[PP-F3] <<Search for the Hoya>> We Haven't a Clue!

[Cygnus 0]

Cygnus sighed, looking around at the tall stone walls of the labyrinth. The narrow passage snaked ahead, creating an ideal spot for this Minotaur to ambush them. They had been wandering around for hours with no sign of their target, and Cygnus was just about ready to call it a day. He knew he wouldn't if it came down to it. He wasn't the type to quit. But he really wanted to in this case. It wasn't fun to just wander around a maze, wondering if you're just walking around in circles. Hell, that's how it seemed with them. Cygnus looked back at some of the people behind him, wondering if they were just as bored as he was. He expected action! Excitement! Pitched battle against a creature of legend! The reality was far less exciting, it appeared. He hoped they found the Minotaur soon before he was literally bored to tears. The brunette warrior resisted the incredibly strong urge to complain. Mostly because it would accomplish nothing and would just serve to annoy the others. He let out an exasperated sigh and went up to Baldur. "Hey, so where is this thing exactly? Do we just keep walking until we come across it?"

[Baldur 0]

"I'm not entirely certain..." Baldur posited to Cygnus when he asked where the minotaur was, "but my theory is that the mist, and the labyrinth itself, are actually a procedurally generated instance. So every time you come here, it's different." He had begun to grow frustrated himself, but after wandering in apparent aimlessness for a while, he could see why the others would grow tired. The mist covered forest meant that there was little variation in the terrain, and that was intentional in order to get players lost. If there were landmarks, you could map it out, but if the landscape was boring and plain and foggy, you could never know.

Baldur wanted to open his mouth and tell them that everything would be fine, but when he had done so they came across the labyrinth. Now it was another puzzle they needed to find, but in the center was their prey. The two minotaur who protected the Hoya. The Hoya itself was different for everyone - it never had a function, but it was always pretty enough that people wanted to keep theirs. It was almost a hazing, a right of passage, or a coming of age. If you had your Hoya, it meant you weren't some meek noob waiting for someone else to save you.

"It shouldn't be much longer."

[Emblem 0]

Emblem walked through out the labyrinth and was starting to lose patience. He was itching to take on the beasts and couldn't wait much longer to find the Minotaur. He looked back at his companions hoping that they wouldn't lose anyone. He was especially worried about Cygnus and Syn. He knew they could probably handle themselves but they were the closest people to him in there large group. He couldn't stand losing friends like them. He shook the thought out of his head. They wouldn't have trouble with the mobs because of the high level players they had with them but he still of course had the fear that any person would before a fight like this. Emblem took a deep breath trying to clear his head then continued to walk through the labyrinth.

[Victor 0]

The party had moved onto to go search for the minotour, Vic trailed behind the others, rather tired of seeing the same faces but rarely ever accomplishing anything with them. He had hoped that today would be different, but this search seemed endless. They all were lost in this labyrinth. Even though, there were apparently others, in this party, who had already completed this quest before, they were still having trouble locate this mob. he trudged along, with his hand in his pocket. One would think that was a causal stance, but in his pocket, he held onto the hilt of his dagger, with a tight grip. In case anything appeared, he was ready to strike it down. It was good to see that Cygnus had taken the lead on this, he seemed like an amicable and generally sorted man. Also, he seemed to be the kind that Vic could manipulate with ease when the need arrived. He still wasn't sure of the japanese boys and then there was that girl who wasn't here so far... Then there was that blonde kid, Emblem, who didn't quite get off on the right foot with Victor... nonetheless he strolled on, keeping is disappointment away from his face.

[Bhairyuu 0]

Bhairyuu walked along with the group a little ways behind Victor, his new outfit blending in with the darkness of the labyrinth and the material barely audible swishing sound as he walked along, his stride long and his gait limber. As he walked along, the <<Silver Cutlass>> he has equipped beforehand gently clinked against its scabbard letting everyone know of his presence if they so wished to notice him. He looked about and to his great chagrin, the labyrinth seemed endless and he felt like he had been walking for hours on end. As the mist rolled about around him, he swore under his breath 

"Kuso!...Can't see a damn thing in this accursed mist...I sure hope nothing jumps out at me while I am busy trying to get my bearings in this labyrinth...now I can truly appreciate Theseus's agony in those old stories of him and the minotaur...too bad I don't have a ball of magic golden yarn like he did...I could sure use one right about now..." 

As he was thus bemoaning his present predicament, Bhairyuu tried to keep his normally rich, powerful baritone but melodious voice to the lowest possible decibel level so as to prevent any undue attention being directed at the group because of him and also tried his best not to bump into Victor whom he presumed was the person walking ahead of him.

Edited October 25, 2016 by Bhairyuu

[Aster 0]

Quite the opposite of most of the other players in her party, Aster's expression held no sign of discomfort or annoyance. The girl traveled calmly and patiently, keeping to herself and following behind the bulk of the group of players. Once they'd reached the labyrinth's edge and began their trek through the massive stone structure, Aster's eyes seemed more keen, her interest drawn to the stone walls themselves as she scanned the architecture curiously, doing her best to keep a steady pace with the other players.

For the first time in a while, the ginger girl walked without her orange companion weaving between her ankles. Aster preferred not to take Reginald with her on quests when she could help it, opting to leave the fox safely in her shop on the first floor. The familiar wasn't cut out for combat, and she wouldn't have wanted to put him in harm's way out here.

[Baldur 0]

Now that they had finally found the labyrinth, the looming danger of the minotaurs began. They would either be stalking the players through the maze, or waiting the two of them together in the heart of the maze where the hoya lay. He remembered what the center looked like, but he couldn't tell if the maze was the same or not. It probably changed constantly or some info-broker would have listed everything out by now.

"Alright, everyone stay close and keep your eyes open." Baldur drew his sword. He wouldn't be using his Iai on one of these mobs so that the others could get a chance to wail on him, but he had to make sure no one crit and drew aggro either.

"Remember, when we see them, let Rain and I engage so we can get aggro, and then let into them with everything you've got!"

They wandered through the ominous maze for a little while, the huge walls of stone covered with thorny vines. The path was maybe wide enough for four of them shoulder to shoulder if they squeezed. The walls were high too, so that you couldn't see the Minotaur coming, in spite of them being almost half again as tall as Baldur even without their horns.

Baldur's <<Search & Detect>> skill pinged that a mob was coming up on them. He rounded the corner and found the central court yard and there the two giant beasts stood with their giant axes brandished, one with a blueish silver cast to its fur and an eye-patch over one eye and one of those comical nose rings they always seemed to have. The other had a more red, or auburn cast to its fur and seemed more youthful and powerful compared to the blue who seemed more grizzled and veteran.

"Rain! You get the red, I'll get the blue!"

Baldur was already rushing off to the let to engage the beast. Swirling into one of his rank 1 sword arts, <<Ukifune>> slashed at the beast, knocking him high into the air before he landed hard on the ground. He would be stunned for a moment as he struggled to stand up.

Spoiler

 

@Rain

---

[ID# 65509 BD: 4+3 (hit)] <<Ukifune>> 12x1=12 DMG to <<blue minotaur>>

<<Baldur>> HP 132/132 | NRG 29/33 | MIT 54
<<Blue Minotaur>> HP: 33/45 | DMG 24 (stunned)
<<Rain >> HP: ??/??
<<Red Minotaur>> HP: 45/45 | DMG 24
<<Cygnus>> HP: ??/??
<<Emblem>> HP: ??/??
<<Victor>> HP: ??/??
<<Bhairyuu>> HP: ??/??
<<Aster>> HP: ??/??

 

 

Edited August 4, 2016 by Baldur

[Rain 0]

As they delved into the labyrinth, the wanderer kept his guard up. It wasn't necessarily for himself, but more for the others that's with him. He has to protect the others that's with their group. That being said, as they moved along the labyrinth, the wanderer kept a close eye on their surroundings and his hands constantly at the ready on his new nodachi.

After a few minutes of wandering, two large minotaurs came rushing right at them. Baldur took to the largest of the two. A large blue-ish themed minotaur who seems to have seen many battles. The other was a young looking minotaur which dressed himself in red. 

As soon as Baldur sent the first one flying, the wanderer decided to mix it around a bit. He jumped up into the sky and right above the red minotaur. As he drew blade, it began to glow crimson. «Ukifune» With a single swing of his blade, the wanderer pushes the minotaur to the ground, lying on it's stomach.

Spoiler

ID# 65523 results: Battle: 7 (4+3)
[Rain] [Level 27] [HP (108/108)] [EN (23/27)] [DMG 12] [ACC 3] [EVA 2] [MIT 18]
 » [Ukifune] DMG 12 * SA (1*1) = DMG 12 Stun
  » -4 EN

ID# 65523 results: MOB: 1
[Red Minotaur] [HP 33/45] [DMG 24] STUNNED
 » Missed
  » -12 HP STUNNED

Battle Order

Spoiler

«Baldur» HP 132/132 | NRG 29/33 | MIT 54
«Blue Minotaur» HP: 33/45 | DMG 24 (stunned)
«Rain» HP: 108/108 | EN 23/27 | DMG 12 | MIT 18 | ACC 3 | LD 5
«Red Minotaur» HP: 33/45 | DMG 24 (Stunned)
«@Cygnus» HP: ??/??
«Emblem» HP: ??/??
«Victor» HP: ??/??
«Bhairyuu» HP: ??/??
«Aster» HP: ??/??

Edited August 4, 2016 by Rain

[Cygnus 0]

Cygnus looked around as they traversed the labyrinth. The closeness of the walls was beginning to make him feel claustrophobic. He kept his blade at the ready, looking around for their quest target. It wasn't long until they found what they were looking for. A red and blue minotaur, looking like it stepped right out of the legends. The warrior held his blade at the ready, heeding Baldur's advice while he and Rain drew aggro. At his current level, these monsters posed no threat to him, so he figured he'd just hang loose and have some fun. Cyguns stepped forward once Baldur got off his attack, executing his own Sword Art, Straight. It had been awhile since he used this one. The warrior lunged at the enemy, stabbing his blade right through the creature's midsection. He pulled the weapon out and readied himself again.

 

Spoiler

<<Battle Engaged>>

<<Baldur>>

<<Red Minotaur>>

<<Rain>>

<<Cygnus>>

vs

<<Emblem>>

<<Victor>>

<<Bhairyuu>>

<<Blue Minotaur>>

<<Aster>>

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Turn Order

 

Baldur >> Blue Minotaur >> Rain >> Red Minotaur >> Cygnus >> @Emblem >> Victor >> Bhairyuu >> Aster

 

Combat Round 1

Spoiler

ID# 65649

Cygnus uses Sword Art: Straight! [Target: Blue Minotaur]

BD 5 + 3 = 8 (Hit) (16 Damage) [0 Damage Mitigated]

Cygnus HP: 60 / 60

Cygnus Energy: 10 / 12

 

Blue Minotaur HP: 17/50

 

 

 

Edited August 6, 2016 by Cygnus

[Victor 0]

The boy watched eagerly as the two monsters spawned. He observed intently as the others began their strikes. While the lower levelled guy didn't really feel the urge to prove himself, he wouldn't lose the opportunity to set himself apart if he was presented with it. The other three whittled down the health points of the monsters. Based on the current formation, it was the blonde boy, Emblem's turn. But Victor could see the health points of the blue minotaur standing at about a third of it's bar. The color of the bar was now a lovely light tinge of orange, just sitting their ripe for Vic's picking. Not quite willing to waste time with Emblem's shenanigans, the boy decided to break their haphazard formation and rolled towards the blue guy. He rolled pretty far in, almost crouching near it's underbelly, but before the creature had time to react, Vic unsheathed his dagger and quickly carved a triangle into it's underside. Within seconds, he was over. His health bar depleted, in seconds flashing various shades of orange and then a deep red, before disappearing. Soon the creature was nothing but a memory, leaving blue pixels in it's wake... Satisfied with his work Vic leapt out of the way so the others could have their way with the red monster. He hoped finishing this mob off justified him skipping Emblem. 

(OOC: We already discussed it's ok to skip Emblem for the time being through messages, I just used that for my post, I hope it's ok xD) 

 

Spoiler

ID: 66077 
BD: 9 (7+2) 

Victor: 40/40 HP [[ 7/10  Energy ]]
Sword Art: «Tri Pierce» (-3 Energy)
Damage: (6(base)* 3(SA) = 18 DMG

Blue Minotaur: 0/45 HP (18 dmg) Dead! 

 

Edited August 16, 2016 by Victor

[Aster 0]

Aster continued walking with a slight spring in her step, trying her best to ignore the tense atmosphere that seemed to take over the group as the threat of danger loomed over them. Though the size of their group was formidable, traversing through the labyrinth meant leaving themselves at the mercy of whatever beasts lived among the tall stone walls. Given the precautions they'd taken, Aster didn't want to worry herself with her safety, instead focusing her attention on the stone structures beside her as she walked.

Eventually, as the party reached a turn and they spotted the quest targets standing before them, the healer's attention was regrettably pulled away from her thoughts. A nervous expression made its way to her features, and she took in a small breath before she seemed to remember something. As the other players readied themselves for the approaching fight, Aster quickly opened her inventory, selecting an item as the two-toned kitsune mask materialized on her head at an angle.

Feeling herself grow calmer with the item resting on her hair, the girl stayed at the back line while the rest of the party took turns making quick work of the minotaurs. She scanned over the players' health bars as they fought, keeping herself alert to the monsters' movements.

Item Equipped:

Spoiler

• »[Vanity] Duality Kitsune Mask

Combat Results:

  Hide contents

Opponent:

• <<Red & Blue Minotaurs>>
• HP: 45
• DMG: 24

Turn Order:

• Baldur
• <<Blue Minotaur>>
• Rain
• <<Red Minotaur>>
• Cygnus
• Emblem
• Victor
• Bhairyuu
• Aster

Combat Roll:

• ID#: --

Combat Results:

• Baldur:
  • HP: 132/132
  • Energy: 29/33
• <<Blue Minotaur>>:
  • HP: 0/0 -Dead-
• Rain:
  • HP: 108/108
  • Energy: 23/27
• <<Red Minotaur>>:
  • HP: 33/45 -Stunned-
• Cygnus:
  • HP: 60/60
  • Energy: 10/12
• Emblem:
  • HP: ??
  • Energy: ??
• Victor:
  • HP: 40/40
  • Energy: 7/10
• Bhairyuu:
  • HP: ??
  • Energy: ??
• Aster:
  • HP: 64/64
  • Energy: 16/16
• Vyrtew:
  • HP: ??
  • Energy: ??
• Syn:
  • HP: ??
  • Energy: ??

[Baldur 0]

Now that everyone had had a chance to strike at the Minotaur, and Baldur's team had managed to slay theirs, he smiled and turned to the others, giving a quick slash of his own blade to end the other Minotaur's existence. The polygons shattered and rained around them while he nodded to the party and sheathed his katana unceremoniously at his side.

"Good work everyone. I know it was probably a bit anticlimactic, but you all did well to get this far and stand up to the beast."

He pointed towards a pedestal in the center of the maze where they were at.

"You can get your loot over there. Unfortunately, the Hoya doesn't have any bonus stats, but it's unique for every player, which is pretty cool."

Baldur glanced around and then put a hand on Rain's shoulder, giving the other elder player a nod, letting him know non-verbally that he had done a good job.

"Once you've all got your loot, Rain and I will help you get back to safety.

---

[ID# 67363 BD: 5+3 (hit)] Baldur hits Red Minotaur with Hi Ougi (12x3=36 DMG) killing the minotaur

[Cygnus 0]

Cygnus cheered when Victor struck down the Minotaur that he had softened up with his Sword Art. He gave the player a thumbs up to tell him good job before turning his attention to the other enemy. There was no point, it seemed, as Baldur struck it down before he could even think of attacking. With a triumphant grin, he gave Gavel a quick spin before putting her back in the sheath. "Great job everyone." The warrior turned to the area where the loot was, going over and taking a pendant that rested on a pedestal. He looked the trinket over a bit. It didn't look like anything special. Probably just a vanity item. With a nod, he placed the pendant in his inventory and took his place alongside his party. Cygnus grinned and stretched. "So, you guys about ready to get out of here? I don't want to be here any longer than I have to be." The brunette laughed nervously. This maze gave him the creeps. Cygnus was eager to be rid of it as quickly as possible.

[Bhairyuu 0]

Bhairyuu had no chance against the Hoya minotaurs so he decided that discretion was the better part of valor and stayed out of the way of the players who had been engaging the minotaurs. After what seems like hours of fighting, he noticed the minotaurs go down one after another and once the dust had settled, he rose up from his hiding place and stood with the rest of the group, answering Cygnus

"Oh yea...I second your opinion, Cyg...I don't want to have any nightmare of this place on top of all the other ones I have to deal with every night on a daily basis, so yea...I am all for hauling ass out of here as quickly as our feet can carry us."

With that, he fell silent, wondering what the other players were thinking and also whether he would ever become so strong that one day he too could confidently fight through the quests for those nice rewards at the end. For now though, he figured it was better to hang back and observes the other more experienced players in action.