#ic: the fatal marksman

[cryptidsncurios]

@piousolus sent: " Your face only makes me think of all the time that was lost. " [ for xiggy 😉 ]

He wasn’t exactly sure if she was trying to guilt him (fated to be unsuccessful, of course) or was just engaging in the usual suffering she tended to exude without actively noticing.

Alas, he obviously knew where she was coming from with such despair, and could choose to relate to her woes in a more polite manner---but, instead, Xigbar laced his fingers and placed them beneath his chin, leaning forward to press his elbows on the table, not even bothering to hide his grossly lopsided grin.

“To be honest, every time I see your face, I feel like I should get ready for the slap of a ruler across my knuckles," he joked, allowing himself to say the first sarcastic thing on his mind---knowing it was likely inappropriate, given the mood she’d presented, but unable to give a damn at this point.

“But really, Miss Mopey---why you botherin’ to bare your soul to me like this? Got snubbed by your therapist or somethin’?”

[cryptidsncurios]

Xigbar truly could not recall such a fight that had gotten his metaphorical blood pumping with such vigor---or, at least, within the span of this particular lifetime. He had nearly lost the memory of that truly distinct thrill of the battlefield, as tethered as he had been to each subsequent one he’d been forced to enter within the scope of his Role. This was something different, something so unique---facing an unknown being on the opposite side of this stretch of bullet-pitted dirt, just as wrought with mystery and malice as himself.

And witnessing the fantastical transformation of the Gunmage’s metallic canine pawns into a singular creature much larger, much more fearsome---glimmering sleek and brimming with an incalculably immense strength---

Well, perhaps not “incalculably,” since Xigbar was incredible at math.

Nonetheless, however this ended up shaking out, damn was it gonna be good.

And what better way to start this next round than with one of his patented taunts?

“Awww, siccin’ the Big Mama on me now? Guess she was bound to show up to avenge her lil pups eventually,” and he hefted No Name to his shoulder---the motion of which sent a spike of pleasurable nostalgia through him. It had nearly slipped his mind with the passing years how perfectly it fit within the curl of his fingers---the power from within its ethereal metal humming and resonating with his own.

Then, a faux sigh of exaggerated despair escaping him:

“Guess I’ll have to put ‘er down too.”

In a flash, Xigbar was gone---and, within the next, despite the insinuation of his target, he appeared mere feet from his gun-wielding opponent, No Name’s jagged edge lashing forth. Distance had been his method up to this point---perhaps this bold next move would take his foe quite by surprise.

After all, he knew well how Summoners worked as well.

The outerworlder's electrocuted body crashing to the ground was hardly the end of this particular fight - and both parties knew all too well it was really more akin to a beginning.

The Demon Gunman watched and waited, gauging the extent of the damage done to the other as his quarry slowly rose and dusted off his long coat. The initial grogginess and confusion from the powerful hit dissipating rather quickly, and then - laughter. Not something that could be described as a... typical response, but neither was it a result of fried neurons. This man, this being of unknowable origin was so much more than mortal - and, simultaneously, so much less.

Just like him. Almost invisibly, the corners of Kaze's lips quirked upwards. Whether to smirk or bare fangs, this much was equally impossible to tell.

And yet, there must have been a reason he hadn't fired - filled the other's prone body full of smoking holes with the blazing wrath of Orthrus, shorn of such naïve ideas of honor. A reason why he waited, uncharacteristically polite, suspending what may have been the killing blow in a rare moment of grace. Indeed, with most encounters he would have shot his opponent to hell the moment they so much as opened their mouth.

The real answer was - he was out of bullets, so he simply spent what little time was bought reloading. Words were wasted in a fight like this. Breath was much better saved for when it was needed.

However, the words that did come - intrigued him.

Oh? Was this a game, then? Was the man so starved of entertainment he would seek it out teetering on the brink of life and death? The Hunter's gaze narrowed - dangerous, but also knowing. A thin bond of understanding between two inhuman creatures, long and so very far astray from any mortal concept of sanity. A nod of appreciation and a question offered his way - certainly something the Wind considered, but not answered. Not verbally, anyway.

...If this was a moment of euphoria before the fall, let it be so.

The Black Wind readied himself, giving his shotgun a slight shake as the final shells slid neatly into place. Similarly, the darkly clad man before him raised a hand, umbral sparks coalescing into -

He could feel his breath hitch. Now this... this..! Was interesting.

"So then, this is the Weapon of your heart." The Unlimited rumbled, voice of cold indifference for once taking on a hint of emotion. Just what was it - amusement? Curiosity..? Life within the mad-eyed war-machine's accursed chassis, a true moment of brilliant, untethered, existence.

...Only the battlefield made him feel this way. A match against the worthy. No wonder, considering the truth of what he was.

"I shall."

Both of his arms rose, spread out as though in welcome, gun in each. The view of the grand cannon in his right was clear now, offered as though in response to Xigbar's own brandishing. A Demon Weapon to stand rival against an ancient Keyblade, its black heart thundering at the center.

"Come." The Windarian commanded, both the warrior standing against him and something deep in the darkness. His best shot, hm? "Likewise."

A howl erupted from the thick blackness between the trees, a pair of violet streaks lighting up the night. A grand beast, far larger than those strewn broken on the ground, had emerged.

"Fenrir!"

The mechanical wolf responded, flaring its cape of luminous, violet feathers - each with a vibrant yellow eye. The teeth in its mouth moved with a revving sound, blurring together in the dance of chainsaws.

It stood on its hindquarters, eyes locked with Xigbar - and individual feathers suddenly extended, almost like tendrils, and dove into the motionless shells of its fellow beasts.

And so, the touch once again animated the wolfpack, pulling together discarded pieces and limbs, a show of dexterous puppetry of many shining strings. Revitalized, all four wolves stood up around their packleader and took position, ever eager to spring upon their prey.

Number one rule of fighting summoners...

Kaze himself was very much alert and ready as well, swirling sands rising at his feet and ready to respond to danger in the most optimal way required. Whether to enhance movement or ignite and form impenetrable shields of Soilglass to stop the Keyblade's assault, or even shatter into lethal pieces and tear the attacker apart. Though the Demon Gunman was indeed expending vast amounts of magic in so much as keeping the summoning going, there was a very good reason why he and his cosmic counterpart were known as Unlimited. For one, the usual rules...

Evade everything else and go for the mage as soon as you possibly can. The summoner controls the field. Break up their focus, and break up the spell.

...Did not apply as easily as they may for others.

[redzevy-oc]

Kuva Yasuhiro

——– PARALLEL AU - ——-

Background

Birthday: December 12 Origin: ==== Occupation: Mercenary, Marksman, Reaper Height: 179cm Weight: 63kg Family members: younger brother Tatsuno, Mother and Grandmother. Element: Dark/Ice Preferred weapon: Scythe, Sniper Rifle Specialties: Cryokinesis, Sense Manipulation, Camouflage, Soul Reading, Intel gathering

PERSONALITY:

N/A

TIMELINE:

Born during the Border States War.

Age 11: separated from his family. Was taken in as a captive by traveling mercenaries. Because of his wit and age, they took pity on him and let him tag along if he could keep up

Proved to be very useful as a scout and bait (his choice of words). Expressed interest in firearms and was surprisingly adept at handling them.

Age 14: Arrived in the Mercenaries' main base where Kuva meets Rakurai (age 13), a survivor who also got the group to take him in because of Rakurai's unique electric skills at such a young age. Because they were near each other's ages, they naturally fell into each other's company and became partners.

Age 15: Awakened his prowess in the ice element. Because of Kuva and Raku's synergy and new skill set, they were slowly being deployed for more and more dangerous missions.

Age 18: The mercenaries grew in power and size. Kuva and Rakurai became a formidable team, known for their flawless and quick execution of plans— Rakurai being the front assault proficient in close quarters combat, and Kuva being a terrifyingly lethal shot with his sniper.

Age 19: Was sent on a suicide mission. He and Rakurai's team was supposed to break the city's line of fire from the south walls, instead were met by a squadron that surrounded them on all sides. Rakurai, seeing the death of his comrades, was unable to control his rampage. Kuva was fatally injured trying to stop Rakurai.

In his dying moments in the battlefield, Kuva meets the Favorkeepers. Zeignaua takes interest in his tenacity and offers him a second chance for a price. (At this point, he is deemed a Chronos Touched)

Kuva takes it with no question. In exchange for giving him renewed life, Kuva's soul is no longer allowed in the afterlife. He is to help ferry dying souls by becoming a vessel for them. This gives Kuva's left eye the ability to discern a person's closeness to death. He is essentially a reaper.

He disliked the fancy inscription on his skin (he doesn't like tattoos) so he started wearing a blindfold.

Luckily, Zeignaua is more than generous, if not questionable. Zeignaua occasionally visits Kuva to retrieve the souls from him instead of letting the souls fill up and consume him. (Zeignaua is curious with mortals and Kuva helps in keeping him entertained) (imagine being bros with a deity)

Age 19-22: Travels the war-torn country, with the war having ended (outcome? he doesn't care at this point). He's ferrying souls while searching for traces of Rakurai's whereabouts. Finds his family but does not reveal himself to them: His father had died during during the family's evacuation. Mother and Tatsuno had moved in to their grandmother's home in the countryside.

Age 22: Meets Rakurai again— Rakurai was escorting a group crosscountry to safety when they were attacked. Kuva assists them and later on tagged along so he could say hi to Rakurai again.

Kuva was a prick at this time— jokingly bringing up their last moments together and how it felt like to die. Rakurai finds this extremely triggering and resented Kuva for being flippant on Rakurai's feelings— having to go through the guilt and trauma of killing his best friend.

Age 23: a bit of a better relation with Rakurai, though Raku is still very stern with him. Kuva doesn't mind honestly. Settled in a small town because Rakurai apparently was taking care of kids by this time ("you have children?!" , "they're not mine damnit!"). Decided to just be the local gossiper.

Age 25: Zeignaua summons for him to participate as a Sentinel, a precaution for the impending opening of a Fractura (in which corrupted souls manifest in the real world). At this point, Kuva forgot (?) to tell Rakurai that he was blessed by the Favorkeepers, causing Rakurai to explode at him again.

[verumheart-a]

@ larxene: haha fivehead

{⚡}- Pulls on his eyepatch and lets it snap back against his face. “Look who’s talking. Your hairline recedes any further and you’ll look like you’re nothing but forehead.”

[chillydayzgaming-blog]

Borderlands

Ever wanted a million guns? How about 17.75 million guns ripe for the taking? Guns that'll melt your enemy's faces off, burn them alive, make them scream for their mothers as they experience more than 1.21 gigawatts of electricity coursing through their veins? Then Gearbox Software has a game for you. Released in 2009, Borderlands is a loot based FPS with RPG style skill perks and classes. Four characters to choose from: Sarcastic marksman Mordecai, over enthusiastic brick shithouse named appropriately enough Brick, femme fatale reality shifting Siren named Lilith and finally the impromptu leader of the bunch Roland. He's the big black guy with a turret. Between it's respawning enemies who exist to drop loot and it's wonderful space western setting Borderlands became a cult classic that enjoyed more fanfare over time, gaining traction as an alternative to standard shooters of the time. The first time I recall hearing about the game was from an article talking about Ice T playing it himself. A glowing recommendation from him and it being cheap used at GameStop ensured that I would pick it up. Showing it off to my friends we soon began to play it together, eventually I picked up the GoTY edition, getting all the DLCs that I hadn't yet grabbed anyway, but by that time I was in my third play through of the game. The game working off of a cyclical new game plus mode allows for the player to replay it over again if they wish, with additional difficulty added to the game. To offset that the loot gets better too, so yay, more farming. My fondest memories of Borderlands was starting up the game, putting on some Cage the Elephant and just going to town on the final difficulty. The first area, the Arid Badlands, is a blast. Classic space western fare: Hostile bandits, crazy alien animals to shoot and plenty of loot chests to open up. Learning about all the hidden boxes, running a circuit of slaughter and chilling out to a great band is phenomenal fun. Strongly suggest it as a cathartic method to relax. Surprisingly enough I actually enjoyed classic Borderlands' bare bones story. That doesn't mean it was fantastic, it was cut down from the early ideas for the final release. Essentially the story boils down to there being a vault full of loot, you know, the stuff you've been collecting all the while? But that in a way is a wonderful subversion of what we expect. We expect the McGuffin of the story to bring us what we want, when at it's heart it is meant to only play the role of a desired thing. Be it a princess in yet another fucking castle, big black books filled with Eldritch knowledge or in Borderlands case a vault full of loot. But, spoiler alert, it isn't. It's full of tentacle monster guy. You've seen enough hentai to know where this is going. So you trampled across the East coast of a forsaken continent on a largely abandoned planet just to have to fight a roughly four story interdimensional monster hell-bent on diddling you with his tentacles. Bet you feel used huh? But, really, didn't you have fun along the way? The NPCs are pretty entertaining without being overbearing, dry wit in ample supply in addition to the clear cut quests. I feel as though the vault's true purpose was to show us what we want more than anything in the game, and that's more challenges to overcome. We the players would find it boring if the PCs ended the game with an unending pile of loot, we want to keep up the lootfest ourselves. So after you beat the end boss, who was admittedly pretty easy, you get the opportunity to begin again, but stronger this time. There's a bit of side mentions of cyclical time to help handwave this, which I appreciate, separates it from most other games in that regard. At it's heart the game did have issues with it's writing however. While I did enjoy the more serious tone of the game the slight lean towards humor was very fitting for it, dark humor injected here and there helps to keep it from being too dry. But it felt like a tipsy guy trying to keep his composure, giggling to himself one minute and standing stone faced the next. This was later "fixed" via the DLCs and sequels, going from leaning towards humor to diving headfirst into it. But that left the first game in an awkward position, it's pretty light story doesn't nearly compare to later games in the series. However what was in the game was fairly well done, I'm judging it by it's initial release, not taking the DLCs into account. The main character's lacked good insights into them as people, perhaps to help us associate with them better, but when it comes to a story I want to know how a character reacts, feels about their world. For what it is I have to give the game a 15/20 in the story/concept category. Excellent loot based FPS, subpar story but cool world. Borderlands thrives on it's FPS mechanics. Wonderful gunplay, metric fucktons of guns to utilize and useful character perks to utilize. Want to turn a hawk into an AC-130? You can do that. Shift through reality while running like Speedy Gonzales? Yeah, kinda. Punch shit like, really really hard? Brick shithouse at your service. Ammo spewing, ally healing and bone hurting bullet shooting turret? You'll be making people go owie pretty fast. Along the way you'll gain a bunch of passive and activated abilities too, which are a staple of any perk based game nowadays. Come to think of it Skyrim has perk trees that kinda remind me of Borderlands, would be interesting if it was partially inspired to do so by the surprise hit. Anyway, gotta give the game.e a high five for it's system, it works fantastically. As it's a loot based FPS, you have a backpack that slowly gets upgraded over time. Which is great because after a certain point you end up drowning in grenade mods, shields and weapons after wading through a dungeon. Ooh, speaking of I should expand those things. First off we have those lovely modifiers for your grenades, teleporting, sticky, you name it. Hell, the healing ones are my favorite, a plethora of devastating health sucking good vibes at your fingertips. Your shields are like a secondary health bar that refill over time on their own, plus cool side effects to give you little bonuses. Stuff like resistance to elemental attacks, faster recharging or beyond average shield count. Borderlands' dungeons are some of the most fun I've had in a while. Not too big, ripe with hostiles and loot, perfect for an hour of stomping through with friends. Of course where Borderlands truly shines is in it's open air bandit camps. As I said before I adore the starting area, the Arid Badlands, it's handful of Skag dens and Bandit camps are some of the best fun I've ever had grinding. To me it's not even grinding, it's cathartic ass kicking. Anyway, you get a lot if dusty places to kill stuff in, plus some mountainous places later on. Overall it's world design is quite beautiful, can't really fault it beyond any spots you can get stuck in. Overall it's gameplay and mechanics earn it a solid 20/20, the little things like weapon skill building over time, class variation and just simple dumb fun in it's dungeon diving makes it a near perfect game to pop in and just tear shit up with your friends. Onto Graphics and art style. Borderlands utilizes a cell shaded design that's iconic and quite easy to recognize. Rocks pop out at you, enemies stand out amongst the backdrop and the equipment is well understood from afar. Just enough detail without it being too attention grabbing. Character designs are a bit exaggerated, but that's to be expected really. I can't fault the game for having generic visuals in terms of NPCs and the world, at the same time it also benefits from my soft spot for space westerns. So unlike a lot of shooters it gets a nice noon in the form of it's iconic style, which really helped to set it apart. Ironically it was to be more realistic, but midway through production they changed that. For the better I say. The graphics, for it's time, were/are wonderful. I say are because, well, they still look pretty good. Might not stand up to say... the sequels, but that's just due to higher resolution over time. All in all I believe it has solid graphical quality, no faults to be seen from my 100+ hours of gameplay. So to grade it on it's visuals I'd give it a 20/20, started a series strong with it's unique design, strong visuals and charming atmosphere. Space Western game's gotta have a twangy soundtrack yeah? This one does, plus some haunting tunes as well. While the gun sounds are a bit soft for me the music, both the OST and the choices for opening and ending tracks, are are superb. Opening up with Ain't No Rest For the Wicked by Cage the elephant (my favorite band) and ending with No Heaven by DJ Champion the game uses it's music to help set the mood. You aren't good guys, you are shades of anti-heroes that are on the planet of Pandora to kick ass and get loot. The reasons vary but in general you're gonna spend most of your time shooting native wildlife and locals in the face. A lot. Not much else to comment on, 15/20 in that regard. Just needs stronger sound effects. Plus more PC interaction, but that's more writing than anything else. Enjoy shooting shit? Looting shit? Then Borderlands is the game for you. Easily 30+ hours of shooting and looting, multiple playthroughs and a never-ending stream of baddies to torment even if you do "beat" the game. Not that you ever really do beat it, it's one of those games that you can keep playing forever really. And you know what? I really enjoy that. I see replayability being from two things: wanting to experience the game more/again or seeing how you can do things differently. Myself, I change very little across playthroughs, but I LOVE to feel those events again. If not for the story than for the sheer... wonder or excitement of the events. The first few nights in Minecraft, the end of a dungeon in Skyrim that deposits you at a vista and in this case just the thrill of stomping through dungeons that I've cleared dozens of times before. I can honestly play the same zone in this game for hours. For that reason I have to award it a 20/20 for longevity, just slip the disc in and keep enjoying the gift that keeps on giving. There is very little that I would change about the game, it's a bloody masterpiece as is really. But as I've said before it's lacking in the story department. Having the characters have more shit to say, either due to quests or at each other as they're out and about. Better sense of group cohesion is what I want, to feel that these guys are a group of fire forged friends out looting the countryside together. Plus expand in their back stories, have audio logs like future games had to help explain them a bit more, perhaps a personal quest or two. Hell, have their personalities and backgrounds come out via their dialogue with each other and NPCs, just enough to help us get them better without it being too distracting. Metal Gear Solid V: the Phantom Pain did this quite well, since Snake was meant to be more of a silent protagonist he had more personification via cassette tapes. Perhaps expand on the PCs via that sorta mechanic? Oh, and better SFX, guns and such. Just make it more visceral sounding, that feeling you get when you pop a bandit's head with a satisfying headshot... Enhanced with proper bullet sounds. This game helped bring back loot based games. Be they FPS, dungeon crawlers or whatever, it helped show that a non mainstream game could as much ass or even more ass as the same major releases of that year. It's art style, iconic. The atmosphere and tone, simply a pure mixture of light-hearted romp with violent lootfest. Gunplay that is up there with some of the best shooters. Very few things to complain about, it's a game you and your buddies should buy used and just pop it in to play all weekend. Gold star game overall, 90/100. Very few can match it in sheer fun, that's without taking DLCs into account.

[gwennyfw]

Ascension Expansion Patch Notes

https://www.arcgames.com/en/forums/forsakenworld/#/discussion/1205458/patch-notes-v-797-ascension

New Class: Warden

Weapon: Sword & Shield

Unique 3 skill interface: Heart of Protection, Heart of Piety, Fearless Heart

Talent trees: Moon Eater (DPS), Sun Ray (Tank), Astromancy (Heal/Support)

Rank 1-6 gear and weapons added

New System: Bloodline Inheritance

Characters that are Lv90+ can copy their progress in many traits to a newly created inheritor character:

Mastery training points

Resistances training points

Soul Power

Soul Power Skill Level

Wing Charge Level

The new character will allocate the points upon reaching the appropriate levels.

New Overworld Areas, Everlight and Evernight:

Recommended for Lv95-Lv100

Characters above Lv98 will be able to take the new Main Quests from Field General Hugh.

New Exploration quests from Explorer Guild Adventurers in the twin cities. They sell 3 different scrolls granting a Treasure Map, usable once per day. These are purchasable with Gold Coins and enough Light or Dark Reputation.

Quest from Pious Man in Waterfall at Bitter Falls – requires players to find a partner of a specific class or become a partner to another player to complete the trial. If unsuccessful, a Revision Crystal can be acquired from the Pious Man and used to start over.

Players will gather information via recon missions during the main quest line.

Timber Saintess Evette at the Exalted Trip has quests for players involving the Moon Well. The Lunar Elder at the Moon Well also has quests for players.

New Instance: Bonegnasher’s Nest

Requires 6 Lv90+ players

Can be entered via Expert Random Challenge Instance or directly via Adventurer Kimberly at the Wailing Wood.

New Raid Instance: Retake Dark Abyss

Requires at least 12 players

Players will take on the Hive Queen Agrevan and two of her powerful generals.

Shared Stash system added

Players can more easily move items between characters on the same account and server. Different characters on the same account can use this to share their items and coins. Only tradable items can be shared. The shared stash can be expanded using Bank Extensions.

New System: Dye Function

Players can coordinate dying of multiple dye-able fashion pieces at the same time. The Unify Color function can be found in the Garderobe. When dyeing, fashion pieces will be displayed in a real-time preview. All dyeing actions in the Gardrobe only cost Mysterious Dye. No Soul Coins or Gold Coins are required.

New Gear: Hero Rank 6 Armor & Weapons

New rank of gear and weapons for all classes added. Obtainable via Legendary Points and drops from new instances. The weapons can be upgraded as well.

Vengeance Season 1 Ends

Eclipse Hollow and Sea of Oblivion campaigns are now complete. Players can return to these areas using Trackstones once again. The level requirements of post-Vengeance Eclipse Hollow and Sea of Oblivion are Lv60 and Lv75 respectively. Some overworld sidequests and events have been restored. The Vengeance versions of each area will still be available thru the Vengeance Promoter.

Jobs Updated:

-Weaponsmith & Armorsmith

-Hero Rank 4 and 5 recipes have been added. Daily quests to obtain materials used in crafting Hero Rank 4 gear has been added. The Tutor’s Task quest can be completed a limited number of times per day to obtain Job Points and a material used in crafting Hero Rank 5 gear. The materials used in these recipes have been added to Weapon Tutor Issac’s and Armorer Tutor Cecilio’s offerings in Nightfall Citadel. The recipes and higher level crafting materials have been added to the Guild NPC Arms Engineer and the Armorcraft Master.

-Alchemist & Scavenger

-Recovery power of crafted instant HP/MP recovery potions has been increased. Advanced Scavenging has been added to Scavenger Tutor Melanie. New recipes have been added to the Alchemy Tutor, Ore decomposition and combination recipes for metal transmutation. There are also advanced recipes to greatly boost character attributes.

Additional Adjustments:

Players will get 1 chance in the Lucky Beehive Lottery each day they log in, as part of the regular login reward.

Players will be able to use Stone of Awakening at the Stone Gatherer in Nightfall Citadel to trade for unbound Relic Spirit.

For every 10 levels of Mastery and Resistances, up to Lv80, you can obtain rewards from Lieutenant Dan in Nightfall Citadel.

Strength Guide System – Players can use this feature to learn about their strength and weaknesses, and choose a path for themselves to work on. As their strength reaches certain levels, they can obtain special titles.

Class Balances & Adjustments:

-Apotheosis

-Slighty adjusted the skills of God of Destruction and God of Conqueror.

-Assassin

-The cooldown time reduction of Contract of Blood, Moon Step, and Freedom of Wind gained from their Advanced versions is set to 30 seconds per level.

-Marksman

-Rake of Fury: the base burning damage increased from 60 per level to 300 per level.

-The base Attack increment of Rake of Fury from the talent Bullet Screen is increased from 5% per level to 10% per level.

-High Velocity Shot will also be affected by the Awakening Skill, Fatal Bullet (Light).

-Mage

-Removed the effect that when Wisdom energy reaches 100, Thunder Tempest gains a 20% Crit Dodge boost; instead, added the effect that when Wisdom energy reaches 100, Purgatory of Lightning gains a 20% base Attack boost.

-Light Awakening: Wisdom (Light)'s effect changed to increasing the player's Water, Fire, and Wind attack by 50 per level.

-Priest

-Ice Blade Strike's base Attack increased by 55%, from 125% to 180%; the slow effect on the target lowered from 50% to 5%.

-Frost Concentration's base Cast time lowered to 1 second; the slow effect on the target lowered from 50% to 5%; A crit hit inflicts Silence to the target for 1 second.

-Holy Prayer - Enigma's base cast time lowered to 1 second; remove the effect to absorb mana. A crit hit will Stun the target for 3 seconds. The stunned target is immune to Stun for 5 seconds.

-The talent skill Stilled World's base Attack is increased by 50%, from 125% to 175%.

-The talent Icy Core no longer boosts Frost Concentration's slow effect; instead it's boost effect on the Frost Concentration's Base Attack is increased from 5% to 10%.

-The talent Flash Freeze no longer reduces Frost Concentration's cast time.

-The talent Prayer of Frost no longer boosts Ice Blade Strike's base Attack.

-The talent Clarity of Ice's bonus effect on all Water skills' Crit Chance is increased from 1% per level to 6% per level.

-The talent Winds of Salvation grants Stun dispel effect to Blessings of Gale instead of Slow dispel.

-The talent Arcane Coldness no longer boosts Holy Prayer - Enigma's mana absorption effect.

-Realm of Ice's Freeze effect is adjusted that Priest's Water skills have a 8% chance per level to Ensnare the target for 3 seconds; the Interrupt effect is removed.

-The talent Siphon has its old effects removed, and the new effect is that Holy Prayer - Enigma reduces the target's Max Mana by 5% per level.

-The talent Northern Air increases Ice Blade Strike's chance to freeze the target for 2 seconds by 15% per level. The frozen target will be immune to Freeze for 10 seconds. Removed the distance bonus effect granted to Ice Blade Strike.

-Removed Nyos' Nature's effect that at 75 Energy, Icebound Confession drains mana; added the new effect that Icebound Confession lowers target's base Defense by 50%.

-Removed Dyos' Nature's effects at 1, 45, 75, and 100 Energy; added these effects to Nyos' Nature correspondingly.

-Protect Rune is adjusted that it heals by an amount based on the different of the caster's current Mana and the target's current Health.

-Warrior

-The basic skill Frenzy Stance no longer lowers Evasion.

-The talent Frenzy Outbreak no longer reduces the reduction of Evasion, while still reducing the reduction of Defense.

-The talent Warsong of Rampage's boost effect to Warrior's base Attack while in War Cry status is increased from 0.5% per level to 2% per level.

-The talent Warsong of Defense's boost effect to Warrior's base Defense while in War Cry status is increased from 0.5% per level to 2% per level.

-Tormentor

-Thrust of Slaughter: base Cooldown set to 12 seconds; the dispel and immune effects are removed.

-Nyos' Nature: at 100 energy, the effect is changed into reducing Thrust of Slaughter's cooldown by 4 seconds; youself will not be affected by God of Slaughter.

-Cascaded Thrust: changed into an AOE attack with a 7 meter radius.

-Bard

-Sonata of Life: Base cast time changed to 1 second

-Vampire

-Dark Awakening's Exorcism effect is changed to be cast instantly.

[cryptidsncurios]

@ninthnocturne continued from [ X ]

“C’mon, now, you’re just wantin’ to overreact,” he chastised Myde with an exaggerated, fluttering roll of his eye, voice lacking in any sort of inebriation---simply an emphasized sense of feigned annoyance. “It’s just 100 proof vodka---It's not like I could actually gulp down somethin’ akin to straight ethanol from any ol' liquor store.”

Not that he hadn’t recklessly chugged that shit before, admittedly---and, honestly, it had been done merely out of curiosity---but it hadn't exactly been that enjoyable to drink. Ultimately, he'd come to the conclusion that it was really more appropriate for external purposes.

However, conscious that Myde was very likely, actually concerned about the state of his health, he fully faced his companion, resting one elbow on the armrest, the other motioning before him to further illustrate the point to he was making: “Listen, I’m a big boy that’s been around the block for a hot second---if I can handle resurrecting myself from being torn apart in a morning only to rejuvenate at night for hundreds of years, I’m sure this liver can take a couple punches from my favored spirit.”

Honestly, it was nothing compared to the Ye Olde Nectar of the Gods---this shit was basically juice in comparison.

[cryptidsncurios]

@soldierunderfire sent: ".....Say Xig.......you're almost 6'2, aintcha?" //*coughs loudly*

"Theresabouts," was his ambiguous response---though his expression swiftly sharpened as he leaned forward, a quirked brow and a cockeyed grin accompanying the intensity of that glittering eye.

"What's it to ya, Rossy? Trynna do some math concerning certain... bits?"

[cryptidsncurios]

@soldierunderfire sent: "Xig?" She's holding her hands behind her back, bouncing up on her tiptoes. No trace of sarcasm and no name-calling, she definitely wants something from him. "So...I've been thinking about growing my hair out but it's been so long since it's been long enough for me to style.....Uh....would you let me practice? On...you?"

Xigbar always expects Rossy to come in hot with some sassy behavior during his various visits, but this display honestly caught him a tad off-guard. In pleasing way, to be honest. Sure, he enjoyed their benign bickering---but… well, okay, she was just so damn cute, being all demure like that.

Thus, he would return the favor, his teasing missing his own usual cattiness with his response, “Gotta say, ya look good already with that trendy cut---buuut if you’re wantin’ to grow it on out? I can most assuredly be of service to get ya back into beeeea-utifying those lovely locks.”

Yeah, he was probably laying it on pretty thick---but wasn’t that what he was best at doing?

Reaching behind his head as he sauntered toward the bed and flopped onto it, he freed his hair from its ponytail, black and silver fluttering free down his back---preened momentarily with fingers threading through its length.

“Give it a whirl, girlie. I’ll be nice and still for ya.”

[cryptidsncurios]

YEEHAW | Accepting! @perditos sent: YEEHAW (Xion but canon verse because….. reasons)

Xigbar knew he certainly wasn’t the most trusted amongst those that had outlived that whole “Ridiculous-Crazy-Xehanort-Darkness-Thingy,” but he’d wiggled himself in proper enough with evidence of his "true" alliance, and every so often, he’d catch sight of someone familiar, and manage to engage them in conversation.

Didn’t matter to him if they did that whole averting-eyes-and-keeping-the-head-down deal, of course. It had never mattered to him before---why would he care now?

And somehow he’d managed to snare Xion into a chat---little Poppet, all grown up, decked out in garb other than that old dusty Coat, and actually sporting a smile or two… sort of. Admittedly, despite Xigbar’s continuous detachment from most of the other Org folk he'd had to tolerate, he’d actually had a bit of a soft spot for her---if it could be counted as “soft,” really. It was more like… if he was like a brick, and that brick had a slight chip in it, but then the chip got filled in with cement, but there’s that slight separation? Like, maybe a crack in-between the brick and the cement? Definitely there, but very, very tiny?

Yeah, that makes sense.

“So, now that you’re as free as a lil chickadee, what’s on the agenda? I’m sure ya got a lot to catch up on---stuff to see, fun to be had. You are a kid, after all.”

He would have ruffled her hair to punctuate the sentiment, but she just might bite him if he did, and keeping his fingers intact was kind of important, thank you.

[cryptidsncurios]

YEEHAW | Accepting! @perditos sent: YEEHAW Nera :3

It was one of those rare nights of quiet. Luxu simply wasn’t feeling the bars or clubs or other sorts of hot-spots tonight---for even a demon of his caliber needed a break every now and then. Thus, he’d wandered into the darkness, collapsed onto a park bench, and greeted the night with arms stretched across the backrest, legs crossed nonchalantly, face craned upwards.

One might not even consider such a bizarre notion, but he truly enjoyed seeing the stars. Being in the Pit for as long as he had been---for such an unbearable, unfathomable stretch of time---he’d not been blessed with the sight of those brilliant pinpoints---once, eons ago, touchable to him.

So, now, in-between all the madness of his role, he would take just a moment---maybe even two or three---to gaze upward.

And she was with him too.

Definite bonus points.

“What’cha think?” he asked---offhandedly, breaking the stillness. “What’d’ya feel? When ya see it all up there?”

[cryptidsncurios]

"Hey, c'mon, it's not bein' a child---I'm just bein' young at heart.

"...Well, I mean, metaphorically, given the ol' literal ticker ain't exactly up t'snuff these days."

“How is it that you are as old as you are and yet still a child?”

[cryptidsncurios]

Calling All Curious Anons! | always accepting tbqh

anonymous sent: How big's the d-bag's d? This is definitely not Maria and I am definitely not talking about Lucy Mcgee.

"I dunno, why don'tcha come and find out, Ros---I mean, 'Nonny?"

(tagging @soldierunderfire for no specific reason :^) )

[cryptidsncurios]

@the-android-and-the-wielder sent: C-creechur…. 0v0 Xigbarrrrrr….. haiiii (screamy henlooo :>)

Picking her up like a claw machine by her head and transporting her a couple more feet away.

"What'cha wantin', girlie? Or are ya just here to be a nuisance, as usual?"

Don't worry, he's just teasing.

...Probably.

[cryptidsncurios]

@piousolus sent: Wandering eyes could be trifling thing. She wasn't thinking when she focused on the scars of his face, or the eyepatch for that matter. They ought to tell a story, but nothing about him was ever that obvious. She on the other hand, must have been the opposite. Because it was like he INSTANTLY KNEW she was staring, and when he turned to face her she would turn her head away with a guilty jerk. "What?" as if he's the issue...!

Every once in a while, Xigbar had learned that Aqua was capable of finding at least one second to chill with that whole ridiculous, self-righteous, painfully-pompous “Keyblade Master” act to give him something to at least snack on. Alas, though, these---if they could actually be called this---“crackers” they’d had in their possession were dreadfully stale and crackled against his bites into sad little crumbs.

He was on the very cusp of addressing this very issue in his usual blithe manner when his sixth sense picked up on the presence of her intense stare upon his face, and the jerk of his eye towards her gaze startling her into embarrassment.

Swallowing the last, terribly dry nibble, his condescending smirk came into full view as he turned to look at her directly.

“What, ya finally warmin’ up to my dashin’ good looks? Took ya long enough, Cornflower.”

[cryptidsncurios]

Good lord that was a loaded question.

Because, really, Xigbar had no logical answer for it. He had no history of concocting such a specific response he could fall back on---no ready excuse for his actions. Honestly, he was stumbling into this whole situation entirely blind. No amount of his previously manufactured explanations or carefully-lain responses would do him any good.

This was all… honesty.

Honesty in that Xion could come to figure that he actually... gave a fuck. That, beyond the instinctive nature of his lone wolf ways---how he had always chosen the path of isolation, always seeking the easiest and most sensible path---that he had paused in his usual knee-jerk desire to, dumbly and desperately, swim against the predictable river’s flow. That---against every sense of his learned sensibility and desire to maintain his sanity---that Xion mattered.

That she was still a part of him.

Even if it seemed illogical, or foolish.

This entire series of events had turned from some nonsensical notion into something he could actually comprehend, amidst this continuous chaos---something he could conceive as real, as solid. For there had developed something deeper---even in the brief time they had spent together.

Because he knew it was there, deep within every action shared: the promise of connection. The promise of the future.

And, by whatever deities might offer their aid, he was not about to let it go.

Of course, he had no doubt that she would not be openly impressed by the action of his initial, yet pointed greeting---and yet, he had no doubt, that she would nonetheless take notice of the intent behind this action. She was a perceptive little lass, after all.

Yet, despite the subtle show of his developing self-control, he knew well that she wouldn’t be the type to turn all sweet and placated over him for making some kind of victorious comeback within these developing circumstances.

Words were in order here.

“I’m here because I wanna just check in t'see if you figured out--in my own words to reflect what you said before---how to fuck up Xehanort’s bullshit,” he bluntly explained---and abruptly, paused as the waitress approached their table, her eyes obviously scrutinizing the current situation at their table---undoubtedly noticing Xigbar’s various… odd features.

“So are y’all, ah, ready to order…?”

Xigbar, taking on a typical “dad” role without even an iota of hesitation, and adopting a distinctly West Virginian-specific Appalachian twang, replied, “Oh yeah, we’re just wantin’ a couple orders a’ plain pancakes,” then, shooting a brief and friendly glance towards Xion, “with some extra chocolate chips for my lil girl here,” and his body language melted into a friendly bobbing, head tilting toward Xion. “Lemme tell ya, she’s an absolute nut for that chocolate.”

The waitress seemed delightedly placated by such a charming delivery, nodding politely with a, “’Special, extra-chocolatey pancakes for the lil lady, of course,” then bustling away to tend to her duties.

And once she’d vacated the area, Xigbar’s fatherly façade dropped, his accent adopting its usually ambiguous cadence as he spoke---though the slight grin he’d adopted remained:

“Hopefully you ain't adopted some kinda lactose intolerance while you've been runnin' around.”

It meant something. It meant something that he was here. Xion hadn't quite found the end of the world but she had found out of the way. A not so obvious niche in the countryside into which she could shelter in anonymity and obscurity for a few days. Xigbar hadn't found her because he happened to stumble upon her, what a coincidence, you're here and I'm here... No, he was here because he had searched and he had found her. It meant something that he had done that and he was here. Xion just wasn't sure what.

Still, she divined a few hints. The languid glance of his eye over the scenery of the diner, the way he pointedly gnawed a piece of nicotine gum, and the keen look of determination in his golden eye. He was absurd, she found him absurd. Always so dramatic and performative, like he was just masquerading at humanity and liveliness. Xigbar was abstract and inscrutable as ever, the length of his history just as deep as it was wide. He had lived more of her lives than Xion had ever bothered to count and he conducted himself with an exhausted expectations. Nothing in this past year had shocked him. She was willing to bet she wasn't even the first wolf pup he had unexpectedly learned about. What was one more kid when he already had a dozen others, already dead, and some in the ground for centuries by now? Eventually, he'd bury her too and in a few more decades some other accident will pop up out of the ground. Like a weed.

Hell, that poor kid would have the advantage on her.

Xion wasn't even his kid. She was a science experiment. So, she didn't even have that going for her. By all accounts, Xigbar and her had nothing to do with each other than some genetics, some pack politics, and a year of her sleeping on his couch. It was why she had left. Xion was going to live in that apartment and play pretend house. She wasn't a kid and she wasn't his daughter. She was a weapon. And she needed to act like one.

She sighed, gaze skirting to the door, mentally calculating how close she could get to it without causing a scene. Xion did not want to have this conversation. She wanted to order breakfast, eat breakfast, and leave. This should be simple and easy, and this felt nothing like that. The two of them, odd and dangerous and bizarre, barely fit into the plastic, mundane decor of this diner. Beneath the table, her leg bounced, a jitter expressed and shown in the tap of her finger on the surface.

"Is that why you've come all this way? To tell me you've quit smoking?" She snapped, tone sharp. Like the knife she once held to his throat. She drawled, "Congrats."

Really, honestly, maybe she should have brought confetti or got him a cake. Xion rested her chin on her palm.

"Or, maybe that your best plan for dealing with Xehanort," she began, "after having months to think on it, is picking a fight. If that's the case than you're no closer to a solution now than when I left. So, why are you here?"