Ryonara

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

"Tch." Ebon got back onto his feet, dusting himself off and looking at the two. "Whatever. Go on and play buddy-buddy all you want. You and I both know this is all just an act." Ebon grabbed The Kingdom and walked away from the scene. He wasn't going to go to any party with someone like Sapphire, and having Gren there wasn't making it seem any more appealing. Though this did make him want to find Sapphire's daggers even more, if only to spite her. So Ebon left the air docks to find a foot path down towards the lake, or at least a series of cliff edges he could hop down and get closer.

Once Ebon was out of sight, he looked back towards the lake. In the distance he could see a couple of heads pop out of the water. The others either found the daggers or were having a hard time finding it. Either way Ebon jumped off the cliff with The Kingdom in his hand. Once he got a good 15 feet or so above the water, he slammed The Kingdom into the side of the cliff, stopping him form falling further. Climbing on top of it he then sent out a few more R-Types, this time four in total. With less of a distance to focus he should be able to use them more effectively, though only in a close group. "Now let's see what's taking so long..."

Deep Ground Online (Hiatus)

Wow I missed a lot. What are we doing now?

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Meirin Kurenai

After spending some time in the gardens Meirin and Ssarak went to watch the demonstrations. They were just in time to see Ghell preform his demonstration, which really made Meirin hyped up. Meirin tried to copy some of his movements herself, but unlike Ghell her technique failed to create any creature. She didn't even feel any magic through her body as she tried. "Wow! One day, I'll be able to do that too." Meirin watched a few more demonstrations before she and Ssarak went outside for some fresh air.

Outside Meirin saw the various carts and stalls in the courtyard, so she dragged Ssarak down to try some games. She recognized a few back when she protected some of the caravans. Some of the caravaneers even remembered her, though they didn't know she was a student of the college. They tried to sell all sorts of little presents and knicknacks. She did buy a few, such as a silk mask that made her head look like a panda bear's, and a wooden toy called a yoyo. One attraction stood out to her the most. "Oh! I remember these back at the monestary. Come on Ssarak!" Instead of the usual torchlight, this stall was illuminated by glowing jack-o-lanterns. For just a few gold they would carve out a pumpkin for customers, or even let the customers carve out their own design. "We used to do this back at the monastery with old pumpkins. I'm surprised to see someone build a business out of it. Two pumpkins please!"

And young man came over to Meirin and Ssarak with two fairly large pumpkins. When asked if they wanted a specific design Meirin asked for a knife instead. "I have a design I'd like to make myself, please. Ssarak, I'll just be right over there. I brought a pumpkin for you too." Heading over to a table Meirin set her pumpkin down, first cutting open the top to scoop out the seeds within. From softness of the hull, these pumpkins were somewhat old indeed. They'll be easier to cut through at least. Meirin was already poking holes into her pumpkin while she wore her silly panda mask.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

<Snipped quote by Ryonara>
Generally speaking a semblance is supposed to aid in a huntsman's fighting style, not be the fighting style. Now obviously I'm not you and I'm not making your particular character choices but this might be something to keep in mind. Aura has been around for as long as humanity, criminals have been constantly using it and getting bested by hunters who use it. So you have to imagine that at some point someone has figured out a way to negate it. I'm not saying this as a definite but it wouldn't surprise me if at some point we end up in a situation where aura and by extension semblances won't function. That'll be a loss to most characters but to someone like Ebon it would be a complete disaster as his entire fighting style is based around his semblance.

If I may ask, Ebon's R-Types were obviously designed to work specifically for him for his own purposes given how they only operate when exposed to his semblance so if he has no engineering expertise whatsoever where did the R-Types and indeed the Kingdom come from? Both are marvelous feets of engineering (if a bit limited given there reliance on Ebon to function). I don't see a way someone else could understand Ebon's semblance so completely that they could construct an entire weapons system to function with it so if Ebon didn't design his weapons himself were did they come from?

I appreciate the work and symbolism that you attach to Ebon's weapons. I think it is well thought out but if the only reason that you are refusing to change them is because they correlate to a certain personality trait maybe you should take another look at your character. Weapons would of course be a personal choice and obviously reflect the character of the ones who wield them but while that symbolism is nice to have it shouldn't be the focus of having these weapons. The Focus of the weapons should be fighting with them. The R-Types could very easily be self sufficient drones there is no explicit reason why they would need a semblance to make them function.

@Prince of Seraphs

I'll take that risk. If nothing else that's one sure fire way to shut down Ebon if anyone needs to make a hard counter against him. Though didn't you make a character who's semblance is essentially an anti-semblance anyways?

Ebon did attend Signal and would have designed his weapons there. He knew enough to make the R-Type and the Kingdom, but he wouldn't have gotten all too interested in tricking them out. He built the R-Type first, and created the Kingdom after he figured out how to make R-Types. If a machine could create and measure Aura, there would likely be machines that can react to one's semblance. Ebon did design his weapons himself, and generally speaking they should be unique to him. But that doesn't mean he has any fanatical interest in them that would manifest itself as a technopathy semblance. To him everyone is a tool, not just his weapons.

At this point I guess there's nothing else to do but make his semblance into drones. But the reason he uses telekinesis in the first place is because he's possessive: he's the kind of person who doesn't want his kids to ever leave him and grow independent. To reveal more about Ebon's past, he used to be an orphan. He made the mistake of trying to call the other orphaned kids his family: They got adopted when he didn't, and they would later forget about him. He tried to keep the others kids to stay with him, but they kept getting families while he stayed behind. When his orphanage caught on fire, Ebon was content to die in the orphanage with the other kids, who were begging him to help him somehow. He survived however, thanks to the other kids who gathered around him. They shielded him from the worse of the fire.

This twisted him: One on hand he wants to take care of people he calls his friends. But now he doesn't want them to ever leave him alone. But he hates the idea that they won't be faithful, and thus he challenges them to make the effort to befriend him. Obviously Ebon isn't right in the head, and his weapons reflect that. He doesn't want anyone to be able to use his weapons; they're his weapons, and they ought to be usable in his hands only. Making them reliant on his telekinetic Semblance was one way he did this. That's the reason why I've been trying so hard to keep his semblance as it was. But I guess now he'll just have some other reason to justify why he uses drones.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

That sounds like an even worse idea Lucius.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Ebon's weapons are built around his Semblance, not the other way around. The fact they're Drones just gives him a bit more versatility then "Throw things at the enemy" that most telekinetic users do. His semblance is also suppose to be an aspect of his personality: He's not a techy person and has no interest in machines. He's the kind of person who doesn't want people touching him, but he wants to affect them. He's the type of guy who'll get into your head and leave a nasty memory behind.

As for his R-Types they're suppose to be disposable drones with some unique features: They represent his tendency to use others for what they can do, rather than what they are.

At this point I'm not sure what to do with Ebon, since it's painfully obvious everyone wants me to change him. But changing his semblance changes his personality, or at least gives a very strange semblance for someone who has no greater interest in customizing his equipment beyond whatever is available to him. If I do limit his R-Types I do intend to make his R-Types much harder to take down that "Just shoot them".

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Sure, whatever. By popular vote I think Ebon's going to lose this fight anyways.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

<Snipped quote by Ryonara>

I'm not saying it's unavoidable but it'll cost him a defensible position to stay on land. If I were him I'd take the fall, use the R-Types to slow the decent and swim to a shallower part of the lake, avoid further punishment but I doubt I'd have Sapphire do that in your situation.

@Prince of Seraphs

Ebon doesn't intend to run from this fight. Unless someone breaks it up, he's expecting to either be defeated or win.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Like I said, Ebon is good at what he does. I chose his powers and abilities so he excels at what he should be doing, even if he doesn't do it properly himself. Even so I've already nerfed his telekinesis and telepathy to the point that they're only good for himself. he can't use his telepathy to read someone else mind unless they're not fighting (Allowing him to work without duress) and his telekinesis is what allows him to use his R-Types in the first place. His shield allows him to carry his drones and gives him something to work with when the enemy inevitably gets passed his drones. And the R-Types themselves I chose specifically because no one else uses a weapon like them. Instead of trying to be skilled with one weapon, Ebon's strategy is overwhelming you with many smaller ones.

What do you think I should do with him? Remove his R-Types, leaving him to bash people with his shield? His telekinesis, so I'll have to make up some other reason why he can control his R-Types? His telepathy, so he can't use his R-Types without constantly having them in sight and removing their function as scouting tools?

And while you're critiquing Ebon, maybe you should look through the CS and give everyone else a look too. I'm sure Ebon isn't the only one that managed to slip under the radar.

Heroes of Beacon - the Next Chapter

Ebon would still try to move out of it, though he would need to use his semblance and throw The Kingdom and himself out of that sticky situation.