[PP-F3] Midnight In The Forrest of Death

[Saix 0]

Floor 3: <> 11:52 pm

Ayane cursed beneath her breath, her almond eyes darting back and forth looking for the slightest sign of movement. There, a slight rustle in the branches of one of the nearest trees! Without thinking, she threw herself to the side, the bulky form that swooped out of the boughs barely missing her. Perched on squat little legs, with over long ape like arms, large ears and a dark charcoal body; it was a <>, a monster spawn that only appeared in this area during hours of darkness.

Of course she knew that, it was the whole reason she was here. Though, it hadn't quite worked out the way she wanted. She had come all this way with a client, who had wanted her to make some armor using the uncommon leather obtained from <>, which dropped from killing Gargoyles. Normally Ayane would have just had her client bring her the necessary materials, but this was an uncommon crafting material, in order for it to drop, a Tailor had to be present.

So she had agreed to go and retrieve the crafting material, with her client coming along as muscle. He had been high enough level that it shouldn't have been a problem, but once the sun had gone down in <>, he had quickly chickened out and run off the second they had encountered the first <>. Like some other areas in the game, the special night spawns of <> were substantially tougher then the normal mobs found during the day.

<> was likely the strongest non-boss spawn on the entire floor, and only appeared after dark. In fact, it would be a strong monster on 2-3 Floors higher than the present Floor 3. Quite simply, Ayane was way over her head here. These things had probably double the HP she did, and while her armor was good, top notch if she said so herself considering she had made it, her weapon was not quite as good. She had already broken one of her <> and replaced it with one of her spares.

She had heard that players would sometimes brave the <> in the dead of night to use the Gargoyle spawns to level, but the whole time she had been out here she had not heard any sounds of battle. Thus far she had spent the last hour doing her best to try to dodge the swooping ambush attacks that came her way, trying to escape the misty forest, or at least survive until dawn. But dawn was still a long way off, and she was starting to show signs of strain from the fatigue.

At this rate, she really might meet her end...

-Tag 9Lives

Test Combat Build:

Non-combat

»

Passive

»Searching: 1

Combat

» Sprint: 1

» Leather Equipment: 1

Weapon skills

» Dagger: 3

» Martial Arts: 1

[9Lives 0]

9 Lives crouched on a branch, obscured form sight watching the forest floor. the mobs of the night were predatory and used ambushes to attack. he wanted a change of pace. fighting wins wasps were entertaining and challenging in an agility struggle but if he was to increase is response time he needed to fight a monster that not only moved fast, but attacked from the shadows. a monster not unlike himself.

His abyssal iris' dilated to their limit. he quickly spotted the woman who ventured through the forest on ground level. was she, like himself, their to train or was there another reason for her presence. it intrigued him but not enough for him to leave his vantage point. Quickly his prey lunged out at her just missing and 9Lives dove out to attack form above.

Battle Die: 3

He landed on the ground with his sword stopping in the dirt just short of the gargoyle's leg as he vanished into the darkness. his eyes met her's for a moment. a sadistic grin crept across his face before he flipped backwards into the dark. in hindsight he likely would had through this the poor choice as now she likely thought of his actions as intent to PK but 9Lives was simply living the thrill filled duality of being both the hunter and the hunted simultaneously.

[Saix 0]

The sudden appearance of the sword user made her flinch, as he came flying out of the darkness, his sword slamming into the ground inches from her attacker. The <> had taken the split second to maneuver itself back into the trees, while her 'rescuer' merely grinned and back flipped back into the darkness. It had only be a brief moment of contact, but she had seen the green cursor above his head. Either he was not a player killer, or for some reason he had chosen this place to attack his first green player; Ayane couldn't be sure. All that she did know, was that for whatever reason, he had chosen to show himself to their nocturnal predators, his use of a <> would divide their attention, or at least she hoped so.

A rustle in the leaves above caught her attention, and she froze. She would have sworn she could feel the muscles of her legs tremble, and a bead of sweat slide down her back, but she remained still, waiting for the attack. In a flash of muscle and teeth, the squat figure swooped downward and pushed off backwards into a reverse somersault. But she was too slow, even with her sprint skill and leather armor evasion skill, it still managed to clip her with one long ape like arm. Her eyes clenched tightly shut, as the armor absorbed some of the damage, but not all of it. A quick glimpse at her life bar revealed that at least two points of damage had gotten through. Damn, she was only level 5, with 13 health points over all. Now she was down to 11, and before she had the chance to try to attack back, her enemy had already leaped back into the trees, with only the occasional rustle to give away it's position.

Ayane: 11/13 Health.

[9Lives 0]

the girl who seemingly appeared lost in the woods, was proving to be the perfect bait. even with his attack missing, she was generating more hate by being an easy target. He pulled in blade back behind him charging for the next attack when the Gargoyle struck out at her once more. as the attack hit he could see her health bar drop. he activated <>

Batytle Die: 4

Charging forward to attack again. his blade once again came up short as the creature evaded to the side back into the brush. He knew he had made the error. it wasn't like him to care about the wellbeing of others but seeing her get hit momentarily delayed his activation and it cost him his prey. truth be told he knew the gargoyle would be hard to hunt and he enjoyed that aspect, but he was going to have to put everything else out of his mind. quickly he leapt up to the branch above him and ran into the darkness once more.

[Saix 0]

This when her mysterious curved blade user came flashing down out of the tree, it was apparent that he was aiming for the gargoyle. Even the glancing blow had sent her spinning and reeling away. Shaking her head and scowling, she stood and clenched her fists. Now she was getting mad. She waited, standing completely still, waiting for the telltale rustle. A flash of movement above and to the right! This time she was able to successfully evade her opponent's lumbering attack, and as it swung a club like arm that she artfully dodged, she crouched, setting her feet just right, until the magenta glow suffused her basic dagger. As her enemy tried to turn into position to attack again, she released her skill and was launched forward her blade flicking out three times into the <> torso, inciting a roar of rage. This was the <> <>.

---Outcome---

Evasion Attempt: Dice Roll 5 + 1 (Sprint Skill) + 1 (Leather Equipment) + 2 (Uncommon Armor) = Success

Counter Attempt: Dice Roll 5 + 3 (Rare Trinket) = Success

Damage: Dagger Weapon Skill = 3 + 1 base attack = 4 Damage

Ayane: 11/13

Lesser Gargoyle: 4/9

[9Lives 0]

New Skill system build

curve blade 3

Katana 2

Sprint 1

Parry 1

Katana: Aitsuu

+3 damage

+3 accuracy

+3 Block

Seeing the young girl drop form the attack of the Gargoyle combined with his current inability to hit the illusive beast was starting to change his mind about the effectiveness of his plan. hidden in the trees he opened up his menu and scrolled through items. He has points to allocate and it was time he made the change over he had been planning. Once he reached his priced creation Aitsuu, he noticed the icon Green. He had final met the requirements to wield this deadly blade. he equipped the blade and closed his weapon. the draw was smooth and felt natural. 9Lives kept his eyes on the girl, not ready to attack. He wanted to refresh his memory on the weapons attacks and how to trigger them before he launched into battle against a treacherous foe.

[Saix 0]

Now she was feeling the rush of of combat, and a feral grin tugging at her lips. As her huge beastly opponent reeled back in pain, before fixing her with a baleful stare, she prepared herself. Knowing what was coming next, she prepared herself, and when the <> lashed out with a powerful fist, she attempted to throw herself to the side. She missed her timing however, and ended up being clipped by the powerful fist. This time however, her armor was able to cushion part of the blow, and none of the damage got through. Gritting her teeth at her poor timing she launched herself into a back handspring to open some distance between herself and the beast.

---Outcome---

Evasion Attempt: 1 (Automatic Failure)

[9Lives 0]

Perched on the branch he quickly looked over the skills as a refresher. closing his menu he knew what he needed to do to defeat these creatures. He couldn't spend all night in the shadows trying to fight a creature who did that better than he did all the while watching the creatures tear apart the girl who was at ground level. He had no doubt of his survival but he didn't come to this place to survive, he came to get the the creatures hide. He leaped down form the branch in front of the girl just as the Gargoyle launched forward in its attack. He knew his blade could block and while it had been a while since he played the forward, he knew the role well. The Creatures claws his impacted his sword stopping the attack form hitting himself of the girl. He immediately crouched down sheathing his blade into Iaido. the blade's vibrant bright blue glow contained and obscured by the Saya as he charged <>.

Battle Die: 2 +3(Weapon) = 5 Fail!

His sword skill's activation, even though the light of the attack was completely masked, was noticed by the Gargoyle whom he deflected. It immediately evaded to the side as he flashed forward slashing upward diagonally. As he slid to a stop he smiled once again. He may not have hit the creature yet, but he knew how to deal with this ambushing mob.

[Saix 0]

She hadn't thought that the other player was really trying to attack her, but when he came swooping down to block the incoming attack with a rather magnificent looking Katana, she was still surprised. For a moment she froze, her wide eyes questioning and suspicious, as her would be knight in shabby armor activated a whirling attack. Deliberating for a half a second, she sighed and darted forward, following in the wake of the Katana user. Flipping her blade into a reverse grip and kicking off the ground, she sprung forward in a high somersault, flipping right over 9Lives as she drew her dagger back and initiated the Dagger Skill <> in mid air as she flipped over the <>. In a magenta flash her three rapid stabs pepper the <> squat head, dropping it's HP into the Red Zone.

---Outcome---

Attack Attempt: Dice Roll 3 + 3 (Rare Trinket) = 6 (Success)

Damage: Dagger Weapon Skill = 3 + 1 base attack = 4 Damage

Ayane: 11/13

Lesser Gargoyle: 1/9

[9Lives 0]

the young girl leapt over him activating her sword skill and incapacitating and nearly defeating the enemy in a single hit. Perhaps their luck had changed now that they were at a temporary alliance. Luck was never on his side but that fact seemed to follow him corrupting the world. eventually the curse turned to his favor though when the luck of his environment was worse than his own. maybe this was at work behind the seems, but probably not. He slid his blade into the Saya charging for <> but just before he activated the skill his eyes caught the silhouette of a second Gargoyle preparing to strike at the unsuspecting girl. 9lives quickly changed targets and activated the skill.

Battle Die: 9 +3(Weapon) = 12 Success! (9) Critical!

Damage: 1(Base) +2(Skill) +3(weapon) = 6

Critical! x2 = 12 Damage

In a flash he darted forward slashing upward through the Gargoyle with ease before it could attack the girl. It exploded into red polygons illuminated by the glow of Aitsuu that quickly died down. 9lives couldn't take time to celebrate his victory. he needed more resources before he could leave this forest and knew that they would not give up anymore than he would. Killing one would only serve to make the others more aggressive.

Gargoyle 2: 0/9

[Saix 0]

Simulated adrenalin pounded in her virtual heart, the world snapping into sharp focus as she realized that her mysterious ally had just saved her from a potentially deadly situation. That magnificent Katana tore through the second Gargoyle's body like tissue paper, collapsing the creature into a massive <> in a spray of polygons after just one hit... No doubt the mysterious swordsman had nailed the creature's weak point, she couldn't imagine the beast going down in one hit otherwise... A noise of talons rending wood drew her attention upwards, to the bulky form concealing itself in the leaves above her mysterious ally. Ignoring the wounded creature that was near death, Ayane back flipped, landing square on the creature's head and gathered her strength, using the stunned creature as a launching point as she drew her dagger back and hurtled through the air, her scarf fluttering behind her like the wings of a great butterfly. There, at the apex of her leap when she had propelled herself into level height with the surrounding branches, she released her <>, the staccato series of three stabs peppering the hidden <> that had been preparing to swoop down on the katana user. Stunned, it's health dropping instantly into the red-zone from her critical hit, the creature dropped like a stone to land in a stunned heap beside the first Gargoyle.

---Outcome---

Battle Dice: 9(critical) + 3 (Rare Trinket) = Success!

Damage: 1 + 3(Skill) = 4 x 2(Critical) = 8 Damage!

Lesser Gargoyle 1: 1/9 HP

Lesser Gargoyle 2: 0/0 HP

Lesser Gargoyle 3: 1/9 HP

[9Lives 0]

9lives cocked his head to the side as he saw the girl perofrm an areal manuver once again triggering her skill in air to attack from unorthadox angles. It was unique and impressed him. Though not outright killing the creatures, she had disabled two already. He would finish them. Walking up to the target he heard the sound of another gargoyle dropping out of the tree behind him.

Evasion: 9

He crouched down then leaped into the air evading the gargoyles attack intirely. The action triggered <> with him landing in the middle of the three creatures.

Battle die 9(critical) +3(weapon) = 12 success

Damage : 1(base) +2(skill) +3 (weapon) = 6

Critical ×2 = 12 damage to all creatures.

His attacked hit perfectly as he spun lashing out in all directions. The two wounded gargoyles were instanly vaporized in the attack. The third caught the full force of the attack and shattered into a polygon shower. 9Lives began laughing maniacly and histaricly at the success.

Gargoyle 1: 0/9

Gargoyle 2: 0/9

Gargoyle 3: 0/9

Gargoyle 4: 0/9

[Saix 0]

For a moment Ayane paused, standing stock still at the mysterious figure before her. He had torn through their enemies like they were nothing, his sword cleaving them to pieces in a flash. While she was relatively certain that they were on equal footing level wise, the mystery man clearly had the advantage as far as weapons went. Though, from the looks of it, he was still wearing the default starting armor... She guessed that he was a blacksmith... But why would he be here? > was a tailoring material, one that only dropped in the presence of a Tailor at that. Her eyes flicked down to the small alert that appeared before her. Now that was some luck. Two of the creatures that he had finished off had been damaged by her, so when he killed them, she now had received 2 hides per kill. That more than made up for the wasted expense of coming all the way out here. Her eyes go back to the man before her, watching suspiciously. Was he going to attack her? His cursor was green, but she had heard stories of players going all murderer on one another. "Thanks..." She said, staying ready and loose. "What happens now?" She added, as if to clarify her thoughts.

[9Lives 0]

9lives stopped to take a breath for a moment. it seemed that they were clear of other mob paths for the moment. He sheathed Aitsuu and turned to face the girl. His wide smile and psychotic stance were fueled by the adrenaline of the combat. He loved to fight, and the harder the enemy the better. When she raised the question he realized how he must have seemed to her. It couldn't be helped, he was filled with exhilaration and it wasn't going to just stop. He looked her over for a second and opened his menu. he tinkered around in it for a moment before hitting the option. The moment the invite would arrive he had switched his hear, trading the stylistically pleasing hood for his more useful Mask of Sorrow. The Black featureless mask with only eye holes and crimson tears was even more threatening looking. Let no one ever say that 9Lives was not theatrical.

[Saix 0]

She glanced at him warily before the <> appeared before her. That helped relax her a little bit, after all he had shown how skilled he was already. Truth be told, she didn't exactly want to be out here all alone anyway. That discomfort was enough to override her ever present sense of distrust around others, and after a moment's hesitation, she accepted his <>. Her eyes flicked up to the left, where his health bar appeared on her HUD. 9Lives? She thought, before noticing the change in head gear. "You know, I think I preferred the Hood. Seemed more authentic shinobi looking." She commented dryly, as she tightened her silk scarf at her throat. Midnight Butterfly was certainly striking, though truth be told she cared far more for it's abilities than the look. Then again, she did like butterflies, so maybe she cared for the abilities and look equally. Something snagged her attention, as she glanced back and forth amidst the branches. "They're back. 3 of them, hiding in the trees." She muttered, readying her weapon and settling into a crouch. It looks like that Searching Skill could really come in handy.

[9Lives 0]

9lives couldn't see the gargoyles and was quite surprised that his new party member could. It was a valuable skill to say the least. While 9Lives knew he was at no loss for talent alone, this girl had abilities that made her a completely different use in battle. Pulling his sword form the saya, he stood relaxed with his sword down as if unprepared for an attack, when in reality he was preparing to counterstrike. Sure enough the first Gargoyle leaped slashing forward with its attack. the instant his eyes saw teh brush move he let the tip of the sword touch ground Charging his attack.

Evasion 9: +1(trinket) =10 Success!

Battle die: 9(critical) +2(Skill) +3(Weapon) = 14 Success!

Damage: 1(base) +2(skill) +3(Weapon) = 6

Critcal x2 =12 Damage!

9Lives stood still as the creature neared only moving his head to the side just inches form the claw as it swung by. with it directly in front of him he activated . In a blur he slashed upwards through the creature, placing his left hand on the hilt, slashed down word pulling back in the slash. then thrust his blade in the Gargoyle. He then turned away from the creature to face the girl he was partnered with. he quickly pulled the blade from the gargoyle having it shatter behind him.

[Saix 0]

If 9Lives thought that Ayane would get caught up watching his display and end up making herself a target, he was very wrong. Besides, she already had her own enemy to worry about. With a rustle of leaves, the second <> launched itself her way, raking at her with large claws. There was no time to waste, no time to think, she simply reacted and threw herself into a graceful somersault trying to go right over her attacker's head. Dodging the claw by a hairs breath she smoothly tucked her legs and flipped right over her attacker, even adding insult by injury by using it's head as a stepping stone to launcher herself further into the air, flipping into the branches where she waited silently for the opportunity to launch a surprise attack of her own.

---Outcome---

Battle Dice: 2(base) + 1(leather armor skill bonus) + 1(Sprint Skill) + 2(Uncommon Armor) = 6 Success

[9Lives 0]

9Lives watched at his new partner flipped gracefully to evade the predator. 9lives pulled his sword back to charge his attack on the creature who's attention was turned on her. Instantly the sound of movements behind him caused him to unconsciously pivot on his right foot backwards as yet another Gargoyle flashed by trying to attack him launched by slashing but only meeting air. His sword skill activated just as it passed his body.

Battle Die: 8

Evade: Sprint (+0) = 8 : Evade Success

Attack: Trinket (+1)= 9 : Success

Damage: Sword (+3) = 4 Damage!

Quickly 9Lives slashed up in a powerful circular motion drawing the blade from behind, down towards his feet and up hitting the gargoyle with enough force to send it into the air and Immobilize it. It health dropped in half form the blow as it was helpless but to watch its imminent deresolution.

[Saix 0]

Seeing her opportunity Ayane stowed her weapon in it's sheathe at her waist, and lowered herself into a balanced crouch on the branch, entering a very specific Pre-Motion for her trump card. With the tingling buzz letting her know that her skill was properly charged, she released the skill and let the skill carry her forwards in a forward somersault as she initiated the attack. As her allies Gargoyle reeled from the slash that had halved it's health bar, she came flying out of the air in a forward flip, slamming her heel down atop the beast's head in a powerful downward kick that capitalized from all of her forward momentum. <> one of the attack skills that her <> Extra Skill allowed.

Battle Dice: 10 Crtical!

Damage: 1 (Base) x 2 (critical) + 1 (Martial Arts) = 3 damage

Ayane: 11/15

Gargoyle 5: 0/8

Gargoyle 6: 1/8

Gargoyle 7: 8/8

[9Lives 0]

9lives saw the girl dart form the trees after his launched foe. He couldn't spectate as the gargoyle before disappeared into the brush once more. It would seem that the Gargoyle was going to return to its hit and run tactic. He couldn't bother with the one in the sky with enemies lurking out of his view.

Battle Die: 4

Evasion: 4 Fail

They had adjusted there battle tactics and without the sound of moving brush to signal the parry, 9lives was left with only his eyes to warn him. The gargoyle lept from his left side in a claw attack. 9Lives lept back to evade but the attack was to quick. the claws tore though his inferior armor and he felt the sting of damage for the first time in his life in the game. it was novel and irritating.

9Lives: 13/15

Gargoyle 6: 1/8

Gargoyle 7: 8/8