Event What Could Go Wrong?

[Tsurara Moriko]

If Moriko's attention hadn't been mostly split between her team and the eye, she would have been better-prepared. That was her defense and she was sticking to it. Plus she was pretty much the smallest person there--not threatening. In this situation, why her?

(She had yet to fully grasp how awful her luck was, but that will eventually sink in. Probably.)

Especially since the Kazekage was actively attacking at it. Wasn't he the more tempting target? An impressive display like that was definitely more impressive and threatening than a tiny cloud of ice sparkles. But whether it was because she moved, or because of some unknown criteria the creature had for targeting, it was her the thumb-headed creature pounced at.

Out of the ground.

Swinging at her.

Only one thing for it, then. She flipped the right thing out of her pocket just in time to hopefully puff away in a cloud of smoke. If the thing could follow that quickly, a Body Switch was only a mild deterrent--but it might make the thing retarget onto someone slightly less squishy. Ideally, someone who could punch its lights out. Or at least allow the Kazekage to target it.

If there was one thing that Moriko's clan was very go at, it was avoiding getting hit. Cynically she'd always thought it was because her relatives were quite vain and didn't want scars, but in the field she could see how handy it was. For one of her bloodline, if they so chose, they could make it very, very annoying to fight and target them. There was one simple reason for this: the Ice Mirrors.

If you weren't used to them, then the Ice Mirrors were legendarily difficult to deal with. It was one of the things her bloodline was known for, even. Moriko was typically of more offensive bent, but the first step toward shedding someone else's blood was staying conscious and keeping yourself from getting struck to the point of loss of focus, so evade first, attack later.

The desert heat didn't matter; the mirrors were chakra-based. Besides, if the thing was honed in on her it would just smash up the mirrors anyway. Didn't really matter. It was more cost-effective than most other clone techniques, too.

She couldn't discard the possibility someone else would also be able to divert the thing, but at the moment she couldn't rely on that one either. Besides, if it was that agitated...would it be specifically at her? Would speech help at all? Did it understand anything? Likely not, it hadn't seemed to understand Goki. Or, well, maybe what Goki had said wasn't very helpful.

"We just got here," Moriko snapped out at the thing, biting off her irritation. "Whatever happened to your babies wasn't us."

Worth a try. And if it didn't work, well, she could go on the offense in a moment and help kill something. She hadn't actually anticipated getting to use force so soon, but she definitely wasn't complaining about it, either.

Spoiler: Battle Stuff

secondary calcs:
All stats at 175. Class is here; 40 HP, 35 CP, high Nin/Ranged Acc, low Melee Acc.

Nin Acc: 11
Nin Dodge: 10 - 1 [Fearless] = 9; 11 while Whirlwind Spin is up

Melee Acc: 9
Melee Dodge: 10 - 1 [Fearless] = 9; 11 while Whirlwind Spin is up

Ranged Acc: 11
Ranged Dodge: 10 - 1 [Fearless] = 9; 11 while Whirlwind Spin is up

Gen DC (useless as I have no Gen, lol): 10
Gen Save: 10 - 1 = 9

Actions:
-Cast Ice Mirrors [Rank 3] from the Yuki table and enter Mirror B [2 AP; resolves at 5 seconds]

Conditionals:
-Body Switch [Mastered] w/Kawarimi Target from Pouch (Tool) if the thing's attack is about to connect [1 AP; resolves immediately upon the attack from the thing]
-If the attack somehow does not connect, then use Rain Dance [Mastered using Flash Freeze so I can One-Handed Seal it; not deducting CP or AP for this until I know if I have it done or not

Current HP: 7875/7875 [-???]
Current CP: 7000/7000 [-1062] -> 5938/7000
AP: 4 - 2 [Ice Mirrors]
- + either - 1 [Body Switch] or - 2 [Rain Dance]; if Body Switch I have 1 AP remaining and 5 AP next round; if Rain Dance I have 0 AP remaining and 4 AP next round

CP has been deducted for Crystal Eye incl. a maintain turn and Whirlwind Spin as well. I don't know what cost to give Body Switch as it's the tech you're dodging +20% and I don't know what if any CP the thing's attack used. Plus I don't know if it or Rain Dance went off so I guess I'm doing any conditional-based calcs and damage on a one-round lag.

[Ice Mirrors from 5 sec]
Ice Mirror A HP: 350
Ice Mirror B HP: 350 [Moriko is in this one; +350 temp HP]
Ice Mirror C HP: 350
Ice Mirror D HP: 350

Other Stuff that affects me:
-Negate 5% buff from incoming damage and add +5% damage to everything from Militia
-10% Damage Reduction to everything, but -1 all evasion secondaries from Fearless
-One-Handed Seals while using Ice attacks from the Yuki table
-Negate first Secondary Effect every round from Implacable
-See Hidden Actions from Insight
-+25% Ice damage to opponents with AP remaining from Yuki table

I also have Healing Factor and Jutsu Mastery but I'll be the one doing my own HP and CP so I'm not going to list 'em. I'm only listing relevant things too, so not S101 or my other weapons currently.

Status:
-Maintaining Crystal Eye [Mastered] for RP reasons [150 CP/rnd]
-Have Whirlwind Spin active whole round since I've not yet attacked
-Have Ribbon Bow drawn [+0/+0%, Projectile, Can cause bleeding, Special Composition: Ice and Razor Strike augments
-No negative status.

 

[Jintou]

It is a gift to recognize one’s own mortality and see behind the screens of fate. The die was cast with a chance for demise and those eyes— the vibrant pools of opalescence, the gift of House Oba, revealed a thousand outcomes. Jintou’s vision divined the one, and it was there that Jintou became certain of the truth.

That damned Moriko was going to be the death of them all, or so Jintou feared as the lurching creature sprang into motion. Its speed was impossible; so fast that it promised to make quicker work of the students than they’d likely realize. The smart thing to do would have been to offer support to Raizo as he commanded, but the party’s formation was sloppy at best and easily flanked by the thing.

Indeed, the thing. The luck of Jintou and Ringo to encounter such a creature a mere ten or so days after nearly being devoured, bodies and souls in the toothy proboscis of Ōmiya. Like the Jurei, this new creature was fixed on some form of a family: this time it was its babies, whereas Ōmiya intended on turning the cadets into its children instead. Time didn’t allow the mere students to analyze this being though; neither its motives nor physiology, except for recognizing the raw power it possessed.

Jintou took up his bident in a ready stance despite how futile it all felt. His mind became frazzled with the quandary of fate— decision paralysis could not be allowed to set in or else they faced certain doom. “Defend” was the guttural reaction; it was flashing in bright, bold words across his mind’s eye. The Kazekage said to support him but what did that mean to children who hardly knew the ways of combat? He had to protect his companions, or so Jintou knew, but often the fastest defense was a successful attack! His memory flashed back to Headmaster Harupia Sunaku, who used his mastery of Saton to save Jintou and then the entirety of Toraono Dojo from the Unbent’s schemes. This was what he understood to be the shinobi’s purpose: to use their power to protect others!

And so, through the fear, Jintou dug with his hands like it was through muddy soil until a resolution surfaced… He had decided his course. The Kazekage would be the one to defeat this enemy, but until that moment came, Jintou would protect his classmates at all costs. As the great paw descended upon Moriko, Jintou swung into action… If they were to die, The Guest would not take them down easily.

Spoiler: Jintou's Stats

Jintou, Third Son of House Oba

Class
All Bread, No Circuses
HP: (54+lvl) x stamina (+5 Heavy Armor) (10,325)
CP: (54+lvl) x chakra control (10,325)
Class Bonus: +4 Hp and Cp Mod
High: Ninjutsu
Average: Evasion/Save
Low: Ranged, Melee, Genjutsu

Secondaries

• Melee Accuracy = 9
• Ranged Accuracy = 9
• Ninjutsu Accuracy = 13
• Melee Dodge = 11 +3
• Ranged Dodge = 11 +3
• Ninjutsu Dodge = 11 +3
• Genjutsu Difficulty = 9
• Genjutsu Save = 11

Passives

• Squadron would grant Jintou +1 to all secondaries (.5 for Ringo and .5 for Goki if they have the squadron ability)
• Journeyman: All techniques have -5% CP Cost
• Implaccable - Negates the first Bleeding, Suppression, Called Shot, or Secondary Effect inflicted upon the user via an enemy's attack.
• Seikon's Distorting Wake: +3 Dodge.
• Unreal Celerity: Rank 3: The Seikon can choose up to 2 AP's worth of actions to gain priority over all other actions in that round. Jutsu used this way have -2 Accuracy/Genjutsu DC.
• Reality Shift: Rank 1: Every 15 seconds, the user may choose to automatically enter/exit any Arena effect with no check required. This cannot cost the user more than 2 AP, regardless of effects that would force them (or anyone crossing) to take more AP than that.
• Healing Factor - The user regains 3% Max HP at the beginning of each round.
  All Medical Jutsu are +10% more effective on the user.
• Alignment Focus:Holy - Holy now heals the user for 20% of the damage that it deals as soon as the attack is completed.
  • The 10% additional damage to the opposing alignment is no longer affected by the damage cap.

Spoiler: Actions

Actions

0.0 | 1.5 AP Jintou's resolve unexpectedly triggers his Contract Summoning Jutsu! (10,325-750 = 9575CP)
- Jintou Summon's Jabber, the Lizard Contract Summon.
- Triggering Unreal Celerity Passive to gain immediate Priority this round.

0.0 | 0.0 AP Jintou Activates Lizard Sage Mode
- 25% of Jintou's Chakra is converted to Natural Energy. (9575CP - 25% = 7181CP) (2,393 Natural Energy Pool)
- Jintou is now considered Holy. Hold onto your butts.

2.0 | 2.0 AP Jintou performs Earth Flow Wave (Mastered) Targeting The Guest. (2,393NE -598 (-5% CP Applied) = 1795NE
- Master: Creates a wave of debris that strikes a target, dealing 1770 damage at -1 Accuracy. This has a 18% chance of activating the 'Crush' effect.
- Applying Focus Major affinity move. Focus - Grants a Ninjutsu attack +2 Accuracy and +1 Critical Range
- The attack is considered holy.

2.5 | 0.5 AP Jintou Equips Sorcerer's Bident Unarmed Weapon
- Jintou Regains 2% Max HP and CP (206CP/HP) (9781CP)

3.0 | 3.0 AP Jabber activates Ancient Tyrrany Senjutsu targeting The Guest. (Using Ninjutsu Acc)
- Effect: The user stares directly into the eyes of a target at normal Accuracy/DC. Upon a Full Hit, the victim has their Damage bonuses reversed for a full round. A Partial Hit will null their Damage bonuses instead.

Spoiler: Jabber's Stats

Jabber, Lizard Contract Summon

Custom Class: Jabberwocky
HP: (35+lvl) x User’s CC = 7,700
CP: (35+lvl) x User’s CC = 7,700
Class Bonus: +4 Hp and Cp Mod
High: Ninjutsu
Mid: Genjutsu, Dodge/Save
Low: Ranged, Melee

Secondaries

• Melee Accuracy = 7
• Ranged Accuracy = 7
• Ninjutsu Accuracy = 6
• Melee Dodge = 8
• Ranged Dodge = 8
• Ninjutsu Dodge = 9
• Genjutsu Difficulty = 8
• Genjutsu Save = 8

Passives
Gigantic: The user's contract cannot be bound by non-illusory binds, but cannot enter stealth. If hit by a non-illusory bind, they instead take a -3 Acc/Dodge penalty for the duration of the 'bind'.

 

[Goki]

“Upon her swaddle wraps, elaborated letters smeared in red: 'Abomination' “​

How erratic is this world. Volatile as solution mixture, outcome discovered only upon aftermath. One moment, new faces and acquaintances found pleasant discovery. Another soon thereafter—Fate suddenly determined them best removed.
Reiteration wouldn’t prove required; a curt salute affirming the Genin’s acknowledgment of the Kazekage’s orders, accompanied by an all too casual, ”Hai,” unbefitting of tense circumstances. Whereupon, boots lept off for their task, sand kicked up in their wake.
Instructions echoed internally.

Pull the group back . . . Find an opening . . . Coordinate an attack.

The cogs of her strange mind began to turn . . . Mr. Fingerhead Man would suffer aggression, it’d appear.

“Goki recommends—”

Afore the sentence even completed from lips, however, golden hues would perform a sharp flick towards the dune, witnessing the sudden catastrophe threatening to befall . . . Ah, it need not be said this one certainly posed a particular problem. For, what good proved commands without the very comrades intended for? Or rather, selfsame—what good were squad commands with a dead squadron?
Moriko of the Floating Eye was a brain Goki had yet to receive true opportunity for assessment, and something like blueberry ice cream left unsampled would certainly prove a tragedy. Moreover, if that hadn’t already presented enough potential loss, the Pantou further proved too anear peril for comfort. Verily, with as much misfortune as he seemed to find himself in, one truly wondered whether he actually valued life.

Midst leap, a thumb lifted to the Genin’s teeth. The nip of minuscule flesh left a metallic taste upon her tongue following its pierce.

Both the targeted - Moriko - and the potential - Jintou - would likely feel an invisible, yet definite, visceral touch upon their emotions. As warmth felt upon caring, concerned embrace - the Hybrid’s empathy - afore something crystalline in appearance, yet gently undulating like water would surround their person. Energy—an aura of protection. Its source, not of chakra despite appearances—yet Goki’s very life force. The girl’s person would also share their shine, herself protected withal.
Upon descent, footing established into sand. Hands worked to form the seal—likes of which no surrounding shinobi would have likely known. A seal untaught within any Academy—forbidden as unholy and demonic throughout history. Telltale of roots in a world and people ancient and long forgotten—The Soul Court.
Solemnly, the single command would mutter.

“..Release.”

Forthwith shot dark appendages from the youth, so ghoulish and frightening, one may’ve questioned where the threat truly lay. Towards their target they’d extend; giant, gaunt arms and hands seeking seizure of the creature’s legs. Restraint had been their aim, hopefully providing the two enough opportunity to further distance themselves and allow the Kazekage to redraw attention.
Golden eyes glowed, as if something supernatural radiated from within. The look of their bearer’s expression, uncharacteristically severe—chilling. Towards her endangered comrades, they’d regard; though, for Ringo, the words would also be intended.

“Goki recommends distance and ranged attacks... She guesses melee will get you killed.”

Should they have succeeded in seizure, sounds most unsettling could be perceived as unearthly hands tightened their grip. And yet, they still seemed to be waiting for something... Yearning for it.

“Mr. Fingerhead Man,” continued tones sharing the expression of their speaker’s eyes. “Moriko nor her Floating Eye can be your baby... She is too blue.”

The command for which ghoulish digits longed would finally mutter.

“Break.”

And shattering of bones would they seek.

Spoiler: Stats

Rookie Class
HP: (38+6) x 300=13,200
CP: (38+6) x 300=13,200
Class Feature: None
High: None
Average: All
Low: None

Secondaries
Melee Accuracy=7 +2
Ranged Accuracy=7 +2
Ninjutsu Accuracy =6 +2
Melee Dodge = 9
Ranged Dodge = 7
Ninjutsu Dodge = 7
Genjutsu Difficulty =10 +2
Genjutsu Save = 10

Passives
Empathy Scan +2 Acc
Compassionate +3% Max Hp Per Round
Inner Passion +10% damage reduction against all damage types, including Illusionary damage

Spoiler: Actions

Actions

0.0 | 1 AP Emotion Barrier -10% Max Hp (13,200 Hp - 1320 Hp = 11,880 HP)
- Protecting: Goki, Moriko, Jintou

1.0 | 3 AP Emotion Blades x 2 -2% Max Hp (11,880 HP - 264 HP= 11,616 HP)
- Called Shot on Legs

4.0 | 2 AP Kinetic Genjutsu: Crippled (Mastered) -452 CP (13,200 Cp - 452 Cp=12,748 Cp)
-Conditional: Called Shot on Legs if Emotion Blades x2 Fails. Otherwise, Called Shot on Arms.
-Special Action - Phantom Pain: For +20% CP cost, the Called Shot Status of the jutsu may persist for an additional 20 seconds after the jutsu expires.

 

[Raizo]

Before his eyes, while still difficult, he would notice the rapid shaking of the monsterish thing before him. In defiance of its size, its presumed weight, and just the natural order of physics, the thing would simply vanish down into the ground. Seconds were passing but everything in front of his eyes felt slowed down as if his whole body was an attempt to move at full speed at the bottom of a lake. He didn't know where the creature was going but knew that if it wasn't interested in him then it would most likely be going after the rest of his party. His eyes would catch them all, each one moving to take either a defensive or offensive stance. He would notice one had put the most distance from himself; Moriko. He hoped that she was far enough away that maybe it would remove her as a viable target.

That thought, however, would be quickly dispelled as the monster-like being would spring up suddenly next to her. His eyes and mind would react quicker than the rest of his body, but he was too far from physically doing anything to stop the impending attack. The distance was too great, even at his top speed. All he could do is look on and watch, and hope. There was a pain within him, a feeling of helplessness. It was unfair. He was the strongest one, so the creature should have challenged him. It shouldn't have gone after the students.

"FIGHT ME!"

The roar would fire out from his mouth as it was the only thing his body and brain could do in the moment. What wasn't calculated into this response would be a sudden surge of chakra that would also burst free from his body. The pulsing pressure would seem to direct itself solely at The Guest as it would attempt to envelop the thing within his rage. The chakra pouring from his body would feel different as well. There was something familiar yet different about the burst as it raced out from his body and towards the creature stalking Moriko.

Well... that was new...

He wouldn't have time to linger, he just hoped the kids could hold out as he would now spring to action

Spoiler: Actions

Actions:

Action AP	Action Description
0	Quickdraw: Equip CRL Holy Weapon
2.5	Daunt Mastered
2	Bang Bullet Mastered
2	Ionic Borealis Mastered
1.5	Immolation Armor Mastered

Carrying over 1 AP to next round for 11 AP; All attacks targeting The Guest, Allies are all Sunan Players and Summons in thread

edit: just noting that all allies receive +2 acc thanks to White Blessing

 

[Sand Council]

Participants​

Moriko	Jintou	Jabber - Jintou's Contract	Ringo
HP: 7875 CP: 7000 - 1062 = 5938 AP: 4 AP Next Round: 5 Maintains: Crystal Eye Mastered Status: Whirlwind Spinning, In a Mirror	HP: 10325 CP: 7383 (2393 - 598 = 1795 NE) AP: 4 AP Next Round: 4 Maintains: Lizard Sage Mode Status:	HP: 7700 CP: 7700 - 2400 = 5300 AP: 3 AP Next Round: 3 Maintains: Status: Good Lizzy	HP: CP: AP: AP Next Round: Maintains: Status: In the Defensive with Tengoku

Goki	Raizo		The Guest
HP: 13200 - 1320 - 264 = 11,616 CP: 13200 - 452 = 12,748 AP: 6 AP Next Round: 7 Maintains: Status:	HP: 45000 CP: 36000 - 910 - 560 - 330 = 34200 AP: 10 AP Next Round: 11 Maintains: Ionic Borealis, Immolation Armor, Daunt Status:	​	HP: 99000 - 1770 - 410 = 96,820 CP: 30000 - 2000 = 28,000 AP: 10 AP Next Round: 11 Maintains: Status: Broken Legs (-3 Dodge), Broken Arms (-3 ACC), Sprained Feet (10% chance to stumble out of 1AP), Is Getting Visibly Upset

What happened?​
0 sec - Jintou - Jabber is Summoned and Lizard Sage Mode is Entered; Goki casts Emotion Barrier Protection for Goki, Miroku, and Jintou; Moriko maintains Crystal Eye (RP exception for event), Maintains Whirlwind Spin, Equips Ribbon Bow; Raizo equips his Holy Weapon, the CRL; Ringo is under a protective plot bubble until they can post or are needed for rp suspense 2.5 sec- Goki targets The Guest with Emotion Blades (2 Blades) FULL HIT [25 vs 23] | The Guest has Broken Legs for 10 seconds (Resolves at 2.5 seconds in next round) 2.5 sec- Raizo uses Daunt Mastered targeting The Guest FULL HIT [36 vs 27] | The Guest is Bound 4.5 sec- The Guest attempts to break bind FAIL [100 rolled; I go from 1 to the max percentage chance when rolling 1d100's instead of 100 down] 4.5 sec- Raizo uses Bang Bullet Mastered targeting The Guest Suppression check failed [61 rolled] | The Guest is Unbound! 5.0 sec- Jintou uses Mastered Earth Flow Wave with Affinity Move Focus on Guest Crit chance failed [14 rolled] ; Crush chance successful [11 rolled] Random Limb: Feet | DMG: 1770 5.0 sec- Moriko casts Ice Mirrors Rank 3 Four Mirrors are on the Field casting an image of Moriko (Mirror A,B*,C & D) | Moriko has entered a Mirror* 5.83 sec- Goki performs a hidden action (Goki casts Mastered Crippled against The Guest) FULL HIT [26 vs 22] | DMG: -410 | The Guest's Arms are now "Broken" - -3 acc to all attacks 6.25 sec - Jintou equips the Sorcerer's Bident 6.5 sec- Raizo casts Mastered Ionic Borealis targeting The Guest Full Hit [40 vs 26 | The Guest's jutsu cost +20% and have -1 acc and their jutsu are modded as +.3AP 7.55 sec- The Guest uses Power Swipe (A Rank Unarmed Attack) against Moriko Awareness Check [25 vs 23] | The Guest is unaware of which mirror holds the real Moriko Attack Misses [20 vs 22] - Blessing be to the acc debuffs put upon The Guest prior to this attack The Guest begins to get visibly upset 8.0 sec- Raizo casts Mastered Immolation Armor | CP cost 330 10.0 sec- Jabber casts Ancient Tyranny The Guests Damage Bonuses are reversed for full 10 seconds

Notes:​

EDITED: Fixed a mix up with removing the bind; this changed most of the actions of the Guest but doesn't seem to have impacted anything else--the Guest in the current scenario is unbound by ran out of time to complete its actions (thanks to the layer of debuffs it was spanked with) If you notice any errors just let me know! Please go ahead and post with your actions now. I will let loose with the RP for the Guest later this week, but you do not need to wait on it to make your posts/actions for this round! Sorry again about the delay, I don't foresee anything further slowing us down and definitely nothing causing as long of a delay as this past one!​

 

[Jintou]

To my sons and daughters, so many and plentiful are you, I bequeath this wisdom so that it will take a place in your heart. It is through your will that your greatest power will be revealed. It is the vigor of that beating heart and your desire; stretch your mortal coil and summon great strength. Follow the ways of your ancestors, and reveal the collected might of your tribe, for you are a Sun of House Oba.

Jintou, in his desperation, reached with an open palm, hand grabbing nothing but flecks of sand in a flurry as it was impossible for him to intervene in time. The sun was blocked by a skyward vision cast from his mind eye: the sight of Moriko crumpled in a heap was like a mountain rising behind the scene set before him. The present and the future became blurred by a liquid glass veil like the instance when you’re swimming underwater and making a break for the surface; perception breaks in a blur as you punch through. And Jintou was punching then, at full force for the air, and he could feel it rippling through the waves. Reality was rippling, shifting, folding, and peeling away around him. It was real and you too could have seen it, a phenomenon resembling a cathedral’s stained glass shattering and sunlight pouring in. That reaching hand was suddenly wreathed in a pattern of reality’s warping as Jintou’s will manifested as something much greater than he could comprehend, and to a frightening extent, control.
A succulent peach emerged in the grasp of that extended palm, juicy and dripping with morning dew. Wide-eyed, Jintou’s captivation came accompanied with both fear and awe as his wish brought on a familiar force. His comrades would have been witnesses to a wreath of golden eyes swirling behind him amongst a red cloud in a vortex. They varied in size as much as their number, with each golden pupil and its black, slit-like coronas opening and closing at chaotic intervals.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

The sound of the omnipotent creature making its presence known around Jintou came in a loud, low thrum. It echoed in the wind and came from all directions at once; the voice of a monster, or was it that of a god? You can decide for yourself.

One of these golden eyes formed on Jintou’s forehead and opened in a down-curved crescent, glowing with its pupil bright amidst a void-like corona and sclera. The Jabber’s omnipresence was his now, for a moment. “Jabber…” there was a sudden sleepy haze over Jintou’s face as his previous panic fell away, he almost looked bored with it all. “He isn’t ready… But this world must become that one.”
Seeming unbothered by the swarm of his allies moving about the fray, Jintou brought the peach to his mouth and took a bite. With his mouth full he uttered his command: “Doton: Doryūha,” and turned to swing to the left with his bident rising in his grasp. Jintou arose atop a wave of gravel rippling out of the ground, and it drove forth to pummel The Guest at full force. Riding atop the wave, Jintou was flung over The Guest as his wave impacted the creature with crushing results. He landed cleanly from the somersault and jumped back several steps to steer clear of Raizo’s ongoing assault.
“Tch” scoffed Jintou, so unimpressed with his own attack. He looked down at his peach and tossed it aside, letting it roll down the trembling hill. “This version is still too weak and—” his attention shifted to his own body, and he seemed confused. He grabbed his chest as if he were having a heart and squeezed firmly with his cheeks turning cherry red. “Guh, full of surprises.”
Rising back to a standing posture, Jintou felt the protection of Goki’s ward and cracked a weak smile accompanied by a glance at her from a distance. “And they have made friends with the Sunans… this one really is surprising. “Good for you third sun… she’s a cutie.”

“He took his vorpal sword in hand;
Long time the manxome foe he sought—”

The echoing of Jabber called Jintou’s attention back to the fray at hand, as if expressing the poem represented some language of its own. Heeding the Jabber’s call, the Sorcererous Jintou leveled his Bident at The Guest and compelled it to heed his command. Like Jintou, The Guest was wreathed with that crimson aura, but it was crippling the creature’s might as Ancient Tyranny. A golden eye formed a seam in the tall creature’s chest and as it emerged, sent bloody tears running from the painful new oculus. “I’ve seized control of your destinies” Jintou shouted at The Guest, uncharacteristically callous and prideful with his tone. “Count to ten, and you’ve already perished ten thousand times.”

- Excerpts from The Jabberwocky poem were written by Lewis Caroll
- Art is by @DisasterZoo, found on Tumblr

Spoiler: Round Two Actions

Maintains
- Lizard Sage Mode
- Equipped Sorcerer's Bident restores Jintou for 2% max HP/CP: 7387 + 206CP = 7593CP

Jintou's Actions
0.0 | 1.5AP - Jintou targets Goki with a healing Mystical Hand (Mastered) using Natural Energy. (1795 - 285 = 1510NE)
- Triggering Unreal Celerity Passive to gain immediate Priority this round.

2.5 | 2.5 - Jintou rejects reality with World Shatter (Rank 1) (1510 - 694CP = 816NE)
- Rank 1: The user is able to modify the Terrain Modifiers of the battle one stage in either direction for both Terrain and Visibility.
- Jintou is increasing cover and reducing visibility by one stage as he gradually fractures reality. The coming storm consists of realities colliding, and imagery of false realities appear like illusions. The Mind Storm.

Jabber's Actions
2.0 | 2.0 - Jabber targets The Guest with Mist of Deceit (Mastered). (5300 - 410 = 4890CP)
Master: Cast @ -2 Gen DC. Deals 275 Illusionary damage to one target. Target cannot remove or change their weapons. There is a 21% chance the target attacks themselves with their equipped weapon for every action they make.

 

[Tsurara Moriko]

It was still coming after her. Moriko cursed under her breath from the flat of her ice mirror when the creature took a swipe at her. The others were moving, attacking it, delaying it, and she had only taken defensive action so far--but it was still aiming for her.

It really did think she had something to do with hurting its young, then. Which, considering they'd found the blue creatures there as bodies she couldn't even have accidentally done. But despite a limited capacity for speech, it didn't appear able to understand their explanations of the contrary no matter how they were made. Not Moriko's snap, not Goki's comments, not anything.

Well, she wasn't about to just hang around passively. This was an all hands on deck situation; the creature was even possessed of some strange ability to evade the strikes of the Kazekage and wouldn't be easy to dispatch. So now that she was relatively safe, defensively speaking, she could attack. And attack.

It would mean losing part of her defenses, regrettably. But that couldn't be helped. She had the mirrors up and that would be enough, particularly since she wasn't alone here.

The question was how to be the most effective. The answer was rather simple, truthfully, albeit in multiple parts. But it would do.

It was fortunate the mirrors did not hinder her ability to attack at all. Fortunate, because she needed to attack. Further fortunate, because she was after blood. The thing was getting upset? Well, it was upsetting her. How dare it interrupt their attempts to work out the mystery they had been brought here to solve, and moreover keep her from working out what the big thing her eye could still just barely spot was? How very dare it attack her when for once she had actually done nothing to hurt this particular being?

Well. That's going to change in short order. I'm certainly going to hurt it now.

Or did she just look frail? Delicate? Like an easy target? No, that was even more aggravating. Moriko would have, if she'd been ever inclined to let on the course of what she had done in and around largely the back alleys of the city, put solid money down on the fact she was the only human there other than possibly-to-likely the Kazekage who had actually killed. Delicate nothing.

I'll delicate you right in the face, you stupid brute.

Spoiler: Battle Stuff

secondary calcs:
All stats at 175. Class is here; 40 HP, 35 CP, high Nin/Ranged Acc, low Melee Acc.

Nin Acc: 11
Nin Dodge: 10 - 1 [Fearless] =1 [Light Armor] = 10; 12 while Whirlwind Spin is up [drops either with Critical Exposure or Detonation Tip, whichever comes first]

Melee Acc: 9
Melee Dodge: 10 - 1 [Fearless] =1 [Light Armor] = 10; 12 while Whirlwind Spin is up

Ranged Acc: 11
Ranged Dodge: 10 - 1 [Fearless] =1 [Light Armor] = 10; 12 while Whirlwind Spin is up

Gen DC (useless as I have no Gen, lol): 10
Gen Save: 10 - 1 = 9

Actions:
-Cast Critical Exposure (Mastered) on the Guest with Ninjutsu Accuracy, using the special action so it's timed to hit right before Raizo's next attack. [1 AP]
-With Ribbon Bow (below), use Detonation Tip (Mastered) on the Guest with the special action to have it explode at the start of next round [1.75 AP]
-With Yuki passive Flash Freeze (Rank 3), cast Aqua Fang (Mastered) as an Ice jutsu with one-handed seals at the Guest using Minor Affinity Move Debilitate [1.5 AP]

Conditionals:
-Body Switch [Mastered] w/Kawarimi Target from Pouch (Tool) if the thing's attack is about to connect [1 AP; resolves immediately upon the attack from the thing]
-If ]Ice Mirror I'm in is shattered and the other one is intact, reflexively switch to the other [0.5 AP; resolves immediately]

Current HP: 7875/7875 [-???]
Current CP: 5938/7000 [-1035] -> 4903/7000
AP: 5 - 4.25 = 0.75

I think I'm still maintaining Crystal Eye? Lol. It's in there.

[Ice Mirrors]
Ice Mirror A HP: 350
Ice Mirror B HP: 350 [Moriko is in this one; +350 temp HP]
Ice Mirror C HP: 350
Ice Mirror D HP: 350

Other Stuff that affects me:
-Negate 5% buff from incoming damage and add +5% damage to everything from Militia
-10% Damage Reduction to everything, but -1 all evasion secondaries from Fearless
-One-Handed Seals while using Ice attacks from the Yuki table
-Negate first Secondary Effect every round from Implacable
-See Hidden Actions from Insight
-Reduce partial hits and deflect misses with Deflection
-Reduce secondary effect chances by -5%, +1 dodge, and 25% partial hits are reduced to 0 from Light Armor
-+25% Ice damage to opponents with AP remaining from Yuki table
-Ice techniques used by the user have a +5% chance of secondary effects from Fuyushio Yuki passive Crystallized Ice (Rank 1)
-When the user takes bleeding damage, for the next 10 seconds the user’s C-Rank Ice Techniques now benefit from the Blood Rack Augment and have a +8% chance to inflict Bleeding from Fuyushio Yuki passive Blood on the Ice.


I also have Healing Factor and Jutsu Mastery but I'll be the one doing my own HP and CP so I'm not going to list 'em. I'm only listing relevant things too, so not S101 or my other weapons currently. And I forgot last round to mention Deflection; that's on me. And I forgot my armour, too.

Status:
-Maintaining Crystal Eye [Mastered] for RP reasons [150 CP/rnd]
-Have Whirlwind Spin active whole round since I've not yet attacked
-Have Ribbon Bow drawn [+0/+0%, Projectile, Can cause bleeding, Special Composition: Ice and Razor Strike augments
-No negative status.

 

[Goki]

A plethora of chaos, besieging nigh from every side. And yet, this creature . . . This thing - still someway reasoned it wiser to persists pursuit of the blue-haired Academy Student. Hellbent, in fact. Given its zeal, Goki reckoned the mystery regarding those supposedly ‘missing’ ”babies” may’ve proved unraveled. To Moriko’s fortune, however, unique jutsu of icy mirrors appeared beneficial. Likes of which the Hybrid found herself first witnessing; in addition to what further manifested from and by the Pantou—most unexpectedly, one may add. Eyes, the abundant collection of which - abnormal. Otherworldly, even. In a manner most discomforting. Further appearing upon the young boy’s forehead, in a sole manifestation most unbefitting. They provoked further wariness, announcing neither whether friend or second foe.

Subdual appeared to have succeeded its job decent enough. However, this creature, if it’d even been accurate to refer to as such, was far from any definition of exterminated or even unconscious. Swift, yet still powerful—a lethal combination. With the little intel garnered, Goki deemed it wisest to maintain subdual to the best of her ability, aiming to keep her comrades protected as possible. Yet, understood assault assistance may also prove beneficial. Necessary, even.
Following the Pantou’s and Kazekage’s attack, the ghoulish hands again shot forth, seeking repeated seizure whilst their owner wove further seals. Seals, this time, more conventional and recognized—those of wind style. And what would follow, only time would tell . . .

Spoiler: Passives

Passives
Empathy Scan +2 Acc
Compassionate +3% Max Hp Per Round
Inner Passion +10% damage reduction against all damage types, including Illusionary damage

Spoiler: Actions

Actions

0.0 | 0 AP Maintaining Emotion Barrier For 2 More Rounds (20 Seconds)

0.0 | 0 AP Maintaining Kinetic Genjutsu: Crippled (Mastered) For 2 More Rounds Due to Special Action (20 Seconds)

1.0 | 1.5 AP Emotion Blades -1% Max Hp (-132 HP)
- Called Shot on Legs

1.5 | 5.5 AP Tempest x2

 

[Sand Council]

The young shinobi, to the surprise of the Kazekage, continued to complete feat after feat, showcasing not only their amazing skills in the shinobi arts but also displaying some of their more latent individualized abilities. They would stun the monster, locking it away in its mind, while also attacking it will barbaric strength or distanced precision attacks. They may have been young, but for many of those present it was like an older mind, that of a soldier, resided within these children. The Kazekage, having only known them for a small amount of time, couldn't help but show his beaming pride. And not wanting to be shown up, or maybe simply letting himself feel like a kid with these young ones, he too started to display what he could do by unleashing heavy-hitting fire attacks against the strange figure who they had stumbled upon.

The creature, however, even with their onslaught and having its mind ravaged by one of the children, still persisted in a way that clearly punctuated its inhumanity. In fact, the more they seemed to corner the beast-man, the more it enraged it grew. The more enraged it grew, the tougher it also seemed to become. They would stun it, locking its mind and body in place, only for it to break out through sheer force of rage. As the battle lingered on the beast seemed to devolve away from what little human it had it in and became nothing more than a beast. Unlike normal beasts, it had a peculiar body.

This strange physiology allowed the creature to vibrate its body in a strange way. It wouldn't simply shake, it was as if every muscle in the body of the thing began to convulse on command. This strange pulsing allowed the creature to not only sink into the ground but also allowed it to travel through the ground as if it was swimming. As if it were some strange worm. As the battle raged on, the enraged beast's movements and attacks would continue to grow more spontaneous as it wasn't even clear if the creature even knew what it was doing anymore. It was simply lashing about to stave off death.

This was a testament to the skills of the young shinobi. A testament that may have inflated the egos, of not just the youth but also the Kazekage. For a split second the creature would stop being treated as the threat it was and merely as some game, some animal being hunted. Within this moment, the beast would once more show that as much as it was inhuman, it was also not merely a beast.

Once more the creature would begin to dart underground, but this time it would start to randomly dart upwards around the group, but instead of remaining up and attacking as it had been, the creature would instead immediately go back under and burst forth once more. This continuous eruption from the ground not only made it hard to keep track of the beast but also started to impact the visuals of the group as sand began to hang within the air, causing a sand screen to form. While some within the group could trace the movements based on various other skills, it still would not make hitting the beast any easier. It also allowed the creature to do the one thing it hadn't had the chance to do since the very beginning of their confrontation; get the jump on the shinobi.

Quickly the beast would rise up next to one of the young shinobi, catching them off guard. In that moment, the strange vision Jintou had mumbled about earlier seemed as if it were about to come true. Before the ravenous monster could sink its torrent maw of teeth into the young shinobi, a shadow would appear before them. This figure would catch the bite of the wormy beastman, propping the jaws of the beast open with their hands as they caught it in mid-bite. The beast would bite down and tear into the figure or at least free itself from its grasp, who as the sand would begin to clear up would be revealed to be the Kazekage.

With a sour look upon his face, the Kazekage would merely raise his hands up and clasp them around the head of the beast now attached to him. Releasing a large amount of intense fire chakra from his palms he would incinerate the creature's head until nothing remained but some ash that would disperse into the wind. Before any celebration could occur, something would happen that was both surprising and nearly instant, to the point not even the Kazekage could react.

From within the beast's body would emerge a smaller mouth that would burst forth from the open and charred neck of the creature. The figure would look similar to the beast but without noticeable limbs, instead would more closely resemble the tinier worm-like, thumb-like, creature the group had discovered earlier. It was a baby. The baby sunk its teeth into the chest of Raizo.

The Kazekage would prepare to incinerate the creature just as it had done to the head of the parent, but instead, a sudden pulse would travel throughout their body. Wearily, the Kazekage would gaze down at the mouth of the creature as a strange liquid seemed to be excreted from the mouth as it continued to chomp away at him.

"Goki... subdue it..." would come weakly from Raizo.

It was clear almost immediately to the Kage that he had now been poisoned, and killing the beast might have harmed his chances of getting an anti-venom. The young shinobi Genin would use her mind crippling powers to overwhelm the beast. Jintou and Ringo would be tasked with supporting the Kage's as his two pillars for the return home while Moriko would use a slight icing to keep the small creature immobilized.

Next to where the group had just finished battling, amongst the corpses of the strange ape creatures from Sora, a staircase would appear from the desert floor. Emerging from it would Uzi and his group... and a different tale to tell. It would seem that this location had been turned into a feeding and disposal grounds for The Swarm and those who lurked underground. There was much to figure out back at the village...

---

OOC: I know this wasn't how we wanted to do this or end it, but thank you all for participating. It is time to resolve this and move to a more centralized plotting. For those of you who disappeared, if you happen to come back please feel free to make the most of these stories as you'd like. If you want to flesh out any flashback, just let me know! Take on any injuries or scars as you wish.

@Jintou has been awarded the rank of Genin, received information on The Swarm, saw a strange creature, and returned with a sample of the creature
@Goki has been awarded the rank of Chuunin, received information on The Swarm, saw a strange creature, and returned with a sample of the creature
@Tsurara Moriko has been awarded the rank of Genin, received information on The Swarm, saw a strange creature, and returned with a sample of the creature
@Raizo has been poisoned with a mysterious venom
@Ringo has been awarded the rank of Genin, received information on The Swarm, saw a strange creature, and returned with a sample of the creature

EVENT END​

 

[Tsurara Moriko]

Moriko huffed and switched mirrors for a better view, pushing on the aggressive now that she was more able to. She did not like playing defensive. She much preferred being able to lash out and hit things. Only sufficient violence satisfied her, so strike she did.

Or at least, attempted to. It turned out keeping a slice of your attention far off in the distance was not conducive to fighting well on the ground where you were. Never mind the minimal chakra drain, it was the ten percent or so of her attention that was causing the issue. But she was loath to drop her crystal eye; the thing in the distance wasn't becoming more apparent but if she could just get nearer to see it better...

The blue creature's abilities were frustrating her attempts at violence, too. Moriko was reminded this was not some stupid dog that would act aggressive and simply charge in a way that let her cut its leg off; this was near on par with a being, if not actually a being, and it could think. And strategize. and react.

Somewhat.

They were still gaining the upper hand, of course. Which was where she preferred to be. A fair fight? Pah! Who cared how you won, as long as you won? Especially when the consequences of a loss were potentially dire.

And then it started throwing up sand. Annoying! Between her goggles and mirrors, Moriko wasn't directly affected by getting any in her eyes, but it still obscured things. She could maybe blow it away, but only if what was causing it stopped. Which it hadn't.

She jerked to one side, mirror twitching with her, when the creature surfaced in front of her. Between one instant and the next, the Kazekage was there in-between, and just like that there was no more blue creature. It went for a bite on the only thing in front of it, and then it was ashes on the breeze.

That was...impressive. The sort of feat you could expect from a Kage, to be sure.

Though in an instant, that was no longer nearly so positive an outcome. Moriko did get to see one of the babies in motion at least, but the way she got to see that was by it launching itself at and trying to eat the Kazekage. Well.

That sounded like some awfully strong venom.

Moriko dropped her mirrors and fell the remaining foot to the sand, a small dust cloud at her feet as she moved forward. Keep the thing on ice.

They were going back, obviously. They couldn't continue on with the Kazekage injured like this. Once again she was aggravated at the now-dead beast; there was a mystery she couldn't yet solve because of the stupid thing. With a touch of regret, she dissolved the Crystal Eye and focused on keeping the creature frozen on the way back in.

The main consolation prize was that this was considered sufficient to act as a graduation exam. Thank goodness. A life-fire exercise was much more rewarding than a designed and set-up exam.

Of course, now there's no more training wheels--I have to figure out how to work as a ninja on my own. But then, that shouldn't be too bad...

[Topic Exited]