prof | Let's Play The Spirit Engine 2

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Chapter 7: Back to Nature

Part 2: Welcome to the Jungle

Equipment shoppin'!

And now: Time to get lost in the jungle!

And with the trees come a plethora of new monsters!

Opal Swarms (right) have high Piercing resistance, and Fungal Blooms (left) have decent Magic and Ethereal resistance. Neither is large.

Also, every time the Opal Swarm takes a hit, it becomes invisible until it attacks. Big hits are a plus.

Note the mist along the ground - this gives +10% dodge chance to everything, and gives all single-target attacks a 20% failure chance. This brings Ionae's dodge up to 68%.

Plated Gairs are the large enemies of this zone, and are covered in high-impact armor. Denever will be integral to taking them out.

Also, if there are multiple Fungal Blooms on the field, they actually share HP with each other. Neat!

The Plated Gair is also notable for being able to use the swordsman skill Charge... although this means little if they can't hit who they're attacking.

And they can't.

Save points look different here, since big stone statues would be out of place in the jungle.

The Maw accessible!

Let's not go there yet.

To the Northeast, it's Thorley's Thicket!

A bizarre-looking sludge monster!

No armor, can't be poisoned, resistant to piercing.

The thick bog here makes all melee attackers move at reduced speed!

Also, the sludge can produce damage-absorbant polyps, making them pretty damn annoying.

Plated Gairs can curl up into defensive mode, making them very hard to damage. They also recover HP over time, the bastards.

Even more new enemies!

Despite their bizarre appearance, they seem to be simple melee attackers.

Fightin'!

This is more promising!

Let's go.

Now to fight the game's most obnoxious enemies!

FFFOORREEESSSST MMIIIIMMMIIIIICCSSSSSSSSSS

Forest Mimics are capable of rapidly changing form baed on the situation.

Each form is immune to one of Piercing, Concussive, or Magic damage.

Also, they regenerate really fast.

These fights take fucking forever and dear God what is that.

On your knees, fleshlings! I am the Council's messenger, and your eyes are not fit to be burned by my magnificent presence. Weep! Weep for your lost futures!

Ionae! Get back!

It's all right, PyanPau. I know him, and he can't touch me under Counterplane Law and the terms of my banishment. The idiot always was rather too fond of the melodramatics.

What do you want, Anamalech? Come to laugh at me? I'm busy with something right now. Get lost.

I see that imprisonment has not extinguished your fiery spirit, Chethletxia. There is no need for hostility. I am the bearer of good news.

Oh really? Amuse me, quickly.

The Council seeks your return. The new order has collapsed and the Counterplanes are in anarchy. They have seen the error of their ways, in part thanks to my persuasion. Your malignant prowess is required once again.

I see. Yes, I'm sure that you were most helpful, Anamalech. I was wondering just how long this would take. Their foolish experiment was never going to last.

As a token of their goodwill, they have restored you your full power and freed you from your miserable prison of rotting flesh and bone. Medea is yours to rule as a tyrant.
Its rivers may boil to the skies, and its mountains may burn down into its seas. The wretched creatures that have tormented you these past two years will be flayed bare and prostrated in agony before you.

All of it. Enough to make these fleshlings weep for a swift death beneath you.

W-WHat... What are you doing, Chethletxia? Release your grip on me!

I'm not going back, Anamalech. I'm tiredofthe Counterplanes, the Council and their constant bickering. I'm tired of the struggle, the noise, theendlessness of it all.
I like it here. This banishment was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I want to stay. I want the Council to leave me and this world alone.

But you are worthless here! Frail! Weak! Mortal!

And it is the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me. Eternity is very boring, Anamalech.
I'm going to do you a favor. These last few seconds of your life will be the most vivid you have ever experienced, powerful enough to being a tear even to your black eye.

No! If you kill me, the thread between worlds will close. You will be nothing again, and you will never return!

I know. Goodbye, Anamalech. I would say, as Medean custom has it, that it has been nice knowing you. But I would be lying.

GHHANAARGHKEK!

...Ionae... What did you do?

Something I've wanted to do for a very long time. I don't believe you have the relevant unit of measurement in your language.

I'd assumed you came from some unexplored corner of the Untamed Lands, marked at birth and outcast. Demons and angels are supposed to stay within the pages of the Good Book!

Grandfather was right. You really are some kind of demonic, evil Queen!

I am nothing of the sort. I ceased to be some time between my exile here and this moment.

I am what I have chosen to be, not what anyone might choose to call me. I don't know whether to weep or laugh right now. I suppose I will have to get used to these unfamiliar emotions.

Are you going to be alright, Ionae? How do you feel?

I think... I think I have never felt better. Relax, both of you. I'm not going to crush anyone else. I am left with nothing now but what you see. A pity, perhaps. We could have used the power I once wielded in our current situation.

It can't be helped. We much prefer this version of you, Ionae. The less fire and brimstone, the better.

I'm glad you feel that way, PyanPau. I'm fortunate to have your company at this unusual juncture in my life. Thank you both.

Next time: Back to the plot!

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