Tower Run: Crocman Patrol Control

Patrols in the tower have located a patrol of crocmen that are camping out to close to the parameter of the town that everyone worked so hard to seize on Floor One.

While no one is sure what these Crocmen are planning, Xander has decided that he won't let them push any closer than they have and will force the crocs to think a bit more carefully on their choices of camping locations; Or getting any bright ideas about pushing back in!

As such, a notice goes out to any willing adventurers to join in taking out this Crocman Camp and any of their patrols in the area.

OOC NOTE: This will be a Concept Rolled Event. No Deck required, just cards.

Xander
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

    Massive trees reach up to the false sky within the tower, casting a shadow over the grassy field below their canopy. Normally the Peko would come through here, but they have avoided this area.

A bit deeper into the forest is the answer to why, several Crocmen have made camp here. A scouting party of at least seven on foot. Two which are heavily armored and the others that are fairly standard.

It is still early in the morning that there is very little light, beyond what their campfire brings. The Crocmen are slowly getting themselves moving, eating their meals, and breaking down their small camp.

    There is one tent here, probably holding the scout leader, which means the number here could be at least eight, if not nine if someone is inside with the leader. The camp is crude build, made of leather and natural items. Easy to break down and pack up. The entrance is facing the campfire.

The trees do give some cover for stealth, along with the thick branches above. The tent does as well, but you'd have to make it around the camp to get there.

Number of known enemies: 7 - 2 Tanks. 3 Normal. 2 Ranged.
Unknown: 1 or 2 - Unknown difficulty

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    Xander is leading the team toward the camp, he has already gone over the plan with those present. That this was a scouting party that needed to be dispatched. Depending on the size he had to work with, he might ask for those with ranged abilities to go up high that thought they could scale the tree, and for those with a strength in melee to stay on the ground.

The idea would be for the melee fighter to move in with some care to try to surround the camp, while the ranged would act as support, snipers, or clean up.

The first trick though, was for everyone to get into place...
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    -- Stealth Check: +roll Sneaking (with card) vs 5
    -- Climbing: +roll Physical (with card) vs 5
    -- LeeeROOOY: Melee/Ranged (with card) vs 8
    -- Player Choice: Idea Not Listed Here? OOC your idea.
Nureha
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Nureha slips off the Peko Peko she's used to get here, petting them and feeding them a tasty treat before sending them away. They were a long stretch from being able to accompany her on these kinds of errands. She listens to Xander as they dole out assignments when they reach the camp and looks over the situation, spotting a place to lay down support and covering fire from the relative safety of the treeline.

She murmurs a relatively short Hymn, tapping the soles of her boots before stepping up onto the open air, small glyphs fading in and out of existence as she walks across the open air towards her target tree of choice.
Mikage
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Despite everything happening, Mikage had largely avoided the tower. Not out of fear or lack of interest, but simply because her attention always seemed to be focused elsewhere. This world had many mysteries, of which Aincrad is just one. However, today she has joined in, perhaps because something active is a great way of clearing out the combwebs within her mind.

She usually tends to be a melee fighter, despite her title as Ranger, but for now she takes the stealthier route, setting up around the outside of the camp. She sets herself up just out of sight, likely flanking Xander to one side.
Kauchemar
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

It has been a while, since before the Apocalypse, that Kauchemar had been into the tower (why bother when you couldn't get past a glitchy boss?) so she had kind of forgotten just how big on the inside it really is. Like its own little self-contained world, in levels upon levels.

But marvel at that later, there is business to attend to. Everyone seems to take the sneaking approach and that is totally fine with her. The were fang remains in her less bombastic human form, wrapping herself in her cloak as she approaches the camp.

o/~ Da dun, da dun, da dun da dun da dun da daaaa o/~

The brief hum is barely above a whisper's volume, the bard's 'sneaking chords' to give herself an aura of mysteriousness to avoid being noticed amongst the trees' shadows.
Xander
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

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        MONSTER POSE (Part 1 of 2)

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    The Crocmen remain unaware of for the moment as Nureha heads for the tree line, Mika flanks Xander, and the Salamander himself keeps low, sword at the ready. Things were going perfectly fine!

That was till there was a 'snap' and then a melody carried by the winds, and the possibly a few more cracks n' pops all of a sudden, as poor Horse Were Fang hiding as her human form steps on a few to many cracked branches right there, on the edge of the camp, for all to see.

The seven crocmen all stare at her, they look at one another, look back at her, look at one another, then slowly back at her. Those sitting start to stand, weapons are drawn, and the two archer units are moving back toward the tent to take aim.

Then the three melee Crocman run right for Kauchemar!

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    STAND BY FOR CROCMAN ROLES

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Xander
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

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    MONSTER POSE (Part 2 of 2)

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Crocman (Melee 1): 4 (Fail)
Crocman (Melee 2): 3 (Fail)
Crocman (Melee 3): 4 (Fail)

    The Three melee crocmen apparently all trip on a large root and go face first into the dirt in front of Kauchemar. One of the tanks (Crocman Tank 1) rolls his lizard eyes and goes moving toward her, with the other (Crocman Tank 2) right behind him.

The two archers are getting ready to take aim and need to be dealt with probably before they can fire. So far though, the leader of this scouting party has yet to come out...

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-- Attack Tank: +roll <attack choice> (with card) vs 7
-- Attack Melee: +roll <attack choice> (with card) vs 6
-- Attack Ranged: +roll <attack choice> (with card) vs 5
-- Player Choice: Idea Not Listed Here? OOC your idea.

Not Kauchemar
-- Sneak Attack (Target): +roll Sneaking (with card) vs 4
-- Stealth Move: +roll Sneaking (with card) vs 8

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    Xander watches as things go sideways. He motions to Mikage that he will continue his way around to the tent. It is her choice what she might do at this point, but the Salamander leader wants to keep to the shadows in hopes to deal with the leader quickly; As hard as that might be right now.
Nureha
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Nureha touches down in a sturdy tree, putting out a hand to stabilize herself.

She watches the melee team of crocmen charge too aggressively and trip themselves on the rough terrain. She opens several menu windows and consults them, biting the edge of her lip as she does so. She groups them together and posts them in the empty air to one side, the temperature already beginning to plunge as she quietly murmurs to herself ensconced in her tree.

Large shards of ice materialize above the archers, raining down on them in a quick but savage torrent as she continues to speak the relatively long sequence of commands to keep the channel going.
Mikage
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

As Xander motions that he is going around the tent, Mikage sets herself up where she is, staying just out of sight. She channels a bit of magic into her sword, causing it to convert into a bow. Small glowing arches extend from hilt and pommel, a thin line of flickering thread between them. She folows the motion of drawing an arrow, even if there isn't physically a projectile. There is a flicker, a shimmering impression of one that extends from her fingertips.

Nocking the arrow, Mikage lines up a shot. With Nureha focusing on the ranged enemies, she instead focuses on the first of the tanks, aiming to find a vulnerable spot to sink that arrow into. She lets out a breath, then fires, the magical arrow forming into a real one as if flies through the air towards the crocmen.
Kauchemar
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Kauchemar stops literally midstep as all the enemy attention turns on her. Just the way she holds that pose and slowly turns her hooded head to look back at them makes it really hard to tell that was an accident as she adapts to making it appear like she almost intended to be noticed all along. One way or the other, it gets the enemy's attention and three of the crocs rushing at her, angerly swinging weapons... and stumbling over roots instead. Well, that worked out well enough in the end.

The bigger, tankier guys are being a bit more cautious, as well as annoyed. "I guess it's time to raise the curtains and start the real show!" 'Curtains' being her cloak, as she throws it open dramatically as she transforms into her more fearsome and imposing Nightmare form. Narrow tounge briefly flicks between viper fangs as she grins a little at the approaching crocs.

"Your allies took a fall, and now the shadows stall!" She forms a pair of globs of blackness in her hands, and hurtles them in the Croc-Tanks faces.
Xander
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

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    MONSTER POSE (Part 1 of 2)

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    Mikage hits the Crocman Tank (1) and it lets out grunt in pain as her arrow finds a weak point in his defense. This was enough of a distraction, for the Crocman Tank (1) to also get hit in the side of the head by the Dark Ball and knocked over, with his health bar nearly gone. While Crocman Tank (2), raises up his heavy armored gauntlet to try and block it, but gets knocked back on his tail!

As the Archers go to take aim, Nureha's plan of the ice spears works perfectly! The spears rain down and like Kauchemar's globs of darkness for a critical hit. Causing the Archers to sprite out into wisps of light, dropping their coins and xp for all.

The trouble was, the Three Melee fighters were getting back up and getting ready to strike again, while one of the Tanks (Crocman Tank 2) gets up to go right for Kauchemar since she was right there, swinging his sword.

As the other (Crocman Tank 1) goes to look for whoever shot him with the arrow, since she successfully stayed hidden in her attack.

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    STAND BY FOR ROLLS

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Xander
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

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    MONSTER POSE (Part 2 of 2)

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    Crocman Tank 1 goes to attack Kauchemar but swings and misses as his blade hits the ground. Crocman Melee 1 Also swings and misses as well! However, Crocman Melee 2 and Crocman Melee 3 manage to get their weapons to connect with the Were Fang!

The Crocman Scout Leader hears Xander's failed attempt to sneak up, as the Salamander breaks a branch under his foot. The Crocman is larger than the others and has two blades on his back. As he comes out, he snarls at the sight before him, before letting out a bestial roar!

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-- Attack Melee: +roll Combat Concept (with card) vs 6
-- Attack Tank: +roll Combat Concept (with card) vs 7
-- Attack Leader: +roll Combat Concept (with card) vs 9
-- Stealth Attack: +roll Sneaking (with card) vs 6
-- Player Choice: Idea Not Listed Here? OOC your idea.

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    Xander realizes he messes up and stares up at the larger Crocman Scout Leader, "Well, Hello there!" Before screwing stealth now and tries to take a swing for the large Crocman.
Nureha
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Nureha keeps the menu windows in mind, watching everyone's HP and MP levels from her perch up in the canopy. She twists her lips to one side, an ear flicking as she considers her options. The Tanks and Melee were starting to put more significant pressure on the party while Xander was tied up handling the boss.

A little focus fire might be in order here.

She begins another series of Hymns, crouching down with one hand on the tree as she shifts to look back towards Kauchemar and Mikage. As the Hymn comes to an end, water droplets form briefly around one of the tanks before catalyzing into a rippling shockwave of cold, aiming to drastically lower their defense and open the way for the party to capitalize on their weakness.
Mikage
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Mikage ducks back behind some cover as the tank turns in her direction his eyes sweeping past where she is hiding. Her pulse is loud in her ears, echoing the thrill of battle. As the crocmen move to attack, she rises up to her feet, trying to get a better view of the ongoing fighting. There is a quick sweep past the various members of the party, checking their status before deciding where to focus her fire.

It's the other Were Fang who seems to need back-up most, so Mikage draws out another arrow, aiming it towards the second of the melee crocmen. Like before, the energy seems to solidify once the arrow is launched, forming it into an actual physical arrow that flies through the air. If it doesn't do enough damage, it should at least pull some aggro away from Kauchemar.
Kauchemar
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Equines are known for being fast and graceful, and it shows as Kauchemar quite literally dances out of the way to leave the angry Croc Tank to dig his blade into the ground. His buddy doesn't fair any better as the nightmare twists away from him. But the other two manage to get on opposite sides and strike before she can shift her maneuvers, driving Kauchemar back with a wince. That stings.. but she has ways of returning the favor. She draws a sword of her own, holding it out in one hand and striking a pose with it. "En guard!"

Yet she doesn't strike at the meleers, because a hint of insight caught the cold condensation settling upon the Tank, and she grins a wicked a little grin. "Oh, but you boys will have to wait your turn." And she.. throws the sword into the air? What?

Turns out its a bit of Summoner trickery, as the sword is a low level Binder animated one, and it rights itself mid-air to plunge at the frozen Croc Tank of it's own accord.
Xander
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

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    MONSTER POSE (1 of 2)

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    The Crocman Scout Leader is not impressed by Xander's failed attempt of an attack. Allowing the slip inches from his scaled hide, as he draws out his sword swords. He roars once more and then goes to chop both of them directly at Xander, where at least for now it seems his anger is fully focused on the Salamander.

Nureha's spell is successful across the field as far as the Melee an Tank Crocmen are concerned, giving them a debuff to their defense, allowing any attack for this round and the next to do Critical-like damage. Which is perfect for Mikage who's arrow flies for Crocman Melee 2 and sinks in deep, depleting almost all his health!

Kauchemar dances with the Crocmen and as she throws her sword in the air, the Crocmen on her watch, look back at her, with a growl, till the sword goes right into and through Crocman Tank 2, causing him to explode in digital wisps of light!

Crocman Tank 1 at last finds his target, and then goes to strike for Mikage, trying to deal with the stealthy little Were Fang!

Crocman Melee 1 spots Nureha when he was watching the sword go up and starts to try and climb up the tree to go after her, though they are not made to really do this, so it isn't an easy task for the Crocman!

Crocman Melee 2 turns his attention away from the horse Were Fang and goes to join Crocman Tank 1 in trying to deal with Mikage, while Crocman Melee 3 focuses on Kauchemar.

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    STAND BY FOR ROLLS

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Xander
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

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    MONSTER POSE (2 of 2)

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ROLL CALL -
Crocman Scout Leader: 8 (Succeed)
Crocman Tank 1: 10 (Succeed)
Crocman Melee 1: 5 (Fail)
Crocman Melee 2: 8 (Fail)
Crocman Melee 3: 5 (Fail)

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    The Crocman Scout Leader gets a piece of Xander with those two swords swinging down. The Crocman Tank 1, who is almost dead, swings his own weapon for Mikage getting a piece of her, while Crocman Melee 2 fails to join in on that action, seeming to slip on some ice that has formed due to the freezing air!

Crocman Melee 1 Fails to get up that tree and roars up at Nureha in anger, pacing below like an angry reptile that it is. Sort of looking at her and running around in a circle really, while rolling. Those who played plenty of video games knows what this looks like!

Crocman Melee 3 Takes a swing for Kauchemar, but its a whiff, growling angrily at her as it misses.

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    DEBUFF: Melee & Tank Crocman Taking Extra Damage from Hits

-- Attack Melee: +roll Combat Choice (with card) vs 6
-- Attack Tank: +roll Combat Choice (with card) vs 7
-- Attack Leader: +roll Combat Choice (with card) vs 9
-- Player Choice: Idea Not Listed Here? OOC your idea.

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    Xander gets hit by the two blades, even as he goes to raise his shield and it knocks him down to his knee. The Salamander grits his teeth, as he tries to press against the two blades holding him there, before he attempts to break free by pushing the shield against the Crocman Scout Leader to maybe off balance him.
Mikage
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

As the two crocmen descend on her location, Mikage swears under her breath. It looks like her steath has finally broken. In the same instant, the focus breaks on her weapon, and it seems to shift back to it's default state as a slightly curved short-sword. She moves to block the incoming blow, but it manges to clip part of her off-hand shoulder, causing a wince as she steps back. "Well, at least I drew aggro." She laughs, gritting her teeth.

With the second of the crocmen slipping on the ice, she decides to focus on the tank. Afterall, he's the one that left her with the glowing gash on her arm. Perhaps due to the fact that she's already struggling with her focus, there is no magical flavor to the attack It is simply a powerful sweep of that sword of hers, aimed towards the tank's abdomen.
Kauchemar
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

The posessed sword lands point in the ground from it's victim voxel death, but when Kauchemar snaps her fingers it pulls itself free and zings back to her. It doesn't land in her hand, but remains floating near her even as she twists away from her remaining hassler trying to strike at her, and giggles in a very much unsettling manner. "Looks like you get the last dance all to yourself~" She draws her real 'weapon', the lute style instrument that's common for Bards in fantasy settles like this, and starts to strum it as she taps her hoof.

No, she's not the one dancing. As she begins to play dark cursed energies ripple off the floating sword and it swirls into motion, moving with the song to lash several times at the Croc man trying to assail it's master while she performs.

"o/~ Swing a little more little more o'er the merry'o. Swing a little more a li'l more next to me.
Swing a little more little more o'er the merry'o. Swing a little more on the Devil's Dance Floor! o/~"
Nureha
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Nureha looks down at the Melee trying to climb her recon post. While others take advantage of the debuff she laid down, she takes care of a little book keeping. Namely, her ability to KEEP handing out debuffs and ranged damage like Poisoned Candy by securing her location.

She takes out a fist-sized white puffball of some unknown material. (Probably related to weird mushrooms) and drops it towards her pursuer, where it explodes in a cloud of spores.

Caution: Do not breathe activates spores. If you find you have entered an are where spore concentrations are high, please look out for the following symptoms.

Rash.
Fever
Chills
Violent Sneezing
and headaches are all common symptoms of spore exposure.

This PSA brought to you by Mushrooms: Growing in application every day.
Xander
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

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    MONSTER POSE (1 of 2)

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    Crocman Tank 1 is hit by Mikage's powerful attack. The damage line goes across his body, before he explodes its wisps of light. Crocman Melee 2 gets back up on its feet and charges right for Mikage once more!

Kauchemar plays a song and the sword dances on her command. The sword creates several strike red lines across the Crocman Melee 3, who staggers back from the heavy hit of injury. This leaves an opening for Kauchemar!

Nureha continues to play dirty tricks from above, as Crocman Melee 1 takes the poison to the face. It does heavy damage at first, coughing, but tries to climb the tree once more! Though everyone might notice its health slowly ticking away thanks to the poison! Crocman Melee 1 Probably won't make it next round, unless it somehow resists.

Crocman Scout Leader still has his focus on Xander. Even as the Salamander attempts to fight back, the leader does not give ground, pressing down harder with the swords trying to slowly crush Xander in the very ground...

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    STAND BY FOR ROLLS

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Xander
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

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    MONSTER POSE (2 of 2)

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ROLL CALL -
Crocman Melee 3: 12 (Succeed)
Crocman Melee 1: 8 (Succeed)
Crocman Leader: 11 (Succeed)

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    Crocman Melee 2 takes a powerful swing to connect with Mikage! Just as Crocman Melee 1 is at last able to get up that tree.

Crocman Melee 1 grins its sharp teeth maw at Nureha, his health still ticking away. His sword draws once more. There is murder intent in those eyes. His sword raises as he charges, then his health hits 0 and suddenly explodes into wisps on his last bit of life slips away.

Good bye Crocman Melee 1 you managed to get up that tree, but the poison was to strong. May you be remembered (or not) as the Crocman who beat the tree.

Meanwhile the Crocman Scout Leader succeesfully places the hurt on Xander, keeping the tank Salamander pinned right where he is and slowly draining Xander's health.

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-- Attack Melee: +roll Combat Choice (with card) vs 6
-- Attack Leader: +roll Combat Choice (with card) vs 9
-- Player Choice: Idea Not Listed Here? OOC your idea.

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    Xander continues to be pinned down. His ability to break free fails and he pays for it by his leg nearly being crushed under him, as he has to get on the ground. His teeth grit as his shield has deep red digital marks over it from where the Crocman Leader is holding him at.

So, he tries to get crafty, by reaching out with his hand, and trying to command the ground to not only give out from under the Crocman Scout Leader, but then blast him upward to give himself some breathing room.
Mikage
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

"One down, one to go." Mikage gasps as she has to quickly adjust her strategy for the crocman that is charging her way. Unfortunately, her previous attack leaves the Ranger off-balance, which means that after an exchange of blows, the melee crocman is able to slam into her, causing her to reel back onto the ground, rolling a couple of times.

Slowly, she works to crawl to her feet, her side glowing red from the blow. Even if the game does minimize some of the pain, it still hurts like a bitch. She clutches at her side with her free arm, using the other to extend her sword forward. That little bit of distance between them gives her time to re-summon her bow, the magical arches of it appearing from the handle of her sword.

Her eyes flash red, a hint of a shift that she doesn't let fully realize. Yet the anger and pain is transferred into her attack as the arrow she draws is that much brighter than the ones previously. The bright flash of light is aimed right towards the second melee crocman's chest, loosed with a spark from her fingertips and impacting with a flash.
Kauchemar
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

As the Croc stumbles backwards from the assault while managing to hold onto some fragments of his life, Kauchemar's eyes flicker with a greater unearthly violet glow. The possessed sword withdraws to her side, and the tone of the music shifts as she starts to play with great vigor. She stomps a hoof on the ground while rocking back and forth, whipping mane of midnight colors around her head.

It's not by weapons that the Croc Man gets assaulted, but by a blistering combination of arcane and aucoustic magic.

The music shifts, turning heavy and more intense, beat pounding as hard as her movements. Sparks of dark magic crackle up and down the strings as they scream beneath her touch. The nightmare bard is.. actually doing a reasonable job of thrashing on a lute, and the fact that the instrument was not really made to be like a guitar and thus sounding very discordant actually helps in causing the disruptive effect. It sounds horrendous and horrifying, and that's exactly the point.

No point in breaking the body, when the Nightmare can grindcore into their head.
Xander
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

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    MONSTER POSE

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    Xander is successful with the Earth Pillar, as the Crocman Scout Leader is thrown off its feet and hard onto its back side. The Crocman Scout Leader takes a moment to get back up on its feet and readies its weapons once more.

Mikage's attack is released with a powerful shot, Piercing right in and through Crocman Melee 2, almost like in slow motion. The arrow pierces with a shine of light, then the body explodes into wisps of light that sail up into the air.

Crocman Melee 3 found the horrible music keeping him pinned down. The painful melody soon caused Crocman Melee 3 to explode into wisps of digital light as it died.

This left the Crocman Scout Leader as the only enemy left, as Nureha sends her own attack to keep him off-balance slightly. It was an opening that everyone could now take!

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-- Attack Leader: +roll Combat (with card) vs 9
-- FLEEEE: +roll Physical (with card) vs 6
-- Spook The Leader: +roll Negotiation (with card) vs 8
-- Player Choice: Idea Not Listed Here? OOC your idea.

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    Xander takes a moment to get back up on his feet now that he can. Though instead of moving in, he gathers up some of the magical energy, and sends some healing over to Mikage, as he can take a few more hits, he wasn't sure about her given it look like she took a nasty hit.
Mikage
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Relief washes over Mikage as the crocman breaks into those wisps of light, giving her room to breathe. Given a moment, she does a quick survey of the area around them, running forward a few steps. She is about to turn towards the leader when that healing energy passes over her. There is a glance towards Xander, then a nod of her head. It's as much thanks as she can manage during the course of a fight. Her health tips back upwards slightly, causing a few of those glowing portions on her avatar to fade back to normal.

She raises her weapon up, flashing back to a sword in that quick instant between breaths. Then, she runs her palm along the flat of the blade, igniting it with magical energy. "Come ice and wind, frozen tempest to my call." She chants, the strange lines etched into the blade glowing faintly blue. Then, she raises the weapon skyward, causing a hail of large ice spikes to lash down above the crocman leader, trying to pen him in, leaving him more vulnerable for the others.
Nureha
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Nureha continues to keep her focus on the Leader, but this time.. she's going to take another route.

"Archers." she calls out, her clear voice booming across the distance. "Make Ready! Take Aim!" Her eyes flicker with mischievious purple light as she points in the direction of the Crocman leader, hoping to scramble their judgement with a well placed Mind Shock that would make them near massively reinforcements that aren't really there.
Kauchemar
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Kauchemar doesn't want to break the kick she's on, so when her foe dies via sensory overlord she turns her attention to the remaining Leader of the camp without missing a beat. Her eyes flash deeply, and as she makes one final riff along the strings she throws her entire spirit into, unleashing a whail that would put death metal rockers and banshees alike to shame. It doesn't matter if what she's actually bellowing is unintelligable, the demonic sound is in itself mindnumbingly painful.
Kauchemar
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

*TWING*

A string breaks from being put through more punishing play than intended, and snaps Kauchemar across the face to cut her whailing thankfully short.
Xander
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

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    MONSTER POSE

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    The Crocman Scout Leader roars at the group and goes to attack, his blades are ready, his eyes still focused on Xander as the Salamander Tank still has his ire.

Though while Kauchemar's music does no damage to the Crocman Scout Leader, it does turn his attention toward her and away from Xander, causing the large Crocman to come to a sliding to stop to look at her. Watching as the bard breaks her instrumental. One could swear it almost chuckles at her.

The Crocman Scout Leader growls at her and moves toward her, till he hears Nureha's words, then looks toward her. His eyes go wide as her magic plays with his mind, which is only enforced as Mikage unleashes ice spikes in his direction.

The Crocman Scout Leader roars now in desperation to get away from the group, suddenly in fear. That he needs to report run away and possibly report back to its leader!

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         - CHOOSE -
    Allow To Live
    OR
    Kill The Monster

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    Xander is trying to catch his breath, then turns his attention to the Crocman Scout Leader. The damage was mostly to his shield, but it was also on his knee of his leg, and he has a mobility debuff on him; In normal terms, his knee got pretty tweaked from fighting with that beast of a humanoid.

Xander furrows his brows, he was not sure if he should allow the beast to return back or not. One way, allowing it to leave means that it might keep other scouts away or could cause more to show up. Become more difficult to scatter them. Then again, killing it could lead to the same result.

    The Salamander chooses to let it run if it can get itself free and focuses on trying to heal his knee.
Mikage
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Breathing heavily, Mikage lowers her weapon, watching as the remaining crocman tries to flee. The girl tends to defer decisions like this to more senior raiders. The fact that Xander isn't giving chase has her hesitating to continue the fight. Her sword remains down at her side as she steps forward, "Everyone alright?" She asks, sliding the weapon into its sheath.

"I have a little bit of healing magic..." She offers out, allowing the others to speak up if they need it. She looks in the direction of the crocman trying to make his escape, but she makes no move to follow, at least for now.
Nureha
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Nureha gets down from the tree the same way she got up it, by cheating fantastically.

She steps off the last 'Airstep' back onto the grass, digging out a couple of healing potions. "Is everyone alright? I think we acquitted ourselves fairly well. Especially with such prime distraction." she gives a teasing but sincere smile in Kauchemar's direction.
Kauchemar
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

Kauchemar rubs the side of her snout where she got whipped by the broken string. Improvising only worked so far when the instrument isn't made for the style. Next time she's going to have to lean more heavily on the magic side of it. At least until she can a more sturdy instrument. Though it mostly wounded her pride than anything else. The leader is on the run, but he's not really a threat without a squad to do his dirty work, right? No one else appears to be giving chase, and she's not insane enough to chase him down on her own.

She puts the instrument back in her inventory to repair and retune later, and shrugs a little in response to Nureha ribbing her about the 'distraction'. "A good performer has to be adaptable," she replies, smirking. "Nothing ever goes entirely as planned on-stage."
Xander
Aincrad Tower - 3 - -1 - 0

    Xander gives no order to chase nor does he try to push on it either. "I'll be alright." He says softly, standing back up and working his knee a little as the hit marks start to fade, along with the debuff.

The Crocman Scout Leader does break free from the ice and runs off deeper into the forest and wherever it is going. Xander just watches, his brows furrow a little as he says softly. "I just hope that choice doesn't come back and haunt us later." Then the Salamander raises a brow, "... Though be interesting to see if there are any results from that."

    He then turns to face everyone and gives them all a thumbs up with a smile, "You guys all did great work! Couldn't have done this without any of you, so seriously," He then bows to them all. "Thank you." Then rises back up to his full height.

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    MISSION END
    (Feel free to pose however)

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