As the noxious green mist swirled around them, the orcs staggered...Even as Tialyn sprang in, her blade whirring as she moved to the attack! Instinctive knowledge filled her mind - Even as her sword swiped out, deflecting the first axe...Dodging back, her blade slicing deep into one-!<br/><br/>The orc's yowl of pain momentarily distracted her - This was more real than she'd thought. Normally, monsters were like...Sacks full of HP. Swinging a virtual sword was like swinging a baseball bat at a target, for all the impression it made. Sure, you could disable a limb if you aimed well, maybe score a head-shot...But that was as immersive as it could get.<br/><br/>Here, though? Here, you could target<em>individual muscle groups.</em>And she'd come perilously close to finding that out for herself, as an orc connected with a solid punch! A taut "Oooofff-!!!" wrenched from Tialyn's lips, as stars shot through her field of vision...She stumbled back, her sword tearing free, doing damage on the way out - Shaking her head to clear it, as she heard another axe sweep at her-! Sparks flew, as she parried...Oh-so-aware that the others were taking no prisoners-!<br/><br/>"Haaa, haaa-" Her breath hissed from her lungs, as she backpedalled - Sand spraying up from the impact, as another axe came down...Perilously close! The virtual vixen was evading them by a hair, as she flung herself forward in the longest impromptu roll of her life - Her sword scything around, carving *deep* into the orc she'd just evaded-! Tialyn's blade carved flesh, sheared through muscle, as the orc's leg went dead...That roar of pain and outrage making her ears ring, as she swayed to her feet - Gripping her sword in both hands!<br/><br/><em>This isn't going to be *easy*...</em><br/><br/>She had to admit - This was harder than it looked! It felt so *real*, as if she was truly fighting for her life - And in a way, she was...! Her lovely features ached, and she had to blink away the spots as she brought her weapon up to guard - The Shadow Knight's honey-blonde hair swaying against her cheeks...! She had to even the odds, before a lucky blow caught her...!<br/><br/><em>"Lifetap~!"</em><br/><br/>Her sword *glowed*, as she flung her hand out - Twisting strands of light coiling forth, engulfing the nearest orc in a sickly nimbus of light! Before he could adjust, she'd hurl herself forward...Her blade slicing towards him, in quick, proficient sweeps...! Her assault was slightly off, her balance affected by the battering she'd taken - But it she could take him down before the last one recovered, she'd have dealth with them handily-!<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Rolls</div><div class="spoiler_body">Mental Strength:<br/>Roll(1d10)+4:<br/>6,+4<br/>Total:10<br/><br/>Mental Agility:<br/>Roll(1d10)+5:<br/>4,+5<br/>Total:9<br/><br/>Mental Discipline:<br/>Roll(1d10)+3:<br/>6,+3<br/>Total:9</div></div>