Phantom Dust Sample/Test/Practice

[malice]

The building was too loud, every step caused an awful steely creak, and there wasn't nearly enough cover.

But the shear amount of stuff in here made the risk worth it!

All over the place... old furniture adorned with artifacts for Solomon to collect and examine! Old fabric items, boxes that slid into other boxes, chairs aplenty, old tools for writing, two memory boxes he'd found so far, lots of old computers, picture frames with PICTURES! If he could carry just a bit of this back to town and tell the other scouts the location they could learn so much in this area!

It was so very unsafe though. He'd have to warn them about that much. The building had at least three stories in its past, but half of it was mostly obliterated. He was on the highest floor looking off a ledge down into the ruins of the place that opened into the outside world. The lower floors had high ceilings too, because he was much higher off the ground on the top floor than he would normally have been in a 3-4 story building.

Why would they need such high ceilings? It was impossible to see what the bottom floor was supposed to look like; it was covered in rubble. He guessed that the function of those high ceilings might be made clear if you could see anything down there.

He had entered from the bottom and flown up. It looked like there might have been a stairwell, but who needs that when you find movement skills spawning along the way?

*deet* *deet* *deet*

Whatever the rest of the building looked like, he would have to come back to find out. His wrist timer was telling him it was time to head back.

Solomon knew better than to try to carry a lot of stuff back. He made sure to get the memory boxes, a tool or two, and maybe a picture frame to bring back to-

A movement below triggered his finer instincts, and Solomon dropped into a low crouch.

It was a creature. Eyeball type. He couldn't tell exactly what kind it was because it had just come in from the outside and the light behind it kept him from seeing any details on it just yet.

Across from him the ceiling was open, but that was directly above the Eyeball. It wouldn't be difficult to Levitate out, but he would be vulnerable for several seconds before he could get completely outside.

As far as he could tell it was not yet aware of him. It had come in the same way he had though, and he had been so distracted by the wealth of things in this place he'd neglected to note his exits...
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OOC:
Okay, welcome to the demo!

I looked for a picture that matched my imagining of your location, but couldn't find any.

Basically you're in a large building that has been turned into a diorama by some by-gone force (Think WWII bombed out buildings). You're at the top-back where it's still largely intact and you there is a wealth of objects (Kinda like the panorama level in the game, but a larger room missing the front walls.).

Well below you, at long range and low ground, is an eyeball type enemy.

Here is your slightly-abridged CAD:

Name :: Solomon

Abilities:: Strength: 3, Agility: 4*, Intelligence :: 4, Speed: 3, Durability: 4

Actions:
Locked: Mastery of Phantom Dust 4
Locked: Overworld Movement 2
(As Thieving + Acrobatics Combined)
+Agility Bonus
Locked: Driven Personality 2
(As Social Skills and Leadership Combined)

Skill Boxes:

1. Levitate 2
-Min Cost = 2, Flight 2
-Maximum Height 50 ft, Speed = 3 (Running), land after 14 Initiative passes

2. Wall 2
-Min cost = 2, Strength = 5
-Anti-Pierce

3. Rail Gun 3
-Min cost = 3, Damage = 6
-Range = Long
-Extremely high projectile speed

4. Psycho Knife 2
-Min cost = 2, Damage 2
-Range = Close

5. Change Course 3
-Min Cost 3, Course

6. Psycho Spear 3
-Min cost = 3, Damage 8
-Range = Medium
-Pierce
-1 use only

Modifiers:
Dust Resistance 6
Improved Initiative 3

Major Psychological (multiple personality disorder) (5WS)
>>When out in the Dust for extended periods of time, Solomon not only loses his memories, but also his sense of self, commonly returning as totally different person. In effect this allows the GM to switch up to 5 stones worth of psychological disadvantages with new ones, changing how the character acts/plays/assembles arsenals.

You found these skills. You do not have an arsenal yet because your city hasn't discovered arsenal technology yet. Thankfully Solomon's large amount of free action boxes and high Dust Resistance let him scavenge for skills a bit more than most people. Since you haven't discovered Arsenal technology yet, your maximum Aura begins at 5 and stays there unless you find a skill to increase it.

Also, I know you and I have been calling it Aura in PMs because that's what it was called in the game, but in the adapted rules I've just been calling it energy. Since it's just a second pool of energy that operates like MURPG energy I even changed all the skills to cost "energy" instead of Aura.

Your floating challenge for this incarnation of Solomon:
Upon making contact with Scouts from the place Solomon now calls home, he was rewarded with approval for any artifacts he brought back. Since this was recently after he'd lost his memory, his first human contact influenced his mind.

Solomon is obsessed with discovering bits of the past. More than other Espers who see it as a mere duty, Solomon adores discovering any bit of information about the world before.

He's not stupid though, he knows not to get himself killed fetching artifacts, because then he can't bring them home!

Solomon also has a nasty tendency to lose track of time.

Solomon's
Health: 20/20
Energy: 12/12 (Regen 4 a panel)
Aura/Secondary Energy: 5/5 (Regen 2 a panel)


Only Aura/2ndary Energy can be used for skills, while normal Energy (Your 12/12) is what powers everything without a color on your CAD. Skills are clearly noted by being red, blue, yellow, etc. rather than white.

[Grimsolace]

Avoidance is key, no man can fight off the many monstrosities of the overworld by himself. In this case, however, such an action would needlessly put Solomon in danger. The Esper currently has the upper hand through surprise. A tattooed hand clinched at his side as Solomon resolved himself to battle.

The esper moved to ambush his opponent.

Initiative 1>>
Solomon sneaks into medium range with his eyeball type opponent. Spend 2 stones in Overworld movement to accomplish this. Repeat this step until this vantage has been reached.
Initiative 2>>
Sneak Attack! Solomon uses his mid-ranged Psycho Spear (using three aura of his 5 aura) on his unwitting opponent. He wants to be sure that his attack hits, so he spends some energy in aiming it. 2 Stones in energy placed in Mastery of Phantom Dust plus whatever the spear passively adds, plus free stones from the general pool for the ambush should hit the damn thing.
Initiative 3>>
Lacking any other mid-ranged attacks (the psycho spear being a one shot only skill), Solomon is forced to bring the conflict into personal quarters. The esper tumbles down to the ground level near his stunned opponent (spending 3 stones to do so)
Solomon sprints into melee (1 stone placed in speed).
Solomon will use his wall defensive skill if attacked.
Initiative 4>>
Solomon will continue his advance as necessary to get to/ keep in close range.
Solomon will use his wall defensive skill if attacked + he possess the aura to do so.
Solomon will attack with his Psycho Knife if in range + he possesses the aura to do so.
Initiative 5>>
Solomon will continue his advance as necessary to get to/ keep in close range.
Solomon will use his wall defensive skill if attacked + he possess the aura to do so.
Solomon will attack with his Psycho Knife if in range + he possesses the aura to do so.
Initiative 6>>
Solomon will continue his advance as necessary to get to/ keep in close range.
Solomon will use his wall defensive skill if attacked + he possess the aura to do so.
Solomon will attack with his Psycho Knife if in range + he possesses the aura to do so.
Initiative 7>>
Solomon will continue his advance as necessary to get to/ keep in close range.
Solomon will use his wall defensive skill if attacked + he possess the aura to do so.
Solomon will attack with his Psycho Knife if in range + he possesses the aura to do so.

(Hmm... 7 initiative passes may be a few too many for my character, may need to revise after this one-shot)

[malice]

Wanting to catch the enemy below by surprise, Solomon began creeping forward. He made sure to aim his steps on well-supported pieces of floor, which kept him from making noise.

He was close enough to discern that the giant eyeball ahead was a mere Ommato. They were easily the weakest of the eyeball type enemies, usually only a threat if they caught you off guard or if they supported more numbers. Hardly worth a Psycho Spear, but dealing with any threat quickly and decisively was part of surviving out here.

He was almost within range, he'd managed to lower himself quietly by landing on piece of furniture, and the creature seemed most fascinated with the floor, but the area between the eyeball and himself was far too open...

The creature had seemed to be investigating the place just as he was, but before he was in range for his Psycho Spear it spasmed around to face him! Perhaps it was a safe assumption that without eyelids these creatures had a lot more liberty with "out of the corner of their eye."

A familiar buzzing noise greeted Solomon's ears as the dust in the air began to form in his hand, creating a purple glass-like object, jagged and sharp on both ends.

The Ommato fired a skill, but Solomon had been ready, and he correctly guessed the creature was using a longer range skill than his own, a bright yellow parabola whose range he ducked inside quickly.

He threw his Psycho Spear just as the creature was attempting to deploy another skill, but before his enemy could complete its conjuration the spear whistled into a devastating collision with its target. The Ommato had attempted to deploy a defense skill of some kind, but the blue barrier was shattered before Solomon could get a good look at the skill, and his Psycho Spear had slammed through with enough force to knock his target to the floor. Whatever force kept them aloft seemed to require conscious effort, so a good hit usually put them down for a moment or two.

Solomon didn't give the monster time to catch its breath (If it breathed at all), he charged forward and formed the dust into a Psychic Knife. Just as the thing started to recover he slashed across its pupil with his Psycho Knife. The strike blinded the helpless eyeball and spun it around. It began to flee in the direction his strike had turned it, but he sank the blade in between all the cables that made the creature's tail, right into what he supposed would be its head. It fell forward, and he twisted his blade free of the kill.

No longer needing his knife, he let it dissipate into the air, and slapped the excess of dust off on his pants.

Not far ahead was the doorway he'd come in, but just stepping out onto the open street when there were obviously enemies in the area wasn't wise. He'd have to use caution on his return home.

Then he heard a terrible noise, one he didn't like hearing but that he'd definitely heard before...
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OOC: Sorry it took me awhile to update, I was having the hardest time getting on this site last night.

Your actions this panel looked a bit more like this:

7 Overland Movement 2
6 Overland Movement
-Recover 1 Energy
5 Psycho Spear 3 (+2 from reserve)
4 Psycho Spear recovery
-Recover 1 Aura
3 Move forward 3 + 1
2 Psycho Knife 2
-Recover 1 Aura
1 Psycho Knife 2

Your first two passes were consumed with moving toward the Ommato, your second two were spent firing a Psycho Spear (Non-CQB attack skills tend to take 2 passes with few exceptions, consider it somatic components), you then spent 1 pass moving forward (Stones in Acrobatics and Speed got you over rough terrain nice and fast), and then the next two passes on CQB attacks (Which tend to take 1 pass).

You took out the Ommato but you recognized the sound of the Fire of Gehenna skill coming from behind you!

While it's not common, most Espers who spend any time on the surface know of this skill, so Solomon does too. It's on the higher end of damage, is self-inflicting, and is one of the most difficult to dodge because unlike other Faith school skills it retains a competitive projectile speed.

Solomon's
Health 20/20
Energy 9/12 Regenerate 4/panel
Aura 3/6 Regenerate 2/panel

Also, while I don't see any issue with your amount of initiative passes, you will have time to edit your character as you see fit. High initiative is good for firing a lot of attacks and moving around a lot. If you prefer to fire higher power attacks from a distance and save the time moving, you might find fewer passes suit you.

You also do not need to apply color to your posts, but I don't mind at all (In fact it made seeing it all easier). I just didn't want you to feel obligated to spend time filling in colors.

EDIT: Just found I'd made a mistake in the first post. I listed your Aura Recovery as 3 when it is in fact 2. Rather than penalize you for my mistake, you've been given a free point of Aura and an increase to your maximum as well. However your regeneration rate has been corrected, and you will be recovering 2 Aura per panel correctly henceforth.

[Grimsolace]

The immediate irony of the ambush was not lost to Solomon, as he whirled around to face his new opponent, ready for it's attack.

Initiative 1>>
Solomon will use his wall against the oncoming Fire of Gehenna. The strength 5 defense and anti-pierce qualities keeping him safe from harm.
Initiative 2>>
Tired and without a proper mid-range attack to counter with (his psycho spear was one use only), Solomon was in trouble. Even if he were not at a disadvantage, a prolonged combat would only serve to draw more attention. Adding to the list, risking further exposure in the dust past his warning could rob him of every memory he possessed. A little cowardice (or discretion, if you prefer) was in order, what he had already collected would have to be enough.

While his opponent is recovering from it's skill use Solomon will high-tail it out of there towards his base.

He places one energy in speed to sprint for the exit, hopefully leave medium range before another attack comes whizzing in.
Initiative 3>>
Solomon continues to head towards the exit (another stone placed in speed)
Initiative 4-7>>
Solomon continues to flee the building, once outside he will levitate hoping that he can rise clear from the entrance and interpose the building in between the attackers firing arc. Solomon will then head for difficult terrain, trusting that his opponent lacks similar movement abilities. Speed energy stones in spend as necessary to reach and maintain long range.

[malice]

Grimsolace:

When Solomon turned around a giant hateful fireball dominated his field of vision. He replaced this view with the rocky interior of his wall defense skill, which immediately exploded under the impact of his enemy's skill. (Wall is destroyed and removed from your skill boxes) The pieces of the his defense skill evaporated back into dust as they showered the ground.

Only now could Solomon see his enemy. It was another eyeball type, well above him on the second story of the building. Where it came from he was unsure, it made no noise moving since it floated and he remembered spotting at least 2 doorways on that floor when he'd passed it earlier.

The question of the eyeball's origin did not hold Solomon's attention for long, or even at all. Just as quickly as he had pivoted around to defend himself, he completed the 360 degree turn to face the door again, and ran!

The sound of another Fire of Gehenna pursued him, proving his decision was the best one. He charged at the door and heard the fire hissing behind him; he felt its heat on his neck!

Ducking out of the doorway into the street he swerved immediately to one side hoping the skill hadn't made it out of the building. It hadn't! Debris pelted him from where the fireball destroyed the wall it hit, and one clumsy brick thumped hard against the side of his knee (1 damage from Trash). It was a good thing he already planned to take to the air!

Straight ahead of him, but at long distance, Solomon could see another enemy on the street. It was an anthropomorphic type, slouched over with its back to him. It seemed alarmed by the noise, but not yet interested enough to turn around. Slow ones like that rarely even had any skills with which to threaten a scout.

Through the damaged wall Solomon could see his attacker drop down to the first floor to give him chase. So he kicked off the ground and levitated into the air. Instead of flying straight up where his enemy could see him through ruined walls and ceiling, he flew alongside the building to round its corner.

In between two buildings and at a higher vantage point, Solomon could evaluate the terrain. There were at least two enemies in sight, but on different streets and neither moved with purpose. The one that attacked him was behind him somewhere, and he needed to get out of the air. Several of the buildings appeared to have stable roofs...
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OOC: You escaped your attacker for now and are now levitating in an alley. The building at your back is the one you came from and it is taller than the one in front of you which you can see over.

A brief scan of the area shows you that there are two anthropomorphic enemies on parallel streets, which means if you get high enough they could likely both attack you but if you stay on one street or closer to one street then you will probably be completely safe from at least one. The one you saw on the street closer to you is at long range, the one you saw on the other street once you rounded the corner is at medium range and could spot you soon if you're not careful.

It's not in the alley yet but you know that the eyeball that attacked you hasn't given up yet.

To get more information about the area you'll have to spend some effort looking around.

Most defensive skills don't work while you're in the air, and none of your skills do, so you will want to land soon. Flying is a great way to gain position and mobility but it leaves you pretty exposed. Some of the alleys here are narrow enough that you could jump from one rooftop to the next, but they aren't all like that.

Clarifications:

You didn't need to spend a second stone in speed. Like in normal MURPG if you spend a stone doing something I assume you're doing it to the end of the panel, or until you accomplish what you intended (So you started running at Init 6 and kept running until you were safe). Your second stone wasn't wasted though, it went to darting for cover (+5 partially destructible cover, to be specific).

Also, I'm sorry for the wait, Shift + something accidentally turned into Control + something and deleted my whole post .

Solomon's
Health: 19/20
Energy: 12/12
Aura: 3/6

[Grimsolace]

Solomon lands on the building in front of him, additional movement wouldn't be needed. That eyeball had a ways to climb to get to him, as the esper doubted that it had any type of movement chip.

Doing his best to ignore his throbbing knee, the esper scouts out his immediate surroundings, giving his aura a chance to recharge while finding the best escape route.


Actions this panel (not in combat so ignoring the initiative passes for the moment):
Spending 3 stones in intelligence to look around and chart a path back home, 2 to hide - using the buildings eaves as cover from the ground based anthropomorphic baddies. Buildings usually aren't safe, so put one stone into agility to try and avoid falling.

If Solomon draws any fire - he will use the building for cover.

[malice]

Solomon scanned the area and spotted several good alternatives to his current position.

Although the building he was on was shaded by the building he'd just exited, it didn't offer any advantage other than elevation.

Straight ahead two buildings away he spotted a glimmer of color. Behind/against a roof fan dust had obviously accumulated in enough quantity to spawn skills. He couldn't see all that was offered from his current position, but he definitely made out some red and he believed he could see blue beyond it, but it was almost entirely obscured by the fan and he couldn't be sure.

To his left, across the street with the closer anthropomorphic enemy, he could see more skills in the shattered remains of some kind of elevated greenhouse or skylight. The reflections from the glass occasionally interfered with his view, but he was pretty sure he saw blue inside the ruined glass structure, and either green or yellow behind it.

Across the street he'd just fled to his right, in the shade of a building in the distance, he could see the distinct white of at least one Aura Particle and something light blue near it. That building appeared to be on the next block over.

Of the buildings ahead of him, the first looked like it would require him to levitate to get to because the alley seemed rather wide. The second gap to the third building on which he saw the skills looked like he could jump it, but again the distance and angle kept him from being sure. The skills in that direction required him to be in the open the least though, of that he was sure.

If he went left or right he would undoubtedly be exposed for the width of the street, and he'd need to levitate to end up on top of either of the buildings across either street.

The building with the broken skylight/greenhouse looked like the only one he could enter from the roof.
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OOC: I hope I've been clear with my descriptions. Basically you can go forward and jump over two alleys to get to some new skills or you can cross one of the streets on your right or left to get to some new skills.

The stuff in front of you is rooftop to rooftop jump/levitate stuff. It doesn't get you very far from this spot but keeps you covered, albeit still very close to three enemies.

Going left requires you to cross the street with the closest anthropomorphic enemy, but the building over there also appears to offer access to the interior from the roof. This could be a good and bad thing. This is also the way that requires the least travel time but a lot of exposure.

Going right requires you to cross the street you just fled. You'll probably expose yourself to the eyeball and reveal yourself to the farther anthropomorphic enemy. You'll then have to cross another street that you haven't scouted yet. There are aura particles over there for sure, but you don't know what else. It gets you farthest away but in unfamiliar territory.

Solomon's
Health 19/20
Energy 12/12
Aura 6/6

[Grimsolace]

Solomon cursed his lack of foresight in slaying the Ommato. Having used his sole medium range attack and lost his shield the tattooed esper was now ineffective in the most common engagement range. He simply couldn't now afford draw anymore attention from these wastelands creatures. The way possessing the most cover was also made all the more attractive in the possibility of receiving a red and blue skill to replenish his flagging supply. Solomon started, swiftly and silently across the roof tops.

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Assuming that we are still outside combat.

Solomon will use his last four initiative passes remaining of his levitate skill to move quickly and discretely to move straight ahead two buildings. He will place 3 stones in Overland movement to do so quietly and unseen while 1 stone is placed in speed to make the rooftop dash quick.

If the Levitate duration has expired or is likely to expire before he reaches his destination, Solomon will reuse the Levitate skill.