Sword Quest VIII - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> Is the horse turning to the left or to the right, from our perspective?

>It is turning rightward.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Pursue the horse on foot, angling our dashing path to our right. Line ourselves up so we're coming up on Meira's off-hand side this time.

[Hello Purvis]

> Pursue the horse on foot, angling our dashing path to our right. Line ourselves up so we're coming up on Meira's off-hand side this time.

>You run toward the horse as Meira wheels it around. You try to come at her left, but she merely angles the steed to a leftward diagonal to cut off this approach.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Bah.
> Re-angle ourselves so we're coming up on Meira's sword side, and get ready to level upward diagonal slashes with both swords, our right hand aimed at Meira's side as before while the left one simply swiping above our head as a pre-emptive blocking action.

[Hello Purvis]

> Bah.
> Re-angle ourselves so we're coming up on Meira's sword side, and get ready to level upward diagonal slashes with both swords, our right hand aimed at Meira's side as before while the left one simply swiping above our head as a pre-emptive blocking action.

>You approach Meira, and she corrects her angle to approach you, the horse picking up more and more speed. As she draws closer, the horse angles uncomfortably close to you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is the horse traveling so fast that we would not be able to cut and run laterally back in the other direction to get on Meira's non-sword side without getting run over?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is the horse traveling so fast that we would not be able to cut and run laterally back in the other direction to get on Meira's non-sword side without getting run over?

>You would almost certainly be trampled.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> At our current speeds and travel paths, how much longer do we have until we collide with the horse?

[Hello Purvis]

> At our current speeds and travel paths, how much longer do we have until we collide with the horse?

>A couple seconds.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Adjust the angle of our sprint path a bit to the left, but otherwise proceed with the double-slash plan.

[Hello Purvis]

> Adjust the angle of our sprint path a bit to the left, but otherwise proceed with the double-slash plan.

>You move a bit leftward, and avoid being trampled.
>You prepare to level a slash a Meira's side with Roukanken, but her sword stabs out toward you as fast as an arrow, aimed at your head!

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> This stab is at an angle that our left-handed slash will not parry it?

[Hello Purvis]

> This stab is at an angle that our left-handed slash will not parry it?

>You might not if you don't prioritize it!

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Parry-slash upward with both swords!

[Hello Purvis]

> Parry-slash upward with both swords!

>You snap your blades up, and knock Meira's strike upward and comfortably over your head. She rides past.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is the horse faster than us?
> Stop, turn around, and give chase once again.

[Hello Purvis]

> Is the horse faster than us?
> Stop, turn around, and give chase once again.

>Yes, but it doesn't seem to be able to accelerated as fast as you can.
>You chase after the horse as Meira puts distance between the two of you. Once there are some yards, she brings her steed around.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> So we have an acceleration advantage? That's good. Odds are we also have an agility advantage. Let's try something new, then.
> Stay standing where we are and let Meira come after us. Make a note of when she's about three seconds away.

[Hello Purvis]

> So we have an acceleration advantage? That's good. Odds are we also have an agility advantage. Let's try something new, then.
> Stay standing where we are and let Meira come after us. Make a note of when she's about three seconds away.

>You hold your ground and let Meira come to you. Like before, she angles the mount directly toward you. With three seconds between you, her course hasn't changed.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Turn around and sprint away from the horse, traveling in the same direction the horse is traveling.

[Hello Purvis]

> Turn around and sprint away from the horse, traveling in the same direction the horse is traveling.

>You turn and run from the horse! You can hear it closing in very quickly, having had time to accelerate during its charge.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is our way forward clear? If so, glance behind us at the horse's progress. If not, make a note that it is not.

[Hello Purvis]

> Is our way forward clear? If so, glance behind us at the horse's progress. If not, make a note that it is not.

>The way forward is clear. You glance back and find the horse is rapidly gaining on you,it's a testament to your speed that it hasn't overtaken you already!

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is the horse coming straight for us?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is the horse coming straight for us?

>Yes.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Feint to our left with a step, then turn sharply to the right.

[Hello Purvis]

> Feint to our left with a step, then turn sharply to the right.

>You feint to your left, and then turn sharply to your right! Out of the corner of your eye,  while the horse races past, you can see the glint of a blade in the sun descending toward your head.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Slice our left-hand sword vertically upward to deflect the incoming sword, ducking a little at the same time.
> Once we've swung and felt the blade-on-blade collision, turn back to the left in an attempt to run parallel to the horse's path.

[Hello Purvis]

> Slice our left-hand sword vertically upward to deflect the incoming sword, ducking a little at the same time.
> Once we've swung and felt the blade-on-blade collision, turn back to the left in an attempt to run parallel to the horse's path.

>You move Hakurouken to intercept the incoming blade and feel it deflect away; ducking may have been a good idea, she is fast!
>You run parallel to the horse's path, but it is already passing you by. Still, it should be a moment or two before it fully leaves you behind.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Is Meira in swing range?