[SP-F1] Quiet Day in the Fields <<EaL>>

[Birdie 0]

The streets were quiet in the <<Town of Beginnings>>, a peace that Birdie had come to appreciate. Not a single sound from the outside could be heard through the windows of the Bluebird Workshop, granting the woman a moment to sit and exist after waking up only minutes before. She sat on the edge of her bed, looking into the full length mirror that adorned one side of the room.

She knew what needed to be done that day, an entire list of tasks neatly organised and tucked away in the filing cabinets of her mind. For one, the shop's floor was in complete disarray, piles of scrap metal and failed canvas' bunched up in a single corner where a bin really should have been. That wouldn't be her primary task though, seeing as the shop's closure meant nobody would be able to wander inside the store and judge her for being tardy.

Instead, a far more importance task took the spot as her number one priority; gather more materials. Thanks to the generosity of two kind souls, she found herself with more than she originally knew to do with. However, her crafting luck had taken a turn for the worst those past two nights, landing her with few resources from which she could craft their items. Deciding that her best bet would be the profession quest, she set about her morning by preparing for a trip out of town; a quiet day in the fields.

[Birdie 0]

Birdie equipped the default clothing that every player started out with, standing in front of the full body mirror to ensure that there was no tear or rips in the fabric. The durability on the basic garbs was surprisingly high, though they offered little to no protection in the midst of battle. She urged for something more befitting of a craftswoman to wear around the shop and perhaps an outfit with some mitigation enhancements, though until she could rack up Col or spare some materials for her own leisure, those desires would remain a distant dream.

She closed the upstairs door behind her, descending down the winding stairs until she set foot in the main room of her workshop. The smell of lilac wafted roamed free through the air, a scent that brought an uplifting curve to the woman's lips as it passed by her nose. Despite the shop's incredibly basic aesthetic, Birdie appreciated it for what it was. She didn't want to create any special atmosphere nor was she fond of intricate furniture and decorations. Rather, she wanted it to feel like a place of comfort, warm and inviting, almost like a home. Her gaze fell upon a satchel in the corner, mind clicking in an instant as she remembered what she'd come downstairs to do in the first place.

Edited September 11, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

The woman was gone in an instant, the satchel wrapped around her shoulder as she rushed through past the shop's doors and into the quiet streets of Starting City. Birdie had made sure to leave early enough to avoid the main bulk of players; the lower her chance of encountering somebody, the better it would be. Her morning attitude certainly wasn't the most attentive, and making a first impression whilst being tired was something she avoided like the plague. Similarly, she didn't want to run into a familiar face and risk getting roped into a conversation, lest she come across as rude to them. Maybe she was already being rude for avoiding such a scenario, though at least nobody else would catch on.

Birdie's wandering had led her down the end of the street, stopping just ahead of a junction that split into four paths. One led towards the centre of town, where the players had first been informed of their entrapment in Aincrad. The next led further around the town, various different stores adorning the path that she'd frequently take to grab something to eat. This time however, she was intent on taking the path leading out through the town's gates, which led further out into the fields beyond. Small partitions of fenced land had been created to allow safe gathering of materials and basic resources, something Birdie had found to be quite useful. Instead of risking a venture into the caves or walking blindly into the scattered forests, everything the woman needed was right next to the safety of the town's guard. Breathing a happy sigh, she ventured toward the city gates.

Edited September 12, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

Birdie found herself at the city's border, standing just below the archway that led into the surrounding fields. The NPC guards were on high alert as always, and the mobs that littered the area kept their distance from the city's forces. Birdie wondered if that behaviours was programmed into the boars' code or whether they've learned to only pick isolated targets - the latter wouldn't have surprised her.

Passing the guards, she shot them a wave and received smiles and nods back, another aspect of the game that intrigued her greatly. Depending on how a player treated the NPCs, they would always act differently - they'd only execute their basic dialogue when a player if a player ignored them, yet would hold far deeper conversations if asked something as simple as how their day had been. It was exciting to know that an AI could think and act in such a way, even if a bit grueling when you think about the implications of such a program.

Having arrived in one of the fenced-off pens that littered the field, she gazed over the materials the plot of land would offer. Her eyes met with a wood-chopping block, a method of gathering materials that required the user to.. well, chop wood. As she set foot in the pen something brushed against her foot - a piece of wood? 'Who'd have left a free material lying around?' The girl quickly pocketed the item, approaching one of the chopping blocks as she loosed a sigh, her tone almost sarcastic. "This should be fun.."

~~~

Equipped:

- Blessed Pendent of Discovery | +3 LD

ID# 67627 | LD: 17+3 | +1 Material 

Total: 1 material

Edited September 12, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

The woman stood beside the wooden chopping block, her eyes drawn to the deep cuts in the wood where people had clearly missed the mark. Even with SAO's systems to help prevent inaccurate swings, some players had still managed to drive their axe into the entirely wrong target. An lightsigh escaped her nostrils, realising that the players using these things were likely the ones leading civilian lives, and not the competent fighters that littered the Frontlines.

'One day,' she thought, 'one day I wont need to come out here and gather materials this way.' Whilst she did take great pleasure in exploring the mysteries of the lower levels - caves filled with rare gems, forests rich with high-quality fruits and good of all kinds - the real jackpot could only be reached by venturing into the higher levels of Aincrad. She'd heard of players throwing away Col like it was the dirt under their shoe, an act of littering she could only dream of actually considering. She looked to the axe on the ground, a smile hitting her lips in an instant. "It all starts here, Ava."

~~~

ID# 67636 | LD: 6+3 | No Material

Total: 1 material

Edited September 12, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

Birdie went to pickup the tool, minding the blade as her hands latched onto the handle. The thing was considerably lighter than she'd imagined - it was probably adjusted to weigh almost nothing, letting even the weakest of players partake in chopping up logs of wood. "At least the designers were considerate," she mused, bringing the axe to around stomach height. The weapon seems to have been changed ownership, becoming hers for as long as she held it. Thinking the mechanic to be exploitable, she soon gave an acknowledging nod as she read the item's description, stating it was almost completely ineffective in combat.

Scattering to find a worthy slab of wood, she placed it on the chopping block and held the axe above her head, swinging the blade in downwards arc to split the wood in two. One of the halves disintegrated leaving the other to be gathered, and Birdie knelt down to slip the item into her satchel.  

~~~

ID# 67641 | LD: 19+3 | +1 Material

Total: 2 materials

Edited September 12, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

A gentle breeze rushed past the girl with cyan hair, causing her attention to stray temporarily from the task at hand. It felt so real, she thought, loosely remembering the sensation back in the real world. Sword Art Online's physics were near identical the real world, bar the fact that fall damage seemed to be softened in virtual reality. She recalled an encounter with a mini-boss - in her opinion at least - and how she'd manoeuvred around a wooden log that protruded from the ground. She felt little to no pain when dropping metres to the ground, though it was entirely possible that any pain from environmental factors was mitigated or lessened in the wake of battle. She just didn't know.

She shook her head, how long had she been day-dreaming for? Listening to the sounds of town, people still weren't out of their homes yet. She breathed, knowing there was still time to waste before heading she'd need to head back to the Artisan NPC.

~~~

ID# 68265 | LD: 3+3 | No Material

Total: 2 Materials

Edited September 21, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

A wooden log spawned nearby, catching Birdie's attention from the corner of her eye. The spawn rate for the resources didn't seem to be terribly high, it made her wonder how hectic it might be if there were more people there trying to grab them up. 'Hm.. they'd probably ramp up the spawn rates. I guess.' Brushing the thought aside, she knelt down to pick the log up and positioned it on the stump, lining her axe up with the centre of the log.

The axe's blade rose into the air, gleaming as the sun's rays reflected off its shiny surface. Birdie took a breath, taking a moment to line up her swing to hit the wooden log dead centre.

She swung the blade down but a noise from her left make the girl jump, crying a yelp as the axe pinged sideways. "What on Ear-.. oh," she stated, staring blankly towards the boar that'd bumped into the fence beside her.

~~~

ID# 68266 | LD: 10+3 | No Material

Total: 2 Materials

Edited September 21, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

The creature tried to charge for her, crashing into the fence with a regretful squeal. Its tusks lodged into the wooden fencing, and Birdie could only admire the stupidity of the sight. "Well, that's the most ridiculous thing I've seen in a while."

Her attention shifted back to the log, and she put both hands on the axe's shaft once more. "I'll deal with you in a second," she informed the mob, rolling her eyes before re-positioning the axe above her head. With a swift chop, the wooden log was no more, and she was free to add another material to her collection.

Picking up the chopped wood, she inspected it briefly and gave a satisfied smile, slipping it into her satchel. She looked to the mob waiting just outside the fence, sighing when she realised she'd probably have to fight it to continue gathering resources in peace. "Let's hope you're not too fast.."

~~~

ID# 68267 | LD: 15+3 | +1 Material

Total: 3 Materials

Edited September 21, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

She navigated through her inventory, scrolling through to the accessories tab. The equipment she currently equipped wasn't quite optimal for the battle ahead of her, so she substituted the Blessed Pendant of Discovery for the much more suitable Amulet of Precision.

The girl huffed, debating whether she should go with her Ring of Recovery or Ring of Eluding. Both had their advantages; dodging attacks would make the battle far easier in foresight, but running out of energy wouldn't make for an ideal situation.

Examining her loadout, a pleased smile spread across the corners of her lips. Her weapon and accessories were all at the ready, and she suppressed an excited giggle as she navigated to her newly acquired 'Familiar' tab.

"Alright, Glacia, let's see what you got!" Pressing a button, the Frostbite Phoenix materialised on her shoulder, prompting Birdie to gently pet the creature. "Ready to fight?"  

Edited September 21, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

Glacia nestled up against Birdie's neck, gaining a smile from the girl as she tried to repress her ticklish nature. "I'll take that as a yes!" She held Retaliation by the hilt, keeping the rapier unsheathed as she headed for the exit of the wooden enclosure. The indication that she was protected by the influence of a safe zone disappeared, and she sighed knowing she was fully open to attacks from mobs and players alike. "Better make this quick."

The boar managed to dislodge its tusks from the fence, shaking its head aggressively to relish in its freedom. Birdie seized the opportunity and sized up her opponent, pointing the rapier forwards and lining up the point of her weapon with the boar's body. "Hmm.. wuh?!" The boar suddenly charged, dust kicking up beneath its hooves as it rushed to knock out Birdie's legs. Glacia reacted swiftly, swooping into the boar's path to partially divert its attack.

The boar's tusks still caught her leg though the damage was minimal. Glacia circled around Birdie and the boar, waiting for another opportunity to swoop in and prevent an assault on the girl.

~~~

ID#68270 | BD: 2 | CD: 7 (+2 EN) | MB: 9

BD: 2 Miss (CD: 7, Energy +2)

MD: 9 Hit, (10+1)-9=2 dmg.

Birdie: 158/160 HP (16/16 EN) (6 DMG)

Boar: 80/80 HP (10 DMG)

Edited September 21, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

The bluenette gave out an astute huff, fixing her posture in order to maximise her chances of dodging the next attack. The boar was tougher than she'd given it credit for, her last encounter with the creature had gone.. similarly, if she had to describe the experience in one word.

The boar's hind legs kicked dirt into the air, growling aggressively towards Birdie. She rolled her eyes, focusing purely on the point of her blade. "If I can hit him right in the head, I shou- huh?!" Without a moment of warning the boar burst into a sprint, tackling her legs before even Glacia could react. The bird squarked and swooped below, taking the mob's interest away from the girl for a briefly moment. It was enough for her to right herself, though her pride was beyond repair at this point. "Come on, stop it!" she pleaded, fingers wrapping tightly around her weapon. "No need to play dirty.."

~~~

ID#68399 | BD: 3 | CD: 9 (+2 EN) | MB: 9

BD: 3 Miss (CD: 9, Energy +2)

MD: 9 Hit, (10+1)-9=2 dmg.

Birdie: 156/160 HP (16/16 EN) (6 DMG)

Boar: 80/80 HP (10 DMG)

Edited September 24, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

Glacia circled the battlefield, acting as a distraction to divert the heat away from Birdie. Two times she'd missed and two times she'd cursed herself for being so clumsy, but she felt this would be her time to shine. 

She raised Retaliation, focusing the point of the blade around the boar's abdominal area. If she could at least hit the most vulnerable part of the mob's body then she'd be able to do some damage, however little that might be. Taking one final breath, she loosed a smile and gazed up to the bird who'd taken aggro. "I'm ready!"

With a squawk, Glacia twisted in the air and swooped closer to Birdie, causing the boar to switch targets and charge for her. Wasting no time, a bright blue glow surrounded Retalation as she activated <<Quadruple Pain>> and she dashed out of the incoming attack, performing a series of thrusts that each pierced the boar's stomach.

The pig squealed, though it's temper seemed to only rise. "Hmph.."

~~~

ID#68424 | BD: 9 (+1 damage) | CD: 6 (+2 EN) | MB: 6-3=3

BD: 9 Hit 6+1=7, 7x4=28-13=15 damage

MD: 3 Miss

Birdie: 156/160 HP (15/16 EN) (6 DMG)

Boar: 65/80 HP (10 DMG)

Edited September 24, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

The boar romped and stomped on the spot, the sight was almost like a reenactment of a toddler's tantrum. Birdie couldn't help but let a smile out from watching it, and as Glacia perched itself upon her shoulder once more, she gave the bird an understanding nod. "Good work Glacia!" she thanked her pet, her eyes trailing back to the boar. "Now, let's do some real damage!"

The process repeated once more; her blade became enveloped in a blue hue and she scanned her target, looking for a weak spot to strike. The boar kicked against the ground and charged towards her in a blind sprint but she was ready, dashing to the right in time for her to deliver a swift series of attacks that ended up knocking the boar to the floor. The girl cringed; if that were player, they would be feeling that one in the morning.

~~~

ID#68426 | BD: 10 (+2 damage) | CD: 10 (+2 EN) | MB: 1-3=-2

BD: 10 Hit 6+2=8, 8x4=32-13=19 damage

MD: -2 Miss

Birdie: 156/160 HP (14/16 EN) (6 DMG)

Boar: 46/80 HP (10 DMG)

Edited September 24, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

The battle waged on, neither Birdie nor her assailant landing an attacks in the moments that passed. Glacia diverted the boar's attention by flying low and keeping ahead of the monster, allowing the woman to rest up and regain her composure. Fighting was far easier than it used to be, she thought, but she was still nowhere near proficient enough at it to be considered a worthy fighter. She sighed, gripping the hilt of her blade tightly. 'Get stronger, Birdie. That's your goal.'

Glacia twisted and turned in the air, attempting to keep the boar's attention away from the girl. It wouldn't be too long before the boar within range of Birdie and it's aggro switched immediately, swivelling on its legs as it redirected its charged towards her. She was prepared; one foot ahead of the other, eyes locked with her target, blade pointing forward at the ready - the girl knew she couldn't miss again.

~~~

ID#68428 | BD: 3 | CD: 9 (+2 EN) | MB: 8-3=5

BD: 3 MIss

MD: 5 Miss

Birdie: 156/160 HP (14/16 EN) (6 DMG)

Boar: 46/80 HP (10 DMG)

Edited September 24, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

"Grr, lucky dodge!" Birdie missed the target by a mile. Instead of thrusting for the boar's abdomen she made a misstep, forcing her to cancel the attack in favour of avoiding damage. She was embarrassed for how inept a fighter she truly was, even bumping up her weapon proficiency to a higher had done little to compensate for her incompetency.

At the rate the battle was moving victory was almost guaranteed, though she feared the battle would rage on long enough for another boar to wander over - the last thing she wanted was to take on two at once.

The boar held its head close to the ground to survey Birdie's movement, the girl starting off into a slow circle around the mob. If she wanted to land a meaningful hit then she'd need to plan her attack ahead of time, a tactic she wasn't quite used to utilising.

~~~

ID#68430 | BD: 5 | CD: 8 (+2 EN) | MB:2-3=-1

BD: 5 MIss

MD: -1 Miss

Birdie: 156/160 HP (14/16 EN) (6 DMG)

Boar: 46/80 HP (10 DMG)

Edited September 24, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

Birdie stopped moving, her strategy for the next attack planned out. 'Pig charges, deflects, go for the attack.. got it!'

The fight turned into a waiting game, Birdie eagerly preparing for the boar's next attack whilst the mob itself took a moment to recover. She'd done a decent amount of damage - half the thing's health bar from what she saw - but it still wasn't enough. This was a training session, testing what little skill she'd accrued over her time in the game.

The boar executed its regular attack, a blind charge straight for its target. Birdie didn't waste any time - raising her sword, she let the boar's tusks slide along the length of the blade until reaching the hilt, at which point she redirected the force of the attack to the side. Opening up the creature's abdomen, she activated <<Quadruple Pain>> and struck it with a devastating attack, bringing its health bar to the orange zone.  

~~~

ID#68430 | BD: 7 | CD: 5 | MB:4-3=1

BD: 7 Hit 6x4=24, 24-13=11 damage

MD: 1 Miss

Birdie: 156/160 HP (11/16 EN) (6 DMG)

Boar: 35/80 HP (10 DMG)

Edited September 24, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

She watched the boar closely as it tumbled over its own legs, sliding across the ground in a face plant. It was almost depressing to watch, though she withheld any mercy for the creature on the basis that it was still trying to kill her. Glacia landed atop a fence post nearby, surveying the fight as it drew on.

It wouldn't be long before the boar was back on its feet, albeit stumbling from the hits Birdie served to it. She saw little reason for it to try and attack her and so lowered her sword, understanding she was safe for a few seconds more. "Now I remember why I hated fighting boar the first time, you guys are all so resilient.."

A crowd's muttering from inside the city walls told Birdie that people were already waking up, and it wouldn't be long before the streets would be full of life. She sighed, "There goes my quiet time I guess."

~~~

ID#68430 | BD: 5 | CD: 11 (+2 EN) | MB:8-3=5

BD: 5 Miss

MD: 5 Miss

Birdie: 156/160 HP (11/16 EN) (6 DMG)

Boar: 35/80 HP (10 DMG)

Edited September 24, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

The bluenette triggered the sword art <<Quadruple Pain>>, now angered by the fact that her quiet time had come to an unwelcomed end. "Sorry to cut this short little guy, you're being a real nuisance." Birdie brought her blade up, a bright blue glow swallowing it whole in a flash. SAO's accuracy assisting systems took over as she lined the tip of her blade with the boar's head, aiming for a critical shot.

Dirt kicked up from the ground as she broke into a swift run, readying the rapier as the enemy approached. With near perfect accuracy all four of the weapon skill's strikes struck her foe, the sheer force of the attack sent it sliding backwards across the ground. Birdie took up a defensive pose once more, the beginnings of a grin happening upon her lips. "D-did you see how perfect that was!" She twisted excitedly on the spot to face her bird, but the creature merely gazed at the girl with its neutral expression. She sighed, "You could at least humour me, you know."

~~~

ID#68464 | BD: 10 (+2 damage) | CD: 1 | MB:6-3=3

BD: 10 Hit 6+2=8, 8x4=32-13=19 damage

MD: 3 Miss

Birdie: 156/160 HP (8/16 EN) (6 DMG)

Boar: 16/80 HP (10 DMG)

Edited September 24, 2016 by Birdie

[Birdie 0]

Glacia shot towards Birdie, "Wha?!" She felt her familiar's talons push against her chest and she dashed backwards, only for the boar to tackle the bird seconds later. She'd taken her eyes off the boar and let it sneak up on her, and if it hadn't been for Glacia, she'd have taken a nasty hit from the assault. "O-oh my God! Glacia!"

Birdie's teeth grit, Retaliation consumed by the bright blue glow of <<Quadruple Pain>>. Her eyes narrowed as they fell upon the boar that held Glacia to the ground. Within the span of a single second she charged for the enemy, ripping it away from her familiar by the base of its tusks before kicking its side, delivering a swift series of thrusts that ended with a powerful kick to the stomach. The pig squealed and squirmed, lying on the floor as an empty shell of what it once was.

The girl knelt down to Glacia's side, slipping her hand beneath the bird's head. "S-sorry.." She noticed the bird's health bar, eyes widening as she'd seen how damaging the hit had been. "We need to get you some rest, and quick.."

~~~

ID#68469 | BD: 6 | CD: 7 | MB:9 (+1)

BD: 10 Hit 6x4=24, 24-13=11

MD: 11-9=2 damage

Birdie: 154/160 HP (7/16 EN) (6 DMG)

Boar: 5/80 HP (10 DMG)

Edited September 25, 2016 by Birdie