#combat start

{[INTERVENE]}

You don’t like the idea of Cal returning to that cold lonely cabin. They told you how sad they were, waiting day in and day out for Zine to return.

You decide to intervene.

Jay pauses, and looks at you quizzically. A sad expression slowly morphing into a bored one.

{Jay cast: [BLINK]}

In no time at all, Jay disappears before your eyes. Like a rift in space opening up, they reappear and snatch Cal into the void.

 {Jay cast: [BLINK]}

Jay and Cal vanish, and appear back on the roof. Jay is holding the shotgun up to Cal’s back, clearly using them as a hostage.

You have never seen Cal look so scared. They are breathing so fast they can’t get a solid lungful of air, and they are crying large wet tears.

They call out for help.

Gestalt looks furious, the grip on their sword so tight it looks like they are going to bend the blade in half.

Jay shouts back down at you, his voice soaked with anger.

You haven’t seen [teleportation magic] before… how could you even counter that? If Jay escapes, Cal is going to be trapped in that empty cabin forever… And if you try to get them back, Jay will simply teleport Cal inside again.

What could Jay possible want? What could you possibly say to save your friend? Your mind is wracked in terror and confusion. You don’t know what to do…

{If you do not successfully convince [Jay], you will permanently lose [Cal] as a party member.}

[STATUS]

[QUESTS]

[MAP]

(discord server)

{[GO]: [RIGHT]}

You follow the fence going after the two farming robots.

You soon find yourself near some sort of [Wooden Structure] that is staked high with bales of the [Orange Plant].

You can see more [Airships] in the distance, much closer than before. They are no longer distant shapes, you can almost make out the details of the sloops.

A ways away in the field of plants, you can see another structure with another [Security Camera]

Standing guard on one of the bales is a slender figure with amber hair and a green cloak.

They quickly spot you and your team, leaping into action, brandishing a wooden sword.

They don’t sound particularly confident, more nervous than angry. The sword may be wooden but you can see that it has been polished and sharpened enough to be a real weapon.

The stranger’s hand is shaking slightly but they keep the tip of the blade pointed at your throat.

This might escalate to a fight if you are not careful.

The [RIGHT] path is blocked by the strangerThe [LEFT] path leads back to the [Daffodil Fields 2]

[STATUS][QUESTS][MAP]

(discord server)

{Combat Phase Start} [1][Drill Punch]

Gestalt: [2][Lunge Attack][Dodge]

Gestalt launches themselves at the [Wounded Rot Ice Horror], slicing them along the spine before dodging out of the way to give your mech room.

You lurch forward and pour all of your weight into a fearsome stab. A few of the remaining gears lock into place and the drill arm whirs to life. The spinning drill slices through the Rot’s flesh and sends bit of it’s stony carapace flying in all directions. 

It is doing real damage for once.

The Rot howls and smashes it’s club-like claws against the front of the mech.  You go skidding backwards from the sheer force. Even injured this Rot is a force to be reckoned with. The chest caves in and the mechanisms in the center of the robot begin to fail. 

This fight is coming down to the wire. The mech, the Rot and you are all hanging on by a thread.

{The machine is devouring you whole as it struggles to stay active… -2 MANA}

{You have 4 actions left before the Mining Mech consumes you.}

[STATUS](new!)[QUESTS][MAP]

{[TELL]: [Gestalt]: [Engage: Rot Horde]}{[Go]: [LEFT]}

Gestalt might be the only one able to fight their way through the horde, if you and Cal can keep the big Rot busy long enough, the three of you might just make it out of here alive.

Gestalt gives you a nod and begins tearing into the [Rot Horde] They can slay the weaker monsters with a single swing of their massive sword, but the larger rot takes a bit more effort. The old warrior is breathing heavily but not backing down.

You and Cal run to the far end of the vault, where the hulking beast is starting to recover from Gestalts powerful spell.

The temperature drops significantly the closer you get to the [Rot Horror]There is a terrifying aura surrounding it, that no other rot seems to possess. You almost feel a need to kneel before it… as if it holds some air of authority that permeates the primal part of your mind.There is something old and very powerful lurking within the crystal encrusted armor of this monster.

As you ready your spear, and Cal readies their [Spark Shotgun], a rumbling noise comes from the chest cavity of the Horror.It’s mouth is not moving but a resonate sound is emanating from deep within, echoing in your very small and very squishy body.

The creature is… speaking in a whispered rumble.

Cal is still panicking and seems to not notice the words coming from the giant Rot. 

Part 2 of your plan mostly seems to be “don’t die” and that was about it.The creature seems to be shaking off Gestalts attack and the rumbling voice returns, louder this time. 

The words are commanding and brutal… Starting out triumphant and soon turning confused. The creature sounds scared and it’s declarations melt into terrified screams and guttural moans. 

You never considered that the Rot would be capable of speech… but it doesn’t sound conherant, and the words seem to be slipping into animalistic roars.

Can the Rot be reasoned with? Both Cal and Gestalt have been fighting the Rot a lot longer than you have an neither of them mentioned the Rot being able to speak.

{You have ??? Actions left before the power runs out, sealing you and your team inside the vault.}

[STATUS][QUESTS] [MAP]

{Combat Phase Start}:

{Gestalt}: [2][Engage: Duel]: [Rot Chomper]

{Cal}: [2][Attack]{Magily}: [5][Attack]

[Duelist]: Gestalt locks onto the [Rot Chomper] and impales them with their sword, launching them off into the distance where they can battle one on one.

You and Cal believe that you can take on the two remaining [Scroungers] on your own. Cal rapidly fires their shotgun, you are noticing that the electric element of the shotgun keeps the rot stunned long enough to pull of a strong attack. 

[You gained +1 Blessed Tear]

However, the surviving rot slashes at you, dealing 3 damage.[You lost -3HP]

You strike back with a slow and heavy stab to it’s chest and the second rot falls.

[You gained +1 Blessed Tear]

As the battle comes to an end, you feel the blessing of the great spirit return to you, and you feel emboldened by your victory…

[You gained +2HP and +2MP]

It seems like the blessing the great spirit gave you is still working. You still regain health and mana by killing your enemies.

You and Cal are now alone in the empty tunnel. The [RIGHT] path leads back to the [Frozen Pit Entrance] and the [LEFT] path leads towards Gestalt and further into the tunnel.

[STATUS] (New!)[QUESTS] [MAP]

{Combat Phase Start}:{Cal}: [2][Attack][Attack]{Magily}: [5][Dash][Attack]: Legs[Duck]{Gestalt}: [2][Dash]+[Attack]

Cal shoots their new shotgun twice, the gun sounds like thunder and even briefly lights up the cavern with its muzzle flash. The massive blast shoots sparks and fire all over the two rot, they seem to be thrown off balance and you take your opportunity to slash at the legs of the first rot, but your slash seems to do nothing.Before the Rot can retaliate, a glowing [Shield] materializes in front of you, and before you can blink, Gestalt cleaves the two monsters in half and they both burst into a flash of light. Two [Glowing blue spirits] emerge and vanish into the cave ceiling.

And just like that the fight is over. A wave of relief washes over you and suddenly you fall to your knees. Your head swims and everything goes dark.

…

{[You Have Reached: [Level 4]}

{[You now can invest your experience.]}

Leveling Up:You have 1 point to invest in:[The House of the North][The House of the East][The House of the South][The House of the West]

You have 1 point to invest in:[The Sign of the Lion][The Sign of the Bull][The Sign of the Beetle][The Sign of the Spider]

[STATUS] (New!)[QUESTS] [MAP]

{[GO]: [RIGHT]}

You continue across the bridge until you find where the bridge reaches another stone path.

Unfortunately your path further [RIGHT] is blocked [Two Glowing Rot Hunters]The two creatures roar as your team approaches. Until now, the Rot’s cries have been guttural and animalistic, but these creatures make a sound like shattering glass or stones being smashed together. There is definitely something different about these rot, from their noises, to their soft blue glow to the single pulsating eye in the center of their heads.

Considering how fast these things are, running doesn’t seem like an option. It looks like combat is inevitable. You all draw your weapons, and Cal even has their new Spark Shotgun.

Heeding Gestalts advice you take in your surroundings, you don’t have solid footing just yet as you are still on the bridge. Above you appears to be several [Lanterns] that are without power. In the platforms above there is another piece of [Rusted Machinery]

The [LEFT] path leads back out to the [Frozen Mineshaft Bridge 2]The [RIGHT] path is blocked by the two rot.

[STATUS] [QUESTS] [MAP]

{Combat Phase Start}: [5][Dodge][Cast: {Shock I}][Dodge][Cast: {Shock I}][Dodge]

{Cal}: [2][Attack]: [Coolant Tank][Jump]

You decide to keep to your rhythm of dodging and spell casting, you can out dodge the laser as long as you watch for it to charge up.

[Dodge]: You position yourself in front of the Golem[Cast: {Shock I}]: You cast the spell on the water, electrifying the machine and Cal.{Cal lost -2HP}{You lost -1MP}

[Dodge]: You dodge out of the way as the machine tries to swipe it’s claws at you, you are safely out of reach.[Cast: {Shock I}]:  You cast the spell on the water, electrifying the machine and Cal.{Cal lost -2HP}{You lost -1MP}[Dodge]: You try to dodge out of the way but the Golem charges their laser while they are being electrocuted and shoots you while you jump. The laser burns and boils you from the inside out. If you had internal organs that would have been a lot worse.{You lost -5HP: 10/30HP}

{Cal}: [2][Attack]: [Coolant Tank]: Upon seeing you get wounded, Cal leaps onto the back of the Golem and begins smashing a large Coolant tank with their Wrench. The Golem screeches terrifying noises.[Jump]: Cal jumps off the back of the Golem, rolls to the ground and pulls out their Rifle to join you in the battle.

It seems like Cal got rid of the only ranged attack the Golem has. You already know it can’t move very far, you two might have gained the upper hand.

[Status]