Sword Quest XII - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Grimace.
> Look back up at the behemoth. What is it doing now?

>It seems to be looping back around, several hundred yards away.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "We can still outsmart it by surrounding it and attacking its sides, as we have been! I have seen up close that our efforts so far have not been in vain! But right now we must not cluster together, in anticipation of another long-range energy attack!"

[Hello Purvis]

> "We can still outsmart it by surrounding it and attacking its sides, as we have been! I have seen up close that our efforts so far have not been in vain! But right now we must not cluster together, in anticipation of another long-range energy attack!"

>"I"ll try to follow your lead, Crown Prince!" Futo says.
>"If you have some more specific advice, it'd be great!" Tojiko answers.
>"It's attacking!" Seiga shouts, as you observe the Behemoth's eyes are glowing powerfully, before it sends out another beam of energy that spirals toward you, widening with each loop.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Tojiko is currently between us and the behemoth then, yes?
> The last time this thing used this attack, we managed to avoid it by heading to the center of the spiral and having it shoot past us all around us. How much of a margin of error for that did we have? That is, how much free space was there in the center?
> Presumably Seiga is enjoying a notable boost in raw power with that wand. That aside, what are our companions' combat strengths?

[Hello Purvis]

> Tojiko is currently between us and the behemoth then, yes?
> The last time this thing used this attack, we managed to avoid it by heading to the center of the spiral and having it shoot past us all around us. How much of a margin of error for that did we have? That is, how much free space was there in the center?
> Presumably Seiga is enjoying a notable boost in raw power with that wand. That aside, what are our companions' combat strengths?

>Yes.
>You did, and you had some space to maneuver, probably a couple yards. Very comfortable in terms of danmaku.
>You would assume so in Seiga's case. Futo is reasonably close to you in terms of danmaku and physical skill, though you usually edge her out. Tojiko is probably the least skilled, but she can coordinate well. Seiga is nominally the least powerful of the four of you, but she has her ways to make up for that; be it through Yoshika or other tricks.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is the energy spiral aimed as us specifically? If not, where does it seem to be aimed?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is the energy spiral aimed as us specifically? If not, where does it seem to be aimed?

>It is hard to tell at this distance. You think it may be aimed toward either you or Futo.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Start moving to center ourselves
> Point downward with our left hand.
> "Futo, down!"
> Pull our left hand back in while pointing rightward with our sword.
> "Seiga, right!"
> Pull our sword back to a neutral position while point right at the behemoth with our left hand again. (Good thing we just had a lot of arm coordination practice!)
> "Tojiko, center! The inside of the spiral was safe last time!"

[Hello Purvis]

> Start moving to center ourselves
> Point downward with our left hand.
> "Futo, down!"
> Pull our left hand back in while pointing rightward with our sword.
> "Seiga, right!"
> Pull our sword back to a neutral position while point right at the behemoth with our left hand again. (Good thing we just had a lot of arm coordination practice!)
> "Tojiko, center! The inside of the spiral was safe last time!"

>Your companions move as directed. The spiral closes in, and it seems that your companions will be able to avoid it.
>The behemoth then sends out another one.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> !!!
> Where is this one aimed?

[Hello Purvis]

> !!!
> Where is this one aimed?

>It seems to be to the right of the first one.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> So Futo should be in no additional danger if she avoids the first spiral by getting below it?

[Hello Purvis]

> So Futo should be in no additional danger if she avoids the first spiral by getting below it?

>You think so.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Move ourselves toward the center of the first spiral.
> "It has fired another spiral! Seiga, keep going right! Tojiko, once the first spiral passes by, head left! Futo, stay underneath them, and follow my position!"

[Hello Purvis]

> Move ourselves toward the center of the first spiral.
> "It has fired another spiral! Seiga, keep going right! Tojiko, once the first spiral passes by, head left! Futo, stay underneath them, and follow my position!"

>You move toward the center, as the first spiral approaches and seems to be set to pass around you. "Got it!" Tojiko says. You assume the others are listening as well.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> As the tail end of the first spiral is passing us by, head rightward and get ourselves in the center of the second spiral.

[Hello Purvis]

> As the tail end of the first spiral is passing us by, head rightward and get ourselves in the center of the second spiral.

>You move rightward, and slip into the center of the second spiral easily enough. Tojiko keeps pace with you.
>As the second spiral whirls around you, the behemoth spreads its wings again.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Stay to its sides and below it! I will confront it head-on and draw its focus! On my mark, those to the sides should attack its wings! Futo, attack its underbelly!"
> Begin heading forward and preparing two three-round burst nondirect sources.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Stay to its sides and below it! I will confront it head-on and draw its focus! On my mark, those to the sides should attack its wings! Futo, attack its underbelly!"
> Begin heading forward and preparing two three-round burst nondirect sources.

>"I understand!" Futo says.
>"Got it!" says Tojiko.
>"The wings it is," Seiga says.
>You begin to move forward, preparing another attack. The behemoth beats its wings, and soars toward you, covering dozens of yards in an eyeblink! You have just a few seconds to prepare.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Wait one second, then fire off the two nondirect sources, one on either side of the behemoth's current path, several yards off-center horizontally and on  the same level as the behemoth's path vertically.

[Hello Purvis]

> Wait one second, then fire off the two nondirect sources, one on either side of the behemoth's current path, several yards off-center horizontally and on  the same level as the behemoth's path vertically.

>You do this, as the behemoth covers considerable distance between the two of you in the meantime.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Wait for it!"
> Hold our sword ready in one hand, and beckon to the behemoth to bring it on with the other.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Wait for it!"
> Hold our sword ready in one hand, and beckon to the behemoth to bring it on with the other.

>You hold your sword and beckon toward the behemoth.  It does not seem to be slowing down, and will be on top of you in no more than a second.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Are our nondirect sources not bother it in any way?

[Hello Purvis]

> Are our nondirect sources not bother it in any way?

>Hard to tell at this split second, but at the very least its momentum doesn't seem to be affected.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is it opening its mouth again?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is it opening its mouth again?

>It seems to have!

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Fire!!"
> Drop down to get out of the way!

[Hello Purvis]

> "Fire!!"
> Drop down to get out of the way!

>You call for the others to fire and drop down as the spiral passes by below. Tojiko squawks as the behemoth charges through your familiars, passes directly over you! You hear danamku, but you suddenly find yourself being pulled along with the behemoth as it passes by! A moment later, you slam into something softish, but hard enough to hurt, and the force of the wind seems to die down a little.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> ...Could we have smacked into Futo?
> If not, where did we get hit?