The Underground Bull: Taurus Battle

[stringmods]

▼ Let's go!

 

Who: The chosen five (Sora (AU3), Latooni, Elzam, Fumi and Xellos)
Where: Taurus Ward
Summary: Boss Battle in Taurus Ward Underground
Warnings: Boss Battle

OOC BATTLE NOTES HERE

Comments

ATTACK - BARRIER (MIND)

[stringmods]

The creature wasted no time. At the sight of the five, it pushed back a heap of gold-colored items it had gathered and the piles of vegetables and meat which had since started to rot.

Snarling in defiance, its hooves dug into the ground as it moved it's four hands to cast a spell, forming a strange silverish barrier. You have no idea what it is...yet.

Your move.

ATTACK | PHYSICAL

[skyofreverie]

Sora is not entirely aware how to use his Persona so rather than risk the lives of the people around him, Sora summoned his Keyblade. This was something he was familiar with, no matter the size of the enemy. So he darted in to deliver a Quick Blitz, slashing his Keyblade upwards as he leaped before darting back out of physical range of the giant creature.

PERSONA SKILL | STRENGTH SCAN

[ineedthemforanalyzing]

Latooni stood there, looking a little comical in a slightly ripped dress and surmounted by large, out-of-place bull horns. Hey yellow eyes were unmistakable sad, though, as she looked up at the monster. She knew Taura wasn't doing anything wrong, not really...but the Major - that is, Ratsel - had been right. The Tauruses did need to be contained for their own good.

It was just like Princess Shine...or Kusuha...or Arado and Seolla...or Lamia...

Man, this happened to her a lot.

"Please...try not to kill her," she said to the rest of the team.

She closed her eyes and summoned Vasilisa*. "Beginning analysis", she intoned sadly, looking for something to warn her teammates away from attacking.

*((Currently Absorbs Ice due to an accessory.))

trombeoverride: (Ratsel) Persona Skill - Marakunda

[trombeoverride]

Ratsel looked at the monster and dropped the large sack he had with him and pulled out his evoker. Bullets probably wouldn't be as effective as he would like so he let out a breath and put the barrel to his head, firing as Zorro appeared.

"Go! While the armor is weak!"

UNIQUE SKILL - MEGIDOLAON

[terminally_clever]

Fumi has The Wall out right now, for what it's worth, but she's interested in ending this fight quickly and has better and stronger allies at her disposal. With her Tao Tie at her side supporting her with Chaos Breath, she hangs back at a safe distance from the Taurus boss and commands the demonic sheep to unleash a Megidolaon attack straight off the bat.

"Let's get this over with."

UNIQUE SKILL - BLAM GUSH (AIR)

[trollsdragons]

Normally, Xellos wouldn't want to get directly involved in things. However, with his cruelty coming to the forefront, he's quite willing to get his hands dirty. He raises his staff, and recites a spell - "Wind which blows across eternity, gather in my hands and become my strength! BLAM GUSH!"

A powerful, concentrated stream of air and magical energy is released from the orb on his staff, and heads toward Taura. As it gathers beneath her, Xellos makes a swiping motion with his staff, and with a sadistic sneer, shouts "Break!"

--

OOC: Xellos is carting around Black Spy persona-wise, but he's not keen on using it just yet.

ATTACK | WIND,EARTH (ALL, SELF) 1/2

[stringmods]

There waiting and guarding paid off.

Mere minutes later, the golden metal began to melt and fuse on the tunnel ground below, forming into lava before quickly cooling off to become glass and entrapping everything that had been there. Who knows what would have happened if they'd been near it...

The pent up energy that the creature had was not lost either; and in an enraged snarl at its plan failing, it threw the attack that had been meant to be used when it was still covered in its protective cover. taura didn't seem to enjoy doing it either, as a hundreds of meteor rocks appeared, before slamming right into the ground and near them...and itself. Rocks fell upon its back and cut open the skin.

Thanks to their stance the damage was minimized (but it still did hurt, especially if they were weak against either wind or earth), and the creature was unable to do anything else, as it needed to gather up more energy before being able to attack again. It stretched out its front arms almost as if it was offering itself to the reddish moon.

>ALPHA TAURA IS CHARGING UP! 3 ROUND REMAINING BEFORE THE ATTACK!

2/2 Player Turn

[suppliesgadgets]

And those mere minutes had been used by Q and his team to analyze the battle data. He spoke up before they could do anything.

"Just as I suspected! Not only was it a trap that you managed to avoid, but once it broke out, its entire energy was fully restored, rendering your previous attacks useless! Quite a pain, this one."

He stopped to think for a few seconds.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but while two of you were gone to fetch your robots, the remaining three of you all attacked with wind spells. Those skills somehow merged together for form a giant whirlwind. Now, we aren't sure yet what this means exactly, but that may be when the creature switched defenses. However, it could be something else completely...it's rather difficult to guess correctly in this situation."

And the faster they had an answer, the faster they could take it down.

HEAL | ALL

[skyofreverie]

It was definitely a good thing they hadn't attacked because that looked like it seriously hurt. This turned out to be good for them and bad for Taura.

"Mine was wind." Whatever hadn't been a straight physical attack had been wind. Best to keep up their strength so he took the opportunity to do so. He could save his trump card for right before the attack. "Heal!"

A green glow fell over the group - it didn't matter if they were far away - healing up a large portion of the damage done in that failed attack.

PERSONA SKILL | EVIL SMILE

[terminally_clever]

"This is so irritating," Fumi fumed as she switched Personas, calling out the Wall again. "It's sad that I'm reduced to this, but at least it doesn't seem to be immune to Mind effects."

(ooc: The Wall has Ailment Amp, so this should have a 60% chance of inflicting Fear, barring any shenanigans on Taura's part.)

Attack - Fire/Physical

[trombeoverride]

"CHARGE!"

The Aussenseiter draws its rifles and charges forward like a bat out of hell, somehow the setting sun behind it again as it fires madly then starts lashing out at the monster, trying to at least push it towards the lake with the impact of the rifles plus its own mass.

((example if you will: http://youtu.be/KBCTDqDzPkU?t=3m41s ))

PERSONA CHANGE | SKOGSRA -> PERSONA SKILL | VIRUS WAVE

[ineedthemforanalyzing]

"I'm starting to lose track, but I think next round we can hit her with water attacks again," Latooni said. "If you have access to them at all, be ready!"

She doubted Skogsra would be able to use her water attacks, but now that Q was helping with Analysis, she could use her Velvet Room Persona for better offense and defense, at least.

She wondered if her elemental traits would apply to the 'Raubtier too before evoking Skogsra to hit the Zodiac Monster with her sickening attack.

((Skogsra))

PERSONA SKILL | MAD BOMBER (MUTATION)

[trollsdragons]

The damage done by the spells was negligible, as Sora's heal quickly counteracts it.

"The damage will likely be useless, but perhaps the effect could be of use..." Xellos says, making a vague guiding motion. Black Spy blinks into view, and swoops up at Taura and opens its jacket as a mass multitude of lit, cartoony bombs fall out upon her.

SPELL ( ANTI-FIRE BARRIER, SELF), SPELL (SELF), ATTACK (PHYSICAL, TARGET) 1/2

[stringmods]

Unfortunately, Fumi's attack didn't seem to cause the desired effect on the creature. With the three protective spell walls still up, it caught the fire from Aussenseiter head on, as the fire wall spell absorbed it and spit it out right back at him. Clawed hands grab the robot's own as it shoots, the physical damage hurting it, but standing its ground as it attempted to push her.

In retaliation she glowed a dark energy as it slammed right back at him with a devastating attack using both its front, bladed hooves, and the sharp talons on it's bony greenish hands (massive physical damage to one target).

Snarling and barring its teeth, it tried to get a bite into Aussenseiter itself, to get at the tender bits, when the Mad Bomber and Virus wave attack fell on her. That, thankfully, made her release her prey before any real damage could be done and scream in pain. There were dents where her hooves and talons had hit, but it could have been so much worse...

Looking back at the others, it cast two spells, as the same barrier of fire stood up again, and another green in color.

> ALPHA TAURA IS CHARGING UP! 2 ROUND REMAINING BEFORE THE ATTACK!

SCAN, 2/2 PLAYER TURN

[suppliesgadgets]

Q's voice broke through again after their attacking streak.

"That was quite a hit for one of you! Take care, I'll analyze the creature."

ANALYZE !!

Demon: Alpha Taura Arcana: The Despot MAX HP INSANE MAX SP INSANE Fire: Water: Wind: Earth: Lightn: Ice: Light: Dark: Phys: Mind: Alm: Str Wk Str Abs Null Null Null ?? Null - Abs Bloodied Wall (Blocks a water attack, and drains energy at those attacking with one (2 turns)) Stone Palisade (Blocks an earth attack, and drains energy at those attacking with one (2 turns)) Firery Castle (Blocks a fire attack, and drains energy at those attacking with one (2 turns)) The Child Turns targets into children for 1 turn The Crone Turns targets into aged-up versions of themselves for 1 turn Spilled Blood (User becomes covered in rocks for 3 rounds causing large earth damage added to attacks. Destroyed with a wind/ice/light attack) Please Smile for Me (40% chance of inflicting the Happy ailment on all targets.(2 turns)) Golden Bull Turns target into a solid cold statue bull for a turn. Null to all. Bull Charge 50% chance of retaliation of Massive Physical Damage if attacked directly. Stony Palisade (Blocks an earth attack, and drains energy at those attacking with one (2 turns)) ??? ?? ??? ??

"Hmmm...now that's odd. It hasn't changed in terms of weakness, but why would it need an earth-based barrier when it nullifies that already? I feel like we're close to solving this particular puzzle..."

UNIQUE SKILL | ZANDYNE

[terminally_clever]

"This is ridiculous," Fumi muttered, sending Feng Huang forward for another attack. With a mighty beat of its wings, it sent another whirling blast of air straight for Taura. None of her demons have Water-based attacks, so attacking things it doesn't absorb or block outright is really the best she can do right now.

Persona Skill - Marakunda

[trombeoverride]

Elzam had the robot step back into firing range, looking at several displays with a slightly less than thrilled but still fairly stoic look.

"Can someone get a display of the city's sewer system up? I don't think I can move it into the lake."

With that he closed his eyes and concentrated his persona on lowering the monster's defenses."

PERSONA CHANGE | VASILISA -> PERSONA SKILL | MATARUKAJA

[ineedthemforanalyzing]

Latooni nodded to herself, thinking she's starting to see the pattern too. "We'll see after this. Everyone who can use water at all, please do so now!"

For her own part, Latooni focused on increasing the effectiveness of everyone else's attacks. If the weaknesses really were changing, Skogsra would be useful soon.

UNIQUE SKILL | BLAM GUSH (AIR)

[trollsdragons]

Xellos frowns, and raises his staff once more - "Wind which blows across eternity, gather in my hands and become my strength! BRAM GUSH!"

This time, the blast was aimed upwards, before he allowed it to break out against Taura.

MONSTER CLEAR

[stringmods]

With each hit, the creature is unable to do anything but scream in anger and soon even those scream turn into silence. There is so much smoke from the bombs that it is impossible to see anything, before a large head appears above.

It seems it's back for more...

Or actually perhaps not, for when the air allows the smoke to clear from their combined attacks, all that is left is the bull monster's petrified head floating in the air, the rest completely obliterated into a fine dust. The disembodied head falls as gravity calls it back, right into the large water pool, splashing them with the water as it enters, steam pouring out as it slowly sinks.

The entire body of water turns red as it becomes lava then into hard rock, leaving nothing of the crater but a bad memory and the destroyed landscape around them. On the top, they can find five large scales, as big as an open hand, gleaming and noticeable in the reddish moon's glow.

MONSTER CLEAR!


With only five minutes left before the 13th hour is over, they had cut it quite close.

[exceedinglydramatic]

"They did it?! THEY DID IT! I KNEW IT! OUR FOE HAS BEEN RETURN HENCE WHERE IT CAME AND--"

[suppliesgadgets]

"...Why are you touching me?"

[exceedinglydramatic]

"....I was caught in the moment."

AND NOW BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULE TAGGING ORDER

[suppliesgadgets]

"Right, now ignoring that outburst, I believe that congratulations are in order. We've survived yet another of these monsters, but that doesn't quite solve the issue of why it exists as all. Regardless, the rest of the night is a cause for celebration,as the main danger has been neutralized." He let that sink in for a few seconds. Q wasn't the type to congratulate so freely.

"Go get some rest if you can. After tonight's contribution, you've certainly earned it. There will certainly be a lot to clean up tomorrow..."

[OOC : Tagging order is back to normal! This is post-boss talk, you can talk between yourselves, leave when you can, and talk with Q or Orpheus if you'd like! Thank you for being in the boss battle, it's been loads of fun and I hope you enjoyed yourselves!]

OOC - Boss Data Notes you didn't get to see

[stringmods]

I figured some of you might want to see my notes for the boss battle. There were a few more attacks added during the battle, these are my first notes. This post is just for informative purposes.

Taura is a typical normal battle. Nothing special here.

TAURA
Destiny Strings Original

LVL	Arcana	Heart	Alignment	Traits	HP	SP
Max	The Hierophant	Dark	Law	Forceful, Gloomy, Snappish	Large	Medium

Fire	Lightning	Earth	Water	Ice	Wind	Dark	Light	Physical	Mind	Almighty
-	-	Ref	Wk	Wk	-	Null	Wk	Str	-	Abs

List of Skills
Skill/Spell	Element	Effect
Sexy Dance	Mind	(30% chance of inflicting the Charm ailment on all targets | all allies.(2 turns))
Sandy Lover	Earth	Deal high Earth + Dark damage to all targets. 30% chance of charm.
Stone Rampart	Mind	Blocks one Water and one Ice attack (2 turns)
Terra Punch	Earth	(Inflicts a medium amount of Earth damage on all enemies with a 20% chance of Confusion .)
Spilled Blood	Earth	(User becomes covered in rocks for 3 rounds causing large earth damage added to attacks. Destroyed with a wind/ice/light attack)
Bull Charge	Physical	(Large Physical damage to one target)
Bull Charge	Physical	(Large Physical damage to one target)
Element Zero	Mind	(Nullifies all positive affinities for three turns on both sides.)
Demon's Kiss	Dark	(Inflicts a medium amount of Dark damage on one enemy with a 20% chance of Fear.)
Mind Charge	Mind	(The next Fire, Ice, Water, Earth, Lightning, Wind, or Almighty magic attack will be 2.5 times greater in power. Self.)

Rewards
Rare (1/100)	Piece of Taurus Hair (Permanent Strong Bonus against Earth Types)
Rare (1/20)	Marble (Massive Earth Attack (usable once))

No one won any of the prizes in that round when I rolled for them.

TAURA PRIME
Taura Prime, being the 2nd form has a unique boss quirk that its weakness changes when the character with the birth element uses the attack, and the others nearby use a similar attack. If 3/5 people use the same element, it will still work and combine together. Once it has done a 4 element rotation, mutation skills will be unlocked for all, and the creature will be weak to everything but those four elements, allowing for a final attack.

Otherwise it goes into a 3,2,1,0 countdown and resets its health to full after causing a massive attack, turning all targets into either children or seniors. No matter how powerful the attacks, it is essentially unbeatable if the pattern isn't found as its health is too high.

If other characters that aren't the birth character use that attack, the effect will not cause a weakness. Only the birth element character and pierce that weakness even if she has a wall up for that particular element. The others using it will boost that power.

The extra character (Xellos) needs to be the final one to attack when all the weaknesses are given, otherwise the final attack will fail.

If players cannot figure this out, Q and Orpheus will come in to enlighten / give clues / help / keep the flow of the battle intact.

TAURA PRIME (GIANT)
Destiny Strings Original

LVL	Arcana	Heart	Alignment	Traits	HP	SP
Max	The Despot	Dark	Law	Forceful, Gloomy, Snappish	Insane	Insane

Fire	Lightning	Earth	Water	Ice	Wind	Dark	Light	Physical	Mind	Almighty
Str	Null	Abs	Wk	Null	Str	Null	Null	Str	-	Abs

List of Skills
Skill/Spell	Element	Effect
Sexy Waltz	Mind	(50% chance of inflicting the Charm ailment on all targets | all allies.(2 turns))
Mamagnadyne	Earth	Deal high Earth damage to an target group.
Sandy Lover	Earth	Deal high Earth + Dark damage to all targets. 30% chance of charm.
Taurid Shower	Earth	Large Amount of Earth Damage (All)
Stone Rampart	Mind	Blocks one Water and one Ice attack (2 turns)
Terra Punch	Earth	(Inflicts a medium amount of Earth damage on all enemies with a 20% chance of Confusion .)
The Child	Mind	Turns characters into children for 1 turn
The Crone	Mind	Turns characters in an aged-up version of themselves for 1 turn
Spilled Blood	Earth	(User becomes covered in rocks for 3 rounds causing large earth damage added to attacks. Destroyed with a wind/ice/light attack)
Bull Charge	Physical	(Large Physical damage to one target)
Bull Charge	Physical	(Large Physical damage to one target)
Element Zero	Mind	(Nullifies all positive affinities for three turns on both sides.)
Demon's Kiss	Dark	(Inflicts a medium amount of Dark damage on one enemy with a 20% chance of Fear.)
Mind Charge	Mind	(The next Fire, Ice, Water, Earth, Lightning, Wind, or Almighty magic attack will be 2.5 times greater in power. Self.)
Please smile for Me...	Mind	(40% chance of inflicting the Happy ailment on all targets.(2 turns))

Rewards
Rare (1/100)	Silver Tear (Permanent Reflect Bonus against Earth Type)
Rare (1/20)	Birth Stone (Revive ally with 50% of HP (usable once))

Everyone wins a Marble by default if they don't roll for the Tear (which no one did). Two characters won the Birth Stone.