All posts by ShinJae

Champions of Battle: AD7 – Awakening #24

Onboard Stealth Phrygian somewhere on the outskirts of Bosstown:

After about thirty seconds of thought and reasoning, Jai Qiao was still trying to pick the best response.  There were several ways this challenge could go.  In this game, one response could change the way the whole round ends.  After a short chain of responses, even the smartest player could find himself trapped with no more correct answers to choose from.  This match was timed however and he was running out of it.  In a hurry, he just went with his gut.  “Peanut,” he said with his best game face.

Cyd spun in the soft black chair without a hint of stress.  At the point where he would be able to see Jai clearly he said, “Turnip.”  He continued spinning until he was facing away from his opponent again.

His quick response put Jai at a loss.  Jai was the champion here, but this new guy’s answer was good.  Not only was it quick, it put Jai back at a worse position he was at before.  Now he had to pick from the same word set but had one less correct choice.  Well, there was no point in Cyd being the only one getting a speed bonus.  “Pecan,” Jai said quickly.

“Stop,” Keyanna Bo said, “You’re making me hungry.”  She wasn’t the only one that was hungry.  All of GardNAnge1 was there minus the two members they were waiting for, eleven of them including Cyd.  They were promised good food, so they all waited.  Granted the anticipation didn’t make the wait any more bearable.

Cyd ignored her.  He had to think a little more to come up with an answer this time.  Still, he found one rather quickly.  He didn’t turn in his spinning chair this time.  Instead, he called loud enough for Jai to hear from behind him, “Nutmeg.”

“Garlic.”

“Already said Garlic.”

“Oh.”

And with that, Cyd was the new champion.  There were only a few cheers from the team.  It was hard finding ways to pass the time while they waited for the stragglers.  They only really played the game because there was little better to do.  Jai had won repeatedly so a change was good.  They could all gain a little knowledge from this new guy.  Possibly there was more that he could teach them.

The defeated Jai walked up to the cockpit.  Honestly, he was a little relieved that the game was over.  He felt slightly smarter after each round, but after a few matches the headaches started.

“Finally done,” April Jing asked.  Jai nodded in response.  “Good,” she said, “Got some blips on the radar.  I think they’re almost here.”

Stealth Phrygian was Tirzah’s favorite ship to use when the whole team was traveling.  It had flying and climbing capabilities that far surpassed any of their enemies.  It was also capable of housing the whole team plus any guests they may come across.

April was the best pilot of the team while Jai came in a close second.  Together they were pilot and copilot.  They had moved Stealth Phrygian to a much better place in the outskirts of town; much closer.  However, the journey would still be hard for creatures only a few centimeters in height.

“Strap in,” April called out over the com, “We’re going to pick them up.”

Within minutes, they landed near the two warriors and their sandwich holding companion.  After a few minutes, they all loaded up and were again in the air this time headed for Sanity.  The sandwiches were dispensed.  However, after the long journey, they were not in peak condition.

Grabbing her sandwich, Keyanna turned up her nose, “Oh, these sandwiches are cold.”

“Cold food is food,” Hachiro said, “Weren’t you the one complaining about being hungry?”

#1Awakening #23 – Awakening #25

Champions of Battle: The Very Best – Opportunity #23

The lady kept tugging at Brisa’s arm.  Her pleading and crying took Brisa completely off guard.  Brisa had no intention of being drawn directly into a conflict right after getting to town.  She had her own mission, but the panicking woman seemed genuine if not a little pushy.

These people had to be important to this lady.  They obviously needed crucial help.  The lady was filled with such urgency.  She kept pulling and pleading.  Brisa couldn’t help but take a few steps to go with her.  Soon they started walking faster.  Eventually, Brisa was running with her into the city.

Brisa had no idea where they were going.  They kept turning and running through alleys.  It became hard to remember where they had been.  Before long, they had gone deep into the city.

Whoever was causing the problems was going to pay.  Brisa wasn’t really a fighter but she had her weapons.  Thanks to Catlin, she was armed to the teeth.  Brisa had a real chance to be a hero.  All it really took was a few good shots to stop an aggressor.  She checked her gun clips.  They were enchanted with aim.  They would not miss.  She would have to thank Catlin, whenever she decided to talk to Catlin again.

They stopped their sprint as they looked down the final alley.  “Here it is,” the lady said, “they’re right down here,” and she took off running down the alley.

That was all the encouragement Brisa needed to follow.  She started a sprint forward.  After one step she stopped.

A brick wall of thoughts hit while a needle of wisdom pricked her head, as a warning.  Something about this whole situation was very, very wrong.  Brisa couldn’t place what it was, but it was most certainly there.  There was something bad, really bad and hazardous about all of this.

After the lady disappeared down the corner, her mind filled with questions.  Why would this lady call to only her for help?  There had to be more strong fighters leaving the shuttle.  Sure, Brisa looked like a warrior too.  However, there had to be at least one real warrior that left the shuttle before her.

Why didn’t the lady call for the local guards?  This city was a much more peaceful than Brisa imagined.  There had to be some really strong guards to keep the peace in this city full of powerful lawless warriors.

Why didn’t the lady get help from local warriors?  They had passed dozens of scary looking people on the way here.  How many warriors did this lady pass on the way to the shuttle pad?  Surely someone else in this town would like a reward for killing an aggressor; or a sucker.

A sucker?

Brisa drew her guns.  The action was somewhat slow and a little sloppy but she focused as she aimed down the alley.  She listened, there were no struggles down the alley; no fighting; the lady had stopped crying.  There weren’t even any shots fired.  No sounds at all.

Why were these questions only coming to mind now?  The lady had just run down the alley.  The answer hit her immediately.  A charm!  Brisa had been fooled by an enchantment again!  There had to be something about her that made her a target.

Brisa quickly looked around.  She wasn’t going to be a sucker, not again.  With her luck, it could be too late already.  She was already lost in the city.  All Brisa wanted to do was see the sights and maybe learn something about the people here.  Well, she succeeded.  However, getting mugged and possibly harmed in this city was not in any part of her plans.

She holstered her guns and walked briskly away from the alley.  Good, bad, or worse, whatever was happening down that alley had nothing to do with her.  Brisa didn’t mind keeping it that way.

A few blocks down, she passed a series of shops.  In the large clean window, she saw her reflection.  The enchantment on top of her mask was glowing.  She only knew the meanings of a few Hanja.  This one was the Hanja for the perception enchant.  “Perception,” Brisa said to herself, “interesting.”

She would really have to thank Catlin; whenever she decided to talk to Catlin again.

#1Opportunity #22 – Opportunity #24

Sons of Sword: Tales of Glory – Lost and Found #19

They spread out around him blocking any chance of escape.  Dangerous ruffians, all six of them had a practiced look of gruff.  They were probably sent from one of the organized crime lords in this area.  They started toying with their weapons, hitting their hands lightly.  Were they trying to intimidate him?

Manna was already near the wall but he didn’t back up.  He felt no need to hide or run from these creeps.  He had put on his gloves while he waited for them to enter the alley.  He wore them now; red gloves, the exact color of rust.  If the confrontation went the way he thought it would, he would need them.

“We have a message from Bluegill,” the one in the front said.

“Bluegill,” Manna asked, “I paid him off; long time ago.”

The goon shook his head.  “This message is for your friend, Guy,” he said smiling.  The other goons started grinning.  Some of them chuckled a bit and stepped forward when Guy’s name was mentioned.

“I don’t expect to see him for a while,” Manna said scanning their faces.  It looked as though they were trying to threaten him.  He hoped things would escalate.  It would be nice to cut lose after all this time.  Of course, to keep his disguise, he would have to wait for them.  He would also have to look worried, he succeeded.  “I’ll give him the message when I see him though.”

“Tell him ‘Bluegill wants his money,'” the goon continued as he stepped forward.

This was entertaining.  Manna’s disguise fooled all kinds of people.  With his white robe and peaceful gestures, he tried his best to look and behave as a Green Child.  This act usually brought out the best in others.  Occasionally, people tried to take advantage of him.

Green Children abhor violence of any kind.  They don’t even partake in the fruits of violence.  This influenced what he ate, what he wore, and even the job he chose.  In the event of violence, a Green Child would rather be hurt or run than cause harm to others.

But of course, it was just a disguise.

These goons obviously didn’t know anything real about Manna.  If they did, they would have much more respect.  They all stepped forward while toying with their weapons still.

Manna was already near the wall.  With the wind blowing, none of the goons saw the slight movements under Manna’s cloak.  The movements continued up his sleeves without their knowledge.

“We want to make sure you remember to give him the message,” he said stepping forward.

The three goons to Manna’s right took this as an invitation to start.  They rushed in on Manna preparing to strike with their clubs.

#1Lost and Found #18