>>3392269

“Did you really think I was going to let you walk away after cheating me out of half the coin you promised?” you asked, towering over the girl.

Her laced dress is bright, clean, and layered with so much unnecessary frills and fabrics you deem it to be an insult to everyone who has to look at it. Unfitting to the scenery, given the grimy cobblestone path. As for you, your clothes are simple and practical; your breeches and tunic are layered with leather and chainmail hugging your body, plates of steel guarding your joints. In the reflection in her eyes, you almost lose yourself in admiration of your devilishly handsome figure. She thinks you’re staring at her intimidatingly, but the joke’s on her.

She retreats into the alleyway, feeling her back stop against a wall. In a shaking voice, she tells you, “Not a step further, or I’ll have you thrown in jail!”

“Why don’t I have you locked up for breaking contract?” you ask, “Better yet, cough up what you owe and then some. It’ll be easier for both of us.”

“I don’t owe you a thing! You’ve only rid us of the half the bandits!” she replies, “Be thankful that I decided to give you any at all!”

You snarl, learning in close so that she cowers even more. “That wasn’t part of the deal. How was I supposed to know there was another group lying in wait? In any case, I did all that I was asked to, so stop trying to weasel your way out of it.”

The girl, seeing no other way out, breathes in deeply. You find yourself far too slow to cover your ears up before she shouts, “Help! I’m being attacked!”

“Shut it or I’ll make your claims true!” you spew out before covering her mouth. She muffles as she kicks you weakly. You wish she’d hold still so you can look at yourself better—you thought you saw a stray hair sticking out at an odd angle.

Footsteps appear from behind, and when you spin around, you realize you’ve put yourself in a situation that looks very, very poor.

“Unhand her at once, swordbreaker!” the woman says, hand on her scabbard. Her armored vestments betray her profession of a hero inquisitor, and her haughty attitude only confirms it.

“I can explain,” you attempt to say.

You fail, of course, because the inquisitor cuts you off. They always cut people off. Fucking inquisitors. She firmly asserts, “You can do so in the courts. Now unhand her!”

Her words are met with a scoff from you. You retort, “Who has time for that? You’d find me dead before—“ The girl that was once squirming under your towering figure saw you distracted and took the opportunity, slipping from underneath your arms into safety. Try as you might to reach grab her before she slipped away, you find her to be far too quick. You suck your teeth in annoyance as she hides behind the other woman. You continue stiffly, “In any case, it isn’t happening!”

>2/3

>>3392275


>This doesn’t look good for you.

[ ] Explain the situation clearly. Surely they will listen and be convinced.
[ ] Damn it all! It’s time to run. After all, it’s what the innocent would do.
[ ] Launch into a wild tirade. The louder you shout, the better your words will be conveyed!
[ ] Woo her. Inquisitors are weak to such things, right?
[ ] Write-in.

>>3392276
[X] Explain the situation clearly. Surely they will listen and be convinced.
I don't think they'll be convinced, but it's better than looking even more guilty

>>3392276
>[Explain the situation clearly. Surely they will listen and be convinced.

>>3392276
>[ ] Launch into a wild tirade. The louder you shout, the better your words will be conveyed!

Be as angry and unreasonable as possible! We don't have Great-Great-Granddaddy issues, YOU DO!

>>3392289
>>3392295
>>3392296

Vote closed. Writing.

“Let me speak for one second so that I can explain,” you request. You can handle this level-headedly.

“Your name!” she demands, “What is it?”

Hands on your hips, you puff out your chest to create the thinnest façade of self-importance. You counter, “Have your parents taught you any manners? You still haven’t told me yours.”

“Tch,” she says, almost causing you to break character. “Mikan of Windcreek, an inquisitor as you already might’ve guessed.”

“Kuri of Mirthstone, swordbreaker at your service,” you reply, almost unable to say the last bit with a straight face. And before she can cut you off again, you continue as quick as possible. “There seems to be a misunderstanding here. You see, I’ve completed a contract fully and I’ve only been rewarded half the amount. I even have the paper here to prove the wording, and if that’s not enough, I even went so far as to take all of the bandits’ heads with me! The ones posted, of couse.”

The conniving cheapskate of a noble steps out to retort, “The purpose of it was to solve the bandit problem, but you hardly done so at all! There’s still more lurking in the roads!”

You reply, “I’ve done exactly as you asked and nothing more! How is it my fault?”

Mikan, her armored boots clanking as she takes a step forward, nods. “I understand now,” she says, “The contract was made in good faith, and you have broken it! I, acting as judge, jury, and executioner, will now cast judgement upon you!”

“That’s not how contracts work, you buffoon!” you spit. You take a step back. From her hip she draws a thick, weighted broadsword, and for a moment, you catch a glimpse of a tattoo on her neck as her vestment shifts. “Hold on, what is it that I see?”

The inquisitor pauses. “What?” Cold sweat begins to form on her forehead.

“Is that the brand of an exile?” A sly grin uncontrollable grows on your face. “Oh don’t tell me, you’re only pretending to be an inquisitor.”

”W-what nonsense are you spouting?” she stammers, “Regardless, you are guilty of intimidation and assault of an unarmed citizen...” Half-distracted, she begins mouthing off an endless slurry of inquisitor jargon.

>An opening?
[ ] Attack her.
[ ] Attack her emotionally.
[ ] It’s your chance to run!
[ ] Write-in.

>>3392410
[X] Attack her emotionally.
" D I P L O M A C Y "

>>3392410
>[x] Write-in.

"You let me go and I will forget about the tattoo."

>>3392410
>[ ] Write-in.
>Help me get what Ms. Moneybags owes me and I'll forget what I saw. You can even have a cut.

>>3392410
>[ ] Attack her emotionally

>>3392420
>>3392425
>>3392437
>>3392438
Vote closed. Writing.

“You let me go, and I will forget about you waving your false authority around,” you offer, “Or better yet, help me get my coin and I’ll even give you a cut.”

Mikan grits her teeth. She says to you, “Add blackmail and bribery to the charges. For these crimes, life behind bars will be your punishment!”

You laugh. “Isn’t impersonating an inquisitor punishable by death without church revival?”

“Insolent rat,” she replies, “I’m not impersonating one. I am simply dispensing justice, with or without their approval!”

By now, you have come to understand that even this psychopath was too much for a band of sword-swinging cultists. No one wants to deal with someone like her, not even yourself. Unfortunately, the buttons you have pushed happen to be the very ones that have thrown her in a state of uncontrollable lunacy. The noble, seeing that she has been in the company of not one but two undesirables, takes the opportunity to bail and to leave things to be settled between you and the exiled inquisitor. A very smart choice, if you were to comment.

In a fit of seething rage, Mikan leaps at you, only for you to duck and slip around her and into the market square.

You mumble, “Oh, I’ve really done it now.” Leaping back, you dodge a wide-reaching slash that sends you into a fruit stall, almost knocking it over. Its owner doesn’t remain fortunate as when you sidestep the next attack, the woman’s blade splits the whole thing into two, showering her, yourself, and everyone unfortunately close enough in citric juices of all sorts. “Hey, if you’re going to do this, why don’t we take it—whoa, watch it!”

The broadsword soars right over your head, almost decapitating another citizen altogether. “Stand still and let me execute you!”

“Absolutely not!” you reply, “And what if had cut off that man’s head?!”

“Then his revival can be paid for out of your pocket!” she answers, attacking once more!

>You need to do something!

[ ] Stop her before she destroys everything.
[ ] There may be collateral, but you’re running.
[ ] Take advantage of the fact you’re surrounded by people to attack her.
[ ] Write-in.

>>3392517
[X ] There may be collateral, but you’re running.

It's not running, it's a tactical retreat

>>3392517
[x] Stop her before she destroys everything.

This may gain us some street cred with the locals.

>>3392517
>[ ] Stop her before she destroys everything.

>>3392517
>Take advantage of the fact you’re surrounded by people to attack her.

>>3392517
>[ ] Stop her before she destroys everything.

>>3392525
>>3392543
>>3392546
>>3392579
>>3392583
Vote closed. Writing.

You can’t let her keep this up! At this rate, you’ll get kicked out along with her, or worse, you’ll be blackballed from every place that isn’t a backwater village! You need to stop her now before she destroys everything. With your right hand, you begin to take out your backsword awkwardly.

What would normally be a simple motion is interrupted by the fact that Mikan almost split your skull in half horizontally.

“Watch it, not the face!” you say, her fist driving into the wooden stand right before you pull out of the way. “What did I just say?!”

You reassess her. A two-handed broadsword is being swung around, and yet she can use it with a single hand if needs be. On her left arm is a buckler, one that’s worn with countless battle scars that have been buffed out and reinforced. An absolute gorilla of a woman, you decide. You’re sure her blood allows her uncanny strength.

You know just the thing. Attached to your belt is an assortment of daggers. With your left hand running around your side, you feel the hilt of a particularly heavy and sturdy parrying blade, pulling it free easily. Right foot in front of the left, you ready yourself against the charging buffoon!

“I see you’re finally ready to fight!” she says.

“Would you believe me if I said I was doing it for the people?” you throw out.

>1/3

File: 67b90f0059efecb2f0d4a5c00(...).jpg (45 KB, 474x355)

45 KB JPG

>>3392673

>You have entered Combat!
>Combat consists of rounds composing of two turns, where the first round is only a single turn.
>Each turn consists of multiple Phases, each lasting a single sentence long.

>The goal of Combat is to reduce your opponent’s Stamina BELOW zero through the use of Skills.
>Any Skill that would drop Stamina from a positive number to a negative one will instead hit zero.
>When your Stamina is zero, any Skill you use that would normally deplete your own Stamina will not do so.

>Skills are resolved on a Phase-by-Phase basis, and are dependent on Distance.
>Skills requiring a Distance check will make one at the start of the specified Phase, meaning they can be dodged.

>2/3

>>3392689

Distance:10

---

Mikan’s Stamina: 32

Trick: ???

>?

>?

>?

>?

>?

---

Kuri’s Stamina: 35

Trick: Mind’s Eye – Every time your opponent uses a Skill they have not used before, reveal a random Skill that has not been shown yet.

>This is the first round, so select only one.

[ ] (Riposte) Pick a Skill from your opponent and deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. If your opponent uses that Skill this turn that reduces your Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the depletion to 1. If your opponent uses that Skill that this turn, deplete 3 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 6 or less.

[ ] (Harrowing Thrust) Reduce distance by 4. Deplete 7 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 7 or less and 2 or more. Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself.

[ ] (Disengage) Increase distance by 10. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Wait. Keep waiting. Decrease Distance by 4.

[ ] (Force Their Hand) Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself. Reduce distance by 1. Your opponent must use a random Skill they currently have next turn if their distance is 8 or less.

[ ] (Scum’s Feint) Do nothing. Increase Distance by 2. Deplete 5 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 10 or less and 6 or more. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself.

At any time, you are free to write-in something to say to your opponent.

>>3392691
Harrowing Thrust

>>3392691
[ ] (Scum’s Feint)
Seems a bit complicated, but let's see what happens! What is distance measured in? Feet, meters, etc?

>>3392704
Oh, and if a skill both affects distance and has an effect that is triggered at a certain distance, which occurs first? Might change my choice depending on the answer

>>3392691

> Harrowing Thrust

>>3392691
>[x] (Harrowing Thrust)

"Don't you realise you are committing way worse crimes here than you are accusing me?"

>>3392704
>What is distance measured in? Feet, meters, etc?
Exponential magic units. I'd consider 0-4 to be up close and personal, 4-8 to be mid-range, and 10+ to be far.

>>3392715
Depends on what Phase it's on. If the Distance moving is a sentence before the distance check, then it moves you and then it checks. If it's on the same sentence/phase, then it checks before moving.

>>3392732
Males sense. I'll jump on the Harrowing Thrust bandwagon then.

>>3392701
>>3392716
>>3392728
>>3392747
Vote closed. Writing.

You throw out. “Don’t you realize you are committing crimes here far worse than what you accuse me of?”

She begins to lunge at you, but she suddenly stops! Her boots loudly skid to a halt as she rethinks lunging against a swordbreaker with a sword. Regarding your question, she answers, “Destruction of property is acceptable when it comes to securing a criminal such as yourself! The greater the criminal, the greater the leeway!”

“Has anyone ever informed you that you are a complete maniac?” you ask, “Let me be the first.”

>Kuri uses Harrowing Thrust!

You crouch down and explode forward, a sudden burst of speed marked by a flash of steel! Backsword ready, the false edge allows it to be sharp enough to at least pierce her throat, and it is precisely your intention as you thrust with deadly precision.

>Turn 1, Phase 1: Distance reduced from 10 to 6.

But she, in her state of caution, had feared for the worst. She laughs, “All you swordbreakers are the same!”

Her left arm twists at the last second, your blade glancing off of the buckler as you stop your momentum by kicking her. Easily, she leverages the point of contact and throws the attack wide off its mark. You’re met with a weak counter-attack as she swipes at you with her sword, something that’s easily dodged.

>Mikan uses Buckle Up!
>(Buckle Up) You cannot lose any Stamina this Phase or the next by a Skill from your opponent. Deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. Deplete 1 Stamina for your opponent if the distance is 4 or less.

While your attack would’ve normally caused her to be shaken, she instead shrugs it off.

>Mikan’s Trick is unveiled.
>Gorilla Strength – Once every round when you would lose Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the loss by one.

>Turn 1, Phase 2: Mikan loses no Stamina due to the effects of Gorilla Strength.

“You’re not expecting me to pay for the damages you’ve caused, are you?” you ask.

“Of course I am,” she answers with a scoff. “This is entirely your fault, after all!”

>Turn 1, Phase 3: Kuri’s Stamina reduced from 35 to 33.

To that, you can only sigh. “No wonder you’re an exile.”

“Silence at once!” she says, “Now that I’ve seen all your tricks, you’re done for!”

You smirk. “Right back at you.”

>Mind’s Eye activates, revealing to you one of Mikan’s Skills!
>(The Weight of Steel) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Reduce the magnitude by 2 of any Distance changes this Phase. Deplete 9 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 5 or less.

>1/2

>>3392825

Mikan’s Stamina: 32

Trick: Gorilla Strength – Once every round when you would lose Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the loss by one.

>(Buckle Up) You cannot lose any Stamina this Phase or the next by a Skill from your opponent. Deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. Deplete 1 Stamina for your opponent if the distance is 4 or less.

>(The Weight of Steel) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Reduce the magnitude by 2 of any Distance changes this Phase. Deplete 9 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 5 or less.

>?

>?

>?

---

Kuri’s Stamina: 32

Trick: Mind’s Eye – Every time your opponent uses a Skill they have not used before, reveal a random Skill that has not been shown yet.

> Distance: 6. Select two.

[ ] (Riposte) Pick a Skill from your opponent and deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. If your opponent uses that Skill this turn that reduces your Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the depletion to 1. If your opponent uses that Skill that this turn, deplete 3 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 6 or less.

[ ] (Harrowing Thrust) Reduce distance by 4. Deplete 7 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 7 or less and 2 or more. Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself.

[ ] (Disengage) Increase distance by 10. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Wait. Keep waiting. Decrease Distance by 4.

[ ] (Force Their Hand) Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself. Reduce distance by 1. Your opponent must use a random Skill they currently have next turn if their distance is 8 or less.

[ ] (Scum’s Feint) Do nothing. Increase Distance by 2. Deplete 5 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 10 or less and 6 or more. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself.

Minor mistake, your Stamina is actually 32.

>>3392839
(Scum’s Feint)

>>3392906
You need to select for two turns, so I'm assuming this is Scum's Feint x2?

>>3392839
[x] (Scum’s Feint)

"If you are going to act like a rabid dog you will need to be put down, for the good of mine's, your's and everyone around us."

>>3392934
Derp, let me see.
(Scum’s Feint)
Then
Force Their Hand

>>3392944
>>3392945
Closing the vote for this, I think. Writing.

>>3392945
>>3392944

And this.

“If you are going to act like a rabid dog, you'll need to be put down, for the good of you, me, and everyone around us,” you say, baiting her in.

“Clam it shut or I’ll do it myself!” she answers.

You crouch and she lifts her broadsword in a motion that’s far too predictable. It was a simple trick, one that she fell for completely. To her credit, it falls much faster than you expected, forcing you to extend your parrying dagger at the last moment. Her blade catches in your crossguard and is pushed to the outside so it can crash down onto the ground. The sheer force causes a small tremor and makes you wince.

>Kuri uses Scum’s Feint!
>Mikan uses The Weight of Steel!
>Turn 1, Phase 1: Mikan’s Stamina is reduced from 32 to 29 because of Gorilla Strength.
>Turn 1, Phase 2: Distance is unchanged at 6.

“Too slow!” you exclaim, laughing. Your backsword launches into a wild arc that slices through the gap in her vestments, parting cloth and drawing blood. She does, however, retreat quick enough to stop you from hitting bone. Grunting, she pulls her weapon out.

>Turn 1, Phase 3: Mikan’s Stamina is reduced from 29 to 24.
>Turn 1, Phase 4: Kuri’s Stamina is reduced from 32 to 30.

You see it! You see it all, the motions of the exiled inquisitor. Their moves flow into one another and are predictable as ever, and with your blood, you can plot out the map of the battle with barely any effort at all!

>Mind’s Eye activates!
>(Smite) Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Shout angrily at your opponent. Shout angrily at the sky. Patiently wait for divine retribution. Deplete 6 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 12 or less and 8 or more.

As you reposition yourself, she then steps back and...

Does nothing.

You lower your sword for a second. “What are you doing?”

Mikan awkwardly blinks. “Aren’t you going to come at me?”

“...No?”

>Mikan uses Blind Justice!
>(Blind Justice) Wait. Wait some more. For every two points of Stamina your opponent tried to deplete in the last Phase or this one, deplete 3 Stamina for them if the Distance is 7 or more. Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself.

>Kuri uses Force Their Hand!

“S-so be it then!” she tells you, charging. Your footwork lands you a single step back and two forward as you close the distance in an unpredictable manner. Your blade swipes at her and she’s force to suddenly change positions, blocking it and stuck in a strange pose she can’t get out of quite that easily. She utters, “What the—?!”

Before she can collect herself, you’re already on the attack!

>Turn 2, Phase 1: Kuri’s Stamina reduced from 30 to 27.
>Turn 2, Phase 2: Mikan’s next turn is randomized.
>Turn 2, Phase 3: Nothing happens.
>Turn 2, Phase 4: Mikan’s Stamina reduced from 24 to 20.

>Mind’s Eye activates!
>(Unshakable Faith) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Increase Distance by 3. Take a breather. Regain 3 Stamina for yourself.


>1/2

>>3393047

Mikan’s Stamina: 20

Trick: Gorilla Strength – Once every round when you would lose Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the loss by one.

>(Buckle Up) You cannot lose any Stamina this Phase or the next by a Skill from your opponent. Deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. Deplete 1 Stamina for your opponent if the distance is 4 or less.

>(The Weight of Steel) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Reduce the magnitude by 2 of any Distance changes this Phase. Deplete 9 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 5 or less.

>(Blind Justice) Wait. Wait some more. For every two points of Stamina your opponent tried to deplete in the last Phase, deplete 3 Stamina for them if the Distance is 7 or more. Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself.

>(Unshakable Faith) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Increase Distance by 3. Take a breather. Regain 3 Stamina for yourself.

>(Smite) Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Shout angrily at your opponent. Shout angrily at the sky. Patiently wait for divine retribution. Deplete 6 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 12 or less and 8 or more.Stamina for yourself. Deplete 1 Stamina for your opponent if the distance is 4 or less.

---

Kuri’s Stamina: 27

Trick: Mind’s Eye – Every time your opponent uses a Skill they have not used before, reveal a random Skill that has not been shown yet.

>Distance: 5. Select two.

[ ] (Riposte) Pick a Skill from your opponent and deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. If your opponent uses that Skill this turn that reduces your Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the depletion to 1. If your opponent uses that Skill that this turn, deplete 3 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 6 or less.

[ ] (Harrowing Thrust) Reduce distance by 4. Deplete 7 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 7 or less and 2 or more. Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself.

[ ] (Disengage) Increase distance by 10. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Wait. Keep waiting. Decrease Distance by 4.

[ ] (Force Their Hand) Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself. Reduce distance by 1. Your opponent must use a random Skill they currently have next turn if their distance is 8 or less.

[ ] (Scum’s Feint) Do nothing. Increase Distance by 2. Deplete 5 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 10 or less and 6 or more. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself.

Surely third time's the charm and that I will stop messing up the skills.

>>3393103
>[x] (Riposte) (The Weight of Steel)
>[x] (Harrowing Thrust)

this >>3393127

Rolled 5 (1d5)

>>3393127
>>3393151
Voting closed. Writing.

“Impossible,” she gets out, “Am I losing?”

“Are you?” you ask, “Oh wait, I think you are! Best to lie down and give up, yes?”

Roaring, she shouts, “Never!” Her next swing cleaves a table in half and sends countless baubles into the air and a second one tears very, very expensive fabric into pieces.

You’d give the people standing behind them a look of pity, but they just seem really, really frustrated that you’d choose to even fight here in the first place. The solution, you arrive at, is to end this as quickly as possible so people will be less inclined to blame you.

Sword raised, you’re ready to go, waiting for her to try to crush you.

>Kuri uses Riposte against The Weight of Steel!

And you wait as she waits.

>Mikan randomly uses Smite!

She stands there, legs crossed and holding an uncomfortable position. She’s mumbling something, in all likelihood some nonsense prayers.

>Turn 1, Phase 1: Kuri’s Stamina reduced from 27 to 26. Mikan’s Stamina reduced from 20 to 19 because of Gorilla Strength.

Having had enough, you test her with a short cut, one that she responds to immediately by breaking her concentration and falling backwards. With a quick, embarrassing tumble, she picks herself up in time to match your blade with her own.

>Kuri uses Harrowing Thrust!
>Mikan uses Blind Justice!

You carry your length of steel right at her neck again, and this time too she deflects it with her buckler. However, you saw it coming, and so you drive your foot right at her shin. It only connects with steel as you’re tangled up with her.

“You can’t hit someone like that,” she tells you.

“I just did, and I will do it again!” you reply, charging in again.

She swings her sword and you catch it with your parrying dagger easily. Her movement was far too obvious, you realize, and before you notice that it was a trap, she twists her broadsword and forces you to expose your chest to her. Her free arm pushing your backsword to the side, she lifts a leg and plants it straight into you, sending you backwards into a tumble!

You pick yourself up just as she closes in. There’s no time to rest in this mad scramble!

>Turn 2, Phase 1: Distance reduced from 5 to 1.
>Turn 2, Phase 2: Harrowing Thrust misses.
>Turn 2, Phase 3: Kuri’s Stamina reduced from 26 to 23.
>Turn 2, Phase 4: Mikan’s Stamina reduced from 20 to 16.

>1/2

>>3393236

Mikan’s Stamina: 16

Trick: Gorilla Strength – Once every round when you would lose Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the loss by one.

>(Buckle Up) You cannot lose any Stamina this Phase or the next by a Skill from your opponent. Deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. Deplete 1 Stamina for your opponent if the distance is 4 or less.

>(The Weight of Steel) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Reduce the magnitude by 2 of any Distance changes this Phase. Deplete 9 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 5 or less.

>(Blind Justice) Wait. Wait some more. For every two points of Stamina your opponent tried to deplete in the last Phase, deplete 3 Stamina for them if the Distance is 7 or more. Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself.

>(Unshakable Faith) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Increase Distance by 3. Take a breather. Regain 3 Stamina for yourself.

>(Smite) Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Shout angrily at your opponent. Shout angrily at the sky. Patiently wait for divine retribution. Deplete 6 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 12 or less and 8 or more.

---

Kuri’s Stamina: 23

Trick: Mind’s Eye – Every time your opponent uses a Skill they have not used before, reveal a random Skill that has not been shown yet.

>Distance: 1. Select two.

[ ] (Riposte) Pick a Skill from your opponent and deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. If your opponent uses that Skill this turn that reduces your Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the depletion to 1. If your opponent uses that Skill that this turn, deplete 3 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 6 or less.

[ ] (Harrowing Thrust) Reduce distance by 4. Deplete 7 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 7 or less and 2 or more. Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself.

[ ] (Disengage) Increase distance by 10. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Wait. Keep waiting. Decrease Distance by 4.

[ ] (Force Their Hand) Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself. Reduce distance by 1. Your opponent must use a random Skill they currently have next turn if their distance is 8 or less.

[ ] (Scum’s Feint) Do nothing. Increase Distance by 2. Deplete 5 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 10 or less and 6 or more. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself.

Be back in 30.

>>3393237
>Disengage
Followed by
>Scum's Feint
Too close for my liking

>>3393237
>[x] (Disengage)
>[x] (Scum’s Feint)

"What mental hospital do you even come from, woman?"

>>3393275
>>3393288
I lied completely. I'll just close and write.

You don’t feel comfortable being so close to this rampaging maniac. In an explosive burst, you launch backwards as Mikan does her best to split the planet into two.

>Kuri uses Disengage!
>Mikan uses The Weight of Steel!

You might have overdone it too, as you threw yourself so far that you end up crashing into someone. Apologizing profusely, you get up and lift the poor soul that you used as a cushion before meeting to face the exiled inquisitor again.

She grumbles, “Why is it that you swordbreakers are always running around? Face me with honor already!”

“Hell no,” you spit out, “You’ll crush me. What do you think I am, stupid?”

>Turn 1, Phase 1: Distance increased to 11. Mikan’s Stamina reduced from 16 to 13 because of Gorilla Strength.
>Turn 1, Phase 2: Kuri’s Stamina reduced from 23 to 21.
>Turn 1, Phase 5: Distance reduced to 7.

Gnashing her teeth together, she fixes her stance as you raise your sword.

“What asylum have you come from, woman?” you ask.

By now, she has learned to not reply. Too bad she hasn’t learned to not fall for the same trick anyways. She raises her buckler in anticipation for something that never arrives.

>Kuri uses Scum’s Feint!
>Mikan uses Buckle Up!

Instead, you step to the side to her blind spot. She notices it and reacts, and you jink aside as she cuts nothing but air. Using the weight of your entire body, you swing your weapon and smash straight into her chest, denting the plates of steel. The exiled inquisitor wheezes as she takes a step back, wincing.

“H-hey,” she asks, “Don’t you think you can take it easy on me? Since I’m on the side of justice and everything.”

You smile. “That’s a good one.”

“Wait, I’m serious!” she replies as you advance.

>Turn 2, Phase 2: Mikan’s Stamina reduced from 13 to 12. Distance increased to 9.
>Turn 2, Phase 3: Mikan’s Stamina reduced from 12 to 7.
>Turn 2, Phase 4: Kuri’s Stamina reduced from 21 to 19.


>1/2

>>3393403

Mikan’s Stamina: 7

Trick: Gorilla Strength – Once every round when you would lose Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the loss by one.

>(Buckle Up) You cannot lose any Stamina this Phase or the next by a Skill from your opponent. Deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. Deplete 1 Stamina for your opponent if the distance is 4 or less.

>(The Weight of Steel) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Reduce the magnitude by 2 of any Distance changes this Phase. Deplete 9 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 5 or less.

>(Blind Justice) Wait. Wait some more. For every two points of Stamina your opponent tried to deplete in the last Phase, deplete 3 Stamina for them if the Distance is 7 or more. Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself.

>(Unshakable Faith) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Increase Distance by 3. Take a breather. Regain 3 Stamina for yourself.

>(Smite) Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Shout angrily at your opponent. Shout angrily at the sky. Patiently wait for divine retribution. Deplete 6 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 12 or less and 8 or more.

---

Kuri’s Stamina: 19

Trick: Mind’s Eye – Every time your opponent uses a Skill they have not used before, reveal a random Skill that has not been shown yet.

>Distance: 9. Select two.

[ ] (Riposte) Pick a Skill from your opponent and deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. If your opponent uses that Skill this turn that reduces your Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the depletion to 1. If your opponent uses that Skill that this turn, deplete 3 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 6 or less.

[ ] (Harrowing Thrust) Reduce distance by 4. Deplete 7 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 7 or less and 2 or more. Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself.

[ ] (Disengage) Increase distance by 10. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Wait. Keep waiting. Decrease Distance by 4.

[ ] (Force Their Hand) Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself. Reduce distance by 1. Your opponent must use a random Skill they currently have next turn if their distance is 8 or less.

[ ] (Scum’s Feint) Do nothing. Increase Distance by 2. Deplete 5 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 10 or less and 6 or more. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself.

>>3393408
"Maybe I will take it easy on you. Now's your chance to surrender. Throw down your sword."

If she doesn't comply,
[ ] (Harrowing Thrust)
followed by
[ ] (Force Their Hand)

>>3393408
>[X] (Scum’s Feint)
>[X] (Force Their Hand)

"That noblewoman is using both of us don't you see?"

>>3393429
+1

>>3393429
>>3393438
1+

Eh, let's not be mean with the mentaly will.

>>3393429
>>3393447
>>3393463
Voting closed. Writing.

“Tempting,” you say, entertaining her, “Now’s your chance to surrender. Throw down your sword.”

“As if!” Mikan retorts, “The only one doing any surrendering here will be you! Justice never loses after all.”

Scanning the area, you reply, baffled, “Are you seeing what I’m seeing, or is it just rainbows and lollipops over there?”

“I-it’s fine if you pay for it,” she answers. Sheepishly, almost.

You howl with laughter. “Your head it is!” A short hop into the air and you’ve place your feet properly, and a second one sends you flying at her.

>Kuri uses Harrowing Thrust!
>Mikan uses Buckle Up!

She’s predicted it, of course, raising her buckler to defend at the last second. It scrapes off of it, but with your parrying dagger, you thrust underneath and severing the buckler strap. Taken by surprise at your removal of her only true defensive tool, she stabs at you in a panic and hits only air as you fly back and rip her shield to the ground.

>Turn 1, Phase 1: Distance is reduced from 7 to 3.
>Turn 1, Phase 2: Mikan’s Stamina is unchanged because of Gorilla Strength.
>Turn 1, Phase 3: Kuri’s Stamina is reduced from 19 to 16.

Landing, you watch she begins to back off. She lifts herself up by planting her sword into the ground, but you won’t let her.

>Kuri uses Force Their Hand!
>Mikan uses Unshakable Faith!

Her face, steeled, crumbles again as you rush in, giving her no room to breathe. Your blade clashes against hers as you force her backwards, intercepting her swings with a dagger in hand. The exiled inquisitor, in a panic, is forced to react!

>Turn 2, Phase 1: Kuri’s Stamina is reduced from 16 to 13. Mikan’s Stamina is reduced from 7 to 3.
>Turn 2, Phase 2: Distance is increased from 3 to 5.
>Turn 2, Phase 3: Kuri’s move next turn is randomized!
>Turn 2, Phase 4: Mikan’s Stamina regains to 6.

>1/2

>>3393499

Mikan’s Stamina: 6

Trick: Gorilla Strength – Once every round when you would lose Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the loss by one.

>(Buckle Up) You cannot lose any Stamina this Phase or the next by a Skill from your opponent. Deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. Deplete 1 Stamina for your opponent if the distance is 4 or less.

>(The Weight of Steel) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Reduce the magnitude by 2 of any Distance changes this Phase. Deplete 9 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 5 or less.

>(Blind Justice) Wait. Wait some more. For every two points of Stamina your opponent tried to deplete in the last Phase, deplete 3 Stamina for them if the Distance is 7 or more. Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself.

>(Unshakable Faith) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Increase Distance by 3. Take a breather. Regain 3 Stamina for yourself.

>(Smite) Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Shout angrily at your opponent. Shout angrily at the sky. Patiently wait for divine retribution. Deplete 6 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 12 or less and 8 or more.

---

Kuri’s Stamina: 13

Trick: Mind’s Eye – Every time your opponent uses a Skill they have not used before, reveal a random Skill that has not been shown yet.

>Distance: 5. Select two.

[ ] (Riposte) Pick a Skill from your opponent and deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. If your opponent uses that Skill this turn that reduces your Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the depletion to 1. If your opponent uses that Skill that this turn, deplete 3 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 6 or less.

[ ] (Harrowing Thrust) Reduce distance by 4. Deplete 7 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 7 or less and 2 or more. Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself.

[ ] (Disengage) Increase distance by 10. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Wait. Keep waiting. Decrease Distance by 4.

[ ] (Force Their Hand) Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself. Reduce distance by 1. Your opponent must use a random Skill they currently have next turn if their distance is 8 or less.

[ ] (Scum’s Feint) Do nothing. Increase Distance by 2. Deplete 5 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 10 or less and 6 or more. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself.

>>3393499
>You howl with laughter. “Your head it is!”
Hopefully we don't kill her. She's stupid, not evil.

>>3393505
>[ ] (Scum’s Feint) Do nothing. Increase Distance by 2. Deplete 5 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 10 or less and 6 or more. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself.

>[ ] (Harrowing Thrust) Reduce distance by 4. Deplete 7 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 7 or less and 2 or more. Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself.

>>3393505
>Riposte against The Weight of Steel
then
>Scum's Feint

Hmm, we have the advantage, hopefully we don't choke here

>>3393517
Even if we kill her, I get the impression she can be resurrected. That's what she was planning to do to us at any rate. Still, if she would stop being a fool and we could avoid killing her, that would be ideal.

>>3393505

>[X] (Riposte) (The Weight of Steel)
>[x] (Scum’s Feint)

>"That noblewoman is using both of us don't you see?"

If we lose is going to be so embarassing.

Rolled 3 (1d5)

>>3393517
>>3393521
>>3393527
>>3393539
Voting closed. Writing.

Fretting, she throws up a defensive stance, waiting for your attack much like you await a crushing blow from above.

>Kuri uses Riposte against Weight of Steel!
>Mikan uses randomly uses Blind Justice!

Neither comes, of course, so you step back. You breathe a sigh of relief as her reflex decisions prove themselves to be horrible.

>Turn 1, Phase 1: Kuri’s Stamina is reduced from 13 to 12.
>Turn 1, Phase 4: Mikan’s Stamina is reduced from 6 to 3 because of Gorilla Strength.

With nothing better to do, you throw out, “That noblewoman is using both of us, don’t you see?”

“N-no she isn’t!” Mikan replies, “She’s the victim here.”

“She’s playing you to escape with my coin! You haven’t even seen the contract yet,” you explain.

Taken aback, she attempts to counter, “I, um, I mean, you’ve been acting like a criminal so far, so... er...” She’s just making up excusing.

You sigh. “Guess there’s no saving you.”

>Kuri uses Scum’s Feint!
>Mikan uses The Weight of Steel!

“No!” she cries out. She forgoes the dropped buckler in favor of simply smashing you over your head with her heavy blade. In hindsight, she should’ve done that from the start, but the way you ran circles around her meant that she couldn’t possibly know when to strike. Nevertheless, she’s figured it out now, and perhaps it’s far too late!

>Turn 1, Phase 1: Mikan’s Stamina is reduced to 0.
>Turn 1, Phase 2: Distance is unchanged because of The Weight of Steel.

Or so you thought. It drops down far too fast than you’d like, crushing you underneath the weight as you catch it with your parrying dagger! You couldn’t move, even if you wanted to!

>Turn 1, Phase 3: Scum’s Feint misses. Kuri’s Stamina is reduced from 12 to 3.

Barely, you angle the blade so it slips down to the side so you can retreat for a second, catching your breath.

Mikan forces out a laugh. “Don’t get so cocky,” she says, panting and drenched in sweat. Her words don’t match her current state of being at all.

>1/2

>>3393647

Mikan’s Stamina: 0

Trick: Gorilla Strength – Once every round when you would lose Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the loss by one.

>(Buckle Up) You cannot lose any Stamina this Phase or the next by a Skill from your opponent. Deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. Deplete 1 Stamina for your opponent if the distance is 4 or less.

>(The Weight of Steel) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Reduce the magnitude by 2 of any Distance changes this Phase. Deplete 9 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 5 or less.

>(Blind Justice) Wait. Wait some more. For every two points of Stamina your opponent tried to deplete in the last Phase, deplete 3 Stamina for them if the Distance is 7 or more. Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself.

>(Unshakable Faith) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Increase Distance by 3. Take a breather. Regain 3 Stamina for yourself.

>(Smite) Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Shout angrily at your opponent. Shout angrily at the sky. Patiently wait for divine retribution. Deplete 6 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 12 or less and 8 or more.

---

Kuri’s Stamina: 3

Trick: Mind’s Eye – Every time your opponent uses a Skill they have not used before, reveal a random Skill that has not been shown yet.

>Distance: 5. Select two.

[ ] (Riposte) Pick a Skill from your opponent and deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. If your opponent uses that Skill this turn that reduces your Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the depletion to 1. If your opponent uses that Skill that this turn, deplete 3 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 6 or less.

[ ] (Harrowing Thrust) Reduce distance by 4. Deplete 7 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 7 or less and 2 or more. Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself.

[ ] (Disengage) Increase distance by 10. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Wait. Keep waiting. Decrease Distance by 4.

[ ] (Force Their Hand) Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself. Reduce distance by 1. Your opponent must use a random Skill they currently have next turn if their distance is 8 or less.

[ ] (Scum’s Feint) Do nothing. Increase Distance by 2. Deplete 5 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 10 or less and 6 or more. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself.

>>3393650
Er, shouldn't the stamina reduction from Weight of Steel been 1?

>>3393657
The Weight of Steel had to be used on the turn you use Riposte. It was kind of strange how you used Riposte even though you randomized her turn with Force Their Hand.

>>3393650
>(Harrowing Thrust) Reduce distance by 4. Deplete 7 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 7 or less and 2 or more. Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself.

>(Disengage) Increase distance by 10. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Wait. Keep waiting. Decrease Distance by 4.

>>3393664
Maybe I'm misunderstanding things. I thought it did happen on the same turn, just a different phase.
>Turn 1, Phase 1: Mikan’s Stamina is reduced to 0.
>Turn 1, Phase 2: Distance is unchanged because of The Weight of Steel.

>>3393675
Whoops, massive typo. It's supposed to say Turn 2.
Turn 1 was Riposte vs Blind Justice
Turn 2 was Scum's Feint against The Weight of Steel

>>3393650
>(Harrowing Thrust) Reduce distance by 4. Deplete 7 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 7 or less and 2 or more. Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself.

>(Disengage) Increase distance by 10. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Wait. Keep waiting. Decrease Distance by 4.

>>3393650
>>(Harrowing Thrust)
>>(Disengage)

Last fucking hit.

>>3393673
>>3393688
>>3393697
Seems like there's a consensus. Writing.

Also, are you playing 4D chess against Mikan right now? I cannot believe anyone would use it here.

>>3393708
I feel like we're about to kill eachother and both bleed out in the street

>>3393712
Fitting end to this shity day.
At least we end up in Japan or somenthing.

>>3393721
Oh shit, inverse Isekai... We'd make Great-Great-Grandpappy proud.

“I’ll end it now and here!” you declare, laughing.

She staggers for a moment. “I won’t fall for that again!” she tells you.

She raises her sword in preparation for your delayed attack, only to find you closing the gap.

>Mikan uses The Weight of Steel!
>Kuri uses Harrowing Thrust!

You’re too close! You skid, slamming straight into her as she finishes her attack, your dagger parrying her massive blade moments before it was about to split you into two. Stumbling, you catch yourself before falling face first onto the ground.

“Fuck,” you say, the world spinning dizzyingly. You’re out of breath. “Why won’t you go down?” you ask.

“Right back at you,” she replies.

>Turn 1, Phase 1: Distance is reduced from 5 to 1!
>Turn 1, Phase 2: Harrowing Thrust misses.
>Turn 1, Phase 3: Kuri’s Stamina is reduced to 0.

Then, you break off, seemingly having the same idea as her. She steps back and picks her buckler off the floor, using her two-handed sword with a single hand as it drags through the dirt.

>Kuri uses Disengage!
>Mikan uses Unshakable Faith!

>Turn 2, Phase 1: Distance is increased from 1 to 11.
>Turn 2, Phase 2: Distance is increased from 11 to 14.
>Turn 2, Phase 4: Mikan’s Stamina regains from 0 to 3.
>Turn 2, Phase 5: Distance is reduced from 14 to 10.

You see her pick herself up with renewed energy. You sputter, “That’s not fair.”

She weakly chuckles, “Are you sure you don’t want to surrender?”

>1/2

>>3393736

Mikan’s Stamina: 3

Trick: Gorilla Strength – Once every round when you would lose Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the loss by one.

>(Buckle Up) You cannot lose any Stamina this Phase or the next by a Skill from your opponent. Deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. Deplete 1 Stamina for your opponent if the distance is 4 or less.

>(The Weight of Steel) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Reduce the magnitude by 2 of any Distance changes this Phase. Deplete 9 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 5 or less.

>(Blind Justice) Wait. Wait some more. For every two points of Stamina your opponent tried to deplete in the last Phase, deplete 3 Stamina for them if the Distance is 7 or more. Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself.

>(Unshakable Faith) Deplete 4 Stamina for yourself. Increase Distance by 3. Take a breather. Regain 3 Stamina for yourself.

>(Smite) Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Shout angrily at your opponent. Shout angrily at the sky. Patiently wait for divine retribution. Deplete 6 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 12 or less and 8 or more.

---

Kuri’s Stamina: 0

Trick: Mind’s Eye – Every time your opponent uses a Skill they have not used before, reveal a random Skill that has not been shown yet.

>Distance: 10. Select two.

[ ] (Riposte) Pick a Skill from your opponent and deplete 1 Stamina for yourself. If your opponent uses that Skill this turn that reduces your Stamina, reduce the magnitude of the depletion to 1. If your opponent uses that Skill that this turn, deplete 3 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 6 or less.

[ ] (Harrowing Thrust) Reduce distance by 4. Deplete 7 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 7 or less and 2 or more. Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself.

[ ] (Disengage) Increase distance by 10. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself. Wait. Keep waiting. Decrease Distance by 4.

[ ] (Force Their Hand) Deplete 3 Stamina for yourself. Reduce distance by 1. Your opponent must use a random Skill they currently have next turn if their distance is 8 or less.

[ ] (Scum’s Feint) Do nothing. Increase Distance by 2. Deplete 5 Stamina for your opponent if the Distance is 10 or less and 6 or more. Deplete 2 Stamina for yourself.

Be back in 30.

>>3393739
How does this combat system even work?

>>3393745
He posted the general stuff here >>3392689

>>3393739
How the fuck we got in this situation? We use anithing we are down.

>>3393752
If we open with Harrowing Thrust, we could cinch it, I think. If she used smite, that might fuck us.

>>3393749
That is really bias toward people with a recovery skill. Makes it impossible to beat them as long as they keep using it.

>>3393761
Her stamina is above 0, anything that would reduce stamina from a positive number to a negative one instead reduces it to 0.
We would have to reduce her to 0, then hit her with another stamina reduction before she recovers again. Which if it's recovery, means she's unbeatable.

>>3393739
>>3393761

"For a crazy bitch you are not so bad with a sword.
You would make a great REAL Inquisitor."

Whatever we do we denounce her publicly to the entire neiborhood.

>>3393775
I could be wrong, but I think it only stops at zero if one of HER skills would put her at a negative value and that if one of our skills would send her negative, it would work completely. Would need the QM to clarify tho.

>>3393788
I'm down with that

How does doing
>(Harrowing Thrust)
>(Disengage)

again sound? It feels like we have to do hit and run tactics on herif we want to win at this point.

>>3393802
Dude it says in the post:
>Any Skill that would drop Stamina from a positive number to a negative one will instead hit zero.
>When your Stamina is zero, any Skill you use that would normally deplete your own Stamina will not do so.
You have to drop them to 0, then hit them again. When we dropped her to 0 the first time, she was at 3 and we hit her with Scum's Feint which reduced it by 5. 4, if we count her trick.

>>3393813
The problem is, if she hits us with anything that reduces our stamina, we lose. We can't even just double disengage, because unless we're at 6 distance even, she has stuff that can reduce our stamina.

>>3393813
>>3393824

Dammit. We shoud have forced her hand in >>3393650 when we had the chance.

>>3393802
Any Skills would stop at zero before hitting negative. You basically need to make a final blow when their Stamina is 0. You can never hit negative Stamina through your own Skills.

>>3393775
You will dodge Smite if you use HT.
>>>3393749
>That is really bias toward people with a recovery skill. Makes it impossible to beat them as long as they keep using it.
Not true. It takes until the fourth Phase for it to heal, and almost every single one of your Skills reduces opponent's Stamina before then. It's completely reliant on you doing absolutely nothing.

>>3393813
Lazily tripleposting but if there's no other votes, I'll write. You can very much win this, by the way. All of Mikan's Skills are very delayed.

>>3393739
For the sake of having something voted on, I guess I'll go with this?

>Harrowing Thrust
>Harrowing Thrust

>>3393788
>>3393929
1+

Well we tried. All in all it was a good fight.

>>3393929
>>3393937
Writing.

>>3393937
Winning or losing she have no real authority over anything. So shame on her.

“Oh Gods, I’m done for,” you say, hand on your chest as it heaves. You lift a foot up and say, “As if.” In an instant, you kick forward, driving the other end of your blade toward her.

>Kuri uses Harrowing Thrust!
>Mikan uses Buckle Up!

>Turn 1, Phase 1: Distance is reduced from 10 to 6.
>Turn 1, Phase 2: Mikan’s Stamina is unchanged because of Gorilla Strength.

A single collision as she blocks it with her buckler, splitting it into two. For a moment, the two of you eye each other down. In this frozen time, you can almost tell what she is thinking, and knows the same.

You separate, rocking on the heel of a foot.

“You know, you’re not bad with a sword. Too bad even if you win, you’d still be wrong.”

She shouts, “I’ve fallen for your tricks long enough!” Before you can react, she has her sword angled closer to the horizontal, expecting a feint. It’s such a shame she caught on far too late. “If I can’t win, I’ll at least tie!”

>Kuri uses Harrowing Thrust!
>Mikan uses Blind Justice!

Leaning forward, you let yourself fall so that you can kick off the ground. The exiled inquisitor follows through with her attack, but you’ve closed the gap in a frighteningly short length of time, and all she can do is weakly swing at thin air.

>Turn 2, Phase 1: Distance is reduced from 6 to 2.
>Turn 2, Phase 2: Mikan’s Stamina is reduced from 3 to 0.

Easily, you catch it with your dagger, deflecting it just as she tries to slam her elbow into you. She fails, of course, but that doesn’t stop her from accidentally knocking your backsword into the opposite direction.

Without any hesitation, you run for it, picking it up off the ground just in time to see a crowd of well-armored figures in the distance approaching. You groan. “The actual inquisitors are coming. I hope you’re happy.”

“Well then,” she says, patting herself off while wheezing, “Why don’t we call this your loss and leave it at that?”

You snort.

>She offers you an out.

[ ] Take it. Time to bail.
[ ] Take the chance to run, but also take the chance to make fun of her.
[ ] No way. You’re not done with her! (Input 3 Skills)
[ ] Write-in.

>>3393988
>>[X] Take it. Time to bail.
>>[X] Write-in.

"You know they are going to execute you right?
If yoy really give a damn about doing the rigth ting run away abandom this persona."

>>3394013
*abandon this persona and fight as yourself."

>>3394013
>>3394028
Vote closed. Writing.

>>3393988
[ ] No way. You’re not done with her! (Input 3 Skills)
>Force Hand
>Harrowing Thrust
>Disengage

Ah, god dammit, I know it's stupid, but I want to kick her ass so much!

>>3394048
Shit, too late.

>>3394054
Let's not be mean to her, man.
Her heart is in the right place even if her brain isn't.

“You know they’re going to execute you, right?”

“Huh? So what?” she asks, “They aren’t heroes. They can try!”

“That’s beside the point,” you reply, “Forget it. Tell you what, you can make a fool of yourself all you want here, and I’ll leave. Farewell!” You give her a short wave as you take off, running before the inquisitors can get any closer. While you have experiencing running while being exhausted, you’re not too sure if Mikan shares the same skills. Maybe she can outrun them through sheer gorilla-brain willpower, you’d never know.

Throwing yourself up onto a canopy, you climb up and leap onto the rooftops as you go from one to the other, heading to the edge of the town. The tiled roofs clink and clank as you pretty much ruin them. Not your problem, anyways.

Eventually the commotion dies down behind you and you catch your breath as you hide in a quiet part of town, your blades hidden underneath a massive towel you’ve draped over your head.

The plan is simple. Tonight, you’ll bail out of town and head for the closest village that has been under attack by roaming demons. Surely they’ll have coin for you. Solidifying the details of your next venture, you begin to walk down a road.

“Wait for me!” Mikan audibly shouts.

“What the—“ You spin around to see a wildly conspicuous hero stomping your way, her armor noisily striking against itself. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Are you following me?!”

>Oh. Oh no.

[ ] Run.
[ ] “What is it now?!”
[ ] “If you’re selling something, I’m not buying.”
[ ] “Sorry, have you mistaken me for someone else?”
[ ] “I’m not going to die with you. Please go away.”
[ ] Write-in.

>>3394091
>>[X] Run.
>>[X] Write-in.

"What, changed your mind, sis?"

>>3394091
>Pretend to let her join
>Disarm her and slam her to the wall and wait for the inquisitor
a real quixote, this one

>>3394116
I doubt the inuisitors would be interested in our side of the history.

>>3394120
At least Kuri here has the contract.

Even if this results in jail time, I think being caught for something that isn't entirely a crime is alright, gives us a bit of ammo for the future.

>>3394091
>[ ] “If you’re selling something, I’m not buying.”
>Write In
>> Because, ya know, you need money to but things. And thanks to SOMEONE, I'm a bit short right now.

>>3394109
>>3394143
+1

>>3394116
>>3394143
>>3394146
Vote closed. Writing.

You begin to pick up speed. She shouts some more and you soon realize you aren’t going to lose her that easily.

“If you’re selling something, I’m not buying,” you tell her, “Because, ya know, you need money to buy things, and thanks to someone, I’m a bit short right now.” And then she catches up. You turn so she doesn’t take you by surprise, backing up.

Bending over and bracing herself on her knees, she explains, “I’m not,” she stops, “Trying to,” and again, “Sell you something.”

You cross your arms. “It was a joke.”

“So cruel,” she replies, “In any case,” she pauses, catching her breath one last time, “I need to make sure you don’t commit any horrible deeds! Even if you may be right about this whole contract business, you’re definitely going to do some completely unethical things in the future. I can smell it.”

“That’s probably because I haven’t had a shower a while. But sure. I’ll meet you right here tomorrow morning and we can discuss our plans then. Deal? Great! Let’s split up so the inquisitors don’t catch us.” Without giving her room to argue, you immediately turn and begin walking.

She, of course, follows. “You have no plans to meet me her then, do you.”

“Please get the hint,” you tell her.

Mikan laughs. “I refuse.”

You walk even faster. “If you don’t, I’ll draw my sword.”

“And lose a second time? I look forward to it!” she replies

You stop. Putting your hands at the sides of your mouth as to amplify your voice, you shout, “Help! This dangerous madwoman claiming to be a hero inquisitor is assaulting me!”

She gasps. “You bastard—!”

Lunging for you, she tries to grab you but you’re already running.

Down the cobblestone roads, you flee, laughing as you dodge and weave between the town’s citizens while she crashes into them. As the sun beats down onto the city, life moves on, one forgettable moment to the next.

The demon lord can wait for some rich noble and his cronies he’s gifted with jewel encrusted regalia. You? You’ll live life as it is, skipping from one town to the next.

After all, who the hell cares about that kind of stuff?

Thanks for playing, I hope you enjoyed this short little thing. I think it's safe to say this combat system is an utter failure.

>>3394186
I din't fell frustrated by it. It was a enjoyable fight all in all.
It was a fun oneshot.

So, it's safe to say Mikan will stalk us to the ends of the world? Are all our distant relatives as crazy as her?

>>3394186
Ouro put a LOT of work into his system, work that makes it significantly more than hit/dont get hit, and even after that he had it vetted in the discord.

Case in point: before he brought it to discord, he was planning to have 1 vote for EVERY action.

>>3394202
>So, it's safe to say Mikan will stalk us to the ends of the world?
+1 to the party!
>Are all our distant relatives as crazy as her?
Depends on how pronounced the otherworlder's blood is.

>>3394208
>Ouro put a LOT of work into his system
I know, and I have a ridiculous amount of respect for that. Why does it seem like you believe this was a slight against him?

>more than hit/dont get hit
I think that's a silly point to make when it's the main mechanic that reinforces well-thought out choices. CoS barely involves move whiffing and comes only in the form of Rattles, which are very rare. I think in the end, move priority is far too complex, seeing as the whiffing Harrowing Thrust meant a complete disregard for the primary mechanic of this system.

>>3394186
Thanks for running! I don't think that the combat system was terrible, although I had quite a few misconceptions about it that led to voting for poor choices.

>>3394226
My point was that you could have had this checked somewhere. QMG, or discord, or wherever. Another pair of eyes always helps for these sorts of things.

>reinforces well-thought out choices
Dude, EVERYONE can claim to be attempting that.

One of the big things CoS' 3 pool resource system does is create multiple mini-goals within a fight, as well as more assuredly telegraph potential moves.

>telegraph
this makes it more reliable to predict enemy attacks. Distance fulfills this role to a certain degree, buuuuut

>mini-goals
By creating multiple methods to gain the upper hand in combat, you can allow actions to actually do the thing they say they do so that combat doesn't devolve into negating each other's attacks(don't get hit).

sentence priority is all well and good, but since it does not change the battle situation round by round, it only adds a layer of encryption before you figure out which moves are the rocks, papers, and scissors. Distance is not complex enough to confidently determine what the enemy will do in an RPS fight.

>>3394262
You're right. I had thought the Distance limitations between skills were enough, but apparently not.

>that combat doesn't devolve into negating each other's attacks
But this is the primary purpose of the system? The Stamina costs for each moves makes this very intentional. You're always speeding toward the end regardless.

>>3394273
>primary purpose
Oh. Well. I did not expect that.

I guess that's fair, I'm just not a fan of Blue/Control decks in MTG.

>>3394186
This combat system takes fucking forever and makes no sense whatsoever.

>>3394186
I liked the quest up until the combat started. Then I ignored it until the combat was over.