causes trees to sprout on your head again.

Thankfully, the five of them working together seems to be the trick here. No need to wear green on this one! Gripping one side of the guard with his right hand, he carefully yet firmly focuses on pulling the sword upward. "We already pulled one sword out of a dragon, this is easy!"

Viviene looks at Klein "Uh, yeah, brain plant? Lets not find out what that does!" she noted to Klein as they continue onwards, with the sight of the sword ahead, she looked at it with a grin. "So this is it? Looks freakin' cool." she said, then flaps her flightless Spriggan wings a little. "Its not gona incinerate me right?" she asks to Soujiro, as she steps to aid everyone with pulling it out, gripping it with both hands as she draws upon the resoloute strength of the earth they stand upon, opting to pull it out with all her might!

When in doubt use fire. This is one of those sitations. By fire be pruged as miho goes all out with breathing fire and fire bases sword arts.

Soujiro gives that 'Lets do it' nod to Vertina. Hands of light don't fail me now! The two synchronize their Light energy during the pull. The purity of self pouring into the blade as it glows white. Flame that flickers around as if the blade itself is being forged inch by inch as it pulls from the rock while Klein and Miho pull with the fire of passion burning within them. Then there is Viv. Is she worthy? All of these concepts are not her strong suit. But she is not alone and she is needed, just like the orphans need her. The endurance which is not flashy like light and fire. It cracks the very stone itself like so many weapons she has broken in the past.

Oh this party is worthy. So worthy that not a one of them is in question. They are the knights of the flipping round table, with just 5 of them. Thats how good they are, they get to go twice like Haste Buffed. Truly heroic moment here. This is where the good background music would start playing, only there is no BGM in ETO.

The sword in the stone, evil's bane, proto-Kogarasumaru, Master Masamune, the Lightsaber, and a scroll of other notable names for this object come pouring out in a Hymmnosian song. The light is blinding and sheds an unnaturally vibrant hue to the glade. Figures step out of the light.

The first figure that steps out is a knight clad in full plate armor. It clanks as he walks and if Gwen was here she would be flipping the flip out. A noble with the blade Excalibur who has a ghastly form.

The second figure is armored exactly the opposite of the heavy kingly figure. She has a long black ponytail and a fashionable lightweight attire from head to toe. Seemingly bladeless, it is when she drops into a martial stance that light extends from her forearms past her fists in punch daggers.

The third figure steps out and looks downright Nordic in nature with blue markings across his face and a hefty spear larger than he is. Runes crackle with lighting up across the rough hewn metal of the massive blade on the end. He hefts it onto his shoulders with the sort of weight that makes you wonder if it could take down those Treants earlier.

The fourth figure looks like he is imitating Klein or Souji with the samurai attire. But it begs the question of who is the original as the armored samurai steps out, drawing an exceptionally long katana out and standing in defiant position.

The fifth and final person is someone everyone has already met. A fox lady with a flowing kimono. Black hair. A mask on the side of her face. Kuroe. "Your anima is worthy," she says, a particular word for soul or spirit, "but a cultivated soul alone is not conviction enough to honor the blade of legend." It has many names. It has had many hands. Yet as sure as the figures here are easily engraved across time and tale, this Elder Tale centers on one thing. THE Blade. "Prove your capacity to act, as well as think and feel."

There is a tension in the air as it is a five on five battle. Everyone starts looking as if sizing up who their opponent will be in this melee. Who to focus on. Soujiro already knows his, as does Kuroe. He promised.

    Melee(12), Shield(12)
    H/M/E: 4,3,-2- successes
    
    Failure: You suffer critical injuries that require a pharma check to remove the debuff
    Partial Success: You hold your own against the heroes of eld
    Success (One of Each, at least): You hold your own against the heroes of eld and open a new avenue of victory

Viviene engages the martial artist with earnest, tossing aside any weapons and just slipping on some reinforced leather gloves. The ensuing fight is very even to start with, martial arts are on display in a fashion that would be seen in movies, with Viviene and her opponent locked in lengthy exchanges of punches, kicks, and elaborate evasions and the occasional grab. The fight slowy goes back and forth in favor between the two, but over time, Viviene slowly seems to be losing ground. Perhaps tire from the continued journey wearing her out, but Viviene continues fighting no matter how much the advantage piles up agaisnt her, and while its gradually leading up to a losing battle, the fight continues, with the force from Viviene and her opponents punches enough to break stone or tree that it happened to strike after being evaded. Those with martial arts inclinations from the old world will even see elements of many martial arts from it incorporated in Viviene's technique, and she seems to fall flat when keeping up with adapting that technique at the sheer physical level she is fighting at, and its what has lead to her falling short. She didn't seem to care though, win or lose ,she was having a blast, if anything, being pushed into a position of disadvantage has her more grinning than she would be if she was winning the fight.

Turns out teamwork really is the answer. No one person can pull the blade, but when the group combines their efforts almost anything is possible.

And now, the team has to work against another team. Group effort, but this time everyone is doing their own thing to contribute to the greater goal. Vertina does take a moment to bow politely to Kuroe, even if the fox isn't her foe. "The words you speak are wise. Let this fight be one of glory and honor." Then turns her attention back to the rest of the figures. Until her eyes lay upon the man with the axe, large enough that even she almost has to look up to look in his eyes and see the might that lies within. The Salamander rolls her shoulders, rolls her neck, then settles into a ready stance and holds out one warm to wave her fingers upward in a 'Come At Me Bro' gesture.

Lightning crackles up the man's huge axe as he takes the taunt, steps towards her and heaves his weapon in a laterial arc... which Vertina catchs with her hands against the shaft, her own elemental bending powers helping her to ground out the electricity. Until the berzerker pulls his weapon free and swings around in the opposite direction, forcing Vertina to keep on her toes to not be sliced down in one mighty hit.

The duel goes on like that for some time, Vertina only making quick low power strikes before darting back out of his close combat reach. She's not just dodging his big but much slower attack swings, she's leading him to the edge of the clearing where his wide attack arc with that huge axe won't catch any of either team's allies.

Finally the man has had enough, heaving the great axe upward and bringing it down in a mighty vertical cleave!... That is interrupted as Vertina, after all her wuxai-ing about, abruptly goes on the offensive. He sees her pivot on one foot, but he's already in his huge attack motion, he can't stop it even as Vertina twists, moving aside the downward path of the axe, and SLAMMING her other foot into the side of the large warrior's head with the mighty roundhouse kick!

Miho is in awe of what they have found. she sees the blade and the knight."this one is mine. She bows once draws her blade and will join the fray.

Klein eyes the astral samurai that appears among these legendary warriors, a hand resting on the hilt of his blade. Glancing towards Kuroe and then Soujiro, it's clear who will be facing who in that regards. That leaves him with a fight against the samurai who might or might not be compensating for something. Drawing his own katana and adjusting his position, a determined smile forms on the scruffy samurai's lips. "Alright then. Let's dance!"

The first few strikes are careful and gauging one's another skill, with the fights of his party members becoming just background noise. The length of the odachi is already going to be a problem and could lay him wide open if Klein wasn't careful. So he just needs to do something besides his head first charge. Adjusting to a more defensive position, Klein weathers the metal storm by deflection and parrying, refusing to give up any ground. This should make his opponent try to push him, which leaves him open for a strike to the arms!

Soujiro lowers into a stance similar to the other samurai. He isn't looking at anybody but Kuroe, though, so he doesn't notice. His eyes say it all. It is a dauntless determination to protect those that are precious to him. To avenge those that are wronged. He will show that to Kuroe again, with every step and every stroke. He launches into battle like a bullet, sword coming out as Kuroe deflects it with her very arm. Blades. Both of her arms are blades. Souji knows the fox well and deflects the second arm with his other katana as the two lean in close. "You've gotten weaker, Soujiro Seta," she tells him as the two clash, "where is the man who climbed ten floors of the Tower? Where did his strength go?" Her feet are like that of a crow, or a tengu, hopping up and tearing into Souji's chest as they are so closely locked. Lanius Capture. The Samurai does not relent, applying more pressure in the power struggle until it finally breaks with a swing sending her back. "He never left you," he says, vaulting forward in a simple, but graceful attack synched in time to Vertina's that crashes right through the spirit with an obvious red damage line.

Viviene's combatant isn't as gruff or grim as the others. It is a brawl, through and through. Fast, hard hitting punches are exchanged from the sprightly pugilist. She seems to be having fun. They both do. Winning or losing seems almost completely optional here. Show me what you can do! Push the limits of what is possible! And she does. The brawler answers the call and executes a multi-hit combo across Viv's body that ends in a backflip kick that sends her soaring.

The soaring practically synches up with Vertina's Very Hard Hit. The viking is slow but it seems as if any mistake would cost Vertina dearly. A check she would never have to cash with how quickly she moves against the inhumanly durable tank of a fighter. Even on the ground he laughs in a deep guffaw at the glory of battle.

Even the steadfast knight that looks like he thinks about combat oh so seriously is treating Miho with respect in combat. Thier duel is more akin to a dance. A bow at first. An exchange of blows. Its practically ceremonial in nature as the sparks fly. They are so well composed it is hard to tell who is even winning (note: Miho is).

The Samurai on Samurai duel also shares that degree of elegant engagement. Klein and the other samurai seem evenly matched. Step for step. Blow for blow. It is almost as if they are trying to replicate their strikes. Learning from one another. Learning about one another. Speaking through action itself, even as Klein breaks the combat dialog with a hefty strike to the arms.

There is a break in the melee. It has been tense, challenging. The pause seems to herald a moment to catch the second wind. Though. Something seems different. Do they really have to fight? Is this the only action? It dawns on the party that perhaps Kero was trying to tell them something all along. And if they can reach him, they can reach his friends. None of them appear to be fighting out of malice. They are enjoying it.

    Resolve Through Battle: Any Combat Card (13)
    (Optional) Resolve Through Virtue: Negotiation(8), Etiquette(10), Song(7) - You can use the Blessing to apply a +2 to one roll
    H/M/E: 4,3,2 successes
    
    Success/Failure: FINALE!

For some, the virtue IS the fight. The pitting of strength and wits against the challenge a worthy opponent. It's not malice, its the thrill of the challenge, the excitement, the intensity.

Vertina and her opponent share a look, and she even echos his laughter as he's getting back onto his feet. They're both honorable warriors. They don't need to exchange words.

This IS how they negotiate virtue. Baring their fighting spirit to each other in the glory of battle.

Lightning crackles back to life across the axe. At the same time Vertina clenches her fists, igniting flames across them.

And then the two are right back at it, because this is the Way of the Warrior. It's a much more direct confrontation this time, trading blows back and forth without holding back now that they've reached a mutual understanding. Others may decide to talk... their way is to keep challenging each other until one finally comes out the superior.

Had been read in the intent of the first strike exchanged between Viviene in her opponent. They were all warriors, they were all people who fought, and all of them enjoyed the fight for the challenge, all warriors desire to push themselves to their limit. But there was a feeling in the air. While most warriors go from fight to fight, looking to use these skills to make ends meet, everyone here had a virtue or another that drove them to fight. So that others have to, to save lives, for some greater ideal that pushes them farther and farther.

As Viviene is still flying through the air from the kick, song comes to her, inspiration, or perhaps memory, even some magic is weaved into the music. It is definetly music stylized from the world which the party comes from, and her enthusiasm are in the words with an intent. She opts to share the message that these two groups, shouldn't be fighting each other, but fighting together.

"Fight, for you and I." is a strong line placed within it, but after a beat in the song, with Viviene having taken out her guitar, and begun to perform, even as shes now falling into to the ground. She hits the ground, landing on her feet, beat up, wincing, but grinning as she offers a fist bump to the Martial artist. These individuals might not be fammilar with this kind of song, but she hopes that she can convey the emotion correctly.

"Fight Like You're gods and Monsters"

"Because you want to safe a life"
"Fight for you and I."
% Fight, or not, this song is enough to fuel those that wish to fight, to resonate with their emotions, while also create a sense of unity between the two parties.

The stinging cut of Klein's blade on his opponent's forearms is shallow, yet it's still the first bleeding blow in this battle. Realizing this in battle, Klein steps back and gives the astral samurai some breathing room. This wasn't a duel to the death. No, this is a battle to truly feel one another. "I'm ready to continue whenever you are. Let's both of us stop holding back, alright?" It's obvious to Klein that this heroic figure is holding his strength in check. It's best if they stop pretending and give this battle their all.

Two blades ring out once more against one another, now only a blur that can be briefly seen when they meet one another. The battle is much more frenzied and it leaves little room for error on either side. Klein has abandoned his defensive position and thrown it all into an offensive rush, his smaller katana matching the longer nodachi. This song of battle echos out its' notes with seemingly no end in sight, but a sudden burst of flame gives rise to the climax. Body engulfed in flames, Klein pushes himself onwards even as his MP reserves quickly plummet. One way or another, this duel between samurai is about to end.

Miho is having a grand old time with this fight. the knight is a good foe. Miho attempts to appeal to their sense of honor as they fight.

There is more that Soujiro has to say to Kuroe. "I never left you," he personalizes it. "I never stopped, not once, trying to find you. Situation may have seperated us, but we always find our way back to each other. It led us here and now. Nothing can keep me from my precious friends," he says as he puts his katanas away. A hand extends. "Fight with me again, Kuroe." Her tail flicks. "And if I say no?" she says as the mask slides back onto her face. Sweet words. Sweet, empty words. "Then I will spend forever fighting to win you back," he says with a smile. "Foolish boy," she laughs, "do you know how creepy that sounds?" He shakes his head, "I don't care, its true. Keeping my word to you is not about my pride, I will beg if thats what it takes. Its about you. I like you just as you are. Here and now. Having you by my side is worth fighting for. Always." It seems to do the trick. Souji Sparkles all day.

Look, not everyone wants to hug it out. Punching people IS the exchange. Vertina and the Viking exchange that look. A broad grin. No judgements for it being a better way. Its a different way. THEIR way. They speak with the heft of the axe. The crunch of contact in a strike. The thrill of combat. It doesnt need words. They are too busy knocking each other senseless until that fated 'we both punch each other in the face' moment where they fall onto the ground at the same time.

The clash of metal echos across song and sentiment as Klein clashes with the Samurai. Yes, he is indeed ready for more. The ring of pacing, one stroke after the other. It becomes practically musical after a while to lend to Viviene's song. Instruments to each other. Is the battle part of the song or is the song the background track for the battle? None can say. Even the knight that is speaking with Miho. He motions to the fighting that is going on. "None of us believe, in our hearts, that the five of you haven't shown qualities befitting to hold this blade," he tells her as his longsword points down into the ground. A hand rests atop of it. "It is as clear as the skies and the sea. See that we all wielded this power differently," he says as he turns a head to the smith, "and with your hands I know you can make us whole once more. For a new path. A new story."

Finally all the fighting stops. It is time. The luminous effect in the area begins to fade. The glade becomes mundane once more. The sound of glass, shattering, as the enchantment on this place fades. Where their battle partners once stood is a unique half of a blade, little more than a hilt, a grip, and a little bit of metal attached to it.

Eventually Vertina finally manages to dislodge the axe from her opponent's hands. But rather than pick it up again, he just balls his own fists. He swings. Vertina swings. Their fists collide... and then their other fists finish the move to impact with each other's face, hard enough to send both reeling apart again.

DOUBLE KO!

The two drop to the ground at the exact same time. And then start laughing much like before, even as they both grab onto their counterpart to help each other back up. "Now that was a fight to be remembered!" But the enchantment is beginning to fade, so she only has time to give him another pat on the shoulder to usher him back on his way into the light. "I'll drink one in your honor tonight."

Viviene was .. content, at least thats the expression that showed on her face as everything came to a close. She lets out a breath, beaten and battered, but holding herself strong, and her expression becomes smile of contentment admits some determination as she looks at the blade piece set before her, as she takes it up into hand, and looks to the others. "Haven't done a song like that in a long time. Glad I could find a moment where it would fit." she said with a grin to everyone. "But.. I'm glad it reached them." she said as she had sat down to catch her breath. "Should we head back to Kero?" she then looks at the blade hilt, then where her opponent had been, and simply says to the hilt. "I want a rematch sometime, somehow. Just to test our skills. Ya had me this time."

The last clash of katana against nodachi rings out just as the flames that was engulfing Klein snuff out. Leaning over and panting softly, Klein still checks his blade for any defects before sheathing in. Looking his fellow samurai in the eyes, the redhead gives his counterpart a bow of respect, a smile clear on his face. "I hope that I get to have another spar with you some time in the future. I get the feeling you were still taking it easy on me, huh...?"

The hint of a smile may have been his only answer before the samurai fades away into the hilt of a broken sword. One, that if Klein had to make a guess, was nearly identical to the break in the Blade Fragment each of them were carrying. Carefully lifting up the broken blade by the hilt, he looks it over for a moment before nodding to himself. "And hopefully, if we do meet again, you'll be a bit more talkative!"

Glancing around at the others, he makes sure no one is missing any obvious limbs. "Everyone and their tree sprout alright? And I think we should return the compass and just let him know we're fine. Hopefully we can get him to open up a little more."

Glancing down at the hilt in his hands, a sudden frown does form on his lips as he remembers the next step of the quest from his memory. "...I hope we don't need to go back in time for Dreamstone."

Miho has had a heck of time. The clash of steel blades sing as the pair figh."I will see it reforged i am the best weapon smith of the curret age."

Soujiro Seta walks on over to where Kuroe once was. He doesn't know her response for certain, but doesnt need to hear it to believe it. Its a meaningful moment for him as he kneels down to pick up the half of his familiar blade. Slowly standing back up. "No," he informs Klein since the quest chain does follow some very gamer-squeeable moments. "From here we find a Fantasy grade Catalyst and a Top Tier Smith to forge it," he recalls from the last quest line. Catalysts are alchemical things. And Miho? Well, Soujiro looks to her as if she just answered the other half of the puzzle.