The Shmod Forum

Aarikku · Last edited by Aarikku on Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:02 pm; edited 1 time in total

Chapter Three

Martin was leaning against a wall when Kim’s group emerged from her studio. “Ah, finally. Are we ready to check out the other studios?”

“One thing first.” Linlan said, squaring off against Kim as they both activated their S-R’s.

“We’re gonna be late.” Martin sighed.

“This won’t take too long. I’m using my main deck.” Kim explained, pressing a few controls on her S-R. A flip of a giant coin allowed Kim the first move. “Neat. I charge Cloudrunner, and tap it to play Diamond Chimera in guard mode.” A shining statue of a three-headed creature appeared.

“Diamond Chimera?” Linlan wondered.

“It’s part of a series of statue monsters.” Kevin explained. “Released fairly recently. When one’s destroyed, you can search a level one Fighter of that Type and add it to your hand – or play it to the field if it has less than 1000 Strike.”

“No problem, then.” Linlan glanced at her hand. Crap. No Bamboo Forest. “I’ll charge Panda Brawler, and tap it to play Panda Scout!” A panda wearing an explorer’s hat shone into reality, holding a map. “I attack!” The scout charged Kim’s statue, shattering it.

“As… Kevin, was it? Yes, as he said, I can now search my deck for a Level One Storm fighter and add it to my hand – or play it, if it’s got low enough STK. I’ll take… my Balloon Butterfly!”

“Your what butterfly?” Kyle, Kevin and Linlan simultaneously demanded. There appeared a pink insect with giant wings fashioned purely out of twisted balloons. (800/800)

“Check it out.” Kim drew, beginning her turn. “I can tap Mana to Tribute a Balloon Animal in order to retwist them into different forms. So, I’ll charge Balloon Dog, and tap it to activate the effect of Butterfly.” The creature untwisted. Its body faded into nothingness, but its wings remained. “The special thing about my Butterfly is that each of its wings re-twists – so I get two Balloon Animals instead of one. Behold! Balloon Giraffe and Balloon Snake!” A yellow, spotted giraffe and a long, blue snake were fashioned out of the former insect’s wings.

“1200 and 1800 ATK, I see.” Linlan noted.

“It’s the effects that’ll get ya.” Kim warned. “You see, while Balloon Giraffe is in play, and I play a Balloon Animal from my deck, I can draw one card. Note that it made it to the field in time to count itself.” She drew two cards. “Next, while Balloon Dog is Mana, I can untap it whenever I play a Balloon Animal from my deck. The Snake’s effect is for later.”

“This is insane.” Kevin commented. Kyle nodded.

“Balloon Snake! Attack!” Kim ordered. The knot at the end of the Snake opened, releasing a gust of wind that blew away Linlan’s Panda. (Linlan: 9) “Giraffe!” A similar phenomenon came from Kim’s other monster, blasting Linlan directly. (Linlan: 8 Life) “And I’m not done yet. I tap two Mana for Balloon Snake’s effect.” Kim breathed deeply, exhausted from so much talking. “Most Balloon Animals can only play other Balloons of the same level. But the Snake, being a simple creation and easy to retwist, can play a Balloon with a Level equal to the amount of Mana I tap.”

“There are stronger Balloons?” Linlan pouted.

“Oh yes!” Kim nodded. “Behold! Balloon Bear!” The snake un- and re-twisted in the blink of an eye to form a purple bear. “Of course, Balloon Giraffe lets me draw another card.”

“Wow. That was a good second turn.” Linlan commented, staring down a giraffe and a bear.

“That’s an understatement.” Kevin began to count. “She drew three cards, turned one monster into two, and her total Level is Three, which normally doesn’t happen with Two Mana.”

“And they’ve got Spell Immunity!” Kim called to Kevin. “Thanks to Balloon Bear.”

“I was planning to use that Scout to search out Bamboo Forest.” Linlan admitted, checking out her drawn card.

“I know. I made that theme.” Kim pointed out.

“Then you must also have made this! I charge Happy Panda, and tap both for Panda Shogun.” Linlan held her hand in the air dramatically as a samurai-armoured panda rose from the ground and roared. (2600/3000)

“That’s a Level Three card!” Kyle observed.

“Yes, but she can tap two Pandas instead of a regular payment.” Kevin replied.

“It’s in strike mode, so it’s ready to take down your Bear!” Said Linlan; the two creatures ramming into eachother – sword against head. The balloon popped. (Kim: 9)

“Impressive.” Kim admitted. “Anything else?”

“Nah, I’m good.”

“In that case, my go. I charge a Balloon Monkey. I’ll tap one Mana - the Dog, of course – to re-twist Balloon Giraffe into Balloon Snake. The dog untaps.”

“What’s the Snake supposed to do?” Linlan asked. “1800 against 2600?”

“Nah, it’s the best way to summon this! I tap all three Mana to transform Balloon Snake into Balloon Dragon!” A giant, green creature was formed from the remnants of Balloon Snake. It flapped its wings and roared mouthlessly, but still looked rather non-threatening.

“Cute.” Linlan squealed.

“Cute and deadly. See, when my Dragon comes into play, I get to Charge two Balloon Animals from my Graveyard. I’ll pick Giraffe and Snake. Also, it’s got the stats of Noble Dragon.”

“Bring it on!”

“Can do. Balloon Dragon!” Kim commanded; the dragon obliged with another blast of air. “I assume you want to activate Panda Shogun’s effect.”

“Of course.” Linlan was already pressing the buttons to do so on her S-R.

“Uh… what is Panda Shogun’s effect?” Kyle asked Kevin.

“Something about battle position. It’s too new.” Kevin replied.

“When it battles, I can change the position of either monster.” Linlan explained. “So Guard Position would be useful… for your Dragon!” The panda angled its blade to unbalance the dragon into a kneeling position. “And thus, the attack is negated.”

“Nice! You’re the first person I know of who wouldn’t switch the Shogun.” Kim complimented. “Not too many people think to use it to negate attacks like that.”

“I’m full of surprises.” Linlan drew. “I’ll charge Charging Rhino, and tap one for Forest!” The arena changed into a wonderland of trees. “Now, my Shogun gains 500 ATK – putting it to 3100. Enough to take out your Dragon. But, just to ensure some extra damage, I’ll tap my other two Mana for Happy Panda and Panda Drummer.” (2300 and 2100)

“Her Pandas are so frickin’ cheap.” Kyle sighed.

“Shogun! Attack!” The dragon and panda battled again, but this time the Panda tore through it with a single slash. “Pandas!” The drummer threw its drumsticks like boomerangs as Happy Panda head butted Kim. (Kim: 7)

“A couple more turns are all it’ll take.” Kevin smiled. “Linlan’s good.”

“Good, yes. Good enough, let’s find out.” It was Kim’s turn. “I charge another Balloon Dog. Next, I tap two for Return from Mist! It allows me to revive a Storm monster, provided I return one of my Mana to my hand. I’ll send one of the ones I just tapped – and bring forth Balloon Dragon!”

“Big deal.” Linlan was unimpressed.

“And now, I tap one for Overfill Gust. I sacrifice a Balloon Animal, sorry buddy.” The dragon swelled, and eventually burst into an explosion of air. “And now, I can return a number of monsters you control to the hand equal to the Level of the Balloon. You’ve got exactly three.” All of Linlan’s Pandas were blown back to her hand with the blast.

“Ouch.” Linlan was now impressed.

“And with two more Mana left, I’ll play Balloon Monkey.” A rather well-done red monkey appeared. “And attack.” A blast of wind! (Linlan: 7) “Next, I’ll tap one to twist it into Giraffe – on guard. Letting me draw a card. Nice - I’ll set it.”

“I can’t believe you thought Pandas were cheap.” Kevin and Kyle were now sitting on a bench, accompanied by an impatient Martin. “But seriously, this game is taking forever.”

“Oh, so that’s what all those balloons popping were.” Tyson wandered out of Ace’s studio, followed by Cassandra and Luke.

“Who’s winning?” Cassandra asked eagerly. “My bitter rival?”

“Hard to say.” Kevin replied truthfully.

“Kim, they don’t have time for this. Finish it quickly, would ya?” Ace called.

“Fine, but it’s her move.”

Linlan finally began it. “If I recall, I have three Mana. So I’ll charge Angry Panda to total four. And next, I tap it all for Shogun, Drummer and Happy Panda again.” She did so; her army reappearing. “Shogun! Take out that Giraffe, and switch it to strike mode while you’re at it.”

“Attack mode.” Luke muttered, as the Samurai used some tricky swordsmanship to switch the giraffe’s stance before slicing it. (Kim: 6)

“And now… tag-team.” Linlan ordered. Her remaining Pandas did so. (Kim: 4)

“You’ll pay for that!” Kim protested, suddenly seeming darker. “You’ve seen the deities of Light and Dark – but there are seven. One for each type.”

“Kim!” Ace cried.

“What?” Linlan gasped.

“I activate Tribute of Billowing Storms! Now, by – Ace?” Kim was about to press the hologram card, but Ace had grabbed her wrist. “Let go!”

“Boss says ‘no Deities’. They’re Secret Rares for a reason! Do you want to lose your job?” Ace asked.

“But…” Kim sighed. “You’re right. Thanks.” She turned back to Linlan. “I’m sorry. It was my only move. I’ll defend with Cloudrunner and Balloon Monkey.” Kim decided. The pterosaur-like dragon Tyson knew well and a monster that all had seen before appeared.

“And I play Crash of the Earth.” Linlan seemed out of breath; possibly from the adrenaline of potentially facing a Deity. “As long as all its Mana is Earth, I can revive an Earth monster. So c’mon back, Panda Scout. I’ll also tap two Mana for Hungry Panda and Charging Rhino…”

“And that’s game.” Kim nodded. “Shogun attacks a monster, and switches it to offensive mode. 1 damage to me. Anything else kills my other monster, and then what’s left ends it.”

“Right.” Linlan agreed.

“Good game.” Kim congratulated.

“I doubt it would’ve happened like that had you’ve played that Deity.” Linlan said as the holograms faded.

“Yeah, I’d have won that turn. Or maybe the next.” Kim explained. “Anywho, if the boss asked, that never happened.”

“Kim, Ace, it’s been nice seeing you again.” Martin nodded in their directions. “But we really must be going.”

==

“I don’t get it.” Zywen and Ferali’s tour guide looked at his watch as he and the girls sat bored on cushioned benches outside the main printing room. “Martin’s not the kind of person to be late.”

“Hey, here’s Kyle now!” Ferali said excitedly; the larger group turning the corner to join them. Zywen chuckled. “And everyone else.” Ferali added quickly.

“Ferali!” Kyle greeted. “And Zywen.” He added a rather dull ‘yay.’

“Nice to see you too, Kyle.” Zywen replied, uncharacteristically polite. “Tyson. Luke.” She nodded in the direction of the Morin brothers. “And I’m sorry, I don’t remember any more of your names.”

“You what?!” Kevin cried, flailing his arms as Cassandra held him back. “You evil fiend! Why I oughta…”

“Isn’t your name Marvin?” Zywen thought back, clearly enjoying herself. “Or Ralph?”

“Moving along,” Martin ignored, as Kevin threatened to remove Zywen’s eyes. “I’ll take ‘em from here, Pete.” He said to the other tour guide.

“Got it. Oh, uh… one other matter.” Pete lowered his voice. “You know Johnny Tale?”

“The Nationals winner?” Martin reiterated. “What about him?”

“He’s here. He’s looking to battle against the archrival of his chimera card.” Pete explained. “Apparently a fortune-teller told him that he’d be here.” He rolled his eyes. “Stupid, really. Apparently the spirit of an image on a trading card told the fortune-teller, who can talk to pictures on cards – of course – to sneak into this place. He’s fairly stealthy. Just keep on your guard.”

“Will do.” Martin sighed. “This’ll be a long day.”

“I always thought Johnny was a pretty normal kid.” Pete commented. “And now he’s talking to mystics about destiny.”

“If you play card games enough, you begin to wonder if you can influence luck of the draw.” Martin considered. “And besides,” He looked back to Tyson. “The fortune-teller was right.”

Card of the Chapter is Panda Shogun.

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The Decktype Guide

Naardaas · Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:27 am Post subject:

Nice Chapter. Though I would have liked to see Divine God of the Storm.
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The seal on my existence is broken. My great dragon has arrived as pinnacle strength. And I have the last thing I need to exact revenge on those who banished me. I have the power over chaos, over life and death. The power of Drahondes.

Aarikku · Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:23 am Post subject:

Perhaps not the best use of Shmod's Deities, but this season's more about storyline than card games.
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The Decktype Guide

Naardaas · Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject:

Really? Is that to do with your feigning interest in depicting the card games?
_________________
The seal on my existence is broken. My great dragon has arrived as pinnacle strength. And I have the last thing I need to exact revenge on those who banished me. I have the power over chaos, over life and death. The power of Drahondes.

Aarikku · Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:59 pm Post subject:

Neh? You sure you're not thinking of the word 'feigning'? Which also doesn't make much sense in the context?
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The Decktype Guide

Naardaas · Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:58 pm Post subject:

OK then... Is that to do with your fading interest in depicting the card games?
_________________
The seal on my existence is broken. My great dragon has arrived as pinnacle strength. And I have the last thing I need to exact revenge on those who banished me. I have the power over chaos, over life and death. The power of Drahondes.

Aarikku · Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject:

More than half of each of the 15 chapters - save the last two - have been card games. I need SOME section for the plot.
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The Decktype Guide

Naardaas · Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject:

Ah, writing is such a precarious balance, isn't it?

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The seal on my existence is broken. My great dragon has arrived as pinnacle strength. And I have the last thing I need to exact revenge on those who banished me. I have the power over chaos, over life and death. The power of Drahondes.