[F3-SP] A Time To Hunt - Bagging up those Wintery Flakes, Beginning Again pt. 9 - COMPLETE!

[Brax 0]

ID 46380

LD 16

     "Teleport, Delilah Village!"  That was the last thing Brax said before dematerializing and reappearing on the third floor for the first time in his adventuring in Aincrad.  A shiver ran throughout his entire body as he teleported to the main hub of the area, a quaint country village run by elven farmers and NPCs who would ply their simple wares in the dirt roads crisscrossing the town.  It was a right sight different than the hustle and bustle of Urbus or the Town of Beginnings, much more rustic in nature and what many would consider...relaxing.  For Brax, though, it was a means to an end: he had finally grown strong enough to venture out of the confines of the 2nd floor and would try his hand at the many elven NPCs who populated the dandelion-filled prairies that dominated the floor.  He exited the city quickly, intent on finding a mob to test his metal against, and as he strode forth managed to find a piece of fruit on a bush tended by an Elf NPC farmer on the outskirts of town.  Thinking nothing of it, Brax picked the fruit and waved politely at the farmer, who seemed okay with his actions.  He put the material into his inventory and made for the fields, a mob of elves on his mind and his axe in his hands.

+1 material

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 46381

Spoiler

BD 6 +3 ACC LD 18 MoBD 3 -1 EVA

Brax 56/56 EN 3/14

Elven Warrior 1 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

Elven Warrior 2 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

Elven Warrior 3 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

Elven Warrior 4 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

     Not to far away from the town, a squad of Elven Warriors stood guard in the midst of the weed covered prairie.  'So, this will be my first test.  So be it,' Brax mused silently to himself as he hefted the heavy axe he had made his weapon of choice.  Drawing closer to the mob, he began to pick up speed until he was all-out running towards the group with fire in his feet.  They turned to face the intruder but barely were able to raise their weapons before he barreled into their midst, his shoulderguards connecting with one of them and transferring all his kinetic energy into a devastating tackle. 

     As the NPC flew back into it's compatriots, his axe shot out in two wide sweeping motions that encompassed his Trample Act Sword Art and bisected the mob in half, dividing torsos from legs in destructive fashion.  Their severed bodies shimmered a moment before exploding into a pixel shower, leaving some col and materials behind for Brax to collect.  After scooping up his winnings, he turned his attention outwards again, a careful eye looking for another hunting partner to slay.

+4 materials

+4 snowflakes

+640 col

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     His first battle on the floor a success, Brax's gaze continued to keep watch for another mob to engage in combat with.  His thoughts, thought, turned to more guild related business.  The three main guilds that encompassed the world of Aincrad for the moment: Azure Brigade, Velvet Room, and the Knights of the Blood Oath.  Each must have their own way of doing business, each must possess a minimum level of acceptance or requirement to ever think about joining.  But before he tried to make his way in, he would need to gain strength and prove himself.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     He would need to become much more valuable to the groups, prove his worth so to speak.  Not that he would be unable to do so, for his training was indeed proving that fact every time Brax ventured out into the wilds.  No, rather that he would need to venture higher and higher, attempting floors of a more powerful and difficult nature, much like what he was doing now, and succeed in conquering the foes that lay within.  The upcoming quests he would soon engage in would work wonders in that regard.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     The quests were only half the battle, though.  After them, he would need to engage in other modes of adventuring, like dungeon hunting.  But, much of this was predicated on the completion of the quests that lay in wait.  Many of them were and are considered rather difficult for a lone combatant, meant for groups that could take down the bosses quickly and with little effort.  Safety in numbers, and all that the saying entails.  For Brax to engage the fights on his own?  Many might consider the issue madness.  But, Brax was not crazy; the doctors at Berringers proved that with testing.  No, Brax was not crazy, but he might have been obsessed with the act of growing in strength.  It was a new sensation, one that he had not considered a part of his true journey towards discovering his past.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 46382

Spoiler

BD 4 +3 ACC LD 17 MoBD 3 -1 EVA

Brax 56/56 EN 3/14

Elven Warrior 1 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

Elven Warrior 2 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

Elven Warrior 3 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

Elven Warrior 4 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

     His wandering kept interrupting his wonderings.  Brax found himself once again in the midst of a mob of elven warriors, curved blades brandished in graceful fashion and clean, crisp looking armor adorning their bodies well.  If not for the fact that they were arrayed against him, Brax might have considered them an masterfully done piece of computer engineering.  Instead, he had to brace himself for the combat to come.  Roaring loudly, the NPCs charged him with blades held high, swiping them in coordinated strikes to his torso and midsection, but Brax's armor held firm while his Epitaph flashed brightly, the armor deflecting what he could not dodge readily.  Difficult as it was, he was able to put enough distance between himself and the squad to engage a tackle against the first elf he saw, the attack activating his Trample Act and killing the rest of the warriors with two sweeping blows from his Battle-Axe.

+4 materials

+4 snowflakes

+640 col

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     The calm aftermath of the battle allowed Brax to collect his loot winnings from the ground.  His eyes did not see any other mobs on the horizon, at least close enough to cause any concern.  The fields of grass and dandelions danced gently in the morning breeze, waving hello and goodbye to every passing player and monster that populated the area.  The entire floor seemed to radiate a rolling calm, eliciting a feeling of relaxed contentment from all who walked it, at least until you reached the Forest of Illusion that lay far in the distance.  Then, the relaxing calm turned eerie and strange, leaving the hairs on your neck standing up in anxious worry and fretfulness.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     Times like that, Brax was grateful, or as grateful as he could be given the circumstances, that he lacked the emotional depth to be forced to experience such sensations.  Granted, the issue removed his capability to enjoy the more beneficial aspects of the expansive prairie lands, but he was more...appreciative of the fact that he was not plagued with the indecisive nature the feelings of anxiety and fear could bring into his worldview.  His actions and motivations were, for the most part, free of the impurities of doubt and despair.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     But, at the same time, he idly wondered if those 'impurities', as he called them, were the makings of the human condition.  It was an interesting philosophical debate, one he had engaged in relatively frequently with the patients and staff at Berringer's.  Each had a different opinion, both positive and negative, and Brax, or rather Brandon, had consulted books he could find on the subject as well.  Many of the issues he had researched were in the vein of Sociopathic and Psychopathic behavioral studies, such that a person did not react the way baseline humanity did.  But, right now, he did not have time to think on it, as he was approaching an Elven mob.  His musings would have to wait.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 46383

Spoiler

BD 10 +3 ACC LD 5 MoBD 9 -1 EVA N/A

Brax 28/56 [9 + 1crit - 3 MIT] x 4 = 28 DMG EN 3/14

Elven Guardian 1 -1/42 DEAD [7 + 2crit x 6 Trample Act - 11 MIT] = 43 DMG

Elven Guardian 2 -1/42 DEAD [7 + 2crit x 6 Trample Act - 11 MIT] = 43 DMG

Elven Guardian 3 -1/42 DEAD [7 + 2crit x 6 Trample Act - 11 MIT] = 43 DMG

Elven Guardian 4 -1/42 DEAD [7 + 2crit x 6 Trample Act - 11 MIT] = 43 DMG

     This particular mob was a little heavier in stature than the warriors previously encountered.  With plated armor and silvery greatswords held at the ready, they appeared more like Guardians of the countryside rather than your standard lithe bruiser.  The helmeted heads of the mob turned to face Brax as one, swords high in the air and prepared for battle.  He hefted his own powerful axe in response, armored feet gaining speed as he approached.  Brax dropped his shoulderguards low for a tackle, connecting hard with the midsection of the primary guardian.  That left him open, however, to the counterattacks of the rest of the squad, who brought their giant weapons down on his head hard.  The force of his impact blew the first one back a few inches, while the blows from the swords almost knocked Brax to the ground.  His armor allowed his to hold on, though, and the System Assist carried the day by activating his Trample Act, surprising the elves and cutting them limb from limb, leaving behind nothing but a vanishing storm of pixels.

+4 materials

+4 snowflakes

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     Brax took a moment to rest; the Guardians had done a number on him and he needed the break to recuperate sufficiently.  This was the power of the higher floors, what he had needed to train himself against.  They had hit him hard, but he had hit back harder still.  Unfortunately, Brax would need more protection if he wished to remain here.  The four elves had taken half his health in the assault; he could not survive long if hits like that kept coming.  The armor would help, but before he got it he would also need to practice with his weapon much more.  He would need precision for his attacks to work properly, in addition to survival tactics.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     Hopefully soon, he would also be able to gain a higher energy renewal rate, so as to allow for more power attacks and damage dealing.  Though, he supposed that he would also have to begin deciding his eventual role in the world at large.  Would he be a full-on damage dealer, geared entirely to ending monsters' lives as quickly as possible?  Would he prefer a balanced approach, trading part of that damage for some extra security and defense?  Or, perhaps he would go into a support role, whatever that might entail?  What would his niche be?

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     He knew approximately what his immediate future would hold, though: he would need his weapon at full power, thus grandmastering his axe was key.  Then, his armor training would need to be at the very least middle of the road, which in game terms meant rank 3.  After that, Brax would have to move into something specific, have a goal in mind as to where his skills would need to be placed.  Whether battle oriented or support based, his future beyond arms and armament was hazy at best.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 46384

Spoiler

BD 6 +3 ACC LD 13 MoBD 1 -1 EVA

Brax 31/56 EN 3/14

Elven Warrior 1 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

Elven Warrior 2 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

Elven Rogue 1 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

Elven Rogue 2 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

     Another mob stood in his path, so Brax shook his head from the clouds and focused on the threat at hand.  The group was a mixed patrol, rogues scouting ahead with some warriors bringing up the rear as backup.  The scouts spotted Brax right away, and moved to flank the heavily armored man as the warriors moved to engage from the front.  Brax kept his gaze on them all, waiting for the right moment when the group would be together enough to catch in his Trample Act.  The rogues attacked first, forcing him to utilize the Epitaph to weave through the assaults, but the attacks were a feint.  It drew Brax's attention from the heavy warriors and their hammers, and he barely had time to bring his weapon up in defense.  With his strength, he managed to shove the warriors back a few inches, just as the rogues swung back around for another try.  Unfortunately for them, the swing around placed them well within the circle that his AOE could hit; thus, Brax hit one of the recovering warriors with his shoulderguard, activating his Sword Art and catching them all in the wide arcs of his attack.  The elves fritzed for a time, a shocked look on their NPC faces, before the damage registered and they exploded in a shower of light.

+4 materials

+4 snowflakes

+640 col

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     Taking another breather just for a second, Brax thought quickly about the quests he would undertake soon.  There were several skill quests included, such as Martial Arts and Survival.  The first would not necessarily be useful to him due to the fact that his hands were well occupied by his massive weapon, but just as an 'in case of emergency' skill, bare-handed damage could be an efficient tool when his weapons were disarmed in some fashion.  Who knows?  Maybe, some day, he would be ambushed and captured and stripped of his gear, forcing him into just utilizing his fists.  A possibility, given the parameters of the game.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     As for the Survival Skill, it would only be beneficial to be able to ignore the bulk of environmental issues replete throughout the game.  From the burning sands of the desert, to the frozen tundra of the artic, to the damp muggy humidity of the jungle and the bone chilling cold and disease ridden fields of death, the need for Survival becomes almost paramount to the actual task of 'survival'.  Not even the best armor could ward against such things, so the skill would be near the top of his list.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     Most of the others were meant as a means to an end, field bosses and such that provided quick leveling opportunities and decent enough rewards of col and potions.  His soon-to-be-acquired armor would allow the adventurer to go toe-to-toe with the powerful beasts, and defeat them with little trouble unless things went wrong which Brax did not anticipate.  The issue was simply time: the time it took for his armor to be forged.  Soon afterwards he would begin the trek upwards, for training and maybe, a little profit.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

ID 46385

Spoiler

BD 5 +3 ACC LD 14 MoBD 1 -1 EVA

Brax 34/56 EN 3/14

Elven Rogue 1 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

Elven Rogue 2 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

Elven Rogue 3 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

Elven Rogue 4 -2/32 DEAD [7 x 6 Trample Act - 8 MIT] = 34 DMG

     The next mob awaiting his hunting hand would come soon, for as Brax crested a small hill covered in soft grass he beheld a team of rogue Elves clad in supple leather gear wearing short swords on their hips.  The pointy eared NPCs took little notice of him as they were facing the opposite direction, the gentle breeze failing to carry his scent to their nostrils.  As such, Brax would be able to sneak up on them rather easily, which he went about doing.  His feet moved silently over the lush vegetation covering the fields, allowing the man to move swiftly enough to build the needed power for his Trample Act.  Just a few feet away from the mob, the elves finally became aware of his presence, too late to mount an effective defense.  His three strike attack destroyed the squad handily, and after the battle was over he collected his well deserved winnings.

+4 materials

+4 snowflakes

+640 col

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     It was almost time to head back to Delilah Village.  Brax had hunted several mobs across the outskirts of the village, the elven creatures falling handily beneath the sweep of his axe.  He felt a certain level of satisfaction from the apparent success of his trip, as he had managed to survive the onslaught with little difficulty.  The trip was not yet over, though, and surprises still waited around every corner.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax

[Brax 0]

     As he finished his circle around the village, he began to also wrap up his musings that had occupied the majority of his thoughts on this particular trip.  His considerations of a guild, the future quests he would embark upon, and even what the future would hold regarding his avatar's build had weighed heavily on his mind.  But, Brax was nothing if not a problem solver.  He would identify the issue, turn it over several times in order to examine it from all possible angles, then devise a solution that would satisfy the needs the problem presented.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Brax