Sword Quest XII - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> ...Could we have smacked into Futo?
> If not, where did we get hit?

>You think you hit someone at least! It was the across your back.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> What is currently in our field of vision?
> If the behemoth is, is it withing stabbing range?

[Hello Purvis]

> What is currently in our field of vision?
> If the behemoth is, is it withing stabbing range?

>The Behemoth is above you, and not within stabbing range. There is a fair amount of danmaku flying over you as well.
>As you take stock of your surroundings, the Behemoth suddenly begins to turn rightward, slowing for a moment.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Return our voice volume to normal.
> "Apologies, my fault!"
> Follow rightward and head back upward, aiming to get at the creature from below.

[Hello Purvis]

> Return our voice volume to normal.
> "Apologies, my fault!"
> Follow rightward and head back upward, aiming to get at the creature from below.

>You follow as it turns. Then its wings beat above, and to the right of you once more. The force of its passage picks up considerably!

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Grab our sword with both hands and fly straight upward, getting ready to stab at the behemoth's underbelly as it passes by.

[Hello Purvis]

> Grab our sword with both hands and fly straight upward, getting ready to stab at the behemoth's underbelly as it passes by.

>It is already passing by as much as it will, you think. You charge upward, preparing to stab it. The winds its kicks up buffet you, but your blade connects, opening another brightly glowing purple gash. Then your momentum finally loses out against the behemoths, and you are ripped from the air again, tumbling among helplessly.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Crap. Oh well, at least we landed a solid hit.
> Take the time and energy to regain our balance and upright orientation.

[Hello Purvis]

> Crap. Oh well, at least we landed a solid hit.
> Take the time and energy to regain our balance and upright orientation.

>You fight against it as best you can, and make little progress for several seconds until the pressure lightens. From there, it takes a couple seconds more to really correct yourself.
>As you regain your balance, you can see the behemoth making a turn some distance above you, looping its serpentine body around with surprising grace and spreading its wings again.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Take the opportunity to reassess where everyone is.

[Hello Purvis]

> Take the opportunity to reassess where everyone is.

>Everyone else is some distance away to the left; or the west you suppose.  Futo is coming toward you, while Tojiko and Seiga are hanging back.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How do they look?
> How far away are they in terms of vocal communication?

[Hello Purvis]

> How do they look?
> How far away are they in terms of vocal communication?

>Hard to tell at a glance; at least not noticably worse.
>You don't think they'd be able to make sense of your shouting.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look back up to the behemoth and begin preparing two more three-round-burst nondirect sources.
> Beckon to our allies to come our way while looking up.

[Hello Purvis]

> Look back up to the behemoth and begin preparing two more three-round-burst nondirect sources.
> Beckon to our allies to come our way while looking up.

>You prepare two more nondirectional sources while gesturing to your companions.  The behemoth continues to wheel around, then beats is wings and soars toward your companions with amazing speed!

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Ah! Forget the nondirect sources and chase after it!

[Hello Purvis]

> Ah! Forget the nondirect sources and chase after it!

>You chase after the behemoth. It soars ahead of you, banking and turning sideways as it approaches you companions. It passes by Futo first, lashing at her with its arms. She manages to move fast enough to avoid the claws, but it still manages to slap her out of the air as it carries on toward Seiga and Tojiko. Seiga gives it a wide berth, sending needle-like lasers at its wings.  Tojiko does as well, but spreads its wings and climbs a little, cutting its speed dramatically and turning in midair to face them.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Keep up the pursuit, aiming more for its underbelly than its face.

[Hello Purvis]

> Keep up the pursuit, aiming more for its underbelly than its face.

>You close in, as the behemoth snaps at Seiga, forcing her into taking defensive maneuvers. Tojiko sends out some shots, not really seeming to aim.
>You reach Futo, who is still dazed from the blow she took.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Does she look like she needs some immediate care? or just a moment to balance herself?

[Hello Purvis]

> Does she look like she needs some immediate care? or just a moment to balance herself?

>She seems dazed from the impact. You don't imagine she is going to be very happy in the morning.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "You are safe for the moment."
> Gently take hold of Futo with our nonsword hand and help her steady herself, then let go and zip onward and upward toward that underbelly.

[Hello Purvis]

> "You are safe for the moment."
> Gently take hold of Futo with our nonsword hand and help her steady herself, then zip onward and upward toward that underbelly.

>"Ah, thank you!" she says, steadying a bit as you take hold of her shoulder. "Just give me a moment to follow along."
>You  continue onward. The behemoth snaps at Seiga again, forcing her back, then suddenly changes tack and snaps at Tojiko instead. Caught off guard, the ghostly woman is only just fast enough to avoids its teeth, and instead catches its snouts in her gut, knocking her back some yards and leaving her off balance. Seiga takes this time to send a wave of needle-like lasers into the behemoth's face. It reacts by spreading its wings and rising into the air.
>You should be be able to shout to either of them easily. The Behemoth is just a handful of yards ahead.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Shout to both of them, then.
> "Tojiko, you are safe to recover yourself for the moment! Everyone, aim your fire at purple glowing slash wounds whenever possible!"
> Continue chasing after the behemoth's underbelly.

[Hello Purvis]

> Shout to both of them, then.
> "Tojiko, you are safe to recover yourself for the moment! Everyone, aim your fire at purple glowing slash wounds whenever possible!"
> Continue chasing after the behemoth's underbelly.

>You shout your orders, and close in on its underbelly. The Behemoth snaps at Seiga again, forcing her to the side. Then its wings descend, battering them both.
>It rising into the air, and you find yourself closing in more on the underside of its tail than its underbelly, but you are now within just a couple yards and closing fast.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How thick is its tail?
> How scaley is its tail?

[Hello Purvis]

> How thick is its tail?
> How scaley is its tail?

>It's tail is fairly think at the base, for a much of a base as a legless creature can have, at close to two yards in diameter. Then it slowly tapers off over about a third of its length.
>The tail is very scaly, its whole body is. But the scales seem to be smaller and flatter underneath it.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How do the smaller and flatter scales compare to its head scales in terms of sword blockage? We had a slash bounce off some head scales earlier - is there a similar risk here if we swing another slash at the creature's tail?

[Hello Purvis]

> How do the smaller and flatter scales compare to its head scales in terms of sword blockage? We had a slash bounce off some head scales earlier - is there a similar risk here if we swing another slash at the creature's tail?

>You aren't really very used to facing large reptilians, or reptiles at all. You would assume they offer some protection, so it would be best to try to get between them.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Get a two-handed stabbing grip on our sword, pull back as we closes the rest of the distance to the underside of the tail, and launch a stab at the underside of the tail when we're close enough to get a fairly deep stab in.