Sojaveña Wilds Twilight Quarry

[Cresselia92]

As soon as the swarms burst forward, Silver hastily stored his Ultra Ball and honed his claws together, letting some venom drip from their tips. “Here they come…”

A pulse of invigorating energy flowed through his body, and after reasoning what happened, Silver spared a few seconds to give a grin and a nod of appreciation toward Grace. Then, he faced the approaching swarm with his claws at ready.

“Tch! D’you honestly think you’re strong just because you’re so many? Ah! Such a pathetic strat!” he sneered, his glare matching the sharpness of his claws. “I’m gonna teach y’all a lesson the hard way, losers!”

And with a defiant battle cry, Silver sprinted toward the swarm of unholy creatures and began slashing furiously at whatever entity got too close, the golden blades flickering amidst the uneven wave of darkness.

Spoiler: Turn 1

Silver (148 STM, 5 TMP, +0 SPD, +1 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Receive (Helping Hand)
- Walk to S Edge
- **Act:** Dash to SW Edge (-2 TMP)
- Hone Claws (-18 STM, +2 TMP)
- **Act:** RADIANT Focus (+5 TMP)
- STRONG RADIANT Crush Claw @ Void Swarm (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-24 STM, +9 TMP, +16 RAD)
Net change: -42 STM, +14 TMP, +0 SHD, +16 RAD
Net totals: 106 STM (148 after regen), 19 TMP, 0 SHD, 16 RAD

 

[Magyk]

Throw with intent? Is that all? The black and yellow sphere felt strange in her paws and she was quick to stuff it into her satchel. She still couldn't believe that hughmons kept Pokemon in these little objects. How did they even fit...?

She was still further away, but she could feel Owen's staggering presence from here. She had to swallow the bubbling anxiety as she shared her aura with Silver and Astrid-- both of them were glowing pink just like she was now. If she understood this ability correctly... Grace tried to channel her determination to save Owen, and they felt it too. It wasn't quite enough to mask the nervousness layered underneath.

"We've got this!" Grace called to Silver, giving him extra assistance before moving to spread out... and get away from the towering wraiths.

Spoiler: Grace Turn One

Grace (150 STM, 5 TMP, +2 SPD, +0 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Harmonic Soul @ Astrid & Silver (-30 STM, -2 TMP, +2 TMP) [Grace takes -25% HP recoil]
- After You @ Silver (-18 STM, +2 TMP)
- Walk to E Edge
Net change: -42 STM, +2 TMP, +0 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 108 STM (145 after regen), 7 TMP, 0 SHD, 0 RAD

 

[Namohysip]

Turn 1
Player Phase​

Nova's Iron Defense!
Nova's Follow Me! Void Charizard's aggroed+2!
Nova's Follow Me! Void Charizard's aggroed+3!
Nova's Rebellious Soul!

Owen's attention was drawn easily to Nova's maneuvers, but it was hard to tell where he was looking. The guy lost his pupils. They were just hollow, white holes in his head, wide and blazing. It was hard to tell if Owen heard him.

Dave's Hone Claws!
Dave's AGILE Rock Smash was dodged!
Dave's Rock Smash was dodged!
Dave's Thunder Fang dealt 27 damage to Void Owen! It's super effective! Paralyzed [2]!
Dave's Ultra Ball dealt 30 Capture damage to Void Owen! Not enough...

But just then, Dave had come in and jammed his teeth into his hard scales. It did very little... but it stunned and surprised him enough for the Ultra Ball to slap onto his side. For a few seconds, he seemed to have been captured--only to escape after just one wiggle. It would take a lot more than that to contain him. A shame Giovanni didn't make any Master Balls...

Grace's Harmonic Soul @ Astrid & Silver!
Grace's After You @ Silver!
Astrid received Helping Hand!
Astrid's RADIANT Soul Rocket dealt 142 damage to Void Swarm SE! It's ultra effective!
Astrid's AGILE Frost Breath dealt a CRITICAL 54 damage to Void Swarm NE!
Astrid's Frost Breath dealt a CRITICAL 77 damage to Void Swarm NE!
Astrid healed a total of 48 HP from Shell Bell...
Astrid's Spotter Feat @ Swarm!

The Swarm's defenses... are around 100!

Grace bolstered Astrid and Silver as the main damage dealers of the squad. Mhynt heard Astrid and offered a grave nod, though for now, her focus was on distracting and disrupting. She'd tried to go for a few cuts, but Owen's hide was tough. Even the cuts she did make seemed to cleave through Shadow, not flesh. He was half-wraith...

Silver received Helping Hand!
Silver's Hone Claws!
Silver's STRONG RADIANT Crush Claw dealt 186 damage to Void Swarm SW! It's ultra effective! The Swarm is depleted!

Meanwhile, Silver did well to take out a Swarm in a single, deafening blow. The shockwave sent the swarm backward, stunned and disoriented. Astrid, meanwhile, had heavily damaged two swarms at once. Keeping these Swarms at bay--even with their greater strength in the quarry--was easy.

The problem was dealing with Owen at the same time.

Speaking of dealing with Owen... It looked like he was charged for a retaliation.

It seems Nova is drawing the most attention, and everyone else is around the same...

 

[Namohysip]

Turn 1
Enemy Phase​

Void Swarm SW restores to full HP! But is too stunned to do anything else...

Void Swarm NW uses two actions to expand into NW Descent, and then Focuses!
Void Swarm NW also moves to W Edge...

Void Swarm NE uses two actions to expand into NE Descent!
Void Swarm NE uses Leer on Nova and Astrid! -1 Def! Nova resists!
Void Swarm NE uses a STRONG Shadow Rush on Nova and Astrid!
Nova: 37 durability!
Astrid: 41! Ultra Effective! 20 Cruelty!

Void Swarm SE walks to E Edge, and then uses two actions to expand into SE Descent!
Void Swarm SE uses Leer and Shadow Rush on Dave and Grace! -1 Def!
Dave: 24 ,12 Cruelty!
Grace: 22, 11 Cruelty!

Void Owen's gigantic nature and control over the battlefield gives him greater range of influence!

Void Owen loses an action to being Captured, but escapes!
Void Owen unleashes a CRITICAL Flamethrower on Nova, destroying his Protect!
Void Owen uses Dragon Rage on Nova, dealing 55 damage!
Void Owen focuses...

Void Owen is preparing Umbral Stormheart! 4 zones are affected: NE, SE Descent and NE, SW Edge! Nova, Dave, Astrid, and Silver take 10 damage...

"Ugh! Annoying beasts..." Mhynt weaved between two clouds of wraiths before vanishing and appearing next to Koa, nodding. "Be wary. We can get surrounded at a moment's notice!"

It seemed that everyone was dealing with the wraiths at this point, save for Silver, who'd cleared his portion of the swarm... though they were already gathering back together, tireless.

Meanwhile, Owen was entirely focused on Nova, blasting him with true flames followed by Dragon fire. Curiously, they didn't seem to be of Shadows...

The bolts of lightning--ever so familiar, at this point--formed again, and they were another story. "Watch out!" Mhynt cried, wincing at the singe against her scales. The air was already charged... "Is everyone okay?"

"Why... are you here?" Owen said, his voice dripping with feral hostility. His size and corruption made for a booming reverberation that shook loose dust and pebbles on the ground...

 

[Tetra]

The sight of the overgrown void Charizard sent chills all down Koa's spine, and for a half second, he was frozen, his paws locked in place. This was far worse than the Thing that attacked the wagon or that had chased them out of the quarry before.

Then he shook himself. Determination replaced fear as the rest of the team sprang into action. Howling a battlecry, he broke into a run, plunging into the pit and drawing upon the now-familiar pull of radiance. His paws shone with golden light as he struck out at Owen and then retreated slightly higher, keeping a conscious eye on the swarms of void shadows. "Snap out of it Owen! Fight this!" Oddly, the sensation of calling out like this felt almost familiar.

 

[Jackie Cat]

The air thrummed with Shadow in Koa's vicinity, and a smell of petrichor rose from the tortured ground of the quarry rift. The smell evoked memories of storms, cold air, and damp limbs caked in dirt.

"Now, now," came a mocking voice, from just behind the Electrike. "Don't waste your time on him. It would only be a distraction from more pressing concerns."

Koa's hackles rose on his neck, his body shivering with recognition before his brain had a chance to place the voice.

Paralysed. Koa was paralysed – held in place like the subject of a vivisection... not with Electric energy. Something darker.

"For instance," continued Ein, his cruelly smirking face emerging from outside Koa's peripheral vision, "are the results from our last encounter reproducible in this fabulous new test environment?"

 

[Ambyssin]

That initial Protect fell to a swarm and Owen's first strike. Even the Dragon Rage packed a decent enough punch. Nova had to hold firm, though. No fear. Nothing the shadows could seize on.

Mhynt! Is there any spot on Owen that could be important to this Perceive thingamajig of his? Nova wondered through their Betelepathy. Anything we can aim for?

He wove his way through the swarming void shadows. Guys, we should rush him together! Everyone run in different directions. If we come at from different angles, it may confuse him. That sorta worked last time.

Nova slid down into the dungeon's pit. Yeesh, Owen was big. But he was... talking. And Nova could hopefully use that to keep his attention.

"To pull you out of the shadows!" he said, responding to Owen's question. "If this world's giving me a taste of freedom, I'll be damned if someone else suffocates in shadows because of it!"

He feinted moving away from Owen, then charged back toward him, running counterclockwise. Nova pulled on more of that irritating aura, while conjuring a new, faintly wolf-shaped shield.

If the others went with him, when the time was right, Nova would sling his ultra ball at Owen's giant hip from behind.

Spoiler: Nova turn 2

Nova (94 STM, 11 TMP, +1 SPD, +0 ACC, 10 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Walk to Pit
- King's Shield (-21 STM, +2 TMP)
- Follow Me (-16 STM, +2 TMP) [2 layers]
- Interact @ Owen (-3 TMP) [Run laps around Owen w/ teammates to throw off Perceive]
- **Act:** Item (Cacnea Spike) @ Capture Owen
- **Act:** Focus (+5 TMP, -20 SHD, -20 RAD)
Net change: -35 STM, +6 TMP, -10 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 59 STM (91 after regen), 17 TMP, 0 SHD, 0 RAD
[NOTE: If permissible, have Nova's Focus NOT lower his SHD, so he remains at 10 after his turn]

 

[Tetra]

No. No no it can't be-

Icy chills swept over him, penetrating him to the bone. Ein's words seeped into his thoughts like cold sludge, pushing out everything else. Last encounter-

Attacking Mhynt. Turning on the team. Red chains.

His breathing accelerated. He couldn't move, couldn't fight. This couldn't be happening again, he'd been cured he was fixed. That was the only reason he'd come near this place. He was supposed to be better.

You can't change who you are. Can't fix what's already wrong with you.

"You're dead," he snarled, scrambling desperately for every bit of rage and hate he could muster. He dugs his paws into the earth, trying to form a fist. "I saw you."

 

[Goat]

Astrid's heart sank with her body's descent into the deepest depths. The pressure from the Shadows was unmistakable, but drowned out by the stinging ecstasy of Radiance bubbling up in her gut, piercing her skin, chasing the tips of her tails...

And then she was before Owen, who towered over her like a tree above an ant. He'd become this big, bulging thing -- unrecognizable and unconscionable.

"Your nightmares will be over soon," she muttered.

They'd planned for this. Everyone fell into step around the towering Charizard, and Astrid joined, running in a spiral, attacking, taking a new angle, attacking again, switching up the timing... How much could Owen focus on at once?

Spoiler: Astrid turn 2

Astrid (131 STM, 5 TMP, +2 SPD, +1 ACC, 5 SHD, 30 RAD)
- Walk to NE Descent
- Draining Kiss @ Void Swarm NE (-9 STM, +3 TMP) [Overheal Drain: 78.75%]
- Dash to Pit (-2 TMP)
- AGILE CRITICAL Frost Breath @ Void Owen (-15 STM, +2 TMP) [Overheal Drain: 18.75%]
- CRITICAL Frost Breath @ Void Owen (ACTIVATE: Sure Hit) (-10 STM, +3 TMP) [Overheal Drain: 18.75%]
- **Act:** RADIANT Focus (+5 TMP)
- RADIANT Soul Rocket @ Void Owen (-30 STM, +3 TMP, +30 RAD) [Overheal Drain: 18.75%]
- Activate feat (Spotter Feat) @ Void Owen [Def and Res]
- Interact @ Void Owen (-3 TMP) [Coordinated approach! Approach from a unique angle and run around!]
Net change: -56 STM, +11 TMP, +0 SHD, +30 RAD
Net totals: 75 STM (111 after regen), 16 TMP, 5 SHD, 60 RAD

Spoiler: Turn order

ACTIVATE ONION RELIC (-10 Shd buildup)

1. Grace
2. Dave
3. Silver
4. Astrid
5. Nova

 

[Butterfree]

Everything was darkness and noise and the heavy, encroaching sensation of Shadow pressing in around him, faint yelling somewhere up above. Owen was speaking, asking why they were here. Just a person, trapped, inside this horrid thing.

"To rescue you, you little shit," Dave snarled.

The Shadows crept through his veins, his limbs wobbling. He didn't want to go back into the pit. He was going anyway.

"Everyone move at the same time!" he barked, bounding back down the slope as the cold prickle of metal finally bloomed somewhere in his chest.

Spoiler: Turn 2

Dave (150 STM, 9 TMP, +1 SPD, +2 ACC, 10 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Dash to Pit (-2 TMP)
- AGILE Rock Smash @ Void Owen (-16.5 STM, +4 TMP)
- **Act:** Item (Cacnea Spike) @ Void Owen
- Rock Smash @ Void Owen (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Adept) (-11 STM, -3 TMP, +4 TMP)
- Hone Claws (-18 STM, +2 TMP)
- CRITICAL Relentless Soul @ Void Owen (-30 STM, -8 TMP, +5 TMP)
- Interact @ Confusing weaving around Owen (-3 TMP)
- Walk to SW Descent
Net change: -71 STM, -1 TMP, +0 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 79 STM (127 after regen), 8 TMP, 10 SHD, 0 RAD

 

[Cresselia92]

Silver smirked in satisfaction as the wraith broke apart, its shadows scattering in a disorderly and dazed frenzy after his assault. However, that moment of glory was short-lived as more shadows poured into the area and the stunned drones regained their bearings. He stared hard at the reassembling swarm, perplexed and frustrated.

“…You gotta be kidding me,” he growled under his breath, taking a cautious step back and assessing the situation.

Brute force wasn’t enough, that much was obvious. Those shadows were too many, and they seemed to work like a hive mind. Any hive mind worth its salt followed the rules of a dominant queen. And the current queen, or rather king, of those shadows seemed to be…

"Why... are you here?"

Okay. Cool. If those shadows were influenced by their “ruler”, then the group only needed to checkmate the giant, brainwashed king to stop them for good. Simple enough, right?

Without wasting precious seconds, Silver climbed down the rocky pit, his furry ninja-like body perfectly fit for such an athletic feat, and darted across the lowest battlefield in random zigzagging patterns — a Sneasel War Dance.

“…Why we’re here?” he shot back between a zoomie and another, waiting for his opportunity. A distraction from his teammates, and the Sneasel leapt on Owen’s flailing tail, gritting his fangs and clinging for dear life. “We’re here to—agh! To break you outta this… ugh, horrible prison, that’s why!”

One swipe; his claws hit a hard scale. Another, now glowing, swipe; they struck something tender. Was it flesh or…? Whatever it was, Silver dug deeper, latching onto the thrashing dragon.

“But… huff, you seem too agitated, so how ‘bout you first chill the hell out?”

Nervine, reflex-numbing venom poured out of his claws and seeped into the giant Charizard, spreading through Owen’s… huh, did he still have a bloodstream? Gods, Silver hoped so!

Spoiler: Turn 2

Silver (148 STM, 19 TMP, +2 SPD, +2 ACC, 5 SHD, 16 RAD)
- Walk to SW Descent
- Hone Claws (-18 STM, +2 TMP)
- Dash to Pit (-2 TMP)
- AGILE Crush Claw @ Void Owen (-24 STM, +5 TMP)
- Interact @ Initiate Sneasel War Dance to confuse Owen! (-3 TMP) [Basically run in circles with the others to overwhelm his Perceive]
- Crush Claw @ Void Owen (ACTIVATE: effect) (-16 STM, -5 TMP, +7 TMP)
- **Act:** RADIANT Focus (+5 TMP)
- CRITICAL RADIANT Dire Claw @ Void Owen (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-30 STM, -22 TMP, +8 TMP, +30 RAD) [Apply Drowsy]
Net change: -77 STM, -5 TMP, +0 SHD, +30 RAD
Net totals: 71 STM (115 after regen), 14 TMP, 5 SHD, 46 RAD]

 

[Magyk]

"We just... want to save you!" Grace cried, flying away from the towering wraiths that pursued her. She saw her teammates preparing to try and overwhelm Owen's senses... what could she do to help? She could at least try and prepare them for a smoother approach to Owen. Pulling a spike from her satchel, she tossed it at the large charizard as she approached. "It'll be over soon, I hope!"

She felt the Shadows settling in to her body as she got closer to Owen. It felt difficult to breathe under such a stifling atmosphere, and it only worried her more once she slowly adapted. The togetic put her paws together and conjured a safeguard, hoping it would help protect everyone else from the wraiths as they got closer.

Spoiler: Grace Turn Two

Grace (145 STM, 7 TMP, +2 SPD, +0 ACC, 5 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Walk to SE Descent
- **Act:** Dash to Pit (-2 TMP)
- **Act:** Item (Cacnea Spike) @ Owen
- Safeguard (-36 STM, +2 TMP) [Cast inside Pit]
- **Act:** Focus (+5 TMP, -20 SHD, -20 RAD)
Net change: -32 STM, +5 TMP, -5 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 113 STM (150 after regen), 12 TMP, 0 SHD, 0 RAD

 

[Namohysip]

Turn 2
Player Phase​

Dave's AGILE Rock Smash was dodged by Void Owen!
Dave's Cacnea Spike was dodged by Void Owen!
Dave's Rock Smash dealt 9 damage to Void Owen! It's not very effective...
Dave's Hone Claws!
Dave's Relentless Soul dealt a CRITICAL 52 damage to Void Owen! It's not very effective...
Dave's Interact: Confusing weaving around Owen

Grace's Cacnea Spike was dodged by Void Owen!
Grace's Safeguard protects ally Wayfarers in the Pit!

"Save me... rescue me...?" He paused long enough to be struck, dodging and weaving past the first few hits, only to be forced to take another. Curiously, it seemed like Owen had been focused on Dave, waiting for a strike--one that never came. Owen's Protect shield fizzled out, unable to block whatever he'd been expecting.

Silver's Hone Claws!
Silver's AGILE Crush Claw dealt 46 damage to Void Owen!
Silver's Interact: Initiate Sneasel War Dance to confuse Owen!
Silver's Crush Claw dealt 62 damage to Void Owen!
Silver's RADIANT Dire Claw dealt a CRITICAL 179 damage to Void Owen! It's ultra effective!

As it turned out, Owen had blood... of a sort. It was thicker and acidic to Silver's paws, sizzling in the air and black like pitch. Owen roared and shook Silver off, snarling, but his gaze was somehow even more frenzied. The dance of the Wayfarers around him was messing with his Perceive... It was working. He was too frenzied to focus his Perceive on anything--it was much easier to send him on a confused rampage. And with that, maybe...

Astrid's Draining Kiss dealt 52 damage to Void Swarm NE! Down! The Swarm dissipates in that location...
Astrid's AGILE Frost Breath dealt a CRITICAL 43 damage to Void Owen!
Astrid's Frost Breath dealt a CRITICAL 54 damage to Void Owen!
Astrid's RADIANT Soul Rocket dealt 120 damage to Void Owen! It's ultra effective!
Astrid heals for a total of 89 HP!
Astrid's Spotter Feat @ Void Owen! Void Owen's Def and Res seem to be 130/150!
Astrid's Interact: Void Owen

Nova's King's Shield!
Nova's Follow Me!
Nova's Interact: Owen
Nova's Ultra Ball deals 40 Capture damage to Void Owen! Getting there...

Once again, Owen was captured--and once, again, he stubbornly broke free, filled with energy and Shadowy defiance. But he was holding his head, now, pained by his overwhelmed senses. "Stop... moving...!"

Another great roar shook the ground. He was mad, now... but far less accurate. A beast wrapped in dark chains. The winds sang a wretched song, the Void Shadow swarms a depraved choir.

Void Owen's Perceive is disrupted! His Evasion dropped to +2, and he lost his Critical hit!

 

[Namohysip]

Turn 2
Enemy Phase​

Most enemy attention is on Astrid and Silver...

Void Swarm NE replenishes its HP, but can't do anything else...

Void Swarm SE moves from E Edge into SE Edge...
Void Swarm SE uses two actions to expand into the Pit!
Void Swarm SE uses Leer! Astrid evades it, Nova resists it, but Silver and Grace suffer -1 Def!
Void Swarm SE uses Shadow Debilitate, but Safeguard deflects the ailment! Nova resists Res-2, but everyone else suffers it in the Pit!

Void Swarm SW moves into SW Descent...
Void Swarm SW uses two actions to expand into the pit!
Void Swarm SW uses Leer on everyone! Nova resists! Everyone else suffers -1 Def!
Void Swarm SW uses Shadow Debilitate! Safeguard deflects the ailment, but Dave suffers Paralysis [2]! Everyone suffers Atk-2! Nova's King's Shield deflects it! Void Swarm suffers Atk-1 on contact!

Void Swarm NW uses two actions to expand into the Pit!
Void Swarm NW uses Leer on everyone! Nova resists! Everyone else in the Pit suffers -1 Def!
Void Swarm NW uses Shadow Debilitate! Safeguard deflects the ailment, but everyone in the Pit suffers Mag-2!

The Swarms closed in. Mhynt cursed and tried to follow after Koa instead, in no form to take on a swarm of wraiths like that. Her heart was hammering in her ears--she couldn't focus and only hoped the others could handle it for now.

I'll try what I can from out here, Mhynt called to Nova. I... I'll get you out if it gets bad! But I think I saw Koa run somewhere, he might be--

She stopped. Ein... Was that Ein? While the wraiths were descending upon the Wayfarers, what was he doing? She sprinted after him with Koa...

Owen's getting more agitated... Umbral Stormheart's zone count increases to 6!
Legendary Action! Owen cures Drowsy, and becomes resistant to it!

Lightning crashes down, but has no effect on deeply Shadowed individuals! The Wayfarers dodge the attack!
Void Owen loses an action from escaping Capture...
Void Owen uses Mimic! Void Owen gained Frost Breath!
Void Owen uses Dragon Rage on Nova, dealing 55 damage!
Void Owen uses Shadow Meteorburst!
Void Owen prepares a Boss Action for Umbral Stormheart... the Pit and all Descent zones, and S Edge are in danger! All Wayfarers take 10 damage!

"I'm... happy here...!" Owen said, his voice rumbling even more with pressurized rage. "Go away... GO AWAY!" He swung and flailed as the Wayfarers got closer, tail smashing Nova against the wall to little effect. There seemed to be something in his right hand, but amid the chaos, it was hard to tell what.

"I'll... I'll burn you all! I'll make you understand... and make you wraiths...!"

Another roar. The lightning returned, and this time it was centralized on the pit and its surrounding hills. But even worse...

Mhynt skidded to a stop, seeing the chaos from afar. "The clouds...!"

Owen fired a great fireball into the sky. It sank into the grayish purple clouds, darkening it more. The lightning intensified...

And then meteors started to fall. Smoldering, hulking meteors that sizzled with heat. They were going to explode! Amid the crashing rocks, any efforts of verbal communication became a lot more difficult.

The map's weather became Meteor Storm!

Meteors rain down on the Pit, SW Descent, SW Edge, and E Edge!

Meteors strike Dave and Nova!
Dave: 58
Nova: 18

 

[Jackie Cat]

Koa's breathing accelerated. [...] "You're dead," he snarled. "I saw you."

"Did you? I'm not so sure. See, I think I have a clearer understanding of what you 'saw', considering I am presently not a corpse."

Ein prowled around to stand in front of Koa. As his hindlegs came into view, Koa would see that one of them rippled with Shadow, its fur ink-black and stainless steel-grey.

"What you observed was that I was engulfed by darkness, and that when the attack concluded, only a severed limb remained."

Ein smirked, standing so as to display the Shadow prosthesis, scarcely bothering to conceal his pride.

"Yet you can plainly see that I have procured a replacement. Perhaps you reasonably concluded that I was likely consumed during that event? That was very much Alexander's intent, but still – did you not consider even one alternative?"

The Manectric leered at Koa, his face dripping with undiluted conceitedness, and flickering wisps of Shadow energy.

 

[Goat]

Ball firmly in the grasp of a wrapped tail, a new rush of Radiance lasered Astrid in on Owen's next move. He'd lashed out blindly, but she was too quick this time. As he still fought to regain the bearings of his Perceive for a better blow, she swooped underneath and jammed the device right into his thigh--

"I command you to SHRINK!"

Spoiler: Astrid turn 3

Astrid (111 STM, 16 TMP, +2 SPD, -1 ACC, 15 SHD, 60 RAD)
- Receive (Helping Hand) [and +2 Mag]
- **Act:** Focus (+5 TMP, -20 SHD, -30 RAD)
- AGILE CRITICAL RADIANT Frost Breath @ Void Owen (-15 STM, -4 TMP, +2 TMP, +10 RAD)
- CRITICAL RADIANT Frost Breath @ Void Owen (ACTIVATE: Sure Hit) (-10 STM, +2 TMP, +10 RAD)
- RADIANT Swift @ Void Owen (ACTIVATE: Sure Hit) (-14 STM, +2 TMP, +14 RAD)
- **Act:** Item (Cacnea Spike) @ Void Owen (-15 TMP) [Capture Owen - 15 Tempo]
- Activate feat (Spotter Feat) @ Void Owen [See Interact below]
- Interact @ Spotter feat (-3 TMP) [Watch closely... what is he preparing to block?]
Net change: -35 STM, -11 TMP, -15 SHD, +4 RAD
Net totals: 76 STM (112 after regen), 5 TMP, 0 SHD, 64 RAD
(TAKE COVER)

Spoiler: Turn order

1. Dave
2. Grace
3. Nova
4. Silver
5. Astrid

 

[Tetra]

He had considered the possibility, more than once, but he'd put it behind him. Tried to forget. Convinced himself he'd likely never see the other Manectric again. Never have to hear that voice. To feel that dread, like looking in a mirror.

Get a grip. He could handle Ein. He was stronger than last time they met, and he'd trained. Nevermind that last time he'd had the team and now he was alone. Anger and adrenaline gave him the strength to push aside the fear and he focused. Paralysis couldn't affect him normally. Which meant it had to be a Shadow power Ein was using.

"Oh it crossed my mind," he growled, fighting down the knot in his throat. He tried to focus on charging up electricity inside him. "I just never expected to see you playing Alex's rescue pet."

As he spoke, he reached once again for the light inside. Ignored his heart pounding in his ears and ignored the way Ein's presence made his skin crawl. More light. If he could meld that with a healing technique... Odette's friendship. Archie's loyalty. The team needed him down there, and he couldn't let Ein slow him down. He needed to stop Ein and help them.

Koa used Radiant Take Heart!

 

[Ambyssin]

Okay. Now it was raining meteors. Fan-fucking-tastic. Between this and the Dragon Rage spamming, Nova wondered if part of Owen's deepest shadows revolved around envy of charizard not having natural dragon-typing. But this was nooooot the time for such thoughts. The others were already making their moves, after all. So, it was time for Nova to make his.

"I'll... I'll burn you all! I'll make you understand... and make you wraiths...!"

To the threat, Nova buzzed with radiance that mixed with his already rising shadows. He continued running erratically around Owen, feinting like he'd attack. The first couple of times he drew on noxious Follow Me energy. But the third time wasn't going a feint.

"And I'll burn the shadows away... and break the locks on your heart!" He slammed golden, radiant talons into Owen's flank.

Nova bounced back, digging his legs into the ashen dirt as he glanced at the flickering sky overhead. "Show me," he said, an orb tumbling out of his bag that he broke with a hind leg. "Show me you real heart! We're battling, aren't we? So stop hiding yourself and fight for real!"

Spoiler: Nova turn 3

Nova (91 STM, 17 TMP, +1 SPD, +0 ACC, 20 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Follow Me (-12 STM, +2 TMP) [2 layers]
- **Act:** RADIANT Focus (+5 TMP)
- STRONG CRITICAL RADIANT Multi-Attack @ Void Charizard (-54 STM, -13 TMP, +4 TMP, +36 RAD) [Freed from Heal Block]
- **Act:** Item (Healthy Orb)
Net change: -62 STM, -2 TMP, +0 SHD, +36 RAD
Net totals: 29 STM (61 after regen), 15 TMP, 20 SHD, 36 RAD
(TAKE COVER)

 

[Cresselia92]

Silver grunted as he got thrown off of Owen, getting just enough time to shuffle out of the way of the frenzied swipes and take cover behind some debris.

Lesson learned — videogames are lies. Having a smaller “hit box” didn’t make a giant’s strikes any easier to avoid!

"I'll... I'll burn you all! I'll make you understand... and make you wraiths...!"

Silver peeked from behind his cover, his chest heaving from the mad dashes and from the effort of keeping his mind lucid enough. “Sounds very tempting, but nah,” he snarked loudly as he flexed his claws, letting some of the dark aura pool into them. “I’m edgy enough as is!”

A tiny squeak escaped his mouth as freaking meteors began falling from the freaking shadow sky, forcing his weasel instincts to take full control of his body to avoid the rocky rain. Silver swore quietly as he stared worriedly at his teammates, wincing when some of them got struck, until his gaze focused on a nearby meteor. A flash of an idea popped into his mind and a crooked smirk touched his lips.

“Hey buddy, I think you lost THIS!”

SMASH!! With a well-aimed punch, Silver sent the still-flaming meteor flying toward Owen. A blazing asteroid sailing through the inky darkness, ready for impact.

Spoiler: Turn 3

Silver (115 STM, 14 TMP, +2 SPD, +3 ACC, 15 SHD, 46 RAD)
- Receive (Helping Hand)
- **Act:** SHADOW Focus (+5 TMP)
- SHADOW Hone Claws (-18 STM, +2 TMP, +18 SHD)
- Crush Claw @ Meteor in Pit (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-16 STM, -2 TMP, +8 TMP)
- STRONG CRITICAL Drain Punch @ Meteor in Pit (-25.5 STM, -18 TMP, +9 TMP) [Aim meteor at Void Owen if it hits 0 HP]
Net change: -53 STM, +4 TMP, +18 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 62 STM (106 after regen), 18 TMP, 33 SHD, 46 RAD
(TAKE COVER)

 

[Butterfree]

Dave's muscles were stiffened with paralysis, but the mobility training had paid off; something about the pain of it was energizing, and he could still move, even if he had to spend a bit more concentration on it. He let himself slide back down the sides of the pit, limbs shaking, preparing a Thunder Fang. Feint first, just in case.

Most of the others were down in the pit already, stuck there after the last assault. All but... Koa. Where the fuck was Koa? He looked around, up into the slopes. The Electrike stood, frozen, facing a... Manectric?

"Koa? Hey, Koa!"

He scrabbled against the slope again, but he couldn't get back up, not at this point. "Koa, hold on!"

Fuck. Get Owen; they just had to get Owen and then get everyone out of here. Smooth iron thrummed with a sudden buzz of Radiance. Get Owen and then he could get the fuck back up there.

Spoiler: Turn 3

Dave (127 STM, 8 TMP, +2 SPD, +3 ACC, 10 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Walk to Pit
- Hone Claws (-18 STM, +2 TMP)
- AGILE Thunder Fang @ Void Owen (-24 STM, +5 TMP)
- Thunder Fang @ Void Owen (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Adept) (-16 STM, -7 TMP, +5 TMP) [Paralyze Owen]
- **Act:** RADIANT Focus (+5 TMP)
- CRITICAL RADIANT Relentless Soul @ Void Owen (-30 STM, -8 TMP, +6 TMP, +27 RAD)
Net change: -77 STM, +8 TMP, +0 SHD, +27 RAD
Net totals: 50 STM (98 after regen), 16 TMP, 10 SHD, 27 RAD