Vescrutia: Legacy

Alice twisted away from the rising arc just in time—Frostbane’s edge missing her by a breath—but the heat didn’t.

It slammed into her like a living thing.

Static screamed across her skin as the air around her flash-boiled, pink arcs snapping wildly instead of flowing clean. Her voltage plane destabilized, warping beneath her boots as steam hissed from the seams along her spine.

She landed harder than intended, one knee dipping before she caught herself.

“…damn,” she muttered, jaw tight.

Her systems spiked—warnings flaring and vanishing as fast as they appeared. The heat she’d so confidently siphoned earlier now fought to escape, turning her own charge against her. A sharp twitch ran through her arm as the Volt Lance flickered out, its glow stuttering.

Still, she straightened.

Eyes bright. Smile intac

She rolled her shoulder once, forcing the excess energy back into alignment despite the tremor that followed. Smoke curled faintly from her frame, static popping like angry embers.

“I can still go ,” Alice said, voice steady, eyes locked on Haylin.
But she was lying.

Her grin sharpened—defiant yet broken.

Alice v Haylin

Stress: 3 v 4
Output: 6 v 1
Naten: 4 v 2
Speed: 7 v 3
Dex: 2 v 6
Strength: 1 v 7
Durability: 0 v 5
Awareness: 5 v 0

Alice HP: 3/6
HP: 6/8

Proposed Dev Note: Berserka cost = 5, -1 Pool/post.+1 to Arbiter Rolls, +1 to Offense or Defense

Attack
3 (Haylin Strength/2) + 2 (Beastmuse) - [0(Alice Durability/2) + 1(Berserka Boost)] = 4 Damage

Alice Ending HP: -1/6



~~~~~

Haylin landed, chest heaving as he smiled looking down on Alice's defiant gaze. Her mouth said yes, but her body looked done. He'd seen his fair share of bullies in his time on Rudral and wanted nothing more than have bene able to teach SEED a lesson in compassion. Body still sweltering from the fight, the steam distorted their view of one another, but Haylin could see well that he had this victory taken.

"Me too, but..." he said beckoning Cass to his back who trotted over craning its neck back and forth jauntily, taking high steps with its talons and flapping its wings in unison, cawing lightly with every step.

Haylin looked hack at the shimmying bird after hearing the cadence of its steps, recognizing it as their playful dance the Gafren Cassowary did when it emerged victorious in skirmishes in the wild.

"Aaaaha, cut it out, we're nice guys, remember?" Haylin said, flopping on the ground and letting Cass bask him and Alice in gentle breeze, a small respite from their pitched combat.

"I'll take the win, so let Cass cool us down."

A battle hard fought, he sat across from the worthy combatant reminded of The Crucible, fond memories he could weave together with ones starring a new rival.