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Sons of Sword: Tales of Glory – Lost and Found #4

No harm in accepting a small challenge to get in the mood to compete on stage.  A drill like this was just what she needed.  As good as she was, even she lost the occasional challenge.  Losing the wrong one would be costly.  A fast paced target drill would get her into the grove quickly.

Walking with the elder student, she weaved through the bystanders towards the firing range.  It was a bit of a walk to the far side of the training center.  She went past the gloating Naoh and the now defeated and shamed opponent.  That familiar victory stance that Naoh used seemed just as obnoxious now as it did six years ago; her jeweled basket hilt swords flashed in the light as she pumped her fists.

In this arena, Naoh viewed opponents as Academy Point holders.  Her wit and skill took as many points as she could, often more than she needed.  Her opponent walked down the stairs from the platform completely distraught.  Tearing off his helmet in frustration, it was apparent he had no hope of escaping The Red.  Though nearly a grown man, he walked quickly towards the exit holding back tears.  Whatever hopes and dreams he had when he was accepted to the school were all but completely out of reach.

After the Final Exam, he had two choices.  He could return home in shame or to take a lowly job as a pitiful guard.  He could pass.  However, the final exam was specifically designed for the older and lingering students to fail.  He would have to train like mad in all the correct areas; areas that are personalized towards the weaknesses for each student.

“Poor guy,” said the elder student as they passed him.  “Better him than us I guess.”  It seemed as though she had come to the same conclusion as Metcalf about his situation.

“I guess,” Metcalf hesitated to say.

Koh, in has white and red armor, was at the wall near his sister’s platform.  They usually worked as a team.  Sometimes Metcalf worked with them.  It seemed they had their usual “king of the hill” type of match going.  The winning team stayed while the challengers waited in line for the next fight.

However, this session was over.  After seeing how Naoh mercilessly and utterly beat her opponent in every way, no one wanted to be next.  One by one they left the queue to look for other challenges.  Koh was trying so hard to hold back a laugh.  He cared less about the other students than his sister.  They were scandalous but at least they looked out for each other.

“I’m Isabeau,” the elder student spoke again.

Metcalf shook herself from the scene and looked at the elder student again, “Metcalf.”

The ice broken, they made small talk as they meandered around the challenge platforms.  The short yellow skinned beauty, Isabeau Bo, was from the Field Quarter.  She was a long time student at the academy but found that her training was a bit stagnant.  Master Lu, head of the Field Quarter, thought it best that she train with students that had something to lose.

Though she had no chance to fall into the Red Zone, Isabeau found that this training was well worth the time.  Each drill had rules, but those rules could be stretched where details were lacking.  Desperate students exploited every advantage they could find.  This forced her to do the same and made the competition quite invigorating.  With any luck, this training would prepare her for the life of a Protector.  Their opponents played with no rules.

Hearing her story, Metcalf thought in awe.  This is how training is supposed to work.  This was the training she hoped to receive when she was safely out of the Red Zone.

They continued to chat.  The conversation was exciting enough that they reached the shooting range before Metcalf expected.

#1 – Lost and Found #3 – Lost and Found #5

 

The Close Quarters Set

The Close Quarters Talent set is designed for champions that don’t mind being up close in hand to hand combat.  This set is particular for the adventurer’s choice of weapon and other talent sets.

Champions that use this set value outcome regardless form.  They are more concerned with how an item can be used than how it should be used.  If they are in a desperate situation, they can pick up rocks, bricks, broken table legs, or whatever else is lying around and use it with relative effectiveness in combat.  The selected item would be much more effective if it resembles a weapon the champion is familiar with.

Keep in mind, the item has to be around.  It would be extremely difficult to grab a rock if the champion is on a tree or in a well kept house.  Also the items durability is taken into account.  Since it is not a forged weapon item could break over time.

The special moves of a champion using this set is highly affected by both the weapon choice and the other two talent sets chosen by the player.  A caster can gain shorter channeling time and extend punches.  An archer can use arrows as single use daggers.  Gunners can use a gun more effectively as a melee weapon and are more effective with shot guns.  Duelists can aim for pressure points to stun opponents or make it painful for them to move.

These champions can master weapons that other Talent Sets don’t usually teach.  Even unarmed techniques are utilized.  Chain weapons, flail weapons, reverse gripped daggers, and other types of weapons are taught in this Talent set.  This can take most champions by surprise as weapon defense is also a stat that must be leveled.

There is an honorable and dishonorable side to this set.  As the names suggest, one is much less concerned about appearance than the other.  They have very different styles of training but both sides can be mastered by a champion who has spent enough time training.

 

Champions that use this set:

Orien Quan, AD7

Champions of Battle: AD7 – Awakening #8

At the base of Rubin’s Mountain, a high quality stereo system echoes in the breeze.  A shout caster yells updates trying to keep up with all the action as best he can.  Doctor Adrianne Yu uses what she hears to get a general image of the race.

The racers’ vehicles had both flight and climbing abilities.  These powerful machines have to use both abilities to fly and jump though check points in the thick forest course.  The racers stop and change directions repeatedly to stay on the course, all at break neck speeds.  The machines use powerful steel claws to grab a branch after hitting one check point, immediately heading for another.  It would be impossible to keep up unless the caster knew where they were going.

The gravity forces and random  uncut branches make the race very dangerous.  Without gravity reducing suits and fast reflexes, it would be impossible to even start such a profession.  The racers themselves were particularly unkind to each other which made the race even more difficult.  It even seemed dangerous for the caster.  He could suffocate from lack of air or have a heart attack any time now.

It was the broadcast of the final race of the E-Ville racing tournament.  Racers and their teams modified their machines to navigate the forest course as quickly as possible.  Doctor Yu loved machines and what people could do to improve them.  While she was genuinely interested in who won, she needed the sound to be in the background.  She had her own tasks to complete.

Her own specially modified vehicle was parked a small ways away from her near the rock face.  The system stereo was set really high so that she could hear it while she set up the system.  Her defense robots made sure that she was not disturbed by any wildlife or any harmful wanderers.  It was time to test the weapon again.

Checking the devices over again, she made sure that everything was in place.  A heated rock selected from the sloping rock face sat on a launching device.  It was flanked by a few recording robots reminiscent of the small flying robots in the museum.  Instead of guns, the three of them held cameras.  They all sat ready and in position for her to give the signal.

Nervously she presses the button.  Imediately, the rock is launched into the air and the recording bots follow a split second after.  They sailed over her ship as her speakers played the shout casters updates.  As they pass, a missile is launched from her ship.  Seeking the heated rock, it quickly changes directions heading upwards.

“Come on, come on,” she says encouragingly.

The missile catches the rock quickly.  However, instead of exploding on the rock, the rock is engulfed in flames.  It lands, a rolling heap of fire while the recording bots fly back to Doctor Yu with the valuable data.

Checking the multiple angles of the recording, Doctor Yu looks at the high-definition holographic image in slow motion.  She fast forwards the recording to a point just before the impact.

As expected, the warhead splits into eight parts right before it reached the target.  As expected, the hyper-napalm is spread like a net while the eight tips continue to seek and catch the rock.  Unlike her last test, the tips actually catch the rock and dig in, securing a hold on the target.  The burning hyper-napalm follows the hooks and engulfs the rock in flames.

“Yes!  Perfect!”

In a moment of curiosity she walked over to the still burning target.  During the short trek, the flame died and she saw what has became of the rock.  Its once strong features were smoothed out.  It collected dirt and debris as it rolled, it now resembled a dirty glass tube more than a rock.  She knew better than to touch it.  She could still feel the heat from quite a few centimeters away.

Just then, her handheld rang.

“Doctor Yu.  You’re needed at the lab.  We have brain activity from Aa Dee Seven.”

“I’ll be right there.”

#1 – Awakening #7 – Awakening #9