QUEST: Dark Shard Hunting [RINGABEL]

You have accepted a quest given by Maleficent for 3 Dark Shards (And optional Dusk Shards), on this quest you Ringabel have been told to go to Traverse Town. Here you stand in the FIRST DISTRICT.



Where do you go to look for your Heartless and Items?



BACK ALLEY (SECOND DISTRICT)



THIRD DISTRICT



FIFTH DISTRICT





Modifiers in play: Long range weapon.

Between the heartless, the over-sugared coffee and the sad lack of pretty ladies, Ringabel didn’t feel like he belonged in Traverse. The amnesiac wondered if he even had a place he could call home. A funny feeling told him that if he did, it wasn't anything close to these night-bound horizons.

When the lovely Maleficent met him with the chance to impart this world, Ringabel latched onto the offer immediately. The task was to retrieve three Dark Shards from the heartless prowling in the alleys in return for a handsome fee - and therefore have the resources to leave this backwater town!

And maleficent wasn't bad on the eyes, either. A strong, fierce woman with towering grace, he couldn't help but declare his love for the dark mistress instantaneously. Her stiff "mind your tongue!" was made all the more precious by her pin-prick glare.

Ringabel looked forward to doing business with her again.

-

It was unsettlingly quiet in the Back Alley, with the air hanging heavy, like a warning. Undeterred, the Freelancer made his way down the narrow lane, thumb idly resting on the handle of his dagger. Shadows were playing in his periphery. He'd been sensing them for a while now. Come at me then, he thought. Compared to the monsters in Caldisla, this was just a different tune to the same song.

The Back Alley is mostly silent as the blonde hero arrives, until he has taken his first few steps into the area that is. 

ENTERING COMBAT MODE

TWO Blue Rhapsodies, ONE Shadow, and ONE Knight have been summoned to the field. 

Pre-Emptive Strike: Heartless

Blue Rhapsody 1 (50 HP) - FAIL

Blue Rhapsody 2  (50 HP) - FAIL

Shadow  (25 HP) - SUCCESS - HIT FOR 2 HP

Knight (50 HP) - FAIL

-----

Ringabel HP : 200 - 2 = 198. 

What is your next move? 

The amnesiac expected to be confronted, but he didn't expect to be surrounded so quickly. Then again, he hadn't had much experience with the heartless with the town to know how they behaved. He'd made it a point to stay cooped up in the nearest cafe, like any man worth his life.

"Alright. Who dies first?"

The blue-coats were quick, but not quick enough; running a criss-cross between each ice-embued tackle, The Freelancer had the chance to graze one of his nemesis (Rhapsody 1), before twisting on a heel and avoiding a timely claw to the face. The knight's momentum kindly escorted the bucket-head to the Freelancer's dagger. (Knight)

He didn't sense the hidden Heartless coming until he felt a sharp jab on his leg. The rhythm he'd been building up until then wavered, and muttering his distaste, Ringabel attempted to regather distance.

Attacked: Rhapsody 1
Attacked: Knight

COMBAT EXECUTED

RINGABEL succesfully attacks BLUE RHAPSODY 1 for 31 Damage eliminating it from combat and aquiring 1 Frost Shard - useless 

BLUE RHAPSODY 2  charges an attack and FAILS combat check, missing target entirely. A SMALL PATCH OF GROUND IS FROZEN - MOVEMENT REQUIRES DEXTERITY CHECK

The SHADOW FAILS Combat check, sinking into the shadows momentarily to get behind it's target for it's next turn. 

RINGABEL PASSES combat check, hitting the KNIGHT for 23 Damage. 

The KNIGHT PASSES Counter attack scratching Ringabel for 15 Damage. 

-----

COMBAT RESULTS

BLUE RHAPSODY 1 - Defeated, useless item cast out. 

BLUE RHAPSODY 2 - FAIL - 50 HP remaining

SHADOW - FAIL - 25 HP remaining

KNIGHT - PASS hit for 15 - 27 HP remainging

RINGABEL - PASS BOTH CHECKS for 54 total damage! - 183 HP remaining.

With all the dodging, swinging and running that the heartless lacked at and Ringabel excelled in, Ringabel thought he'd be a shoe-in for this dispatching mission.

Nope.

The knight ended up tripping him (how's that for a shoe-in?). The shadow took advantage of that and brewed up an ice spell from inside its hat, which ended up freezing the ground as Ringabel rolled away. He didn't have the time to use his dagger - he should have brought something less flimsy, really - so the (Knight) that tripped him, and was actively clunking toward him, ended up with its shin kicked in. The shadow wasn't anywhere to be found.

He may not have had sufficient experience with the nocturnal creatures, but now he'd established that they tended to have one-track minds - especially when it came to creeping up to unsuspecting victims. To the slightest draft behind him, Ringabel twisted in time to deliver a kick into the forming mass of heartless (Shadow) before it could even twitch a claw. It arched high in the air, flailing wildly - and straight into the blue-coat. (Rhapsody)

Attacked: Knight (kick; attempted to trip)
Attacked: Shadow (kicked)
Attacked: Rhapsody (Indirect attack; shadow crashed into it)

COMBAT CONTINUES

RINGABEL FAILS to hit the KNIGHT, his kick landing too high! 

The KNIGHT FAILS it's counter attack and whips back for the round

RINGABEL PASSES and kicks the SHADOW for 7 damage hurling it into the BLUE RHAPSODY 2 for CRITICAL DAMAGE totaling 29 points and destroying it from the field and stunning the SHADOW for next round!

It drops 1 DARK SHARD! SUCCESS!


------

COMBAT RESULTS

BLUE RHAPSODY 1 - DEFEATED

BLUE RHAPSODY 2 - DEFEATED - DROPPED ONE DARK SHARD

SHADOW - STUNNED! - 18 HP REMAINING

KNIGHT - FAIL - 27 HP REMAINING

RINGABEL - 183 HP REMAINING

The shadow wobbled in place.

A funny little stone clinking down gave Ringabel pause. Of course! Thoroughly absorbed in taking out the pesky things that he'd nearly forgotten the priority of his mission. Ringabel retrieved the stone just as the Knight closed in, and with his dagger, struck the creature before pulling away.

The shadow was still wobbling in place.

"Come into my boot, you."

Ringabel kicked it.

Attacked: Knight (dagger)
Attacked: Shadow (kicked)

COMBAT CONTINUES


RINGABEL FAILS to hit the KNIGHT, his stab grazing the air as the KNIGHT winds up for an attack!

The KNIGHT overshoots it's target entirely for CRIT FAIL it is NOT STUNNED for passing a saving fall!

RINGABEL SUCCESFULLY hits the SHADOW for 8 damage!

The SHADOW is NO LONGER STUNNED but cannot COUNTER ATTACK this round!


RESULTS


BLUE RHAPSODY 1 - DEFEATED

BLUE RHAPSODY 2 - DEFEATED

SHADOW - FAIL - 10 HP REMAINING

KNIGHT - FAIL - 27 HP REMAINING

RINGABEL -  183 HP REMAINING 

Ringabel felt that once upon a time, the bulk of his weight came from an iron body-cast. A suit of armor, probably. He didn't have that defense now, and it made him feel fairly naked in battle.

The shadow seemed torn up between fighting and retreating, so the Freelancer closed in for the (Knight) as priority, dodging a right claw and retaliating with his blade-point. When he glanced back to the shadow, it seemed to have made up his mind; it attempted to meld with the ground.

"Oh, no you don't."

Ringabel was always the quickest among his friends - probably something to do with that questionable iron-cast memory - so with the dexterity he had he met the back of the retreating (Shadow) with a thorough (and hopeful) slice.

Attacked: Knight (dagger)
Attacked: Shadow (dagger)

COMBAT CONTINUES 


RINGABEL succesfully hits the KNIGHT for 18 Damage!

The KNIGHT succesfully Counters for 15 Damage!

RINGABEL CRIT SUCCESSES to hit the SHADOW for 28 Damage, ELIMINATING IT FROM THE FIELD. 

RINGABEL collects ONE DARK SHARD and ONE TWILIGHT SHARD as a BONUS for CRITICAL STRIKE


COMBAT RESULTS

BLUE RHAPSODY 1 - DEFEATED

BLUE RHAPSODY 2 - DEFEATED 

KNIGHT - 9 HP remaining 

SHADOW - DEFEATED

RINGABEL - 168 HP remaining

COLLECTED: 2 DARK SHARDS, 1 TWILIGHT SHARD


NOW FINISH IT!

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With its comrades all but an afterthought, the Shadow reverted to its basic survivalist; without bothering to stitch to the ground, it tapdanced for the darkened alley with all the strength its little feet could muster. Ringabel looked on, unconcerned, as he juggled his dagger once, twice, three times. He was gauging the distance...farther. Yes, that's it.

A flick of the wrist later, and the dagger was eating through the distance.

COMBAT CONTINUES

RINGABEL CRITICAL STRIKES (NATURAL 20: BONUS PRIZE!) the SHADOW for 19 damage DESTROYING IT AND CLEARING THE COMBAT FIELD. 

The SHADOW drops one TWILIGHT SHARD and ONE POTION! SCORE!


Combat Results

ALL HEARTLESS DEFEATED

RINGABEL: 168 HP REMAINING 

COLLECTED: TWO DARK SHARDS, TWO TWILIGHT SHARDS, ONE POTION!


WHERE WILL YOU GO NEXT?

SECOND DISTRICT

THIRD DISTRICT

FIFTH DISTRICT

i.imgur.com/YqiKcNi.png

Job done, Ringabel stalked out of the alley with the cautiousness of a mad rhino. Can you blame him for being lively? It's been too long since he got his blood moving - at least, not in a way involving late-night gallivants. Life in Traverse Town was stale, even with the heartless keeping you busy. And it wasn't graced with ladies who valued rich inner lives or appreciated potpourri words...save for one.

It was a good thing that he came across Maleficent as quickly as he did, and not just for the transport. Maleficent was an intricate flower, poisonous as she was beautiful. And her vitriolic looks were the things of dreams.

He'd have to honor her with a gratuitous dinner back at his motel, he decided. They could bond a little. Nurse some wine, exchange stories...Maybe even slow-dance a little.

He slipped through the large door and into the (Third District). His home was the district over, and while he was perfectly willing to retreat into his bed, he anticipated that the heartless wouldn't make it so easy. After all, he'd made an art out of slashing their brothers.

Did she like Chardonnay?

The Heartless wait for Ringabel to enter the main area in the Third District and when they do appear 3 spawn in!


Another SHADOW (25 HP) snakes it's way up from the tile, idly jumping about while it's comrades also summon. 

A KNIGHT (50 HP) appears in a ball of Darkness giving similar moves to it's unprotected comrade 

And a single DARKBALL (50 HP) summons in, floating about sinisterly!