Seeing the monsters appear, Victor froze up. The visible organs and horrible odors were too much for him, and he would've fainted had Radley not yelled out to him. Trying to hold back his nausea, the Bard thrusted his dagger towards the nearest creature, attempting to aim without having to look at his target...

OOC: You put Radley twice in the battle order. I think you meant Malak...

OOC: Ha, my bad. Keen eye Also, I forgot to mention, the cloak has an Armour Class of 10.
IC:

Victor's disoriented strike (8+3+2[Roll+Agi+Bonus]) gouges into the Oblivion Re-Dead's chest, or at least what appeared to be a chest, piercing the open defenses of the horrifying beast (5+5[Def+Agi]). It snarls in pain as its health is reduced by 7.

Following Victor's attack, Malak dives into the fray and wields his scimitar expertly, cutting through his foe's defense with his attack (10+10[Roll+Agi]). He dashes away from the opponent, careful to avoid scarring himself. The Re-Dead hunches over from the consecutive blows, of which Malak's had taken 10 damage.

Careful not to let the enemy strike back, Helena brandishes a sparkling dagger and plunges forward. The green snake-figure hilt held tightly in her hand, the blade pierces into the Re-Dead's face (13+8[Roll+Agi]), which she then follows up with an excellent display of knife ability. Her other hand swings out with a blue snake-figure hilted dagger, dealing just as much damage as her first swing. The Re-Dead's deadly scream pierces the scene as 22 more points are taken. Crumpling to the ground, the first of the enemies explodes in a dark haze, its scream echoing throughout the distict.

Not bothering to take the time to compliment Helena for the kill at this point, Jett extracts a thin staff from his cloak and conjures an Elemental Explosion of the Wind type. A violent hurricane whirls towards the second Re-Dead, but the foul beast avoids complete annihilation (17+5[Roll+Spi]) and takes half of the damage. Seven points are dealt. Jett curses to himself at having almost missed his target.

From a safe distance, Radley pelts the second Re-Dead with his dangerous arrows. The barbed missiles fly past the group and into the surrounding creatures at incredible speeds. The targeted Re-Dead takes an arrow to the leg (20+6[Roll+Agi]), crippling it and slowing its pace of attacks. 8 points of damage are dealt in the attack.

The third Re-Dead, noticing its fallen counterpart, stumbles forward and bites Jett on the neck (9+5[Roll+Agi]), but it does not breach his defense (6+15[Roll+Def]) and Jett quickly counters, throwing his enemy a fair distance.

Victor's chance to attack finally arrives.

Re-Dead A Hp: 0 [Eliminated]
Re-Dead B Hp: 22
Re-Dead C Hp: 35
Re-Dead D Hp: 35
Re-Dead E Hp: 35

Victor Hp: 41
Malak Hp: 60
Helena Hp: 55
Jett Hp: 35
Jett SPL: 30
Radley Hp: 60

OOC: Wow, it takes a while to narrate for 4/5 of the party If you notice something not quite right about the battle so far (ie. wrong calculations, etc.) just tell me.

OOC: Ugh, my character is so weak... Oh well.

IC: Watching in awe as his team members showed their stuff, Victor suddenly wished that he had trained a little harder- or, for that matter, at all! As his turn slowly came closer and closer, the Bard looked at the pitifully simple dagger in his hand and then back at Helena's serpent-headed masterpieces and compared Radley's barbed arrows to his own standard ones. As his turn finally rolled around, Victor decided that he would visit the Shop District at his first opportunity...

Gripping his dagger and hoping that it will suffice during this fight - and the rest of the recon mission - the Bard stabbed towards the weaker (Re-Dead B) enemy with all his might...

Victor's valiant thrust finds its target (18+3+2[Roll+Agi+Bonus]), bursting into the vital organs of the weakened Oblivion Re-Dead. The filthy creature's defense of 10 is no match for Victor's attack, and soon the Re-Dead is clutching its innards in agony. Its overall health meter is reduced to 15 at the bard's triumphant assault.

Wailing angrily, the monster strikes out in attempt to disarm and defeat Victor (7+5[Roll+Agi]), but it stumbles and falls short of Victor's defense of 15, while at the same time leaving itself open for a powerful surprise attack.

Malak takes advantage of the situation, grasping the golden hilt of his scimitar tightly with both hands and driving forward into the Re-Dead's unprotected back. His attack (4+10[Roll+Agi]) overpowers the weakened defenses of his foe, dealing the monstrous 10 damage yet again. He narrowly avoids an attack from the third Re-Dead in doing so.

Helena prepares to attack again, but is distracted when the third Re-Dead sweeps too closely to Malak's face. It would be an odd sight if the Sheikah's unscathed face were to be damaged. Her attack faulters (1+8[Roll+Agi]) and is easily deflected by the dying Re-Dead, who counters with its own fearsome scratching attack (11+5[Roll+Agi]). The cheap move cripples the woman's defense of 15, and Helena becomes the first of the group to be damaged. She yells out and retreats from her current position.

Jett notices his bewildered comrade and prepares another Elemental Explosion. The icy blizzard closes in on the second Re-Dead, but this time their is no escape as the magical attack obliterates its target's defenses (14+5[Roll+Spi]). The full 15 damage is inflicted, and this Re-Dead collapses and disappears in a fine purple mist as well.

Radley can be seen focusing a strange force into his current arrow. The turn is passed on to Victor.

Watching as Helena was attacked, Victor could not help but feel sorry for her. But as Radley's turn came up, he began to wonder what kind of attack he was charging for the next round. It was then that the Bard realized that he was up next, and so he grasped his dagger once more and attacked one of the remaining Re-Deads, this time jumping up and performing a down thrust...

OOC: Just a heads up, I just realized that I leveled up, so my stats have changed. However, I'm pretty sure it won't affect anything since I don't have any magical attacks with which to do damage and I don't plan to use Willpower...

OOC: Sorry for the lack of updates. Work sucks
IC:

Quite unexpectedly, the Oblivion Re-Dead that Victor has targeted veers out of the way of the bard's stab (2+3+2[Roll+Agi+Bonus]) and saves itself from impending damage. As if to taunt Victor further, a powerful scream is unleashed directly into his ear, but causes no immediate physical harm.

Seeing that Victor has left himself open to attacks after missing the Re-Dead, Malak ducks low and springs at the screaming creature, swinging his polished crystal-like scimitar in a wide arc as he closes in on the disgusting beast. His expert display swordsmanship (10+10[Roll+Agi]) knocks the Re-Dead down and delivers ten points of damage.

Having regained vertical stance, Helena is ready to fight once more. Making sure to be on her guard, she attacks the cursed monsters as she had before. Careful to aim right, Helena throws the green-hilted dagger at the Re-Dead that Malak had just damaged, while at the same time stabbing at the Re-Dead behind her without looking. The well-orchestrated move (19+8[Roll+Agi]) takes 11 points of damage from each of the monsters in question.

Obviously tired of the Re-Deads' relentless assault, Jett decides to end things as quickly as possible, before another ally can be injured. Concentrating a powerful force into his attack, Jett unleashes a blinding Thunder spell. The magical attack is almost resisted by the third Re-Dead (19+5[Roll+Spi]), but half damage is still dealt. The fourth Re-Dead is not so lucky, and is subjected to complete damage from the powerful spell (7+5[Roll+Agi]). As with the fourth, the last of the creatures is fully affected by Jett's magic. The third takes 8 damage, the fourth is dealt 16 and the fifth takes 16 as well (7+3+6[Lvl.+Base+Int]).

Radley's arrow is alive with a bright red light, and it is obvious that he has been charging a Fire Arrow. The tip burns vividly, and if he does not shoot soon the entire shaft could become enflared and the attack would be useless. The archer lets the arrow fly towards the fourth Re-Dead, and the foul beast is lost from sight in the flaming explosion following impact (20+6[Roll+Agi]), and when the fire scatters nothing can be seen but the limp, dark form of Re-Dead corpse, which disappears in a purple haze as the rest had done.

As Radley's attack finishes, the time for Victor to take his turn shows itself.

Re-Dead A Hp: 0 [Eliminated]
Re-Dead B Hp: 0 [Eliminated]
Re-Dead C Hp: 6
Re-Dead D Hp: 0 [Eliminated]
Re-Dead E Hp: 19

Victor Hp: 41
Malak Hp: 60
Helena Hp: 45
Jett Hp: 35
Jett Spl: 4
Radley Hp: 60

OOC: Ugh. Did you have to wait until SNL was on to post?! Also, how can a Re-Dead with 6 HP be Eliminated?

IC: As the creature wailed next to his ear, Victor attempted to shield them from the grating noise; he only stopped covering his ears when Helena had finished off the beast. AS he watched Re-Dead after Re-Dead being felled by his teammates, Victor was grateful that he had been made part of such a skilled team. But once again, he found himself wishing that his dagger wasn't so basic. When there were only two remaining Re-Deads left and the Bard's turn came up, he decided to target the weakest one, since he could probably eliminate it with one blow. Jett, Helena and the rest could take care of the stronger enemy.

Wrapping his fingers tightly around the hilt of his dagger, Victor charged at the weaker Re-Dead, attempting to stab it before it could get away...

OOC: C'mon, it was late at night and I was tired
IC:

The third Re-Dead struts dementedly about the Training District Town Square, searching in the darkness for an escape from battle. As it reaches the canyon leading out of the District, Victor's attack (10+3+2[Roll+Agi+Bonus]) catches it in its back and sends it falling to the ground. The powerful death blow eliminates the creature from combat, sending it away in the same haze of purple mist.

Malak congratulates the bard on the kill and resumes the battle order with another attack. His body blurs as he disappears in a hastened jump, bringing his scimitar down on the final Re-Dead in a downward clash of crystal-like metal and filth-ridden flesh (1+19[Roll+Agi]). As with his previous attacks, the Sheikah is far too fast for the Re-Dead to dodge or defend itself from the blow. Its health is reduced to 14 as Malak's blade rips through its target.

In a desperate attempt to win an already decided battle, the Re-Dead lashes out with its sharp claws (8+5[Roll+Agi]) in a fierce attack. Malak deflects the attack with ease and signals for Helena to finish it off.

The woman nods at the leader and grips her fearsome knives tightly, sweeping in at the bewildered Re-Dead and swinging both arms in short arcs (5+8[Roll+Agi]), slashing through the Re-Dead's arms and into its chest from both sides. A low wail is emitted from the twisted jaws of the dying creature as its last traces of life are drained from its empty shell of a body. With Helena's daggers still implanted in the corpse, it follows the fate of the others and disappears as well.

Radley is the first to speak. His voice has not lost any morale, as he was not wounded during the fight. He starts by congratulating his comrades.

Good fighting from all of you. We should take a minute to rest before moving on.

Malak nods in agreement. He turns to Victor and sheathes his scimitar.

You have done well, Victor. And you have defeated your first Cursed One. A notable accomplishment for one who does not fight with the dark power aiding him. The leaders will be pleased with you.

Victor smiled as Malak congratulated him, and was grateful for the opportunity to rest. Sheathing his dagger and putting away his shield, the Bard simply plopped down on the ground and sat in a cross-legged fashion. Still, one thing confused him, and so he spoke to the Sheikah:

"Thanks! But... what do you mean, 'dark power'?"

Malak's usually sorrowful and regretful face shows an unexpected grin. Of course they haven't told him yet... It is going to be interesting, his reaction to what he will find out soon. His thoughts cease and he answers Victor's innocent question.

The dark power... Not far removed from the "power of darkness," but far more mysterious. It is a kind of power granted only to members of this faction. It grants great stat boosts when pitted against creatures of evil or shadowy design, without the regular side effects of letting oneself become overcome by darkness. That is, insanity and other terrible things. We believed it was the only way to defeat a Cursed One, but newcomers like you have proven us incorrect over time.

It is not like the power of darkness... it does not infect your body and spirit, and does not affect your mind. You have not yet attained the ability to use it to your advantage. In time you may master it.

Malak stands straight and motions to two open paths leading away from the Town Square. An old sign situated near the leftmost path reads "Colosseum," while the rightmost path's sign reads "Training Area." Malak sighs and begins to speak again.

It is time to split up. You must choose your party of three to advance forward. I do not care which area your recon party investigates, but we will meet back here in three hours to escort you back to the castle.

Malak folds his arms and waits for Victor to choose his allies for the mission.

As Malak explained the concept of the dark power, Victor's smile grew. The whole idea excited him, especially since it could be put to good use without dire consequences. Suffice to say, he couldn't wait.

Yet as the Sheikah told him to choose his partners, the Bard's smile diminished somewhat. He fell into deep thought for a few minutes before finally deciding on his group members.

"Well, the Training Area sounds pretty good, and I'll take.... Jett and Radley. Malak, if I travel with two other members, then that leaves you with only one partner. So, it makes sense that you'd get Helena, since she can do double the damage with her two daggers. You, too, can do quite a bit of damage, whereas Radley and Jett, no offense guys, probably do the least. Well, besides me, anyways. So, if I had both Radley and Jett on my team, it kinda balances out, see?"

A hopeful smile set itself on Victor's face, and he prayed that his reasoning made some sense...

Malak's face bears an amused look to it. He nods in agreement and unfolds him arms.

A wise choice, bard. The scholar will be pleased with you. Now then, Jett and Radley, you shall accompany Victor into the Training Area to investigate further. Helena and I will explore the Colosseum. Any questions? Anyone?

OOC: Anyone... anyone.... Bueller?

IC: Standing up and brushing the dust off his cloak, Victor spoke once more:

"Well, I have nothing to add. Shall we go?"

The Bard smiled and looked at Malak, then at Jett and Radley. Jerking his head in the direction of the Training Area, he urged them to start heading out...

Jett and Radley salute to their leader as the party of five parts ways. Helena and Malak are soon lost in the darkness surrounding the Colosseum, and Jett urges his part of the party forward.

We'd best get going, guys. Victor's still got another "appointment" with the bosses, so we have to finish up here soon. Guys, just be on your guard for more Cursed Ones. If stronger ones show up we might be done for.

Radley explains Jett's previous statement.

The Oblivion Re-Dead... one of the weaker Cursed Ones, but far from weakest. I expect we'll see stronger ones, but from here on out there should be relatively less of those.

The group advances into the Training Area. In this large sector of the district is a large, run-down building. A short flight of decorative stairs leads to the front doors, which are chained and locked. Jett speaks up once again.

This wasn't locked up the last time we were here... The Intelligent Ones must have done this. Be on your guard, guys. Especially you, Victor. They'll find easy prey in an innocent mind like yours. Now, we can't very well go busting in, that'll just stir our enemies and we'll be as good as dead. Any ideas?

As Radley explained more about the Cursed Ones, Victor became a little nervous. The fact that there were stronger creatures than the Re-Deads frightened him a bit, especially since half of the team was gone. But the Bard found comfort in knowing that he was accompanied by Jett and Radley, and so he quickly regained his composure. However, when they found the entrance to the Training Area locked, Victor scratched his head in thought.

"Hmm.... perhaps there's another entrance somewhere?"