Sword Quest V - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>How open is the area around us? Is it reasonably possible to circle around the oni without her outright blocking our ability to reach our lost sword?
>Is there anywhere nearly with confined enough space to make it difficult for her to use her longer sword properly while still allowing us to use our smaller one effectively?

>You are on a reasonably wide street. You can probably circle around her, but you imagine she can probably continue to face you in the process.
>She did emerge from an alley, that might do something to this effect.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>How confident do we feel in our ability to fight with only a single sword? Did our training focus almost exclusively on the two-sword style or do we have reasonable practice with variations?
>Where is this alleyway relative to the both of us (and Roukanken)?

[Hello Purvis]

>How confident do we feel in our ability to fight with only a single sword? Did our training focus almost exclusively on the two-sword style or do we have reasonable practice with variations?
>Where is this alleyway relative to the both of us (and Roukanken)?

>You are quite confident in your ability to fight with one sword. Typically you would favor Roukanken for that, but the situation makes that a problem.
>The alleyway is to your left and a little behind you.  The oni and Roukankan are ahead of you and a little to your left.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Let's get back on our feet, assume a stance appropriate for our new state of armament, and circle around slightly so that the alleyway is directly behind us. Let's see if we can draw the oni to approach us without being too obvious about it.

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's get back on our feet, assume a stance appropriate for our new state of armament, and circle around slightly so that the alleyway is directly behind us. Let's see if we can draw the oni to approach us without being too obvious about it.

>You hop to your feet as the oni closes, taking a solid double-handed grip on Hakurouken as the oni levels downwards diagonal slash at you!

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Back away from the slash, towards the alleyway, as we attempt to parry it lightly. Don't overexert ourselves on the contact, and hope it looks to the oni like we are merely being driven away by her attacks rather than trying to move the battle to a location that favors us more than it favors her.

[Hello Purvis]

>Back away from the slash, towards the alleyway, as we attempt to parry it lightly. Don't overexert ourselves on the contact, and hope it looks to the oni like we are merely being driven away by her attacks rather than trying to move the battle to a location that favors us more than it favors her.

>You back away and make an effort to parry the oni's strike. It does little to deflect the blow, but it also manages to keep you from feeling as though you're slamming your sword into a brick wall.
>The oni's blade passes by you, then she turns it in mid-air, suddenly reversing the blade's direction with perfect precision and bringing it back around at your legs!

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Bring our sword back around to try and redirect her attack while we quickly step back from it

[Hello Purvis]

>Bring our sword back around to try and redirect her attack while we quickly step back from it

>You move to deflect this blow. Your arms practically go numb for a moment from the impact; she was too quick for you to find an angle to do so safely. Still you deflect the  attack successfully, and manage to keep a grip on your weapon as you continue to back away.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>If we see the oni present a good attack opportunity, take it. Otherwise continue to back away.

[Hello Purvis]

>If we see the oni present a good attack opportunity, take it. Otherwise continue to back away.

>Good attack opportunities are in short supply at the moment, she draws her missed strike back into position quickly and efficiently, successfully using her longer reach to menace you from trying a direct attack without paying the price.
>"You ain't bad," she says, as she continues to close on you, while you continue to back away. "Tenacious."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Are we actually inside the alleyway yet?

[Hello Purvis]

>Are we actually inside the alleyway yet?

>You are drawing close.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Then keep retreating in a defensive stance
>"This duel is not decided yet."

[Hello Purvis]

>Then keep retreating in a defensive stance
>"This duel is not decided yet."

>You keep retreating.
>"We'll see about that," the oni says with a grin as she levels a jab at your torso.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Move back a bit more quickly, and try to turn the blade aside as we twist in the other direction

[Hello Purvis]

>Move back a bit more quickly, and try to turn the blade aside as we twist in the other direction

>You dart back and try to twist away as you try to deflect the oni's sword. As your blades meet, she stops and begins to shift her weapon against yours, bringing the hilts close together!

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Don't let her force an engagement here; move back faster

[Hello Purvis]

>Don't let her force an engagement here; move back faster

>You move away faster, and manage to draw back from her a bit before she redoubles her efforts to leverage your blade like before.
>You step into the mouth of the alley. Your back will be against the wall in a couple steps if you do not turn down it.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Then let's back to the edge of the corner and stay fairly tight to it
>Try to prod the oni into making an attack such that we can use the corner itself to overcome the range disadvantage - she can't attack around a corner without exposing herself at closer range, after all, where our shorter blade should have the advantage

[Hello Purvis]

>Then let's back to the edge of the corner and stay fairly tight to it
>Try to prod the oni into making an attack such that we can use the corner itself to overcome the range disadvantage - she can't attack around a corner without exposing herself at closer range, after all, where our shorter blade should have the advantage

>At this point in time, the oni is too busy trying to lock your blade with hers and presumably disarm you like before to make an attack.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Can we not evade this by quickly backing around the corner? Her sword presumably cannot bend at hard angles

[Hello Purvis]

>Can we not evade this by quickly backing around the corner? Her sword presumably cannot bend at hard angles

>You're both already engaged, you can't really lure her to attack or anything. As well, being careless with going around the corner may well play into her favor.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Can we just drop our blade beneath hers to disengage? Is her blade actually in a position to hit us at the moment if we move our own?

[Hello Purvis]

>Can we just drop our blade beneath hers to disengage? Is her blade actually in a position to hit us at the moment if we move our own?

>You could do this thing, and hope she doesn't manage to catch you in the process.
>Depending on how you disengage, you may leave yourself open.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Let's try to disengage, then quickly back around the corner and be ready for her to follow after us. Spare a quick glance behind if we feel we need it to be sure of our footing and not hitting a wall, but be very quick about doing so.

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's try to disengage, then quickly back around the corner and be ready for her to follow after us. Spare a quick glance behind if we feel we need it to be sure of our footing and not hitting a wall, but be very quick about doing so.

>You draw your sword away and quickly try to back around the corner.  She responds by trying to chop downward at you, but you are just quick enough to escape into the alley before it lands.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Take up position just around the corner. Try to stand such that she cannot reach her sword around to strike at us without exposing herself at close range.
>If there is even a glimmer of an opening as she exposes herself, take it! Put as much speed as we can into the slash.

[Hello Purvis]

>Take up position just around the corner. Try to stand such that she cannot reach her sword around to strike at us without exposing herself at close range.
>If there is even a glimmer of an opening as she exposes herself, take it! Put as much speed as we can into the slash.

>You take a position around the corner.
>However, it seems your opponent has anticipated this, and does not follow you directly around it. Rather, she circles away from the corner to approach the alley head on, then advances.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Is the alleyway here narrow enough that we think it could make using her weapon properly somewhat difficult?
>Are there any notable obstructions or obstacles nearby? Or anything at all that catches our eye, for that matter?