Despite it being the worst possible place to doze off at, Malphas decided to do just that. As he slowly lifted himself from reality and into the dreamscape, he saw images of the kingdom he has been promised, the followers he has been guaranteed, and the heavenly visage he has already been bestowed. There were many paths Malphas had began to think of to reach this fully realized dream, however. Perhaps the time he spent waiting for the others was a waste, and he could start it out on his own? Or perhaps the company is welcome in the strange lands?
Who cares? Time to nap!
It was a shame that such a nice rest had to end. Getting struck in the head by a book would have been quite the rude awakening had Malphas dozed off. Instead, he was awake enough to react with an audible "ow!" before examining what has befallen on him. Taking a glance at the book's title as well as a skin of some of its context had answered Malphas's questions, realizing that what he has in his hand is more than what he needs to start his kingdom!
"Thank you, O Goddess! Statues of your feet will grace the halls of my kingdom forevermore!" Malphas proclaimed, kissing the book as he hopped right back up. He was oblivious to the true bearer of this book, much less the sword that might have fallen right next to him. Instead, Malphas cradled the book like a child as he marches forth towards the direction of the mountains.
Acceptances, Round 5. All of the following character sheets are considered accepted, and may be moved into the characters tab as they are currently written in-thread.
Perception: Anime Gore: On Pain Setting: 20% Clothing Damage: On Nudity Censor: Off Profanity Censor: Off Combat Action: Manual Spell Incantations: Manual
Helmet: Riverreed Hat (Common) Armor: Hooked Shellgear (Uncommon) [+50 HP, +10 END, Increase Grappling proficiency by 10%.] Arm Equipment: Armguard of the Challenger (Uncommon) [+30 HP, +40 SP, +5 DEX, At 20% HP, increase STR and DEX by 10.] Main Hand: Pewter Staff (Common Staff) Off Hand: Lotus Bloom (Rare Shield) [+20 HP, +50 MP, +15 DEX, -10 END, Reduce magical damage taken by 20, and reduce water element damage by an additional 20. At the cost of 50 MP, temporarily extend magical damage reduction to all allies within 10 meters.] Leg Equipment: Battlewrap Greaves (Common) Shoes: Suckered Sandals (Uncommon) [+5 END, + 10 LCK, Increase resistance to Knockback effects by 20%.]
Weapon Proficiency LVL 1 Increase proficiency with all weapons. Power Attack Actively consume SP while preparing for an attack; unleash for increased damage on attack. Combat StancePassive. Increase STR, END, or DEX by 10% at will. Five second cooldown. Double StrikeActive. 25% SP cost. Attack twice with your weapon, dealing incremental bonus damage based off SP consumed. Can be combo'd into from Power Attack. Sundering BlowActive. 40% SP cost. Strike downwards, causing a burst of energy around you and dealing damage to all enemies. May inflict Stun. Range increases by 5 meters for every 100 SP consumed, starting from a radius of 10 meters. Can be combo'd into from Power Attack.
Entering Thunderstruck Grove, Lew was quite excited for what was to come. It was the spookiest zones that had the best monster girls, after all. He was also excited in seeing just how these demonic and spiritual monsters are like in this game as well, seeing as the paths he was taking would specialize in dealing with such threats. The atmosphere was definitely a great way to set up the mood. Clutching at his talismans, Lew was overall eager to face off against what the Grove had to offer.
Or at least, he would if Ari didn't go off on her own again without any levels.
"Uhh... Yeah, I'll go after her." Lew offered, turning towards Ari's direction. "I think I have the most solo experience between all of us, so I should be able to protect her if things go sour. Ah, and before I forget..."
Lew procured one of his [Purification Talismans], handing it to Raime.
"Give that to one of the strongest physical fighters in the party, no idea who that is. Should let you guys hit ghosts if you aren't magically inclined. Don't use it at the first ghost you see, though. The talisman's only temporary... and it only works for one person, I think. You'll figure it out."
Without another word, Lew ran off into the direction of the catgirl, entering a Combat Stance to boost his DEX up before procuring an [Attack Talisman]. He wanted to react to whatever would pop up in front of him as swiftly as possible. The more Lew thought about it, however, the more he possibly realized he might have come to this Grove ill-prepared. Maybe he should have brought more [Purification Talismans]... Either way, whatever Ari was going to do, Lew was planning on directing her to the Goldspun Fields, where everyone else garnered their first few levels. Once that was done, he could probably regroup with the rest, maybe with more Talismans in tow.
History: The Kubonekos were once a family of Shinto priests who watched over an ancient piece of spiritual land in the remote regions of Japan, a land rich with the souls of stray cats free to frolic, and "ruled" by the family's guardian spirit, a nekomata that served as the family's primary foundation into magecraft. Due to the nature of the Kubonekos' magecraft, they were forced to stay in the wilds as their minds had far regressed closer to that of animals. However, during the end of the Meiji era, their spiritual land was conquered and taken by a bloodsucker foreigner, one the family was too weak to defend against. With their spiritual land pillaged and their incapability to fully adapt into human society, the Kubonekos would have been doomed to extinction if not for the intervention of the Holy Church, who sought out Eastern agents to root out the Dead Apostles of these foreign lands. Throughout the years, the Kuboneko family was moulded to serve one of the arms of the Holy Church, wild beasts of the Eastern lands trained to the service of God. And of course, it goes without saying, but being away from their spiritual home caused the Kuboneko magecraft to deteriorate as each new heir devoted their life in service to the church, their attribute of "regression" shifting to that of "purification." It was a consequence that would have continued if it wasn't for a miracle.
Okayu, the current Kuboneko heir, was something of a prodigy in his family, being the first in a long time to successfully "reach an understanding" with the family's benefactor. While he did not possess any spectacular number of circuits or strange affinities that set him apart from other magi, his talents at performing the family's magecraft were surely the work of a prodigy, demonstrating the skills and talents of the Kuboneko in their glory days. His talents also extended to battling against mankind's threats, naturally excelling in training as a professional killer sworn only to the Eighth Sacrament, a heathen that served the Holy Church. After all, what is truly lost if it were the sinner who sinned?
Not too long ago, Okayu had successfully purged the Kuboneko's spiritual land of the Dead Apostle interloper with the help of a certain stranger from China. However, before he could fully reclaim his land, the very same stranger made his claim on the stray souls roaming the Kuboneko's "cat heaven," proclaiming that such a land is a perfect spot for a new "hell." And just as quickly, the man absconded as soon as he took his tribute. Now, Okayu still continues to serve the church, more as a debt to the organization than out of any true faith, for much of it has deteriorated. It wasn't something that Okayu's superiors even minded, as much more frightening beasts have served the institution before him. Ever since that day, his humanity has regressed even farther than before, the hatred from his family's guardian and the stray cats of cat heaven seeping into his very soul. Okayu lives for vengeance, but not against all of humanity. Instead, he craves for revenge against that one man... that egg-shaped man, foiling his plans forevermore.
Personality: A curious being far removed from humanity, closer to a house cat in terms of mentality. At the same time, a devout fighter of the enemies of humanity. A playful kitten who will also bare its claws at an instant. A free spirit who enjoys foods with high protein, such as chili dogs. Reasoning is possible, although speech is difficult due to the nature of his magecraftt.Magic Circuit Switch: The sensation of scraping meat off of bone with his tongue.
Quality of Circuits: C
Quantity of Circuits: C
Elemental Affinity: Fire
Attribute: Regression & Purification. By purifying the humanity away from his existence, Okayu is able to regress easily.
Magecraft:
Houjutsu: The bare basics, essentially what is covered by General Magecraft. Of note, Okayu is talented in bounded fields meant to contain or purify spirits, the creation of feline familiars, and the knowledge of Japanese cremation ceremonies.
High-Speed Sutra Incantation (Rings): Due to a speech impediment, spell incantations are difficult to perform. However, by utilizing the rhythmic movements and ringing of a khakkhara, Okayu is capable of performing houjutsu incantations at three-fourths of the speed.
Beast Magecraft (Cat): One of the two primary components of the Kuboneko line of magecraft. Utilizing the mysteries surrounding the animal kingdom in order to adopt their traits, and an offshoot of the original Shinto method of channeling animal spirits into one's body. However, such magecraft is frowned upon as their users are likely to lose their minds and become like the animals they seek to emulate. More specifically, the Kuboneko adapt the features of a "cat" into their bodies, enhancing their abilities far above normal strengthening magecraft. While he has not reached the same level of a certain dog, Okayu is still capable of enhancing his capabilities to surpass those of humans, from heightening his senses to track down heretical magecraft, to even his speed and agility. At this level, it could be said that Okayu resembles a ■■■■■■■■, or a "phantasmal cat," at the extent of a fraction of his reasoning deteriorating. Despite this, the main reason why the Kubonekos use such a risky magecraft is not for its immediate benefits, but rather what comes from it. Losing their minds is the least of the Kuboneko's worries, as such a loss is required to take advantage of the rest of their magecraft.
Nekomata: The guardian spirit that the Kubonekos had worshipped in the past, and the second of the two primary components of the family's foundation. The nekomata is a yokai, one formed from a particularly aged cat, bearing two tails to signify their power and a contempt for humankind. It is because of this hatred for humans that the Kuboneko have adopted Beast Magecraft, utilizing it as a means to more properly communicate with the object of their worship, the kami of their spiritual land. By channeling the nekomata, they are able to borrow their concepts and utilize them in their magecraft, while the spirit itself serves a similar function to a western magi's magic crest. In Okayu's case, he specializes in using the Nekomata's blue flames as a weapon, cursed fire that is extremely effective against humankind, as well as further strengthening his Beast Magecraft. Other abilities belonging to the nekomata, such as possessing and controlling the dead, are beyond Okayu's abilities due to degradation and general distaste for the art. T-there's no "r" in "nekomancy!"
Sorcery Trait: Mystic Eyes of Dilation: The inherent trait of the Kuboneko, a "bronze"-ranked pair of mystic eyes, single action spells that are contained within the user's eyes that interfere with anything within the user's field of view. These eyes have the effect of dilating the time of everything within the user's line of slight, slowing time down when channeled. While these effects aren't especially powerful, they do aid in having the user appear to "go fast." Okayu normally uses it to aid against fighting Dead Apostles, existences above humanity where even his enhanced speed and senses aren't enough to keep up with. Based off of the mystery surrounding the nature of a cat's eyes, which dilate depending on the time of day. It should be noted that as inherent traits to the Kuboneko, these eyes are closer to psychic channels than they are to those formed using magecraft.
Baptism Sacrament: The sole miracle members of the Holy Church are permitted to acquire. However, due to its incompatibility with Okayu's circuits and his speech impediment, he is incapable of truly performing the ritual. The knowledge of the miracle, rather than any application.
Mystic Codes:
Taigasuzu Shakujo: A khakkhara with seven jingly jangly golden rings, a sharpened pointed tip, and a prismatic gemstone resembling an emerald crafted in the late 1500s. This staff serves as the pseudo magic crest to the Kuboneko, as it is a conceptual weapon containing the guardian spirit designated as the "Nekomata", bound with a particularly aged cat animal spirit and the clan's ancestor, consuming the souls of each family head at the time of their passing. The spirit itself, who is referred to fondly by Okayu as "Kameko-San", holds a hatred for human beings like others of its kind, and has also developed a hatred against Dead Apostles due to one being responsible for the pillaging and degradation of their spiritual land, their domain as kami. As a conceptual weapon, it merely bestows the nekomata's burning effect against those it strikes, cursed flames that are particularly effective against both humans and bloodsuckers alike, the objects of Kameko-san's ire. It is also utilized as a medium for the Kuboneko's magecraft, as well as a medium to draw forth the grudges of both stray and domestic cats in a given area. It should be noted, however, that Okayu is not strong enough on his own for Kameko-san to maintain its own physical body outside of the Kuboneko spiritual land.
Shroud of St. Christopher: Holy shroud bestowed by the church to the Kuboneko to aid the clan from succumbing to madness due to the nature of their magecraft. A shroud meant to contain the bestial nature of whatever is held within, suppresses one's "monstrous" and "animal" attributes when worn. Primarily serving as an extra step to avoid the mental degradation that comes from the usage of Beast Magecraft, allows Okayu to retain the reason that he lost to a degree in exchange for significantly dampening the capabilities of his Beast Magecraft when worn. However, Okayu still conducts himself as one far removed from humankind. One could only imagine what sort of monster Okayu might regress to if the shroud is removed for a prolonged period of time...
Other mystic codes of note include a priest's frock made with a composite weave and strengthened by protective spells, a pair of mystic eye killers, and two or three hairballs of unknown origin holding a significant amount of magical energy.
Non-Magecraft Abilities/Items:
Okayu has brought with him a floofy and insulated coat for cold weather, enough change of clothes to last the whole war plus a few more weeks in case he gets lost going back home, eighty (80) sheets of talisman paper, six (6) cans of tuna, a slightly magical ball of yarn, a scratched up King James version of the Bible, a tour guide to Turkey, and a book entitled "Homer for Dummies."
Okayu is trained in the martial techniques of the Holy Church, namely in the use of spears and staves as weapons, with enough training to properly fight against vampires. This training is eclipsed by Okayu's frightening mastery of sumo, sporting an abnormal muscle and bone density that allows him to out-perform those above his weight class.
Okayu can recite the Old Testament almost verbatim, however his speech impediment makes it difficult. This does not stop his superiors from asking him to recite it nonetheless.
As expected of a cat, Okayu hates water and cannot swim. By all accounts, it is assured that water is his weakness.
Acceptances, Round 4. All of the following character sheets are considered accepted, and may be moved into the characters tab as they are currently written in-thread. nyau! This should round out the Servant applications. All that is left is the last half of the Master sheets, and we should have a full cast! nyau!
Sorry, I'm currently going through exams at the moment. Will get things up by the end of the week. Definitely going for some sort of Villain role, though!
Acceptances, Round 3. All of the following character sheets are considered accepted, and may be moved into the characters tab as they are currently written in-thread.
@Seirei No Hai, Santa Muerte is accepted. @Omida, William the Conqueror is accepted. @Sosuke, Brynhildr is accepted @Enkryption, Arachne is accepted. @Yankee, Tutankhamen is accepted.
Perception: Anime Gore: On Pain Setting: 20% Clothing Damage: On Nudity Censor: Off Profanity Censor: Off Combat Action: Manual Spell Incantations: Manual
Helmet: Riverreed Hat (Common) Armor: Hooked Shellgear (Uncommon) [+50 HP, +10 END, Increase Grappling proficiency by 10%.] Arm Equipment: Armguard of the Challenger (Uncommon) [+30 HP, +40 SP, +5 DEX, At 20% HP, increase STR and DEX by 10.] Main Hand: Pewter Staff (Common Staff) Off Hand: Lotus Bloom (Rare Shield) [+20 HP, +50 MP, +15 DEX, -10 END, Reduce magical damage taken by 20, and reduce water element damage by an additional 20. At the cost of 50 MP, temporarily extend magical damage reduction to all allies within 10 meters.] Leg Equipment: Battlewrap Greaves (Common) Shoes: Suckered Sandals (Uncommon) [+5 END, + 10 LCK, Increase resistance to Knockback effects by 20%.]
Weapon Proficiency LVL 1 Increase proficiency with all weapons. Power Attack Actively consume SP while preparing for an attack; unleash for increased damage on attack. Combat StancePassive. Increase STR, END, or DEX by 10% at will. Five second cooldown. Double StrikeActive. 25% SP cost. Attack twice with your weapon, dealing incremental bonus damage based off SP consumed. Can be combo'd into from Power Attack. Sundering BlowActive. 40% SP cost. Strike downwards, causing a burst of energy around you and dealing damage to all enemies. May inflict Stun. Range increases by 5 meters for every 100 SP consumed, starting from a radius of 10 meters. Can be combo'd into from Power Attack.
Lew's eyes searched through the various talismans that Taka-Ryu had offered, sipping on the fermented rice drink offered to him prior. As usual, he took his time to admire the various origami creations dotting the talisman seller's shop, wondering if such things could also be talismans. Such things were put on the back of Lew's mind, however, as the thought of buying something that isn't a talisman was brought up.
"Does the cloth have any... cloth for sale? Uniforms that would better denote our status?" Lew asked, dreading his mix-matched outfit.
"Oh, if you're talking about just the clothing, feel free to come back over here once you've obtained the job, brother." Taka-Ryu bumped his fist against his chest. "The vestments are tailored to the wearer, so we'll take your measurements and have it ready for you in two days."
The man laughed then.
"Basically though, that's a roundabout way of saying we don't have such attire for sale."
Lew replied to Taka-Ryu's joke with a simple "heh." Knowing Lew for the last few hours, this is the closest thing to an actual laugh he's uttered. Nevertheless, Lew was a bit disappointed he would be unable to look the part. Still, he didn't come here primarily for clothes
"I've finally reconvened with my allies, and I believe we plan to go to... Thunderstruck Grove? Are there any talismans you recommend I prepare in advance for such a trek?"
The Grove, eh? It's a fine training place for exorcists, for sure." Taka-Ryu stroked his chin, then began to pull some talismans off the strings. "Mostly, it's spirits and the oni you have to worry 'bout. I'd recommend these purification talismans if your party's lacking in magic users, and also, if you don't have healers, talismans of healing would be better than talismans of regeneration, due to the mighty swings of the oni. Other than that..."
"May be apt to keep some talismans of swiftness too. Compared to the monsters within the fields and the river, spirits are actively malignant while oni are organized on a wider scale than those goblin raiding parties down at Goldspun Fields."
"Oni and spirits, huh?" Lew thought back to the days when he was considering a Samurai. Perhaps he could approach those dreams again if he went on another solo tirade to earn those requirements, especially if he became an Exorcist, as Taka-Ryu suggested. For now though, Lew was more focused on supporting his allies overall.
"Talismans of Healing are 500 Rishi as usual, right? Might be apt to buy a few Purification Talismans as well. We have only one mage so far, and I've still got about 14 levels yet until I can pursue one of the paths offered here. How much are those, as well as the Swiftness Talismans?"
"Yes, they'll be 500 rishi. If you can afford it though, the 2,500 rishi ones may provide you with a greater safety net if you don't have any healers at all. Other than that...the most affordable variations for Swiftness and Purification are 1000 rishi each."
Lew quickly opened up his party chat to inquire his friends on some of his talisman choices. In the meanwhile. he decided to make his other purchases.
First off, Lew bought himself about 27 of those basic attack talismans. They could serve as filler between his attack rotations, and it's about time he learned how to use them anyway. Next, he decided to purchase one of those uncommon rarity healing talismans as an emergency quick heal. Finally, he grabbed himself about 4 of the common healing talismans, bringing him to about 3000 rishi left to spend between the purification and swiftness talismans.
"I have been considering practicing my talisman skills more. It might be especially important since I'm walking the path of a warrior, rather than that of a mage. That does mean I'll be doing much more business here for the long term, but do you know of any methods or paths I can seek out to help me in perfecting my talisman use? Does the Fair Lady have any sights of pilgrimage or anything of that sort?"
"Geez," Taka-Ryu laughed. "This has to be the most words you've spoken ever since coming here. The capricious nature of our Goddess reduces the amount of holy sites that are truly authentic, but if you ever plan to be in the area, the San-Li clan has quite a few shrines and memorials dedicated to her, due to their alignment with the waters."
"For talismans then...well, you know what they say, brother. Practice makes..."
"The San-Li, huh?" Lew stroked his chin for a moment, recalling the different clans. At some point, Lew and his party would likely join one of them in time. "Hm... I see. And what of the other clans? What does the temple think of them? Alongside that, are there any other paths the Fair Lady would condemn? I know she talls us to do what we desire, but I'm afraid that my quest for power and, more importantly, my desire to score a mons-"
Lew stopped himself once more, smiling slyly and bowing his head as he hands the rest of his rish towards Taka-Ryu.
"Ah, never mind. Sorry for troubling you with my questions, brother. I'll just take two purifications and one swiftness talismans."
"There's always a place of refuge for men of the cloth," Taka-Ryu replied, bundling up the talismans that Lugh requested. "Though the Lady of the Alabaster Scales condemns not the paths that mortals chose to walk, she doesn't condemn what judgments others levy against them either. The nature of freedom, after all, is responsibility, the burden we bear whether benign or malignant."
For a moment, the man looked solemn, his expression one of an enlightened sage rather than a simple talisman vendor.
"Basically though, don't think about it too much and just enjoy yourself! That's why we were born, right?"
Lew only nodded at Taka-Ryu's words, counting the rest of his talismans before placing them all into his inventory. Once his purchases were complete, he bowed once again to the talisman seller, content on his choices. Once his shopping was complete, Lew made his way back to where his group would be meeting at, eager to test out his new talismans on whatever foe they may be facing. Perhaps his choices will save his group from a sticky situation? Or perhaps he may just waste them all, and it will lead to naught but their downfall...
Malphas wondered to himself if this was what true death was like. As soon as he leapt into the air, he had closed his eyes, welcoming whatever fate had in store for him. That weightless feeling that surrounded him gave him the same sensation that swept his body when he imbibed the poison that lead to his downfall. It was a feeling of ascension, a feeling of freedom... It was an ecstasy that Malphas fully absorbed himself in.
At least, that was before his shins slammed into the upper edges of the rock wall before him.
After a rather comedic sequence of him tumbling down the other side of the wall, Malphas finally took in the true feeling of freedom. Looking behind him as he was made aware of the ethereal wings that made his escape. Was this the true power of faith in this world? Is this merely a taste of what he could truly attain should he amass a large enough following? Motivated at the prospects of this idea, Malphas quickly stood up, stopping halfway as he crumpled back down into exhaustion. His accomplishments have taken a toll on him, and it was only now that the rush of adrenaline had ended that Malphas finally felt his energy fading.
Rather than continuing forward, Malphas instead turned onto his back in order to rest. He should treasure these brief moments of respite while he can, and it would be especially to his favor if he awaited for his allies to make their escape as well. As obstinate as they may be, traveling alone in this new world would be a dangerous prospect no matter what. Malphas did not want to end up like another winged fool, Icarus, who flew too close to the sun. Instead, he will stay by the moonlight, guided by its cold embrace.
"I believe in you, you fools..." Malphas uttered as he closed his eyes, drifting to rest for a time.
Yankee
Dane
