Lugubrious

Konosuba: This Wonderful World's Alternative Paradigm

𝓠𝓾𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓵

@DracoLunaris @Lunarlors34@Lucius Cypher@Spriggs27

Far sooner than he had anticipated, and very much against his wishes, Quarel found himself locked in another battle of attrition. This time, he battled to stay attached to the toad that now unwillingly held his prized weapons. At this stage, it didn't seem at all possible that what few individuals remained of the original group could turn the tides and kill this toad. He would more than likely be going for a swim.

He didn't bargain on a spear flying out of nowhere to embed itself in the toad's cranium with a meaty, almost sickening shlork. The weapon's point pierced its brain, and through the critical wound its life seeped out in an instant. In an instant the monsters lost all remaining vitality and sagged, like a puppet whose strings had been cut, or a large waterskin, to the ground. Dazed, Quarel let go of the fresh corpse to stand on shaky legs. On the short but unstable trip to its mouth, he processed that two individuals that appeared to be half-orcs had arrived to save the day, but he had his priorities straight. Without any hesitation he climbed back into the toad's slimy maw, and there worked for about a minute to find and loosen his knives. When he returned to the sunlight, he looked as proud as he did exhausted. He sat down to listen to Jiang's 'congratulations', and the introduction of the newcomers that followed. That said, his focus wasn't all there. The toad experience had taught him one thing: that he couldn't rely on his fellow wannabe-adventurers. With that, his stake in the new career plummeted. In the hardest of times, the poorest of the poor and the weakest of the weak might have nothing, but they could still have one another. Here, that just wasn't the case. Furthermore, he couldn't rely on the more experienced succubus or centaur wasting their time trying to get him up to speed, and he couldn't rely on strangers coming out of nowhere to lend a hand when he needed it most. There was only one thing for it.

Digging in his pockets, Quarel produced the money he'd taken from Yuji only minutes ago, and dumped it on the ground. “Hey. Sorry to disappoint, but this just ain't for me. I've got other stuff I gotta do, and I can't see any kind of future here. I mean, I almost lost everything in less than ten minutes. If either of you ladies ever find yourselves stuck in the rough part of Axis, find someone with the Nightcrawlers and tell 'em Quarel said you're alright.” With a great effort the strigiforme stood to his feet. He glanced at Anemone, Capala, and Rita, the only others who remained aside from the half-orcs. “Couldn't really see what you guys were up to, but, uh...good work? You lived. I hope you keep on living. Have a good one.”

Were he standing, Quarel might have taken a slight bow before turning to leave, but he needed some more time to recover. Instead, he reclined onto his back, staring up at the sky with eyes of burnished gold. Would he ever, as every wingless bird dreamed, reach the sky? It rose to such a height. Yet, he was not perturbed. The sky should be high. Maybe not as an adventurer, but one day I'll have the power to reach it, and if it were any easier it wouldn't be worth it. A long road lay ahead of him, one without much hope. With the Nightcrawlers, at least, he knew he wouldn't be walking it alone.

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

@Dead Cruiser

Funny you'd say that, given the circumstances, heh.

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

@IceHeart
You guys still accepting?

@ineffable

@IceHeart

Still accepting? XD

@13org

I can't really speak for our GM, but as far as I know Iceheart hasn't said that there's any limit to how many people can join. Given the tendency for there to be at least a few players who jump ship forthright, I feel as though you'd be welcome.

The Crucible - Winner Take All

<Snipped quote by Lugubrious>

All perfectly fair, and I can acknowledge your criticisms. Allow me to rebut a number of them. The statement of "he should be dead" was not third person omniscient perspective, it was third person limited from Motley's perspective. As such, it was inherently flawed and skewed in his mindset. Additionally, Runch is explicitly stated to be able to take ungodly amounts of punishment in his CS, as well as being from the world of One Piece where that's the sort of thing that happens all the time.

In regards to the catacombs having been moved, fair enough, but the OOC still has them listed in Oldtown so you should update that to avoid future confusion. Not all of us can read every update made by every player to have been able to catch that detail. As for Erina getting there, that was left open ended on purpose to give us both opportunities to describe it in the third round. He had blacked out for a while there (not intended to be a few minutes, more like minimum an hour).

Re: Hamon and air floating, fair enough, If I made that mistake, then I apologize. I didn't see it listed on the Jojo wiki for ripple powers, but I was going with a statement that BC made previously since it was his character. If that breaks the power's canon, then it's my critical research failure and I own that. Also it was my understanding that "lightning mode" was Motley using actual electricity, not his dark ripple, so if what you say is true that my version of events would have him "charred and rotted black by an overwhelming infusion of corrupted hamon" then that was not my understanding of that particular ability at all, which again I'll totally own. Perhaps BC can clarify that himself.

Of course if you don't think any of these points change anything, then that's perfectly fine. I am aware that I went real hard into the "Runch takes massive damage" direction because, well, that's historically what he's done in the stories I've written for him. But this is a different sort of setting and if I have to make peace with that, so be it.

@ProPro

@Lugubrious Actually, there is a scene in the Phantom Blood anime where the Ripple master Dire uses his Ripple to hover in the air, which is explicitly noted by Dio. Don't know if that translates to the manga as well, but it is at least an option for them, albeit not one I see Crue using when his foe can properly fly via cereal expulsion. As for Runch hobbling away, I do have an idea in my head regarding how he could keep fighting in the next round, assuming my version pulls through. No spoilers, though.

@BCTheEntity

Thank you both for the clarification. Typically, I do these as much to get further insight as to offer an opinion. The note I missed on Runch's endurance in particular, as well as forgetting about Lightning Mode, are significant mistakes on my part. As for Dire, I also totally forgot about that floating bit. I went back and checked, and sure enough, he floats.

The Crucible - Winner Take All

I'll wait until 1:00, then I'll call it.

@Roughdragon1

I don't think a few extra minutes is going to make a difference. I'll go ahead and call it.

The Fungal Knight vs The Blood Devil Round 3 goes to Roughdragon1. Battle Score is 2-1 for Saria

And with that, I have my first two reviews to offer.

First is for you and @Banana:

It's good to see you both getting serious in this fight. In particular, I'm enjoying longer, more detailed writing from Banana. You'll notice, though, that I cast my vote for Saria in this fight. One of the factors here was characterization. In Roughdragon's piece, he depicted Bonesword pretty well, since Bonesword has only two listed personality traits and alcoholism isn't particularly predictable. Your version, Banana, I felt depicted Saria as a little too coherent and knight-like. In this fight, Saria is frenzied, filled with pain and power. Forming a good amount of full sentences, some of them resolutely taunting and some advisory, kinda downplayed this. In addition, Bonesword's able to match a frenzied, superpowered character blow for blow. Given Saria's state, I can't help but feel like Bonesword should be backed against the wall, really struggling to keep up. You're not utilizing his chloromancy as much as I would have imagined either. In short, you're writing pretty well, but there are some tools at your disposal that I felt you didn't utilize this round.

While you captured my attention by steering the fight into a climax, Rough, the amount of damage dealt to both combatants in your version plus Saria's own feeling of resignation makes me think that Round 4 is going to be short. Of course, that's if you win the next one. If Banana wins the next one, there's still a Round 5 that has to be done, and given both fighters' conditions it makes me a touch incredulous. just something to be aware of.

As for @ProPro and @BCTheEntity:

I suppose it doesn't need to be said that length /= quality? Doing too much in one round can create problems. Both fights were well-written, complete with a couple overlaps which in my book is good because it means people are understanding characters, but there are a few continuity problems. In both versions, Runch takes extreme damage, though even worse in ProPro's version; you outright state that he shouldn't be able to survive such an attack. He's charred and rotted black by an overwhelming infusion of corrupted hamon at point blank, then he blows himself up after getting a jumpstart from the power of friendship. Then he's essentially flushed down a toilet, and wakes up in Actaeon's catacombs (which as Lazo can tell you were retconned to exist at the bottom of the Justice Hub instead) with only "everything hurt something fierce" acknowledging what he just went through. How did Motley fare worse than him in that exchange? How did Erina get down there? Logically, getting grabbed by Motley seems to me like it would be curtains. I'm not trying to be mean here, but I am confused.

Something sort of similar occurs in BC's version. The overall damage Runch takes by the end, hobbling away as a pretty much fine Crue begins his pursuit, speaks to me of a fight winding down or at least about to reach its climax, when in fact if you take this round, you're only one third of the way there. That said, I did find it interesting that you decided to take on the challenge of entering Runch's brain to recall his memories for the purpose of forming a strategy. You did a good job with that.

Because one version leaves me with a better impression, fewer questions and -perhaps ironically- Runch in a logically better condition, my vote goes to BC this round. One bit of advice for both of you: to my knowledge Hamon doesn't allow a user to float in the air, and Runch doesn't make puns. He's more of a funny saying kind of guy. I'm interested to see whether or not anyone agrees with me. If I've made some mistake in my understanding, be sure to let me know.

The Crucible - Winner Take All

I'm sorry to bother, but please vote.

@Banana

Two things: while general encouragement is fine, I really wouldn't call people out on not voting. It's optional. And Deadnaut was kicked for inactivity more than a week ago.

The Crucible - Winner Take All

It seems that...

Knight Sylvestre vs God Hand Round 1 goes to me. Battle Score is 1-0 for Cyril

Good round, @GreenGoat! I'm sure the next will be as exciting.

Only half of the players have voted for Fungal Knight vs Blood Devil Round 3. Be sure to get them in soon!

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

Who knows, maybe some of these negatively aligned players may have a change of heart? Or vice-versa?
Maybe their moral compass has a more influence in their decisions once they realize that the MMO world is now reality?

@BurningDaisies

Both total possibilities.

The Crucible - Winner Take All

The Lady in White and Gaben's Chosen

Location: Governance Hub – Art Gallery
@Lazo@Hostile

The impossibly distended landscape around Mountain shocked him, as surely as it would have shocked anyone. A step forward confirmed, in his eyes at least, that the newfound mile between himself and his destination was legitimate. It boggled the mind; what could this be? Some sort of hallucination, perhaps? Through the scope of his sniper rifle, however, one thing could be seen through the faraway door: perched upon the same statue in whose lap the golden arrow rested was a single, unremarkable pigeon, staring at him with an unfathomable intensity in its button eyes as though it knew why he was here. On closer inspection, one thing out of the ordinary could be discerned about it: a scar, somewhat fresh, across its chest. The plumage there exhibited the sort of sheer damage that could only result from clean stab with a sharp instrument.

Meanwhile, Pithy, out of breath yet hellbent on confronting the individual she suspected to be her next enemy, reached the top of the steps. For an instant, she could see the art gallery's entrance hall, the sculptures therein, and a young man in combat gear standing with his back to her. In the air was some sort of odd ripple, like a heatwave. It brushed against her, and the world began to change.

Just as they had for Mountain, her surroundings began to extend at a breakneck pace in a single direction. In mere instants, the building and its interior shrank away into the distance, turning the foot-long top stair of the steps into a walkway many hundreds of yards long. To either side, the plaza stretched as well, but the bordering buildings appeared to have replicated rather than extended.

There wasn't much time to ponder the situation. Right in front of her, less than ten feet away, stood the object of her pursuit. Whether he was cognizant of her approach or not, she couldn't immediately say, but the next instant a familiar and grating voice reached the both of them from the other side of the plaza.

“There can be only one winner.”

CLACK!

“Fight!”

(Wild card: Free Bird & 「SPACE ODDITY」)

Seraphim and Sunspot

Location: Hidden Settlement
@DracoLunaris@floodtalon

Above the Whispering Wood's hidden settlement of cabins and campfires, Oren's drone floated where the morning mists couldn't obscure it. Though privy to the ongoing conversation between the two soon-to-be combatants, in particular the palpable dis-ingenuity of the assassin, he felt sure that no future awaited the odd pairing. Sophia, he'd decided, had been galvanized into a sort of active denial by the traumatic acquisition of her new limb. How else could she imagine that someone in a tournament with the primary purpose of soultaking would ever be her ally? The announcer didn't care to let Jin prevaricate any longer. From what he'd seen, he had enough advantages without being allowed to fish for an instant-kill on his opponent.

Still...this was the bed that Sophia had made. Useful though she had been moments ago in learning more about the airborne armada, and bad as he felt about hanging her out to dry, Oren figured that she might as well lie in it. Even now, she extended her hand to take an obviously-not-suspect drink from her opponent. The foolish, especially the foolish who commanded more than their fair share of power, deserved to be punished by the repercussions of their mistakes—that was something Oren believed. I don't have any stake in who lives or dies, he told himself. I got where I am through wits and cheating. Jin was a trickster too, and one who harbored contempt for the unpleasant and pretentious as deep as he, and probably just as hypocritically too. Yet...

“Enough goofing around already. We want action!” Oren's cheery tone rang from the flying machine, followed by the loud slam of its pincers. Neither of these, however, were free actions; Jin could act as he willed before the signal even came. His advantage, depending on his impulsiveness, was preserved. “Begin!”

Overlord : Advent of the Gods

@Lugubrious
Selena will need to level up some more and get better equipment before tackling superbeings like that. She's not the kind of person who will jump in without assessing the situation. And she will not go out of her way to attack them either.

@Hammerman

That's precisely the sort of thing I'm interested in! Conversations like this:

"Please tell me you're gonna work with us on this. There's only like four of us with a positive alignment, and if we don't do anything, those psychos are gonna wipe out or take control of everything just 'cause they can!"

"What!? Me!? I got a positive alignment 'cause I was friendly and peaceful, not 'cause I went around toppling dictatorships! I'm not gonna get myself killed just when my life is turning around. Even if I did, they're all crazy specc'd for PVP. One of 'em could wipe the floor with us! You do what you want, I'm staying in my village."

"What about when they come for your village? Maybe Azoth decides he doesn't have enough thralls and comes marching around. What then?"

"Then at least I'll have enjoyed some of my time!"

Of course, I'm interested to explore the setting as well. Some kind of inter-group conflict would, with the current roster, not go too well for the 'good guys', if they decide to don that mantle at all knowing what they do about their former friends.