[PP-F5] Sparks On the Horizon

[Guest]

Keith sat back at his room at one of the inns that dotted the sandy land of Floor 5. He tipped back in a chair, pitching a rubber ball against the wall and catching it as it returned. His mind kept going back to what he had heard a group of players talking about earlier that day. Something about some building with pipes and pistons all over it, and the hiss of steam could be heard all around. Keith caught the ball again and threw it once more. They say that a puzzle has kept the door shut, and no one has gotten into the large bronze factory yet. Keith set the ball down and stood up, remembering how his friend Daeron had helped him explore once before, and could definitely help again. He typed up a message and walked outside of the inn to the town square, waiting for his friend.

[Daeron 1]

Daeron had just finished crafting a handy blade for his good friend Darius when he was surprised by a message from his pal Keith. It was a request to accompany him on exploring a factory on floor 5. Seeing as how this was a great opportunity to battle a drake or two on the way to obtain a few drops for smithing from them. He replied, wondering when they would go about this mission.

He headed out of the shop and put a closed sign on the door before he left. He equipped his weapon and robe and went to the town teleporter. The teleporter opened up and he teleported saying the words. "Teleport Floor 5 Starting City."

[Guest]

Keith smiled as his friend appeared in the town square and he walked over. "Well, long time no see!" He said, giving a high five to the older boy. "I heard a rumor about a totally sweet dungeon out in the desert, and get this, nobody has been in it yet. Heck, they haven't even found out how to enter." He said, as he sent a party invite to Daeron. "Which is where the two of us come in."

[Daeron 1]

Daeron watched the GUI menu pop up in front of him and without the slightest of hesitation he quickly pressed the blue circle with his index finger. "So do you actually know where the dungeon is? Because I'd love to see what it with holds from everyone." Daeron pulled out his sword and checked it's durability. By the way, I finally leveled up to 9. So I'm a step closer to becoming the biggest and baddest in this place. With you of course." Daeron was so pumped to see this dungeon. It had been a while since he actually went dungeoneering with his friends, or alone. Last time he went in a dungeon, he could even remember.

[Guest]

Keith chuckled at his remark to leveling and then remembered all the things his had put him through. "Believe me, it's not all that glamorous." He said as he looked out to the horizon, seeing smoke curling up on the skyline. He pointed to the smoke and nodded to Daeron. "That's the way. Let's be careful about getting there, this desert holds all kinds of sand loving beasties. And we don't want the dungeon to win before we even get there, do we?"

[Daeron 1]

Daeron nodded his head, and began to head out to the desert outside of the town. It was full of sand dunes, hills, and even gusts of sand carrying wind. Every now and then sand would get into Daeron's eyes. However, the head didn't affect Daeron nearly as much as it did Keith, because of his robe. As it was resistant to heat and fire, he could withstand higher temperatures easier than most players could.

Daeron didn't bother pulling out his weapon as it seemed to be peaceful. Most of the monsters were out of their way, so they didn't have too much trouble with walking... well... for the first half it seemed. After they had made it far enough to where the smoke grew strong from the factory, Daeron felt a slight tremble in the sand beneath him. "Keith... did you feel that?"

[Guest]

Keith stopped and nodded. "I've been feeling it for a while. But it really does feel like something is underneath us." He drew his katana and held it upside down, holding it above the ground. He felt the movement again and he plunged it into the sand, causing a shriek and rapid movement below him. "I got it!" He said, as it lurched forward, pulling Keith and his sword with it. "Correction, I think it has me!" Keith yelped, as his sword was stuck into the creature, pulling him around. "Daeron! Try and lure it out!"

[Daeron 1]

Daeron watched as Keith's katana was being dragged through the sand. Luckily, Keith was unwilling to let go, otherwise they would have lost the lurking creature already. When Daeron pulled out his one handed straight sword, he jabbed it in the ground in front of where Keith had his katana. Within seconds the trembling stopped and he was able to recover his katana and balance.

The trembling then grew strong, out of nowhere, the sand began to ripple like wind hitting grass, creating weaves of light. This time however, the sand began to suck into the ground like an opening was below it. The sand then stopped moving. "What the hell is going on?" Daeron asked in true confusion.

The sand created a massive explosion blasting particles into the air, acting like glass flying at them. Now before Keith and Daeron was a pillar. No. A monster in front of them the size of a tower. Abover the creatures head, or what it seemed to look like anyways, was a name. <> the level of the monster was about level 7, and by determining that, Daeron was able to assume that the monster had just about 17 HP.

Keith [49/49]

Daeron [21/21]

Sand Lurker [17/17]

(How are we going to fight this? Are we using the current battle system with the 1-5 miss, 6-8 1 Damage, and 9-10 2 Damage? It's up to you)

[Guest]

((Let's go with the new battle system, like the one we're using for the Athrial.))

Keith looked up at the large monster that had appeared and he flicked his wrist, before setting the katana on his shoulder again, making it glow a pale blue. He then took a running start at the monster and brought his sword down at it with momentum.

He did his rapid array of slashes, causing numerous cuts and jabs at the monster as a clap echoed through the desert as his slashing rate increased. The worm recoiled at the sheer amount of slashes in such a short amount of time. Keith leaped back and shouted over at Daeron. "Switch!"

Damage Dealt: 2

Keith: 49/49

Daeron: 21/21

Sand Lurker: 15/17

[Guest]

[battle Roll]

1-5: Miss

6-8: Basic Hit. 1 Damage

9-10: Critical Hit. 2 Damage

[Daeron 1]

Daeron saw Keith swing at the monster with such momentum, the strike must have been devastating. Daeron took his one handed sword and held it above his shoulder with a single hand ready to jab down towards it's lower body. The weapon began to glow with a sharp orange glow and radiated it's color off of the sunlight and the sand particles around them. The monster didn't seem to have much maneuverability just yet, as it was recovering from one of Keith's blows.

The sword managed to impale the lower part of it's body and it let out a loud shriek. The shriek of the monster was powerful enough to make the ground tremble. "Hey umm Keith... I think we just pissed it off." Daeron told Keith, now being unsure of what to do, the monster began to squirm around, and pulled itself into the ground again. "Well... now we can't see it anymore. There's a problem."

Keith: 49/49

Daeron: 21/21

Sand Lurker: 13/17

[Daeron 1]

Daeron Combat Dice Roll

[Daeron 1]

The Sand Lurker, crept into the sand once again preparing for an incoming strike on the two players it was facing. The large creature may have been an easy target above ground, but wouldn't be such an easy opponent to battle when it was moving and maneuvering below ground. The motion of the ground followed the monster, but it was hard to tell. Only a player with a high enough <> skill could tell where it was about to rise from.

The lurker jumped out of the ground smashing it's fangs into the air, but unfortunately for the monster the players had managed to avoid both attacks on them. The lurker was now engraged and pulled back into the ground preparing to dodge any oncoming attacks onto it now. It figured that if it can't be seen, it can't be hit.

Keith: 49/49

Daeron: 21/21

Sand Lurker: 13/17

[Daeron 1]

Sand Lurker Combat Dice Roll. Attacking Keith

[Daeron 1]

Sand Lurker Combat Dice Roll. Attacking Daeron

[Guest]

Keith felt sand pelt his face as he managed to do a quick sidestep out of harms way, and saw Daeron was safe as well. Keith saw the red grid cuts on it's body, showing it was wounded. As it missed them, it tried to burrow back into the ground and Keith took the opportunity to attack it, raising his blade with the same pale light as he dashed towards it, kicking up sand as he sprinted at it.

As Keith ran at the beast, it saw him out of the corner of it's eye and swatted him away, quickly concealing itself into the sands once more. Keith stood up and shook some sand out of his air as he readied his sword again, seeing that the Lurker popped up again a little further. "Go for it, Daeron!" Keith shouted to the blacksmith.

[Guest]

Keith Attacking Sand Lurker

[battle Roll]

1-5: Miss

6-8: Basic Hit. 1 Damage

9-10: Critical Hit. 2 Damage

[Daeron 1]

Daeron watched as it moved like a snake throughout the sand. "We have to be careful, with the sand here, we have a slight disadvantage of the speed. It uses the sand like an ocean to a fish." Daeron observed the ground, the patterns that were being used by the monster. Perhaps I can figure out it's attack pattern before it attacks. Daeron waited until part of the lurker's tail popped out of the sand to flick some sand into the air, more than likely trying to blind the players.

Daeron swung his blade through the sand that coated the air. The sand acting like glass was an obstacle to get to the lurker, but luckily Daeron managed to push his body through the glass-like particles. He swung his sword down a the tail only to feel a rumble beneath them. Assuming he just hit the monster, it must be completely furious losing this fight.

Keith: 49/49

Daeron: 21/21

Sand Lurker: 12/17

[Daeron 1]

Combat Roll - Daeron

[Daeron 1]

The lurker felt a sting on it's tail and screeched beneath the ground. It's body was now coated in cuts and scars but the lurker refused to let down it's guard. Quickly without giving itself away, the lurker made a silent siren scream beneath the ground creating a rumble. The call the lurker was using was to call in help. If the lurker could survive long enough, the backup will be there to aid it.

The lurker after it called for help, jumped out of the sand like a missile into the air, and turned towards the ground at the moment. Both of the players were able to be hit in one go if its attack is successful. It opened up it's fangs and was ready to slash with it's legs that were around it's sides like a centipede.

The lurker's attack crashed into the sand like an explosion. Keith managed to jump out of harms way unlike Daeron who didn't react quick enough to the lurker's attack. The explosion of the sand caused Daeron to fly about 5 feet backwards , dealing damage to him from the impact, luckily, the attack of the lurker was a direct one otherwise Daeron would have been far more injured.

Keith: 49/49

Daeron: 20/21

Sand Lurker: 12/17

Lurker's Aid Arrives In 3 Turns

Aid consists of 2 Sand Guardians [Level 3] [9 HP]