As for how much you can count on, it depend on how long it takes you clear a floor. Unlike the trials of insight, these levels can actually go quickly, provided you're strong enough to one-shot the bosses (or close to it). For example, the first level of the trial was over in minutes, as Elesa just fried the swarm of metallic birds with copious amounts ofsithlightning.
Killing a lindworm might take a bit more time/effort than that...
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne
What Does Shinji know about Lindworm, actually? The information of wiki is pitiful. Apparently, it's a man-sized semi-lizard? Maybe flying? Sometimes with poison breath (like Fafnir)? Time for Wisdom check.
Weaknesses? Usual size? Magic resistance? Notable abilities? Eating habits? I'll take anything at this point.
Also, how viable is my plan? Can Shinji perform transfiguration of such difficulty, or should I leave it as a joke it was intended to be?
Last edited by Malorius; November 16th, 2018 at 06:16 PM.
Shinji is not that advanced in transfiguration. Turning something into an animal is beyond him.
Lindworm - flightless example of dragonkind, with poison/acid breath and extreme magical resistance. Carnivorous. Usually massive in size, around 8-30 meters in length and at least 1 meter across.
Has some weakness to iceand anti-dragon noble phantasms. Absorbs and is healed by earth-based magecraft and is capable of earth manipulation.
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne
With the agent outfit set up with movement, mag. def and stealth prana emission, there are few choices we could go with here;
We could try a variety of things, such as using invisibility + a noisy distraction as bait to sneak through the chamber (bonus speed would likely help). We could also try to induce torpor through a sleeping draught. We could have Shinji playing bait while Elesa goes through the chamber and then flow-walk to her. Or fight after chugging down strength and girding potions to get better odds.
I imagine the lindworm possesses high magical resistance and sturdy leather/scales as well, so it's probably a good idea not to engage it as our first move.
In any case, I would be inclined to take a dose of fire protection in case we can't react fast enough to absorb (with the staff) a potential fire-breath.
But yeah, bezoars can't hurt here to deal with poison. As for acid, I suggest Piccolo's main teaching - THE DODGE.
Last edited by Daiki; November 16th, 2018 at 08:05 PM.
Good thing that the thing is asleep. So, let's try to sneak it first. On the oother hand, we can detonate some corrupted water ofuda in its mouth much easier while it's unresponsive.
The enthusiasm is staggering.
[x] Sneak attack. Use Corrupted Water ofuda to aim for the sleeping lizard's weak points: mouth, eyes, (ears?). Loud point blank Explosive ofuda and spells to confuse it. Fusion and scythe attack to cut it's extremities... Oh wait.
- [x] Strength potion.
- [x] Vitality potion.
It's the Challenge of Force. Chances are, we even won't be able to advance on the next floor without killing this thing, so let's make the opening strike as overwhelming as possible. Better go all in from the start then discover that the door is closed and have a "fair" fight.
Last edited by Malorius; November 18th, 2018 at 12:11 PM.
Sorry I have been distracted by other things to input my thoughts. Plus write ins of this nature just makes my head hurt.
You know now would be an excellent time to try out Shinji's NP. He does not know what it does. If we can manage to gain a Lindworm mount...
That being said we still would need an actual plan.
Loud point blank explosions is not going to confuse it for long and in fact is likely to enrage it. It is a land dragon, it does not fear much. Now you are right the scythe is likely the best source of damage against it expect man that puts us in very dangerous range.
Range alpha strike it options from Shinji are rather limited to water and yin. But water is not in large supply at the moment.
Sealth option Issues: This is an earth element focused creature. It likely able to feel the vibrations on the ground so if you approach close enough it will know. Plus large pana uses are going to alert it. And even if you get to the door it could be locked and/or resistant to fading.
But I think we need an ice opening attack if we are not going to risk fully trying to avoid the fight, which I really really doubt we will manage with all of its senses.
Crazy plan time!
[X] Elesa and Shinji fly to the top of the room (50m up) by flight/fading respectfully. From there they quietly cast ice spells and use Shinji's water manipulation to slowly grow a large ice spike over the creature. Then they crash the ice spike into the creature breaking it off with a combined physical blow to the spike. And then they fight the creature while fused and using our normal bag of tricks.
For the love of god people please help refined this plan or poke holes into it. Its the best I got for how to create a large opening ice attack on it. But it certainly is a risky plan. Hopefully 50 m up is far enough that it will not wake up by their presence and as long as they slowly feed prana into the making of the ice spike, the monster will not awaken up by it.
Well, might as well aim for the added damage. Something of note is that the wyrm is more vulnerable to magic than physical feats, even if it's not by much.
I don't see anything outright shocking with your plan SL. If anything using the element of surprise to strike a weakness should help in dealing with the Lindworm - any significant wound that reduce mobility or sight would work for me.
If I really had one thing that I would change is that I wouldn't aim to defeat the beast but rather weaken it enough to be able to go pass this floor as unscathed as possible. Fight yes, but only until an opening shows so that you can run like a madman.
Stay away as much as possible to avoid the poison claw/fangs and keep moving so you don't get in contact with that breath attack. Save stamina and prana where you can.
Having discussed with Alf, trust me when I say you don't want to be wounded / exhausted (nor under ailments) for what awaits.
And yeah, we have to get the beast out of the way even if we aim to sneak, since it's asleep right where the exit is.
Will be on irc for a bit if you guys want to discuss.
Last edited by Daiki; November 18th, 2018 at 08:06 PM.
I'd ideally like a resolution to this in the next 48 hours...
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne
Still haven't edited your write-in with my suggestions, SL. Oh well.
[X] SL write-in, except their priority is to exploit openings to run from the boss asap.
Don't try to defeat the opponent as much as survive (avoiding wounds & over-exhaustion) until you can escape towards the next floor.
Is that really the best we can do? 3 different votes with different priorities? I... Well, that's something that can be fixed.
SL, do you understand that your vote prioritizes mainly physical damage from the falling of a giant icicle? Directed from a big distance, at that? It will strike, true, but it will hit the lizard on its absurdly tough hide. The Magic Resistance and raw vitality of this thing will make our attack useless. It's not a devastating Alfa-strike, it's an early warning for the thing. Also, considering our melee options and sheer speed Shinji possesses, we can stay close to it and deliver the damage, no reason to allow the beast to keep us at the distance with its breath weapon.
We need to start at mid range, strike with sneak attack and tear everything tearable from it. As good of an opportunity to allow our volatile Heroic Possession to improve as any: he is obviously bad at distance and trickery, but amazing at close range.
Isn't this what you wanted from the start? I doubt the further challenges will be easier, now is the time to cut our teeth on not-instadeath or elaborately cursed opponent.
Daiki, are you really sure in your priorities? We have an opportunity here. It will only get harder from this, so why not go at it? I don't advocate killing it until it's dead - though that would be more likely required than not - but if we go at it from the start with intention of injuring or killing it, than we are much more likely to come in sync with bloodthirsty Percy-boy. Look how involved he was in the idea of a heroic charge the last time we did it!
Also, also. Do we have any indication that the only defense of just passing through is the positioning of our enemy? Is there any way for us to check for anti-Flow/apparition resistance, or some other wards barring our way? I assume that Zelkova's experienced enough to help with it.
Last edited by Malorius; November 22nd, 2018 at 04:18 AM.
It's a level 25 Shinji vs level 50 boss, yo, with only about 25% vulnerability to ice, buffed resistance to damage (physical & magical) with poison & acid as factors.
I don't want to needlessly fight because there are three more boss encounters after that, which I would rather tackle with better odds. Simple as that.
If the duo could get away right after waking up the Lindworm, I would go for that option (it's not going to be the case but just so you know where I stand on this).
I know my plan is not going to work well and that its physical damage with the ice element. But the thing is Shinji should not start the fight right next to it. Shinji is not great at melee in comparison to this creature.
I am fine with the Daiki changes. Retreat is unlikely to work but that should be more the sprite of the fight rather than Phelan like SLAY the dragon!
Yeah, I'll need some proof for those estimations. Seriously, when else do you expect to let Perseus out, if you think he can't handle a giant sleeping monster - when he has already slain at least one according to his legend. I mean, that definitely makes him a professional sleep-slayer, very useful skill that will benefit us greatly. /sIt's a level 25 Shinji vs level 50 boss, yo, with only about 25% vulnerability to ice, buffed resistance to damage (physical & magical) with poison & acid as factors.
The scythe already pierces pretty much everything. It just doesn't kill it, that's why we need to flow Yin through it usually for added effects. Let Percy do his macho swinging thing, I say. We have seen it once and were left unsatisfied. If we will have to experiment with Fusion on later levels, we Shinji's liable to lose more than some leftovers off his pride.
You have chosen Unsealing in expense of our Fusion. Do you plan to do something with it?
Three, huh. Is it another instance of OC info? I mean, it's definitely helpful for planning, but feels like cheating anyway.
At least add something to indicate that Shinji is to serve as a distraction and Flow when Elesa gives all-clear in the vote. (Or, which is more reasonable, Shinji runs to the gates and waits anxiously until Elesa handles everything like a boss.) As of now, SL's/your modification's vote describes only the initial attack, and that's not enough.
Didn't you specifically vote that we are going to be Fused? That means Percy's grumpy head will rear again.Shinji is not great at melee in comparison to this creature
Then consolidate the plan and let's stop delaying Alf's schedule.I am fine with the Daiki changes.
Last edited by Malorius; November 22nd, 2018 at 02:52 PM.
Look I don't know what Alf wants in this open ended question. I worked on the opening strike, figuring that the tactics for the actual fight would be another question. Maybe we should combine the write ins or expain them to answer that. But I admit I was more tabling that issue to do a opening strike.Originally Posted by Malorius
The scythe might pierce most things that is true but that not issue. The issue is that close range fight with this thing is a BAD idea. It has teeth, claws, tails, and earth manipulation. It is very much a close range fighter as well. Granted its would be amusing to watch Shinji try to neutralize some of the creatures abilities as the two cancel out some of each others abilities.
And I am not sure Blinding it is ever going to work, it has earth Sense. It will always be able to sense where someone is as long as they are touching the ground.
Some of my current issue is that while I care about this main route of Shinji succeeding, I am not been feeling motivated at my level to really focus on this route. Every time I sit down to think about what to do, my brain goes and focuses on the other two routes.
Last edited by Skull Leader; November 22nd, 2018 at 02:54 PM.
They're mostly projecting based on how:
1) There are three Trials - Insight, Force, and Courage
2) There are 15 floors to the labyrinth
3) There were 5 "levels" involved in the Trial of Insight
So far, one level of Force was easily thrashed by Elesa, and this would be the next.
If you all like, we can start the battle with SL's write-in, and then I can continue from there, based on what may or may not happen...
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne
True, but if you want to use the scythe to attack the monster Malorius it means being fused and letting him take part since the Scythe is only accessible while fused.
Malorius, it might be better to hammer out a plan we can agree on on IRC channel.
https://kiwiirc.com/client/irc.irchighway.net/#fatehg
Last edited by Skull Leader; November 22nd, 2018 at 03:02 PM.
That's... a shame, really. I've chosen not to read any of the other routes specifically to avoid spreading the attention and forgetting even more of this guest's details, but I understand the decision to immerse yourself more in Alf's world(s).Some of my current issue is that while I care about this main route of Shinji succeeding, I am not been feeling motivated at my level to really focus on this route. Every time I sit down to think about what to do, my brain goes and focuses on the other two routes.
There is no cure for this besides a time-out, really, in my experience. You can't force yourself to like something again.
- - - Updated - - -
To be fair, you were so brief on descriptions of the first that it I completely missed that we are on the second. Huh.So far, one level of Force was easily thrashed by Elesa, and this would be the next.
- - - Updated - - -
Yes? I mean I wax poetical about making an effort to force adaptation to Perseus in the previous posts. If not now, I will be much more hesitant on real dangers.True, but if you want to use the scythe to attack the monster Malorius it means being fused and letting him take part since the Scythe is only accessible while fused
We may need to Level up our Social Link with The Hero arcana until we are capable of actually thinking during Fusion again, unlike the last time.
Last edited by Malorius; November 22nd, 2018 at 03:27 PM.
Choice 414: [X] Elesa and Shinji fly to the top of the room (50m up) by flight/fading respectfully. From there they quietly cast ice spells and use Shinji's water manipulation to slowly grow a large ice spike over the creature. Then they crash the ice spike into the creature breaking it off with a combined physical blow to the spike. And then they fight the creature while fused and using our normal bag of tricks.
Choice 415: While Elesa has some significant reservations about relying on a spike of corrupted ice to do any significant damage to the lindworm, she supposed it wasn't the worst idea she'd ever heard. Not that there were particularly good ideas when it came to fighting powerful Phantasmal Beasts - especially dragonkin, as their natural weapons, their ability to use magecraft, and their overwhelming levels of prana made them...difficult to face without blades or other weapons with anti-beast or anti-draconic traits.
...and frankly, anti-draconic armament wasn't usually part of the American champion's arsenal, since most of what remained in the world today were wyverns and drakes - mere echoes of the True Dragons which had left this side of the world behind long ago.
"Do it," she said at last, even while mentally going over her options in the very likely event that the blow didn't end up killing the lindworm, only rousing it from its sleep.
Such creatures were rather potent both physically and magically, with corrosive venom as a breath weapon, resistance to physical and magical attacks - including immunity to earth-based magecraft, extraordinarily keen natural - and supernatural - senses, and a healing ability driven by its staggering reserves of prana.
Well, perhaps if she was a Heroic Spirit with the ability to prevent regeneration and a potent Noble Phantasm, she'd just slice off its head and be done with it - though it would certainly notice if one such was around and prevent such a pre-emptive strike. As it was, she could match such a being, pitting force against force...but she knew that if she released that kind of power in such a confined space, Matou Shinji would certainly die.
...and while that might have been an acceptable turn of events under other circumstances, after what he'd shared about his dreams and the likelihood that he was involved in some temporal event, she needed him alive.
'I hate escort quests. I really do,' she groused, but well, there was nothing for it. He'd decided to press on instead of heading back to the surface, and it wasn't as if she could force the boy to do so without alienating him and losing the hint she had for why she had been...empowered to begin with.
With that in mind, she drew the weapon she'd been entrusted with, one of the mightiest the Illuminati had ever possessed.
Varunastra - the embodiment of storms - of water, and ice, and wind.
With a deceptively small tinkling sound, the great spike of ice broke free of the ceiling, streaking down towards the dragon, only a moment before it struck...
BOOM!
...the great icicle exploded into a thousand shards of corrupted ice, each hissing as they made contact with the lindworm's scales, coating its face, and splattering its neck and body.
"AWOGUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!"
It was awake...and it was angry, its golden eyes seeking out--
Fizz!
--before it could turn its attention to Shinji, Elesa descended, flaring her aura and unleashing a rather potent bolt of power to grab its attention.
"Your enemy is me," she taunted, as the blade in her hand became a whip and lanced out--only to be blocked by several layers of stone, which rose from the earth to stop her.
'You know...I always wanted to kill a dragon,' she thought wryly, as the battle was joined.
What will Shinji do after pulling off his initial strike?
[ ] Try to get to the door and get through while Elesa is fighting - he's not equipped to join the clash of titans
[ ] Fuse and join the fight - trying to counter its earth manipulation from a distance - he doesn't want to get close
[ ] Fuse and Join the fight - getting in close to keep it off balance, especially since his scythe can probably cut it
[ ] Try to harass it with corrosive ofuda, burning what few he has left
[ ] Stay on the ceiling in spirit form and try to stay unnoticed
[ ] (write-in)
Choice 416: Whatever he chooses, does he take any of the following actions to help him possibly survive this? (choose as many as you like)
[ ] Use a Command Seal
[ ] Take a Dose of Potion of All Potential
[ ] Take other potions
[ ] (write-in)
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne
[x] Fuse and join the fight - trying to counter its earth manipulation from a distance + harass it with corrosive ofuda - leaving the wyrm open to Elesa attacks.
Counter and support for the raging queen that wants her escort mission to survive so that she can finally learn about why she became a Chosen, causing her entire family to die.
[X] Take the buffing lesser potions (Girding Potion, Wit-sharpening Potion, Vitamix and Strengthening)
Last edited by Skull Leader; November 22nd, 2018 at 04:31 PM.
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