[SP-F2] A Time To Hunt - Bagging up those Wintery Flakes pt 3 Redux

[Brax 0]

     Alone in the wilderness, Brax continued his hunting expedition.  Those snowflakes were not going to collect themselves, and he wasn't going to be able to catch up without getting back to the grind.  Having not experienced the bad backlash of his last potion of strength, Brax chocked up the sensation as a bad batch, courtesy of the RNG gods, in this case Cardinal.  'Have to watch out for that,' Brax thought, 'Would do me no good to be hunting and be experiencing psychedelic episodes.'  Being acutely familiar with such things, Brax did not wish to go down that sort of road, not at all.  Back on topic, he needed to choose a destination for his hunt, and as he stood by the lakeside he decided on...more of the same.  The lake had plains surrounding it, full of wild beasts of all kinds, and they would all prove suitable form his 'farming' purpose. 

Consumed one Potion of Strength (+1 damage for the thread)

Edited January 15, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

 

     Though, his current predicament was unfortunately finding a lack of monsters.  Having farmed the area to death, he needed to move on from the lake, not until he had given the area a once over, though.  There could still be a material or two that could be useful.  And amid the damp rocks littering the shores, he managed to procure one, a piece of leather from a previous kill.  It's consistency was supple and tough, just the sort of thing a tailor would love.  Observing the item for just a second, he appreciated the beauty of the piece before placing it in his pack with the others.  Having no more business here, Brax moved on past the lake into the nearby plains.

 

Edited January 15, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 45605

Spoiler

BD 3 +3 ACC LD 5 MoBD 4 -1 EVA

Brax 32/32 EN 3/8

Deer 1 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

Deer 2 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

Deer 3 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

Deer 4 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

     Brax found more to hunt the further he got from his empty lakeside hunting grounds from before.  The steppes were full of much easier prey, not the wolves and wasps of old, but instead many goats, sheep and deer that could not, or would not, fight back.  A pack of deer munched on the sparse grass nearby, and Brax, with some Epitaph assistance, managed to sneak up behind their skittish backsides.  Prepping his attack silently, he managed to stay hidden just long enough to finish his build-up, and leaping out from concealment he slaughtered the lot of them with all three blows.

+4 materials

+4 snowflakes

Edited January 15, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

 

     After the attack, Brax took a hard look at what the animals had been munching on.  Inspecting it, he found the grassy meal was not the only thing lying on the ground before them.  No, there was also some glittery flecks amidst the short vegetation, and he reached down to scoop it up, finding it to be small gemstones, each one catching the light in a different color.

 

Edited January 15, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

Roaming the fields, Brax kept up his quest for more loot, though with his lack of specific gear and skills he was subjected to the whims of Cardinal's RNG odds, which were relatively slim. Nevertheless, he persisted in his task, keeping his nose to the proverbial grindstone. Even as he searched for materials, Brax also let his eyes look for an enemy or four to hunt. These steppes were rife with potential prey.

Edited January 15, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 45607

BD 7 +3 ACC LD 9 MoBD 3 -1 EVA

Brax 32/32 EN 0/8

Mountain Goat 1 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

Mountain Goat 2 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

Mountain Goat 3 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

Mountain Goat 4 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

 

Prey like the mountain goats wandering about the rocky terrain. Their hides were shaggy and unkempt, long and woolly in order to keep warm on a cold night in the mountains. Their horns encircled their heads like crowns, almost majestic in appearance. They ruled these highlands, and were not ashamed to show it. Regardless, they too fell prey to Brax's bloody axe, for he came upon them with thunderous power. His axe glowed green, a staple of the Battle-axe's Arts, and his Lumberjack clove through their ranks like a Canadian logger cuts through a forest. As always, Brax collected the dropped loot from his latest hunt, and after wiping off his blade, ventured on.

+4 materials

+4 snowflakes

Edited January 15, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 45606

LD 1

     He stopped, seeing something on the ground that had previously escaped his notice.  Reaching down, he grasped the object and gave it a thorough examination, but upon inspection, found it to be nothing more than trash not even fit for a goat to consume.  Brax dropped the useless loot, and instead turned his thoughts to the well-worn armor and weapon he currently possessed.

Edited January 15, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     He was finding it much easier to move in combat.  His armor, which he had collected over the course of his first adventures, clad his entire frame.  It made things difficult, being as heavily armored as he was.  Several times, he wondered how he was able to sneak up on some of the mobs he had, given that the clanking of his plates was rather obvious and loud.

Edited January 8, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

   And through all that, it afforded him no more protection than vanity, for he had yet to improve his skill with Heavy Armor.  The named pieces had simply been conjured from the corners of his mind, called forth by the memories of the Pactagonal Knights he had recovered, save for his chest which he supposed he would need a blacksmith to forge, and a cape from a reputable tailor.  His weapon had needed more attention, though, so he had chosen to level it up instead.

Edited January 8, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     The weapon was a bit of a marvel, really.  Teion had done an excellent job in it's craftsmanship.  While he felt that he maybe should have gotten a different weapon, a name for it seemingly escaping him for now, Brax was satisfied with it's overall performance.  It was sharp enough to serve, and durable enough to survive.  Not only that, but the feel of the axe in his hands felt...right, somehow, like he had done it before, though as he well knew, there was not a trace of memory supporting such a claim.

Edited January 8, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 45608

Spoiler

BD 9 +3 ACC LD 8 MoBD 9 -1 EVA N/A

Brax 24/32 [6 + 1crit - 5 MIT] x 4 = 8 DMG EN 3/8

Mountain Goat 1 -4/16 DEAD [7 + 1crit x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 20 DMG

Mountain Goat 2 -4/16 DEAD [7 + 1crit x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 20 DMG

Mountain Goat 3 -4/16 DEAD [7 +1crit x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 20 DMG

Mountain Goat 4 -4/16 DEAD [7 + 1crit x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 20 DMG

     Cresting the next rise in the landscape, Brax saw another herd of Goats grazing, and made his way over to slaughter their hides.  These ones possessed much more bravery than their kin, though, for as he approached they took the lead and charged.  Brax managed to dodge the first two, zipping past them with some effort, but the Epitaph failed him just afterwards, causing him to falter slightly and cross paths with the remaining beasts, taking their tackles straight to the gut.  It flipped him up into the air, but the power of the Epitaph sprang back into action, allowing Brax to land on his feet, though only just.  Pivoting off his left foot on which he had landed, he spun after setting his Lumberjack attack, and made short work of the odious goats, after which he scooped up the prizes they had left.

+4 materials

+4 snowflakes

Edited January 15, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     Taking a moment to rest, Brax considered what had just happened.  'Why did the Epitaph fail?'  He believed Teayre, the shopkeeper he had received the object from was quite possibly the best thus far in Aincrad.  He had no doubt that the rumors he had heard of her skills were well founded.  The object had served him quite well up until now, so what was the problem?  Was there something he had missed?

Edited January 8, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     'Right, I remember.  She had previously told me that these weren't her best work, not even her most specialized pieces.  No doubt she meant that while they could help, I would need something specifically crafted with me in mind.  If I did so, the new pieces would work FOR me rather than me working WITH it.'  It made sense; these pieces were crafted with a more agile body in mind, someone who could take full advantage of the supernatural grace afforded by them.  Instead, they had to work relatively overtime to help Brax maneuver his heavy frame about the battlefield, wasting too much energy in the task and running out at key moments.

Edited January 8, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 44644

LD 7

     Not only that, but Brax probably didn't want evasion for a skill set anyway.  His eyes scanned the area for anything loot worthy while he mused about his future equipment.  Evasion was a lighter man's skill, one who preferred to avoid combat rather than confront it.  And Brax was not a man who avoided anything: instead, he waited until the proper time before making a move, calculating the odds and then striking out.

Edited January 9, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 45609

Spoiler

BD 4 +3 ACC LD 9 MoBD 9 -1 EVA

Brax 16/32 [6 + 1crit - 5 MIT] x 4 = 8 DMG EN 3/8

Deer 1 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

Deer 2 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

Deer 3 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

Deer 4 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

     Like when one was hunting down suitably lootable prey, Brax would calmly assess the situation, look at all the variables, and make a decision regarding them.  When he next happened upon a herd of deer, he chose not to slink up to them, but instead dove straight into their ranks, swinging his axe wide in Lumberjack formation.  Probably not the best move: deer are a naturally skittish creature, and Brax definitely confirmed this trait.  While he caught the first three of them with the attack, the fourth almost got away.  But, thankfully, as it attempted to flee it tripped on a rock, stumbling just enough to hit with his final swipe, and after their deaths, Brax gathered his loot rewards promptly.

+4 materials

+4 snowflakes

Edited January 15, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     'Note to self: do not simply rush into battle against a foe of superior speed.  For while the deer were easy prey, their calculated reflexes are quite a bit higher than previously recorded.  It would not do well for me to miss such a weak creature with my more powerful attacks,' Brax thought, making sure to file the musing away for future reference.  He also began to consider what he would need enhancement wise in order to support his tactics.

Edited January 9, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     Since he planned on a heavier armor set, Brax would need skills associated with it.  'I suppose that means forgoing evasion as a viable option, at least to start.'  However, for now at least, he would keep the Epitaph on hand.  While he had exercised his cardiovascular system with daily running, and did a regular amount of other maintenance exercises, like pushups and sit-ups, during his time at the facility, Brax, or rather Brandon, had not done many flexibility stretches that would have prepared him for combat or even heavy calisthenics.

Edited January 9, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     Thus the need for objects in this world that would support his relatively sizable mass moving in gymnastically flexible ways, such as he had been able to do once acquiring the Elude Epitaph.  It caused Brax to briefly wonder about the innate physics of this virtual world, and about it's logical connections to the real one.  Strictly speaking, one who understands the mind must know that everything experienced here was an illusion, that anything affecting the body had no 'real' effect.  He should not be able to move like he did, given that the qualities of the Epitaph were ephemeral at best.  He turned his thoughts away from such things, though, as he made an approach on another animal herd.

Edited January 9, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 45610

Spoiler

BD 6 +3 ACC LD 16 MoBD 2 -1 EVA

Brax 22/32 EN 3/8

Deer 1 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

Deer 2 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

Deer 3 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

Deer 4 -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Lumberjack - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

     This time, Brax exercised a large amount of caution.  He had almost lost one of the deer in his previous battle, and he did not want to take any chance of it happening again.  Picking up a rock from the ground, he circled downwind of the beasts in order to mask his scent, calculating that despite his clanking armor, he could use that to edge closer to them without being detected.  After advancing close enough, Brax tossed the rock overhead, causing it to land opposite from his side to the deer, using their skittish behavior against them.  They took the bait, raising up and facing the noise intent on running away in his direction.  He then struck out, his Lumberjack flashing green with power, and with three quick strikes to their unprepared defenses, Brax slaughtered the lot of them effortlessly.

+4 materials

+4 snowflakes

+320 col

Edited January 15, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 45611

Spoiler

BD 8 +3 ACC LD 18 MoBD 9 -1 EVA

Brax 20/32 [6 + 1crit - 5 MIT] = 2 DMG EN 1/8

Wolf -1/16 DEAD [7 x 3 Ultimate Breaker - 4 MIT] = 17 DMG

     However, Brax was not the only one stalking this particular prey.  A nearby wolf had been eying the herd for the last 15 minutes, waiting for the right chance to pounce and feast on the succulent animals.  With a mournful and angry howl it attack, having been robbed of it's meal.  Brax dodged it's distracted blow, despite having not realized it having been there in the first place, though the beast did catch his armored shoulderguard, but thankfully left no damage.  He reacted quickly, bringing his axe up twice into an Ultimate Breaker, slamming the final attack on the wolf's noggin and ending it's existence promptly.

+1 materials

+1 snowflake

+80 col

Edited January 15, 2016 by Brax