FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST | FRAY'S PALACE

[bloodweapon]

Welcome to the Vault. Let your judgment begin.
♫

Comments

[moonshaded]

[Of course she wants to fight it. This is only fervently exacerbated by the role she's taken on in every palace, every shadow-self encounter Kainé's found herself a part of. She'll take care of the fighting so others can come in and do the talking.

In short, it only fuels her there.

What's an incredibly reckless and unexpectedly inefficient Giant Slice (3) going to do for her?]

[bloodweapon]

[It gets a haughty laugh from the Primal, but he seems to be just as eager to fight as Kainé is. In fact, he's coming at her with all four blades - landing a swift and precise blow (16)! Better look out, because Ravana isn't holding back.]

[moonshaded]

Something funny? If you hadn't laughed, I'd have had trouble telling your ass from your face!

[Ravana has four swords, and Kainé briefly misses the time when she had two of her own. It might have made this feel like a more challenging fight, somehow.

The massive swing from those blades isn't anything she can parry, and she takes the blow hard - sliding just far enough away that the Psio (20) she prepares in retaliation has a great broadside target - so she can rush in again immediately with sword out to hack and slash, of course.]

[bloodweapon]

[That actually gets another laugh from him - or maybe it's the Psio. Either way, Ravana seems to be having a damn good time, though this time both his slashes go wide (4, 3).

Invigorated by the battle, you can now attack twice per round! Hits for both you and Ravana will deal more damge.]

[moonshaded]

[It's exactly the kind of frenzy she's susceptible to and can easily fall into - though the amusement it seems to bring Kainé is much less joyful and reveling. It's like scratching a damning itch: euphorically painful. Or well...maybe...it isn't so bad. She doesn't like this. Fighting primals is great.

And it's especially easy because this is a monster and something that isn't even real, just a horrible creation.

Abandoning skills, she simply takes two hard sword swings (10, 13) in the middle of the frenzy.]

[bloodweapon]

[Ravana strikes out with all four of his swords this time; no more holding back, it seems. Only one strike hits (14) with the others all missing Kainé (9, 8, 9). Ravana does not falter despite the hits, but you can tell you're dealing quite a bit of damage to the Primal.]

[moonshaded]

[That probably just bolsters the feelings that are taking over her: Maybe Ravana doesn't seem to be faltering at all, but he's lashing out more and more. That's usually a sign of desperation, right?

She can do this all day (14).

Getting a little too caught up in their duel leads to her taking that one hit that connects enough to falter, bloodied, and fail completely at any second attack (1).

... She can do this all day, right? Or is there something else in store for this fight?]

[bloodweapon]

[Oh no, she could absolutely do this all day. In fact, she could even be granted another hit, if she wants.

And good thing too, because suddenly there are butterflies floating down to land on the ground. They're casting some sort of spell - you can tell that much. It likely would be a good idea to ensure they don't manage it. Ravana doesn't let up in his assault, though all four swings of his sword miss because apparently the dice said fuck Ravana, his luck is as bad as Fray's. (10, 4, 2, 6)]

[moonshaded]

Little shits… can’t you see I’m busy? [Why are these little bugs showing up when she’s got a big shit bug to deal with right in front of her?

Kainé is annoyed when she tries to mop up those little guys, hitting as many as she can with a Mapsio and whatever physical hits she can manage after (19, 13, 19)).

Her Persona, too, seems particularly joyful to be summoned into such a delightful slaughter.]

[destage]

--Kainé-san! Need a hand?!

[Sayaka had jumped into another window probably out of the next best emotion to suit her, and this--well, this seems a little more preferable. A fight, huh? Then let's give it all we've got.

Sayaka will shoot a Dia at Kainé if she needs it, but she'll take aim at those pretty butterflies with Maragidyne (5, 15, 3)!]

[bloodweapon]

[Between the two of you, those bugs are toast. The butterflies fall quite easily to the hits, interrupting their casts as Ravana chooses to shield himself instead of attack this turn. A brief glow appears in front of and behind him before vanishing, though he awaits your next moves eagerly.]

[destage]

[Sayaka isn't sure about this...but they have to press on, don't they? What's the worst that could happen?

Missing an Agilao (9), apparently. Whoops.]

[moonshaded]

This? I’ve got this son of a bitch handled. [Like normal.] Might as well while you’re here.

[Huh, what an interesting glow. Wonder what that could be for.

With Sayaka here and the butterflies dead, she’s not going quite as crazy with her attacks. Kainé gets out a respectable if close call Giant Slice (11), but does very poorly at being able to have any spatial awareness whatsoever (1).]

[bloodweapon]

[i can't believe y'all just dodged the mechanic by failing rolls, incredible.

Well anyway, Ravana laughs at those failed attacks and launches himself at Kainé again. While only two of his hits land, they both deal quite a lot of damage (20, 8, 19, 5) - but that only fuels your enjoyment of the battle, doesn't it? After all, what could be more fun than fighting something that hits back so hard?]

[destage]

Kainé--!

[...The thrill of battle is getting to her too but GIRL, THOSE HITS LOOK LIKE THEY HURT--

Sayaka will throw another Dia at Kainé, inwardly cursing that her healing is definitely not good enough--but she'll absolutely take aim at Ravana with Maragidyne (20, 6, 11), hoping that she'll be able to pull his attention away from her--]

I've got your back--we'll destroy this guy together, but please be careful...!

[moonshaded]

[Those hits did, indeed, hurt a lot, and the Dia combined with the sheer adrenaline keep her going -albeit staggering briefly to one knee.]

Oh my god. [She wipes her bloody nose.] Hold off on the pep talks until we find the person who needs them, huh?

[The pep talk tragically didn’t save her the way the Dia did, and Kainé might be seeing double, because three attacks all completely fail (2, 3, 7). Whew. Arena’s spinning.]

[bloodweapon]

[Being careful?? In the reckless window?? Come on now, Sayaka.

Anyway, that attack definitely stings and Ravana turns his attention on her. Probably for the best, as that will give Kainé some time to recover. Three of his four sword slashes fail to find their mark, but the fourth one clips Sayaka.

Ravana is clearly weakening. You're making progress. In fact, this might be the last push! Kainé will feel herself steadying despite the repeated hits and baby heals. Both of you roll with advantage this round!]

[destage]

[You know what, you're right, actually. Sayaka watches the attacks come at her and she feels herself start to smirk in earnest. Sure, that one clipped attack smarts a bit, but compared to the emotional pain that she's endured today, that? That's nothing.]

I'm going to make you regret laying a single hand on Kainé-san!!

[And true to her word, and with another Dia to hopefully help with the pain, Sayaka will rush into the fray herself and bring her sword in to inflict a Megaton Raid (19 after advantage!)]

[moonshaded]

[The rallying is very much felt - well, it's not like it was that big of a deal in the first place, right? Hard not to wonder who's the worse influence on Sayaka at the moment - especially not when this wild revel is just rewarding them in kind.

While Ravana's attention is on Sayaka, Kainé drains a generous chunk of her remaining power on one Psiodyne for the road before running straight back into melee (14, 16, 18).]

[bloodweapon]

[Those attacks do the trick! Ravana drops to the ground, swords clattering around him.]

Well done...

[His body starts to fade in a blinding light - when you blink, he's simply gone. For a long moment, all is silent.

Then a voice speaks, sounding both familiar and not at the same time. Though you can almost pick out familiar voices of those you care for within it, it doesn't properly fit any one person.]

Do you know your own limits or will you continue fighting until your last breath?

[Do you answer truthfully?]

[moonshaded]

[That voice...hurts her head a little bit, but she shakes it off. The adrenaline still hasn't fully left her, after all.]

I'm gonna keep fighting. Even if I need to find another reason... because I'm still alive.

[It's not like this all the time anymore, even though it's been years... but to a certain extent, the tone of her voice reveals that to her, living is fighting, if not always with physical violence.]

[bloodweapon]

[The voice doesn't reply, but the world around you slowly starts to fade to white. When you blink, you find yourself in front of the stained glass window again, though this time it's shattered. There are two remaining windows.]