(Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 8)

[Kilgamayan]

> Where is our right hand now in relation to the stabbed tengu's sword hand?
> Is the wind cutter slash horizontal or vertical?

Going to bed. If her uninjured buddy's distracted, and her hands are still occupied (and the one that's freer to defend is still on the sword, which is still in our leg), I'd recommend using our now-free right hand to throw a punch at her throat. It shouldn't be too hard at this angle since we'd just be throwing a fist out to the side instead of straight forward. She can't be too focused right now and her throat's a lot harder to whip out of the way than her head (and probably easier to track and change our fist's course to follow if she does try to move it), and she can't exactly back away with the knife in her side even if she didn't have a deathgrip on our hand.

Miyuki we can call out to (probably tell her to drop to the ground) but I don't think we can babysit her without taking at least one immediate threat out first.

Whatever's done, though, don't forget to drop our left leg to the ground while doing it. We need the balance and I'm amazed we got as much out of the leg as we did.

[DracoOmega]

> Where is our right hand now in relation to the stabbed tengu's sword hand?
> Is the wind cutter slash horizontal or vertical?

>It's a foot or two ahead of it, from your perspective.
>It is largely vertical.

[Oldmansour]

Don't think me grisly, Kilga, but....

>Do we know enough about tengu to know if they can survive having their throat cut?
>For that matter, do we think we can cut her that high up before our leg gives out entirely?

[Kilgamayan]

:C

I would rather not go that route if we can avoid it. I was hoping to avoid death entirely here.

[Oldmansour]

So am I. I really am. For a number of reasons, but, not the least of which being I was hoping to capture these three alive. If Aya gives a damn about her crew, we might be able to use them for bargaining chips. Not that I really expect this from a pirate, Aya or no, but it's an avenue that could be worth exploring.

[DracoOmega]

>Do we know enough about tengu to know if they can survive having their throat cut?
>For that matter, do we think we can cut her that high up before our leg gives out entirely?

>To be honest, your knowledge of tengu physiology is based mostly rumor and hearsay, but you think a high-tier youkai could probably survive such an injury. Probably.
>You still have one good leg. It's enough.

[Kilgamayan]

That was one of the reasons, yes.

I think you're underestimating what it's like to be punched in the throat if you're considering slashing it at the same time, though. The point of aiming there was that she won't be holding on to us any longer if we connect, in addition to targeting an area that will be hard to get out of the way of our fist.

[Oldmansour]

I've BEEN punched in the throat. And I couldn't breathe right for hours afterwards.
But I'm only human. These are youkai, and evidently, tougher than your average youkai on top of that. And we don't have an excess of upper body strength, so I don't know a tengu's throat is weak enough to allow a Nazrin punch to do any real damage at all.
That said, I'm also not anxious to slit anyone's throat, however effective it might be, whether they're a pirate or no. So if you want to settle for slugging her windpipe, I won't stop you.

On the other hand, we've lost a leg. That means we're pretty much screwed. Sideways. With a forklift. Our only edge was our agility, and now it's gone. I think it's time for drastic measures, if we're going to have any slim hope of winning.

[Kilgamayan]

I don't entirely expect it to be an end; I figure she'll be stunned long enough that we can give a good stabbing in whatever non-fatal areas we desire that'll still put her down (shoulders, knees).

> Set our left leg down and shift some weight to it so we're not putting it all on the injured leg.
> As we're bringing it down, throw a sideways punch straight at the injured tengu's throat. Keep the kunai pointed to the side so we don't end up stabbing her through the throat. Keep careful watch of dodging attempts: if she tries to crane her neck out of the way, try to change our fist's flight path to follow. Also, if she moves her hand gripping our left arm up to defend herself from the punch, rip our other kunai back toward us through her flesh.
> While doing all this: "Miyuki, down!"

[DracoOmega]

> Set our left leg down and shift some weight to it so we're not putting it all on the injured leg.
> As we're bringing it down, throw a sideways punch straight at the injured tengu's throat. Keep the kunai pointed to the side so we don't end up stabbing her through the throat. Keep careful watch of dodging attempts: if she tries to crane her neck out of the way, try to change our fist's flight path to follow. Also, if she moves her hand gripping our left arm up to defend herself from the punch, rip our other kunai back toward us through her flesh.
> While doing all this: "Miyuki, down!"

>You cry out for Miyuki to get down as you reestablish your footing and turn back to face her.
>You shift your weight back onto your good leg and feel an immediate wash of relief as you take much of the pressure off the other one; it still hurts like a bitch, but you don't have time for that now.
>Miyuki seems to be ignoring your directive, though her eyes are locked on the crescent of razor wind whistling towards her. She takes a quick step sideways even as she moves forward, leaning her body into the motion. The blade sails narrowly past her head, scattering strands of lavender in its wake. Then her foot connects with the floor again and she winces and nearly stumbles, but somehow keeps her momentum.
>Fuuka tries to turn around to face her, bringing her sword back up, but you slam your fist into her throat before she can get anywhere, drawing a strangled gasp from the tengu and abruptly halting her movement. Her companion dashes through the gap along her side towards Miyuki, but the latter has already fallen against the injured tengu, raising her hands above her. Is that... a knife?
>Even as you first catch the flash of metal in Miyuki's hands, she drives it sharply into the tengu's arm. Fuuka's eyes flare open. Gipping the weapon with both hands, Miyuki tears it down the length of her sword arm, then tumbles awkwardly to the ground. Blood splatters wetly against wood. Fuuka's cry of pain is choked off by coughing and her sword slips from her fingers. You feel her grip on your left hand falter.

[Kilgamayan]

> Where is the other tengu doing at present and what is she doing?
> From what we can remember of earlier, is Fuuka the calmer leader or the hot-headed subordinate?

[DracoOmega]

> Where is the other tengu doing at present and what is she doing?
> From what we can remember of earlier, is Fuuka the calmer leader or the hot-headed subordinate?

>She is rounding Fuuka and descending upon Miyuki.
>The latter. The leader has been the one flinging those wind blades around.

[Kilgamayan]

> Are we still in her peripheral vision?

[DracoOmega]

> Are we still in her peripheral vision?

>At this point you expect not, but Fuuka is also sort of in-between the two of you.

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we at least see enough of the leader that we could reasonably throw a kunai at her?

[DracoOmega]

> Can we at least see enough of the leader that we could reasonably throw a kunai at her?

>You would need to shift around or under Fuuka to get an open line of fire, but you could try.

[Kilgamayan]

Hmm.

> How visible is Miyuki?

[DracoOmega]

> How visible is Miyuki?

>Partially obscured by Fuuka's legs and torso, but still visible enough. You can't see her face at the moment, though.

[Kilgamayan]

> And the wall is still kinda-sorta behind us to our left?

[DracoOmega]

> And the wall is still kinda-sorta behind us to our left?

>Generally so, though currently more to your left than behind.

[Kilgamayan]

> Nothing for it, then.
> Try to yank our left hand back toward us, simultaneously ripping the hand out of her grip and the kunai through her side.
> Whether or not we succeed, also try to shove Fuuka to our left (her right) by getting our right hand up against Fuuka's shoulder (don't let go of the kunai, but try not to stab her in the shoulder) and using it to push her over with whatever strength we can muster. We gotta get her out of the way so we can save Miyuki from the leader...
> Since we're pulling our left hand toward us and pushing our right hand from right to left, aid our own momentum in both endeavours by twisting our upper body counterclockwise.

[DracoOmega]

> Nothing for it, then.
> Try to yank our left hand back toward us, simultaneously ripping the hand out of her grip and the kunai through her side.
> Whether or not we succeed, also try to shove Fuuka to our left (her right) by getting our right hand up against Fuuka's shoulder (don't let go of the kunai, but try not to stab her in the shoulder) and using it to push her over with whatever strength we can muster. We gotta get her out of the way so we can save Miyuki from the leader...
> Since we're pulling our left hand toward us and pushing our right hand from right to left, aid our own momentum in both endeavours by twisting our upper body counterclockwise.

>You yank your left hand out of Fuuka's grip, tearing your kunai free from her side in the process. Still gasping, she throws a sloppy punch at you with her uninjured arm, but you duck deftly underneath it and slam your right hand against her shoulder. She staggers, but remains upright.
>The lead tengu dives at Miyuki with sword and hand extended as the latter tries to right herself from her awkward fall. Pinned against the wall and with no chance of getting mobile in time, Miyuki instead lashes her arm at the tengu as she falls upon her and lets the knife fly. Her form is a bit sloppy, but the range is almost too close to evade. The tengu quickly turns her blade aside and blocks the knife with the flat of it, but the motion costs her the attack and Miyuki is already rolling away from her.

>You hear rapid footfalls approaching from behind. Chisato's voice rings out from behind them. "Oh no you- daaagh!"

[Kilgamayan]

> Ugh. We're gonna need a hostage if we need to protect the other crew members, if not outright stop the fight entirely.
> As long as we're ducking, stab at the back of both of Fuuka's knees with both our kunai.

[DracoOmega]

> Ugh. We're gonna need a hostage if we need to protect the other crew members, if not outright stop the fight entirely.
> As long as we're ducking, stab at the back of both of Fuuka's knees with both our kunai.

>You're technically not still ducking, as you needed to regain height on the other side of her fist to reach her shoulder. Do you still wish to do this, nonetheless?

[Kilgamayan]

> Yeah, duck down and shank both of her knees.

[DracoOmega]

> Yeah, duck down and shank both of her knees.

>You duck down and lash out at the back of both of Fuuka's knees with your kunai. She throws a sharp kick at your head as you move in, but you twist aside from that leg and slash at its underside as it passes. You feel your weapon bite into it and she lets out a short cry, but immediately rises away from the strike and glides backwards with her wings spread, pulling her other leg out of reach. You find yourself almost surprised that she still can, after all this. Blood is flowing freely down her left arm and a large patch of brilliant red on her right glistens in stark contrast with the white fabric around it. She has a pair of injuries on her leg, her breathing is labored and her face contorted, yet her expression is still furiously determined. Even as she draws away, you wince at the pain that maneuver caused in your own leg.

>Behind her, you see Miyuki push herself to her feet and break into a run back down the corridor towards your room. The lead tengu turns to pursue even before the knife she blocked has clattered against the floor.
>"Fuuka!" she cries as she closes the gap between them almost immediately. "Fall back to the deck!"
>"I've got your exit!" the third tengu call out from your rear.
>"You've still got me!" Chisato counters with an oddly frustrated tone.

[Oldmansour]

>How much distance is there between Miyuki and her tengu?
>How much distance is there between that tengu and us?
>Have we straightened up?

[DracoOmega]

>How much distance is there between Miyuki and her tengu?
>How much distance is there between that tengu and us?
>Have we straightened up?

>Not much more than a foot.
>Several more feet than that, and Fuuka is still at least partially in your way.
>You're somewhere in-between crouching and standing at the moment.

[Oldmansour]

>Do we have a clear shot at the one yelling at Fuuka?

[DracoOmega]

>Do we have a clear shot at the one yelling at Fuuka?

>Not ideally clear, but doable: between Fuuka's legs.