USH'S MATRIX GAME FIFTH ASSIGNMENT (PHILOSOPHY PATH)- 'The Reason'

He lets it go and advances further through the room. he tries too see what's in here, as his eyes adjust

Hephaestus sees the figuring approaching (still not knowing what Xiao Emo means! 😛 ), and raises an eyebrow. "So, we meet again..."

Hephaestus performs Lure of the Master, gesturing for the Xiao Emo to come and get him, if he dares.

dunno heph...he's tough..watch out 🙂

You make your gesture, Heph, but the Xiao Emo simply smiles, and outstretches both of his arms to his sides. From his sleeves emerge- though perhaps slither would be a better term- two long and sharp shards of bone, the one end fashioned into a primiitve hilt, the other adorned with razer-pointed teeth, and a tusk at the end which forms a short curve.

He links the two weapons together at the tusks, and lets go of the left one, whirling around thw two weapons with his right hand, the attached weapon spinning wildly. These are the disturbing equivalent of hook swords.

-

Rade, shortly after you feel another cylinder. A this point, a light comes on from overhead, dimly illuminating the room. You squint to make out the object in front of you...

... and leap backwards in surprise. You are looking at yourself, inside the cylinder.

"what sick game is this" mutters rade, as he looks arounda t other cylinders to see what they contain

It is a whole row of cylinders, Rade. It goes on for a long time. Many of the human forms hanging suspended, inside liquid, in each one have no dostinguishing features, but many are occupied by recognisable people.

Jericho, Khali, Loomis, Tyr, Sinister, Medea. And then Rade, Castor, and Azrael.

"all who passed through melitus' little test" rade starts saying to castor
"but..what are these? I am here..the duplicate is there" he says pointing from where they came from "..but what is this...and what's it for?"

Castor has been looking in the opposite direction, Rade. When you turn, you see why- because he is also looking at a row of cylinders.

Jericho, Khali, Loomis, Tyr, Sinister, Medea. And then Rade, Castor, and Azrael.

And on each side, behind each row, another row of the same. And then another. And another and another and another and another and another and on and on and on and on and on as far as the eye can see.

is there another door? besides the one we came through?

At the far side- you just heard it close.

The figure who came through- turning on the lights- starts to walk towards you. He is not young, but still strong; hair lined with early greay streaks and a face creased with responsibilities and worries, but with a hard edge.

Jericho.

"And now," he says, "you can understand why."

But if you think he is going to expand on that, you are disappointed- instead, he reaches into his trenchcoat, and draws his sword, a brilliantly crafted Katana.

crap...that's not fair! 😛

"don't be a fool" says Rade frowning. "there is still help for you.."

"Of course there is," says Jericho. "I've made sure of that. You, on the other hand, are finished."

The door you entered by is forced open- Rade* and Castor* emerge.

"perhaps" says rade preparing for engaging. "but it won't avail you"

He seems to have little interest in verbal sparring, Rade. He adopts a Samurai classic hasso guard (developed to both keep the sword clear of the view of the Samurai and to not be obstructed by their wide helmets) and moves in.

Ok, we shall carry this on as sequence five, six frames down.

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CURRENT SITUATION AT: Fifth Sequence, Frame 10

Suite

Castor: 11/4/7
Rade: 10/20/10

Jericho: 15/0/9
Castor*: 11/6/7
Rade*: 10/7/10

Entry/exit corridor

Hephaestus: 13/3/7

Xiao Emo: ?/0/9

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As we can see, first off is Rade and Mr. Emo.

The Xiao Emo steps forwards and whirls the combined blades at you, Heph, with a Sting of the Mantis.

"That's a neat trick."

Heph uses Learned Tutor's Block to catch the Xiao Emo's arm.

Heph, that takes you two frames. The Xiao Emo rolls +1 for a 16, which you block, but then he is still ahead of you on frames and he performs a Sting of the Mantis once more.

Would Seven Scholar's Hold work here?

Yup.

Hephaestus tightens his grip on the Xiao Emo's arm, using Seven Scholar's Hold.

That costs you a frame.

The Xiao Emo rolls +2, and the second whirl of his sword is only JUST dodged by you, Heph.

Your go!