Sword Quest V - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>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?

>She won't be able to do any wide horizontal slashes, at least not if she doesn't want to damage her sword on the walls.
>You aren't sure, you mostly have your back to the alley. There is some litter in front of you, in the form of broken clay bottles and the like.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Judging from the speed we've seen from her so far, do we have time to spare a very quick glance behind us without opening ourselves too much, given the distance she currently is from us? Just to confirm the footing behind ourselves.
>If so, do this now

[Hello Purvis]

>Judging from the speed we've seen from her so far, do we have time to spare a very quick glance behind us without opening ourselves too much, given the distance she currently is from us? Just to confirm the footing behind ourselves.
>If so, do this now

>It would be a chancy thing to just look back.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Is our blade reflective enough that we could tilt it a little to get a rough appraisal of walls or large obstacles behind us, without outright looking away from the oni?
>Or any other reflective surfaces in our current field of vision to glance at, for that matter?

[Hello Purvis]

>Is our blade reflective enough that we could tilt it a little to get a rough appraisal of walls or large obstacles behind us, without outright looking away from the oni?
>Or any other reflective surfaces in our current field of vision to glance at, for that matter?

>Possibly so. You imagine you should be able to see large things. Smaller things, not so much.
>Not that you know of.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Let's try to get a rough appraisal of the terrain behind us by looking at our blade. Just the very coarse details like whether there's a wall or a pile of crates or such close behind us
>Shift to try and maximize the degree to which the oni risks battering her sword off the walls when she slashes at us without also pinning us directly against the wall
>If she has still not yet attacked, make a quick lunging attack of our own once she draws just into range

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's try to get a rough appraisal of the terrain behind us by looking at our blade. Just the very coarse details like whether there's a wall or a pile of crates or such close behind us
>Shift to try and maximize the degree to which the oni risks battering her sword off the walls when she slashes at us without also pinning us directly against the wall
>If she has still not yet attacked, make a quick lunging attack of our own once she draws just into range

>You glance in your sword reflection and note there is something largish behind you and to the left side. An old crate?
>You suspect she'd be in the most danger at either one of the edges, or right in the middle. it depends on whether she chooses to follow along.
>As she enters the alley, she leads in with a stab toward you torso.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Try to sidestep clear to the right, then counter with a slash of our own

[Hello Purvis]

>Try to sidestep clear to the right, then counter with a slash of our own

>You sidestep to the right, putting yourself nearly against the wall, and her stab passes you by harmlessly.
>How will you be countering?

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Do we think we have a particularly clear shot at any part of her body, if we take a quick step forward?

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we think we have a particularly clear shot at any part of her body, if we take a quick step forward?

>She's stabbing at you, which is pretty quick to recover from.  You would need to have a minimum of motion to have an effect before she can recover her defenses.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>I meant in terms of any limbs or other targets that are particularly exposed given her current angle and distance from us (and our ability to strike at them from our position)

[Hello Purvis]

>I meant in terms of any limbs or other targets that are particularly exposed given her current angle and distance from us (and our ability to strike at them from our position)

>While her arms are in motion, you may be able to catch them as she draws the sword back reflexively; plus they have the advantage of being reasonably close. However, she also has the most control over them. Her right leg is a valid target, she would have to shift her balance to move it, but it is also further way and she may make that shift in time. Her torso is furtherest away, but would take the most commitment to move it away from an attack.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Launch as quick a slash as we can manage at her right leg. Be ready to immediately shift forward and snap our blade around to slash at her torso, if she tries to step away from our first attack - don't give her enough time to properly recover.

[Hello Purvis]

>Launch as quick a slash as we can manage at her right leg. Be ready to immediately shift forward and snap our blade around to slash at her torso, if she tries to step away from our first attack - don't give her enough time to properly recover.

>You slash at her leg, and she does step back. Thus you turn your blade upward and force her further back, out of the alley.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Where is her sword now?
> Is she still between us and Roukanken?

[Hello Purvis]

> Where is her sword now?
> Is she still between us and Roukanken?

>At this point, she has drawn it back, but your onrush and proximity has put her in a difficult position to strike again.
>Not exactly. It is more she is between you and the alley entrance than Roukanken.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Keep up the pressure and follow her as she retreats. Launch another slash at whatever part we feel she will be least able to adequately defend or strike back from. If we can, try to push her away from the line between us and Roukanken.

[Hello Purvis]

>Keep up the pressure and follow her as she retreats. Launch another slash at whatever part we feel she will be least able to adequately defend or strike back from. If we can, try to push her away from the line between us and Roukanken.

>You continue to force her back while inside her guard, striking toward her chest. She falls back another step and draws her weapon close by, turning her shoulder toward you.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Does it look like she may be preparing to ram us with that shoulder, or is she just narrowing her profile?
>Do we, by any chance, think we have a good shot at her shoulder, or is her blade close enough to defend it?
>How close are we to Roukanken, and how easily do we think we could dash and grab it if we tried to now?

[Hello Purvis]

>Does it look like she may be preparing to ram us with that shoulder, or is she just narrowing her profile?
>Do we, by any chance, think we have a good shot at her shoulder, or is her blade close enough to defend it?
>How close are we to Roukanken, and how easily do we think we could dash and grab it if we tried to now?

>The former, certainly.
>You have a good shot, you think.
>It's a few yards off, you are sure you could disengage, as long as you dodge her shoulder and you doubt the oni could outrun you.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Let's step back and to the side as we level a vertical slash at the oni's shoulder. Let's give her something unpleasant to ram into.
>Then, whether this attack connects or she manages to evade it, (provided we are not threatened by something more immediately) let's make a dash for Roukanken.

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's step back and to the side as we level a vertical slash at the oni's shoulder. Let's give her something unpleasant to ram into.
>Then, whether this attack connects or she manages to evade it, (provided we are not threatened by something more immediately) let's make a dash for Roukanken.

>You slash at her shoulder, disrupting her efforts to ram you, then break away and dash for your sword! It is just ahead on the ground.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Did we actually hit her with that slash?
>Quickly reach out with our main hand as we come into reach of it, pick up Roukanken, then spin to face the oni, in a defensive stance

[Hello Purvis]

>Did we actually hit her with that slash?
>Quickly reach out with our main hand as we come into reach of it, pick up Roukanken, then spin to face the oni, in a defensive stance

>No, she drew back and gave up trying to ram you.
>You neatly grab yo weapon and turn to face the oni, who is charge at you already, sword raised.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Step forward and make a lowish horizontal slash with Roukanken, ideally beneath her raised guard, while using Hakurouken to fend off an attack of her own

[Hello Purvis]

>Step forward and make a lowish horizontal slash with Roukanken, ideally beneath her raised guard, while using Hakurouken to fend off an attack of her own

>You move forward to meet her, striking low. She is unable to dodge, and your blade sinks into her leg, forcing her to stumble.
>However, she retains enough composure to slash down at you. You try to deflect the attack, and the impact reverberates through your arm, leaving your fingers a bit numb.
>The oni stops and limps back, taking a defensive stance.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Follow after her with another slash from Roukanken, but rather than contest against any effective defensive maneuver with her blade, pulls ours back and circle around her, then repeat, testing her defense from different angles and trying to force her to make use of her impaired footwork, and possibly create an opening we can capitalize upon

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow after her with another slash from Roukanken, but rather than contest against any effective defensive maneuver with her blade, pulls ours back and circle around her, then repeat, testing her defense from different angles and trying to force her to make use of her impaired footwork, and possibly create an opening we can capitalize upon

>You strike with your larger blade, and she easily parries it. You pull back and circle around her. She turns to follow, favoring her unhit leg. For the time being, she seems to be playing things defensively.
>How will you test her defenses?

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Continue to circle for another few moments before making a sudden vertical cut with Roukanken. But as she brings her blade to parry, quickly sidestep while keeping Roukanken extended, then step inward and slash in with Hakurouken from the other direction - at an angle that would be hard to defend with her blade alone without also changing her footing.