All posts by ShinJae

Champions of Battle: AD7 – Awakening #26

Stealth Phrygian was an amazing ship.  AD7 noticed that from the moment it decloaked above them in the woods.  She didn’t hear anything while floated just above them.  It just appeared out of nowhere.  The ship had to be almost a meter long and about three decimeters wide.  She had no idea how tall it was until they were inside.

She followed Keyanna on a path through the ship.  They had to walk a ways to reach the captain’s cabin.  The flight was so smooth AD7 forgot that she was in an airship for a while.  She mistook it for a building when eating in the conference room.  Eleven people were able to sit there with room to spare.  Still, the conference room was on a lower level.  They had climbed a few ladders on their way to see Tirzah.

It was vitally important that AD7 speak with her.  It seemed they all were convinced that AD7 was some kind of Mech wizard.  While the Mech Talent Schools were a result of her actions, the Mech Army was not her doing.  If they expect her to help them, they would have to rescue Eighty-Seven.  They would all be very disappointed if they relied on AD7 as she was.

Keyanna lead her directly to Tirzah’s office.  As they walked in, they saw Tirzah looking at a detailed layout for a large castle city.  The slightly opaque image covered her desk.  It disappeared at the desk’s edges.  By the motions of her hands, the image moved to a different area and zoomed in and out.  She studied every bit of the city, even the sewers underneath.  Keyanna and AD7 walked in unannounced yet Tirzah wasn’t at all surprised to see them.

“Done eating,” she asked after giving them the slightest of glances.  She returned her gaze to the image on her desk.  They approached and noticed that her lamp and desk decorations were now on the floor behind her.

“Yes,” AD7 answered.  After a pause she continued, “I’m sorry to interrupt but I’m probably not the person that you need for your trails.  I don’t know anything about any war.”

Keyanna didn’t like hearing that.  She looked at AD7 with piercing eyes.  AD7 nodded to her acknowledging her disapproval.

Tirzah didn’t seem to like it either.  She stopped looking at the city’s image and focused on AD7 as she spoke again, “You are exactly the person that I need.”  She saw AD7’s confused look.  Then she asked, “Do you remember much about the machines you left at your wall?”  AD7 gave a negative response.  “We’ll try to help you,” she said with true sympathy, “Well; Rubin’s Trail has had your mechanized counterpart for the better part of twenty years.  They have yet to get anything from her directly.”  She paused letting the information sink in.  “I’m sure that you and her need to work together again for either of you to be close to what you were before.”

AD7 smile and said, “I was thinking the same thing.”

Tirzah smiled as well, “We had better start planning then.”  She brought the image of Rubin’s Trail back onto her desk.  Glancing at AD7 again she said, “The sandwiches were amazing by the way.”

#1 – Awakening #25 – Awakening #27

Champions of Battle: The Very Best – Opportunity #25

The BigBad Crew walked through the shade of the towering sunflowers.  The rectangular stone tiles were of varying colors but matched each other perfectly in size.  They were placed in a V-pattern all along the walkways.

The streets were lined with blue flowers about five centimeters tall.  The city had a nice clean look to it, much better than they expected.  The holographic images didn’t do it justice.  Jaquan and Justice took the lead while the others followed.  They each carried their own bags, taking in the sights as they headed for their destination.

During the flight, they had made reservations at the most elegant rest stop in West Drop.  The stop was annexed by a luxurious and secure hotel but they didn’t need to stay the night.  After a few hours, they would be on their way again.

As they walked, Jaquan kept asking Justice about the tournament.  Still convinced that he was the absolute best, he was looking for any oddity that an opponent could use to beat him.  His long championship streak was proof of his superior skill.  Yet, he had never done anything like this before.

The open invitation policy encouraged anyone from the street to join and fight.  How would a person off the street be able to beat me?  I’m a seasoned and trained champion.  Cheesy tactics came to mind.  If they used them well enough they could win.

The fighters in the tournament were one thing.  The basic structure of the brackets also confused Jaquan a little.  “What’s a coin elimination tournament,” he asked Justice.

Justice had to pull his eyes from a lovely walking flower to respond, “It’s simple really.  Everyone gets two coins.  Everyone fights at random, once per round.  Winner takes the coins.  Run out of coins and you’re out.”  He turned back and waved at the lady, but she ignored him.

That sounds simple enough.  Most of the scrubs would be eliminated early.  There was another problem Jaquan saw with this set up. “Won’t it get long at the end when there are only a few fighters left?”

“Oh, I forgot. Every other round, everyone gives up a coin in order to continue.  Be careful.  The coins disappear faster than you’d think.  Some of these fighters know some pretty rare techniques too.”

Jaquan had to admit he had one disadvantage.  There were at least eighty fighters in this tournament so far.  All had free access to his fight videos.  They could prepare for him while he knew nothing about any of them.  He had champion level skills though.  He could find a way to beat anyone.  He always did.

Approaching the rest area, they met the receptionist inside the door.  The rest zone matched the city perfectly.  Beautiful stones covered everything.  Everything was accented with the same small flowers that were found outside.

As they approached the desk, the receptionist asked, “Are you here for the tournament?”

Jaquan answered, “Yes.”

“I’m glad you are safe.  Someone has been attacking the fighters.  Please make sure that you do not wander the city alone.”

At that Catlin drops her bags and rushed ahead to the desk, “What do you mean.  All the fighters?”

“Not all of them.  It seems they are targeting the foreigners that arrived alone,” he replied, “Be very careful.”

In Brisa’s preparations, they made sure that she looked like the most fearsome of warriors.  Their goal was to avoid trouble but Brisa became a target anyway.  She never thought that a cheap fighter would turn to such tactics.  Now Brisa could be in real trouble.  It wasn’t just her fault, though.  She turned to Neely, “We have to make sure that Brisa is ok.”

“If you insist,” was his surrendered reply.

#1 – Opportunity #24 – Opportunity #26

Sons of Sword: Tales of Glory – Lost and Found #21

Glory City Palace: Master Insula Fu’s Quarters

“Well, seems you got a hint of bad luck,” Master Fu said giggling as she took a sip of tea.  Sitting at her window, she leaned back and looked out at the traffic.  The sun was just beginning to set.  She liked watching the distant red and white lights move in different directions.

Insula Fu was usually willing to help a student in need but Metcalf’s issue was beyond her.  “Sure, your friends can help you study.  They should help you,” she said thinking.  She turned to Metcalf and lowered her voice almost to a whisper, “I think you’ll need it.”  Then in her commanding voice she finished, “Still, I can’t tell you anything about the Final.”

“Yes ma’am,” Metcalf replied politely, “I understand that.  I was just hoping to learn something about stealth tactics while I prepare for the Final.”  Metcalf stood in the middle of Master Fu’s living quarters trembling slightly.

The Quarter Masters apartment was quite clean, the only clutter being near apparent work areas.  Two matching broad bladed falchion swords were displayed above the main book shelf that took over the main wall.  The shelf was completely filled with books.  There were also several inviting chairs and a couch in the center of the room.  Metcalf remained standing because she was not yet invited to sit.

She had to remember etiquette and rank around the Stream Quarters Master.  Master Fu was easy going towards everyone but would easily become upset if Metcalf addressed her lightly.  She was a Founder and deserved her respect.

The respect went beyond the principal-student relationship.  Founders were a higher level of Crisho and the remnants of a great war from long ago.  Students at the academy were selected from the rare few Commoners around the world showing promise in one of the accepted forms of energy: magnetic, thermal, mechanical, or electrical.  The most gifted of students could fumble around with a second type of energy.  Master Fu’s lineage gave her control of all four energies simultaneously.  It also gave her a very long life.

Her appearance made it particularly hard for Metcalf to remember protocol.  The visible aging of Founders slowed dramatically at about twenty years.  In effect, Insula looked nineteen but could easily be about sixty.  If it weren’t for her well known position, Metcalf would mistake her for one of her friends.  At just under five centimeters, her height didn’t aid her image.

“Oh, my mistake,” Insula replied.  She turned to see Metcalf still standing in the center of the room.  “Oh, please sit,” she said motioning for Metcalf to one of the more comfortable chairs.

Metcalf needed no more invitation and headed straight for the couch.  Insula held her hand over her tea cup.  Using her thermal skills she made the tea the perfect temperature, and then gulped down the rest of it.  Setting the cup on a table, she moved to the soft chair near the couch.

Suddenly, Insula started asking her about random things: why Metcalf wanted to learn about stealth; her favorite foods; her life on campus. They started chatting and after about twenty minutes of talking, Insula suddenly said,  “I think there could be a class before my morning preparations.”

Metcalf’s eyes opened wide at the possibility.

Seeing Metcalf’s excitement, Master Fu decided to warn her, “This class, plus what you’ll have to learn for the final will be a very difficult load.  I’ll train you like an advanced student.”

Metcalf couldn’t help but stand and bow in excitement at realizing what Master Fu was saying.  The Quarter Master was going to take the time and train her personally.  The honor was very great.  “Thank you Master Fu,” she said as she bowed.

“I had nothing to do in the mornings anyway,” Insula commented, “I’ll see you at hour five.”

“Yes ma’am.  Thank you.”  Wait, five hours after midnight?

#1 – Lost and Found #20 – Lost and Found #22