Dimitri's Midnight Bliss May Be More Famous, But I Always Thought Hell Dunk Was A Cooler Forced Morph.

WLC 5.4: Making Light of the Situation

"What did you just say?" asks Jevoi, "Then where are we?"

"Take a look, Ling," says an old woman, her voicing echoing from nowhere.

With a flash, the area is bathed in green light. This allows Tanglepork and Luminița to finally see, but blinds Jevoi temporarily.

"F*****g b*****d c**t," swears Jevoi, "Why the b****y g******n hell?" She rapidly licks her eyes and Gank rescinds her soulsight.

D: Does that mean you're going to say what Tanglepork and Loomy looked like now? J: Oh right, yes.

Tanglepork is a small gnome woman with curly blonde hair and rosy cheeks. She's wearing cute pink gloves and pointed boots, a leather vest over a mustard shirt, a loosely strapped stetson, and a matching skirt over leggings. She is currently lying on the floor looking up at the source of light.

Lumița is a large lycan woman with thick brown fur with a blue patch around her left eye. She's still wearing her red cloak. Underneath it, she is wearing a dark corset with a long skirt. She is now several meters away from Jevoi.

The light spreads out roughly nine meters and faintly another nine from a point slightly in the air, highlighting the crude stonework. As Luminița had called out, the skeletal remains of several small humanoids are scattered across the floor.

The source of the light, and the voice, is a ghastly, green lycan. Her eyes are empty and her teeth are sharp.

J: I'd rather not repeat what she said next. I didn't need to hear it myself. L: I reckon I know.

"What language," says the ghost, "To think I let that foul tongue inside me."

Jevoi gags.

"Mamaia?" ask Lumița, "What's going on?"

"Traitor," snarls the ghost, "You side with my killers? This lecherous lizard and the conniving d***f?"

"Hiiiiii, Ioana," says Tanglepork, feigning happiness, "So glad you remember me. Yay."

L: I can explain this, but ya finish this first.

"I don't know you, lady," says Jevoi, "I'm not Ling. I can send the message."

Ioana howls, "You are the only of your kind!" The wind begins to whirl dust about. "I'd recognize that filthy wig anywhere."

"Great," mutters Jevoi, "Mum doesn't even have to be near me to keep ruining my life."

WLC 6.2: Amber

Deputy Tanglepork steps inside, but hesitates. "Is that safe?" she asks of the glowing crystals lighting the room.

"Yeah," says Ling, "Ya want to stay outside?" Ling gestures and a bubble forms around the pair, both in and out of her house.

"What is this?" The deputy looks about in awe of the shimmering shield and the distorted view of the world outside.

"Privacy bubble: people can't see or hear through it."

"That sounds threatening," says Tanglepork, "And probably illegal."

"Not yet it isn't," says Ling, sticking her hand out and in the bubble, "But I get it. Fortunately, my own invention; haven't taught a soul." She returns her focus to the deputy. "Now, why ya here?"

J: She really called that one. L: Strewth, I'm impressed ya figured it out on your own.

"I need to know who's entered and exited the Underdank."

"I gave those file to the sheriff," says Ling, irritation rising in her voice, "I just said that."

"There are children missing, Ling," says Tanglepork, looking her dead in the eye. "The sheriff is blaming you."

"Sprogs on walkabout and that c**t's playing blamsies?" growls Ling, "What are your leads? Macca's way or Splish-Splash?"

"Can you... repeat that?" asks Tanglepork.

Ling takes a deep breath, "If the sheriff's not looking for the kids, then I will. So, what are your other leads? Could they have gone past Old McDonald's farm or Splish-Splash River? Whose tykes are missing, too?"

"You wanna help?" says Tanglepork, taking out a notepad, "Okay, yes, it's six kids, maybe seven."

"Maybe seven?"

"Sheriff's not counting Matches."

"Who's that?"

"Homeless orphan, lurked around the other side of town for about half a month. May be unrelated."

Ling sighs. "Next time ya know someone who might be starving, send them my way."

"Will do." The deputy begins reading her notes. "First, we have Hanzy and Grater, Toothfist's kids; last seen leaving school last week. Never made it home."

"Goblins," says Ling, "That's why it's taken this long to notice. Hanzy's the one with the weird spiky growths."

"Second, Graupel and Rosen Rotweiss, twin kobolds, allegedly assisting 'a dwarf' every couple days, disappeared earlier this week."

"Any I.D. on this 'dwarf'?"

"Not yet. Vague enough to be in any direction too... including the Underdank."

Ling shakes her head; it's not worth commenting on.

"Third, Gene Geneson Jr., parents claim he ran away a few days ago."

"Genette? Yeah, I can take a swing at why she'd do that."

Tanglepork checks her notes, "She?"

"Not your business," waves Ling, "Shouldn't have said it. Regardless, possibly our 'dwarf.'"

"Uh, finally, Loxi Goldberry, mayor's niece, went out looking for Gene yesterday."

J: Oh, Loxi... A: Who is she? J: Nothing, no one really. L: Jevoi's first crush. She was in tatters when Loxi and Genette started dating. J: I was not! D: I thought it was Gank. J: That is also false.

"There we go," says Ling, "The reason the sheriff's acting now. Have anything from the kids? Hair or nails?"

"I know what your thinking," says Tanglepork, pulling a pink hairbrush out of her bag; it is covered in blonde elven hair, "We already tried this."

"That's curious," says Ling, snatching the brush, "But let me try first."

Ling focuses on the girl's discarded hair and sends a pulse of magic through the world. There is no reaction from anything.

"Told you," says Tanglepork.

"This is a big clue," says Ling. Noticing the deputy's confusion, she continues, "If the location pulse isn't detecting her, it means something, or someone, is actively blocking it."

"Or she's not on this plane of reality."

"Both directions worth looking into," says Ling, handing the brush back, "Anything for the other kids, just to be certain?"

L: We checked; no signal for any of them, not even Matches.

WLC 7.2: Tail Combat

The twins drag Ling down the dark corridors. The pink one, holding Ling's left arm, barely keeping herself from giggling. He sister, on the other hand, is equally attempting to conceal her anxiety.

"Ya don't have to," says Ling, "If ya don't want to." With purple's confused grunt, Ling continues, "I know my daughter put ya up to this."

"What? No," says the anxious twin, "I'm honored to be here tonight."

"Pinky," says Ling, turning her head, "What're we going to do tonight?"

"You're going to eat me," says the giggly twin in a raw raspy voice, then she growls, "then I'm going to eat you."

"Beauty," says Ling, turning back, "See, your sister's got a good time planned."

"I'm not going to leave this to her alone," says the lighter voiced twin, as a maid spots the trio and darts off.

"But sister, Natya will be-"

"Not there."

"Do ya two have a pair of doors to be guarding?" asks Ling, her tail wiggling its way out from her robe, "Pinky, if I asked your sister what ya would say your name is, what would she say?"

"What are you talking about?" asks the purple one, as her sister attempts to decode the question.

"Naleemi," she says, "She would call me my name." She giggles. "Sister, what would the doctor say if-"

"We're not playing this game," interrupts her sister, "and to save you time, Dr., I am Nataki."

"Nice to meet ya, Nataki," says Ling. "Glad ya can answer honestly. Now, how many are waiting for us?"

"None," says Nataki, "It's j-"

Ling slaps Nataki's butt with her tail. "Who's Natya, Naleemi?"

"She's my girlfriend," giggles Naleemi, "She's so smart. She's always planning."

"She's always scheming," mutters Nataki.

"Where's she from?"

"The North Pole!" shouts Naleemi as the twins drag Ling around a corner. "Sister's friend, Emera is from up north too."

"Solar elves?"

"Nyata is," says Naleemi, as the group reaches their destination, "Emera is a northern tree elf."

"The proper names are the horakty and the osisi," chides Nataki, opening the door into a dark bedroom. A pair of elven figures are barely visible within.

"I told you before," says a tanned elf clad in a yellow outfit otherwise identical to the twins (unlike they're bun, her hair is cut like a long bob), "if I killed your loser boyfriend, I'd be rubbing your filthy nose in it. I tell you all about how pathetically he died." She twirls a bladed tonfa. "But I didn't and I know you're only blaming me because your jealous that I'm with a princess while you hold your tongue, waiting for-"

"Jealous of a snake like you?" yells a green-clad elf of far darker complexion, her hair braided to her knees. "Princess Nataki is my friend. Friendship, have you heard of it? Is that concept too alien to you. Exploiting Naleemi is going to-"

"Friendship? Friendship, again?"

"Lmaoth, help me," mutters Nataki, as Naleemi clears her throat.

"G'day" says Ling, "Nyata and Emera, I presume."

WLC 4.6: Tonight, We Dine, In Hall

The dining hall is a grand display: many lengthy tables, elaborate chandeliers, fancy crystal 'candles', and cushioned chairs. Jevoi sits at the head of the table with Angustias on her right. Dalini sits on the left with an unimpressed Ling beside her.

Ling looks down the table into the empty room. "Where's the rest of them?" she asked.

"We're eating earlier than usual," says Jevoi, "I don't want to overwhelm Dalini."

"Don't want to be seen with me," accuses Ling, "Or want my eyes on ya?"

Before Jevoi can respond, a chime rings out and four covered plates float to the table.

"Eh, what's this display for?" asks Ling, "Why not some bloke?"

Jevoi pauses, as if realizing something, but disregards it.

The group uncover their food: Angustias has massive steak, Jevoi and Dalini have fruit salads with snails, and Ling has a large insect.

"Dire roach!" says Ling, "Ripper, the lobster of land." She breaks off a leg and begins sucking the meat out.

Dalini begins scooping fruit into her mouth by hand.

"Use a spoon, please," says Jevoi, pointing to the by Dalini's bowl, "It's rude to use your hands like that, Dalini."

"Okay," says Dalini, picking up the spoon and carefully trying to pick up the pieces.

"The fork may be more useful," says Angustias, cutting up the meat before her.

As Dalini stabs a strawberry, she asks, "So how did you meet?"

Jevoi swallows a bite of food and coughs. "That's- that's a bit of a story."

"We got time, Jevoi," says Ling, cracking open the roach's carapace, "And we got a third witness here too."

Gank briefly flickers behind Jevoi with a malicious grin, as Jevoi sighs. "I suppose we shouldn't keep it a secret."

WLC 5.7: Free Shipping

Once again, the trio fell into a hole and, once again, they slammed into the ground one on top of the other: Tanglepork, Jevoi, and finally Luminița. The time, though, the floor is a hard wood.

"Get off," says Jevoi, pushing Luminița, "How did you end up on top again?"

"Why did you do that?" asks Luminița, climbing off of the gex, "You were safe. Why try to save me?"

"Don't get weird." Jevoi stands up. "I was only trying to save your hot a**e because you have my tome."

"What."

J: That is not what I said. G: That is exactly what you said.

"My book!" yells Jevoi, panic in her voice, "You have my book. Where is it?"

J: I was not panicking.

"...Back at the house," answers Luminița hesitantly.

"Excuse me," asks an until-now unnoticed woman a meter away, "Are you together?"

The duo finally pause long enough to take in their surroundings. They are in a boarding lounge of a large fancy vessel, polished clean and charmingly decorated. Standing here, in a sailor-esque suit, is a purple-skinned, tentacle-mawed biped holding a clipboard. She patiently awaits a response.

"Are we in Hell?" asks Luminița.

"Help me," mutters Tanglepork.

The woman raises a facial tendril in confusion. "No? What ever gave you that idea? You're aboard the finest interplanar cruise ship in the universe, a dream vessel of romance: the Love Craft. We'll soon be making another run, setting course for adventure." She takes a little bow. "I'm Lurentooz, your cruise director."

"That's... nice," says Jevoi, "How do we get back to Inner Glow?"

"We'll be stopping there in a few days," says Lurentooz, checking her board, "Kun, is it? We've been expecting you." Her eyes flash in realization. "Ling's daughter?"

"Of course..."

Violence in the Tatara Shrine

This stage is the Tatara Shrine, where the Last Descendant of the Kagami Family, Kagami Izuna, is kept, hidden away from the Shainto who seek to kill her. (Izuna is not to be confused with the young priestess Suzuka, who gives the players their weapons in the first game. Common misconception on the English net.)

While this is the final boss stage for the Shainto, it is also the stage you'd fight Mikado in the Vs CPU gauntlet mode. You normally cannot select the stage, but I'm a dirty little hacker.

Normal jumping while your opponent is down automatically does an attack in BB2.

Multiple attacks can connect at once. Getting hit in the legs is far less dangerous in the second game, since it only slows you down instead of breaking your leg (which makes combat nigh impossible).

Notice how her legs are shaking in her victory pose, that's because she got hit.

Vanessa, Goddess of Love

This is my attempt at drawing her. Those are supposed to be wings coming off of each eye and a psychedelic glow spiraling behind her main eye. The eyelashes are heavenly flames.

I can give you this design sketch of Katze, but you've probably already seen it.

curse of favourite character being from an obscure game with no fanart from years ago that no one plays

Victory Poses in Bushido Blade

In the original game, victory poses are tied to the character's weapon. Here's Mikado striking each pose in each of the Vs stages.

Rapier on Yahiro Road

Katana in the windy Yagura Point

Broadsword in the Cherry Blossom Grove

Naginata in the Underground Grotto

Longsword at Executioner's Cove

Nodachi in the Meikyokan Dojo

Saber near Dozaemon Moat

Sledgehammer in the Bamboo Thicket

Rapier on Yahiro Road

Katana in the windy Yagura Point

Broadsword in the Cherry Blossom Grove

Naginata in the Underground Grotto

Longsword at Executioner's Cove

Nodachi in the Meikyokan Dojo

Saber near Dozaemon Moat

Sledgehammer in the Bamboo Thicket

WLC 7.1: Accidentally Posted Early

With dinner and the stories over, Empress Jevoi rings a phantom bell. "Let us retire then," she says, "As promised, I have agents ready to accompany you to bed, Mum."

Ling feels arms grab onto hers: lithe arms, yet a firm grasp; two people, nearly identical. Ling turns to see one then then the other.

They are a pair of vrow, but subtle traits in the eyes, brow, and ears hint at orc descent. They have a slight green tint to their violet skin,long raven hair, and shimmering yellow eyes. Both are clad in leotards with long gloves and boots and masks covering their mouths. One is in purple, the other pink.

"G'day," says Ling, "Didn't think ya were real."

"I made a promise," says Jevoi. She gestures to the ladies. "You know what to do."

"G'night, Dalini," says Ling as they haul her away, "Got some wizarding to do."

"G'night, Nana," yells Dalini, lifting her face off of her plate. "Have fun with your friends." She resumes sucking the plate clean.

After Ling has been removed from the room, Jevoi sighs. "This was a terrible mistake."

"It's not going to work," says Angustias.

"No," says Jevoi, alert again, "I mean the cake." She points to Dalini jittering about, now trying to eat the plate.