The Shmod Forum

Aarikku · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 11:09 pm Post subject: Chapter 8 - Mythology

Shmod
Chapter Eight

The patter of rain fell on Stuff N’ Things’ large windows. The falling rain matched Kyle’s mood. Zywen… destroyed Kevin. What chance do I have? He sighed. It’s gonna be her and Tyson in the finals. Heaven forbid someone like me would get there. These new cards… they won’t help me at all.

==

“And the dragon was all like Ka-fwish! Boom! And I’m all like ‘Noooooo!’” Kevin finished retelling his story to some people in the store who hadn’t seen his previous game.

“Why are you so happy about it?” One man asked. “You lost. Pretty horribly.”

“It’s the fun that counts!” Kevin argued, still cheerful.

“No. If you’ve entered a tournament, it means you want to win. You can play for fun against your wimpy friends.”

“Says the guy who got eliminated in last year’s tournament by a seven-year-old girl,” Cassandra said harshly. “Who, at the time, was using a mouse deck.”

“I didn’t go around bragging to people about that.”

“No, you denied it to anyone who heard about it.” Cassandra’s eyes narrowed. “Making you a coward.” The crowd fell back and eventually disbanded. “Some people.”

“Well, I did lose.” Kevin admitted. “But I won’t next time.”

==

“So, let’s figure out the possibilities.” Tyson began, talking to Linlan. “Either we’re playing next…”

“Our one of us is playing Cassandra and the other is playing…” Linlan frowned. “Who is the last finalist?”

“Maybe… maybe Kyle entered as an alter-ego! Like Element Man or something.” Tyson considered. “Uh… Jeff? Or Bill? We really haven’t met a lot of people.”

“I doubt Jeff would enter and take care of his restaurant at the same time. And Bill’s, well, not great at the game. Besides, I think Kevin beat him.”

“What if it’s the shopkeeper?” Tyson asked dramatically. “Dun dun duuuun!” A pause. “No?”

“Tyson, he’s in his early thirties. Why would he be playing a card game?” Linlan inquired.

“Why would he own a card store?”

“Touché.”

“Kyle! I won the argument!” Tyson cried to his friend, who was still staring out of the window. “Hey, Kyle. It’ll be fine.”

“Hm?” Kyle looked over, seemingly emotionless.

“You’ve got two rounds to figure out how you’re gonna take out Zywen. I look forward to finding out!” Tyson gave a thumbs-up.

“Besides,” Linlan added. “It’s a card game. Winning and losing aren’t important.”

“No,” Kyle turned back to the window. “I guess not.”

“We’re ready to start the next round! Linlan Yin, the Panda girl! Versus Tyson Morin, the Dragon lord!”

“Sweet.” Tyson and Linlan high-fived before heading to the table.

Linlan drew a hand of seven, then one more card. “I’ll start things off by charging Bamboo Scout and playing my favourite combo.”

“The ‘Give Tyson a Noble Dragon’ combo?” Tyson smiled.

“Bzzt. Forest… to Bamboo Forest! You’re up.”

“Why are they so happy?” Kyle asked, sounding more depressed than his usual self.

“They’re playing a card game!” Kevin replied. “Card games aren’t supposed to be about winning or losing. They’re supposed to be about having fun, surpassing the boundaries of our limited reality and, best of all, spending time with your friends.”

“Says the guy who was willing to faint after seeing Lucior.” Cassandra egged.

“Yeah, but you brought me back.” Kevin laughed.

“My go!” Tyson drew dramatically. “I charge Bounteous Dragon, and tap it to play Burning Tiger. Because I don’t summon Burning Tiger often enough. Now I attack! Fiery Doom-claws!” (Linlan: 4 Life)

“You’re going down for that.” Linlan chuckled. “Hey, I was right. I charge Bamboo Stalk, and tap it for Panda Drummer (2100)! Next, I’ll create a Bamboo Token with Bamboo Forest, and attack your tiger with my panda!” (Tyson: 4 Life)

“Impressive.” Tyson was about to draw.

“Wait, I’m setting one card. Now it’s your move.”

“I’ll take it! I charge Fusion Technique, and tap my Fire Mana for Heir Dragonling.” A baby Noble Dragon appeared, and rolled onto its side, spawning ‘Aww’s from the audience. “I know, but they grow up so fast. I sacrifice Heir Dragonling by its effect to bring out Noble Dragon!” With a roar, the dragon grew to its full size, and celebrated with a smoke ring. “Time to show Linlan how mythology actually works! Noble Fire!” A fireball flew at the panda.

“Not so fast. I’ll tap my Mana to activate Panda-Jitsu!”

“That equips one of your Pandas with a Bamboo Bo-Staff, right?” Tyson confirmed. “But Bo-Staff only gives a Panda 800 ATK.”

“Wrong. It can also negate one attack, in case I don’t have a Bo-Staff in my hand.” Linlan shrugged.

“Hey, not bad!” Cassandra complimented. “She’d better win. I want to face her again.”

“She does have a knack for beating Tyson.” Kyle pointed out.

“Well, I don’t have anything else to do. You’re up.” Tyson declared.

“This’ll be a good turn! I charge Happy Panda, and tap one for Hungry Panda, at 2000 ATK thanks to the Forest. Next, I create another Bamboo Token with the Forest. And I think I’ll tap another Mana for Quick Growth, creating one more token. Now, I use Hungry Panda’s effect. I can sacrifice Bamboo cards to increase its ATK by 500 for each!” Linlan pointed at her three Bamboo Tokens. “I sacrifice all three, so Hungry Panda’s now at 3500 ATK, tying your legendary lizard.”

“It’s a dragon.” Tyson pouted.

“It’s a dead! Hungry Panda!” Linlan’s beast charged, and both panda and dragon were vanquished. “Now, Panda Drummer! Strike!” (Linlan: 3 Life, Tyson: 2 Life) “I’ve got extra Mana, so I’ll tap one for Panda Drummer’s effect, letting me search out… ah, Great Panda, and add it to my hand.”

“Great Panda. I should’ve known.” Tyson shook his head and drew. “Sweet. I charge Mustang Dragon, and next, I tap three for Hydragon!”

“Hydragon? Neat.”

“It is neat. It might only have 2600 ATK for a Level Three, but it can attack twice; a crucial effect in a half-life game. I’ll take out both of your Pandas!” (Linlan: 1 Life)

“Hydragon’s a perfect card to use in a five-life game!” Kevin complimented.

“Wouldn’t it have been simpler to play a Level Two monster and a Level One monster? Same amount of Mana.” Cassandra questioned. “Plus, an instant-destruction Spell would only take out half of your offence.”

“Leaving a Level One out in a game like this is risky.” Kevin replied.

“Yeah,” Luke agreed. “There isn’t a Level One monster in Linlan’s deck that has a higher ATK than every other Level One, as long as she’s got Bamboo Forest.”

“Hydragon? No sweat.” Linlan taunted. “I tap three for Great Panda! His base ATK matches your precious noble gecko’s 3500, but it also gains 500 ATK from Bamboo Forest. Speaking of which, I guess I’ll create a Bamboo token. More importantly, I attack Hydragon!” (Tyson: 1 Life) “This game’s going really quick, isn’t it?”

“I noticed that too. I charge Cancel Attack. And I’ll tap one for Whirlwind, destroying Bamboo Forest! And with your Panda’s ATK at manageable levels, it’s the perfect time to tap all my Mana for the last card I’ve got in my hand, Revival Stone! Bringing back everyone’s favourite card. Noble Dragon!” Tyson cried.

“I always liked Wicked Frog.” Kevin shrugged.

Tyson considered his situation. If I attack now, it’ll destroy Noble Dragon and Great Panda. A tie game, and we’re both eliminated. I think. Shopkeep can’t seem to make up his mind about tie games.

Linlan considered hers. If I attack next turn, I’ll be just as good as Tyson. But I’ve beaten him before. Why should I settle for ‘just as good as’?

“That’s it for me!” Tyson said hesitantly.

“Fine. I draw! And I’ll tap two for Replenish. Dang. I’ll create a Bamboo Token. Your move.” [/i]Every turn that goes by, Tyson could draw something he needs to beat me.[/i]

That Replenish just thinned out the two unhelpful top cards of her deck! Tyson was beginning to sweat. This game is dumb. It all comes down to who draws what when. Tyson drew, but it wasn’t what he wanted now. So he attacked one of Linlan’s Bamboo Tokens and ended.

This is tense! Linlan drew silently, biting her lip. She spawned another stalk of Bamboo, but did nothing more.

Maybe I should just attack. Tyson looked over his hand of two cards and the field. Linlan does manage to come out of nowhere and win. But we might get eliminated. “Eh, shopkeep?”

“Yes, O One who Stalls the Game?”

“What happens in a draw here?”

“Double elimination.”

“Yowch. That’s something I’d like to avoid. Okay. I’ll take out a Bamboo Token and end.”

Linlan drew. “Spawn a Bamboo token!” This is too much! The pressure. The tension!

Tyson drew. I can’t believe it. Linlan and I are so equal… it’ll come right down to luck. “Take out the Bamboo token.” He sighed.

The crowd started to boo.

“Hey, guys. Calm down.” Kyle ushered.

“If I was you,” One man apparently not gifted in English called. “I’d summon Tetra Element and wipe ‘em both out!”

“That would surprisingly not make this tournament much easier.” Kyle said quietly, as both Linlan and Tyson each drew a card without making a move.

==

“What do the spirits say? This is getting boring.” Sebastian complained.

“He can’t even defeat the panda girl.” Zywen shook her head. “I can’t believe all the effort we’ve gone through to beat this kid.” She shuffled the cards. “Huh.” She said, drawing a card.

==

“Finally! Sorry about this.” Tyson showed his card to his opponent. “Golden Flames.” (Linlan: 0 Life)

“Ah, I should’ve attacked.” Linlan smiled. “Good game.”

“Boring, but good.” They shook hands.

==

“The Emperor.” Zywen looked over the card. “And the second card is The Empress, both upright.”

“Your tarot readings are amazing.” Sebastian complimented. “Does this mean that Linlan’s a force to be reckoned with?”

“Precisely. Tyson won purely out of luck. He’ll have to play a lot better to beat our finalist.”

“I’m not sure if he’s ready.” Sebastian considered. “I mean, he also won his last game out of luck.”

“Point taken. I’m sure of the fact that those cards we lent him will help him crush Tyson.” Zywen flipped over the third card. Upright Death. “The spirits really do not like Tyson.”

==

“In the most boring Shmod game in history, Tyson emerges victorious to face the winner of the match to come. The final quarter-final…” The shopkeep coughed and wheezed. “I’m very sorry. I’ve been announcing all day.” He coughed again. “Bill O’Reilly, if you’d be so kind.” The shopkeep spoke with a horrendous rasp, whispering what Bill was to say into his ear.

“Cassand’a Chrristie versahs…”

“Uh, I’m sorry. Ferali?” The shopkeep tried again. Ferali listened closely, and cleared her throat.

“Cassandra Christie, the queen of fire will be facing off, in the final quarter-final, versus the mystery gamer, Luke Morin!”

“Oh, what do you know? Luke’s in – eguaaah?!” Tyson’s eyes bulged.

“I have to card-battle your brother?” Cassandra moaned at Tyson. “La-ame.”

“Hey.” Luke said harshly. “Never. Underestimate me.”

“Cassandra’s a Nationals Finalist!” Kyle pointed out. “You didn’t even have a deck until this afternoon.”

“Right.” Luke’s harsh voice faded instantly. “Let’s get this over with.”

Card of the Chapter is Great Panda

[3] Great Panda (Earth)
Panda · Emperor
All Mana tapped for this card must be either Bamboo or Panda Mana. Whenever a Panda comes into play, create 1 Bamboo Token. Sacrifice 3 Bamboo Tokens: this card gains Immunity to non-Bamboo Spells.
ATK/ 3500 DEF/ 3000

Author's Note: I am aware that this chapter was incredibly boring. Don't worry, we're into the good stuff.

_________________

The Decktype Guide

Naardaas · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 11:53 pm Post subject:

Interesting. One of the few times that a really dramatic moment can be ruined is when it's passed up for something that drags on too long. I like the matchup, but personally I prefer a much more intense match myself.

Glad we got to see O'Reilly for a bit. Ah, the luck o' the Irish.
_________________
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: Thu May 01, 2008 11:54 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I know. I just wanted to make it obvious that Linlan's at least comparable to Tyson.
_________________

The Decktype Guide

Naardaas · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject:

The stall isn't a big problem, and it does raise a good point. I'm just posting my opinion.
_________________
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: Thu May 01, 2008 11:56 pm Post subject:

Good. But honestly, I wasn't a huge fan of this chapter myself.

But, as I said, 9-12 are really good ones.
_________________

The Decktype Guide

Naardaas · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 11:58 pm Post subject:

You didn't like your own work? Huh.
_________________
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: Fri May 02, 2008 12:00 am Post subject:

Well, it was a necessary chapter. But there are few ways to make a game of two main characters interesting. Even moreso when you know that one's going to win. But the chapter had to be made.

And I just didn't plan this game out very well.
_________________

The Decktype Guide

Naardaas · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 12:01 am Post subject:

Understood. Though when I do main character chapters for mine, my plan is to milk them for all they've got.
_________________
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: Fri May 02, 2008 12:06 am Post subject:

Note that this wasn't supposed to be dramatic. Tyson and Linlan were trying to use the game to make Kyle feel better.
_________________

The Decktype Guide

Naardaas · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 12:07 am Post subject:

Forgive me. Playing for someone else's mental salvation is a foreign concept to me.
_________________
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: Fri May 02, 2008 12:12 am Post subject:

*sigh* Explaining the emotions behind one's writing wrecks it. But, here we go.

Naardaas · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 12:23 am Post subject:

I understand the concept of doing things for mental salvation - personally practicing it is what's foreign to me. Besides, GX is so completely screwed up in both versions that all meaning is lost.
_________________
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: Fri May 02, 2008 12:25 am Post subject:

Using card games makes sense not only in a card game tournament, but also if it was card games that made said character lose his/her confidence in the first place.
_________________

The Decktype Guide

Aarikku · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 12:28 am Post subject:

Oh, by the way, I know you wanted a list of cards the characters use in the Shmod Saga, so I posted one. It's sticky'd.
_________________

The Decktype Guide

Naardaas · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 12:30 am Post subject:

Do me a favour - STOP READING STUFF INTO MY POSTS THAT ISN'T THERE. I'm trying to say that this is not something I'd do for other people; I'm not so socially inept that I'm unfamiliar with making people feel better.

Edit: I was talking about what you thought I meant by my earlier posts - I didn't notice the extra post there.
_________________
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: Fri May 02, 2008 12:32 am Post subject:

Uh... what? I wasn't even talking about you. I was talking purely about the characters.

You should also stop putting words into my mouth.

_________________

The Decktype Guide