WriterRaven

Elementals: The Scarred World (Semi-Open)

"Don't worry, I'll teach both you and your vial throwing friend! FUCKIN' CATCH!"

"Son of a black dragon..." Ling did the only thing she could think of to avoid taking a stone salvo to the face. She ducked and threw up one hand to cover her face... then the table erupted in flames. Because of course it did. The renegade Pyro was in her element, projecting a stream of fire that threatened to burn down the whole bar if she was allowed to persist.

It didn't look like either side was going to come out of this fight unscathed. With the Earthshaper's attack having missed her head by an inch, Ling stood up and fired a shot his way. The bolt punched into his stone armour, but didn't seem to have much of an impact beyond very minor cracking. She quickly disregarded the idea of attacking him further. By this point Vanahara had thrown the table - an impressive feat in itself - and tackled the ice mage. A fair few others seemed to be engaging that one in particular, and Commander Hayes was about to close in on the Pyro...

"Nightshade's getting away!" The call came from Vanahara. As much as Joey might appear to be struggling against his counterpart, the fact remained that the rogue carrying the valuables was on the run.

"I'm on it! He can't outrun a crossbow!" Ling reloaded Kei, checking the autoquiver's contents through a small gap in its design - eleven bolts, including the loaded one - and ran for the door, passing the last of the stragglers as she made her way into the open, glancing around before she spotted the glint of a fallen jewel in the road. And beyond that, the hastily fleeing thief. She didn't bother with yelling at him to stop, as that would just waste time and alert him to her presence: instead, she took a second to aim, then fired, reloaded, and began to repeat the exercise.

Elementals: The Scarred World (Semi-Open)

I have several questions about the use of the flashbang grenade.

- First off, the required materials and complexity of such a device. Looking at flashbangs on Wikipedia, they require a specific manner of construction to contain the explosive side of the grenade while still allowing the light and sound to escape. Plus they require specific compounds; "a pyrotechnic metal-oxidant mix of magnesium or aluminium, and an oxidizer such as ammonium perchlorate or potassium nitrate."

I don't imagine such materials come cheap in this setting, if they can even be found outside of a major city that can devote manpower and resources to mining and production.

- Second, the idea that Johnathan just happened to have the flashbang on hand. There's no mention of him having built it in a previous post, and in all honesty that doesn't work for me. If you don't mention you have specific items on hand that aren't your usual weapons and equipment, then I'm disinclined to believe someone can just whip out the right tool for the job at the right time. No character should be able to react perfectly to every situation.

- Third, the use of grenades as a whole. Mechanists build gadgets and robots; no mention of explosives in their descriptions. If you want something to go up in flames, you call a Pyromancer. If you want an explosion with special effects, I think an Alchemist is probably the better bet, and even that should be at a minimum of Weaver rank due to keeping unstable mixtures on hand until they're needed - which could be in the first mission or not for the better part of a week.

- As an aside, I note that Johnathan took a hit to the face from a shadow whose owner was between Mage and Adept in rank and didn't even flinch. You are not invincible.

Elementals: The Scarred World (Semi-Open)

Ling raised her eyebrows at the exchange between the ice mage, Vanahara, and Alexander. Then the Illuminate Master gave an indication that simply said "cover your eyes". She looked away as he produced the blinding flare. With that, the time for civil discussion was practically over. Willing to try one last attempt, Ling got to her feet and drew Kei, quickly priming it.

She then fitted the Disabler vial into its slot and brought the crossbow to bear, aiming for each of the hostile mages in turn. "I'm about to shoot one of you with a potent acidic mixture. The vial's contents will splash everywhere on contact. If it gets into your system, you will undoubtedly die." The last one was a bluff, but there was no reason to let them know that. She'd had practice at this sort of thing.

"If you have any sense, drop the valuables and leave. Or you can all watch one of your friends vomit blood and try to claw their own eyeballs out."

The mages just laughed and raised their hands, preparing more spells. Ling sighed, disappointed. "Fine, suit yourselves." She snapped Kei around to aim at the rogue Earthshaper and pulled the trigger, sending the Disabler vial straight at him. As the glass shattered and the acid splashed across his rocky armour, she pulled an autoquiver from its holster, slammed it into place, and yanked on the reload lever to properly engage in combat.

MTG: Heroes of the Planes

Ah. That changes things. I think I may have to change my mind on this one. My apologies, and I wish you luck with the story you plan to tell.

MTG: Heroes of the Planes

Alright, thanks for the info. Drafting possibilities for a character.

Also, one last question. When in the overall timeline will the story take place?

MTG: Heroes of the Planes

I could potentially be interested in this, depending on some things. In particular, the kind of decks of which you might disapprove, and the opening of the plot; where the player-characters might happen across one another.

Edit: Noticed something. Unless you're thinking pre-Mending, Planeswalkers don't have immortality. They age normally like any other being, unless that ageing is suppressed by magic.

Pokémon: Warriors of Sengun (Up To Four Spaces Open)

Fair enough. Thanks for letting me know.

Elementals: The Scarred World (Semi-Open)

Over the next few hours, Ling used the downtime to prepare more vials of potion. Another batch of Restoratives, plus a set of Acidic Disablers. Corrosive and painful on contact with bare skin, the Disabler was a recipe designed for combative Alchemists, to take an enemy out of the fight for a while or stop them from rushing towards the potioneer.

Commander Hayes' rules were simple enough, and there was no sense in not following them - especially since he was in charge right now. Unfamiliar territory meant it was better to avoid drawing attention to oneself, Ling had thought as she made her preparations. Kei was secure in its holster, of course, but in the interest of wishing to appear more or less normal she had had to leave most of her potions in her room on the ship. There were only a couple on her belt, plus her knife. One green Disabler and one standard red Restorative. But they would have to suffice, lest she draw attention with her brightly coloured vials. And there was always the crossbow to do the heavy lifting.

As the group entered the bar and found a table, Ling cast an eye about the place... and quickly found herself rather uncomfortable, for several reasons, with what appeared to be the theme. She averted her eyes from the waitresses and leering crowds, pulling the edge of her hat down a few inches to visibly block some things - and people - from her sight. So she cast her eyes downward, studying the tree-ring patterns in the wooden table.

This was an odd place to be, she thought. More so if the reason for being here was to meet a particular someone. Wasn't a private parlour a better place for something like this? Or better yet, the ship they'd flown in on? Hayes presumably had a room to himself, what with being a Commander and all.

Ling's musing was interrupted with the explosive introduction of the... mages. At least three. Using their power to intimidate, steal and kill for no reason other than because they could. She didn't see a way to draw Kei and ready it in the subdued bar without attracting attention. So she took the vial of acid from her belt, holding it in one hand under the table and looking to Hayes to see if he showed any signs of strategic thinking.

Pokémon: Warriors of Sengun (Up To Four Spaces Open)

"Hmm... nothing. Maybe there's something back over the other way... also need to consider team balancing in the long run," Alix mused to herself as she rustled through the grass. "What do we know is around these parts? Well, the obvious choice is Birchling 'cause they're pretty much exclusive to the eastern forest... but at the same time I don't think I want another Fighting-type later down the line. Already at a disadvantage against Psychic-types. So that's a no-go, plus Shroomish is out. Maybe the decision would be easier if I found something a bit more often..."

"So there was something I was wanting to get off my chest... Have you had any plans for what you would be doing for sparring while on the road? Any sort of regimen or anything? I'm used to having human partners when I spar/work out. As much as I trust Brie here, i'm sure she couldn't spot me."

"Huh?" Preoccupied, Alix hadn't noticed Ezra until just now. "Oh. Hmm. Sparring... well, it's a possibility, I suppose. No promises right now, though. My plan was just to practice my sets of techniques at the end of each day, make sure I keep up with a somewhat regular routine. And I'm sure we'll face off against other Warriors at some point. Maybe before we reach Mystriver, if we're lucky."

"Hopefully!" Ezra replied, crossing his arms. "Heh, maybe we could compare techniques one day. S'always fun to learn something new, right?" He replied.

"Rrr..." Jen shot a concerned glance at Brie, tightening her grip on Alix's arm. She took the hint. "Maybe. Though I don't think Jen's all that keen on the idea. I should get back to looking for something to battle." Giving Ezra a short wave, she headed off down another path.

Alix pushed through a particularly thick patch of grass to its other side, where she found a small clearing. A few Berry trees were scattered about the place, with several Pokémon clustered at each one. As she approached the clearing's edge, a green and white Birchling looked up, gave a short cry of alarm, and dashed away to the clearing's edge with a half-eaten Berry in one hand. The rest began to scatter, running away in all directions. "Pikaa!" A flash of yellow streaked past Alix, unbalancing her as she tried to dodge to one side. She tripped over a particularly large root, and fell in a heap; Jen leaped from her arms in the nick of time.

"Agh... there's the disadvantage of being a Trainer," she groaned, struggling to her feet under the weight of her backpack. "Can't roll when you trip over, make it look like you meant to do that." She brushed loose dirt from her gloves and forearms. "You okay, Jen?"

"Tor." Jen just picked at a feather, casual as could be. Alix chuckled, but looked around all the same to see if everything in the area had vanished completely. Most of them had, until she spotted a green and brown head poking out from the trees, reaching down to pluck from one of the Berry plants on the far side.

"Is that...? Need a closer look. Stay close, Jen." Careful not to disturb the plants, Alix cautiously moved into the middle of the clearing. Sure enough, her guess was correct. A Tropius. And a tall one, about the size of a full-grown adult. Maybe slightly shorter. The Pokémon looked up as Alix and Jen approached, but didn't retreat, instead chewing thoughtfully. It seemed to have no issues with her presence.

"Hello?"

"Tro." Hello. A response rather unlike that of Alix's Kestra, who had instantly jumped to the conclusion that she wanted to battle him. The thought of catching the Grass-Flying Pokémon wasn't a bad one. If nothing else, it had the type advantage over the first Gym. And since Jen almost definitely wouldn't be able to handle it...

"When you're finished with your snack, may we battle?" Tropius paused, sizing up Alix and the diminutive Jen, then swallowed its Berry and stepped forward into the open. Alix hastily moved backwards, Jen following close behind.

Tropius kicked up a small pile of fallen leaves with one foot, and flapped its massive leaf-wings to hurl them at Alix and Jen. The Trainer shielded her face with one arm, but quickly retaliated with a command to her Torchic. "Go for the Ember, Jen!" The little Fire-type spat up a tiny fireball, sending it flying at the much larger opponent. Tropius recoiled, giving a low growl as the fire splashed across its body. It raised its wings a second time and began to stir up a gust of wind.

"Again!" Jen fired off another little blast of flame, but the Tropius gave one large sweep of its wings and slowed it down, dealing a glancing hit. Jen wasn't so lucky: the Gust that it threw at her sent her tumbling into Alix's leg. Half her feathers were sticking up the wrong way; it was rather cute, but there was no time to be cute in the middle of a battle.

"Let's see how he handles your Speed Boost. Duck under his next attack, then give him one more Ember." Sure enough, Tropius hurled another volley of leaves, but Jen dashed to the side - leaving Alix to be peppered with leaves - and spat up a third fireball, hitting the side of the six-foot-tall Pokémon.

Alix dug through her satchel for a Poké Ball, and tossed it. Tropius wasn't a particularly difficult target to miss. One, two, three... click. Perfect. "Well done, Jen. Got a good helper for the Mystriver Gym." Her Pokédex chimed again, having collected data on her new catch. She pulled out the Dex and read the latest entry. "Hmm... Leer, Gust, Growth, Razor Leaf... ability is Chlorophyll?" She tapped the touchscreen. "Ah, it uses photosynthesis to produce sugar, giving it a boost in sunshine. Well, that's useful. Just need a name for him now... found in a Berry grove... Bailey? That's kinda like Berry."

"Chic chic." With the battle over, Jen had immediately ruffled her feathers and was picking at them again, settling them back into place. Alix stowed her Pokédex and her new catch, picked up her fussy charge and headed out of the grove, pausing to pick a trio of Oran Berries on the way.

Elementals: The Scarred World (Semi-Open)

None from me.